Annotated checklist and distribution of the Socotran Archipelago Herpetofauna (Reptilia)

Abstract

We update the knowledge on the 30 terrestrial reptile species of Socotra, an archipelago well known for its highly endemic flora and fauna. We use the records obtained during several surveys throughout all the islands of the archipelago, carried out between 2007 and 2010, as well as the bibliographic records. We recorded all the known species of terrestrial reptiles for the islands (Chamaeleo monachus, Haemodracon riebeckii, Haemodracon trachyrhinus, Hemidactylus dracaenacolus, H. granti, H. homoeolepis, H. flaviviridis, H. forbesi, H. inintellectus, H. oxyrhinus, H. robustus, H. pumilio, Pristurus abdelkuri, P. guichardi, P. obsti, P. insignoides, P. insignis, P. sokotranus, P. samhaensis, Mesalina balfouri, M. kuri, Hakaria simonyi, Trachylepis socotrana, Pachycalamus brevis, Leptotyphlops filiformis, L. macrurus, L. wilsoni, Typhlops socotranus, Ditypophis vivax, Hemerophis socotrae). We report for the first time the occurrence of Hemidactylus robustus in Samha Island. H. homoeolepis is excluded from the fauna of Abd al-Kuri Island.

Out of Arabia: A Complex Biogeographic History of Multiple Vicariance and Dispersal Events in the Gecko Genus Hemidactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)

“…3, the level of intraspecific variation of these Socotran species is very high. According to the results of the BPP (Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography [58]) species delimitation method applied by Gómez-Díaz et al [26], the four endemic Socotran species in fact consist of 13 ´putative specieś, and suggest that the diversity of Hemidactylus on the relatively small island of Socotra is very high and has probably been favoured by ecological diversification and morphological separation of evolutionary independent lineages [26], [59], [60].…”

Origin and in situ diversification in Hemidactylus geckos of the Socotra Archipelago

“…Remarkably, the archipelago is considered the ‘ jewel of the Arabian Sea’ because of its high level of diversity and endemism. For example, 37% of Socotra’s 825 plant species, 90% of its 30 reptile species and 95% of its 100 land snail species are not found anywhere else in the world (Van Damme 2009; Razzetti et al. 2011).…”

“…Reptiles constitute the most relevant vertebrate fauna of the Socotra Archipelago, with 30 species and a very high level of endemism at both the specific (90%) and generic (41%) levels (Rösler & Wranik 2004; Sindaco et al. 2009; Razzetti et al. 2011).…”

“…2011). These reptile assemblages are in most cases composed of species that show distinct patterns of spatial distribution and habitat use (Razzetti et al. 2011).…”

“…One of these groups of lizards inhabiting Socotra that show high species diversity and distinct island ecotypes is the geckos of the genus Hemidactylus (Sindaco et al. 2009; Razzetti et al. 2011).…”