NRLD - 330730 | Telescopus dhara ssp. dhara

Assessment ID

330730

Taxon name

Telescopus dhara ssp. dhara

(Forskål, 1775)

Infrarank

Telescopus dhara dhara

Infratype

Subspecies (animalia)

Uploaded by

National Red List Database

Taxonomic information

Scientific name

Telescopus dhara ssp. dhara

(Forskål, 1775)

Assessed taxon level

Subspecies

Infrarank

Telescopus dhara dhara

Infratype

Subspecies (animalia)

Higher level taxonomic groupings

Vertebrates

Reptiles

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

chordata

Class

reptilia

Order

squamata

Family

colubridae

Genus

Telescopus

Species

dhara

Species authority

(Forskål, 1775)

Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed

Following Crochet et al. (2008), the distinct forms Telescopus dhara obtusus and T. d. somalicus, sometimes treated as full species, are provisionally retained as subspecies of T. dhara pending systematic treatment to clarify their appropriate status.

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

In the United Arab Emirates, this subspecies is known from the Hajar Mountains. The species is listed as Least Concern as there are no known significant direct threats to the species that may cause a decline in its population size presently or in the near future. The majority of the species' habitat in its range remains suitable and is unlikely to be altered in the near future. 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).

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

In the United Arab Emirates, this subspecies is known from the Hajar Mountains (Gardner et al. 2009, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press), from sea level to 600 m asl.Globally, the subspecies range is restricted, following (Crochet et al. 2008) to the Arabian Peninsula, mostly in the mountainous periphery (Saudi Arabia, Oman (Carranza et al. 2018), UAE, Yemen), west to the Sinai Peninsula, north to Israel (close to the southern West Bank of Palestine) and Jordan.

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

In the United Arab Emirates, the species is found in rocky, mountainous areas from sea level to 600 m asl. It is a crepuscular and nocturnal species that feeds on geckos, birds, bats and rodents (Gardner 2013). It has been recorded to be active and hunting on cold winter nights (Gardner 2013). The mating season is in summer and spring. Its oviparous with female laying a clutch of 6-20 eggs (Gardner 2013).

Threats and conservation measures listed

Threats listed in assessment

There are limited threats to the species, which are restricted to the outer limits of its distribution range within the United Arab Emirates, with no known direct impact on the species. Potential threats to the species are quarrying and residential development. The species may be persecuted, as with all snakes.

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