Djibouti Xeric Shrublands

Djibouti Xeric Shrublands
Djibouti Xeric Shrublands
	Awash River, near Asaita, Ethiopia
	location of the Djibouti Xeric Shrublands
Ecology
Realm	Afrotropical
Biome	deserts and xeric shrublands
Borders	Eritrean coastal desert; Somali Acacia–Commiphora bushlands and thickets,; Somali montane xeric woodlands;
Geography
Area	152,300 km2 (58,800 sq mi)
Countries	Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Somalia;
Conservation
Conservation status	Vulnerable
Protected	4.68%

The Djibouti Xeric Shrublands ecoregion is a semi-desert strip on or near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden coasts in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. This ecoregion lies mainly between sea level and 800 meters (m) elevation. There are, however, many hills and massifs, which range up to 1300 m as well as outstanding fault-induced depressions, such as the Danakil, lying as low as 155 m below sea level. This region is extremely active tectonically, experiencing many earthquakes and intermittently active volcanoes. Rainfall is very low and yearly averages range from 100 to 200 millimeters (mm), with less rain falling closer to the coast. There are many species of interest, including the endemic Archer's lark (Heteromirafra archeri), a species of dragon tree (Dracaena ombet), and a large suite of desert ungulates, including the last viable population of African wild ass (Equus africanus somalicus).

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