[Entomology • 2025] Davidlivingstonia mooseri • A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East

[A-B]. Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020;
[C-D] Davidlivingstonia mooseri Yakovlev, Müller, Saldaitis & Prozorov, 2025 
 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693  

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024

 Abstract

A new species, Davidlivingstonia mooseri sp. n. is described from Oman and compared with the closely related D. boisduvalii (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854), which is known from Sierra Leone. Additionally, Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020 is recorded for Egypt for the first time. These new records significantly extend the known distribution of the Afrotropical genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020, demonstrating its range reaches much farther north and northeast than previously documented.

 

Keywords: Cossoidea, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, new species, taxonomy

Davidlivingstonia, adult males and their genitalia:
A. D. lenzi, male, S. Egypt; B. D. lenzi, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0457;
C. Davidlivingstonia mooseri, Holotype; D. D. mooseri, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0458.

 

Roman V. Yakovlev, Günter C. Müller, Aidas Saldaitis and Alexey M. Prozorov. 2025. A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East. Zoology in the Middle East. 71(1); 63-67. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693 [09 Jan 2025]

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024_A_new_species_of_Davidlivingstonia_in_the_Middle_East

Yakovlev, R.V. 2020. On the taxonomy of Zeuzera boisduvalii Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 (Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) species complex with description of A New Genus and Three New Species. Ecologica Montenegrina. 38, 215–226. DOI: doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.38.31

[Ichthyology • 2024] Sueviota aethon • A New Species of Sueviota (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea

 Sueviota aethon Nunes Peinemann, Pombo-Ayora & Tornabene,

in Nunes Peinemann, Pombo-Ayora, Tornabene et Berumen, 2024. 

Grumpy Dwarfgoby  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1212.121135

 

Abstract

A new gobiid species is described from ten specimens, 9.2 – 16.7 mm SL, collected from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. The new species is most similar to Sueviota pyrios from the Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea. It differs from S. pyrios by having no large red spots on the dorsal and caudal fin elements, no elongate spines in the first dorsal fin, a shorter pelvic fin that does not reach the anus, branched pectoral fin rays, and a projecting lower jaw. The new species is further distinguished from all its congeners by a complete lack of cephalic sensory canals and pores. Specimens were found in small caves and overhangs at depths between 10 and 53 meters.

Key words: Biodiversity, coral reef fish, Gobiidae, identification key, new species, Red Sea, Sueviota, taxonomy

 

Specimens of Sueviota aethon sp. nov.
a UW 203365, holotype, freshly collected
b UW 203367, freshly collected, showing the yellow variation of the species
c UW 203365, holotype, preserved in 75% ethanol.

 Sueviota aethon Nunes Peinemann, Pombo-Ayora & Tornabene, sp. nov.

 Grumpy dwarfgoby

Diagnosis: This is a species of Sueviota characterized by the following combination of characters: no cephalic sensory-canal pores; dorsal fin VI-I,8, or I,9, without filamentous spines; anal fin I,7 or I,8; pelvic fin I,5, rays 1 – 4 branched, fifth ray unbranched or with two branches, elongate (77–88% of fourth) and flattened towards the tips if unbranched, fourth ray longest; well-developed pelvic fin membrane fully joining fifth pelvic fin rays, frenum absent; 14 or 15 pectoral fin rays, some branched; body robust and deep, anterior slope of snout nearly vertical giving the head a blunt profile, terminal mouth inclined vertically forming a 72° angle to horizontal body axis.

Etymology: The specific epithet stems from the ancient Greek Aethon, one of the four horses of the sun god Helios. The most similar species to S. aethon, Sueviota pyrios Greenfield & Randall, 2017, is named after a different horse of Helios. The specific name is a noun in apposition. The common name, Grumpy dwarfgoby, refers to the fish’s apparent grumpy and rather unhappy appearance, primarily due to the extremely upturned mouth position.

Viktor Nunes Peinemann, Lucía Pombo-Ayora, Luke Tornabene, Michael L. Berumen. 2024. The Grumpy Dwarfgoby, A New Species of Sueviota (Teleostei, Gobiidae) from the Red Sea. ZooKeys. 1212: 17-28. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1212.121135

[Herpetology • 2024] Rhynchocalamus hejazicus • The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: A New and widespread Species of the Genus Rhynchocalamus Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the Arabian Peninsula

Rhynchocalamus hejazicus  

 Licata, Pola, Šmíd, Ibrahim, Liz, Santos, Patkó, Abdulkareem, Gonçalves, AlShammari, Busais, Egan, Ramalho, Smithson & Brito, 2024

  

Hejaz Black–collared Snake  |  أبو حناء   ||  DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.123441

