NRLD - 330160 | Echis omanensis

Assessment ID

330160

Taxon name

Echis omanensis

Babocsay, 2004

Uploaded by

National Red List Database

Taxonomic information

Scientific name

Echis omanensis

Babocsay, 2004

Assessed taxon level

Species

Higher level taxonomic groupings

Vertebrates

Reptiles

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

chordata

Class

reptilia

Order

squamata

Family

viperidae

Genus

Echis

Species

omanensis

Species authority

Babocsay, 2004

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)

Country ISO code(s)

ARE

Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?

Not_assigned

Conservation Status

Assessed as

Least Concern

Abbreviated status

Criteria system used

IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification

Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs throughout the Hajar Mountains, and was recently recorded from Jebel Hafeet. The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide range and lack of significant threats. This taxon is not a non-breeding visitor, and it is presumed that any immigration from populations outside the UAE is not significant, and therefore there is no adjustment to the Category according to the IUCN regional and national Guidelines (IUCN 2012). The species population density may be increasing where irrigation projects occur.

Assessment details

Year assessed

2018

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

Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs throughout the Hajar Mountains (Babocsay 2004, Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press) from sea level to 1,000 m asl. The species also occurs in Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain.This species is endemic to the Hajar Mountain of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Egan 2007). The animals are seldom found above 800 m asl.

Is there a map available in assessment?

Yes

Habitat and systems

Ecological system type

Terrestrial

Not_assigned

Freshwater

Not_assigned

Marine

Not_assigned

Habitat

Habitat details as listed in assessment

This species is common in mountain wadis and surrounding rocky terrain, especially in areas having permanent or semi-permanent surface water. They are primarily nocturnal hunters but in cool weather they can be found on bedrock or gravel beside surface water or damp hollows, where they may bask, but also wait in ambush. Their diet consists of small vertebrates, particularly toads, and they emerge in wadi beds during or after light rain to feed on toads which emerge at the same time. Individual snakes have been observed to maintain territories and regular resting place over several years. They are presumably oviparous.

Threats and conservation measures listed

Threats listed in assessment

There are no widespread threats, although some populations may be impacted by localized quarrying and major infrastructure projects within their habitat. Over-extraction of water may have an impact on the species within certain parts of its range. It is persecuted throughout most of its range due to human fear of this venomous species.

Publication

UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Els, J., Allen, D., Hilton-Taylor, C., Harding, K. (2019). UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles. MOCCAE, UAE