Oman
Two
mammals found only in Oman have been recently elevated to full species:
the Muscat Gazelle (Planet'
Mammiferes) and the Oman Wild Sheep (Harrison
Institute). The
Arabian Tahr Arabitragus
jayakari (ARKive)
is nearly restricted to Oman as it barely
extends into the United Arab Emirates.
Reptiles unique to Oman include the Dhofar Leaf-toed
Gecko Hemidactylus
lemurinus (flickr),
the Omani Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx
thomasi (Reptile
Database), the Masira
Fringe-fingered Lizard Acanthodactylus
masirae (flickr),
Arnold’s Sand Lizard Mesalina
ayunensis (p. 35 of VipersGarden
pdf file), the Flat-snouted Leaf-toed Gecko Asaccus
platyrhynchus (flickr),
and the Mountain Leaf-toed Gecko Asaccus
montanus (flickr).
Freshwater fish found solely in Oman include the cave-dwelling Garra dunsirei (BHL),
Garra
longipinnis (FishBase),
and the recently described Garra
smarti (Wildlife
Extra). Marine fish known exclusively from Oman include the
Salalah
Guitarfish (FishBase),
the Oman Anemonefish (eol),
the Oman Butterflyfish (eol),
the Dhofar Parrotfish (eol),
the Dhofar Cardinalfish (eol),
the Slantband Wrasse (eol),
the Stars-and-stripes Snakelet (eol),
the Piebald Sole (eol),
the Orangestripe Pipefish (eol),
and the recently described Black-margined Seabream Acanthopagrus omanensis (FishBase).
Marine fish representing endemic genera include the Ego Zebra
Goby (eol),
the Oman Blenny (eol),
the Two-faced Toadfish (eol),
and a recently described clingfish Briggsia
hastingsi (Zootaxa
pdf file).
Arthropods restricted to Oman include a click beetle Agrypnus dhofarensis
(Elateridae),
a looper moth Scopula
morandinii (BOLD),
a wasp Adelopyga huberi
(Hindawi
pdf file), a spider beetle Dignomus
omanensis (Dr.
Lech Borowiec pdf file), a cave-dwelling diving beetle Glareadessus stocki
(Species-ID),
the scorpions Hottentotta
pellucidus (p. 5 of Euscorpius
pdf file) and Hemiscorpius
falcifer (p. 5 of Euscorpius
13 MB pdf file), a cave-dwelling huntsman spider Spariolenus secundus
(Senckenberg
pdf file), a wolf spider Allocosa
mascatensis (World
Spider Catalog), and an amphipod crustacean Glyptogidiella omanica
(Zootaxa
pdf file). Endemic marine molluscs include the cone
snails Conus ardisiaceus
(Eddie
Hardy)
and Conus peli
(Conus
Biodiversity), a volute Lyria
leslieboschae (AMNH),
a murex Muricopsis
omanensis (Eddie
Hardy),
and Acteon eloiseae
(Sea
Slug Forum). Endemic corals include a blue coral Porites decasepta (Underwater
Times) and the Sixteen-finger Flower Coral Calathiscus (or Machadoporites) tantillus (Zootaxa
pdf file).
About 80 vascular plants are exclusive to Oman including Dionysia mira (Genus
Dionysia),
Rhytidocaulon fulleri (Int'l
Asclepiad Soc.), Aloe
praetermissa (flickr),
Aloe whitcombei
(Dave's
Garden), Aloe
collenetteae (Dave's
Garden),
Salsola omanensis (ARKive),
Ochradenus harsusiticus
(Plantes
et botanique), Desmidorchis
tardellii (Asclepidarium),
Campanula akhdarensis
(ARKive),
Dyschoriste dalyi
(WNS
Stamps), Limonium sarcophyllum
(FleursTerre), Teucrium mascatense
(WNS
Stamps), Cleome
brevipetiolata (JSTOR),
Pulicaria samhanensis
(Kew), Euphorbia masirahensis
(JSTOR),
Verbascum omanense (ARKive),
Rumex limoniastrum
(JSTOR),
Polycarpaea jazirensis
(JSTOR),
Hyoscyamus gallagheri
(JSTOR),
and the recently described Barleria
samhanensis (p. 2 of Omanet
pdf file) and Adelocaryum
nebulicola (JSTOR).
Portions of Oman are included in the Horn of Africa
biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots). Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Al
Hajar Montane Woodlands (EoE),
the Gulf of Oman Desert and Semi-desert (EoE),
and the Arabian Peninsula Coastal Fog Desert (EoE).
The Arabian Sea (WWF)
is rich in marine endemics.