Species:

Mesalina saudiarabica  MORAVEC et al., 2017

Synonyms:

Mesalina brevirostris  KAPLI et al., 2015

Mesalina sp.  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.    

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  Mesalina are small lacertid lizards occurring in the Saharo-Sindian deserts from North Africa to the east of the Iranian plateau. Earlier phylogenetic studies indicated that there are several species complexes within the genus and that thorough taxonomic revisions are needed. In this study, we aim at resolving the phylogeny and taxonomy of the M. brevirostris species complex distributed from the Middle East to the Arabian/Persian Gulf region and Pakistan. We sequenced three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments, and in combination with species delimitation and species-tree estimation, we infer a time-calibrated phylogeny of the complex. The results of the genetic analyses support the presence of four clearly delimited species in the complex that diverged approximately between the middle Pliocene and the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Species distribution models of the four species show that the areas of suitable habitat are geographically well delineated and nearly allopatric, and that most of the species have rather divergent environmental niches. Morphological characters also confirm the differences between the species, although sometimes minute. As a result of all these lines of evidence, we revise the taxonomy of the Mesalina brevirostris species complex. We designate a lectotype for Mesalina brevirostris Blanford, 1874; resurrect the available name Eremias bernoullii Schenkel, 1901 from the synonymy of M. brevirostris; elevate M. brevirostris microlepis (Angel, 1936) to species status; and describe Mesalina saudiarabica, a new species from Saudi Arabia.

• 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).    

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  The distribution of herpetofauna on the Arabian Peninsula is generally poorly known, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) in east-central Saudi Arabia is in an area predicted to have high reptile species richness, yet there is no baseline reptile checklist for the reserve. Knowing which species occur within a protected area is vital for ensuring that conservation strategies and long-term monitoring are effective. Here, we provide the first detailed list of reptile fauna occurring in the KARNR. This study recorded a total of 31 species from 1,551 observations, including 25 lizards and six snakes. A desktop study identified three additional species, bringing the total number of herpetofaunal species known in the KARNR to 34. Two of the species found in the reserve are of conservation concern: Uromastyx aegyptia (VU) and Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei (DD). Through species accumulation curves we were able to determine that the sampling methods implemented during the survey were adequate, and we predicted that the species richness of the reserve is likely as much as 38 species. Prior to this study, only 82 reptile records (30 species) were known from the study area, so we add a significant number of new records to the reserve and an additional four species that were previously unknown from the region.