vipersgarden.at

From Lithobates catesbeianus to

Aquarana catesbeiana

See:
DUBOIS, A. (2006): New proposals for naming lower-ranked taxa within the frame of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.- C. R. Biologies 329 (2006) 823–840.

Abstract:
The recent multiplication of cladistic hypotheses for many zoological groups poses a challenge to zoological nomenclature following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature: in order to account for these hypotheses, we will need many more ranks than currently allowed in this system, especially in lower taxonomy (around the ranks genus and species). The current Code allows the use of as many ranks as necessary in the family-series of nomina (except above superfamily), but forbids the use of more than a few ranks in the genus and species-series. It is here argued that this limitation has no theoretical background, does not respect the freedom of taxonomic thoughts or actions, and is harmful to zoological taxonomy in two respects at least: (1) it does not allow to express in detail hypothesized cladistic relationships among taxa at lower taxonomic levels (genus and species); (2) it does not allow to point taxonomically to low-level differentiation between populations of the same species, although this would be useful in some cases for conservation biology purposes. It is here proposed to modify the rules of the Code in order to allow use by taxonomists of an indeterminate number of ranks in all nominal-series. Such an ‘expanded nomenclatural system’ would be highly flexible and likely to be easily adapted to any new finding or hypothesis regarding cladistic relationships between taxa, at genus and species level and below. This system could be useful for phylogeographic analysis and in conservation biology. In zoological nomenclature, whereas robustness of nomina is necessary, the same does not hold for nomenclatural ranks, as the latter are arbitrary and carry no special biological, evolutionary or other information, except concerning the mutual relationships between taxa in the taxonomic hierarchy. Compared to the Phylocode project, the new system is equally unambiguous within the frame of a given taxonomic frame, but it provides more explicit and informative nomina for non-specialist users, and is more economic in terms of number of nomina needed to account for a given hierarchy. These ideas are exemplified by a comparative study of three possible nomenclatures for the taxonomy recently proposed by Hillis and Wilcox (2005) for American frogs traditionally referred to the genus Rana

and

DUBOIS, A., A. OHLER & R.A. PYRON (2021): New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia).- Megataxa 005(1): 001–738

Abstract:
Although currently most taxonomists claim to adhere to the concept of ‘phylogenetic taxonomy’, in fact most of the zoological classifications currently published are only in part ‘phylogenetic’ but include also phenetic or gradist approaches, in their arbitrary choices of the nodes formally recognised as taxa and in their attribution of ranks to these taxa. We here propose a new approach to‘phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature’, exemplified by a phylogenetic classification or cladonomy of the extant amphibians (subclass Lissamphibia of the class Amphibia derived from a supermatrix-based phylogenetic analysis using 4060 amphibian species, i.e. about half of the 8235 species recognised on 31 October 2020. These taxa were represented by a mean of 3029 bp (range: 197–13849 bp) of DNA sequence data from a mean of 4 genes (range: n1?15). The cladistic tree thus generated was transferred into a classification according to a new taxonomic and nomenclatural methodology presented here, which allows a bijective or isomorphic relationship between the phylogenetic hypothesis and the classification through a rigorous use of suprageneric ranks, in which their hierarchy mirrors the structure of the tree. Our methodology differs from all previous ones in several particulars: [1] whereas the current International Code of Zoological Nomenclature uses only three ‘groups of names’ (species, genus and family), we recognise four nominal-series (species, genus, family and class); [2] we strictly follow the Code for the establishment of the valid nomen (scientific name) of taxa in the three lower nominal-series (however, in a few situations, we suggest improvements to the current Rules of the Code); [3] we provide precise and unambiguous Criteria for the assignment of suprageneric nomina to either the family- or the class-series, excluding nomina proposed expressly under unranked or pseudoranked nomenclatural systems; [4] in the class-series, for which the Code provides only incomplete Rules concerning availability, we provide precise, complete and unambiguous Criteria for the nomenclatural availability, taxonomic allocation and nomenclatural validity and correctness of nomina; [5] we stress the fact that nomenclatural ranks do not have biological definitions or meanings and that they should never be used in an ‘absolute’ way (e.g., to express degrees of genetic or phenetic divergence between taxa or hypothesised ages of cladogeneses) but in a ‘relative’ way: two taxa which are considered phylogenetically as sister-taxa should always be attributed to the same nomenclatural rank, but taxa bearing the same rank in different ‘clades’ are by no means‘equivalent’, as the number of ranks depends largely on the number of terminal taxa (species) and on the degree of phylogenetic resolution of the tree; [6] because of this lack of ‘equivalence’, some arbitrary criteria are necessary to fix a starting point for assigning a given suprageneric rank to some taxa, from which the ranks of all other taxa will automatically derive through a simple implementation of the hierarchy of ranks: for this purpose we chose the rank family and we propose a ‘Ten Criteria Procedure’ allowing to fix the position of this rank in any zoological classification. As a result of the implementation of this set of Criteria, we obtained a new ranked classification of extant lissamphibians using 25 suprageneric ranks below the rank class (11 class-series and 14 family-series ranks), and including 34 class-series and 573 family-series taxa, and where the 575 genera we recognise are referred to 69 families and 87 subfamilies. We provide new nomina and diagnoses for 10 class-series taxa, 171 family-series taxa, 14 genus-series taxa and 1 species. As many new species of amphibians are permanently described, this classification and its nomenclature will certainly have to change many times in the future but, using the clear, explicit, complete, automatic and unambiguous methodology presented here, these changes will be easy to implement, and will not depend on subjective and arbitrary choices as it has too often been the case in the last decades. We suggest that applying this methodology in other zoological groups would improve considerably the homogeneity, clarity and usefulness of zoological taxonomy and nomenclature.

Calotriton arnoldi laietanus

See:
Talavera A, Valbuena-Ureña E, Burriel-Carranza B, Mochales-Riaño G, Adams DC, Amat F, Carbonell F, Carranza S. (2024): Integrative systematic revision of the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), with the description of a new subspecies.- PeerJ 12:e17550 DOI 10.7717/peerj.17550

Abstract:
The Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), a glacial relict endemic to a small, isolated massif in northeast Spain, is considered the only Critically Endangered urodele in Europe. Its restricted range is divided by a deep valley that acts as an impassable barrier to dispersal, separating two isolated metapopulations (Western and Eastern) that correspond to independent lineages with different evolutionary trajectories, based on genetic and genomic data. Here, we address the ecological differentiation between lineages and discuss its potential effect on the phenotypic distinctness of each lineage. Based on multiple lines of evidence, we formally describe the Western Montseny brook newt as a new subspecies: Calotriton arnoldi laietanus ssp. nov. Finally, our study underscores the importance of considering taxonomic progress in the conservation policies of endangered species, ensuring appropriate management and protection of the newly described taxa.

Rhynchocalamus hejazicus

See:
Licata, F., L. Pola, J. Šmíd, A.A. Ibrahim, A.V. Liz, B. Santos, L. Patkó, A. Abdulkareem, D.V. Gonçalves, A.M. AlShammari, S. Busais9, Damien M. Egan10, Ricardo M. O. Ramalho11, Josh Smithson12, 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

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.

Alytes obstetricans lusitanicus

See:
Johanna AMBU, Íñigo MARTÍNEZ-SOLANO & Christophe DUFRESNES (2024): A new subspecies of midwife toad (Anura, Alytidae, Alytes Wagler, 1829) supported by genomic taxonomy.- Alytes, 41(1–4): 18–39

Abstract:
The mapping, delimiting and naming of biodiversity forge the links between academic research, conservation efforts and communication about wildlife. Midwife toads from the subgenus Alytes are a group of high conservation concern widely popular among European naturalists, but for which the taxonomy remains unsettled. Six phylogeographic lineages that diversified during the Pliocene and the Pleistocene epochs have been identified and delimited in two species (A. obstetricans and A. almogavarii), but only five subspecies are presently recognized (A. o. obstetricans, A. o. pertinax and A. o. boscai; A. a. almogavarii and A. a. inigoi). Accordingly, two distinct lineages found in northwestern and western Iberia are still regrouped under the same taxon A. o. boscai. Contrary to the discordant findings of earlier studies based on a few genes, phylogenomic analyses of thousands of nuclear markers have confirmed their independent evolution, estimated to exceed two million years. In this article, we detail molecular, morphological and behavioral variation in the subgenus Alytes to provide a taxonomic description for the previously unnamed western Iberian lineage. Like other taxa of this subgenus, the new taxon is supported by robust evidence for genetic divergence despite little external differentiation. It is designated as a subspecies of A. obstetricans, as per its phylogenetic placement and young evolutionary age, which compares to freely admixing Alytes subspecies. Combining genetic barcoding and distribution information, we provisionally define its range in central Portugal and western central Spain, and prompt to evaluate its potentially worrisome conservation status. Our study highlights how phylogeographic diversity can be acknowledged in zoological systematics, even when phenotypic differences are subtle, and illustrates the advantages of genomic approaches to overcome the limitations of single-gene analyses when implementing taxonomic revisions.

See:
Naeim Moradi, Soheila Shafiei Bafti, Mohammad Ebrahim Sehhatisabet, Behzad Zadhoush & Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani (2024): Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Lytorhynchus Peters, 1863 (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) with special reference to the Iranian taxa.- Journal of Animal Diversity, 5(4): 15–31

Abstract:
The genus Lytorhynchus, spanning from the Sahara’s western fringes to the Middle East, eastern Pakistan, and northwestern India, has seen numerous species and subspecies classifications over the years. Many of these have been deemed synonymous due to overlapping morphological traits, a problem compounded by the absence of a comprehensive phylogenetic study. The taxa residing in Iran exhibit morphological variations attributable to their broad distribution and disjunct populations. Of the seven recognized species, three have been confirmed in Iran, although some populations display pholidosis distinct from initial descriptions. mSpecies identification has also been fraught with ambiguities. This study aims to elucidate the diagnostic characteristics of taxa and furnish an updated identification key by revisiting past studies and examining new voucher specimens. The biogeography of Iranian taxa is also explored.

Triturus marmoratus harmannis

See:
Arntzen, J.W. (2024): A subspecies of marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus) in the Iberian Peninsula newly resolved from congruent nuclear and mitochondrial DNA data:- Contribution to Zoology (2024)1-16.

Abstract:
The herpetofauna of the Iberian Peninsula is relatively well-researched, yet detailed studies, at least in part relying on molecular genetic data, continue to reveal taxa new to science, mostly species and subspecies. Newts of the genus Triturus are one such group with undiscovered yet taxonomically relevant variation, as shown by the recent description of new (sub)species of pygmy newts (T. pygmaeus, T. rudolfi). The marbled newt, Triturus marmoratus, shows an equally deep and geographically coherent spatial-genetic diversification. It is here shown that a northern and a southern group are characterized by different mitochondrial DNA profiles and are also differentiated in morphometry and colouration pattern. With no firm evidence for selection against intermediate genotypes, the southern group is described at the subspecies level, as T. marmoratus harmannis ssp. nov. The subspecies' contact zone is situated at ca. 41.5 northern latitude and stretches from the Atlantic coast near Porto, Portugal to the northeast of Madrid, Spain.

Triturus rudolfi

See:
Arntzen, J.W. (2024): Morphological and genetic diversification of pygmy and marbled newts, with the description of a new species from the wider Lisbon Peninsula (Triturus, Salamandridae).- Contribution to Zoology 2024: 1 - 24 (early view)

Abstract:
Iberian populations of large-bodied newts, with Triturus marmoratus in the north and T. pygmaeus in the south of the peninsula, were studied for external morphology, mitochondrial dna and for a panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms. This confirmed the species' low level of interspecific hybridization and their parapatric, mosaic-like mutual range border across the peninsula. The genetic data also revealed substantial variation within T. pygmaeus, with narrow (0.43-35.2 km) clinal transitions in the very centre of Portugal. Similar dines were observed for body size and colouration pattern. Pygmy newts in the west of Portugal are larger, with a more striped (less reticulated) green dorso-lateral colouration pattern than those in the east and south of the country. The western group of populations is described as a new species, Triturus rudolfi sp. nov., on account of a long, ca. 2.5 Ma, independent evolutionary history and limited hybridization with its sister-species T. pygmaeus, suggesting selection against hybrid offspring. The range of the newly described species may be restricted to the wider Lisbon Peninsula, stretching northwards along the Atlantic coast to the river Vouga estuary. Inland, the range border may be set by the lower Tejo River, or by the currently wide area of agricultural land at either side of that river, that may accommodate a residual hybrid zone. The close contact between both pygmy newt species is effectively limited to a ca. 20 x 40 km area directly north of the town Entroncamento, where T. rudolfi sp. nov. is sandwiched in between T. marmoratus and the river Tejo.

A new subspecies of the Morocco mountain skink from the High plateaus in East Morocco and Algeria

See:
Geniez, P., D. Lutgen, Y. Hingrat, V. Rivière, M. Beddek, O. Peyre & P.-A. Crochet (2023): Resolving the identity of Pallary’s Skink: a new taxon of the genus Chalcides (Squamata: Scincidae) from Morocco and Algeria.- SALAMANDRA 60(1): 1–16

Abstract:
North Africa is the most important centre of diversification for the skinks of the genus Chalcides. Morocco alone is inhabited by 16 species of which nine are endemic, while eight species are known from Algeria, none of them endemic. We add here to this diversity a taxon that was first collected by Paul Pallary in 1925, discussed by Pellegrin in 1926, and whose status has been debated by several authors since without reaching a satisfactory consensus. In 2003 and 2008, two specimens with the same habitus as Pallary’s specimen were found near Missour (Morocco) and near Djelfa (Algeria), respectively. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes shows that these two recent individuals belong to an undefined lineage that is sister to Chalcides montanus, and that we describe here as a new subspecies. It shares many morphological features with the nominate subspecies, but differs most prominently in its colour pattern of five black stripes in the first third of the dorsum, ocelli on the dorsum and on the flanks that disappear roughly in the first third or half of the body, and two broad light dorsolateral bands that disappear around midbody; its genetic divergence is estimated at 4.2% in cytochrome b sequence and 0.8% in a concatenated alignment of several nuclear loci. This new taxon is presently known from three specimens and two localities in the Hauts Plateaux of eastern Morocco and Algeria.

AFRASIAB & AL-MOUSSAWI (2020) “described” Hemidactylus bornmuelleri “new”, but the original author has to be WERNER (1895)

See:
WERNER, F. (1895): Über eine Sammlung von Reptilien aus Persien, Mesopotamien und Arabien.- Verh. K.u.k. zool. Bot. Ges. Wien 45: 13 – 21.

See:
AFRASIAB, S.R. & A.A. AL-MOUSSAWI (2020): Revision of the genus Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Iraq with description of a new species from central Iraq.- Plant Archives 20(1): 6448-6452
Abstract:
Most of the Hemidactylus species are morphologically similar. There are few characters that can rely upon in the separation, except a few species like H. flaviviridis, so the scientists relied on molecular studies for separation. In this study, the authors found clear characters and variation in the Baghdad collection of Hemidactylus, easily distinguish, depending on morphological characters. This study includes the updated list of Hemidactylus species recorded in Iraq, with re description of a new form of Gekkonidae, Hemidactylus bornmuelleri, the authors believed it is a valid name from Baghdad city, central Iraq, we gave it bornmuelleri, because Werner (1895) discovered it from Baghdad, but later the authors considered it as a synonym of Hemidactylus persicus Anderson. We improve that it is a separate and clear species, although it is one of H. persicus species group. Hemidactylus dawudazraqi also added to Iraqi list of Hemidactylus. A key to the species, with notes on variation, ecology and distribution in Iraq were provided.

Rana parvipalmata asturiensis

See:
Dufresnes, C., J. Ambu, P. Galán, F. Sequeira, L. Viesca, M. Choda, D. Álvarez, B. Alard, T. Suchan, S. Künzel, I. Martínez-Solano, M. Vences & A. Nicieza (2023): Delimiting phylogeographic diversity in the genomic era: application to an Iberian endemic frog.- Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlad170, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad170.

Abstract:
The rich genetic and phenotypic diversity of species complexes is best recognized through formal taxonomic naming, but one must first assess the evolutionary history of phylogeographic lineages to identify and delimit candidate taxa. Using genomic markers, mitochondrial DNA barcoding, and morphometric analyses, we examined lineage diversity and distribution in the Iberian endemic frog Rana parvipalmata. We confirmed two deep phylogeographic lineages, one relatively homogenous genetically, found in Asturias and adjacent areas (T2), and one more fragmented and locally genetically impoverished, restricted to Galicia (T1). Analyses of their hybrid zone suggested a shallow transition characterized by far-ranging admixture, which was modelled by a wide geographic cline (~60 km for the genome average) and no obvious barrier loci (i.e. loci showing disproportionally restricted introgression). The relatively young T1 and T2 have thus remained reproductively compatible, which argues against their distinction as biological species, and we accordingly describe T2 as a new subspecies, Rana parvipalmata asturiensis ssp. nov. Remarkably, we highlight striking discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear distributions across their hybrid zones, as well as between their genetic and morphological differentiation. Our study illustrates how genomic-based phylogeographic frameworks can help decipher the high genetic and phenotypic variation of species complexes and substantiate the taxonomic assessment of candidate lineages.

See:
Böhme, W., S.H. Ahmed, O.F. Al-Sheikhly, K. Ararat, M. Auer, F.A. Khudur & C. Langner (2023): DESERT MONITOR LIZARDS (SQUAMATA: VARANIDAE: Varanus: Psammosaurus) FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: FURTHER RECORDS OF NESTEROV’S DESERT MONITOR, Varanus (P.) nesterovi BÖHME, EHRLICH, MILTO, ORLOV ET SCHOLZ, 2015, FROM IRAQ, AND ADJACENT LOCALITIES OF Varanus (P.) g. griseus (DAUDIN, 1803) AND Varanus (P.) g. caspius (EICHWALD, 1831), WITH COMMENTS ON BIOGEOGRAPHY AND TAXONOMY.-- Russian Journal of Herpetology 30(6): 518 – 528

Abstract:
We report on numerous additional records and observations of Varanus nesterovi Böhme et al., 2015, and its chorological relationships (parapatry vs. sympatry) to its close relatives, viz. V. griseus griseus and V. g. caspius. The new distributional data and locality records do not only hint on various threats for V. nesterovi, but document also its parapatry with griseus along a line from east of Mosul to east of Kirkuk, and with caspius near Shiraz. This chorological pattern of V. nesterovi‘s distribution range wedged between the ranges of the taxa griseus and caspius argues, next to morphological and molecular genetic grounds, strongly for full species status of the three taxa involved. We discuss a theoretically possible but questionable occurrence of V. caspius in Europe (south of Baku, Azerbajdzhan) in the framework of fossil varanids from European sites and we comment on the type locality of Psammosaurus caspius Eichwald, 1831.

Triturus pygmaeus lusitanicus

distributed in the south east of the distribution area (Guadalquivir river, Cadiz prov., Spain)

See:
ARNTZEN, J.W. (2023): Morphological and genetic diversification of Old-World marbled newts, with the description of a new and ‘not-at-all-cryptic’ subspecies from the Iberian Peninsula (Triturus, Salamandridae).- Contributions to Zoology (2023) 1–26,?doi: 10.1163/18759866-bja10055

Abstract:
Morphological and genetic variation of organisms is generally lower in northern than in southern regions of the Palearctic. This ubiquitous geographical pattern has been associated with extinction and recolonization processes in the north versus persistence in the Mediterranean area, as governed by climate change in the Pleistocene. One area of differentiation and complexity is the Iberian Peninsula where two distinct sister-species of marbled newts possess adjoining and geographically sharply delimited ranges over the north (Triturus marmoratus) and the south of the peninsula (T. pygmaeus). Within the latter species two forms are here documented, with different colouration patterns and non-overlapping ranges. The southern form is striped, much as in T. marmoratus, and occurs to the south of the Guadalquivir River. The northern form, here described as a new subspecies, has a reticulated dorsal colouration. It occurs only north of the Guadalquivir and is thus sandwiched in between two striped marbled newt taxa. Both T. pygmaeus subspecies engage inside the Doñana National Park in a ca. 2,500 m narrow contact zone. Although an inferred substantial selection against hybrids goes a long way to support species status, a reanalysis of published genetic data is required to solve this issue, along with the wider investigation of the same type of (microsatelite) data for the southern, nominotypical subspecies.

Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis

has been described

See:
Karin TAMAR, K., M. UVIZL, M. SHOBRAK, M. ALMUTAIRI, S. BUSAIS, A.F.A. SALIM, R.H.M. ALGETHAMI, A.R. ALGETHAMI, A.S.K. ALANAZI, S.D. ALSUBAIE, L. CHIRIO, S. CARRANZA & J. ŠMID (2023): A new species of Pseudotrapelus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Arabia.- Vertebrate Zoology 73: 1033–1045

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 and P. chlodnickii.

Eremias graphica and
Eremias pseudofasciata
Eremias scripta lasdini (ZAREWSKIJ, 1918) is considered as a full species Eremias lasdini

See:
ORLOVA, E. RASEGAR-POUYANI, RAJABIZADEH, NABIZADEH, POYARKOV, MELNIKO6 & NAZAROV (2023): Taxonomic diversity of racerunners with descriptions of two new Eremias species (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Central Iran.- Zootaxa 5369 (3): 336–368

Abstract:
We provide a diversity assessment of Iranian species of the genus Eremias based on the cytochrome oxidase I mtDNA gene fragment. We analyzed 93 genetic samples from the entire distribution of the Eremias fasciata species complex in Iran and surrounding regions, along with morphological data to support the description of two new species from Central Iran. We hypothesize that the diversification of the Eremias fasciata species complex was largely influenced by the fragmentation of sand massifs in the region. This same hypothesis has been used to explain the high level of endemism among the sand-dwelling species of reptiles along the Iranian Plateau in the same area. The two new species described herein can be distinguished from other congeneric species by their phylogenetic position and a combination of morphological characters. We use these data to discuss the taxonomy of Eremias based on morphology, habitat choice, and genetic data.

Darevskia arribasi

See:
Tuniyev, B.S., T.V. Petrova & K.Yu. Lotiev (2023): A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS Darevskia ARRIBAS, 1999 FROM SOUTH OSSETIA (REPTILIA: SAURIA: LACERTIDAE).- Russian Journal of Herpetology 30(4): 237 – 248

Abstract:
A new species of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1999 — Darevskia arribasi sp. nov. is described from vicinity of Ertso Lake in South Ossetia. In comparison of Darevskia arribasi sp. nov. with other species of the “saxicola-brauneri” complex [D. lindholmi (Szczerbak, 1962), D. saxicola (Eversmann, 1834), D. brauneri (Mehely, 1909) (including D. b. brauneri, D. b. myusserica Doronin, 2011, D. b. darevskyi (Szczerbak, 1962), and D. szczerbaki (Lukina, 1963)], the new species is characterized by the smallest body size among all representatives of this complex L males — 55 – 62 mm; females — 58 – 63 mm. The number of scales around the middle of the body (Sq.) in D. arribasi sp. nov. (52 – 58, more often 54 – 56) also significantly less than for D. saxicola sensu lato in generally. Along the throat from ear to ear fold there are 36 – 42 scales, less than in D. saxicola sensu lato. Two large preanal shields present in front of the anal shield in half of the individuals examined; in a quarter of individuals on both sides of the small central preanal there are by one enlarged lateral preanal shield, in another quarter all preanal shields are of the same size. Central temporal (Massetericum) always developed; always six pair of mandibulars, three in contact; collar straight, extremely rarely slightly serrated; ribs on the caudal scales are expressed to some extent; rostral usually separated from frontonasal by nasal shields. The coloration of adult males is olive-lettuce, or olive-brown from above; adult females are grey-brown; juvenile coloration coffee-brown with the blue and black spots on the edge of the outer ventral shields at the middle of trunk. Taxonomical status of new species is well supported with result of analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b data.

