Central-western Saudi Arabia on the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula at elevations of 900-1050 m, and in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve at elevations of 500-600 m. 

Species:

Mesalina saudiarabica  MORAVEC et al., 2017

Synonyms:

Mesalina sp.  KAPLI et al., 2015

Mesalina brevirostris  KAPLI et al., 2015

Types:

Holotype: ZFMK 91912, subadult male, collected in October 2006 by T. Wilms. MorphoBank pictures: M407306–M407312. Paratype. ZFMK 86583, subadult male, Mahazat as-Sayd, near Al Muwayh, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, 22.395N 41.753E, 960 m a.s.l., collected in October 2006 by T. Wilms. MorphoBank picture: M410851.

Terra Typica:

Mahazat as-Sayd, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, 22.237N, 41.843E, 1,000 m elevation.


Taxonomic notes:

Mesalina saudiarabica can primarily be distinguished from other species of the complex by its genetic differentiation at both mtDNA and nDNA level. Mesalina saudiarabica is also geographically isolated from the rest of the complex. Moreover it can be distinguished morphologically from M. microlepis by having 1–2 large semitransparent scales in the lower eyelid (several roughly equal semitransparent scales in the latter), lower number of collar plates (6–8 vs. 10–13; t-test t = 5.01, p < 0.001), lower number of dorsal scales (41–42 vs. 48– 61; t-test t = 3.78, p < 0.005), lower number of preanal scales (2–3 vs. 4; t-test t = 8.14, p < 0.001), and lower number of femoral pores in males (12–13 vs. 15–20; t-test t = 5.12, p < 0.001). The lower number of collar plates differentiates the new species also from M. bernoullii (6–8 vs. 8–13; t-test t = 3.14, p < 0.005) and M. brevirostris s. s., although not significantly after Bonferroni correction (6–8 vs. 8–10; t-test t = -2.67, p < 0.05).

Source: ŠMÍD et al., 2017

DNA barcoding confirmed another occurrence in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in the Ad Dahna sand section. The occurrence of this species was unexpected based on its previously known distribution that was restricted to the western deserts of Saudi Arabia (Šmíd et al. 2017). Not only do these records represent a significant range extension of more than 600 km to the north-east from the previously known range, but they also indicate the need for more detailed taxonomic investigations and herpetofaunal surveys in this understudied region as well as in other parts of central Saudi Arabia that remain largely under-surveyed.

Source: HUYSSTEEN et al., 2024


Relevant taxonomic literature:

  • Šmíd, J. & Moravec, J. & Gvoždík, V. & Štundl, J. & Frynta, D. & Lymberakis, P. & Kapli, P. & Wilms, T. & Schmitz, A. & Shobrak, M. & Hosseinian Yousefkhani, S. & Rastegar-Pouyani, E. & Castilla, A.M. & Els, J. & Mayer, W. (2017) -  Cutting the Gordian Knot: Phylogenetic and ecological diversification of the Mesalina brevirostris species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae). -  Zoologica Scripta, 46 (6): 649-664.    

  • Huyssteen, R. van & Petford, M.A. & Burger, M. & Šmíd, J. & Alzahrani, A.S. & Alowaifeer, A.M. & Mottram, P. & Gaugris, J.Y. (2024) -  Reptiles of the King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve, eastcentral Saudi Arabia: insights and conservation implications. -  Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 18(1&2): 91–106 (e335).    

 
 
 
 
 

Mesalina saudiarabica  © 2023 Marius Burger