CR

Cordia quercifolia | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
It is a straggling tree with fruit, and perhaps leaves, that are edible to livestock. This species is generally found growing on rocky ledges in the mountains.
Taxon
Taxa
Cordia quercifolia | Klotzsch
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species is known from one hillside on the northern slopes of Jebel Naqab within the Ru'us al-Jibal (Feulner 2011). It has been recorded from a single locality within this area (MEW 2010). All known individuals have been found in localities inaccessible to livestock. Globally, this species is native to dry and tropical Africa, in addition to the Arabian Peninsula, India and Sri Lanka (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
Fewer than ten individuals are known from a single location in the UAE. Therefore, Cordia quercifolia is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D). There is no reason to doubt the native origin of the species in the UAE, despite the species being known from abandoned agricultural areas, as the species is not known to be associated with agricultural areas elsewhere.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
It is likely that Cordia quercifolia is grazed by animals; the currently known individuals occur in localities inaccessible to livestock, but this restricted distribution may be the result of past grazing, and ongoing grazing may prevent colonisation.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was not recorded in the UAE in 1996 but it is possible that the species was present either in the seedbank or as underground rhizomes, or simply not found, or identified, in surveys. We consider that it is likely to have been present but in similarly small numbers, and would have qualified as CR in 1996.
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Pavonia arabica | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This plant is generally found growing in sand near the base of slopes or cliffs. It is a perennial species, covered with hair and glands and can reach up to 40 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has oval leaves with pointed tips and toothed edges, in addition to round mericarp fruits and solitary pink or white flowers, which can be seen between January and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Taxon
Taxa
Pavonia arabica | Hochst. & Steud. ex Boiss.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species has only been recorded from a single location: coastal sands close to Khor Fakkan, by G.R. Feulner (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010). The estimated extent of occurrence of this species is 4 km<sup>2</sup>. Despite the locality undergoing change, the species persists (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2019). Globally, the native range of the species spans from Tanzania to Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, to Pakistan and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii); D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is restricted to a single location within the UAE. It is rare, with no more than 25 mature individuals seen, and is now thought to be threatened by human disturbance as a result of improved access to the area for leisure activities, such as hiking. Based on this, the species habitat is inferred to decline in quality. This decline, combined with an estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 4 km<sup>2</sup>, this species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), D). The species is also considered threatened elsewhere in the Gulf region, and no regional rescue effect is applied.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The site where this species is found has recently become more accessible to tourist activities and human disturbance (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010), including management for amenity use. This may negatively impact the species, although it is unclear to what extent.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The population is thought to have always always been small (and hence qualify as CR), although the declines are more recent.
Verified entry
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Grewia tenax | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species grows as a large shrub (Feulner 2011). It is known from moist ravines and cliffs of mountainous areas, such as Jebel Qitab (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). A perennial and woody species, this plant can grow up to 200 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Between November to March, small white flowers are present, and it also produces an orange-yellow fruit with multiple lobes (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The species is associated with outer range-restricted species that have also been subject to drought in recent years.
Taxon
Taxa
Grewia tenax | (Forssk.) Fiori
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species has been recorded from slopes within the north-east of Jebel Qitab (Feulner 2011) and from nearby Wadi Hayl in 2015 (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium) in the Olive Highlands. The species appears to be restricted to this specific habitat within the UAE (Feulner 2011), however it is also found in Ru'us al-Jibal in northern Oman (Jongbloed et al. 2003), e.g. the Wadi Khaab Shamsi gorge in Oman. Generally, the species is found in a few scattered montane locations (Jongbloed et al. 2003, MEW 2010) in the region. The native range for this species extends from the Sahara to Tanzania and the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to from southern Africa to the Indian subcontinent (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very restricted distribution within the UAE, having only been recorded from Jebel Qitab and Wadi Hayl. Its estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 24 km<sup>2</sup> and area of occupancy (AOO) is 8 km<sup>2</sup>. According to the most important threat to this species (drought and extreme weather), it is considered to occur at one threat-based location. In addition, this species is experiencing an ongoing decline in the extent and quality of available habitat due to ongoing droughts and grazing by animals. Therefore, this species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)). There is not considered to be any rescue effect from subpopulations in Oman, meaning that no regional adjustment is required for the assessment and it remains as Critically Endangered.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
This species is threatened by ongoing drought, in addition to grazing by feral animals.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Although the species may have been in better condition as a result of higher rainfall in the 1990s, the species is considered to also have been CR in 1996.