Naja obscura

In: J.F. Trape: Guide des serpents d’Afrique occidentale, centrale et d’Afrique du Nord. IRD Éditions Institut de recherche pour le développement: 239 - 240

Lycodon bicolor (NIKOLSKY, 1903)

See:
Thasun Amarasinghe, A.A., R Masroor, H.T. Lalremsanga, S. Weerakkody, N.B. Ananjeva, P.D. Campbell, S.R. Kennedy-Gold, S.K. Bandara, A.M. Bragin, AK.A. Gayan, V.R. Sharma, A. Sayyed, L. Biakzuala, A.S. Kanishka, S.R. Ganesh, I. Ineich, A. de Silva, L.J.M. Wickramasinghe, S.S. Seneviratne, N.A. Poyarkov, G. Vogel & D. Jablonski (2023): Integrative approach resolves the systematics of barred wolf snakes in the Lycodon striatus complex (Reptilia, Colubridae).- Zoologica Scripta. 52: 370–393

Abstract:
We reviewed the systematics of Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802), including all available name-bearing types of its synonyms after evaluating phylogeographic (genetics), morphological (morphometry, meristic, and hemipenes), osteological and distribution evidence. Lycodon striatus sensu lato is widely distributed throughout South and Central Asia and mimics elapids. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, we demonstrate that populations from (i) eastern and central Peninsular India plus Sri Lanka and (ii) south-western parts of Central Asia form two different clades representing two distinct species: L. striatus sensu stricto and L. bicolor comb. nov. respectively. These two clades are sisters to L. deccanensis (in the case of L. striatus) and L. jara (in the case of L. bicolor) and together form two main sister radiations. Although the external morphological variability is high in both species, the genetic variability is higher only in L. striatus but not distinct enough to represent more than one species if using the phylogenetic or biological species concept. The phylogeny of the L. aulicus group hints at Sri Lankan L. striatus, likely having evolved in continental Asia through a probable overland dispersal across the Bay of Bengal (present Palk Strait) into Sri Lanka. This dispersal may have been facilitated by low sea levels during the Pleistocene glaciations when Sri Lanka was connected to mainland India. After considering genetic divergence (with a p-distance of 1.8%–2.1% in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene) and morphological evidence, we synonymize the Sri Lankan subspecies, L. s. sinhaleyus Deraniyagala, 1955, with L. striatus sensu stricto. The eastern and central Indian L. striatus (i.e. L. striatus sensu stricto) ismorphologically distinct and deeply divergent genetically compared to Tajik and Pakistani L. bicolor with a p-distance of 13.6% in cytochrome b gene (mtDNA). Interestingly, L. bicolor is conspecific (p-distance 1.4%) with L. mackinnoni, a western Himalayan endemic, and it reveals intraspecific clinal variation

Olìgodon transcaspicus

See:
Lee, J.L., P.V. Yushchenko, K.D. Milto, M. Rajabizadeh, E. Rastegar Pouyani, D. Jablonski, R. Masroor, S. Karunarathna, A. Kumar Mallik, P. Dsouza, N. Orlov, R. Nazarov & N.A. Poyarkov (2023): Kukri snakes Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 of the Western Palearctic with the resurrection of Contia transcaspica Nikolsky, 1902 (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae).- PeerJ 11:e15185 DOI 10.7717/peerj.15185; 47 pp

Abstract:
The kukri snakes of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 reach the westernmost limits of their distribution in Middle and Southwest Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan), and the Palearctic portions of Pakistan. In this article, we review the systematics and distribution of the two species native to this region, Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802) and Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853) based on an integrative approach combining morphological, molecular, and species distribution modeling (SDM) data. Phylogenetic analyses recover O. taeniolatus populations from Iran and Turkmenistan in a clade with the O. arnensis species complex, rendering the former species paraphyletic relative to O. taeniolatus sensu stricto on the Indian subcontinent. To correct this, we resurrect the name Contia transcaspica Nikolsky, 1902 from the synonymy of O. taeniolatus and assign it to populations in Middle–Southwest Asia. So far, Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. is known only from the Köpet–Dag Mountain Range of northeast Iran and southern Turkmenistan, but SDM mapping suggests it may have a wider range. Genetic samples of O. “arnensis” from northern Pakistan are nested in a clade sister to the recently described Oligodon churahensis Mirza, Bhardwaj & Patel, 2021, and are phylogenetically separate from O. arnensis sensu stricto in south India and Sri Lanka. Based on morphological similarity, the Afghanistan and Pakistan populations are assigned to Oligodon russelius (Daudin, 1803) and we synonymize O. churahensis with this species. Our investigation leads us to remove O. taeniolatus from the snake fauna of Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, with the consequence that only Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. and O. russelius are present in these countries. Additional studies are needed to resolve the taxonomy of the O. taeniolatus and O. arnensis species complexes on the Indian subcontinent, and an updated key for both groups is provided.

A new Pristurus from norther Somalia, Pristurus migiurtinicus, different from Pristurus flavipunctatus.

See:
BERNAT BURRIEL-CARRANZA, TOMÁS MAZUCH, MARIA ESTARELLAS, ADRIÁN TALAVERA, GABRIEL RIAÑO, THORE KOPPETSCH, KARIN TAMAR, HÉCTOR TEJERO-CICUÉNDEZ, SALEH AL SAADI, SALEM BUSAIS, LUKÁS KRATOCHVÍL, MOHAMMED SHOBRAK, JIRÍ sMÍD & SALVADOR CARRANZA (2023): Pristurus guweirensis Haas, 1943 (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae): the most abundant and widely distributed species of Pristurus previously referred to as Pristurus sp. 1.- Zootaxa 5297 (4): 594–599

no abstract!

a) New name for Iranian Eyphlyctis cyanophlyctis SCHNEIDER, 1799 is now Eyphlyctis adolfi (GÜNTHER, 1860) by DUFRESNES & LITVINCHUK, 2021

b) split of the Water frogs Pelophylax ridibundus from the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests in northeastern Iran and adjacent Kopet Dagh area in Turkmenistan to a new species Pelophylax persicus (SCHNEIDER, 1799) by SAFAEI-MAHROO, B., H. GHAFFARI, and A. NAMIR. 2023.

c) Duttaphrynus olivaceus and Duttaphrynus stomaticus are now in the Genus Firouzophrynus SAFAEI-MAHROO & GHAFFARI, 2020. The new Genus has been created by the Iranian authors in their book and confirmed by DUBOIS, OHLER & PYRON, 2021 because of paraphylogeny of Duttaphrynus.
The new names are Firouzophrynus olivaceus and Firouzophrynus stomaticus.

See:

ALAIN DUBOIS, A., A. OHLER & R.A. PYRON (2021): New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia).- Megataxa 005 (1): 001–738

Abstract:
Although currently most taxonomists claim to adhere to the concept of ‘phylogenetic taxonomy’, in fact most of the zoological classifications currently published are only in part ‘phylogenetic’ but include also phenetic or gradist approaches, in their arbitrary choices of the nodes formally recognised as taxa and in their attribution of ranks to these taxa. We here propose a new approach to ‘phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature’, exemplified by a phylogenetic classification or cladonomy of the extant amphibians (subclass Lissamphibia of the class Amphibia) derived from a supermatrix-based phylogenetic analysis using 4060 amphibian species, i.e. about half of the 8235 species recognised on 31 October 2020. These taxa were represented by a mean of 3029 bp (range: 197–13849 bp) of DNA sequence data from a mean of 4 genes (range: 1?15). The cladistic tree thus generated was transferred into a classification according to a new taxonomic and nomenclatural methodology presented here, which allows a bijective or isomorphic relationship between the phylogenetic hypothesis and the classification through a rigorous use of suprageneric ranks, in which their hierarchy mirrors the structure of the tree. Our methodology differs from all previous ones in several particulars: [1] whereas the current International Code of Zoological Nomenclature uses only three ‘groups of names’ (species, genus and family), we recognise four nominal-series (species, genus, family and class); [2] we strictly follow the Code for the establishment of the valid nomen (scientific name) of taxa in the three lower nominal-series (however, in a few situations, we suggest improvements to the current Rules of the Code); [3] we provide precise and unambiguous Criteria for the assignment of suprageneric nomina to either the family- or the class-series, excluding nomina proposed expressly under unranked or pseudoranked nomenclatural systems; [4] in the class-series, for which the Code provides only incomplete Rules concerning availability, we provide precise, complete and unambiguous Criteria for the nomenclatural availability, taxonomic allocation and nomenclatural validity and correctness of nomina; [5] we stress the fact that nomenclatural ranks do not have biological definitions or meanings and that they should never be used in an ‘absolute’ way (e.g., to express degrees of genetic or phenetic divergence between taxa or hypothesised ages of cladogeneses) but in a ‘relative’ way: two taxa which are considered phylogenetically as sister-taxa should always be attributed to the same nomenclatural rank, but taxab earing the same rank in different ‘clades’ are by no means ‘equivalent’, as the number of ranks depends largely on the number of terminal taxa (species) and on the degree of phylogenetic resolution of the tree; [6] because of this lack of ‘equivalence’, some arbitrary criteria are necessary to fix a starting point for assigning a given suprageneric rank to some taxa, from which the ranks of all other taxa will automatically derive through a simple implementation of the hierarchy of ranks: for this purpose we chose the rank family and we propose a ‘Ten Criteria Procedure’ allowing to fix the position of this rank in any zoological classification. As a result of the implementation of this set of Criteria, we obtained a new ranked classification of extant lissamphibians using 25 suprageneric ranks below the rank class (11 class-series and 14 family-series ranks), and including 34 class-series and 573 family-series taxa, and where the 575 genera we recognise are referred to 69 families and 87 subfamilies. We provide new nomina and diagnoses for 10 class-series taxa, 171 family-series taxa, 14 genus-series taxa and 1 species. As many new species of amphibians are permanently described, this classification and its nomenclature will certainly have to change many times in the future but, using the clear, explicit, complete, automatic and unambiguous methodology presented here, these changes will be easy to implement, and will not depend on subjective and arbitrary choices as it has too often been the case in the last decades. We suggest that applying this methodology in other zoological groups would improve considerably the homogeneity, clarity and usefulness of zoological taxonomy and nomenclature.

DUFRESNES, C. & S.N. LITVINCHUK (2022): Diversity, distribution and molecular species delimitation in frogs and toads from the Eastern Palaearctic.- Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 195: 695–760

Abstract:
Biodiversity analyses can greatly benefit from coherent species delimitation schemes and up-to-date distribution data. In this article, we have made the daring attempt to delimit and map described and undescribed lineages of anuran amphibians in the Eastern Palaearctic (EP) region in its broad sense. Through a literature review, we have evaluated the species status considering reproductive isolation and genetic divergence, combined with an extensive occurrence dataset (nearly 85k localities). Altogether 274 native species from 46 genera and ten families were retrieved, plus eight additional species introduced from other realms. Independent hotspots of species richness were concentrated in southern Tibet (Medog County), the circum-Sichuan Basin region, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and the main Japanese islands. Phylogeographic breaks responsible for recent in situ speciation events were shared around the Sichuan Mountains, across Honshu and between the Ryukyu Island groups, but not across shallow water bodies like the Yellow Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Anuran compositions suggested to restrict the zoogeographical limits of the EP to East Asia. In a rapidly evolving field, our study provides a checkpoint to appreciate patterns of species diversity in the EP under a single, spatially explicit, species delimitation framework that integrates phylogeographic data in taxonomic research.

SAFAEI-MAHROO, B. & H. GHAFFARI (2020): The complete guide to amphibians of Iran: biology, ecology, and conservation.- Sanandaj: University of Kurdistan Press (no abstract!)

SAFAEI-MAHROO, B., H. GHAFFARI & A. NIAMIR (2023): A synoptic review of the Amphibians of Iran: bibliography, taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, conservation status, and identification key to the eggs, larvae, and adults.- Zootaxa 5279(1): 001–112

Abstract:
This study provides an illustrated account, a comprehensive update of the systematics, and a bibliography of the 15 species of anurans in five families, eight genera; and of the six species of urodeles in two families, four genera in Iran. Bufonidae, with eight species, is the most diverse family; Salamandridae has five species and Ranidae has four species. This study also presents updated identification keys for the eggs, larvae, and metamorphosed amphibians of Iran. we designated specimen NMW 19855.1 as neotype of Pelophylax persicus (Schneider, 1799) comb. nov.. Along with distribution maps obtained from all the reliable localities and museum specimens known at this time, the modelled habitat of species, and for the first time, the National Red List of amphibians based on the IUCN red list categories and criteria. Based on our evaluation we propose to categorize Bufo eichwaldi, Paradactylodon persicus, Neurergus derjugini, and N. kaiseri as vulnerable at National Red List, and to move Bufotes (Calliopersa) luristanicus, B. (C.) surdus, Firouzophrynus olivaceus, and Rana pseudodalmatina from the category of Least Concern (LC) to Near Threatened (NT). The National Red List of amphibians that we propose has significant implications for endangered species management and conservation. Forty-one percent of amphibian species in Iran are endemic to the country, and more than forty percent of the Iranian amphibians are at risk of extinction. Zagros Mountain forest and Hyrcaniain forests have more than 80% (i.e. 18 species) of the diversity of Iranian amphibians. A considerable amount of scientific literature published on Iranian amphibians in Persian language is not easily accessible to researchers outside Iran. This monograph attempts to remedy the situation and provides broader access to international herpetology. we recognize that taxonomy is always in a state of flux, and the names and synonymies used here reflect our current view.

Elaphe druzei

See:
Jablonski, D., M. Antônio Ribeiro-Júnior, E. Simonov, K. Soltys S. Meiri (2023): A new, rare, small-ranged, and endangered mountain snake of the genus Elaphe from the Southern Levant.- Scientific Reports 13: 4839;

Abstract:
The genus Elaphe Fitzinger, 1833 includes 17 species of charismatic, large-sized, non-venomous, Eurasian snakes. In the Western Palearctic, the genus is represented by three species from the Elaphe quatuorlineata group ranging from the Apennine peninsula to Central Asia. The southernmost population of this group is distributed in the mountains of the Southern Levant, with more than 400 km gap to other Elaphe populations. This population has been known to science for only 50 years and is virtually unstudied due to its extreme rarity. We studied these snakes’ morphological and genetic variation from the three countries where they are known to occur, i.e., Israel (Hermon, the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights), Lebanon, and Syria. We used nine mitochondrial and nuclear genes, complete mitogenome sequences, and a comprehensive morphological examination including published data, our own field observations, and museum specimens, to study its relationship to other species in the group. The three currently recognized species of the group (E. quatuorlineata, E. sauromates, E. urartica), and the Levant population, form four deeply divergent, strongly supported clades. Three of these clades correspond to the abovementioned species while the Southern Levant clade, which is genetically and morphologically distinct from all named congeners, is described here as a new species, Elaphe druzei sp. nov. The basal divergence of this group is estimated to be the Late Miocene with subsequent radiation from 5.1 to 3.9 Mya. The revealed biogeography of the E. quatuorlineata group supports the importance of the Levant as a major center of endemism and diversity of biota in Eurasia. The new species is large?sized and is one of the rarest snakes in the Western Palearctic. Because of its small mountain distribution range, in an area affected by land use and climate change, the new Elaphe urgently needs strict protection. Despite political issues, we hope this will be based on the cooperation of all countries where the new species occurs.

Phrynocephalus brevipes: from synonymy of Phrynocephalus olivieri var. brevipes NIKOLSKY, 1907

Phrynocephalus carinipes: from synonymy of Phrynocephalus olivieri var. carinipes NIKOLSKY, 1907

Phrynocephalus khorasanus: from synonymy of Phrynocephalus mystaceus(PALLAS, 1776)

See:
Solovyeva, E.N., E.A. Dunayev , R.A. Nazarov , D.A. Bondarenko & N.A. Poyarkov (2023): COI-Barcoding and Species Delimitation Assessment of Toad-Headed Agamas of the Genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae, Squamata) Reveal Unrecognized Diversity in Central Eurasia.- Diversity 2023, 15, x. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx; (early view) 34 pp

Abstract.
We provide a diversity assessment of the agamid genus Phrynocephalus Kaup, 1825. We analyze COI mtDNA barcodes from 385 individuals sampled all over Phrynocephalus range. We apply the ABGD, ASAP, bGMYC, mlPTP and hsPTP species delimitation algorithms to analyze the COI gene fragment variation and assess the species diversity in Phrynocephalus. Nine species groups are revealed in Phrynocephalus in agreement with earlier studies on the phylogenetic relationships of the genus. We demonstrate that the present taxonomy likely underestimates the actual diversity of the genus. Alternative species delimitation algorithms provide a confusingly wide range of possible number of Phrynocephalus species—from 54 to 103 MOTUs (molecular operational taxonomic units). The ASAP species delimitation scheme recognizing 63 MOTUs likely most closely fits the currently recognized taxonomic framework of Phrynocephalus. We also report on 13 previously unknown Phrynocephalus lineages as unverified candidate species. We demonstrate that the ASAP and the ABGD algorithms likely most closely reflect the actual diversity of Phrynocephalus, while the mlPTP and hsPTP largely overestimate it. We argue that species delimitation in these lizards based exclusively on mtDNA markers is insufficient, and call for further integrative taxonomic studies joining the data from morphology, mtDNA and nuDNA markers to fully stabilize the taxonomy of Phrynocephalus lizards.

See:
Sunandan Das,Eli Greenbaum, Shai Meiri, Aaron M. Bauer, Frank T. Burbrink, Christopher J. Raxworthy, Jeffrey L. Weinell, Rafe M. Brown, Jonathan Brecko, Olivier S.G. Pauwels, Nirhy Rabibisoa, Achille P. Raselimanana & Juha Merila (2022): Ultraconserved elements-based phylogenomic systematics of the snake superfamily Elapoidea, with the description of a new Afro-Asian family.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 180 (2023) 107700

Abstract:
The highly diverse snake superfamily Elapoidea is considered to be a classic example of ancient, rapid radiation. Such radiations are challenging to fully resolve phylogenetically, with the highly diverse Elapoidea a case in point. Previous attempts at inferring a phylogeny of elapoids produced highly incongruent estimates of their evolutionary relationships, often with very low statistical support. We sought to resolve this situation by sequencing over 4,500 ultraconserved element loci from multiple representatives of every elapoid family/subfamily level taxon and inferring their phylogenetic relationships with multiple methods. Concatenation and multispecies coalescent based species trees yielded largely congruent and well-supported topologies. Hypotheses of a hard polytomy were not retained for any deep branches. Our phylogenies recovered Cyclocoridae and Elapidae as diverging early within Elapoidea. The Afro-Malagasy radiation of elapoid snakes, classified asmultiple subfamilies of an inclusive Lamprophiidae by some earlier authors, was found to be monophyletic in all analyses. The genus Micrelaps was consistently recovered as sister to Lamprophiidae. We establish a new family, Micrelapidae fam. nov., for Micrelaps and assign Brachyophis to this family based on cranial osteological synapomorphy. We estimate that Elapoidea originated in the early Eocene and rapidly diversified into all the major lineages during this epoch. Ecological opportunities presented by the post-Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event may have promoted the explosive radiation of elapoid snakes.

Tropiocolotes chirioi
Tropiocolotes tassiliensis

See:
MARCO ANTONIO RIBEIRO-JUNIOR, CLAUDIA KOCH, MORRIS FLECKS, MARTA CALVO & SHAI MEIRI (2022:) Dwarves in a Big World: Two New Species of Tropiocolotes (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Sahara Desert, with the First Detailed Skull Description of the Genus.- Journal of Herpetology, 56(4): 396–421

Abstract:
The Sahara Desert is the largest ecoregion in Africa, but its biodiversity in general, and reptile biodiversity in particular, are only superficially known and probably grossly underestimated. The dwarf-lizard genus Tropiocolotes is widely distributed in the region. The genus’ taxonomy is plagued by serious nomenclatural problems that have led to a series of misidentifications of specimens in collections and in the literature. Analyzing variation in meristic and osteological characters of the Saharan species of Tropiocolotes, we found individuals from Algeria with unique external and internal morphological characters that distinguish them from all other species in the genus. We present a detailed account of these characters and describe two new species of from Algeria. Additionally, we provide the first detailed description of skulls of the genus, and designate a neotype to T. steudneri.

Following SCHMIDTLER (2022) the correct author of the Crimean Wall Lizard Podarcis tauricus has to be GEORGI 1801, but not PALAS 1814.

See:
SCHMIDTLER, J.F. (2022): Bibliographische Hintergründe zur kuriosen nomenklatorischen Geschichte der Taurischen Eidechse, nunmehr Podarcis tauricus (Georgi, 1801).- Sekretär 22: 80 – 92

Abstract:
The bibliographical background of the strange nomenclatural history of the Taurian lizard, now Podarcis tauricus (Georgi, 1800) -- The extensive scientific, economic and cultural research north of the Black sea and in siberia at the end of the 18th century was the result of the Russian expansions of the empire by Catherine the great. The corresponding publications were intended to consolidate the new acquisitions. One of the researchers in this context was Johann Gottlieb Georgi (1729– 1802). his description of the crimean Wall Lizard, then Lacerta taurica, from the crimean peninsula in the work Geographisch-physikalische und Naturhistorische Beschreibung des Rußischen Reiches was one of the results of zoological research at that time. “Georgi, 1801” must be considered the “correct” author of Lacerta taurica, now Podarcis tauricus, with the terra typica “Balaklava” (southern Crimean Peninsula). The later description and identical naming by Peter Simon Pallas (1814) was probably done in knowledge of Georgis description and refers to the same species. since, according to the rules of nomenclature, the name of the author is not part of the name of the species, the regulations as for a “nomen oblitum” cannot apply. Lacerta taurica Georgi, 1801, was regareded a “nomen nudum” by Nikolsky (1915), which is probably based upon a lapse by this author. The cryptic reference to a “Habl.” or “Hablz.” in Georgi (1801) refers to the description of a “Lacerta agilis varietas” from the same locality (Balaklawa) by Carl Ludwig Hablizl (1785: 195 and 1789: 350, respectively). This reference refers solely to the origin of the information, but does not justify authorship or co-authorship.

Hemidactylus almakhwah and
Hemidactylus farasani

See:
Šmíd, Uvizl, Shobrak, Busais, Salim, R.H.M. AlGethami, A.R. AlGethami, Alanazi, Alsubaie, Rovatsos, Nováková, Mazuch & 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, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-022-00572-w

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.

Eremias killasaifullahi and
Eremias rafiqi

the second reaching eastern Persia.

See:

RAFAQAT MASROOR, MUAZZAM ALI KHAN, MUHAMMAD SAJID NADEEM, SHABIR ALI AMIR, MUHAMMAD KHISROON & DANIEL JABLONSKI (2022): Appearances often deceive in racerunners: integrative approach reveals two new species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Pakistan.- Zootaxa 5175(1): 055–087

Abstract:

Based on newly provided morphological and previously published genetic data, we describe two new distinctive sympatric lacertid lizards of the genus Eremias (subgenus Aspidorhinus) from the arid mountains of northwestern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. The new species, Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. and Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. are distinguished from all other species of the subgenus Aspidorhinus (E. afghanistanica, E. fahimii, E. isfahanica, E. kopetdaghica, E. lalezharica, E. montana, E. nikolskii, E. papenfussi, E. persica, E. regeli, E. roborowskii, E. strauchi, E. suphani, and E. velox) by unique morphological characters and genetic differentiation. In the molecular phylogeny of Aspidorhinus, both new taxa are well-supported lineages differentiated from other species of this subgenus by uncorrected p distances from 8.5% to 21.6%, respectively. Both new species belong to E. persica complex where E. rafiqi sp. nov. is partly similar in dorsal color pattern to E. persica but can be distinguished from this species by unique meristic and morphometric characters. Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. is found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and eastern Iran. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. can be differentiated from E. persica by its distant distribution, dorsal color and pattern, smaller size, and less number of gulars and ventral scales. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. is only known from the type locality and represents the local microendemism, along with other endemic species of reptiles reported from this part of Pakistan. We, however, expect that E. killasaifullahi sp. nov. could have a broader range in northwestern Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan, which should be an object of following investigations. Our data show that remote areas between Hindu Kush Mountains and Indus River need attention as they most probably represent possible sources of genetic and species diversity in the region.