Abstract

Discovery rates of new species are uneven across taxonomic groups and regions, with distinctive and widely distributed species being more readily described than species with secretive habits. The genus Rhynchocalamus includes five species of secretive snakes distributed from Egypt eastwards to Iran, including the Arabian Peninsula. A wide biogeographic gap exists within the genus, which separates R. dayanae found in south Israel from R. arabicus, which occurs in the coastal areas of south Yemen and Oman. We describe Rhynchocalamus hejazicus sp. nov., a small, secretive snake, with a distinctive colouration and a melanistic morph. The new species occurs in the northwestern Hejaz region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and fills a large part of the existing distribution gap of the genus in the Arabian Peninsula. Molecular analyses of mitochondrial (12S, 16S, cytb) and nuclear genes (cmos, MC1R, NT3, RAG1) indicate that R. hejazicus sp. nov. is closely related to R. dayanae and R. arabicus, but uncertainty on the deep relationship within the genus remains. The new species has a large distribution range which potentially includes other regions in Jordan and KSA, and is associated with mountainous areas with cold wet seasons. Furthermore, it inhabits sandy and stony soils with varying vegetation cover and can be found in anthropogenically disturbed habitats, suggesting that the species should not be categorised as threatened according to IUCN criteria. The discovery of such a distinctive species highlights the existing gap in the description of rare and secretive species, and the need to enhance sampling efforts and monitoring strategies to fully capture species diversity in unexplored areas.

Key Words: Biogeography, Colubrinae, Middle East, secretive species, Serpentes, species distribution model

Rhynchocalamus hejazicus sp. nov. 
Holotype (RCU-URN-93850, sample code FLI447, bottom left) and paratype (RCU-URN-94064, sample code FLI330, bottom right) specimens in life.
 Lateral and ventral views of their heads (above each life picture). Photo credit: FL.

Colour variation within Rhynchocalamus hejazicus sp. nov. (or its lack, thereof).
 Top row: two unvouchered specimens from NEOM, Tabuk Province, KSA (photo credit: Euan Ferguson and Neil Rowntree);
bottom left: paratype NMP 76815 (sample code LP760, photo credit: DME); bottom right: paratype MNHN–RA–2023.0013 (sample code JIR544, photo credit: AAI).

 Rhynchocalamus hejazicus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The new species of Rhynchocalamus from the Hejaz Mountain range in western Saudi Arabia is characterised by the following morphological characters: (1) SVL 209.2–339.5 mm in adults; (2) tail length 38.3–64.2 mm in adults; (3) loreal scale present; (4) large 3rd and 4th upper labial scales in contact with the eye; (5) one preocular scale; (6) 1–2 postocular scales; (7) one temporal scale; (8) 0–2 post–temporal scales; (9) six upper labial scales; (10) eight lower labial scales; (11) usually four lower labial scales in contact with the anterior inframaxillars; (12) usually one gular scale in contact with ...

Etymology: The species name is a latinized noun in masculine gender derived from the word "Hejaz–" = Hejaz Mountains, a mountain range located in the Hejaz region (an important region located in western Saudi Arabia, where the two holy cities of Islam, Mecca, and Medina are located) where most individuals were observed, and the Latin suffix "–icus" = “belonging to”. We suggest the common name “Hejaz black–collared snake” in English and أبو حناء [Abu Henna] in Arabic for the new species.

 Fulvio Licata, Lukáš Pola, Jiří Šmíd, Adel A. Ibrahim, André Vicente Liz, Bárbara Santos, László Patkó, Ayman Abdulkareem, Duarte V. Gonçalves, Ahmed Mohajja AlShammari, Salem Busais, Damien M. Egan, Ricardo M. O. Ramalho, Josh Smithson and José Carlos Brito. 2024. The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: A New and widespread Species of the Genus Rhynchocalamus Günther, 1864 (Squamata, Colubridae) from the Arabian Peninsula.  Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(2): 691-704. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.123441

[Arachnida • 2023] Leiurus nigellus • A New remarkable Species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia

Leiurus nigellus Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 

in Afifeh, Aloufi, Al-Saraireh, Badry, Al-Qahtni et Amr, 2023.

DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.9 

 Researchgate.net/publication/375743878

 Abstract

A new remarkable buthid scorpion, Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., was discovered in Al Ula Governorate, north of Al Madinah Al Monawwarah Province, Saudi Arabia. The new species is described, fully illustrated, and compared with other species of the genus Leiurus reported from the Arabian Peninsula. Notes on its habitats are provided.

 Habitus of Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., male paratype and female holotype.
A. male in dorsal view. B. male in ventral view.
C. female in dorsal view. D. female in ventral view.

Scale bar = 20 mm.

Leiurus nigellus sp. nov. Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh

Leiurus nigellus sp. nov., female paratype from Al Buriakah, Al Ula governorate, Saudi Arabia.

