Endemic Fauna

Up to 90% of reptiles and 95% of insects (spiders, scorpions) cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Moreover, there are 192 kinds of birds, many of them regarded as endangered species.

Socotra also offers a rich underwater life. There are 253 species of corals, 730 species of fish, 300 species of crabs, lobsters and shrimps. On the beach you can find small pyramids created by crabs that build holes in the sand.

Bat (Hypsugo Ianzai) - There used to be no mammals on Socotra except for few kinds of bats and Hypsugo Ianzai is one of them. It has been discovered quite recently and is another example of endemic species living on the island.

Spider (Monocentropus balfouri) - Called “fitama” by the aborigines, Monocentropus balfouri is endemic to Socotra. It lives in holes and finds a new home every time it sheds its skin. The males can be distinguished from females by their colour. They are usually blue with a white or light blue spot on their stomach. On the other hand, females are cream brown with an orange tint. Both males and females have hairy legs with no hairs on their stomach. You can find them on the plains among the rocks, usually around bushes or trees. Their holes are from 10 to 20 centimetres deep.Their bodies measure around 5 to 6 centimetres and their legs 12 to 15 centimetres.So far, there has been no evidence whether the liquid their produce is poisonous.

Gecko (Pristurus socotranus) - Gecko is a lizard with specific balls of its feet which enable it to stick to the surface and move quickly on walls or tree trunks. Its eyelids are grown together and the eye is covered by a translucent material creating so-called glasses. They are mostly nocturnal animals and hunt for insects and spiders. Even though they measure only a few centimetres, they can be very loud. They are usually very energetic during the day, exploring the holes in the weathered stones.