A field guide to the reptiles of Oman

Abstract

Reptiles are among the most important terrestrial vertebrates. They have inhabited our planet for more than 250 million years, and they are adapted to live in a wide variety of environments. There are more than 11,500 different species of reptiles around the world, divided into turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles, characterized by their scaly outer cover. Despite their glorious past, they are not always well-appreciated by humans, especially when compared to mammals and birds, as they cause many deaths annually around the world. The Sultanate of Oman is considered the third-largest in the Arabian Peninsula. With its vast landscapes and seascapes, hosts one of the richest biodiversity in the region. Its unique wildlife and vegetation at the north and central parts of the country share species with Iran and Pakistan, while those at the southern parts are of African affinities. The Sultanate of Oman has approximately 50% of the total number of reptile species in the Arabian Peninsula, ranking it as one of the countries with the highest reptile diversity in Arabia. Despite this high diversity, there are still many gaps in the knowledge of the life history, population size, and real distribution of Oman reptiles. In addition to that, climate change is expected to cause more heat stress, changing the natural habitats of many reptile species and making it very difficult to predict how they will be affected.