Verified entry
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Maerua crassifolia | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Incomplete
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Maerua crassifolia is a tree that can reach up to 9 m, found on the lower mountain slopes (Jongbloed et al. 2003) in the UAE. It also occurs on gravel terraces in Oman.
Taxon
Taxa
Maerua crassifolia | Forssk.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Jongbloed et al. (2003) recorded this species within the UAE from four very localised records in the Wadi Ghalilah and Wadi Sha'am, in the area of northern Ras al Khaimah by Allestree Fisher (Karim and Fawzi 2007, G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010, Feulner and Roobas 2013). The species also occurs in Oman in the Ru'us al-Jibal at lower altitudes (Feulner 2011), where it is common. Feulner (2011) notes that the main range of the species in the eastern Arabian Peninsula is south of the Al-Ain/Buraimi area, outside of the UAE. The species occurs close to Al Ain in Oman, at Jebel Qatar, and especially from Wadi Jizzi southwards (Feulner 2016). Globally, this species is distributed across Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to Iran and Pakistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
The only records of this species within the UAE are from to adjacent wadis in northern Ras al Khaimah, where a few scattered individuals are reported (Feulner and Roobas 2013). The total number of mature individuals is inferred to be less than 50. The species also occurs in the Ru'us al-Jibal at lower altitudes (Feulner 2011), however confirmation of presence within the UAE is required as its possible that these occurrences are the result of cultivation, due to most or all occurring in anthropogenic habitats. Based on the occurrence in the Wadi Ghalilah area, the extent of occurrence (EOO) and areas of occupancy AOO) are likely to be highly restricted, however these metrics have not been estimated as detailed locality records are not available. Based on the number of mature individuals being inferred to be less than 50, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D) and it is likely that the species may also qualify for a threatened category under criterion B based on the probably restricted EOO and AOO. Further research and survey work is needed for this species to confirmation its distribution, origin, and population status. No rescue effect from populations in Oman is considered likely because the nearest known populations are in Oman close to Al Ain.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
An extensive quarry operates in the lower parts of Wadi Ghalilah and dust from this may impact the species given the prevailing wind in the area. Grazing also impacts the species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The situation for this species in 1996 is likely to have been similar to its current situation.
Verified entry
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Ehretia obtusifolia | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is found on moist and sheltering northeast facing slopes, summit cliffs and ravines at Jebel Qitab (Feulner 2014). It generally grows amongst rocks, where it is often found spread below other large shrubs or trees (Feulner 2014), and is often associated with olive trees (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010). Little or no regeneration is seen.
Taxon
Taxa
Ehretia obtusifolia | Hochst. ex A.DC.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1996 from cliffs on Jebel Qitab at c. 1,000 m asl (Feulner 1997) and this remains the single known site for the species in the UAE. The species is locally common at a small number of localities above c. 800 m elsewhere in Hajar Mountains in Oman (including Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Ghaweel; Feulner 1997). It is absent from the Ru'us al-Jibal in the UAE (Feulner 2011). The species has an EOO and an AOO of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup>. Jongbloed et al. (2003) show the species in the Wadi Khabb Shamsi gorge, in Oman. The native range of this species is from southern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to northwestern India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1996; this single know location at Jebel Qitab, from c. 650 m to c. 1,000 m asl, still remains. The species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of less than 20 km<sup>2</sup> and occurs in one location, based on drought and the potential threats of grazing. G.R. Feulner (in litt, MEW 2010) reported a maximum of 30 plants, perhaps fewer than 20, and there was little or no regeneration seen. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR D) based on the number of mature individuals being less than 50. Whilst the species occurs at other sites within the Hajar Mountains in Oman, it is thought that there is little opportunity for a rescue effect, and the assessment remains CR.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species has been impacted in the past by periods of drought (Feulner 2014). Grazing by feral donkeys and goats may also pose a threat.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was first seen in 1997, when they were in better condition (wetter years) but with the same or similar number of individuals.