 

Bassam Abu Afifeh, Abdulhadi Aloufi, Mohammad Al-Saraireh, Ahmed Badry, Abdulmani H. Al-Qahtni and Zuhair S. Amr. 2023. A New remarkable Species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Ecologica Montenegrina. 69; 91-106. DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.69.9

  Researchgate.net/publication/375743878_A_new_species_of_Leiurus_from_SaudiArabia

[Invertebrate • 2024] Perinereis kaustiana • A New Species (Annelida: Nereididae) for the Saudi Arabian Red Sea Region

Perinereis kaustiana 

 Teixeira, Fourreau, Sempere-Valverde & Carvalho, 2024

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1196.115260

  twitter.com/ChaoticChloeia

Abstract

Annelid biodiversity studies in the Red Sea are limited and integrative taxonomy is needed to accurately improve reference libraries in the region. As part of the bioblitz effort in Saudi Arabia to assess the invertebrate biodiversity in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, Perinereis specimens from intertidal marine and lagoon-like rocky environments were selected for an independent assessment, given the known taxonomic ambiguities in this genus. This study used an integrative approach, combining molecular with morphological and geographic data. Our results demonstrate that specimens found mainly in the Gulf of Aqaba are not only morphologically different from other five similar Perinereis Group I species reported in the region, but phylogenetic analysis using available COI sequences from GenBank revealed different molecular operational taxonomic units, suggesting an undescribed species, P. kaustiana sp. nov. The new species is genetically close and shares a similar paragnath pattern to the Indo-Pacific distributed P. helleri, in particular in Area III and Areas VII–VIII. Therefore, we suggest it may belong to the same species complex. However, P. kaustiana sp. nov. differs from the latter mainly in the shorter length of the postero-dorsal tentacular cirri, median parapodia with much longer dorsal Tentacular cirri, posteriormost parapodia with much wider and greatly expanded dorsal ligules. Additionally, two new records are reported for the Saudi Neom area belonging to P. damietta and P. suezensis, previously described only for the Egyptian coast (Suez Canal) and are distributed sympatrically with the new species, but apparently not sympatric with each other.

Key words: Gulf of Aqaba, mtCOI-5P, NEOM, north-eastern Red Sea, Polychaeta, Saudi Arabia, taxonomy

Perinereis kaustiana sp. nov. All pictures are from the holotype (NTNU-VM-86011) if not stated otherwise
A anterior end, prostomium, dorsal view B anterior end, prostomium, ventral view C jaws and respective jaw canals (JC), dorsal view D pharynx, maxillary ring (Areas III and IV), ventral view; black arrows, lateral patches with two paragnaths each E pharynx, oral ring (Areas VI), dorsal view F pharynx, maxillary ring (Areas I and II), dorsal view G pharynx, oral ring (Areas VII–VIII), ventral view; black arrows, furrow regions; white arrows, ridge regions H posterior end; white arrows, pygidial Tentacular cirri, paratype (NTNU-VM-86015) I anterior body, tentacular cirri reaching chaetiger 9, paratype (NTNU-VM-86015) J worm’s eyes, right side, paratype (NTNU-VM-86015). Abbreviations: chaet., chaetiger; Pyg., Pygidium. Scale bars: 500 μm (A, B, I); 250 μm (E, F, H); 100 μm (D, G); 125 μm (J); 75 μm (C).

Family Nereididae Blainville, 1818

Genus Perinereis Kinberg, 1865

 Perinereis kaustiana sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Four pairs of tentacular cirri, postero-dorsal one reaching chaetiger 7–9; ratio of DPCL / HL = 3.6×. Eversible pharynx with one pair of dark brown curved jaws with seven or eight denticles; two longitudinal canals emerging from the pulp cavity, both in the mid-section of the jaw. Pharynx consisting of maxillary and oral rings with conical shaped paragnaths. Maxillary ring: Area I = 2 small paragnaths arranged in a longitudinal line. Area II = Cluster of 5–7 small paragnaths. Area III = central patch of nine small paragnaths, lateral patches with two small paragnaths each. Area IV = 13 small paragnaths arranged in wedge shape without any bars. Oral ring: Area V = a triangle of three large paragnaths. Area VI (a+b) = two narrow bar-shaped ...

Etymology: The species designation pays tribute to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, a globally recognized graduate-level research institution. This naming honours KAUST’s substantial and enduring contributions to marine science, particularly in advancing our understanding of the Red Sea over the course of more than a decade. Through its dedicated research efforts, KAUST has significantly enriched the scientific community’s knowledge of this unique marine environment.