Tarentola panousei PASTEUR, 1959

in SW Morocco and Western Sahara

See:
Koppetsch, T. & W. Böhme (2022): On the identity of west Saharan geckos of the Tarentola ephippiata complex (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), with comments on an extreme case of syntopy with their close relative T. annularis -- AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY, https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2055652 (early view) 21 pp

Abstract:
Tarentola geckos have a widespread geographic distribution and occur both in the Palearctic and Afrotropical realms, as well as the Neotropical region. Particularly, across North Africa phenotypically similar and cryptic species can be found, like the west Saharan members of the T. ephippiata complex. However, the taxonomic relationships and phylogeographic patterns of these geckos are not fully understood. Here we show that some specimens of Tarentola geckos from Mauritania and southern Morocco previously identified as T. hoggarensis can actually be assigned to T. panousei, a taxon treated as a synonym until now. Because the corresponding type specimen has apparently been lost, we designate a neotype for T. panousei referring to a suitable specimen from the type locality. Based on a morphological examination of the neotype and comparative material we provide a detailed redescription of T. panousei and evaluation of its diagnostic characters. Moreover, we report on a syntopic occurrence of T. annularis and T. panousei on an isolated acacia tree in the Western Sahara and the (micro) habitat use of both species.

Darevskia salihae

See:
Kurnaz M, Sahin MK, Eroglu AI. 2022. Hidden diversity in a narrow valley: Description of new endemic Palearctic rock lizard Darevskia (Squamata: Lacertidae) species from northeastern Turkey. Zool Stud 61:44 (early view)

Abstract:
Darevskia is a particularly species-rich radiation of Palearctic rock lizards from the Caucasus region. Thanks to intense systematic and taxonomic research, the knowledge of species–level diversity within this genus has increased over the last quarter century. Here, we described a new species, Darevskia salihae sp. nov. from northeastern Turkey. The new taxon is differentiated from other nearby taxon by the low number of dorsal scales in the middle of the body, the shorter body length, and the absence of blue dots both on the lateral region above the forelimbs and on the margin of the ventral plates. In addition to their morphological differences, the new taxon is phylogenetically different from close groups. It is located in a separate subclade from the rudis-valentini-portschinskii subclade. This distinction is supported by both a high bootstrap value (100) and a high posterior probability value (1.00). These two subclades are separated from each other by a genetic distance of almost 4%. This separation is supported not only genetically and morphologically, but also geographically. Since the habitat of the new taxon is limited to a high mountain and a narrow valley, it does not provide an opportunity for a different Darevskia species to shelter because it creates geographical isolation. However, Darevskia parvula that live closest to the habitat of the new taxon live only at the habitat boundaries and do not enter areas where the new taxon is found. Therefore, it might be possible that while it was separated from the rudis-valentini-portschinskii group during the evolutionary transformation, it remained as a refuge and relict in a narrow area as a result of the collapse of the valleys and the partial uplift of the Kaçkar Mountains.

Most of the former Tropiocolotes nattereri are now Tropiocolotes yomtovi

Tropiocolotes nattereri is now resricted to the south and east coast of the Sinai peninsula (Egypt) and the Eilat area in Israel

See:
RIBEIRO JUNIOR, M.A., K. TAMAR, E. MAZA, M. FLECKS, P. WAGNER, B. SHACHAM, M. CALVO, Ph. GENIEZ, P.-A. CROCHET, C. KOCH & S. MEIRI (2022): Taxonomic revision of the Tropiocolotes nattereri (Squamata, Gekkonidae) species complex, with the description of a new species from Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.- Zoologica Scripta. 2022;00:1–22 (early view)

Abstract:
We examined the taxonomy of the minute desert geckos of the Tropiocolotes nattereri species complex using the largest morphological sampling, and the first molecular assessment of intraspecific diversity within this complex. We examined variation in mitochondrial and nuclear markers (12S, ND2, c-mos and MC1R) of 30 samples and analyzed the external morphology of 202 specimens, from across the entire distribution range of the complex from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We recognize two species under the name T. nattereri. We thus hereby describe a new species, T. yomtovi sp. n., and we redefine and redescribe T. nattereri, for which we designate a neotype. The species diversity in the genus Tropiocolotes increases to 15.

Stellagama stellio with subspecies Stellagama s. stellio and Stellagama s. daani

Stellagama cypriaca and

Stellagama vulgaris with ssp. Stellagama v. vulgaris, Stellagama v. brachydactyla, Stellagama v. picea and Stellagama v. salehi

Comment : We follow here BAIG et al. (2012) and give Stellagama priority over Laudakia.

See:
KARAMETA, E., P. LYMBERAKIS, H. GRILLITSCH, Ç. ILGAZ, A. AVCI, Y. KUMLUTAS, K. CANDAN, P. WAGNER, S. SFENTHOURAKIS, P. PAFILIS & N. POULAKAKIS (2022): The story of a rock-star: multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation in the starred or roughtail rock agama, Laudakia stellio (Reptilia: Agamidae).- Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2022, XX, 1–25

Abstract:
Situated at the junction of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean is an ideal region to study the effects of palaeogeography, ecology and long human presence on animal evolution. Laudakia stellio (Squamata: Agamidae) is found across this region and offers an excellent opportunity for such studies. The high morphological variation across their range suggests that these lizards might represent a species complex. This is the first study exploring their evolutionary history, using molecular markers and individuals from all described subspecies. We employed the latest phylogenetic and species-delimitation methods to identify all distinct evolutionary lineages, their genetic variation and divergence times. The phenotypical diversity of L. stellio matches its genetic differentiation: almost all subspecies correspond to well-supported retrieved subclades and additional distinct lineages representing intermediate morphs have been retrieved. ‘Laudakia stellio’ represents three distinct evolutionary entities that diverged during the Plio-Pleistocene transition, which we propose as distinct species. One includes Greek and Turkish populations, as well as cryptic Anatolian lineages. The second comprises all other Near East populations and the third is endemic to Cyprus. Our results indicate a role of humans in shaping present distribution patterns, and highlight the importance of the Aegean, Anatolia and the Levant as glacial refugia and diversity hotspots

See:

Christophe Dufresnes, Axel Hernandez (2021): Phylogeographic advances in midwife toads (Alytes) support the existence of a novel taxon endemic to the Central Pyrenees.- Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary 59(8): 2170 - 2179

Abstract:
Although necessary to promote conservation, defining evolutionary units and naming biodiversity remain a difficult task, especially in problematic species groups that experienced a dynamic biogeographic history. In this article, we undertake such task for midwife toads of the Alytes obstetricans complex by integrating recent molecular studies altogether—multilocus phylogenies and population genetic barcoding. Despite a partly unresolved phylogeny underlain by deep cyto-nuclear discordances, nuclear and mitochondrial evidence support the validity of six genuine lineages assigned to two different species (A. obstetricans and A. almogavarii), which could be accurately mapped across most of their ranges. In particular, we demonstrate the existence for an overlooked yet genetically distinct lineage previously confounded with A. almogavarii, confined to the northern part of Huesca Province in the Spanish Central Pyrenees. We describe this micro-endemic as the subspecies Alytes almogavarii inigoi ssp. nov., with reports on the mating call and the larvae. Conservation genetics of eight populations of this new taxon revealed two independent conservation units, separated by topographic barriers. In the wait for upcoming genomic analyses to unravel many elusive aspects of the evolution, diversity and systematics of Alytes, the present paper offers an integrative phylogeographic overview to guide future investigations and generally illustrates how multiple lines of molecular evidence can be combined to clarify the confusing taxonomy of complex species groups.

See:

Arribas, O., K. Candan, M. Kurnaz, Y. Kumlutas, E.Y. Caynak & Ç. Ilgaz (2022): A new cryptic species of the Darevskia parvula group from NE Anatolia (Squamata, Lacertidae).- Organisms Diversity & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-022-00540-4 (early view); 16 pp + 14 pp supplements/appendix.

Abstract:
In this study, we re-examine the Darevskia parvula group comprehensively using morphology, osteology and mitochondrial phylogeny, and describe a new endemic species from Turkey: Darevskia tuniyevi sp. nov. A total of 257 adult specimens were evaluated for external morphology (scalation and biometry) with univariate (descriptive statistics and ANOVA with post-hoc tests) and multivariate (Discriminant Analysis and ANOSIM) analyses. In parallel, osteological data and molecular analyses using three DNA markers (mitochondrial 16S rRNA and Cyt-b, nuclear Rag-1) were used to complete the description of the new taxon. The molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated that the D. parvula group is composed of three taxa as D. parvula, D. adjarica and D. tuniyevi sp. nov., and showed that D. adjarica and D. tuniyevi sp. nov. are reciprocal sister taxa. On the other hand, D. adjarica is morphologically very different from other two forms, while D. parvula is hardly distinguishable externally from D. tuniyevi sp. nov. Therefore, we can consider that D. parvula and D. tuniyevi sp. nov. are cryptic species. These two cryptic species retain their primitive morphology within the group, while D. adjarica has changed, perhaps due to different bioclimatic conditions in its Pleistocene refuge and current area.

See.
DENZER, W. (2021): The correct name for the North African rock lizard is Agama bibronii A. Duméril in Duméril & Duméril, 1851, not Agama impalearis Boettger, 1874 (Reptilia, Squamata).- Bionomina, 25: 76–80

Abstract:
Over half a century ago, Mertens (1955) noted that the name Agama bibronii A. Duméril in Duméril & Duméril, 1851 for a North African agamid lizard species was preoccupied by Trapelus (Psammorrhoa) bibronii Fitzinger, 1843, a species inhabiting South Africa. He consequently stated that the next available name for Agama bibronii ‘Duméril, 1851’, namely Agama colonorum var. impalearis Boettger, 1874 should be applied to this taxon. Until today, the herpetological literature contains examples where either Agama bibronii ‘Duméril, 1851’ or Agama impalearis Boettger, 1874 is used to denominate the North African rock agama. However, an apparently overlooked ruling by the Commission suppressed the name Trapelus (Psammorrhoa) bibronii Fitzinger, 1843, so that Agama bibronii A. Duméril in Duméril & Duméril, 1851 is the valid name for the North African rock agama

Vipera ammodytes buchholzi

See:
Cattaneo, A. (2021): VARIABILITÀ DI VIPERA AMMODYTES (LINNAEUS, 1758) (Reptilia Viperidae) IN ALCUNE ISOLE EGEE, CON DESCRIZIONE DI VIPERA AMMODYTES BUCHHOLZI SUBSP. NOVA.- Naturalista sicil., S. IV, XLV (1-2): 119-152. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5713465

Abstract:
Variability of Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) in several Aegean Islands, with description of a new taxon: Vipera ammodytes buchholzi subsp. nova. The results of a morphological study on 96 specimens of Vipera ammodytes from different Aegean islands, whose populations are usually assigned to the subspecies meridionalis Boulenger, 1903, are given. The Ios population has a faded pattern, triangular rostral with acute apex and tip of the rostral horn consisting of two scales. Iraklia and Naxos populations (northernmost islands) show a stronger coloration, especially on the sides and belly of the males, hence a more evident sexual dichroism; furthermore the tip of the rostral scale tends to become blunt and the horn to end with a single scale. Specimens from Mykonos stand out for the greater development and definition of the zigzag pattern (especially in the females, while usually this chromatic element is more evident in the male sex), for the roundy dark spots on the sides and for the peculiar ventral pattern, consisting of dark dots and spots; the rostral scale has often a trapezoidal shape and its apex is placed under the line of the canthus, while the rostral horn culminates in a single apical scale. Population from Tinos has similarities with the southern populations (as the features of the zigzag pattern), but differs from other features, such as the dark ventral coloration, distributed mostly along the free border of the ventral scales as regular and recurring transverse thinbands; lateral spots display features of both the southern populations (vertically elongated shape) and the Mykonos population (rounded shape), even in the same individual; the rostral scale proceeds its south-north trend to become blunt, while the rostral horn ends with 1-4 scales (mostly 2). It should be noted that all the above populations are characterized by small size, probably related to the diet, mainly consisting of small lizards and centipedes; the low number of dorsals, 19 in 20% of the specimens, could be indicative of this trend towards the size reduction. On the contrary, on Paros and Antiparos (where Podarcis lizards are not occurring) vipers are characterized by a more active micro-evolution processes and stand out, among other things, for the low number of ventral scales. In detail, Paros specimens have widespread and marked dark ornamentation which mainly involves the zigzag pattern, the 3-4 lateral rows of spots (rounded) and the belly; on this latter there are thick dots and spots on the distal border of the ventral scales, which can thus appear dark fringed. Even the dorsal background color seems to comply with this condition of higher intensity of dark pigments. They also differ in the slightly marked eyebrow margin, in the low number of ventral scales and in the relatively high number of subcaudals. The rostral scale is generally as isosceles triangle-shaped, and the tip of the rostral horn consisting of 2 scales. The Antiparos population is morphologically very close to that of Paros, at least as regards the males; in this sex the ornamentation is well-established, both dorsally (up to four rows of dark spots along the sides, well-marked and increasingly rounded ventral-dorsally) and ventrally (with scattered dark dots and spots arranged on the distal border of the ventral scales, sometimes joined to mark the scales). Females appear instead light, tending to a yellow-ocher background with a very faded pattern. The low number of ventral scales and the relatively high number of subcaudals scales are discriminating factors. The rostral scale is sub-triangularly shaped with a more or less blunt tip that often reaches the canthus and with above a horn generally ending with 1-3 apical scales. Both Paros and Antiparos populations are hence assigned to a new taxon, Vipera ammodytes buchholzi ssp. nov. Finally, in the Northern Sporades, Vipera ammodytes is larger and shows a particular pholidosis that makes it close to the conspecific populations of central-northern Greece.

The correct name for the Testudo graeca distributed from eastern Morocco to central/east Algeria has to be
Testudo graeca whitei instead of Testudo graeca mauritanica

See:
Rhodin, A.G.J., J.B. Iverson, R. Bour, U. Fritz, A. Georges, H.B- Shaffer & P.P. van Dijk (2021): TURTLES OF THE WORLD. Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (9th Ed.) 297 - 298 & 374 - 375. [https://iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/crm.8.checklist.atlas_.v9.2021.e3.pdf]

See:
RIEMSDIJK, ARNTZEN, BABIK, BOGAERTS, FRANZEN, KALAENTZIS, LITVINCHUK, OLGUN; WIJNANDS & WIELSTRA (2022): Next-generation phylogeography of the banded newts (Ommatotriton): A phylogenetic hypothesis for three ancient species with geographically restricted interspecific gene flow and deep intraspecific genetic structure

Abstract:
Technological developments now make it possible to employ many markers for many individuals in a phylogeographic setting, even for taxa with large and complex genomes such as salamanders. The banded newt (genus Ommatotriton) from the Near East has been proposed to contain three species (O. nesterovi, O. ophryticus and O. vittatus) with unclear phylogenetic relationships, apparently limited interspecific gene flow and deep intraspecific geographic mtDNA structure. We use parallel tagged amplicon sequencing to obtain 177 nuclear DNA markers for 35 banded newts sampled throughout the range. We determine population structure (with Bayesian clustering and principal component analysis), interspecific gene flow (by determining the distribution of speciesdiagnostic alleles) and phylogenetic relationships (by maximum likelihood inference of concatenated sequence data and based on a summary-coalescent approach). We confirm that the three proposed species are genetically distinct. A sister relationship between O. nesterovi and O. ophryticus is suggested. We find evidence for introgression between O. nesterovi and O. ophryticus, but this is geographically limited. Intraspecific structuring is extensive, with the only recognized banded newt subspecies, O. vittatus cilicensis, representing the most distinct lineage below the species level. While mtDNA mostly mirrors the pattern observed in nuclear DNA, all banded newt species show mito-nuclear discordance as well.

See:

Kiourtsoglou, A., A. Kaliontzopoulou, D. Poursanidis, D. Jablonski, P. Lymberakis & N. Poulakakis (2021): Evidence of cryptic diversity in Podarcis peloponnesiacus and re-evaluation of its current taxonomy; insights from genetic, morphological, and ecological data -- J Zool Syst Evol Res. 2021; 00: 1–21 (early view)

Abstract:
The Peloponnese wall lizard, Podarcis peloponnesiacus, is endemic to the Peloponnese. Although the phylogeny and species diversity of the Balkan species of Podarcis have been extensively studied, the intraspecific relationships of P. peloponnesiacus are not yet well defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraspecific diversity in this species and clarify its taxonomic status by analyzing eight gene fragments (two mitochondrial and six nuclear) and several morphological traits, typically used for systematic inferences within the genus Podarcis. Together with ecological niche modeling, we provided an integrative evaluation of the differentiation between lineages. The combination of several phylogenetic, species delimitation, and chronophylogenetic analyses revealed the existence of two highly supported and divergent clades with a distinct geographical and parapatric distribution and high niche overlap. The differentiation of the two clades dates back to the Pleistocene and is probably correlated with the paleogeography of the Peloponnese. These clades also differed in several phenotypic traits, which, however, exhibit extensive overlap and are not fully diagnostic. The combination of the above results allowed us to identify the two revealed clades as distinct species.

Vipera latastei latastei is now restricted to the eastern half of the Iberian peninsula without the southernmost part (Cadiz and Malaga provinces).
Vipera latastei gaditana extends is distribution rage now the the full western half of the Iberian peninsula.
Vipera latastei arundana ssp. nov. in southernmost Spain (Cadiz and Malaga provinces).

Vipera monticola monticola is now restrictedto the Central High Atlas in Morocco (Oukaimeden).
Vipera monticola atlantica ssp. nov. is at the time only from westernmost High Atlas (Tichka Plateau) in Morocco.
Vipera monticola saintgironsi ssp. nov. lives in the Rif mountains and the Middle Atlas in Moroco and in Algeria

No Vipera latastei in North Africa anymore !!

See:
Martínez-Freiría, F., I. Freitas, G. Velo-Antón, N. Lucchini, S. Fahd, S. Larbes, J.M. Pleguezuelos, X. Santos & J.C. Brito (2021): Integrative taxonomy reveals two species and intraspecific differentiation in the Vipera latastei–monticola complex

Abstract:
Modern taxonomy relies on the unified species concept and integrative approaches to delimit evolutionary coherent taxa. The western Mediterranean vipers within the Vipera latastei–monticola complex (Vipera latastei and Vipera monticola) have a rather old taxonomic history marked by the prevalence of morphological criteria in the recognition of taxonomic units. Recent phylogenetic inferences, however, contradict this taxonomic scenario, highlighting the need of integrative studies to properly evaluate the taxonomy of this complex. Here, we apply an integrative taxonomic approach, combining phylogeographic, morphological, and ecological analyses, to identify and describe evolutionary coherent taxonomic units within the Vipera latastei–monticola complex. Using dated mtDNA phylogenetic relationships, we spatially delimit two levels of evolutionary units, which are the subject of morphological and ecological comparisons. The first level corresponds to two Miocene vicariant clades, with considerable morphological distinctiveness that we identified as different species: V. latastei in the Iberian Peninsula, and V. monticola in North Africa. The second level corresponds to three Pliocene parapatric lineages within each of these species, which we recognized with subspecific status due to non-apparent geographic isolation and variable levels of phenotypic distinctiveness. Consequently, we propose distributional rearrangements in the previously recognized taxa, as well as define three new subspecies: Vipera latastei arundana ssp. nov. in southern Iberia, Vipera monticola atlantica ssp. nov. in the western High Atlas Mountains and Vipera monticola saintgironsi ssp. nov. in the eastern High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Rif, Tellian Atlas and Aurès Mountains. Our proposed taxonomic scenario anticipates important outcomes for the conservation status of these Mediterranean taxa.

Acanthodactylus zagrosicus

See:
OMID MOZAFFARI, SIMA MOHAMMADI, REIHANEH SABERI-PIROOZ & FARAHAM AHMADZADEH (2021): A new species of Acanthodactylus Fitzinger, 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Zagros Mountains, Iran.- Zootaxa 5047 (1): 017–032

Abstract:
Acanthodactylus boskianus is a widespread species in Northern Africa and Western Asia. In this study, we used morphological and genetic approaches to study populations of A. boskianus from the Zagros Mountains in western Iran, the easternmost limit of the species’ distribution. Our morphological and genetic data indicate that populations of A. boskianus in Iran are distinct from other populations of A. boskianus. Therefore, we describe the Iranian populations as Acanthodactylus zagrosicus sp. nov. The new species is the third endemic species of Acanthodactylus in Iran and the ninth Acanthodactylus species distributed in Iran overall. According to our surveys, this species is distributed widely in the Zagros Mountains including Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, and Khuzestan Provinces.

See:
Caeiro-Dias, G., S. Rocha, A. Couto, C. Pereira, A. Brelsford, P.-A. Crochet & C. Pinho (2021): Nuclear phylogenies and genomics of a contact zone establish the species rank of Podarcis lusitanicus (Squamata, Lacertidae).- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 164 (2021) 107270

Abstract:
Unravelling when divergent lineages constitute distinct species can be challenging, particularly in complex scenarios combining cryptic diversity and phylogenetic discordances between different types of molecular markers. Combining a phylogenetic approach with the study of contact zones can help to overcome such difficulties. The Podarcis hispanicus species complex has proven to be prosperous in independent evolutionary units, sometimes associated with cryptic diversity. Previous studies have revealed that one of the species of this complex, P. guadarramae, comprises two deeply divergent yet morphologically indistinguishable evolutionary units, currently regarded as subspecies (P. g. guadarramae and P. g. lusitanicus). In this study we used molecular data to address the systematics of the two lineages of Podarcis guadarramae and the closely related P. bocagei. Firstly, we reconstructed the species tree of these three and two additional taxa based on 30 nuclear loci using the multispecies coalescent with and without gene flow. Secondly, we used SNPs obtained from RADseq data to analyze the population structure across the distribution limits P. g. lusitanicus and P. g. guadarramae, and for comparison, a contact zone between P. bocagei and P. g. lusitanicus. Nuclear phylogenetic relationships between these three taxa are clearly difficult to determine due to the influence of gene flow, but our results give little support to the monophyly of P. guadarramae, potentially due to a nearly simultaneous divergence between them. Genetic structure and geographic cline analysis revealed that the two lineages of P. guadarramae replace each other abruptly across the sampled region and that gene flow is geographically restricted, implying the existence of strong reproductive isolation. Podarcis bocagei and P. g. lusitanicus show a similar degree of genetic differentiation and reproductive isolation, with very low levels of admixture in syntopy. These results support that all three forms are equally differentiated and reproductively isolated. In consequence, we conclude that the two former subspecies of Podarcis guadarramae constitute valid, yet cryptic species, that should be referred to as P. lusitanicus and P. guadarramae.

Mesalina adrarensis
Mesalina simoni saharae

See:
Pizzigalli, C., P.-A. Crochet, Ph. Geniez, F. Martínez- Freiría, G. Velo-Antón & J.C. Brito (2021): Phylogeographic diversification of the Mesalina olivieri species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) with the description of a new species and a new subspecies endemic from North West Africa.- J Zool Syst Evol Res. 2021;00:1–29 (early view)

Abstract:
Numerous molecular studies emphasized how past climatic oscillations in the SaharaSahel have left strong imprints on current biodiversity patterns and identified the Atlantic coast and the Northwest African Mountains as refugia and speciation hotspots. Yet, the biodiversity inventory in the region is still far from complete. We use an integrative taxonomy framework to revise the systematics of the Mesalina olivieri species complex; integrating molecular, morphological, and environmental data, we evaluated levels of genetic and phenotypic differentiation among species/lineages and revised the species distribution limits of the M. olivieri complex, refining the distribution of Mesalina simoni, and Mesalina pasteuri. Our study confirmed one previously unidentified speciation event, leading to the description of Mesalina adrarensis sp. nov. Together with this new species, we also describe the south- western Moroccan populations of M. olivieri as Mesalina simoni saharae ssp. nov. Mesalina adrarensis sp. nov. is sympatric with M. pasteuri and parapatric with M. simoni saharae ssp. nov. in Mauritania and southern Morocco. Based on our revised taxonomy, M. simoni now includes most populations of the M. olivieri complex in Morocco, M. olivieri being restricted in Morocco to the east and southeast of the country. We also build on these results to provide further insight on the biogeography of North Africa. Our results point to a diversification of the complex during the late Miocene, that led to the formation of the four species M. simoni, M. olivieri, M. pasteuri, and M. adrarensis sp. nov. After these four speciation events, high intraspecific diversification processes occurred since the beginning of the Plio- Pleistocene transition, in parallel with the beginning of the humid and arid cycles. Through our phylogenetic analysis, we highlight the existence of high levels of undescribed intraspecific diversity in M. olivieri and M. pasteuri that will need to be addressed in future studies. Moreover, we uncover instances of cytonuclear discordances, stressing the need of considering both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA for integrative taxonomic studies to explore biodiversity.