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Asaccus caudivolVulnerablelus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is currently considered to be restricted to an isolated rocky outcrop along the Hajar Mountains on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates. It occurs from sea level up to 20 m in elevation and appears to prefer sea-facing rock cliffs with large boulders. It is strictly nocturnal: all specimens have been seen during the night and avoided surveyors' torch beams, retreating into crevices and holes or fleeing across boulders. Females breed year-round, laying a single egg multiple times a year.
Taxon
Taxa
Asaccus caudivolVulnerablelus | Arnold & Gardner, 1994
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
A recent systematic revision by Carranza et al. (2016), using an integrative approach including molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and morphological data, indicated that the species originally classified as Asaccus caudivolVulnerablelus (Arnold and Gardner 1994, Gardner 2013) was an assemblage of three different species that started diversifying during the Mid-Miocene. The analyses uncovered a very old diversification event that resulted in a case of microendemicity, where three morphologically and ecologically similar medium-sized species previously classified within A. caudivolVulnerablelus coexist in a very short and narrow mountain stretch.As a result of this study, two new species -“ A. gardneri and A. margaritae -“ were described, both of them widely distributed across the northern tip of the Hajar Mountains. Conversely the third species - Asaccus caudivolVulnerablelus sensu stricto - appears to be restricted to a small coastal area of the United Arab Emirates under heavy development, where the only two localities in which the species has ever been recorded occur. The molecular analyses indicate that A. caudivolVulnerablelus has been evolving independently from its sister taxon, A. gardneri, for approximately four million years.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is only known from two localities along a narrow strip of the east coast of the United Arab Emirates: the type locality at Jebel Ra's, 2.5 km south of Khor Fakkan, Emirates of Sharjah; and a second locality (named ""locality 29"" by Carranza et al. 2016) a few kilometres further north of Sharm, Emirates of Fujairah. No specimens have been recorded from the type locality since 1973, and it is considered likely to have been extirpated from this locality (see Threats). Consequently, the only confirmed specimens that have been found in the past 45 years are restricted to the second locality. It is possible that the species occurs in other putatively suitable areas of the same coastal stretch that have not been surveyed as a result of restricted access due to development. The species has been found between sea level up to 20 m in elevation.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is the only reptile currently known to be endemic to the United Arab Emirates. It is only known from two localities along a narrow strip of the east coast of the United Arab Emirates. No specimens have been recorded from the type locality (near Khor Fakkan, Emirates of Sharjah) since 1973, with the only recent records being from a second known locality, a few kilometres further north of Sharm, Emirates of Fujairah. The only confirmed specimens that have been found in the past 45 years are therefore restricted to the second locality and the species is consequently considered to survive at a single location defined by the threat from development. It is possible that the species occurs in other potentially suitable habitats along the same coastal stretch, or persists at the type locality, and additional survey in these areas is urgently required. The species has been found between sea level up to 20 m in elevation. Both the extent of occurrence (EOO) and the area of occupancy (AOO) are estimated at 8 km<sup>2</sup> based on a 2x2 km grid drawn around the two localities, however both the EOO and the AOO are in reality very much more restricted, with the species found on isolated rocky outcrops and presumed to have been lost from one of these.The species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v)) as a result of its restricted EOO and AOO, with both of the known localities, as well as areas along the east coast of the United Arab Emirates with apparently similar habitat characteristics, under heavy transformation or have already been converted for industrial, residential or tourist development. The species is currently considered to persist at a single location defined by the described threats, which are resulting in a continuing decline in the extent and quality of this species' habitat, and inferred to be causing a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals.Conservation actions are urgently required for this species, including ex situ conservation, and the potential for the establishment of new sub-populations should be investigated.