Book Review

WRANIK, W. (2003): Fauna of the Socotra archipel- auct.) with one endemic . ago: field guide. With contributions by O.S. AL- Lacertids have two endemic species of the oth- SAGHIER, S. ASPINALL, R.F. PORTER & H. RÖSLER. erwise Saharo-Sindian Mesalina, and the – Rostock (Universität Rostock), 542 pp. ISBN Afro-Saharo-Sindian genus Chamaeleo has one 3-86009-263-4. endemic species. Trogonophid amphisbenians, with their disjunct relict distribution in North Af- The Socotra archipelago off the Somalian coast, rica and Arabia have a monotypic genus (Pachyca- being geographically a continuation of the Horn of lamus) endemic in Socotra. Scolecophidian snakes Africa, but politically a part of Yemen, has a unique have one endemic species of the cosmopolitan flora and fauna that attracted biologists since long. genus Typhlops and 3 likewise endemic ones of However, until recently, the political situation Leptotyphlops. Finally, colubrids are represented made working difficult on the islands. This situa- by two endemic and monotypic genera (Ditypo- tion has greatly improved during the past decades, phis, Hemerophis) the latter having been assigned and the impressive voluminous monograph com- to Coluber until recently. piled and presented by WOLFGANG WRANIK testifies Whereas crocodiles have not been recorded the considerable increase of knowledge of this from the archipelago (Why even Crocodylus po- biogeographically so important area. rosus is hypothesized to possibly have reached It is obvious that for a herpetological jour- Socotra from the Seychelles in the past is not nal my review will concentrate on the chapter on quite clear to me), the chelonians are represented (there are no amphibians known from the by marine forms only, thus naturally no endemics. archipelago) coauthored by HERBERT RÖSLER, one Recorded are Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, of the four main contributors to this book men- Eretmochelys imbricata, and Dermochelys co- tioned also on the title page, and by WOLFGANG riacea. Of these, only Caretta caretta has been WRANIK. It is embedded in a series of chapters proven to nest on the islands. Here, the lack of on other groups such as mammals, birds, deeper studies is most obvious, and many ques- fishes, arachnids, crustaceans, myriapods, insects, tions regarding Socotra’s marine turtles remain “worm-like ”, molluscs, and “marine life”. still open. The insects are subdivided in apterygotans and no But also the recent discoveries of new species less than 20 pterygotan orders. This “Introduction of , including those made by the authors, to the fauna” with ca. 400 pages, the main part of throw light on the still incomplete knowledge of the book, is preceded by introductory chapters on the Socotran fauna. However, this book physical features, climate, vegetation, evolution- not only documents the great progress on the ex- ary history and biogeography, human population, ploration of Socotra’s reptiles – and of course all nature conservation and management, and the his- other animal groups mentioned above! –, but is tory of biological exploration. All important as- also most useful by giving the present state of art pects are covered by this book, and after this, the and naming the gaps of knowledge where future Socotra archipelago can certainly be considered research should start with. The chapter on reptiles, as one of the better known and better documented moreover, by summarizing the relevant informa- island groups. tion for the identification of the species and the The reptile fauna of four differently-sized is- entire knowledge available on distribution, ecol- lands composing the archipelago, viz. Socotra, ogy, and biology, elucidates also the much broader Darsa, Samha, and – separated by a deeper sea competence of HERBERT RÖSLER who is otherwise trench – Abdel Kuri is not rich in species, but has known mainly for his great expertise in geckos. a very high percentage of endemics. Percentage The book is accompanied by 94 colour plates is highest on species level, but there also several consisting of many more photos, and the reptiles endemic genera recognized, however, the defini- alone account for 13 plates. This means, that the tion of genera is usually less objective than that majority of species is figured by more than one of species. Geckos are represented by the NE colour photograph, so that morphological varia- African/Arabian genus Pristurus (7 endemic spe- tion, habitats, behavioural traits etc. could well cies, two discovered by the authors), Haemodra- be documented. I suspect that this rich colour con (endemic: 2 species, and the cosmopolitan illustration was the reason for WOLFGANG WRANIK Hemidactylus (8 species, 7 of them endemic, 1 to give this voluminous monograph the title “a discovered by the authors). are represented field guide”! What we associate with the term field by the endemic and monotypic genus Hakaria and guide is a much smaller book suitable for pockets by the pan-African genus Trachylepis (Mabuya to be taken in the field. This book is much too big

255 Book Review and heavy to serve as a field guide in the classic of details and photos!) I nevertheless feel that sense, but it also exceeds the information of a field they are all treated with the same thoroughness guide many times, wherefore I regard the title a and competence as it is the case with the reptiles. typical understatement. Also if I am far away from Authors and publisher have to be applauded for being a specialist for any of the animals groups this splendid monograph. treated in this book (each with the same wealth WOLFGANG BÖHME, Bonn

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