Acanthodactylus ilgazi

See:
Kurnaz, M., & Sahin, M. K. (2021). Contribution to the taxonomic knowledge of Acanthodactylus (Squamata, Lacertidae): Description of a new lacertid lizard species from Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, (early view), -. doi: 10.22120/jwb.2021.523523.1214

Abstract:
Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 is one of the most diverse and widespread lizard genus in the Palearctic realm. Here, we describe a new species, - Acanthodactylus ilgazi sp. nov. - from the Anatolian Peninsula. This new species ranges approximately 250 km north from the closest population of this genus in Turkey. Compared to other fringe-fingered lizards, the new species is phylogenetically close to A. robustus, A. tristrami and A. orientalis but it has some distinct morphological characteristics: reddish coloration under the tail, a sharp white or grayish stripe in the middle of the dorsum, and four plates in a row on the 4th finger. Moreover, phylogenetic molecular data, based on cyt b gene fragment, verifies that the new species is phylogenetically a member of the tristrami species group with 13.03%, 17.35% and 20.56 genetic distance respectively from A. orientalis, A. tristrami and A. robustus. Lastly, the known range of this species, located in Yazihan, Malatya in Eastern Anatolia, is restricted by a dam, thus habitat loss endangers its continuity. Therefore, the conservation status of this species should be assessed immediately.

See:
Jablonski, D., M.A. Ribeiro-Júnior, S. Meiri, E. Maza, O.V. Kukushkin, M. Chirikova, A. Pirosová, D. Jelic, P. Mikulicek & D. Jandzik (2021): Morphological and genetic differentiation in the anguid lizard Pseudopus apodus supports the existence of an endemic subspecies in the Levant.- Vertebrate Zoology 71: 175–200

Abstract:
The Levant represents one of the most important reptile diversity hotspots and centers of endemism in the Western Palearctic. The region harbored numerous taxa in glacial refugia during the Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Due to the hostile arid conditions in the warmer periods they were not always able to spread or come into contact with populations from more distant regions. One large and conspicuous member of the Levantine herpetofauna is the legless anguid lizard Pseudopus apodus. This species is distributed from the Balkans to Central Asia with a portion of its range running along the eastern Mediterranean coast. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, microsatellite genotypes, and morphology show that populations in this region differ from the two named subspecies and presumably had a long independent evolutionary history during the Quaternary. Here we describe the Levantine population as a new subspecies and present biogeographic scenarios for its origin and diversification. The new subspecies is genetically highly diverse, and it forms a sister lineage to Pseudopus from the remaining parts of the range according to mtDNA. It is the largest-bodied of the three subspecies, but occupies the smallest range.

Vipera tuniyevi

See:
Ananjeva, N.B., V.N. Gabaev, G.N. Iremashvili, K.Yu. Lotiev & T.V. Petrova (2021): The taxonomic status of the vipers of the Pelias (kaznakovi) complex in the middle-flow of the Kura River basin in the East Transcaucasia.- Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 325(1): 3–33

Abstract:
Recently, the Caucasian viper was found in a number of localities in South Ossetia (Tuniyev et al. 2017a,b; Tuniyev et al. 2019) and in the lower gate of the Borzhom Gorge of Eastern Georgia. Animals from the new localities are compared to Pelias kaznakovi from the Western Caucasus – northeastern Turkey and P. dinniki. The canonical discriminate analysis (CDA) showed that the snakes from the left-bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River in East Georgia and South Ossetia differ significantly from Pelias kaznakovi from Krasnodar Territory and Abkhazia in the mean values of several plastic and meristic characters. Thus, there is discrimination of the groups allocated according to geographic location and gender. Cluster analysis based on meristic characters of pholidosis showed the distance between P. dinniki and the remaining “kaznakovi” complex forms. Based on the results of the analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, the snakes from the left-bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River form a separate cluster, not sister to Pelias kaznakovi. The results obtained on morphology, genetics and ecology of the studied vipers suggest the taxonomic validity of the vipers from the left bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River in Eastern Georgia and South Ossetia. The species is named after Boris Tuniyev, who made a significant contribution to the study of the Caucasian herpetofauna and taxonomy of the shield-head viper snakes. Among the representatives of the “kaznakovi” complex, males of the new species are characterized by the minimal values of body length, pileus length, head width, number of ventral and subcaudal shields, as well as the shields around the eyes; differences are also noted in the structure of the hemipenis; the females have the minimum values of body length, pileus length, head width, number of shields around the eyes and loreals, fewer wings of zigzag. All known finds are located in the left bank basin of the middle flow of the Kura River from the Borzhom Gorge (east slope of Meskheti Ridge) in Georgia to the mid-altitude mountain districts of South Ossetia (east foothills of Likhsky Ridge and south spurs of Central Caucasus). Biotopes of the new species are characterized by more xero-mesophilic traits and a moderately warm mezo-climate than the typical mesophilic biotopes of North-Colchian (Krasnodar Territory – Abkhazia) and, especially, Adzharo-Lazistanian (Georgia – Turkey) P. kaznakovi living in the humid subtropical climate.

Anatololacerta anatolica = no changes
Anatololacerta danfordi: Anatololacerta danfordi bileki (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986) = Anatololacerta ibrahimi
Anatololacerta finikensis (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986) stat. nov. includes Anatololacerta budaki finikensis (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986), Lacerta oertzeni ibrahimi partim Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986
Anatololacerta ibrahimi (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986) stat. nov. includes Lacerta oertzeni ibrahimi Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986 and Anatololacerta danfordi bileki (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986).
Anatololacerta pelasgiana (Mertens, 1959), Anatololacerta budaki syn. nov., includes Anatololacerta pelasgiana pelasgiana (Mertens, 1959), Anatololacerta pelasgiana quandttaylori (Börner, 1974) and Anatololacerta budaki budaki (Eiselt and Schmidtler, 1986).

See:
Karakasi, D., Ç. Ilgaz, Y. Kumlutas, K. Candan, Ö. Güçlü, T. Kankilic, N. Beser, R. Sindaco, P. Lymberakis & N. Poulakakis (2021): More evidence of cryptic diversity in Anatololacerta species complex Arnold, Arribas and Carranza, 2007 (Squamata: Lacertidae) and re-evaluation of its current taxonomy -- Amphibia-Reptilia (2021) DOI:10.1163/15685381-bja10045; 16 pp

Abstract:
Genetic diversity is not always congruent with phenotypic heterogeneity, resulting in cryptic species complexes which cause a great struggle for scientists trying to define ‘species’ and describe relationships among taxa. Anatololacerta is a lizard genus distributed in southern and western Anatolia and some neighboring Aegean islands. Three morphospecies were recognized in Anatololacerta but a recent molecular study revealed the presence of cryptic diversity within the genus which led to the raise of a subspecies to species level. Currently the genus includes the species A. anatolica, A. danfordi, A. budaki and A. pelasgiana. Using a comprehensive sampling concerning both the number of specimens (218 specimens) and the genetic markers (3 nuclear and 3 mitochondrial), we performed phylogenetic analyses including tree reconstruction, species delimitation and divergence times estimation. The results revealed the occurrence of one more cryptic lineage which should be regarded as a separate species for which the name A. ibrahimi stat. nov. has priority. The existence of five well differentiated species with parapatric distributions in Anatololacerta is strongly supported. There is also evidence of recent and rapid radiation of the genus which probably causes phylogenetic relationships between these species to remain largely unresolved. At last, we proceeded to some nomenclatorial changes: The current name A. budaki was synonymized with A. pelasgiana because specimens of the type-locality of A. budaki are assigned genetically to A. pelasgiana. The genetic lineage including specimens currently assigned to A. budaki was named A. finikensis stat. nov., raising the subspecies A. b. finikensis to species level.

Eirenis rafsanjanicus

has been described.

See:
MORTEZA AKBARPOUR, NASRULLAH RASTEGAR-POUYANI, BEHZAD FATHINIA & ESKANDAR RASTEGAR-POUYANI (2020): A new species of the genus Eirenis Jan, 1863 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Kerman Province in South-central Iran.- Zootaxa 4868 (1): 117–128

Abstract:
A new species of Dwarf Snakes, Eirenis rafsanjanicus sp. n., is described from south-central Iran. This species is well distinguished from other congeners in both molecular and morphological characters, and its description increases the number of described Eirenis species to 26. Eirenis rafsanjanicus sp. n. is genetically closest (6% in Cytb) to the recently described E. yassujicus, which inhabits high habitats in southern Iran. Morphologically, E. rafsanjanicus sp. n. is more similar to E. modestus than to other congeners. A revised key to the genus is presented.

See:
Bassitta, M., J.M. Buades, A. Pérez-Cembranos, V. Pérez-Mellado, B. Terrasa, R.P. Brown, P. Navarro, J. Lluch, J. Ortega, J.A. Castro, A. Picornell & C. Ramon (2020): Multilocus and morphological analysis of south-eastern Iberian Wall lizards (Squamata, Podarcis).- Zool. Scripta DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12450 (early view)

Abstract:
The phylogenetic relationships among the wall lizards of the Podarcis hispanicus complex that inhabit the south-east (SE) of the Iberian Peninsula and other lineages of the complex remain unclear. In this study, four mitochondrial and two nuclear markers were used to study genetic relationships within this complex. The phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA gene trees constructed with ML and BI, and a species tree using *BEAST support three divergent clades in this region: the Valencia, Galera and Albacete/Murcia lineages. These three lineages were also corroborated in species delimitation analyses based on mtDNA using bPTP, mPTP, GMYC, ABGD and BAPS. Bayesian inference species delimitation method (BPP) based on both nuclear data and a combined data set (mtDNA + nuclear) showed high posterior probabilities for these three SE lineages (?0.94) and another Bayesian analysis (STACEY) based on combined data set recovered the same three groups in this region. Divergence time dating of the species tree provided an estimated divergence of the Galera lineage from the other SE group (Podarcis vaucheri, (Albacete/Murcia, Valencia)) at 12.48 Ma. During this period, the Betic–Rifian arc was isolated, which could have caused the isolation of the Galera form distributed to the south of the Betic Corridor. Although lizards from the Albacete/Murcia and Galera lineage are morphologically similar, they clearly represent distinct genetic lineages. The noteworthy separation of the Galera lineage enables us to conclude that this lineage must be considered as a new full species

=========

2) A new subspecies of the Green Toad from the Greek island of Naxos (maybe distributed on more Central Aegaean islands)
Bufotes viridis dionysi

See:
Christophe DUFRESNES, Nikolas M. PROBONAS & Ilias STRACHINIS (2020): A reassessment of the diversity of green toads (Bufotes) in the circum-Aegean region.- Integrative Zoology https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12494

Abstract:
The dynamic biogeography of glacial refugia may cause complex patterns of genetic admixture between parapatric taxa, which in turn can mislead their systematics, diversity, and distributions. We investigated this issue for green toads (Bufotes) inhabiting the circum-Aegean region, a biodiversity hotspot of the Eastern Mediterranean. A previous phylogeographic study based on mitochondrial and microsatellite loci identified the hybrid zone between the European (viridis) and Anatolian (sitibundus) lineages of B. viridis all over the Balkan Peninsula, but subsequent range-wide genomic analyses (>1000 SNPs) located this transition in Turkey, a thousand kilometers eastwards. In order to clarify the diversity and taxonomy of the circum-Aegean populations, we reconciled these conflicting findings by integrating previous data with pure sitibundus individuals. Our results confirmed that the viridis/sitibundus hybrid zone extends in eastern Anatolia, but that southeastern European populations feature cytonuclear discordances and a high and structured microsatellite diversity. This remarkable situation may stem from a massive geographic displacement of the hybrid zone during the last glacial fluctuations, an underappreciated yet seemingly common feature among the herpetofauna of the region. Our study thus contributes to the rising view that mitochondrial DNA can be a poor predictor of current phylogeographic structure, hence the need for genomic data for proper inferences, especially for narrowly-distributed taxa. Finally, the analyses unambiguously support the distinction of a micro-endemic clade of green toads unique to some Cyclades islands, for which we provide a formal taxonomic description.

Vipera berus marasso (POLINI, 1818)

See:
Schmidtler, J.F. & G. Hansbauer (2020): Die Alpenkreuzotter (Vipera berus marasso), eine neue Unterart in den Bayerischen Alpen.- Zeitschrift für Feldherpetologie 27: 136-148

Abstract:
The Alpine common adder (Vipera berus marasso), a new subspecies in the Bavarian Alps -- In the last years especially genetical investigations have changed the appearance of the herpetofauna at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Different species had crossed in postglacial times the central mountain ridge of the Alps appearing insurmountable hitherto. This is valid in particular for some subspecies of Bufotes viridis, Podarcis muralis, Natrix natrix, Natrix helvetica, but also of Vipera berus. The existence of an independent Northern Italian and Eastern alpine form within Vipera berus was first published by Kalyabina et al. (2004) on the basis of mitochondrial investigations in Eastern alpine specimens, which comprised also a specimen from Berchtesgaden in Bavaria. This appearance was stabilised consecutively by several publications and led to several trivial names which finally moved Schmidtler (2019) to seek a subspecific name for the common adder being available nomenclaturally and systematically: Coluber cheseae var. marasso Pollini, 1818; after the modern nomenclature, henceforth Vipera berus marasso (Pollini, 1818), with the type locality Legnago, province of Verona in the Padan Plain / Italy (Contorni di Legnago). Vipera limnaea Bendiscioli, 1826, also from the Padan plain, as well as Pelias tyrolensis Reuss, 1930 and Pelias schreiberi, Reuss, 1930, both from the surroundings of Salzburg in Austria, are younger and available synonyms of V. b. marasso, and both are bearing its characteristic discontinuos zigzags pattern, unlike the investigated Bavarian specimens. Wolfgang Völkl's field investigations induced the insight that this subspecies, initially identified mitochondrially, extended to the alpine fringes of southeasternmost Bavaria. To the west of the two marasso populations in Bavaria only populations of V. b. berus could be found. Aside the locality in Berchtesgaden not known exactly, now two populations of V. b. marasso near Inzell and Ruhpolding (both district of Traunstein) are known in the physical region of Schwäbisch-Oberbayerische Voralpen within the Chiemgauer Alpen. The investigation area of Inzell bargains for two peat bogs with adjacent grassland being more or less cultivated, lying in the so called Inzeller Becken in an altitude from 680 to 71,0 m. The investigation area of Ruhpolding comprises two alpine torrential streams in altitudes frorn71,0 to about 800 m above sea level. In Hugemann (2016) there was documented by mitochondrial and nuclear analyses that V. b. berus and V. b. marasso meet at the southeastern margin of the Bavarian Alps and that there exists a recent gene flow.

See:
RAFFAËLLI, J. (2020): A new classification of the subgenera of Salamandra (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) in the light of recent molecular studies on the genus.- Bull. Soc. Herp. Fr. 174 : 1-18

Abstract:
The number of subgenera within the genus Salamandra Garsault, 1764, is reduced from six to three, Salamandra Garsault, 1764, Alpandra Dubois & Raffaëlli, 2009 and Oriandra Dubois & Raffaëlli, 2009, following recent molecular results. Subgenus Algiandra Dubois & Raffaëlli, 2009 is here synonymized with the subgenus Salamandra and subgenera Corsandra Dubois & Raffaëlli, 2009 and Mimandra Dubois & Raffaëlli, 2009 with the subgenus . Consequently, four new supraspecies are created to reflect the divergence between clades, respectively requalified as algira, corsica, lanzai and atra. Two subspecies within the supraspecies salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758), Salamandra salamandra carpathica (Calinescu, 1931) and Salamandra salamandra hispanica (Wolterstorff, 1937) are resurrected. A list of the 30 valid recognized taxa among the genus is presented.

Xerotyphlops syriacus JAN 1864 have been resurredted by the authors

See:
P. Kornilios, D. Jablonski, R.A. Sadek, Y. Kumlutas, K. Olgun, A. Avci & C. Ilgaz (2020): Multilocus species-delimitation in the Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Reptilia: Typhlopidae) species complex.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 152 (2020) 106922. 16 pp.

Abstract:
Scolecophidia (worm snakes) are a vertebrate group with high ecomorphological conservatism due to their burrowing lifestyle. The Eurasian or Greek blindsnake Xerotyphlops vermicularis is their only European representative, a species-complex with an old diversification history. However, its systematics and taxonomy has remained untouched. Here, we extend previous work that relied heavily on mitochondrial markers, following a multi-locus approach and applying several species-delimitation methods, including a Bayesian coalescencebased approach (STACEY). Four “species” delimitation analyses based on the mtDNA (ABGD, bGMYC, mPTP, parsimony networks) returned 14, 11, 9 and 10 clusters, respectively. By mitotyping twice as many specimens as before, we have a complete picture of each cluster’s distribution. With the exception of the highly-divergent Levantine lineage, the three independent nuclear markers did not help with phylogenetic resolution, as demonstrated in haplotype networks, concatenated and species-trees, a result of incomplete lineage sorting. The prevailing model from the coalescence-based species-delimitation identified two species: the lineage from the Levant and all others. We formally recognize them as distinct species and resurrect Xerotyphlops syriacus (Jan, 1864) to include the Levantine blindsnakes. Finally, X. vermicularis and X. syriacus may represent speciescomplexes themselves, since they include high levels of cryptic diversity.

Hemidactylus achaemenidicus, Hemidactylus pseudoromeshkanicus and Hemidactylus sassanidianus

See:
TORKI, F. (2019): Three new species of Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Iran.- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(2): 239–258

Abstract:
Based on morphological characters, three new species of the genus Hemidactylus are described, one from the Zagros Mountains (Khuzestan Province) and two from the coastal Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province) of Iran. The three new species can be differentiated from all other Hemidactylus inhabitants of Iran and adjacent area congeners by distinct morphometric, meristic, and color characters. Comparisons with other species of Hemidactylus are presented and a key to the genus is provided. Some information about the ecology, biology, and conservation of the three new species is provided. Existing data suggest these geckos are point endemics. Some additional historical information about the Hemidactylus inhabitants of Iran is discussed, particularly H. parkeri

Ablepharus bivittatus is now Asymblepharus bivittatus
Ablepharus budaki anatolicus is a full species now: Ablepharus anatolicus

See:
BOZKURT, E. & K. OLGUN (2020): Taxonomic investigation of the genus Ablepharus (Sauria; Scincidae) with molecular and morphological methods in Anatolian populations.- Turk J Zool 44: 134-145

Abstract:
Ablepharus Lichtenstein, 1823, which includes ten species, is distributed in eastern Europe and Asia. Four species are recorded in Turkey: A. kitaibelii, A. chernovi, A. bivittatus, and A. budaki. After molecular and morphological studies in Anatolia, the phylogenetic relationship of the genus is still very complicated. Here, we investigate the taxonomic status of Ablepharus in Anatolia using morphological and molecular methods. The genetic structure of Ablepharus populations in Anatolia was analyzed using both the nuclear (CMOS) and mitochondrial (cyt b and COI) gene regions. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods were applied for phylogenetic tree reconstruction, together with calculation of p-distances and reconstruction of haplotype networks. The morphological analysis was evaluated with SPSS by using 12 metric and 17 meristic characteristics. In total, 41 specimens and 279 specimens were used for the molecular and morphological analysis, respectively. A. bivittatus has highly different genetic and morphological characteristics compared to the others, and it shares similar morphological characteristics with the genus Asymblepharus, which are elliptical tympanum, hidden upper eye opening under 3 or 4 large shields, light and dark longitudinal stripes on the back, adpressed hind-limbs reaching to knees, and well-developed limbs with five toes. For this reason, A. bivittatus was placed in the genus Asymblepharus as Asymblepharus bivittatus comb. nov. A. budaki anatolicus was elevated to species level as A. anatolicus based on morphological and genetic data. In this study, Anatolian A. kitaibelii comprised two sister subclades, A. kitaibelii kitaibelii and A. kitaibelii stepaneki, and this research is the first record of A. kitaibelii stepaneki in Turkey. A. chernovi was divided into three subclades: A. chernovi chernovi, A. chernovi eiselti, and A. chernovi isaurensis.

Lakigecko aaronbaueri

See.
Torki, F. (2020): A new gecko genus from Zagros Mountains, Iran.- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 14(1): 55 - 62

Abstract:
A new genus and species of gekkonid lizard is described from the Zagros Mountains, western Iran. The genus Lakigecko gen.n. can be distinguished from other genera of the Middle East by the combination of the following characters: depressed tail, strongly flattened head and body, eye ellipsoid (more horizontal), and approximately circular whorls of tubercles (strongly spinose and keeled).

Eremias fahimii

See:
OMID MOZAFFARI, FARAHAM AHMADZADEH, REIHANEH SABERI-PIROOZ (2020): Fahimi’s racerunner, a new species of the genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Iran.- Zootaxa 4768(4)

Abstract:
We describe a new species of Lacertid lizard of the genus Eremias from the border of the northeastern side of Markazi Province to the western side of Tehran Province in Iran. Eremias fahimii sp. nov. is part of the Eremias subgenus (or morphotype) by virtue of lacking lateral fringes on the fourth toe, having movable eyelids, a lower nasal shield that rests on two supralabials, and ventral plates arranged in oblique longitudinal rows. It can be further differentiated from previously described species assigned to this morphotype by the absence of distinctly keeled upper caudal scales, gular scales that do not extend to the second inframaxiallary scales, shape and relative size of frontoparietals, parietal and parietals, scale counts and absence of lateral color ocellus. In addition, the molecular phylogeny of the most common Iranian racerunners including Eremias fahimii sp. nov. was studied using mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and 12S ribosomal RNA (12S) genes. Our results support the validation of the new species which depicts a sister group relationship to E. persica. Of the 20 species of Eremias known from Iran, E. fahimii sp. nov. is the seventh endemic species along with E. andersoni, E. isfahanica, E. lalezharica, E. kavirensis, E. montana and E. papenfussi. Despite the fact that up to now E. fahimii sp. nov. is only known from the type locality, it is highly probable that it also occurs in Tehran, Alborz, Qom, Qazvin and Zanjan Provinces due to topological characteristics and habitat similarities in these areas.

Eryx sistanensis

See:
ESKANDARZADEH, N., N. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, E. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, J. ZARGAN, A. HAJINOURMOHAMADI, R.A. NAZAROV, S. SAMI, M. RAJABIZADEH, H. NABIZADEH & M. NAVAIAN (2020): A new species of Eryx (Serpentes: Erycidae) from Iran -- Zootaxa 4767(1): 182–192.

Abstract:
We describe a new species of the genus Eryx Daudin, 1803 from southern Iran that is morphologically closely related to the Indian sand boa, E. johnii. The new species, Eryx sistanensis sp. nov. has a distribution range from Zabol in the Sistan Region to the southern parts of Sistan & Baluchistan, as well as Hormozgan Province of Iran. Morphologically, E. sistanensis sp. nov. differs from E. johnii by having fewer dorsal scale rows at midbody and the tail tip is not as blunt as E. johnii. The genetic distance (p-distance) between the new species and the Indian sand boa is considerable (9.1% for cytb and 11.8% for COI).

Persiophis fahimii

and Hierophis andreanus has been reassigned to Dolichophis.

See:
Rajabizadeh, M., A. Pyron, R. Nazarov, N.A. Poyarkov, D. Adriaens & A. Herrel (2020): Additions to the phylogeny of colubrine snakes in Southwestern Asia, with description of a new genus and species (Serpentes: Colubridae: Colubrinae).- PeerJ 8:e9016 http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9016

Abstract:
Reptiles are still being described worldwide at a pace of hundreds of species a year. While many discoveries are from remote tropical areas, biodiverse arid regions still harbor many novel taxa. Here, we present an updated phylogeny of colubrid snakes from the Western Palearctic by analyzing a supermatrix of all available global snake species with molecular data and report on the discovery of a new genus and species of colubrine snake from southeastern Iran. The new taxon, named Persiophis fahimii Gen. et sp. nov., is nested within a clade containing Middle Eastern and South Asian ground racers (Lytorhynchus, Rhynchocalamus, Wallaceophis, and Wallophis). This species has a derived morphology including an edentulous pterygoid and occurrence of short and blunt teeth on the palatine, maxillae and dentary bones, an elongated snout and a relatively trihedral first supralabial scale that is slightly bigger than the second, and elongated toward the tip of rostral. We also report on the osteology and phylogenetic placement of several poorly studied colubrines: Hierophis andreanus (reassigned to Dolichophis) and Muhtarophis barani.