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The only locality where an extant population has been confirmed is under severe transformation (Carranza et al. 2016 shows an image of the locality with construction machinery in the foreground) and is zoned for development and road construction. The site is subject to dynamite blasting as part of the construction and is already under heavy transformation. This may be one of the only areas retaining suitable habitat for this species.The type locality, a mountain outcrop, is surrounded by quarrying, industrial development and harbour (importation port) which destroyed most of the suitable habitat for the species. Access to the area due to the harbour and quarrying activities is now restricted, which prevents surveys at the type locality.Marine pollution, primarily oil pollution, is an additional likely threat, with significant numbers of oil spoils known in the area.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
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Alaudala rufescens | UAE National Red List of Birds

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species occurs on open plains of sand or gravel, covered with a dense layer of grasses and herbs (Jennings 2010). It is often found on cultivated areas, near rain pools and on saltflats (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids areas with dense vegetation of bushes and trees, and is rare in rocky deserts and on hillsides (Jennings 2010). It is often found in association with other larks, especially the Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (Jennings 2010). In winter, the species can form flocks of up to several thousand individuals (Jennings 2010). There is no information available on its diet in the UAE. Elsewhere, the diet varies seasonally between invertebrates and seeds. In the spring it feeds mostly on invertebrates and in winter mostly seeds with a mix of the two consumed in summer. Fruits and bulbs are also taken. The breeding season lasts from February to August. The nest is a small scrape on the ground beside a small shrub or tuft, or in the open and lined with vegetation. Normally four to five eggs are laid.
Taxon
Taxa
Alaudala rufescens | (Vieillot, 1820)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Calandrella rufescens (AERC TAC [2003]; Cramp et al. [1977-1994]; Dowsett & Forbes-Watson [1993]; Sibley & Monroe [1990, 1993]) and C. cheleensis (Sibley & Monroe [1990, 1993]) have been lumped into Alaudala rufescens following del Hoyo and Collar (2016).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The majority of occurrences of this species within the UAE are likely to be of migrant individuals on passage to and from the breeding grounds in September-November and March-April (Richardson 1990, Pedersen et al. 2017). It is also a common wintering bird in the country (Pedersen et al. 2017). Since 1993, there was a small resident population of about 20 pairs in the UAE, which bred on Taweela Island/Ras Ghanada (Abu Dhabi) and Siniyah Island (Umm al-Quwain), as well as along the coast from Umm al-Quwain to Ras al-Khaimah emirates (Richardson and Aspinall 1998, Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017). However, it is now believed that the species no longer breeds regularly in the UAE, if it still breeds at all (R. Sheldon;in litt.;2019). There hasn't been sufficient surveying work, though, to confirm its disappearance from the country as a breeding species, and it is quite possible that there could be individuals breeding in unsurveyed areas. Therefore, for this process it is tentatively treated as being still extant.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a small non-breeding population that would warrant a listing as Endangered under criterion D. However, the species is thought to have previously bred in the UAE, and the breeding status takes precedence here. The species is suspected to no longer be a breeding species in the country, but lack of sufficient survey work to confirm its disappearance from the whole country means that it is tentatively treated here as being still extant. Any remaining breeding population is still thought to be tiny. Therefore, the species is listed here as Critically Endangered under criterion D.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Development around Ras Ghanada could encroach on breeding sites, but this was thought to be likely to only have a negligible impact on the population, and Aspinall (1996) believed that unless there is to be any significant change in land-use in the near future it is unlikely that the species will face any severe threats. Given that the species has now potentially gone extinct within the UAE as a breeding species either Aspinall (1996) underestimated the impact of development on this species or there are further unidentified threats that have driven the species's potential disappearance as a breeding bird in UAE. Predation by cats,;Felis catus,;has been noted to cause local declines on the Arabian Peninsula for Crested Lark (Symes;et al.;2015), and this is another possible threat to this species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment, as while there was still confirmed breeding in 1996, the population size would still likely have met the thresholds for listed as Critically Endangered.
