Jabal Akhdar mountains, Oman

One of my favourite places in Oman! Jabal Akhdar, meaning “The Green Mountain”, forms part of the Al Hajar Mountain range of northern Oman and is one of the most biologically distinctive regions in the country. Rising to over 2,000 metres above sea level, the plateau and surrounding escarpments experience cooler temperatures and higher rainfall than the lowlands, supporting a mosaic of terraced agriculture, juniper woodland, rocky wadis and dramatic cliffs. These varied habitats provide refuge for a diverse assemblage of reptiles and amphibians, including several species largely restricted to the Hajar Mountains. Despite increasing tourism in recent years, many areas remain relatively undisturbed, offering excellent opportunities for wildlife observation. And for herping!

During several weekend visits (only 2 hours drive from home in Muscat), a total of fifteen species of amphibians and reptiles were recorded. Amphibians were represented by Dhofar Toad Duttaphrynus dhufarensis and Arabian Toad Sclerophrys arabica. Geckos proved particularly diverse, with six species observed: Luque’s Gecko Hemidactylus luqueorum, Hajar Rock Gecko Trachydactylus hajarensis, Flat-headed Leaf-toed Gecko Asaccus platyrhynchus, Mountain Leaf-toed Gecko Asaccus montanus, Orlov’s Fan-footed Gecko Ptyodactylus orlovi and the agile Gallagher’s Semaphore gecko Pristurus gallagheri alongside the omnipresent Bar-tailed Semaphore gecko Pristurus celerrimus. Other lizard records included Jayakar’s Oman Lizard Omanosaura jayakari and the Tessellated Skink Trachylepis tessellata. The latter was actually only seen once after a short rain shower. Four species of snake were encountered: Wadi Racer Platyceps rhodorachis, Arabian Cat Snake Telescopus dhara, Oman Carpet Viper Echis omanensis and the highly sought-after Persian Horned Viper Pseudocerastes persicus.

After finding a DOR individual of the Persian horned viper last June I finally found a living animal after so many failed attempts. It was found crawling along a steep ridge one night just as I was close to giving up! One of my best finds to date. Why this species is so difficult to find is a mystery to me, by comparison I had seen good numbers of Oman saw-scaled vipers and Arabian cat snakes on Jabal Akhdar.

Don’t forget to check out the video below!