See:

Dufresnes, C. & Í. Martínez-Solano (2020): Hybrid zone genomics supports candidate species in Iberian Alytes obstetricans.- Amphibia-Reptilia 41: 105-112

Abstract:
While estimates of genetic divergence are increasingly used in molecular taxonomy, hybrid zone analyses can provide decisive evidence for evaluating candidate species. Applying a population genomic approach (RAD-sequencing) to a fine-scale transect sampling, we analyzed the transition between two Iberian subspecies of the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans almogavarii and A. o. pertinax) in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), which putatively diverged since the Plio-Pleistocene. Their hybrid zone was remarkably narrow, with extensive admixture restricted to a single locality (close to Tarragona), and congruent allele frequency clines for the mitochondrial (13 km wide) and the average nuclear genomes (16 km wide). We also fitted clines independently for 89 taxon-diagnostic SNPs: most of them behave like the nuclear background, but a subset (13%) is completely impermeable to gene flow and might be linked to barrier loci involved in hybrid incompatibilities. Assuming that midwife toads are able to disperse in the area of contact, we conclude that these taxa experience partial reproductive isolation and represent incipient species, i.e. Alytes almogavarii and Alytes obstetricans. Interestingly, their evolutionary age and mitochondrial divergence fall below the thresholds proposed in molecular systematics studies, emphasizing the difficulty of predicting the outcome of secondary contacts between young lineages entering the grey zone of speciation.

See:
Torki, F. (2020): Ein neuer Zwerggecko aus der Gattung Microgecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) aus dem Iran [A new species of dwarf gecko of the genus Microgecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Iran].- SAURIA, Berlin, 42(1): 41–54.

Abstract:
A new species of dwarf gecko is described from Lorestan Province, western Iran. The new cryptic species is identified as a close relative of Microgecko helenae. An important taxonomical character for the new cryptic species is a bilobed hemipenis, difference of skull morphology and tail colouration with respect to similar species

Acanthodactylus lacrymae sp. nov., and
Acanthodactylus montanus sp. nov.

have been described.

See:
AURÉLIEN MIRALLES, PHILIPPE GENIEZ, MENAD BEDDEK, DANIEL MENDEZ ARANDA, JOSÉ CARLOS BRITO, RAPHAËL LEBLOIS & PIERRE-ANDRÉ CROCHET (2020): Morphology and multilocus phylogeny of the Spiny-footed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) complex reveal two new mountain species from the Moroccan Atlas.- Zootaxa 4747 (2): 302–326

Abstract:
We generated an extensive morphological and multilocus molecular dataset to investigate the taxonomy of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, a widespread species across the Mediterranean and semiarid habitats of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Our integrated analyses revealed the existence of at least five basal lineages: (i) an Ibero-Moroccan clade widespread across Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, from sea-level up to a maximal known altitude of 1,930 m, (ii) an AlgeroTunisian clade, distributed in coastal and inland areas of eastern Algeria and Tunisia, (iii) a Central Algerian clade, formed by two inland populations located in central Algeria (1,000–1,500 m a.s.l.), (iv) a western High Atlas clade including two montane populations from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka (at 2,320 m and 2,176 m a.s.l., respectively) and (v) an eastern High Atlas clade, including at least two montane populations from Isli and Tislit (both localities around 2,275 m a.s.l.). An integrated species delimitation approach combining molecular and multivariate morphological analyses demonstrated complete reproductive isolation and hence speciation between the Ibero-Moroccan clade and the eastern High Atlas clade in their contact zone. The divergence between all five clades is broadly similar, supporting the existence of at least five species in the Acanthodactylus erythrurus complex. In the present work we describe the two well-differentiated endemic species from the Moroccan Atlas for which no name is available: Acanthodactylus lacrymae sp. nov. from Isli and Tislit and A. montanus sp. nov. from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka. Further work will be needed to fully resolve the taxonomy of this species complex.

Podarcis latastei (BEDRIAGA, 1879) with ssp.
Podarcis latastei patrizii LANZA, 1952
Podarcis latastei pasquinii LANZA, 1952
Podarcis latastei lanzai MERTENS, 1967

See:

Senczuk, G., R. Castiglia, W. Böhme & C. Corti (2019): Podarcis siculus latastei (Bedriaga, 1879) of the Western Pontine Islands (Italy) raised to the species rank, and a brief taxonomic overview of Podarcis lizards -- Acta Herpetologica 14(2): 71-80

Abstract:
In recent years, great attention has been paid to many Podarcis species for which the observed intra-specific variability often revealed species complexes still characterized by an unresolved relationship. When compared to other species, P. siculus underwent fewer revisions and the number of species hidden within this taxon may have been, therefore, underestimated. However, recent studies based on genetic and morphological data highlighted a marked differentiation of the populations inhabiting the Western Pontine Archipelago. In the present work we used published genetic data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) from 25 Podarcis species to provide a multilocus phylogeny of the genus in order to understand the degree of differentiation of the Western Pontine populations. In addition, we analyzed new morphometric traits (scale counts) of 151 specimens from the main islands of the Pontine Archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis revealed five principal Podarcis groups with biogeographic consistency. The genetic distinctiveness of the Podarcis populations of the Western Pontine Islands is similar or even more ancient than those observed in numerous other pairs of Podarcis sister species. In the light of these evidences we raise the Western Pontine lizards to specific rank; thus they should be referred to as Podarcis latastei.

Salamandra algira atlantica

See:
Hernandez, A. & D. Escoriza (2019): A new subspecies of African fire salamander Salamandra algira (Urodela, Salamandridae) from the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco.- ZooKeys 893: 143–158

Abstract:
A new subspecies within the Salamandra algira species complex from north-western Africa is described. Previous molecular analysis showed that the populations of S. algira splendens from north-western Morocco consisted of two well supported clades: clade 1 distributed in the Rif Mountains, from Chefchaouen (type locality) to Al Hoceima, and clade 2, located southern from clade 1 being isolated in the northern and central Middle Atlas Mountains. Clade 2 is herein described as a distinct subspecies: Salamandra algira atlantica ssp. nov. based on morphological data, allopatric range and molecular divergence. This new subspecies shows an uncorrected pairwise distance of 0.0265 from clade 1 based on cytochrome b DNA sequences. Salamandra algira atlantica ssp. nov. is a slender and large sized salamander with a highly variable colouration pattern. It can be distinguished from S. algira splendens by the greater proportion of coral red in the background colouration, being the only known subspecies of S. algira in which coral red can exceed the proportion of black. Variable number (0–5) of yellow to golden yellow dorsal blotches, but usually in lower numbers than the nominotypical subspecies. Salamandra algira atlantica ssp. nov. inhabits subhumid to humid forests and karstic systems at mid to high elevations. We briefly discuss the phylogenetic and taxonomic issues among the genus Salamandra which encompasses more valid species than currently recognised.

Alytes almogavarii

See:
DUFRESNES & MARTINEZ-SOLANO (2019): Hybrid zone genomics supports candidate species in Iberian Alytes obstetricans.- Amphibia-Reptilia (2019) DOI:10.1163/15685381-20191312 (free access)

Abstract.
While estimates of genetic divergence are increasingly used in molecular taxonomy, hybrid zone analyses can provide decisive evidence for evaluating candidate species. Applying a population genomic approach (RAD-sequencing) to a fine-scale transect sampling, we analyzed the transition between two Iberian subspecies of the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans almogavarii and A. o. pertinax) in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), which putatively diverged since the Plio-Pleistocene. Their hybrid zone was remarkably narrow, with extensive admixture restricted to a single locality (close to Tarragona), and congruent allele frequency clines for the mitochondrial (13 km wide) and the average nuclear genomes (16 km wide). We also fitted clines independently for 89 taxon-diagnostic SNPs: most of them behave like the nuclear background, but a subset (13%) is completely impermeable to gene flow and might be linked to barrier loci involved in hybrid incompatibilities. Assuming that midwife toads are able to disperse in the area of contact, we conclude that these taxa experience partial reproductive isolation and represent incipient species, i.e. Alytes almogavarii and Alytes obstetricans. Interestingly, their evolutionary age and mitochondrial divergence fall below the thresholds proposed in molecular systematics studies, emphasizing the difficulty of predicting the outcome of secondary contacts between young lineages entering the grey zone of speciation

Eirenis yassujicus

see:
Behzad Fathinia, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyanib and Arya Shafaeipour (2019): A new species of Eirenis (Ophidia: Colubridae) from highland habitats in southern Iran.- Zoology in the Middle East, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2019.1663914 (early view)

Abstract:
A new colubrid snake of the genus Eirenis, Eirenis yassujicus sp. n., is described from highlands of central Zagros in Kohgilouyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province, southern Iran, and increases the number of Eirenis species to 21. Morphologically, E. yassujicus sp. n. is assigned to the subgenus Eirenis (Eirenis) characterised by 17 mid-body scales. The lowest genetic distance between the new species and its closest relative, E. punctatolineatus, is 12% in the mitochondrial Cytb gene. An updated key for the species of Eirenis spp. in Iran is provided.

See:

MURAT AFSAR, BATUHAN Y. YAKIN, KERIM ÇIÇEK & DINÇER AYAZ (2019): A new subspecies of Ottoman viper, Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849), (Squamata: Viperidae) from Geyik Mountains, Mediterranean Turkey.- Ecologica Montenegrina 22: 214-225

Abstract:
A new Ottoman viper subspecies, M. xanthina varoli n. subsp., is described from the higher altitudes of Gündogmus (Antalya). The new subspecies differs from the other M. xanthina populations by pholidosis; higher number of intercanthals and lower number of subcaudalia. Also, the whiteness between windings or spots on dorsum pattern were observed in new subspecies, similar to the southern populations. Furthermore, the spots on the ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body of the males and the tail tips are yellowish-orange or light orange on both sexes

Lacerta citrovittata is its on sprecies now.
Lacerta diplochondrodes with ssp.: cariensis, galatiensis and dobrogica
and Lacerta trilineata with subspecies major, polylepidota and hansschweizeri

See:
Panagiotis Kornilios, Evanthia Thanou, Petros Lymberakis, Çetin Ilgaz, Yusuf Kumlutas & Adam Leaché (2019): A phylogenomic resolution for the taxonomy of Aegean green lizards

Abstract:
Lacerta pamphylica and Lacerta trilineata are two currently recognized green lizard species with a historically problematic taxonomy. In cases of tangled phylogenies, next?generation sequencing and double?digest restriction?site?associated DNA protocols can provide a wealth of genomic data and resolve difficult taxonomic issues. Here, we generated genome?wide SNPs and mitochondrial sequences, and applied molecular species delimitation approaches to provide a stable taxonomy for the Aegean green lizards. Mitochondrial gene trees, genetic cluster delimitation and population structure analyses converged into recognizing the populations of (a) L. pamphylica, (b) east Aegean islands, Anatolia and Thrace (diplochondrodes lineage), (c) central Aegean islands (citrovittata), and (d) remaining Balkan populations and islands (trilineata), as separate clusters. Phylogenomic analyses revealed a split into two major clades, east and west of the Aegean Barrier, unambiguously showing a sister–clade relationship between pamphylica and diplochondrodes, rendering L. trilineata paraphyletic. Species delimitation models were tested in a Bayesian framework using the genomic SNPs: lumping all populations into a single ‘species’ had the lowest likelihood but the current taxonomy was also outperformed by all other models. All lines of evidence support the Pamphylian green lizard as a valid species; thus, east Aegean L. trilineata should also be considered a distinct species under the name Lacerta diplochondrodes. Finally, evidence from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes is overwhelmingly in favour of recognizing the morphologically distinct Cycladian green lizards as a distinct species. We propose their elevation to full species under the name Lacerta citrovittata. All remaining insular and continental populations of the Balkan Peninsula represent the species L. trilineata.

Bufotes cypriensis

and a new name for Bufotes variabilis: Bufotes sitibundus for the eastern populations. Bufotes perrini, a new species for NE Iran and Turkmenistan green toads.

See:
Dufresnes Mazepac, Jablonski, Caliari, Oliveira, Wenseleers, Shabanov, Auer, Ernst, Koch, Ramírez-Chaves, Mulder, Simonov, Tiutenko, Kryvokhyzhar, Wennekess, Zinenko, Korshunov, Al-Johany, ...... & Litvinchuk (2019): Fifteen shades of green: The evolution of Bufotes toads revisited.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (in press) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106615

Abstract:
The radiation of Palearctic green toads (Bufotes) holds great potential to evaluate the role of hybridization in phylogeography at multiple stages along the speciation continuum. With fifteen species representing three ploidy levels, this model system is particularly attractive to examine the causes and consequences of allopolyploidization, a prevalent yet enigmatic pathway towards hybrid speciation. Despite substantial efforts, the evolutionary history of this species complex remains largely blurred by the lack of consistency among the corresponding literature. To get a fresh, comprehensive view on Bufotes phylogeography, here we combined genome-wide multilocus analyses (RAD-seq) with an extensive compilation of mitochondrial, genome size, niche modelling, distribution and phenotypic (bioacoustics, morphometrics, poison composition) datasets, representing hundreds of populations throughout Eurasia. We provide a fully resolved nuclear phylogeny for Bufotes and highlight exceptional cyto-nuclear discordances characteristic of complete mtDNA replacement (in 20% of species), mitochondrial surfing during post-glacial expansions, and the formation of homoploid hybrid populations. Moreover, we traced the origin of several allopolyploids down to species level, showing that all were exclusively fathered by the West Himalayan B. latastii but mothered by several diploid forms inhabiting Central Asian lowlands, an asymmetry consistent with hypotheses on mate choice and Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities. Their intermediate call phenotypes potentially allowed for rapid reproductive isolation, while toxin compositions converged towards the ecologically-closest parent. Across the radiation, we pinpoint a stepwise progression of reproductive isolation through time, with a threshold below which hybridizability is irrespective of divergence (<6My), above which species barely admix and eventually evolve different mating calls (6-10My), or can successfully cross-breed through allopolyploidization (>15My). Finally, we clarified the taxonomy of Bufotes (including genetic analyses of type series) and formally described two new species, B. cypriensis sp. nov. (endemic to Cyprus) and B. perrini sp. nov. (endemic to Central Asia). Embracing the genomic age, our framework marks the advent of a new exciting era for evolutionary research in these iconic amphibians.

see:
KARIN TAMAR, PELAGIA MITSI, MARC SIMO-RIUDALBAS, HECTOR TEJERO-CICUENDEZ, THURAYA AL-SARIRI & SALVADOR CARRANZA (2019): Systematics, biogeography, and evolution of Pristurus minimus (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) with the discovery of the smallest Arabian vertebrate.- Systematics and Biodiversity 17(4): 349–366

Abstract:
Almost 20% of Oman’s terrestrial reptiles are found on Masirah Island. Despite its ancient geological history and its long isolation, Masirah Island only harbours one endemic reptile species, Hemidactylus masirahensis. In this study, we use an integrative approach to explore the variation in Pristurus minimus, to revise its systematics and to assess its phylogeography by using molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences) and morphological data. Our results uncovered a deep divergence within P. minimus that dates back to ~4 Ma, during the Pliocene Epoch. The old divergence separated P. minimus into two allopatric species: one from mainland Arabia, P. minimus, and one endemic to Masirah Island, described as a new species herein. Despite the general similarity between the two sister species, there are morphological differences related mainly to body size. The new Pristurus species endemic to Masirah Island is significantly smaller than its mainland sister taxon, becoming the smallest known vertebrate species in Arabia and one of the smallest lizard species in the world. The phylogenetic analyses also uncovered a low level of genetic diversity within the newly described Pristurus species endemic to Masirah Island and a relatively deep genetic divergence within P. minimus that dates back to the Pleistocene. Once more, the present study highlights the relatively high levels of reptile diversity and endemicity in south-eastern Arabia despite its harsh, arid climate and stresses its relevance from a conservation point of view.

Darevskia aghasyani B.S. Tuniyev & T.V. Petrova, 2019

has been described.

See:
B.S. Tuniyev & T.V. Petrova (2019): A new lizard species of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997 from Southern Armenia.- Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 323(2): 136–148.

Abstract:
A new species of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997 – Darevskia aghasyani sp. nov. is described from Urts Ridge in Southern Armenia. This species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: small size L – 49–54 mm, L. cd – 107, Sq – 52–56, Ventr – 26–27, G – 24, P. g. – 32–34, P. fm. – 18–20; it is painted in brownish-beige tones from above; the belly is whitish in both sexes, males in the anal area have yellow with ochre femoral pores; bluish spots appear on the edge of the outer ventral shields at the middle of trunk through one shield; on the sides of the trunk (chest area) there are two blue spots in males and one in females; rostral is separated from frontonasal by nasal shields and it does not touch the nostril; upper postocular is twice wider than upper temporal shield; posterior temporal shields are not pronounced, or slightly pronounced; in front of central temporal (Massetericum), there is one enlarged temporal shield; along the throat from ear to ear fold there are 32–34 scales; two large preanal shields present in front of the anal shield. A comparison of Darevskia aghasyani sp. nov. with other species of the genus from Armenia and representatives of “raddei” complex from neighboring regions of Turkey and Iran (Darevskia dahli (Darevsky, 1957), D. unisexualis (Darevsky, 1966), D. raddei (Boettger, 1892), D. raddei vanensis (Eiselt et al., 1993), D. nairensis (Darevsky, 1967), and D. defilippii (Camerano, 1877)) is given. Conservation status of taxa assessed as CR B2ac(iv) “CRITICALLY ENDANGERED”.

See:
Daniel Jablonski, D., O.V. Kukushkin, A. Avci, S. Bunyatova, Y. Kumlutas, Ç. Ilgaz, E. Polyakova, K. Shiryaev, B. Tuniyev & D. Jandzik (2019): The biogeography of Elaphe sauromates (Pallas, 1814), with a description of a new rat snake species.- PeerJ 7:e6944 DOI 10.7717/peerj.6944; 44 pp.

Abstract:
Background: The rat snake genus Elaphe once comprised several dozens of species distributed in temperate through tropical zones of the New and Old World. Based on molecular-genetic analyses in early 2000s, the genus was split into several genera, leaving only 15 Palearctic and Oriental species as its members. One of the three species also occurring in Europe is Elaphe sauromates, a robust snake from the Balkans, Anatolia, Caucasus, Ponto-Caspian steppes, and Levant that has been suspected to be composed of two or more genetically diverse populations. Here, we studied the genetic structure and morphological variation of E. sauromates, aiming to better understand its inter-population relationships and biogeography, and subsequently revise its taxonomy. Methods: We reconstructed the phylogeography and analyzed the genetic structure of E. sauromates populations originating from most of its geographic range using both mitochondrial (COI, ND4) and nuclear (C-MOS, MC1R, PRLR, RAG1) DNA gene fragments. We employed Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods for the phylogenetic tree reconstructions, supplemented with species delimitation methods, analysis of haplotype networks, and calculation of uncorrected p-distances. Morphological variation in 15 metric and 18 meristic characters was studied using parametric univariate tests as well as multivariate general linearized models. In total, we analyzed sequences originating from 63 specimens and morphological data from 95 specimens of E. sauromates sensu lato. Results: The molecular phylogeny identified two clearly divergent sister lineages within E. sauromates, with both forming a lineage sister to E. quatuorlineata. The genetic distance between them (5.80–8.24% in mtDNA) is similar to the distances among several other species of the genus Elaphe. Both lineages are also moderately morphologically differentiated and, while none of the characters are exclusively diagnostic, their combination can be used for confident lineage identification. Here, following the criteria of genetic and evolutionary species concepts, we describe the lineage from eastern Anatolia and parts of the Lesser and Great Caucasus as a new species E. urartica sp. nov. Discussion: Elaphe urartica sp. nov. represents a cryptic species whose ancestors presumably diverged from their common ancestor with E. sauromates around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary. The intraspecific genetic structure indicates that the recent diversity of both species has been predominantly shaped by Pleistocene climatic oscillations, with glacial refugia mainly located in the Balkans, Crimea, and/or Anatolia in E. sauromates and Anatolia and/or the Caucasus in E. urartica sp. nov.

Hyla carthaginiensis

See:
DUFRENES, C., M. BEDDEK, D.V.SKORINOV, L. FUMAGALLI, N. PERRIN, P.-A. CROCHET & S.N. LITVINCHUK (2019): Diversification and speciation in tree frogs from the Maghreb (Hyla meridionalis sensu lato), with description of a new African endemic.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 134: 291-299

Abstract:
Comparative molecular studies emphasized a new biogeographic paradigm for the terrestrial fauna of North Africa, one of the last uncharted ecoregions of the Western Palearctic: two independent east-west divisions across the Maghreb. Through a comprehensive phylogeography, we assessed how this model suits the genetic diversification documented for the tree frog Hyla meridionalis sensu lato. Analyses of mtDNA variation and thousands of nuclear loci confirmed the old split (low-Pliocene) between Tunisian and Algerian populations. These lineages meet but barely admix in the eastern Maghreb (Algerian-Tunisian border), a sign of putatively advanced reproductive isolation. In the western Maghreb, we report a Pleistocene divergence between Moroccan and Algerian populations. Tree frogs thus follow both predictions: a double east-west break that gave rise to two suture zones characteristic of North-African phylogeography. Moreover, some intraspecific mtDNA variation is not mirrored by the nuclear data, emphasizing that evolutionary units should always be designated by multilocus approaches. Last but not least, we describe the Tunisian lineage as a new species endemic to Africa.

see:
Asadi, A., C. Montgelard, M. Nazarizadeh, A. Moghaddasi, F. Fatemizadeh, E. Simonov, H.G. Kami & M. Kaboli (2019): Evolutionary history and postglacial colonization of an Asian pit viper (Gloydius halys caucasicus) into Transcaucasia revealed by phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses.- Scientific Reports 9:1224 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37558-8, 16 pp.

abstract:
It has been generally acknowledged that glacial climates at the time of the pleistocene altered the patterns of species distributions, prompting latitudinal and altitudinal distribution shifts in several species, including poikilothermic species commonly known for their thermal sensitivity. However, the historical phylogeographic patterns of such species have remained largely unknown. Here, we present the historical biogeographic, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic relationships of the Caucasian pit viper, G. h. caucasicus, based on two mtDNA (cyt b and ND4) and one nDNA (c-mos) genes. This pit viper represents the westernmost member of the Crotalinae subfamily in the palearctic and occurs in a variety of habitats, from 30 m to 3,000 m above sea level. In Iran, it is distributed on the northern and southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains, rendering it a target for phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of a terrestrial poikilothermic animal. Our study identifed four Iranian lineages of G. h. caucasicus along the northeastern to northwestern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern Azerbaijan (talysh Mountains). Diversifcation of the Iranian lineages highlights population expansion and subsequent isolation into four plausible refugial areas during the Quaternary paleo-climatic oscillations, confrmed by our molecular dating and historical biogeographic analyses. The results of coalescence-based simulations support the incursion of the species from northeastern Iran to the western end of the Alborz, and then toward transcaucasia via two directions: northern and southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains. Furthermore, our results clearly implied that G. h. caucasicus should be elevated to species rank and further referred to as G. caucasicus (Nikolsky, 1916).

See:
Machado, L., J. Smid, T. Mazuch, R. Sindaco, A. Said Al Shukaili & S. Carranza (2018): Systematics of the Saharo-Arabian clade of the Palearctic naked-toed geckos with the description of a new species of Tropiocolotes endemic to Oman -- J Zool Syst Evol Res., DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12226; 1-20.

