Nature in Yemen

Birds found nowhere else include the Socotra Sunbird (IBC), the Socotra Bunting (ARKive), the Socotra Starling (IBC), the Arabian Accentor (Ulf Ståhle), and the Socotra Cisticola (IBC). The Socotra Warbler (IBC) is an endemic genus. Sometimes recognized as distinct species are the Socotra Scops Owl Otus socotranus (Hanne & Jens Eriksen), the Socotra Buzzard Buteo socotrae (ARKive), the Socotra Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus (IBC), the Abd al-Kuri SparrowPasser hemileucus (Wikipedia), and the Socotra Sparrow Passer insularis (IBC).

Reptile n Racer Hemerophis (or Coluber)socotrae (Reptile Database), Gunther’s Racer Ditypophis vivax (Herpfolio), a geckoHaemodracon trachyrhinus (Herpfolio), a skink Hakaria simonyi (Reptile Database), and the Short Worm Lizard Pachycalamus brevis (flickr). Other endemic reptile species include the Yemen Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx yemenensis (uromastyx-ocellata.de), the Socotra Chameleon Chamaeleo monachus (Ulf Ståhle), a skinkTrachylepis cristinae (Herpfolio), a wall lizard Mesalina balfouri (Herpfolio), a leaf-toed gecko Hemidactylus dracaenacolus (ARKive), the Socotra Rock GeckoPristurus sokotranus (flickr), and the Socotra Worm Snake Typhlops socotranusgenera unique to Yemen include the Socotra(Reptile Database).

Mammals restricted to Yemen include the Black-tufted Gerbil Gerbillus famulus(Planet’ Mammiferes), the recently described mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hadramauticum (nm.cz pdf file), and the extinct Yemen Gazelle Gazella bilkis (Colin Groves). 

Scortecci’s Toad (IUCN Red List) is an endemic amphibian.

Freshwater fish exclusive to Yemen include Carasobarbus (or Barbus) exulatus(FishBase) and Garra mamshuqa (p. 4 of BiK-F pdf file). Endemic marine fish include the Socotran Snakelet Halidesmus socotraensis (FishBase), a scorpionfishChoridactylus striatus (eol), the Gold-spotted Dottyback Pseudochromis chrysospilus and the Socotra Dottyback Pseudochromis socotraensis (both atZootaxa 7 MB pdf file).

Insects known only from Yemen include a butterfly Charaxes balfouri (drlegrain.be), a slug moth Parasa dusii (Open i), an owlet moth Cerocala socotrensis (fig. 27 atInternet Archive), a miller moth Meharia hackeri (Wikipedia), a damselfly Azuragrion(or Enallagma) granti (Asia Dragonfly), a soapberry bug Leptocoris bahram(Soapberry Bugs of the World), a scarab beetle Canudema socotrae (Hannetons), and the longhorned beetles Cantharocnemis strandi (Cerambycidae) andNothopleurus (or Mallodon) arabicus (Cerambycidae). Other endemic invertebrates include a huntsman spider Olios socotranus (Herpfolio), a jumping spider Rafalus insignipalpis (Salticidae of the World), the Socotra Island Blue Baboon SpiderMonocentropus balfouri (sklipkani.cz), a scorpion Hottentotta socotrensis(Hottentotta), a freshwater crab Socotrapotamon socotrensis (Herpfolio), and the land snails Socotora naticoides (p. 18 of Tentacle pdf file) and Riebeckia sokotorana(Socotra Archipelago).

The over 400 vascular plant species living solely in Yemen include the Dragon’s Blood Tree Dracaena cinnabari (AR

Kive), the Desert Rose Adenium socotranum(ARKive), the Bitter Aloe Aloe perryi (botany.cz), Dirachma socotrana (ARKive), a pomegranate Punica protopunica (ARKive), Begonia samhaensis (ABS), Cissus hamaderohensis (Cal’s Plant of the Week), Caralluma socotrana (flickr), Cadaba insularis (ARKive), Exacum affine (Cal’s Plant of the Week), Launaea crepoides(ARKive), the Socotran Fig Dorstenia gigas (botany.cz), Indigofera sokotrana(ARKive), Boswellia

elongata (ARKive), Jatropha unicostata (botany.cz), andEchidnopsis globosa (asclepidarium.de). Endemic genera include the Cucumber TreeDendrosicyos (ARKive), Angkalanthus (ARKive), Trichocalyx

(Botanická zahradaTeplice), Socotrella (ARKive), Haya (botany.cz),

Cephalocrotonopsis (botany.cz),Duvaliandra (ARKive), Ballochia (botany.cz), Cyanixea

(Botanická zahrada Teplice),Tamridaea (JS

TOR), Placopoda (botany.cz), Nirarathamnos (Google Books),
Portions of Yemen are included in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot(CI), the Horn of Africa biodiversity hotspot (CI) and.the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coral reef hotspot (Reef Guardian pdf file). Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Socotra Island Xeric Shrublands (EoE), the Southwestern Arabian Montane Woodlands (EoE) and the Arabian Peninsula Coastal Fog Desert (EoE). For more on the remarkable endemic flora and fauna of Socotra see (Socotra Archipelago) and(Friends of Soqotra).andLachnocapsa (ARKive).