Marcos A. L. Teixeira, Chloé Julie Loïs Fourreau, Juan Sempere-Valverde and Susana Carvalho. 2024. Two New Records and Description of A New Perinereis (Annelida, Nereididae) Species for the Saudi Arabian Red Sea Region.  ZooKeys. 1196: 331-354. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1196.115260

  twitter.com/ChaoticChloeia/status/1774838199384461695

[Ichthyology • 2023] Schindleria qizma • A New Species of Schindleria (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia) with a specialized caudal-fin complex

Schindleria qizma

Ahnelt, Macek & Robitzch, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e97515

Abstract

Species of the gobiid genus Schindleria are among the smallest and fastest reproducing vertebrates of the oceans. We describe a new species, Schindleria qizma, from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. It is an extreme example of progenesis, within the already paedomorphic genus, with morphological traits clearly differentiating it from its congeners. Schindleria qizma has a unique, unflexed notochord with a straight urostyle of which the tip is inserted into the hypural cartilage, rather than the typical flexed notochord with an upturned urostyle of the other species of Schindleria. Schindleria qizma belongs to the short dorsal-fin type of Schindleria. It is further characterized by an elongated but relatively deep body; a short dorsal fin originating just slightly anterior to the anal fin (predorsal-fin length 59.4% of SL vs. preanal-fin length 60.2% of SL); a head continuously increasing in depth posteriorly with a straight dorsal profile; a short snout (18.6% of head length); large eyes (34.4% of head length); a short pectoral-radial plate (6.3% of SL); 13 dorsal-fin rays; 11 anal-fin rays; 0–2 procurrent rays (where the last procurrent ray is short, if present); an anal fin with the first anal-fin ray situated opposite the second dorsal-fin ray; toothless oral jaws; females with few (10–11, total) but very large (4.6% of SL) eggs and with a conspicuous urogenital papilla characterized by a wide urogenital opening flanked by two long, bilobed projections; a dorsally pigmented swim-bladder; blackish, iridescent eyes, capped by a silvery layer with irregular rows of black dots or blotches; and no additional external pigmentation on its body, at least in preserved specimens.

Keywords: Gobiiformes, paedomorphosis, progenesis, miniaturization

Schindleria qizma, sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis: A member of the SDF group of Schindleria, which can be distinguished from all members of the LDF group by a combination of following characters: (i) the dorsal fin about the same or nearly the same length of the anal fin (vs. dorsal fin distinctly longer than anal fin), (ii) a relatively short (5.8 % of SL vs. 8.7% of SL) and deep (2.2% of SL vs. 1.5% of SL) caudal peduncle, (iii) a straight (vs. flexed) urostyle, fewer procurrent rays (0–2 vs. 5–8), and absence of teeth in both jaws (vs. both jaws with teeth).

...

Etymology: The name ‘qizma’ comes from the Arabic word ‘qizm’ (مزق), which means dwarf. It is a noun in apposition and refers to the very small size of the species.

Harald Ahnelt, Oliver Macek and Vanessa Robitzch. 2023. A New Species of Schindleria (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia) with a specialized caudal-fin complex. Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 313-323. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e97515

[Herpetology • 2023] Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis • A New Species of Pseudotrapelus (Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Arabia

Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis 

Tamar, Uvizl, Shobrak, Almutairi, Busais, Salim, AlGethami, AlGethami, Alanazi, Alsubaie, Chirio, Carranza & Šmíd, 2023

  DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e110626

Abstract

A recent molecular phylogeny of the agamid genus Pseudotrapelus, distributed in the rocky areas of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, revealed the presence of a genetically distinct lineage around the city of Riyadh in central Saudi Arabia. With the inclusion of additional specimens, we were able to describe this lineage as a new species, P. tuwaiqensis sp. nov., confined to the Tuwaiq Escarpment, thus endemic to central Saudi Arabia. Our results of morphological examinations and molecular analyses, using three mitochondrial (COI, 16S, ND4-tRNAs) and two nuclear (c-mos, MC1R) gene fragments, show the new species is genetically differentiated and phylogenetically close to P. sinaitus and P. chlodnickii.

Keywords: Acrodonta, biogeography, DNA barcoding, Middle East, multilocus phylogeny, reptiles, Saudi Arabia

Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis sp. nov. holotype (NMP-P6V 76634), adult male.

Photo by Laurent Chirio.

Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis sp. nov. 