Abstract.
Geckos are one of the most species-rich, abundant, and widely distributed of all Squamata lineages and present several characteristics that have made them favorite model organisms for biogeographical, ecological, physiological, and evolutionary studies. One of the key aspects of any comparative study is to have a robust, comprehensive phylogeny, and an updated taxonomy. Recently, the Infraorder Gekkota has been the subject of several phylogenetic analyses and taxonomic revisions at different levels. Despite all these phylogenetic and taxonomic advances, there are still some groups whose systematics and taxonomy remain highly problematic. Maybe one of the most poorly resolved groups in spite of decades of intensive research by many herpetologists are the so-called Palearctic naked-toed geckos of the family Gekkonidae. This group of nocturnal geckos distributed from Mauritania across North Africa, Arabia, southwestern and central Asia to northern India, western China and southern Mongolia is characterized by the synapomorphy of lack of adhesive subdigital pads. Within the Palearctic naked-toed geckos, the Saharo-Arabian clade comprised by the genera Pseudoceramodactylus, Stenodactylus, and Tropiocolotes is the clade with the largest distribution range. At the same time, it is one of the problematic groups, presenting poorly supported phylogenetic relationships, with the genus Tropiocolotes being recovered non-monophyletic in all analyses despite its morphological uniformity. To reassess the phylogeny of the Palearctic naked-toed geckos with a special interest in the systematics of Tropiocolotes, we assembled a dataset comprising 298 gecko specimens from 283 different species (including all Tropiocolotes species but one) belonging to 122 of a total of 124 described gecko genera. This dataset included the nuclear c-mos, ACM4, RAG1, RAG2, and PDC and the mitochondrial ND2 gene. To further investigate the relationships within Tropiocolotes and to revise the systematics of the south Arabian endemic species Tropiocolotes scorteccii, we used an integrative approach including information from the nuclear MC1R and c-mos, the mitochondrial 12S, 16S, cytb genes, and morphological data from nine of the 10 described Tropiocolotes species. The phylogenetic analyses of the Gekkota dataset recovered a similar topology for the Palearctic naked-toed geckos to previous studies, but in this case, Tropiocolotes was recovered monophyletic in all analyses, with high support in two of them. The results of the analyses of three datasets specifically assembled to test the effect of both gene sampling and taxon sampling in the monophyly of Tropiocolotes, and the internal relationships of the Palearctic naked-toed geckos clearly showed that both the number and kind of characters (nuclear or mitochondrial data) and the number of taxa played a fundamental role in recovering the correct phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetic analyses within Tropiocolotes suggested the existence of high levels of undescribed diversity in the south Arabian T. scorteccii, including a new genetically and morphologically distinct species endemic to Oman (Tropiocolotes confusus sp. nov.). Our study using a large dataset, including several loci and a dense taxon sampling within Gekkota and especially within Tropiocolotes, has proved a valuable strategy to address the monophyly of Tropiocolotes and the relationships within the Saharo-Arabian Palearctic naked-toed geckos. The integrative systematic approach including several samples of south Arabian T. scorteccii based on many years of fieldwork has, once more, uncovered a new species endemic to this region. This highlights the importance of this area of Arabia as a reservoir of reptile endemicity and biodiversity, which is likely linked to the high degree of habitat heterogeneity and the effect of the monsoons. Obviously, based on this and previously published evidence, south Arabia represents an area with still high levels of undiscovered diversity.

See:
Oraie, H., E. Rastegar-Pouyani, A. Khosravani, N. Moradi, A. Akbari, M.E. Sehhatisabet, S. Shafiei, N. Stümpel & U. Joger (2018): Molecular and morphological analyses have revealed a new species of blunt-nosed viper of the genus Macrovipera in Iran.- SALAMANDRA 54(4): 233–248

Abstract
A new species of blunt-nosed viper of the genus Macrovipera is described from the central and southern parts of Iran on the basis of morphological and molecular examination. The mitochondrial Cytb gene was used to investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the Iranian species of the genus Macrovipera. A dataset with a final sequence length of 1043 nucleotides from 41 specimens from 18 geographically distant localities across Iran was generated. The findings demonstrated that two major clades with strong support can be identified within the genus Macrovipera in Iran. One clade consists of individuals belonging to a new species, which is distributed in the central and southern parts of Iran; the second clade includes two discernible subclades. The first subclade is distributed in western and northwestern Iran, Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, and the second subclade consists of northeastern populations, representing Macrovipera lebetina cernovi. The new species, Macrovipera razii sp. n., differs from its congeners by having higher numbers of ventral scales, elongated anterior chin-shields, and lower numbers of canthal plus intersupraocular scales.

See:
DUFRENES, MAZEPA, RODRIGUEZ, BRELSFORD, LITVINCHUK, SERMIER, LAVANCHY, BETTO-COLLIARD, BLASER, BORZÉE, CAVOTO, FABRE, GHALI, GROSSEN, HORN et al. (2018): Genomic Evidence for Cryptic Speciation in Tree Frogs From the Apennine Peninsula, With Description of Hyla perrini sp. nov.- Front. Ecol. Evol. 6:144. 18 pp. open access

Abstract:
Despite increasing appreciation of the speciation continuum, delimiting and describing new species is a major yet necessary challenge of modern phylogeography to help optimize conservation efforts. In amphibians, the lack of phenotypic differences between closely-related taxa, their complex, sometimes unresolved phylogenetic relationships, and their potential to hybridize all act to blur taxonomic boundaries. Here we implement a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate the nature of two deeply-diverged mitochondrial lineages previously documented in Italian tree frogs (Hyla intermedia s. l.), distributed north and south of the Northern Apennine Mountains. Based on evidence from mitochondrial phylogenetics, nuclear phylogenomics, hybrid zone population genomics, niche modeling analyses, and biometric assessments, we propose that these lineages be considered distinct, cryptic species. Both mitochondrial and nuclear data affirm that they belong to two monophyletic clades of Pliocene divergence (~3.5 My), only admixing over a relatively narrow contact zone restricted to the southeast of the Po Plain (50–100 km). These characteristics are comparable to similarly-studied parapatric amphibians bearing a specific status. Inferred from their current geographic distribution, the two Italian tree frogs feature distinct ecological niches (<15% of niche overlap), raising questions regarding potential adaptive components contributing to their incipient speciation. However, we found no diagnostic morphological and bioacoustic differences between them. This system illustrates the speciation continuum of Western-Palearctic tree frogs and identifies additional cryptic lineages of similar divergence to be treated as separate species (H. cf. meridionalis). We recommend combined approaches using genomic data as applied here for the future taxonomic assessment of cryptic diversity in alloparapatric radiations of terrestrial vertebrates, especially in controversial taxa. Finally, we formally described the northern Italian tree frogs as a new species, Hyla perrini sp. nov.

Algyroides hildagoi has priority over Algyroides marchi!

see:
Sánchez-Vialas, A., M. Calvo-Revuelta & M. García-París (2018): Taxonomic and nomenclatural status of Iberian Algyroides (Lacertidae).- Amphibia-Reptilia (2018) DOI:10.1163/15685381-20181016; 12 pp.

Abstract:
The taxonomy and nomenclature of Iberian Algyroides are problematic. The ?rst taxon described, A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916, was based on a single specimen that was subsequently lost. The description of the second taxon, A. marchi Valverde, 1958, was based on the comparison of a newly discovered population with the original description of A. hidalgoi. However, A. hidalgoi specimens have never been recorded since for any locality. Therefore, three questions need to be addressed: Is A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916 a morphologically diagnosable taxon different from all non-Iberian species of Algyroides?are A. hidalgoi and A. marchi conspeci?c? And if so, which is the correct name for the species? To clarify the taxonomic status of the Iberian Algyroides we (1) compare Boscá’s A. hidalgoi original description against the descriptions of all other species of Algyroides, (2) test the accuracy of Boscá’s A. hidalgoi by comparing it against 204 Iberian museum specimens, and (3) designate a neotype of A. hidalgoi that ?ts the head pholidosis described in the original description. We show that none of the diagnostic characters used by Valverde to differentiate between A. hidalgoi and A. marchi are actually diagnostic, as we found high levels of variability on those characters in the studied specimens. Our results validate Boscá’s description of A. hidalgoi, which ?ts within the morphological variability observed for southern Iberian Algyroides. As a result, we propose the strict synonymy of A. marchi Valverde, 1958 with A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916

Zamenis hohenackeri lyciensis HOFMANN, MEBERT, SCHULZ, HELFENBERGER, GÖÇMEN & BÖHME, 2018, distributed in SW Anatolia, Turkey.

See:
HOFMANN, S., K. MEBERT, K.-D. SCHULZ, N. HELFENBERGER, B. GÖÇMEN & W. BÖHME (2018): A new subspecies of Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) (Serpentes: Colubridae) based on morphological and molecular data -- Zootaxa 4471 (1): 137–15.

Abstract:
Based on morphological characteristics, two subspecies of the Transcaucasian rat snake (Zamenis hohenackeri) are currently recognized, namely Z. h. tauricus and Z. h. hohenackeri. Both subspecies are repeatedly considered to be conspecific colour morphs, or have even been confused with Z. situla. Although, few studies involved the Transcaucasian rat snake in a phylogenetic approach, none has so far led to any taxonomic changes. We assessed the intraspecific morphological variation and phylogeographic relationships among specimens from different locations across its updated distribution. Our molecular (1191 bp mtDNA, 565 bp nuDNA) and morphological data provide sufficient evidence to support three distinct lineages within the Z. hohenackeri complex with a different arrangement compared to a previous study. These represent the subspecies Z. h. hohenackeri, Z. h. tauricus, and a lineage from southwestern Turkey which is described as a new subspecies. Aspects of historical biogeography and conservation status are briefly discussed.

See:
OSCAR ARRIBAS, ÇETIN ILGAZ & YUSUF KUMLUTAS (2018): Reevaluation of the intraspecific variability in Darevskia parvula (Lantz & Cyren, 1913): an integrated approach using morphology, osteology and genetics (Squamata: Lacertidae).- Zootaxa 4472 (1): 071–099

Abstract:
The intraspecific variability of Darevskia parvula (which has two classical subspecies easily identifiable by external characteristics, D. p. parvula and D. p. adjarica), was studied using various approaches including morphology (scalation and biometry), multivariate analyses (PCA, CDA, ANOSIM, UPGMA and MST), osteology, and molecular techniques. High mitochondrial distance, differences at the nuclear level and morphological distinctiveness warrant the specific status of both taxa, Darevskia parvula (Lantz & Cyrén, 1913) and Darevskia adjarica (Darevsky & Eiselt, 1980) stat. nov. A lectotype for D. parvula, originally described with syntypes of both species -D. parvula and D. adjarica- is designated. The uncorrected genetic distance between D. parvula and D. adjarica in the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene is 14.4% ± 1.9%. Intraspecific variability within D. parvula is very small (1.5% ± 0.5%), and was not detected in our samples of D. adjarica. The two species further differ by two mutations in the nuclear melano-cortin 1 receptor (mc1r) gene. Interestingly, past introgression of D. parvula mitochondrial haplotypes (5% ± 1% different to those currently known) into some D. adjarica has been detected in one locality; all the studied specimens of D. adjarica with mtDNA of D. parvula are unmistakably D. adjarica at the morphological and nuclear levels. Morphologically, there is almost no overlap between D. parvula and D. adjarica. These results are corroborated by CDA, MST and UPGMA trees. Specimens of the inland high mountain population of Ardahan (clearly D. adjarica in CDA, MST and UPGMA trees) occupy a somewhat intermediate position between both taxa in the PCA (when specimens and not populations as a whole are considered), but this morphological closeness may be attributed to the influence of climatic factors (continental conditions) on scalation of the specimens. Males appear to be more differentiated than females. Overlap among samples within each species is very marked; none can be separated clearly from its conspecifics. This is even more marked in D. parvula, which has a fairly small area compared to D. adjarica. Darevskia parvula and D. adjarica samples appear to be homogeneously clustered within species and well separated between the two species in the UPGMA trees. In males and females all the D. parvula samples are very similar and moderately differentiated. In males of D. adjarica, the most differentiated seems to be adjBorçka, the others all being clustered together, with adjÇaykara showing slightly more differentiation from the rest (adjOrtacalar, adjArdahan, adjIkizdere and adjÇermik). Darevskia adjarica females are also similarly distributed into two subgroups, one including Borçka, Çermik and Ardahan and the other including Ortacalar, Ikizdere and Çaykara. In both sexes, the inland Ardahan sample clearly belongs to D. adjarica. From the most connected MST samples, speculations can be made about areas of origin and expansion of the different taxa. Ortacalar (D. adjarica) and Hatila (D. parvula) are the most connected (morphologically more “central” in both taxa); in fact, both populations are relatively close, living on the northern (Black Sea) and southern (Anatolian) facing slopes, respectively of the Do?u Karadeniz Mountains (Kaçkar Mountains). This highlights these mountains, which rise from sea level up to nearly 4000 m asl. and have wide buffering possibilities against climate changes, as a zone of refuge and posterior dispersion of this species, and even of the original splitting into two taxa adapted to these different conditions, D. adjarica on the coast and D. parvula on the continental slope. Osteologically D. parvula and D. adjarica are very similar, although Georgian specimens from an isolated population (Atskuri) have closed clavicles not found in Turkish D. adjarica. Also, inland Ardahan D. adjarica have an extra vertebra in both males and females, compared to the other studied specimens from both species. The present study indicates that the situation in Turkey is that D. parvula is well differentiated and lives around the Çoruh River Valley, contoured by D. adjarica populations on the coastal-facing slopes of the Do?u Karadeniz Mountains on one side, and the Yaln?zçam Mountains on the other side, where D. adjarica enters from Georgia as the opposite extreme of a geographic distribution. The attribution of more inland ranges to D. parvula or D. adjarica, as well as the detailed genetic structure of both taxa may be confirmed with more specific studies.

See:
Göçmen, B., S. Ehl, M. Karis, B. Thiesmeier & T. Kordges (2018): Molecular and morphological evidence for a new subspecies of Fazila’s Lycian Salamander Lyciasalamandra fazilae in South-west Anatolia .- Zoology in the Middle East, 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2018.1511291; 11 pp.

Abstract:
A new subspecies of the Fazila’s Lycian Salamander Lyciasalamandra fazilae is described based on material from ten localities in the Köycegiz, Ortaca and Dalaman area in south-western Turkey. It is distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies by differences in the colouration pattern, morphometry and the mitochondrial molecular marker 16S rRNA. The distribution area of the new subspecies is located mainly in the western part of Dalaman River except for two seemingly intermediate populations (Serefler and Sarsala-Kapikargin). New localities for the species are reported.

See:
HOSSEINIAN YOUSEFKHANI, S.S., M. ALIABADIAN, E. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, J. DARVISH, S. SHAFIEI & M.E. SEHHATISABET (2018): Description of a new species of the genus Agamura Blanford, 1874 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern Iran.- Zootaxa 4457(2): 325–331

Abstract:
Herein, we describe a new species of spider gecko, Agamura kermanensis sp. nov., from south Kerman, Iran. The new species is distinguished from other species by having long forelimbs and hindlimbs and a high interorbital distance. Agamura kermanensis sp. nov. was discovered in the Faryab region of southern Kerman Province, which has a xeric climate and low vegetation density. The habitat of the species is similar to that of A. cruralis in southeast Iran. It can be assumed that the distribution of the species is more extensive than currently known. More investigation is required in Jazmourian and the surrounding areas. This is the third species of the genus Agamura discovered on the Iranian Plateau.

and description of a new species

Trigonodactylus persicus from SW Iran.

See:
NAZAROV, R.A., D.A. MELNIKOV, M. RADJABIZADEH & N.A. POYARKOV (2018): A new species of short-fingered geckos Stenodactylus (Squamata, Geckonidae) from South Iran with taxonomic notes on validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Hass, 1957.- Zootaxa 4457(1): 093–113

Abstract:
In the present study we provide evidence for the validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Hass, 1957, improve the diagnosis for this genus and describe a new species that belongs to it—Trigonodactylus persicus sp. nov., from the sand dunes in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran. The new species is closely related to Trigonodactylus [Stenodactylus] arabicus sensu Hass, and can be distinguished by the following morphological characteristics: small size, maximum SVL 34 mm; SVL/TailL—approximately 1:1; ventral scales roundish, weakly keeled, 54–61 longitudinal rows at midbody and 190–25 along midbody. No enlarged postmentals. Fingers and toes slightly flattened dorso-ventrally. Lateral edge of digits fringed by series of projecting triangular scales. No web between digits. No preanal and femoral pores. Dorsal color pattern formed by thin, dark, irregular vermicular patches and spots. Sometimes these dark dorsal patterns blend with each other and form transverse bands. There is a narrow, dark, longitudinal line between forelimbs and hindlimbs on lateral sides. Dark, well developed <-shaped marking on snout, which continues behind orbit on tympanum region, approaches the upper ear opening and ends on the pectoral arch. Labial scales white, in some cases with grey-brown dots. Dorsal surfaces of limbs and digits with irregular dark bands. Dorsal surface of tail with 8–10 wide, dark brown bands with irregular margins, same size as alternating light bands. Ventral surface of body and limbs white, tail with dark spots that become more distinct posteriorly.

See:
Tuniyev, B.S., G.N. Iremashvili, T.V. Petrova & M.V. Kravchenko (2018): REDISCOVERY OF THE STEPPE VIPER IN GEORGIA.- Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 322(2): 87–107

Abstract:
The steppe viper was rediscovered in Georgia after 75 years. A comprehensive analysis of external morphology, altitude gradient in habitats, typology of biotopes and genetic analysis revealed a high degree of similarity of populations of the steppe vipers from Azerbaijan, known as Pelias shemakhensis Tuniyev et al., 2013, and from East Georgia. These data were used for comparative study and description of a new subspecies – P. shemakhensis kakhetiensis ssp. nov. The subspecies name is after historical region of Georgia – Kakheti, where a large part of the range is located. In the pattern of recent distribution of P. shemakhensis, there are common habitat and climatic characteristics in Georgian and Azerbaijan parts of this its range. Its position among the species complex and relations with other taxa of this complex are discussed. Based on the results of the cluster and discriminant analyses, P. eriwanensis and P. lotievi should be given a subspecies rank, whereas P. shemakhensis clearly deserves a species rank. Results of the genetic analysis are opposite: P. shemakhensis and P. eriwanensis are considered as sister species. We continue to share an idea about autochthonous origin for small shield-head vipers of the Caucasus, taking into account their ancient origin in the Caucasian Ecoregion and astonished variety of forms of the “kaznakovi”-complex and “ursinii”-complex both on the Great Caucasus and in the Transcaucasia.

Mesalina arnoldi SINDACO, SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, SACCHI & CARRANZA, 2018
and
Mesalina austroarabica SINDACO, SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, SACCHI & CARRANZA, 2018

See:
SINDACO, R., M. SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, R. SACCHI & S. CARRANZA (2018): Systematics of the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Arabia with the description of two new species.- Zootaxa 4429 (3): 513–547

Abstract:
Mesalina are small diurnal lacertid lizards inhabiting arid areas from North Africa to northwestern India. Previous phylogenetic studies have shown the existence of several species complexes within the genus, some of them with high levels of undiscovered diversity. In the present study, we carry out an integrative systematic revision of the Mesalina guttulata species complex using both molecular and morphological data from across its entire distribution range in North Africa, the Middle East and Arabia. The results of the genetic analyses indicate that M. guttulata and M. bahaeldini are two allopatric sister taxa separated by the Suez Canal and that the species complex includes a further three unnamed deep phylogenetic lineages, two of them restricted to southern and southwestern Arabia and described herein as Mesalina austroarabica sp. nov. and Mesalina arnoldi sp. nov., respectively. As a result of the lack of enough material, the third deep lineage, distributed across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, is provisionally left undescribed. The two newly described species are characterized by their size, scale counts and tail coloration, as well as differences at the three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene analyzed in the present study.

Dasypeltis arabica BROADLEY & BATES, 2018

See:
Michael F. Bates & Donald G. Broadley (2018): A revision of the egg-eating snakes of the genus Dasypeltis Wagler (Squamata: Colubridae: Colubrinae) in north-eastern Africa and south-western Arabia, with descriptions of three new species.- Indago, 34(1): 1–95

Abstract:
The genus Dasypeltis Wagler, 1830 in north-eastern Africa (from latitude 8ºS to the Mediterranean Sea, east of 29°E) and south-western Arabia (west of longitude 45°E) is reviewed. Ten species are recognised in this region on the basis of morphological characters, including colour pattern. Dasypeltis fasciata A. Smith, 1849 inhabits lowland forest in western and southern Uganda, while Dasypeltis medici (Bianconi, 1859) occurs in coastal forest/savannah mosaic in southern Somalia, Kenya and northern Tanzania. We show that Dasypeltis medici lamuensis Gans, 1957 is a junior synonym of D. medici. Dasypeltis atra Sternfeld, 1912—in a variety of colour phases/patterns—is widespread in the region, occurring in montane forest, moorland, forest/savannah mosaic, and savannah along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. Dasypeltis scabra (Linnaeus, 1758) is widely distributed in East African savannahs, except in parts of South Sudan, Uganda, western Kenya and Rwanda where Dasypeltis confusa Trape & Mané, 2006 infiltrates from the west, and in northern Somalia and Djibouti at 640 to 1370 m where it is replaced by Dasypeltis taylori Bates & Broadley sp. nov. Dasypeltis bazi Saleh & Sarhan, 2016 occurs as an isolated population in the Fayoum Depression west of Cairo, Egypt, with a possible isolate at Erkowit in the Red Sea Hills of north-eastern Sudan. We designate a lectotype for Dasypeltis abyssina (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)—previously known only from the type description—and demonstrate that it is a distinct and valid species restricted to open savannah in the highlands (1800–2450 m) of north-western Ethiopia and central Eritrea; the paralectotype from Sudan is referable to D. scabra. Dasypeltis crucifera Bates sp. nov. is known only from two localities at lower elevations (600–1417 m) in northern Eritrea. Dasypeltis arabica Broadley & Bates sp. nov. inhabits the highlands of south-western Arabia (Saudi Arabia and Yemen) at elevations of 1300–2300 m. Multivariate analyses of scale characters and numbers of pattern cycles provides support for the above taxonomy. We provide a map detailing the ranges of the various species. The Horn of Africa, with at least six species (and another in Arabia), appears to be a centre of diversity for the genus Dasypeltis.

Phrynocephalus mystaceus khorasanus

See:
Evgeniya N. Solovyeva, Evgeniy N. Dunayev, Roman A. Nazarov, Mehdi Radjabizadeh & Nikolay A. Poyarkov (2018): Molecular and morphological differentiation of Secret Toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus mystaceus, with the description of a new subspecies from Iran (Reptilia, Agamidae).- ZooKeys 748: 97–129

Abstract:
The morphological and genetic variation of a wide-ranging Secret Toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus mystaceus that inhabits sand deserts of south-eastern Europe, Middle East, Middle Asia, and western China is reviewed. Based on the morphological differences and high divergence in COI (mtDNA) gene sequences a new subspecies of Ph. mystaceus is described from Khorasan Razavi Province in Iran. Partial sequences of COI mtDNA gene of 31 specimens of Ph. mystaceus from 17 localities from all major parts of species range were analyzed. Genetic distances show a deep divergence between Ph. mystaceus khorasanus ssp. n. from Khorasan Razavi Province and all other populations of Ph. mystaceus. The new subspecies can be distinguished from other populations of Ph. mystaceus by a combination of several morphological features. Molecular and morphological analyses do not support the validity of other Ph. mystaceus subspecies described from Middle Asia and Caspian basin. Geographic variations in the Ph. mystaceus species complex and the status of previously described subspecies were discussed.

Vipera sakoi
Vipera darevskii uzumorum
Vipera darevskii kumlutasi

See:
B.S. Tuniyev, A. Avci, Ç. Ilgaz, K. Olgun, T.V. Petrova, S.Yu. Bodrov, P. Geniez & A. Teynié (2018): ON TAXONOMIC STATUS OF SHIELD-HEAD VIPERS FROM TURKISH LESSER CAUCASUS AND EAST ANATOLIA.- Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 322(1): 3–44

Abstract:
A high morphological specialization is noted for vipers from the isolated populations of the Otlubekli Daglari Ridge, Zekeriya Village, Ardahan pass, Mt. Ilgar-Dag (Turkey), Javakheti Plateau (Armenia, Georgia). New forms of shield-head vipers are described from the Turkish Lesser Caucasus and east Turkey: Pelias sakoi sp. nov. (Otlubekli Daglari Ridge), Pelias darevskii uzumorum ssp. nov. (Southern limestone part of the Yalnizçam Daglari Ridge), Pelias darevskii kumlutasi ssp. nov. (Northern volcanic part of the Yalnizçam Daglari Ridge). Keys to identification of species and subspecies of the Pelias darevskii-olguni complex are given, and ecological differences of its representatives are discussed. The cluster and discriminant analyses on morphological features allow us to consider these vipers as separate taxa, whereas the molecular analysis on cytb does not give significant differences for most populations. This result should not be perceived unambiguously in favor of conspecificity of the considered populations. In addition to the morphological differences of the vipers, we consider such ecological differences as biotope preference, age and size of the puberty, the history of landscapes and habitats, mezoclimatic habitat characteristics, etc. Given the southern location of the Otlubekli Da?lari Ridge and no signs of glaciation there, the vipers from the vicinity of Erzincan should be regarded as an ancient relic isolated form. The climate of this area has contributed to the conservation of ancient Eastern Mediterranean relics both among plants and animals.