Verified entry
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Calandrella brachydactyla | UAE National Red List of Birds

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
During migration and winter, it is found in semi-desert plains (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). During the breeding season, it favours lush vegetation, like cultivated and irrigated zones which experienced above average rainfall during the previous winter (Jennings 2010). During migration, it can form flocks of up to 5,000 individuals, which cross the country in April and August-November (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017). It feeds on the ground and in low vegetation. There is no information available on its diet in the UAE, but elsewhere it feeds mainly on invertebrates, supplementing them with seeds and the green parts of plants (Jennings 2010). Little is known about its breeding biology in the UAE and Arabian Peninsula. The breeding period may last from March to June (Jennings 2010). Elsewhere, the nest is built by the female, of grasses, rootlets and similar vegetation, lined with softer material and placed in a shallow scrape on the ground, usually beside a shrub or grass tuft. It often has a small rampart of sticks or stones. Clutch size is about three eggs in Arabia (Jennings 2010).
Taxon
Taxa
Calandrella brachydactyla | (Leisler, 1814)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Calandrella brachydactyla and C. dukhunensis (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) were previously lumped into C. brachydactyla following AERC TAC (2003), Cramp et al. (1977-“1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), and Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).Closely related to C. cinerea, with which often previously merged, and to C. blanfordi, C. eremica and C. acutirostris; until recently considered conspecific with C. dukhunensis (see related note). Geographical variation slight and clinalà¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬becoming paler and greyer to E, more rufous and streaked above to Wà¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬but greatly complicated by strong influence of wear, considerable individual variation and lack of natural boundaries; described ranges of listed taxa somewhat arbitrary. We follow Donald and Alström (in prep) in treating Greater Short-toed Lark as monotypic, finding no support for the usually accepted subspecies woltersi, hungarica, hermonensis, rubiginosa, artemisiana and longipennis. Note that the breeding range does not extend so far east into Mongolia as previously thought, indeed it is unclear whether it occurs in Mongolia at all. The species is monotypic.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The majority of occurrences of this species in the UAE are of migrating individuals on passage to and from the breeding sites. The abundance is highest in early April and in mid-August to November (Pedersen et al. 2017). It occasionally winters in the country, but numbers vary (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010). It was thought to be likely that at least 5-20 pairs regularly breed in the country (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017), but it is now believed that the species may no longer breed regularly in the UAE (R. Sheldon;in litt.;2019). Any remaining breeding population is still thought to be tiny, but there have been recent reports of individuals in suitable habitat in the breeding season.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a small non-breeding population that would warrant a listing as Endangered under criterion D. However, the species is thought to have previously bred in the UAE, and the breeding status takes precedence here. Any remaining breeding population is still thought to be tiny, and there have been recent reports of individuals in suitable habitat in the breeding season. Therefore, the species is listed here as Critically Endangered under criterion D.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Within the UAE, predation by cats,;Felis catus,;has been noted to cause local declines on the Arabian Peninsula for Crested Lark (Symes;et al.;2015), and this is another possible threat to this species. Overgrazing outside of Protected Areas could also pose a threat. As a migratory species, individuals that over-winter in UAE but breed elsewhere may be subject to threats outside of the country too - although the scope and severity of impact on the UAE population is essentially unknown. From BirdLife International (2015), in Europe the main threats to the species are from agricultural intensification (leading to loss of fallows, increased number of irrigation schemes, increase in surface area covered by crops, etc.), afforestation of wastelands (de Juana;et al. 2012), and residential expansion (Tucker and Heath 1994).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Verified entry
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Strix butleri | UAE National Red List of Birds

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
There is no information available on the habitat requirements and ecology of this species in the UAE. In Oman, it occurs in rocky wadis with scattered trees, surrounded by cliffs and steep mountain slopes (Robb et al. 2013). It is likely that is requires cliffs for nesting (Robb et al. 2013).
