INFORMATIONS ABOUT SOCOTRA

The Socotra Archipelago is celebrated for its extraordinary flora, exhibiting a remarkable level of endemism. Recognized by UNESCO for its vital biodiversity conservation, Socotra’s distinct flora and fauna contribute to its global importance. An astounding 37% of Socotra’s plant species, 90% of its reptile species, and 95% of its land snail species are found nowhere else in the world.

Visitors to Socotra can marvel at three of the island’s most captivating species: the Dracaena cinnabari or Dragon’s Blood Tree, the Adenium socotranum or Desert Rose, also known as the Bottle Tree, and the Dendrosicyos socotranus or Cucumber Tree. However, the archipelago also boasts a variety of beautiful smaller plants, including succulents like Kalanchoe farinacea, Caralluma socotrana, the Persian Carpet Flower Edithcolea grandis, five endemic species of Aloe, among many others.

For birdwatching enthusiasts, Socotra is a veritable paradise, hosting over 227 bird species, including ten endemics such as the Socotra Sparrow, Socotra Sunbird, and Socotra Starling, to name just a few. The island’s avifauna provides an exceptional opportunity for birdwatching, offering sightings of species not found anywhere else in the world.

The diversity extends to reptiles, with 19 out of 22 known species being unique to the islands, including several species of gecko and the Chamaeleo monachus chameleon. While most of the island’s snakes are small and elusive, they add to the rich tapestry of Socotra’s biodiversity.