Due to its size, geographic position, and evolutionary history, the Socotra Archipelago is a prime regional center of unique biodiversity. From a botanical point of view, Socotra is historically known for the rare and spectacular plants which characterize the dramatic mountain and coastal landscapes. According to botanists, the island of Socotra ranks among the top ten endangered islands in the world.

The Archipelago is often referred to as "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean." Birdlife International identifies over 22 "Important Bird Areas" on the Socotra Archipelago. These areas include spectacular seabird breeding areas as well as the habitats of the 7 species and 12 subspecies of endemics, which add to the islands' high ecotourism potential. The Fauna is almost completely endemic, although not as stunning as the rest of the islands' biodiversity due to lack of endemic mammals.

	Species	Endemic
	900 Plants	300
	27 Reptiles	24
	190 Birds	6
Totals	1829	628

 

The marine biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago is lesser known than the islands' botanical and bird life treasures. Marine biodiversity around Socotra is characterized by a unique mixture of species from different biogeographic regions - the western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, Arabia, East Africa and the wider Indo-Pacific. Recent surveys indicate that the numbers of species of hard corals and fish are comparable to those of the Red Sea, despite the small size of the archipelago. Recent surveys also extended the distribution ranges of many species, including those previously thought to be endemic to the Red Sea or Arabia. Different taxa show different affinities to the regions. The Archipelago may provide the crucial "link" for some marine species in maintaining their distribution governed by the duration of their planktonic larval stages.