Data Zone
Country/territory: Yemen
IBA criteria met: A1, A4ii, B1ii, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,600 hectares (56.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | low | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
Jazirat Darsa (12°07'N 53°18'E, 1,640 ha) and Jazirat Semha (12°10'N 53°02'E, 3,980 ha) are two rather inaccessible islands, referred to as Al-Ikhwan (The Brothers), lying to the south-west of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden. Both are c.10-15 km long, rather flat-topped and sheer-sided.
Key biodiversity
See table for key species. The higher altitudes of Jazirat Darsa are covered with guano, and boobies in great numbers have been seen, presumably nesting Sula dactylatra and/or S. leucogaster.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: the important Socotran endemic species Dendrosicyos socotranus and Euphorbia arbuscula occur at the base of the escarpment on Jazirat Semha, indicating a potentially rich flora.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheets compiled by Francine Stone (assisted by Dr A. Miller and Dr M. Morris) and M. I. Evans.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Ikhwan (Socotra) (Yemen). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-ikhwan-(socotra)-iba-yemen on 26/12/2024.