South Arabian BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) comprises the southern and southwestern parts of the Arabian Peninsula including Hadramawt and most of Yemen and Asir almost as far north as Mecca. The geology is complex and varied while the desert climate is extremely hot and arid. The flora, which is mostly of African affinity, contains about 225 endemic species and three endemic genera (Centaurothamnus, Saltia and Xerotia). A number of taxa found in this and in the adjacent Omanian BioProvince have interesting Arabian-Macaronesian disjunctions. Vicarious species can be found in several genera including Aeonium, Dracaena and Euphorbia, and show evidence of a mid-Tertiary link between these two regions.

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Endemic Flora (Arabia)
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status