Annotated checklist and distribution of the Socotran Archipelago Herpetofauna (Reptilia)
Author
Razzetti, Edoardo
Author
Sindaco, Roberto
Author
Grieco, Cristina
Author
Pella, Francesca
Author
Ziliani, Ugo
Author
Pupin, Fabio
Author
Riservato, Elisa
Author
Pellitteri-Rosa, Daniele
Author
Butikofer, Luca
Author
Suleiman, Ahmed Saeed
Author
Al-Aseily, Badar Awadh
text
Zootaxa
2011
2826
1
44
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.277271
57ad688b-b528-4bde-af1f-150e17250371
1175-5326
277271
Hemidactylus dracaenacolus
Rösler & Wranik, 1999
Hemidactylus dracaenacolus
Rösler & Wranik, 1999
: 252
—Locus typicus “Diksam,
695 m
NN (Locus Typicus 12°
29.73N
,
53°59.18’O
),
Sokotra
”.
Hemidactylus dracaenacolus
.
—
Rösler & Wranik, 2004
: 511
, Pl. 11.
As indicated by the scientific name,
Hemidactylus dracaenacolus
is thought to be linked to the Dragon’s blood Tree (
Dracaena cynnabari
).
This recently described species was known from the two
type
specimens only, that have been both collected at Diksam at about
700 m
a.s.l. (
Rösler & Wranik, 1999
,
2004
).
Habitat.
We recorded many individuals in six localities of the Diksam plateau, the most distant locations are within 8.5 km from each other, the altitudes range between 762 and 1004 meters a.s.l. (Qaroni). The species was observed during the day under stones at the base of
Dracaena
trees, and at night active on the trunk, with only one specimen active on the ground.
Original data.
Fig. 6. Dheroh, Diksam plateau, SW Diksam.
Bibliographic data.
Rösler & Wranik (1999
,
2003
,
2004
).
General distribution.
Apparently endemic to the Diksam Plateau of
Socotra
Island.
Remarks.
Up to now
H. dracaenacolus
was known only from the
type
locality. If further research will confirm that the distribution of this species is limited to a small area of the Diksam Plateau and to the
Dracaena
trees,
Hemidactylus dracaenacolus
should be considered as critically endangered due to the bad conservation status of the
Dracaena
trees on the island (
Adolt & Pavlis, 2004
;
Attorre
et al.,
2007
).