Somali montane xeric woodlands

The ecoregion extends along the northern coast of Somalia, extending from sea level to 2,416 m at the summit Mount Shimbiris, the highest peak in the ecoregion and in Somalia. The higher mountains include outcrops of limestone and gypsum.[1]

The climate is tropical and arid to semi-arid. Mean temperatures vary seasonally, and range from 21°C to 30°C in the lowlands to 9°C to 21°C in the mountains. Most rainfall occurs during the winter months. Average annual rainfall is less than 200 mm in the lowlands. Some mountain areas receive more orographic precipitation, with the escarpment near Maydh receiving 700 mm of rainfall annually.[1]

The vegetation of the ecoregion varies with elevation, rainfall, and soils. The hot and dry coastal plains have little or no vegetation. Open scrubland is found in the foothills, where woody species of Acacia, Commiphora, and Boswellia are predominant. Evergreen and semi-evergreen scrubland is found on the slopes of the escarpment, composed of evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubls and small trees. Characteristic plants include Dracaena schizantha, Barbeya oleoides, Mimusops laurifolia, Cadia purpurea, Buxus hildebrandtii, and Pistacia aethiopica. Typical plant associations include dry Juniperus-Olea forest of Juniperus procera and Olea europaea, dry Juniperus-Olea-Barbeya forests with Barbeya oleoides, and Buxus-Acokanthera scrub with Buxus hildebrandtii and Acokanthera schimperi. Mimusops laurifolia is found in Juniperus-Olea forests, as single large trees in evergreen or semi-evergreen bushland outside the forest, and in riparian forests or as isolated trees along intermittent streams.[2] The endemic shrub Reseda sessilifolia lives on outcrops of gypsum.[1] The endemic tree subspecies Ceratonia oreothauma subsp. somalensis occurs in the mountains between 1500 and 1800 meters elevation.[3] Remnant Juniper woodlands and forests are found at the highest elevations.[1]

Other endemic species include the monotypic genus Renschia, four species of Helianthemum, Thamnosma somalensis,[1] Barleria compacta,[4] Wellstedia lacinia, and Wellstedia somalensis.[5]

Several antelope species are native to the ecoregion, including the beira (Dorcatragus megalotis), Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei), Salt's dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana), and Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii). These animals are threatened by over-hunting and grazing competition with livestock. The Somali hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri), Louise's spiny mouse (Acomys louisae), and Somali elephant shrew (Elephantulus revoili) are near-endemic small mammal species whose ranges extend into neighboring ecoregions.[1]

Three species of birds are endemic to the ecoregion, the Somali pigeon (Columba oliviae), Somali thrush (Turdus ludoviciae), and Warsangli linnet (Linaria johannis). The Somali thrush and Warsangli linnet are found mostly or exclusively in high-elevation juniper forests, and both species are severely threatened.[1] The ecoregion corresponds to the North Somali Mountains endemic bird area.[6]

The snakes Spalerosophis josephscorteccii and reticulate blind snake (Leptotyphlops reticulatus) and the lizard Pseuderemias savagei are endemic to the ecoregion.[1]

None of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[7]

• "Somali Montane xeric woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
• North Somali Mountains Endemic Bird Area (BirdLife International)