Socotra Island, Yemen Photograph by John Farrar   Islands east of the Horn of Africa and south of Yemen Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   1,500 square miles (3,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware Critical/Endangered

· Galápagos of the Indian Ocean
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Galápagos of the Indian Ocean

The Socotran archipelago has been called the "Galápagos of the Indian Ocean" and even the "Arabian Eden" because of the unique plant and animal communities that live there. Visit the islands of this archipelago and although you won’t find any amphibians, you can see about 250 species of plants, 21 species of reptiles, and 6 species of birds found nowhere else on Earth.

Special Features

Socotra is the largest and most easterly of this island group, lying about 56 miles (90 km) east of the Horn of Africa and 298 miles (480 km) south of the Arabian coast. The other main islands in this group are the Brothers, Abd al Kuri, Semhah, and Darsa. Rainfall on these islands varies from about 6 inches (150 mm) per year on the coastal plains to more than 40 inches (1000 mm) in the mountains. Temperatures also vary considerably with elevation, with hot temperatures on the plains and much cooler temperatures in the Hagghier Mountains. Having detached from the Afro-Arabian continent over 10 million years ago, Socotra has many endemic species. It is also home to numerous reptiles, historically of enormous size, many of which are endemic. However, throughout history, the most notable feature of the Socotran archipelago has been its botanical wealth.

	Historical records indicate that species of crocodiles, giant lizards, and land tortoises once existed on the Socotran archipelago.

Wild Side

The most interesting feature on Socotra is the wide variety of plants, many of which are endemic and unusual. More than 850 species of plants have been recorded in this region, some are the last surviving members of their genus, including the bulbous cucumber tree--the only kind of cucumber in the world to grow in this form. For centuries, people traveled to this archipelago in search of plants with medicinal and cosmetic properties. One of the popular exports was "Socotra aloes," which was a drug extracted from aloes and used in cosmetics. Another product of interest to many was "dragon’s blood," a brilliant-red resin extracted from Dracaena cinneabari and used as paint. The exceptional diversity among the plants here is not seen among the mammals. The seven land mammals found here include a bat and a shrew that might be endemic to the islands. A total of 178 birds and 19 reptiles round out the larger forms of animal life. This dry landscape is home to a number of endemic reptiles, including the Socotra Island blind snake, Socotra leaf-toed gecko, and Günther's racer. Two endemic bird species--the island cisticola and Socotra bunting--are classified as vulnerable.

Cause for Concern

After more than 2,000 years of settlement, goat and cattle grazing and fuelwood collection have altered much of the original habitat of Socotra. Some areas are now considered vulnerable to industrial development.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.