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Jabal Shada |
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Shada Mountains (Jabal Shada) is an isolated twin-mountain massif in Saudi Arabia that support rich biodiversity Shada Mountains (Jabal Shada) is an isolated twin-mountain massif in Saudi Arabia that support rich biodiversity The Shada Mountains range is composed of Shada Alalah and Shada Asfal with the peak altitudes of 2215 and 1472 m a.s.l., respectively (15°41′–15°42′N, 47°19′–55°19′E). The twin mountains (Shada Alalah and Shada Asfal) are separated by Wadi Meleel valley. The Shada Alalah is a chain of hills that forms a continuous elevated crest and the Shada Asfal is a relatively gentle-sloped mountain. Influenced by topography and air currents coming from the Red Sea, the climate is cooler and wetter at higher altitudes than in the lowlands. Average annual precipitation is 148.7 mm with a monthly mean ranging from 1.5 mm in February to 37.5 mm in April. Monthly mean temperature ranges from 9.0°C in January to 36.5°C in August. Humidity varies from 59% in January to 24% in June. |
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Flora of the Shada Mountains is composed of 495 species falling in 314 genera of 76 families. About 12 and 2 of these 495 species belong to pteridophytes and gymnosperms, respectively. Poaceae and Asteraceae are the largest families with 67 and 44 species, respectively, followed by Leguminosae (28 spp.) and Malvaceae (24 spp.). The Shada Mountains contain 3.8% endemic species and 13.4% endangered species. Among the 19 endemic species, shrubs were the highest (9 spp.), followed by subshrubs (6 spp.), herbs (3 spp.) and trees (1 spp.). Forty-three (43) endangered species (17 shrubs, 12 subshrubs, herbs, and trees 7 each) accounted for 6.6% of the total endangered species in Saudi Arabia. Tropical families (e.g., Acanthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Moraceae, Rubiaceae and Sapotaceae) accounted almost half of the total species in the country.
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(A) Map showing Shada Mountains and the surroundings (B) Satellite view of the Shada Mountains; and (C) Schematic representation of a cross section of the twin mountains.
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Species |
Family |
Habit |
Population strength |
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Acacia abyssinica |
Fabaceae |
Tree |
Moderate |
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Adenium obesum |
Apocynaceae |
Shrub |
High |
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Angolluma commutata |
Apocynaceae |
Subshrub |
Poor |
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Anisotes trisulcus |
Acanthaceae |
Shrub |
High |
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Asperagus setaceus |
Asparagaceae |
Shrub |
Moderate |
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Barleria bispinosa |
Acanthaceae |
Climber |
High |
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Barleria trispinosa |
Acanthaceae |
Shrub |
Moderate |
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Centaurothamnus maximus |
Asteraceae |
Shrub |
Poor |
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Cynoglossum bottae |
Apocynaceae |
Subshrub |
Moderate |
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Indigofera trita ssp. subulata |
Fabaceae |
Shrub |
Poor |
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Kickxia pseudoscoparia |
Plantaginaceae |
Subshrub |
Poor |
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Parietaria umbricola |
Urticaceae |
Herb |
Poor |
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Plectranthus asirensis |
Lamiaceae |
Shrub |
High |
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Reichardia tingitana var. arabica |
Asteraceae |
Herb |
Moderate |
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Rhynchosia variegata |
Fabaceae |
Subshrub |
Poor |
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Sarcostemma arabicum |
Apocynaceae |
Shrub |
Moderate |
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Silene asirensis |
Caryophyllaceae |
Herb |
Poor |
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Swertia woodii |
Gentianaceae |
Subshrub |
Poor |
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Trichodesma trichodesmoides var. discolor |
Boraginaceae |
Subshrub |
Moderate |
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Near Endemics of Jabal Shada |
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