English name: Tuwaiq Agama

Arabic name: عظاءة طويق

Diagnosis: A Pseudotrapelus species forming a clade together with P. sinaitus and P. chlodnickii, with the following combination of morphological and genetic characters: (1) large size with a total length of 200–203 mm and SVL 70.7–76.6 mm; (2) 14–19 upper and 14–18 lower labial scales; (3) ear opening very large, oval, rimmed anterodorsally by conical scales of different sizes that give it a serrated appearance; (4) scales in the occipital area predominantly not enlarged; (5) heterogeneous dorsal scales with the mid-dorsals being distinctly keeled and larger than the scales on the flanks; (6) one continuous row of 4–7 precloacal pores in both sexes; (7) 3rd toe longer than the 4th; (8) tail scales not arranged in whorls; (9) body and tail beige-brown in life with dark brown or orange transverse bars, the first on the nape, the second and the most prominent one in the scapular region, the third at midbody, the fourth in front of the insertion of the hind limbs, the fifth at the tail base; and the tail with regular dark bars down its length; (10) three unique mutations in the MC1R alignment: position 264 C instead of T, position 508 G instead of A, position 562 G instead of C; (11) one unique mutation in the c-mos alignment in position 202 C instead of G (see Appendices 5, 6).

General appearance of Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis sp. nov.
A paratype NMP-P6V 76635, adult female. Photo by Laurent Chirio; B paratype NMP-P6V 76636, adult female. Photo by Jiří Šmíd;
C Uncollected specimen from locality 25.45933°N, 46.56276°E. Photo by Marius Burger; D Uncollected specimen, locality Shaib-Luha, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Laurent Chirio.

Etymology: The species epithet tuwaiqensis is derived from the geographic feature the species is associated with, the Tuwaiq Escarpment, that cuts through central Saudi Arabia from the southwest of the country to slightly north and northwest of the city of Riyadh.

Karin Tamar, Marek Uvizl, Mohammed Shobrak, Mohammed Almutairi, Salem Busais, Al Faqih Ali Salim, Raed Hamoud M. AlGethami, Abdulaziz Raqi AlGethami, Abdulkarim Saleh K. Alanazi, Saad Dasman Alsubaie, Laurent Chirio, Salvador Carranza and Jiří Šmíd. 2023. A New Species of Pseudotrapelus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Arabia. Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 1033-1045. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e110626

[Arachnida • 2023] Leiurus hadb • A New Species and A Key to the Genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia

Leiurus hadb Al-Qahtni, Al-Salem, Alqahtani & Badry,

in Al-Qahtni, Al-Salem, Mesfer, Al Balawi, Allahyani, Alqahtani et Badry, 2023. 

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1178.109083

Abstract

A new species, Leiurus hadb Al-Qahtni, Al-Salem, Alqahtani & Badry, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the Majami al-Hadb Protected Area in the Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia. The new species is compared with species of Leiurus distributed in Saudi Arabia, especially L. arabicus Lowe, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2014. The integrated results indicate that the population found in Majami al-Hadb represents a distinct species, which is described herein. Moreover, the molecular analysis is conducted on the mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA to compare L. hadb sp. nov. with samples of L. arabicus and L. haenggii from Saudi Arabia. The analysis revealed a genetic divergence ranging from 6.0 to 12%. The combination of molecular evidence and morphological characteristics provides adequate support for recognizing the Majami al-Hadb population as a distinct species. Additionally, an identification key for the genus Leiurus found in Saudi Arabia is also provided.

Key words: Description, identification key, Majami al-Hadb Protected Area, molecular phylogeny scorpion, taxonomy

Family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837

Genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828

 

Leiurus hadb sp. nov., from Wadi Rawdat al-hadb, Riyadh region Saudi Arabia.

Habitus of Leiurus hadb sp. nov., male holotype and female paratype
A male in dorsal view B male in ventral view
C female in dorsal view D female in ventral view.

Scale bar: 10 mm.

 Leiurus hadb Al-Qahtni, Al-Salem, Alqahtani & Badry, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Medium to large Leiurus, 66.5–113.00 mm in length, carapace L 6.7–10.6 mm; base color is yellow or yellow-orange, carapace and tergites with extensive dark pigmentation; ventromedian carinae of metasomas II and III with some vestigial blackish spots over ventral carinae; metasoma IV fuscous except anteriorly; metasoma V heavily blackish; carapace with area between anterior median carinae bearing scattered fine to medium granules, area between posterior median carinae with deep median furrow of carapace moderately flanked by lateral granules by arcs; medial intercarinal surfaces of tergites II and III smooth or lightly shagreened; posterior margin of coxa III smooth or with sparse fine granules; metasoma moderately slender, metasoma II L/W 1.66–1.86, metasoma III L/W 1.81–2.07, metasoma IV L/W 2.02–2.36; ventromedian carinae of metasoma II and III with 23–33 denticles (16/16 carinae); metasoma V with enlarged subtriangular or lobate denticles on ventrolateral carinae; pedipalps slender, patella L/W ♂ 3.62, ♀ 3.08–3.74; leg III patella L/D ♂ 4.10, ♀ 4.16–5.55; pectin teeth ♂ 36–37, ♀ 29–32; pectines long, narrow, pectine L/carapace L ♂ 1.40, ♀ 1.03–1.33, mid-pectine sensillar margin L/metasoma I W ♂ 0.22, ♀ 0.107–0.163; pectin basal piece smooth in females, smooth or slightly shagreened in males; leg III basitarsus with 8–10 retrosuperior setae; pedipalp chela fixed finger with trichobothrium db distal to est; sternite VII with area between median carinae smooth or with sparse fine granulation anteriorly, more heavily in males; sternite carination: males, sternite III with median carinae weak to obsolete, sternites IV and V with weak, finely granulated lateral carinae, obsolete median carinae; females, sternite III with median carinae weak or obsolete, sternites IV and V with lateral carinae moderate, median carinae weak or obsolete.