Mediodactylus kotschyi: Most of Balkan peninsula without SE parts, western and central Aegaean islands
Medioactylus danilewskii: SE Balkan, western and northern Turkey, Caucasus, etc.
Mediodactylus orientalis: SE Aegaean islands, central and eastern southern Turkey, Levante
Mediodactylus bartoni: Crete and surrounding islets
Mediodactylus oertzeni: southern Dodecanes

See:
Kotsakiozi, P., Jablonski, D., Ilgaz, C., Kumlutas, Y., Avci, A., Meiri, S., Itescu, Y., Kukushkin, O., Gvoždík, V., Scillitani, G., Roussos, S., Jandzik, D., Kasapidis, P. , Lymberakis, P., Poulakakis, N.- Multilocus phylogeny and coalescent species delimitation in Kotschy's gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi: hidden diversity and cryptic species, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2018), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.022

Abstract:
The Kotschy's Gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi, is a small gecko native to southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. It displays great morphological variation with a large number of morphologically recognized subspecies. However, it has been suggested that it constitutes a species complex of several yet unrecognized species. In this study, we used multilocus sequence data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of 129 populations covering a substantial part of the distribution range of the species. Our results revealed high genetic diversity of M. kotschyi populations and contributed to our knowledge about the phylogenetic relationships and the estimation of the divergence times between them. Diversification within M. kotschyi began approximately 15 million years ago (Mya) in the Middle Miocene, and separate radiations within most of the major clades have been diversifying since more than 3 Mya. Species delimitation analysis suggests there exists five species within the complex, and we propose to recognize the following taxa as full species: M. kotschyi (mainland Balkans, most of Aegean islands, Italy), M. orientalis (Levant, Cyprus, southern Anatolia, south-eastern Aegean islands), M. danilewskii (Black Sea region and south-western Anatolia), M. bartoni (Crete), and M. oertzeni (southern Dodecanese Islands). This newly recognized species diversity underlines the complex biogeographical history of the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Agamura cruralis, BLANFORD, 1874

See:

Hosseinian Yousefkhani, S.S., M. Aliabadian, E. Rastegar-Pouyani & J. Darvish (2017): Geographic variation in morphology of the genus Agamura Blanford, 1874 in Iran.- Amphibia-Reptilia 38(4): 449 - 459

Abstract:
The genus Agamura was previously known from four species occurring on the Iranian Plateau, but was recently revised as a monotypic genus that excluded three species. In the present study, we examined different populations of Agamura persica morphologically. We found that A. persica shows geographic variation with respect to two groups, with the eastern population considered as A. cruralis and A. persica proposed for the western population. Separation between the two populations of A. persica was verified based upon ANOVA results for many morphological characters, including Head Height (HH), Interorbital distance (IO), Forelimb length (FLL), Number of scales across widest part of abdomen (NSA), Loreal scales (LOS), and Number of scales that separate two adjacent tubercles (NTV). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) based on metric and meristic characters confirmed the revision of the genus Agamura. Multivariate analysis indicated that all studied OTUs were assigned to the correct classification and have significantly different morphological characters.

Tropiocolotes hormozganensis

See:
MAHDI RAJABIZADEH, HIVA FAIZI, STEVEN C. ANDERSON, MOHAMMAD ZARRINTAB, ROMAN NAZAROV (2018): Taxonomic status of Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri with a description of a new species of Tropiocolotes (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in southern Iran.- Zootaxa 4388(2). published on March, 2nd

Abstract:
We review the status of an Iranian gecko population previously referred to Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri and describe it as a new species, Tropiocolotes hormozganensis sp. nov. We discuss the taxonomic history of this population and compare its characters with those of the other species in the genus. The new species is distinguished from other species of Tropiocolotes by possessing weakly keeled dorsal scales and smooth ventral scales, having imbricate scales on dorsal and ventral tail, possessing clearly tricarinatesubdigital scales, 48–55 dorsal scales, two pairs of postmental shields, of which the second pair is about half of the size of the first, 100–107 scales longitudinally along underside of body, 15–19 scales across head and 16–19 subdigital lamellae.

On January, 7th (according to Zoobank.org)
the same new species has been "published".

Rounaghi, Iman, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani & Saeed Hosseinian (2018) A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from Hormozgan province, southern Iran (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae).- South Western Journal of Horticulture, Biology and Environment Vol.9(1): 15-23

Abstract:
We have described a new species of gekkonid lizard of the genus Tropiocolotes from southern Iran, on the coastal regions of Persian Gulf from Bandar-e Lengeh, Hormozgan province. Tropiocolotes hormozganensis sp. nov. belongs to the eastern clade of the genus Tropiocolotes (wolfganboehmei-nattereri complex) that is distributed in western Asia. It can be distinguished from the recent described species by having four pairs of postmentals and four nasal scales around the nostril. Postmental scales also differentiate it from T. wolfgangboehmei. The new identification key for the Iranian species of genus Tropiocolotes is provided.

But it seems, the 2nd paper mentioned here doesnt rule the ICZN code, and therefore the authorship has to be
RAJABIZADEH, FAIZI, ANDERSON, ZARRINTAB & NAZAROV

Specimens of northern Portugal, central and southwestern Spain are
Blanus vandellii now.

Blanus mariae is a synonym of Blanus cinereus.

See:
Luis M. P. Ceríaco & Aaron M. Bauer (2018): An integrative approach to the nomenclature and taxonomic status of the genus Blanus Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Blanidae) from the Iberian Peninsula.- Journal of Natural History, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1422283. 33 pp.

Abstract:
Presently two species of the genus Blanus are known from the Iberian Peninsula, Blanus cinereus Vandelli, 1797 and Blanus mariae Albert & Fernández, 2009 The latter was recently described based on molecular studies that pointed to the existence of two well-separated lineages on the peninsula. However the description of B. mariae contained several flaws that render the description invalid, namely the designation of an invalid lectotype, the application of the name B. cinereus to a lineage different from that for which it was originally described, and the apparent disregard for the available nomina Amphisbaena reticulata Thunberg, 1787, Amphisbaena rufa Hemprich 1820 and Amphisbaena oxyura Wagler, 1824 Here we use an integrative approach to link morphological, molecular and historical evidence to identify the original type locality of B. cinereus and the population to which the name applies, trace the fate of its type specimen, present a detailed review of the nomenclatural acts and decisions taken by other authors, revise the nomenclatural history of other potentially available nomina, and provide a new nomenclatural arrangement to the group. Blanus mariae is considered a junior synonym of B. cinereus and we describe Blanus vandellii sp. nov. as a new species. A neotype of B. cinereus is also designated and described.

Ophiomorus kardesi

See:

Kornilios, P., Y. Kumlutas, P. Lymberakis & C. Ilgaz (2018): Cryptic diversity and molecular systematics of the Aegean Ophiomorus skinks (Reptilia: Squamata), with the description of a new species.- J Zool Syst Evol Res. 2018; 1–18, DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12205

Abstract:
In recent years, great attention has been devoted to the discovery and description of cryptic species, especially using DNA markers and new statistical approaches. Genetic data are useful for discovering new lineages that can then be treated as hypotheses to be tested using morphology. Here, we use multilocus genetic data and a thorough sampling to delimit species within the Greek legless skink. Phylogenetic analyses reveal high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Ophiomorus punctatissimus includes at least two species, East and West of the Aegean Sea. Moreover, species delimitation methods support at least two and up to five species within the western O. punctatissimus, and this result is shared among single-locus (ABGD, PTP, and GMYC) and multilocus coalescent (BPP) methods. We examined whether the two allopatric lineages exhibit morphological differentiation, but the different preservation methods used for the examined material led to inconclusive results. However, morphological conservatism in this semi-fossorial limbless skink possibly also played a key role. Finally, we formally recognize the East Aegean taxon as a separate species and we provide a differential diagnosis based on DNA diagnostic characters.

Asaccus arnoldi SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, TARROSO, PAPENFUSS, AL-SARIRI & CARRANZA, 2017

see:
MARC SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, PEDRO TARROSO, THEODORE PAPENFUSS, THURAYA AL-SARIRI & SALVADOR CARRANZA (2017): Systematics, biogeography and evolution of Asaccus gallagheri (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) with the description of a new endemic species from Oman.- Systematics and Biodiversity, DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2017.1403496

Abstract:
The Hajar Mountains are the highest mountain range in eastern Arabia. Despite being classi?ed as a mountain desert, it is considered one of the top biodiversity hotspots of Arabia. As a result of its relatively old geological origin, complex topography, environmental heterogeneity and geographic isolation from other mountain ranges, its fauna and ?ora have diversi?ed signi?cantly producing high levels of endemicity, particularly amongst reptiles. Several genetic studies indicate that this diversity may still be underestimated, especially within some groups containing morphologically similar species like the nocturnal geckos of the genus Asaccus. These have radiated extensively on both sides of the Gulf of Oman, in the Hajar Mountains and the Zagros Mountains of south-west Asia, and are a good example of the faunal af?nities between these two mountain ranges. In the present work, we analyse A. gallagheri, the smallest species of the Arabian radiation, using an unprecedented sampling across its entire distribution range and an integrative approach combining morphological, macroecological and multilocus molecular data with the objective of clarifying its systematics and phylogeography. The results support the presence of two allopatric species within A. gallagheri that split approximately 6 Ma. The newly discovered species is endemic to the Eastern Hajars and is described herein mainly on the basis of its smaller size and high genetic divergence from A. gallagheri. The molecular analyses also uncovered remarkable levels of genetic diversity within both species. The present study highlights the diversity of the genus Asaccus in south-east Arabia and stresses its relevance from a conservation point of view.

Teratoscincus sistanense
has been described.

See:
Akbarpour, M., S. Shafiei, M. E. Sehhatisabet & E. Damadi (2017): A new species of frog-eyed gecko, genus Teratoscincus Strauch, 1863 (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from southeastern Iran.- Zool. Middle East 63(4): 296 – 302

Abstract:
Herein we describe a new species of Teratoscincus Strauch, 1863 from remote desert areas of the Sistan and Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran. Based on morphological characters, this species, Teratoscincus sistanense sp. n., has a close relationship with T. microlepis and is distinct from all other members of its genus by the number of small scales around the midbody. We provide information about the ecology, biology and conservation of this new species. A comparison with the other three Iranian species of Teratoscincus and an updated key to this genus in Iran are presented.

Teratoscincus mesriensis
has been described.

See:
Roman A. Nazarov, R.A., M. Radjabizadeh, N.A. Poyarkov, Jr., N.B. Ananjeva, D.A. Melnikov & E. Rastegar Pouyani (2017): A NEW SPECIES OF FROG-EYED GECKO, GENUS Teratoscincus STRAUCH, 1863 (SQUAMATA: SAURIA: SPHAERODACTYLIDAE), FROM CENTRAL IRAN -- Russ. J. Herpetol. 24(4): 291 – 310

Abstract:
In this study we present an analysis of morphological and molecular (COI mtDNA) variation within the genus Teratoscincus and describe a new species, Teratoscincus mesriensis sp. nov. from environs of Mesr, Isfahan Province in Central Iran. The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) position of enlarged dorsal scales, which not cover the occipital region on the dorsal surface of head; (2) comparatively high number of scales across midbody; (3) maximal body size reaching SVLmax 93.6 mm. We also provide a COI-based barcoding estimation of diversity of the genus Teratoscincus. Moreover, our new morphological and molecular data indicate that the population of T. scincus from Ferghana Valley (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), previously described as a subspecies T. scincus rustamowi, is differentiated from other populations of T. scincus complex on species level; we provide a revised diagnosis and propose a full species status for this geographically isolated form as Teratoscincus rustamowi stat. nov. Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Teratoscincus are discussed.

Hemidactylus kurdicus

See:
SAFAEI-MAHROO, B., H. GHAFFARI, A. GHAFOOR & S. AMINI (2017): A new species of Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) from Qara Dagh Mountains, Kurdistan Region, with a key to the genus in Iraq.- Zootaxa 4363 (3): 377–392

Abstract:
We describe a new species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from the oak woodlands of Zagros Forest Steppe of Qara Dagh Mountains, Sulaimani, northeastern Iraq, based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Hemidactylus kurdicus sp. nov. is distinguished from all other related Arid clade Hemidactylus species in the Middle East by having a single pair of postmental scales; it differs H. turcicus, H. robustus, H. ulii, H. sinaitus, H. shihraensis and H. yerburii based on the number of lamellae under the first and fourth toes of pes. Mitochondrial DNA including CytB and 12S identify a consistent divergence between H. kurdicus and H. persicus. An identification key to the genus Hemidactylus in Iraq is presented.

See:
FAIZI, H., N. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, E. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, R. NAZAROV, N. HEIDARI, B. ZANGI, V. ORLOVA & N. POYARKOV (2017): A new species of Eumeces Wiegmann 1834 (Sauria: Scincidae) from Iran.- Zootaxa 4320 (2): 289–304

Abstract:
We describe a new species of skink in the genus Eumeces Wiegmann 1834 from Iran. Eumeces persicus sp. nov. is a medium-sized skink, distinguished by two clear, wide, and brown lateral lines extending from the ear opening to the hindlimbs, with scattered light orange spots, and two median rows of dorsal scales broadly enlarged in eight longitudinal rows. The new species ranges from southern Tehran to Kerman Province along the eastern slopes of the Zagros Mountains towards the Iranian plateau. We provide morphological comparisons of the new species with other Eumeces species from the region and molecular analyses of two mitochondrial markers (16S and Cytb). We also present taxonomic and phylogenetic accounts, with an updated identification key for the genus Eumeces in Iran and surrounding regions.

A new name for the Egg-eating snake from Faiyum depression in Egypt:
Dasypeltis bazi

See:
SALEH, M. & M. SARHAN (2016): The egg-eating snake (Colubridae: Dasypeltis) of Faiyum, Egypt, with the description of a new species.- Bull. Soc. Herp. Fr. 160: 25-48

Abstract:
Nineteenth century reports of the occurrence of an isolated population of an egg-eating snake of the genus Dasypeltis in the oasis of Faiyum, Egypt is verified by our recent collection and field observations. This population represents the only occurrence of this genus in eastern Sahara and appears to be a relict of a much wider distribution of this genus during past wet climatic periods. The Faiyum egg-eating snake was originally assigned to the species Dasypeltis scabra (Linnaeus, 1758). However, morphological examination of new material showed that the Faiyum snake is distinct from D. scabra and all other known Dasypeltis species and is herein described as a new species and is given the name Dasypeltis bazi sp. nov. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the Egyptian Dasypeltis is genetically distinct from Dasypeltis scabra of South Africa as well as the clades that encompass the West African and the Sahel Dasypeltis species. Ecology and habitat of the new snake are discussed, as well as climatic, geologic and anthropogenic events possibly affecting the region and possibly leading to the isolation of a Dasypeltis population in Faiyum.

See:
Cattaneo, A. (2017): NOTE SULL’ERPETOFAUNA DELL’EVROS SUD-OCCIDENTALE (GRECIA NE) E NUOVO CONTRIBUTO ALLA CONOSCENZA DI MONTIVIPERA XANTHINA (GRAY, 1849) DELLA TRACIA GRECA CENTRO-ORIENTALE, CON DESCRIZIONE DI MONTIVIPERA XANTHINA OCCIDENTALIS SUBSP. NOVA (Reptilia Serpentes Viperidae).- Naturalista sicil., S. IV, XLI (1): 53-74

Abstract:
Notes on the herpetofauna of southwestern Evros (Greece NE) and new contribution to the knowledge of Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849) for the eastern central Greek Thrace, with description of Montivipera xanthina occidentalis subsp. nova (Reptilia Serpentes Viperidae). The European distribution of Montivipera xanthina includes the coastline of the eastern central Greek Thrace (southeastern Rhodopes and southern Evros). While in south-eastern Evros, the easternmost part of its distribution, Montivipera xanthina seems to be a well-defined evolutionary line, in the central area of this wide territory, in south-western Evros, this viper seems to be very rare or absent; this means that the westernmost populations (those of the Rhodopes) have undergone some kind of isolation or semi-isolation that might have induced the formation of a new subspecies: Montivipera xanthina occidentalis ssp. nov. The new taxon differs from other known subspecies for the tendency to a reduced size and correspondingly for a lower number of intercanthals and of dorsal scales rows, both in the midbody (mostly 21-22) and in the posterior part of the body (often 15-16). A list of herpetological species found in the study area (south-western Evros, Greece NE) is also reported.

See:
Pabijan, M., P. Zielinski, K. Dudek, M. Stuglik & W. Babik (2017): Isolation and gene flow in a speciation continuum in newts.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 116: 1–12.

Abstract:
Because reproductive isolation often evolves gradually, differentiating lineages may retain the potential for genetic exchange for prolonged periods, providing an opportunity to quantify and to understand the fundamental role of gene flow during speciation. Here we delimit evolutionary lineages, reconstruct the phylogeny and infer gene flow in newts of the Lissotriton vulgaris species complex based on 74 nuclear markers sampled from 127 localities. We demonstrate that distinct lineages along the speciation continuum in newts exchange nontrivial amounts of genes, affecting their evolutionary trajectories. By integrating a wide array of methods, we delimit nine evolutionary lineages and show that two principal factors have driven their genetic differentiation: time since the last common ancestor determining levels of shared ancestral polymorphism, and shifts in geographic distributions determining the extent of secondary contact. Post-divergence gene flow, indicative of evolutionary non-independence, has been most extensive in Central Europe, while four southern European lineages have acquired the population-genetic hallmarks of independent species (L. graecus, L. kosswigi, L. lantzi, L. schmidtleri). We obtained strong statistical support for widespread mtDNA introgression following secondary contact, previously suggested by discordance between mtDNA phylogeny and morphology. Our study reveals long-term evolutionary persistence of evolutionary lineages that may periodically exchange genes with one another: although some of these lineages may become extinct or fuse, others will acquire complete reproductive isolation and will carry signatures of this complex history in their genomes.

See:
Kindler, C., M. Chèvre, S. Ursenbacher, W. Böhme, A. Hille, D. Jablonski, M. Vamberger & U. Fritz (2017): Hybridization patterns in two contact zones of grass snakes reveal a new Central European snake species.- Scientific Reports 7: 7378, DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-07847-9; 12 pp.

Abstract:
Recent studies found major conflicts between traditional taxonomy and genetic differentiation of grass snakes and identified previously unknown secondary contact zones. Until now, little is known about gene flow across these contact zones. Using two mitochondrial markers and 13 microsatellite loci, we examined two contact zones. One, largely corresponding to the Rhine region, involves the western subspecies Natrix natrix helvetica and the eastern subspecies N. n. natrix, whereas in the other, more easterly, contact zone two lineages meet that are currently identified with N. n. natrix and N. n. persa. This second contact zone runs across Central Europe to the southern Balkans. Our analyses reveal that the western contact zone is narrow, with parapatrically distributed mitochondrial lineages and limited, largely unidirectional nuclear gene flow. In contrast, the eastern contact zone is very wide, with massive nuclear admixture and broadly overlapping mitochondrial lineages. In combination with additional lines of evidence (morphology, phylogeny, divergence times), we conclude that these differences reflect different stages in the speciation process and that Natrix helvetica should be regarded as a distinct species. We suggest a nomenclatural framework for presently recognized grass snake taxa and highlight the need for reconciling the conflicts between genetics and taxonomy.

See:
Simó-Riudalbas, M., M. Metallinou, Ph. de Pous, J. Els, S. Jayasinghe, E. Péntek-Zakar, T. Wilms, S. Al-Saadi & S. Carranza (2017): Cryptic diversity in Ptyodactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) fromthe northern Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates uncovered by an integrative taxonomic approach -- PLoS ONE 12 (8): e0180397; 25 pp.

Abstract:
The Hajar Mountains of south-eastern Arabia form an isolated massif surrounded by the sea to the east and by a large desert to the west. As a result of their old geological origin, geographical isolation, complex topography and local climate, these mountains provide an important refuge for endemic and relict species of plants and animals. With 19 species restricted to the Hajar Mountains, reptiles are the vertebrate group with the highest level of endemicity, becoming an excellent model for understanding the patterns and processes that generate and shape diversity in this arid mountain range. The geckos of the Ptyodactylus hasselquistii species complex are the largest geckos in Arabia and are found widely distributed across the Arabian Mountains, constituting a very important component of the reptile mountain fauna. Preliminary analyses suggested that their diversity in the Hajar Mountains may be higher than expected and that their systematics should be revised. In order to tackle these questions, we inferred a nearly complete calibrated phylogeny of the genus Ptyodactylus to identify the origin of the Hajar Mountains lineages using information from two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes. Genetic variability within the Hajar Mountains was further investigated using 68 specimens of Ptyodactylus from 46 localities distributed across the entire mountain range and sequenced for the same genes as above. The molecular phylogenies and morphological analyses as well as niche comparisons indicate the presence of two very old sister cryptic species living in allopatry: one restricted to the extreme northern Hajar Mountains and described as a new species herein; the other distributed across the rest of the Hajar Mountains that can be confidently assigned to the species P. orlovi. Similar to recent findings in the geckos of the genus Asaccus, the results of the present study uncover more hidden diversity in the northern Hajar Mountains and stress once again the importance of this unique mountain range as a hot spot of biodiversity and a priority focal point for reptile conservation in Arabia.

Torki, F. (2017): A new species of blind snake, Xerotyphlops, from Iran.- The Herpetological Bulletin 140: 1-5

Abstract:
A new species of blind snake is described from Lorestan Province, western Iran. This is a cryptic species close to the Xerotyphlops vermicularis complex. It is readily distinguished by hemipenal characters. When everted the right hemipenis is coiled and the left is curved, in X. vermicularis both hemipenes are straight.

See:
Bayram Göçmen, Konrad Mebert, Mert Kars, Mehmet Anil Oguz & Sylvain Ursenbacher (2017): A new population and subspecies of the critically endangered Anatolian meadow viper Vipera anatolica Eiselt and Baran, 1970 in eastern Antalya province.- Amphibia-Reptilia, DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00003111.

Abstract:
We report on a new population of Vipera anatolica from the Geyik Mountain Range in eastern Antalya Province, Turkey. It represents only the second known location, and is situated in a valley about 200 km east from the terra typica at Kohu Dag in western Antalya Province. We compare both populations and, based on marked differences in morphology, habitat, genetics, and its geographically isolated location, we describe the recently discovered population as a new subspecies. Aspects of ecology, threats, and conservation needs are discussed.

See:
Šmíd, J., J. Moravec, V. Gvoždík, J. Štundl, D. Frynta, P. Lymberakis, P. Kapli, T. Wilms, A. Schmitz, M. Shobrak, S. Hosseinian Yousefkhani, E. Rastegar-Pouyani, A.ora M. Castilla, J. Els & W. Mayer (2017): Cutting the Gordian Knot: Phylogenetic and ecological diversification of the Mesalina brevirostris species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae).- Zool. Scripta, DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12254

Abstract:
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.

See:
TOK, C.V., M. AFSAR, B.Y. YAKIN, D. AYAZ & K. ÇIÇEK (2017): A new subspecies, Ophisops elegans budakibarani n. subsp. (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Mut (Mersin/Turkey).- Biharean Biologist 11(1): 27-32.

