Mapping the terrestrial reptile distributions in Oman and the United Arab Emirates

Andrew Gardner

doi:10.3897/zookeys.31.133

Abstract

The terrestrial reptile fauna of Oman and the United Arab Emirates is rich, with at least 79 species of lizards and snakes and a single species of worm lizard. However, to date there have been no accurate maps published of their distribution ranges, and distribution data relies on scattered museum specimen localities and published accounts. Considerable numbers of locality data points do exist, collected by visting and resident herpetologists, and more recently, from ecologists working on surveys for environmental impact assessments and biodiversity action plans. These data are invaluable, as amongst other uses, they can assist conservation planning and management, and will eventually document changes in distributions over time. This is especially true where there has been extensive habitat loss and degradation due to urbanisation and development activities. Data have been collected from museum records, published accounts and unpublished data from a variety of sources, including many records made by the author over the last 20 years, with the aim of producing an atlas of species distributions. The number of records is now approaching 5.000, giving sufficient coverage to produce maps that are useful for a variety of applications. Examples are discussed, including endangered and endemic species, snakes of medical importance and species of potential interest in ecological and evolutionary studies.

Highlights

Oman and the United Arab Emirates support a diverse terrestrial reptile fauna, including a number of species which are endemic at the regional and national levels (Gardner 1999, 2005b, 2008; Hornby 1996)
Eighty species of terrestrial reptiles have been recorded from Oman and the UAE: these being 58 lizards, 1 amphisbaenian and 21 snakes (Table 1, Appendix 1)
The numbers of species on the country lists in both Oman and the UAE has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, as entirely new species have been described, existing species have been split, and further species have been recorded within the national boundaries

Summary

Introduction

Oman and the United Arab Emirates support a diverse terrestrial reptile fauna, including a number of species which are endemic at the regional and national levels (Gardner 1999, 2005b, 2008; Hornby 1996). Eighty species of terrestrial reptiles have been recorded from Oman and the UAE: these being 58 lizards, 1 amphisbaenian and 21 snakes (Table 1, Appendix 1).

Results

Conclusion