Explore Endemic Fauna & Flora
The Island - Enjoy endemic in flora and fauna
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.
Local uses
Many of the plants on Socotra are used by the Socotri people for a wide variety of purposes; in fact the inhabitants are very adept at finding a plant to fulfil a certain function. Some of these endemic species are also well known outside the islands – for example aloes that have been harvested for their bitters, frankincense trees whose resin was traded in antiquity, and of course the dragon’s blood tree which is the most iconic of all Socotri plants. The sap has a wide range of uses, including medicinal.
Fauna
The Socotra Island also has rich in fauna as fascinating as the flora, and has an exceptional number of endemics. However, because the terrestrial fauna is still poorly studied. ButThere are twenty-two important bird sites in the Socotra Archipelago, and a recent study recorded one hundred and seventy-nine species of birds, forty-one of which are resident and breeding on Socotra Island.
also, a study prepared by the Bird Protection Organization, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Council, revealed that Socotra Island contains thirteen endemic species of birds that are not found anywhere in the world except Socotra.
but there are study recorded for long time said there are many of endemic animals which are not found anywhere else the world except in the Island. Including several endemic species of birds, such as the Socotra starling, the Socotra sunbird, Socotra bunting, Socotra cisticola, Socotra sparrow, Socotra golden-winged grosbeak, and a species in a monotypic genus, the Socotra warbler, many of the bird species are endangered by predation
Hakaria is a genus of skink, a lizard in the family Scincid. The genus contains one species, Hakaria simonyi, which is endemic to Socotra.
Socotra bunting or Emberiza socotrana is a species of birds in the family Emberizidae. It is endemic to Yemen, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threarened by habitat loss.
The Egyptian Vulture or Suaeedo as we call it in Socotri language, is one of its largest occurrences in the world here and is present on Socotra, as it is known for its tolerance of people. always you found that kind of birds congregate around wedding celebrations and picnic or on the death animals body. also the shepherds when observe the gathering of that birds somewhere tell them there is something there.
This bird played an important role in cleaning this island of waste, dead animals, and garbage… That is why the island is called the Socotra Municipality.