Etymology: The specific name is placed in apposition to the generic name and refers to Majami al-Hadb protected Area, National Center for Wildlife, where the new species was found.

Abdulmani H. Al-Qahtni, Abdullah M. Al-Salem, Fahad Mesfer, Manal S. Al Balawi, Wasayf S. Allahyani, Abdulaziz R. Alqahtani and Ahmed Badry. 2023. A New Species and A Key to the Genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys. 1178: 293-312. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1178.109083

[Herpetology • 2022] Hemidactylus almakhwah & H. farasani • Diversification of Hemidactylus Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in coastal Plains and Islands of southwestern Arabia with Descriptions and Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Two Endemic Species to Saudi Arabia

  Hemidactylus farasani  

Šmíd, Uvizl, Shobrak, Busais, Salim, AlGethami, AlGethami, Alanazi, Alsubaie, Rovatsos, Nováková, Mazuch & Carranza, 2022

DOI: 10.1007/s13127-022-00572-w  

 Researchgate.net/publication/362741282 

Abstract

The systematic, phylogenetic, and biogeographic aspects of the rich squamate fauna of the Arabian Peninsula are becoming increasingly well understood. The Arabian members of the gecko genus Hemidactylus, the most diverse genus among Arabian squamates, have been the subject of several phylogenetic revisions in recent years. However, large parts of the peninsula lacked thorough sampling, for example, the coastal hyper-arid plains along the Red Sea and some offshore islands. In this study, we examine the genetic, morphological, and ecological diversification of a Hemidactylus clade that straddles the Red Sea and contains ten Arabian and three African species. We compiled a genetic dataset of seven markers (two mitochondrial and five nuclear) to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships and collected morphological data to assess the level of interspecific morphological disparification. Our results support the existence of four yet undescribed species within the clade – two from Arabia and two from Ethiopia. We provide taxonomic descriptions of the two new Arabian species, one from the western Asir Mountains foothills and one from the Farasan Islands. The new species from the Asir Mountains foothills highlights the role of the southern Arabian coastal desert as an important yet often overlooked local biodiversity hotspot. The new species from the Farasan Islands represents the second vertebrate species endemic to the archipelago. Together with the descriptions of the diagnostic features of both species, we provide complete annotated mitochondrial genomes of both holotypes and of holotypes of two other species from the clade to characterize their mitogenomic composition and architecture.

 

Keywords: Afro-Arabia, Genomics, Lizards, Mitogenome, Reptiles, Squamata

Holotype of Hemidactylus almakhwah sp. n. (NMP 76093/2) in life
A; lateral B, dorsal C, and ventral D view of the head; detail of dorsal scales and tubercles E; precloacal area showing four precloacal pores F; and detail of left foot F

Paratypes of H. almakhwah sp. n. in life and the species’ type locality.
 A – adult male NMP 76093/6; B – subadult NMP 76093/3; C – adult female NMP 76093/4; D – subadult NMP 76093/5;
E and F – the type locality, a dry wadi SW of Al Ju'aydah . 

Hemidactylus almakhwah sp. n.

Proposed English name: Al Makhwah gecko.

Proposed Arabic name: Burs Al Makhwah, بُرْصْ الـمَخْواة.

Chresonymy: Hemidactylus sp. 13  in Carranza et al. (2018); 

Vasconcelos and Carranza (2014)

Etymology: The species epithet refers to the city and governorate of Al Makhwah, in the vicinity of which most specimens were collected. It is a noun in apposition.

Paratypes of Hemidactylus farasani sp. n. in life and the species’ type locality.
 A and B – the type locality in the Sajid Island. Specimens were frequently encountered on or close to the abandoned rocky walls in B.
C – adult male NMP 76104/7; D – adult female NMP 76104/1, note the presence of eggs; E – juvenile NMP 76104/9; F – juvenile NMP 76103

Hemidactylus farasani sp. n.

Proposed English name: Farasan gecko.

Proposed Arabic name: Al Burs Al Farasani, الــبُرْصُ الفَرَسَّانِي.

