Somali montane xeric woodlands
Somali montane xeric shrublands | |
---|---|
Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands | |
Geography | |
Area | 62,200 km2 (24,000 sq mi) |
Country | Somalia Somaliland |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | critical/endangered |
The Somali montane xeric shrublands is a
Geography
The ecoregion covers the
Climate
The climate is tropical and arid to semi-arid. Mean temperatures vary seasonally, and range from 21°C to 30°C in the lowlands to 9°C to 21°C in the mountains. Most rainfall occurs during the winter months. Average annual rainfall is less than 200 mm in the lowlands. Some mountain areas receive more
Flora
The vegetation of the ecoregion varies with elevation, rainfall, and soils.
The hot and dry coastal plains have little or no vegetation. Open scrubland is found in the foothills, where woody species of Acacia, Commiphora, and Boswellia are predominant.
Evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubland is found on the slopes of the escarpment, composed of evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs and small trees. Characteristic plants include
Other endemic species include the
Fauna
Several antelope species are native to the ecoregion, including the beira (Dorcatragus megalotis), Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei), Salt's dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana), and Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii). These animals are threatened by over-hunting and grazing competition with livestock. The Somali hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri), Louise's spiny mouse (Acomys louisae), and Somali elephant shrew (Elephantulus revoili) are near-endemic small mammal species whose ranges extend into neighboring ecoregions.[1]
Three species of birds are endemic to the ecoregion, the Somali pigeon (Columba oliviae), Somali thrush (Turdus ludoviciae), and Warsangli linnet (Linaria johannis). The Somali thrush and Warsangli linnet are found mostly or exclusively in high-elevation juniper forests, and both species are severely threatened.[1] The ecoregion corresponds to the North Somali Mountains endemic bird area.[7]
The snakes Spalerosophis josephscorteccii and reticulate blind snake (Leptotyphlops reticulatus) and the lizard Pseuderemias savagei are endemic to the ecoregion.[1]
Protected areas
Protected areas in the ecoregion include
External links
- "Somali montane xeric woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- North Somali Mountains Endemic Bird Area (BirdLife International)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Somali Montane xeric woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- doi:10.2307/4114570.
- ^ Ullah, Saleem and Gadain, Hussein 2016. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Somalia, FAO-Somalia.
- ^ BirdLife International (2021) Endemic Bird Areas factsheet: North Somali mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 31/01/2021.
- ^ UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2022), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) [Online], March 2022, Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net.
- ^ IUCN ESARO (2020). The state of protected and conserved areas in Eastern and Southern Africa. State of Protected and Conserved Areas Report Series No. 1. Nairobi, Kenya: IUCN ESARO.