an exploratory tour for those who love to learning and studying about Flora, Fauna & Caves.

Isolation of Socotra Archipelago and it’s location in the northwest Indian Ocean near Gulf of Aden, is 250 km long and comprises four islands and two rocky islets which appear as prolongation of the Horn of Africa. Socotra is globally important for biodiversity conservation because of its exceptionally rich and distinct flora and fauna. 37% of Socotra ‘s 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world.

The site also support globally significant populations of land and sea birds ( 192 birds species. The marine life of Socotra is also very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp.

flora

The long geological isolation of the Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought have combined to create a unique and spectacular endemic flora. Botanical field surveys led by the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, indicate that 307 out of the 825 plant species on Socotra are endemic, i.e., they are found nowhere else on Earth. The entire flora of the Socotra Archipelago has been assessed for the IUCN Red List, with three Critically Endangered and 27 Endangered plant species recognised in 2004.

One of the most striking of Socotra’s plants is the dragon’s blood tree, which is a strange-looking, umbrella-shaped tree. Its red sap was thought to be the dragon’s blood of the ancients, sought after as a dye, and today used as paint and varnish. Also important in ancient times were Socotra’s various endemic aloes, used medicinally, and for cosmetics.

 Other endemic plants include the giant succulent tree Dorstenia gigas; Dendrosicyos socotranus; the rare Socotran pomegranate, Aloe perryi, and Boswellia socotrana. Also.

 the cucumber tree, just only tree that is not found somewhere else except found on Socotra Island. The name of the tree taken from its fruits that look like cucumbers but is not edible for human. It is the only tree-like plant of the gourd family in the world. Its appearance resembles a baobab – a thick, fleshy trunk – up to a meter in diameter, small branches pulling up a sparse crown. In the past, this unique species was often found on the territory of the island, but due to active use for economic purposes, its number has significantly decreased.

 Bottle tree include Adenium Socotranum, also known as the desert rose. This plant is consider one of the most beautiful desert flowers. The trunk of the tree is very wide and fleshy and thick.

Sometimes the tree gives a crown decorated with pink flowers, this kind of tree is slow growing and These types of trees grow on mountainous heights as well as on the coastal strip grow on difficult condition even grow on bare rock.