Chresonymy: Hemidactylus turcicus in Cunningham (2010); 

Masseti (2014); 

Mertens (1965); 

Schätti and Gasperetti (1994)

 

Etymology: The species epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the native inhabitants of the Farasan Islands, the Farasani people.

Conclusions: 

Southwestern Arabia supports a high richness of squamate reptiles, with Hemidactylus being the most diverse genus. We here identify and describe two new species from previously little explored regions – coastal deserts and the Red Sea islands. We show the phylogenetic positions of the new species within the SW Arabian radiation of the genus and assess the morphological and ecological disparification of the clade. As an important addition, we provide complete mitochondrial genomes for the holotypes of the newly described species as well as for holotypes of two other species from the clade to characterize their mitogenomic composition and architecture. Thus, the name-bearing specimens of the species will be permanently associated with their complete mitogenomic sequences, which will have key implications for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the genus.

Jiří Šmíd, Marek Uvizl, Mohammed Shobrak, Salem Busais, Al Faqih Ali Salim, Raed Hamoud M. AlGethami, Abdulaziz Raqi AlGethami, Abdulkarim Saleh K. Alanazi, Saad Dasman Alsubaie, Michail Rovatsos, Lucie Nováková, Tomáš Mazuch and Salvador Carranza. 2022. Diversification of Hemidactylus Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in coastal Plains and Islands of southwestern Arabia with Descriptions and Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Two Endemic Species to Saudi Arabia. Organisms Diversity & Evolution. DOI: 10.1007/s13127-022-00572-w 

  Researchgate.net/publication/362741282_Diversification_Hemidactylus_Arabia

[Invertebrate • 2022] Acanthaster benziei • A New Species of Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star (Valvatida: Acanthasteridae) from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

 Acanthaster benziei Wörheide & Kaltenbacher 

in Wörheide, Kaltenbacher, Cowan & Haszprunar 2022

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.3.7

 

Abstract

A new species of crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS), Acanthaster benziei sp. nov., is described based on four specimens collected from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast where it inhabits coral reefs. Species delimitation from congeners in the species complex, i.e., Acanthaster planci, Acanthaster mauritiensis and Acanthaster cf. solaris, is primarily based on distinct and diagnostic mitochondrial DNA sequence regions. Species separation of Acanthaster benziei is additionally justified due to diagnostic morphological characters: fewer arms; narrower and thinner spines; fanned spine tips in primary and latero-oral spines; a wider tip or tapering shape in circumoral spines; and rhombus-shaped oral pedicellariae.

Key words: Acanthasteridae, Acanthaster, morphology, taxonomy, Red Sea, coral reefs

Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. Ethanol-preserved specimens of the type series.
GW4202 (A) is the holotype, all the others (B–D) are paratypes. Note that individual GW4266 is a juvenile specimen. Size of labels 6 × 2 cm.

Typical colouration of Acanthaster benziei sp. nov.
(A) GW4081 (Paratype, hiding during the day under a crevice), Al-Lith, Saudi Arabia, (photo credit: Oliver Voigt), (B–D) Thuwal Reefs, Saudi Arabia (photo credit: Gert Wörheide).

Approximate diameter of specimens is 25–30 cm.

Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. Wörheide & Kaltenbacher

 in Wörheide, Kaltenbacher, Cowan & Haszprunar 2022

Differential diagnosis. Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. can clearly be distinguished by diagnostic mutations in the partial COI gene sequences analysed, all material examined fall within the deeply divergent monophyletic group of CoTS from the Red Sea (see Fig. 3). There is full agreement with initial results that proposed species distinction of the Red Sea clade based on COI data alone (Vogler et al. 2008), recently corroborated by nuclear genome analyses (Yuasa et al. 2021). The molecular-based species distinction of A. benziei sp. nov. is also substantially supported by diagnostic morphological characters.

Acanthaster benziei has fewer arms than congenericsea stars of comparable size from the other geographic regions/species. Our reported range between 11 and 14 arms in the type series (Tab. 3) is consistent with values previously reported for other individuals from the Red Sea (mean of 13 arms [Campbell and Ormond 1970]; maximum of 13–14 arms [Haszprunar et al. 2017]). By contrast, the number of arms reported for sea stars from India (= A. planci) was 15 (Linnaeus 1758) and for A. mauritiensis 13–16 (de Loriol 1885), with a maximum of 23 arms reported for A. planci, A. mauritiensis and the Pacific species A. cf. solaris (Haszprunar et al. 2017) (see Supp. Tab. 1).

Etymology. The species name pays tribute to Professor John Benzie, who has decisively promoted research on CoTS, with numerous publications and his own collection. He was among the first scientists to genetically analyse Acanthaster spp. and his collection was the basis of the work of Vogler et al. (2008), which represents a milestone in the species identification of these sea stars.

