Weird Places: Socotra (ATOS 12.4)

Weird Places: Socotra

Socotra, an island in the Archipelago, is known for it's large percentage of endemic flora and fauna. Endemic species are those that are exclusively native to only one place. 37% of its plants, 90% of its reptiles, and 95% of its land snails are endemic to the island. Island habitats often have more endemic species than other habitats and Socotra is no exception with over 300 endemic species! However, with so many endemic species, Socotra's organisms are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to human factors, natural events, and changes in the climate.