Taxon name
Sula dactylatra
Lesson, 1831
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Sula dactylatra
Lesson, 1831
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Birds
Species authority
Lesson, 1831
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Sula dactylatra;(AOU 1998 + updates) and;Sula tasmani;(Christidis and Boles 1994) have been lumped as;S. dactylatra;following Christidis and Boles (2008).
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
D
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very small non-breeding population in the UAE, which might qualify it for listing as Critically Endangered. The breeding population of the Arabian Peninsula is considered to be stable, and; there is potentially a high rescue effect from individuals outside of the country. Therefore, the species's status has undergone a regional adjustment down one category and is classified as Endangered at the national level.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is rare in the UAE, where it is found between April and November offshore. It was first recorded in May 1973 off Sha'am (Ras al-Khaimah Emirate). Since 2010, single individuals or very small groups have been recorded on 25 occasions along the coasts of Sharjah (mostly near Khor Kalba, Luluyah Beach) and Fujairah (Fujairah City, Dibba, Al Aqah) emirates;(Pedersen et al. 2017).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This strictly marine species can be found over pelagic waters far from land (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds on large species of shoaling fish, especially flying fish, but will also take large squid (del Hoyo et al. 1992). It forages by plunge-diving, followed by pursuits under water (Jennings 2010). It breeds year-round on rocky coasts and offshore islands on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010). While adults usually remain close to the colony, particularly young birds disperse over large distances across the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman and occasionally into the Arabian Gulf (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
While the most relevant potential threat to the species in UAE waters is from oil spills, breeding colonies may be affected by a range of threats, which in turn could impact individuals that visit UAE. Collection of eggs and hunting of adults from breeding colonies (Carboneras et al. 2018) is thought to be causing slow and significant declines. Masked Boobies are sensitive to human disturbance, with visitors passing within 10-20 m causing birds to leave their nest (Borsa et al. 2010); however, this is not believed to be significantly affecting the population in the UAE. Invasive species, primarily House Rats Rattus rattus, also could pose a threat as has been noted in some parts of its range;(for example on Clipperton Island, following the eradication of feral cats Felis catus;[Pitman et al. 2005]).
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Publication
Burfield, I.J., Westrip, J., Sheldon, R.D., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H., Smith, D., Harding, K.A. Allen, D.J. and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Birds. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