Distribution and habitat. So far known Acanthaster benziei is restricted to the Red Sea, where it inhabits coral reefs, predominantly the outer reef surfaces where it mostly hides in crevices during the day and feeds nocturnally.

Gert Wörheide, Emilie Kaltenbacher, Zara-Louise Cowan and Gerhard Haszprunar. 2022. A New Species of Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star, Acanthaster benziei sp. nov. (Valvatida: Acanthasteridae), from the Red Sea. Zootaxa. 5209(3); 379-393. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.3.7

[Entomology • 2022] Odontochrydium arabicum • A New Species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula

Odontochrydium arabicum Soliman & Rosa,

in Soliman, Rosa & Dhafer, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.2.8

 

Abstract

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., a new chrysidid species from Oman, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen is described, illustrated and compared with the African species, O. bicristatum Rosa from Kenya.

Key words: Afrotropical, male genitalia, new species, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., male, holotype.
 A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Habitus, dorsal view; C. Habitus, ventral view.

Scale = 1.0 mm.

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., female, paratype.
 A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma and T1, detail; D. T2–T3.

 Scales = 1.0 mm.

Odontochrydium arabicum Soliman & Rosa, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Body metallic dark blue, with violet and greenish reflections (Figs 1, 4); mesoscutal median area reticulate-foveate, with two stout longitudinal ridges forming elongate fovea between ridges (Figs 2E, 4C); meta-somal tergites sparsely, largely punctate (Figs 1B, 3C, 4C, D); T3 apico-median tooth longer to distinctly longer than lateral ones (Figs 3C, 4D); S1 and S2 with pair of widely separated black spots, adjacent to lateral margin of sternites (Fig. 3D).

Etymology. The new species name refers to the Arabian Peninsula, where the type specimens were collected.

Distribution. Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

  Ahmed M. Soliman, Paolo Rosa and Hathal M. Al Dhafer. 2022. Description of A New Species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula. Zootaxa. 5100(2); 287-295. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.2.8

[Entomology • 2020] Pseudoathyreus zianii • Species Delimitation by A Geometric Morphometric Analysis within the Genus Pseudoathyreus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae) and Description of A New Species

Pseudoathyreus zianii 

Carpaneto & Romiti, 2020

DOI: 10.4081/fe.2020.399

 ABSTRACT

A geometric morphometric analysis, conducted as part of a taxonomic review of the genus Pseudoathyreus (Coleoptera: Bolboceratidae), allowed us to highlight the differences within a group of closely related species spread from the Sahel region to India, supporting the traditional morphological approach and confirming the presence of a newly discovered species (Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp.).

Keywords: Morphology, biometry, taxonomy, biogeography, arid environments.

 Fig. 4 – Holotype specimen of Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp.:
a-c, body from dorsal, frontal and lateral view with 5 mm scale bars; d-e, aedeagus from frontal and lateral view with 0.5 mm scale bars. Longitudinal axis of frontal view of the body (b) has been slightly tilted left side to allow a visual inspection of the external mar-gin of the left fore tibia, with five teeth rather than four teeth as on right tibia. 

Fig. 3 – Anterior pronotal border (APB) of two specimens for each investigated taxonomic unit:
a-b, P. flavohirtus complex from Fare (SA) and Massawa (ER); c-d, Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp. from Riyadh (SA) and Kerman (IR); e-f, P. orientalis from Jaisalmer (IN) and Pilani (IN). See Table 2 for country codes.

Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp. 

Diagnosis: The new species is easily distinguished from the other two species of the same group by the anterior border of pronotum with a wide-based and a more or less stout conic horn. On the contrary, P. orientalis and P. flavohirtus share a low transverse carina in the middle of APB with the profile of a narrow curly bracket, with either a small and pointed mid-dle horn in the former species or a small and smoothed one in the latter. The central horn of the widespread African species P. porcatus (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) looks a little like that of P. zianii but is larger, sharkfin-shaped, with a laterally compressed apex.


Geographical distribution. Eastern part of the Arabian peninsula (i.e. Kuwait, Saudi Arabian coast on the Persian Gulf, UAE, Oman), southern Iran, southern Pakistan.

Name derivation. Named for our colleague and friend Stefano Ziani, renowned specialist of Coleoptera Scarabaeidae, who sent us the material of his collection, including the first specimen that turned out to belong to the new species.

Giuseppe Maria Carpaneto and Federico Romiti. 2020. Species Delimitation by A Geometric Morphometric Analysis within the Genus Pseudoathyreus and Description of A New Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae). Fragmenta entomologica. 52(1); 11–18. DOI: 10.4081/fe.2020.399