Taxon
Taxa
Strix butleri | (Hume, 1878)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Strix butleri;was previously listed as;S. omanensis;in del Hoyo and Collar (2014) based on the description under this name by Robb;et al. (2013).;S hadorami;(Kirwan, Schweizer & Copete, 2015) was previously listed as;S. butleri;in del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and before.Recent genetic and morphological analyses have revealed that the type specimen of S. butleri -;the geographical provenance of which is open to doubt - differs significantly from all other specimens previously ascribed to this species, indicating (despite the lack of vocal data definitively linked to the same population as the type) that two species are involved, principally because the degree of molecular differentiation is close to that in other taxa of Strix traditionally recognised as species, which led to populations of this species from S Oman to the Levant and E Egypt, which share the same morphology and vocalizations, being described as a separate species, Desert Tawny Owl S. hadorami.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The status of this species in the UAE is not clear. Individuals were heard calling in Wadi Wurayah National Park (Fujairah Emirate) on several occasions in March 2015 and March 2017, suggesting that there might be a small resident population in the area (Pedersen et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This recently rediscovered and little-known species is suspected to have a tiny population size within the UAE and so despite more research into this species being needed, it is listed here as Critically Endangered under criterion D.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There is apparently no information available on potential threats to this little-known species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Verified entry
Off

Falco peregrinus | UAE National Red List of Birds

Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is mainly found in forests, on mountains and on cliffs, but also on marshes and waste land (Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE, but elsewhere birds make up most of the diet, principally pigeons and doves (del Hoyo et al. 1994). The species is highly migratory, particularly populations breeding in the temperate and Arctic parts of its range, and birds passing though or wintering in the UAE likely breed in northern Europe and Russia (Richardson 1990). Migrating birds leave their breeding sites between August and November, and return between March and May (Snow and Perrins 1998). Migrants readily fly over expanses of sea and ocean. Most birds travel singly or in pairs, even on migration (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).
Taxon
Taxa
Falco peregrinus | Tunstall, 1771
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Falco peregrinus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously split as F. peregrinus and F. pelegrinoides following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is uncommon in the UAE, and is a rare breeding resident (Pedersen et al. 2017). The majority of occurrences are of migrants on passage to and from the breeding grounds, as well as of individuals from northern Europe and Russia overwintering in the country (Richardson 1990, Pedersen et al. 2017). A considerable number of individuals may be escaped or released falconry birds (Richardson 1990, Pedersen et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has an extremely small breeding and non-breeding population in the UAE, with an unknown population trend. This qualifies it for listing as Critically Endangered. In the wider Arabian Peninsula, the subspecies referred to as 'Peregrine Falcon' is considered to be stable or increasing, while the much more common subspecies, 'Barbary Falcon', is in rapid decline, indicating that conditions outside of the UAE might be deteriorating for the species. Therefore, the species is retained as Critically Endangered at the national level.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species is trapped and used extensively in falconry, although the population-level impacts of this are uncertain (Aspinall 1996, White;et al.;2013). Most trapping within UAE would likely be with Saker Falcon as the target species, but because Peregrines (including Barbary Falcons) are more common, they are likely to be trapped more readily that Sakers (Aspinall 1996). While this is likely to be biased towards juvenile individuals being trapped, it could still pose a significant threat to adult birds if trapping occurs in areas with local breeding populations (Aspinall 1996).Outside of the UAE, persecution throughout its range was the major threat in the 19<sup>th</sup> and early 20<sup>th</sup> centuries (Snow and Perrins 1998). Severe global population declines in the 1960s-1970s were driven by eggshell breakage and mortality of adults and embryos from the hydrocarbon contamination associated with pesticides of that time (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, White;et al.;2013). Rock climbing activities pose a threat to the species's nest sites (Global Raptor Information Network 2015). It is highly vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy development (STRIX 2012).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Verified entry
Off