Reptiles |
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TERRESTRIAL REPTILES
At least 56 species of terrestrial reptiles are present in the UAE and Ras Al Khaimah. They comprise a wide diversity of lizards, and 14 species of snakes. Reptiles can be spotted in all habitats, including desert, mountains and even urban areas.
Snakes Snakes are usually nocturnal and they hide during the day, but you can easily find their traces on the sand. Snakes in the UAE include primitive blind snakes, small thread snakes, a species of boa, mildly toxic colubrids, and venomous vipers.
One of the smallest snakes is the thread snake. The thread snake looks like an earthworm being only 15-20cm long and weighing less than half a gram. The Jayakar’s sand boa represents boa species. This snake is quite common, although hardly ever seen. It stays under the sand waiting for a pray (geckos, small lizards or mammals), which it kills by constriction.
The colubrids family is composed of seven species, of which three are rear-fanged. These species include: the wadi racer; the Hardwicke’s racer; the awl-headed or leaf-nosed snake; the hooded malpolon (also called the false cobra); the Schokari sand racer (or simply sand snake, it is the longest snake in the Emirates, up to 155cm in length); the diadem snake; and the Arabian cat snake (it has a large head and can be confused with vipers). These snakes, although mildly toxic are completely harmless to people. They are often regarded as beneficial to humans since they help to keep rodents under control.
Venomous snakes consist of four species of vipers. The saw-scaled viper although relatively small (maximum 60cm) is highly aggressive. The less common carpet viper lives in the mountains. The Arabian horned viper is present throughout the sandy areas, thus it is often referred to as the sand viper. The distinctive horns above the eyes of the horned vipers are made up of enlarged scales. The last is Persian horned viper, also called false horned viper. It lives mainly in the higher altitudes and is the longest of the vipers. Vipers can be distinguished from other snakes by their typical stocky body, keeled scales (rather than having smooth skin), a triangular-shaped head distinct from the neck, and eyes with slit-shaped pupils set on top of the head.
Lizards Lizards comprise the largest group of reptiles. Majority of lizards are small, and the most common are house or rock geckos. The spiny tailed agamid, locally known as dhub, is one the largest UAE‘s reptiles with a length of up to 65cm. Despite their appearance, dhubs are good-natured vegetarians. This cannot be said about the monitor lizard (in Arabic called wirral). It is another big reptile, which is also one of the most aggressive reptiles in the UAE. It can grow to a length of 120cm and usually lives in the desert environment.
Other common lizards include toad-head agamas, sand lizards, skinks, or fringe-toed lizards. There is also a single species of worm lizard and amphisbaenia (related to both lizards and snakes) present in the UAE.
MARINE REPTILES
Marine reptiles in the UAE include four turtle species and at least nine sea snakes.
Sea Turtles UAE waters host four turtle species out of seven recognized worldwide. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists all of them as species endangered with extinction. The green turtle (locally called hamas or shire) is the most common. It feeds and nest in the UAE, and usually measure around 1.2m and weigh nearly 200kg. The loggerhead turtle (around 1m in length and 160 in weight) does not nest in the UAE and its presence is proved by discoveries of their skulls. The smallest turtle in the UAE is the hawksbill turtle; its length does not exceed 80cm and weight 50kg. On the contrary, the leatherback turtle is the largest; its weight often exceeds 400kg. They do not nest in the Emirates and are rarely seen. Additionally, the olive ridley turtle is spotted occasionally in UAE waters.
Coastal developments, seawater pollution, oil spillages, disturbance while nesting and trapping turtles in fishing nets are only some examples of threats created by humans that endanger wellbeing of turtles in the UAE. All these issues should be tackled to ensure the survival of these animals.
Sea Snakes At least nine sea snakes are present in UAE waters and they are all venomous. They are usually reluctant to bite (with an exception of yellow sea snake, which tend to be aggressive), but they will do so if provoked. Their live in the water but unlike fish they do not have gills and must surface to breath. They can dive to depths of around 100m and can remain submerged for a few hours. Sea snakes are fairly large from around 80cm up to 2m in length. Sometimes, they can be seen lying at the surface in the sunlight.
Since they are unable to move on land, if washed ashore they may appear dead. They have to wait for the high tide to return to their environment. Although sea snakes typically do not attack humans, you need to know that their venom is the most poisonous of all the snakes, thus do not approach them as in this situation they can become quite aggressive. None of the UAE sea snakes is registered on the CITES or IUCN protection lists.
PREVENTING AND TREATING SNAKES BITES
Snakes are unlikely to attack humans unless they feel threatened, are startled, provoked or have no means of escape. Most of the snakes will flee from the area after feeling ground vibrations and noise caused by treading. The fear of snakes is often irrational. Deaths due to snake bites are very rare, and although snakes can be very dangerous, they do not necessarily inject venom at each bite, and symptoms of shock are often confused as serious snake bites. From that fear of snakes, non-venomous snakes are often killed on sight.
Venomous snakes produce two types of poison, one can paralyze your muscles, another can damage tissue, and some combine both effects. Bites of non-venomous snakes are not a threat to humans, but they should be treated to avoid infection. Take a note that this information is for a reference only and is not a medical advice (!)
Prevention
Wear high boots and long pants. Examine places, like old abandoned houses, before you enter. Keep hands and feet out of areas you cannot see. Examine carefully rocks or wood before picking them up. Do not touch snakes that appear to be dead, e.g. sea snakes on the beach. Leave snakes alone. Do not try to get a closer look at them. Be cautions when climbing rocks. Practice regular pest control to reduce the threat of snakes approaching residential areas to hunt for pray such as rodents. ___________________________________
Treatment Stay calm. Panicking can only cause the venom to spread quickly through your body. Immediately go to hospital or call for medical help. Try to identify the snake, but do not try to catch it as it might results in further attacks. Clean the bitten area with water. Do not suck out the poison with your mouth. Do not apply a tourniquet. Do not cut into the wound. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. Do not eat or drink, and do not take any pain medications. Remove jewellery or other items that may impede circulation if swelling occurs. Do not apply ice or other type of cooling on the bite. Once in the hospital, most likely you will receive anti-venom, a serum made from the venom of the snake. Consult with doctor, as many people are allergic to antivenins. |
NOTE Vipers are the most dangerous snakes in the UAE and although viper bites are rarely fatal, they require immediate medical attention!
It is good to know that none of the lizards in the UAE is poisonous!
At least nine sea snakes are present in UAE waters and they are all venomous.
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