Abstract:
This study describes a new subspecies of Ophisops elegans from vicinity of Mut, Mersin, Turkey and named Ophisops elegans budakibarani n. subsp. The new subspecies is distinguished from geographically the closest subspecies O. elegans basoglui, found in the south of its distribution, by having higher number of the longitudinal row of scales+plates at mid-trunk (SPM) and a characteristic venter coloration (whitish coloration instead of lemon yellow color in venter of both sexes during the breeding season) and from O. elegans centralanatoliae, found in the north of its distribution, by having lower number of SPM and a characteristic dorsum color-pattern (less distinct tile reddish-brown coloration in the temporal band, missing large blackish spots in the vertebral and paravertebral area).

See:
TAMAR, K., PH. GENIEZ, J.C. BRITO & P.-A. CROCHET (2017): Systematic revision of Acanthodactylus busacki (Squamata: Lacertidae) with a description of a new species from Morocco.- Zootaxa 4276 (3): 357–386

Abstract:
Recent molecular phylogenies of the Acanthodactylus pardalis species-group have revealed a deep genetic divergence within the nominal species A. busacki from north-west Africa. The species is phylogenetically separated into northern and southern lineages, which correspond to a previously observed morphological differentiation between the northern and southern populations of this species. Based on morphological comparisons of the type material and location of the type locality, the nomen Acanthodactylus busacki Salvador, 1982 is assigned here to the southern lineage, known from the northern Saharan Atlantic coastal desert. The northern lineage, described here as Acanthodactylus margaritae sp. nov., is prominently characterized by weakly keeled dorsal scales and a characteristic colour pattern. The new species is endemic to Morocco and confined to arid and semi-arid bioclimatic areas between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains, from around Tamri in the north to Tiznit in the south and the Souss valley in the east

Lytorhynchus levitoni TORKI, 2017.

See:
TORKI, F. (2017): Description of a new species of Lytorhynchus (Squamata: Colubridae) from Iran.- Zool. Middle East 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2017.1299319 (early view) 8 pp.

Pelodytes atlanticus: Portugal
Pelodytes hespericus: most of central and eastern Spain (without Catalunya and Pelodytes ibericus distribution.

See:
DÍAZ-RODRÍGUEZ, J., M. GEHARA, R. MÁRQUEZ, M. VENCES, H. GONÇALVES, F. SEQUEIRA, I. MARTÍNEZ-SOLANO & M. TEJEDO (2017): Integration of molecular, bioacoustical and morphological data reveals two new cryptic species of Pelodytes (Anura, Pelodytidae) from the Iberian Peninsula.- Zootaxa 4243 (1): 001–041

Abstract:
Parsley frogs (Pelodytes) comprise the only genus in the family Pelodytidae, an ancient anuran lineage that split from their closest relatives over 140 million years ago. Pelodytes is a Palearctic group restricted to Western Eurasia including three extant species: the eastern species P. caucasicus, endemic to the Caucasus area, and two closely related species inhabiting Western Europe: the Iberian endemic P. ibericus and the more widespread P. punctatus. Previous studies based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers have revealed the existence of two additional lineages of Parsley frogs in the Iberian Peninsula, which have been flagged as candidate species. Here, we integrate novel molecular, morphological and bioacoustical data to assess the differentiation of the four western Parsley frog lineages. Species trees and Bayesian population assignment analyses based on nuclear markers confirm previous studies and concordantly delineate four parapatric lineages with narrow hybrid zones. Mitochondrial divergence is low (< 2% pairwise distances in the 16S rRNA gene), in line with previously reported low mitochondrial substitution rates in non-neobatrachian frogs. Based on concordance between mitochondrial and nuclear markers, we conclude that four species of Parsley frogs occur in Western Europe: Pelodytes punctatus, distributed from northern Italy to northeastern Spain; Pelodytes ibericus, inhabiting southern Spain and southern Portugal; Pelodytes atlanticus sp. nov., from the Portuguese Atlantic coast; and Pelodytes hespericus sp. nov., occurring in central and eastern Spain. However, bioacoustical and morphological differentiation of these species is low, with no obvious and qualitative diagnostic characters allowing full species discrimination. Differences in the relative size of metacarpal tubercles exist but this character is variable. Pelodytes ibericus and Pelodytes atlanticus are smaller than the other two species, and P. ibericus has shorter limbs and various distinctive osteological characters. Bioacoustically, the pattern by which two different note types are combined in advertisement calls separates P. hespericus from the remaining species. Despite these differences, we emphasize that the taxonomic status of all four western Parsley frogs requires additional investigation, especially the patterns of genetic admixture across contact zones. While a status of separate species best conforms to the currently available data, alternative hypotheses are also discussed.

See:
OGUZ, M.A., B. GÖÇMEN & D. YALÇINKAYA (2016): COMPARISON OF Lyciasalamandra atifi (BASOGLU, 1967) (URODELA: SALAMANDRIDAE) POPULATIONS WITH DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SUBSPECIES FROM ANTALYA PROVINCE -- South Western Journal of Horticulture, Biology and Environment 7(2): 61-113

Abstract:
We compared the isolated populations of Lyciasalamandra atifi, (Basoglu, 1967) a salamander endemic to the historic Lycia region of Turkey, that is found across a range from Antalya/Selge (Altinkaya) to Antalya/Gazipasa. Along this distance, we determined eight isolated populations (Selge, Fersin, Dikmen, Güzelbag, Türbelinaz, Gündogmus, Cebireis, Gazipasa) in 2013 and used morphology and serology to compare them. The collected specimens were registered under the ZMADYU (Zoology Museum of Adiyaman University), and a total of 237 (59 males, 96 females, 82 juv.) specimens were studied. As a result of our research, three new subspecies are described: Lyciasalamandra atifi godmanni n. ssp. from Selge, Lyciasalamandra atifi veithi n. ssp. from Dikmen and Lyciasalamandra atifi kunti n. ssp. from Güzelbag. Except Cebireis (L. a. bayrami) and Gazipasa (L. a. oezi) populations, the other isolated populations were incorporated in the nominat subspecies due to morphological and serological similarities.

See:
Tamar, K., J. Smíd, B. Göcmen, S. Meiri & S. Carranza (2016): An integrative systematic revision and biogeography of Rhynchocalamus snakes (Reptilia, Colubridae) with a description of a new species from Israel -- PeerJ 4:e2769; DOI 10.7717/peerj.2769.

go down to:
2016-11-17
BUSACK, S.D., A. SALVADOR, A.M. BAUER & H. KAISER published a paper, Darevskia ARRIBAS, 1997 has to replaced by Caucasilacerta HARRIS, ARNOLD & THOMAS, 1998

See:
Olgun, Avci, Bozkurt, Üzüm, Olgun & Ilgaz (2016): A New Subspecies of Anatolia Newt, Neurergus strauchii (Steindachner, 1887) (Urodela: Salamandridae), from Tunceli, Eastern Turkey.- Russ. J. Herpetol. 23(4): 271 - 277

Abstract:
A new subspecies of the Anatolia Newt, Neurergus strauchii munzurensis n. ssp., is described from eastern Anatolia (Tunceli Province, Turkey). The new taxon differs from other related subspecies by its characteristic color pattern especially the number and diameter of spots on head, dorsum, tail and limbs. Its distribution is limited to the type locality (20 km north of Tunceli Province, Turkey).

See:
TOK, C.V., M. AFSAR & B.Y. YAKIN (2016): A new subspecies, Lyciasalamandra atifi oezi n. ssp. (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Gazipasa (Antalya, Turkey).- Ecol. Mont., 9: 38-45

See:
BUSACK, S.D., A. SALVADOR, A.M. BAUER & H. KAISER (2016): Darevskia and Iberolacerta (Reptilia, Lacertidae): Arribas, 1997 or 1999? The correct dating of two nomenclatural acts affecting Palearctic lizards, and validation of the name Caucasilacerta Harris, Arnold & Thomas, 1998.- Bionomina, 10: 61–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/bionomina.10.1.4

Abstract:
A doctoral thesis presented in the late 1990s by Óscar J. Arribas has been frequently cited as the authority for the nomenclatural status of two generic names in the lizard family Lacertidae, Darevskia and Iberolacerta. These names were again introduced, along with the addition of the subgeneric name Pyrenesaura, in 1999 via publication in an international, peer-reviewed journal. We discuss nomenclatural aspects of how these taxon names were presented, detail inconsistencies in the use of publication dates associated with these names, and resolve nomenclatural problems by demonstrating that the date of their first publication, in compliance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, was 1999. This renders the name Darevskia Arribas, 1999 a junior invalid synonym of Caucasilacerta Harris, Arnold & Thomas, 1998, which, contrary to previous assessment, is not a nomen nudum, and must replace Darevskia as the valid name for this genus.

Comment:
Until this view is accepted more widely, the genus name Darevskia will be retained here in this database!

from www.lacerta.de webseite (2016-11-18):
Caucasilacerta Harris, Arnold & Thomas, 1998 has been considered as a nomen nudum during the last 18 years (Arnold et al., 2007). Recently a paper by Busack et al. (2016) suggest that the publication of Arribas (2007) in microfiche is not valid, and that Caucasilacerta Harris, Arnold and Thomas, 1998 is valid, and has priority over Darevskia Arribas, 1999. In fact Busack et al. (2016) were unaware that a case was submitted to the ICZN to validate the Arribas (1997) publication in microfiche, which was perfectly valid when published (according the 1985 version of the Code), however not according the current version (ICZN, 2000 and actualizations) that only allow publication in paper and optical disks, with retroactive effect. If a case is accepted for consideration, Art 82.1 of the Code protects the widespread used nomen, until the Comission reach a verdict. A paper has been submitted which will reply to Busack et al. (2016), explaining in detail why Caucasilacerta is really a nomen nudum (Arribas, in press).

Oscar Arribas, Igor Doronin

also see:
Arribas, O. (2016): WHY Caucasilacerta HARRIS, ARNOLD ET THOMAS, 1998 IS A NOMEN NUDUM? - Russ. J. Herpetol. 23(4): 305 - 306

Abstract:
Caucasilacerta Harris, Arnold et Thomas, 1998 has been considered as a nomen nudum for the last 18 years. The main reason for this was the lack of a diagnosis or reference to it. Now, some authors argue that a paragraph in the same paper could be a valid diagnosis and thus Caucasilacerta might be an available valid name. In the present manuscript I demonstrate that Caucasilacerta is a nomen nudum by: a) the lack of diagnosis or reference to it accompanying (sic! mandatory in the ICZN) to the new name; b) the alleged diagnosis (fide Busack et al., 2016) is 102 lines away (two pages, including a figure and its legend) and there is not a reference to it accompanying the new name; and c) the subject of the alleged diagnosis are “the Rock-dwelling lacertids in the Caucasus” (sic.!), different from the group to which the new name supposedly refers to, the “L. saxicola group” (sic!). A relationship between both names that can only be ascertained by a specialist in the group and the concerned geographic area. As a result of that, Caucasilacerta is a nomen nudum, unavailable, and thus it is not even a Junior Synonym of Darevskia Arribas, 1997.

Podarcis tauricus
and
Podarcis ionicus.

See:
Psonis, N., A. Antoniou, O. Kukushkin, D. Jablonski, B. Petrov, J. Crnobrnja-Isailovic, K. Sotiropoulos, I. Gherghel, P. Lymberakis & N. Poulakakis (2016): Hidden diversity in the Podarcis tauricus (Sauria, Lacertidae) species subgroup in the light of multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 106 (2017): 6–17

Hemidactylus montanus and Hemidactylus pauciporosus are full species now (formerly ssp. of Hemidactylus yerburii)

See:
Smíd, J., M. Shobrak, T. Wilms, U. Joger & S. Carranza (2016): Endemic diversification in the mountains: genetic,morphological, and geographical differentiation of the Hemidactylus geckos in southwestern Arabia.- Org Divers Evol., DOI 10.1007/s13127-016-0293-3. 19 pp.

Abstract:
In this study, we provide genetic, morphological, and geographical comparisons for 11 species of the southwestern Arabian radiation of Hemidactylus geckos, nine of which are endemic to the region. By using a coalescence-based species-tree reconstruction in combination with divergence time estimations and speciation probability testing, we show that most of the speciation events occurred in the Pliocene, which is more recent than previously thought based on calibrations of concatenated data sets. The current dating indicates that the changing climate at the beginning of the Pliocene, from hot and dry to cold and wet, is likely responsible for increased speciation in Hemidactylus. Analyses of geographic and altitudinal overlap of the species and their morphological differentiation show that most species do not occur in sympatry. Those that overlap geographically are usually differentiated by their altitudinal preference, head shape, body size, or their combination. Our results indicate that the topographically complex mountains of southwestern Arabia support a significant radiation of Hemidactylus geckos by allowing multiple allopatric speciation events to occur in a relatively small area. Consequently, we describe two new species endemic to the Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia, H. alfarraji sp. n. and H. asirensis sp. n., and elevate two former subspecies of H. yerburii to a species level, H. montanus and H. pauciporosus.

See:
Carranza, S., M. Simó-Riudalbas, S. Jayasinghe, T. Wilms & J. Els (2016): Microendemicity in the northern Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates with the description of two new species of geckos of the genus Asaccus (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae).- PeerJ 4:e2371; DOI 10.7717/peerj.2371. 36 pp.

Abstract:
Background. The Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the highest mountain range in Eastern Arabia. As a result of their old geological origin, geographical isolation, complex topography and local climate, these mountains provide an important refuge for endemic and relict species of plants and animals with strong Indo-Iranian affinities. Among vertebrates, the rock climbing nocturnal geckos of the genus Asaccus represent the genus with the highest number of endemic species in the Hajar Mountains. Recent taxonomic studies on the Zagros populations of Asaccus have shown that this genus is much richer than it was previously thought and preliminary morphological and molecular data suggest that its diversity in Arabia may also be underestimated. Methods. A total of 83 specimens originally classified as Asaccus caudivolvulus (including specimens of the two new species described herein), six other Asaccus species from the Hajar and the Zagros Mountains and two representatives of the genus Haemodracon were sequenced for up to 2,311 base pairs including the mitochondrial 12S and cytb and the nuclear c-mos, MC1R and ACM4 genes. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood approaches and the former method was also used to calibrate the phylogenetic tree. Haplotype networks and phylogenetic trees were inferred from the phased nuclear genes only. Sixty-one alcohol-preserved adult specimens originally classified as Asaccus caudivolvulus from the northern Hajar Mountains were examined for 13 morphometric and the five meristic variables using multivariate methods and were also used to diagnose and describe the two new species. Results. The results of the molecular and morphological analyses indicate that the species originally classified as Asaccus caudivolvulus is, in fact, an assemblage of three different species that started diversifying during the Mid-Miocene. The molecular phylogenies consistently recovered the Hajar endemic A. montanus as sister taxon to all the other Asaccus species included in the analyses, rendering the Arabian species of Asaccus polyphyletic. Discussion. Using this integrative approach we have uncovered a very old diversification event that has resulted in a case of microendemicity, where three morphologically and ecologically similar medium-sized lizard species coexist in a very short and narrow mountain stretch. Asaccus caudivolvulus is restricted to a small coastal area of the UAE and at risk from heavy development, while the two new species described herein are widely distributed across the northern tip of the Hajar Mountains and seem to segregate in altitude when found in close proximity in the Musandam Peninsula (Oman). Similarly to other integrative analyses of Hajar reptiles, this study highlights the high level of diversity and endemicity of this arid mountain range, underscoring its status as one of the top hotspots of reptile diversity in Arabia.

See:
Godmann, O., M. Karis & B. Göçmen (2016): Geographic nestedness of Lyciasalamandra billae (Amphibia: Salamandridae) populations within L. antalyana and description of a new subspecies.- Zoology in the Middle East, 2016 (early view, publ. 1st July, 2016)

Abstract:
A new subspecies of the Bille’s Lycian Salamander Lyciasalamandra billae is described from four localities in the vicinity of Geyikbayiri nearby Antalya, Turkey. It is distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies by colouration and surface pattern. The distribution area of the new subspecies is nested within the range of Lyciasalamandra antalyana, with L. a. gocmeni bordering in the north and the range of L. a. antalyana bordering in the south. New localities of both L. antalyana subspecies are reported.

See:
ESKANDAR RASTEGAR-POUYANI, SAEED HOSSEINIAN, SOOLMAZ RAFIEE, HAJI GHOLI KAMI, MEHDI RAJABIZADEH, MICHAEL WINK (2016): A new species of the genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Central Iran, supported by mtDNA sequences and morphology.- Zootaxa Vol 4132, No 2

Abstract:
A new species of the lacertid genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 is described from northwest of Isfahan province, Central Iran. Two mitochondrial genes (cyt b and 12S DNA) were sequenced and analyzed as reliable molecular markers for the separation of this newly discovered species from closely related species within the genus Eremias: E. velox, E. persica, E. papenfussi, E. lalezharica, E. montana, E. strauchi, E. kopetdaghica and E. suphani. Genetic distances (K2-p) between any of these species with the newly described species are relatively high (27.5–32.8% for cyt b and 5.2–10.4% for 12S DNA). Phylogenetic analyses (MP, ML and BI) generated trees with very similar topologies. According to molecular and morphological data, Eremias isfahanica sp. nov. belongs to the subgenus Aspidorhinus, and is closely related to E. papenfussi. Because several new Eremias species have recently been described from the Iranian Plateau, we additionally provide an updated identification key.

Vipera walser

See:
GHIELMI, S., M. MENEGON, S.J. MARSDEN, L. LADDAGA & S. URSENBACHER (2016): A new vertebrate for Europe: the discovery of a range-restricted relict viper in the western Italian Alps.- J Zool Syst Evol Res 54(3): 161 - 173

Abstract:
We describe Vipera walser, a new viper species from the north-western Italian Alps. Despite an overall morphological resemblance with Vipera berus, the new species is remarkably distinct genetically from both V. berus and other vipers occurring in western Europe and shows closer affinities to species occurring only in the Caucasus. Morphologically, the new species appear to be more similar to V. berus than to its closest relatives occurring in the Caucasus, but can be readily distinguished in most cases by a combination of meristic features as confirmed by discriminant analysis. The extant population shows a very low genetic variability measured with mitochondrial markers, suggesting that the taxon has suffered a serious population reduction/bottleneck in the past. The species is extremely range-restricted (less than 500 km2) and occurs only in two disjunct sites within the high rainfall valleys of the Alps north of Biella. This new species should be classified as globally ‘endangered’ due to its small and fragmented range, and an inferred population decline. The main near-future threats to the species are habitat changes associated with reduced grazing, along with persecution and collecting.

Amietophrynus arabicus
Amietophrynus dodsoni
Amietophrynus kassasii
Amietophrynus mauritanicus
Amietophrynus regularis
Amietophrynus tihamicus
Amietophrynus xeros

are now in the female genus Sclerophrys TSCHUDI, 1838

Sclerophrys arabica
Sclerophrys dodsoni
Sclerophrys kassasii
Sclerophrys mauritanica
Sclerophrys regularis
Sclerophrys tihamica
Sclerophrys xeros

Pelophylax saharicus (BOULENGER, 1913): Algeria (maybe westwards to Moulouya river in Morocco)
Pelophylax riodeoroi (SALVADOR & PERIS, 1975): Morocco (east border?), Western Sahara
Pelophylax zavattari (SCORTECCI, 1936): central and east Tunisia, Libya, NW Egypt

See:
Martínez-Solano, I., D. Buckley & G. Velo-Antón (2015): FILOGEOGRAFÍA COMPARADA DE LOS GÉNEROS PELOPHYLAX Y DISCOGLOSSUS EN EL NORTE DE ÁFRICA.- INSTITUTO DE ESTUDIOS CEUTÍES. CEUTA 2015. 80 pp.

The following species within the xanthina- and raddei-Rassenkreise are full species:

Montivipera xanthina
Montivipera wagneri
Montivipera bornmuelleri
Montivipera bulgardaghica (with ssp. Montivipera b. bulgardaghica & M. b. albizona)

Montivipera raddei (kurdistanica and albicornuta are synonyms of M. raddei)
Montivipera latifii
Montivipera kuhrangica

See:
Stümpel, N., M. Rajabizadeh, A. Avci, W. Wüster & U. Joger (2016): Phylogeny and diversification of mountain vipers (Montivipera, Nilson et al., 2001) triggered by multiple Plio–Pleistocene refugia and high-mountain topography in the Near and Middle East.- Mol. Phyl. Evol. 101: 336–351

Trachylepis vittata
Trachylepis aurata
Trachylepis septemtaeniata

are now in the masculin genus Heremites GRAY, 1845

Heremites vittatus
Heremites auratus
Heremites septemtaeniatus

See:
Benjamin R. Karin, Margarita Metallinou, Jeffrey L. Weinell, Todd R. Jackman, Aaron M. Bauer (2016): Resolving the higher-order phylogenetic relationships of the circumtropical Mabuya group (Squamata: Scincidae): an out-of-Asia diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2016), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.033

See:
SAFAEI-MAHROO, B., H. GHAFFARI & S.C. ANDERSON (2016): A new genus and species of gekkonid lizard (Squamata: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) from Hormozgan Province with a revised key to gekkonid genera of Iran -- Zootaxa 4109(4): 428 - 444

See:
B. WIELSTRA & J.W. ARNTZEN (2016): Description of a new species of crested newt, previously subsumed in Triturus ivanbureschi (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae).- Zootaxa 4109 (1): 073–080

has been described from southern Iran: Microgecko chabaharensis GHOLAMIFARD, N. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, E. RASTEGAR-POUYANI, A. KHOSRAVANI, S.S. HOSSEINIAN YOUSEFKHAN & ORAEI, 2016

See:
ALI GHOLAMIFARD, NASRULLAH RASTEGAR-POUYANI, ESKANDAR RASTEGAR-POUYANI, AZAR KHOSRAVANI, SEYYED SAEED HOSSEINIAN YOUSEFKHANI, HAMZEH ORAEI (2016): A new species of the genus Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from southern Iran. -- Zootaxa Vol 4093, No 1; 21 Mar. 2016

destributed in SW Libya (Ghat oasis, Fezzan province), and adjacent Chad.

See:
BROADLEY, D.G., E. WADE & V. WALLACH (2014): A NEW SPECIES OF MYRIOPHOLIS FROM GHAT OASIS, SOUTH-WESTERN LIBYA (SQUAMATA: LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE).- Arnoldia, Zimbabwe 10(30): 351 - 359

See:
Pokrant, F., C. Kindler, M. Ivanov, M. Cheylan, Ph. Geniez, W. Böhme & U. Fritz (2016): Integrative taxonomy provides evidence for the species status of the Ibero-Maghrebian grass snake Natrix astreptophora.- Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, DOI: 10.1111/bij.12782

Darevskia praticola pontica has been synonymized with D. p. praticola.
Darevskia p. hungarica SOBOLEWSKIJ, 1930 has been re-established for the Balkan Peninsula populations.

See:
FREITAS, S., A. VAVAKOU, M. ARAKELYAN, S.V. DROVETSKI, J. CRNOBRNJA-ISAILOVIC, A.A. KIDOV, D. COGALNICEANU, C. CORTI, P. LYMBERAKIS, D.J. HARRIS & M.A. CARRETERO (2016): Cryptic diversity and unexpected evolutionary patterns in the meadow lizard, Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834). -- Systematics and Biodiversity (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2015.1111267

This would affect the following bufonid species, listed here in the database:

Amietophrynus arabicus
Amietophrynus dodsoni
Amietophrynus kassasii
Amietophrynus mauritanicus
Amietophrynus regularis
Amietophrynus tihamicus
Amietophrynus xeros

See:
Annemarie Ohler and Alain Dubois (2016): The identity of the South African toad Sclerophrys capensis TSCHUDI 1838 (Amphibia, Anura).- PeerJ 4:e1553; DOI 10.7717/peerj.1553

For now, until acceptance, these species will be listed with the genus name Amietophrynus.

See:
Melnikov, D., E. Melnikova, R. Nazarov, A. Al-Johany & N.B. Ananjeva (2015): A NEW SPECIES OF Phrynocephalus (AGAMIDAE, SAURIA) FROM AL SHARQIYAH SANDS, NORTHEASTERN OMAN, DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF SAKO TUNIYEV (1983 – 2015).- Russ. J. Herpetology 22(4): 301 - 309

Eirenis persicus: SW Iran
Eirenis occidentalis.: SE Turkey, N Iraq, W Iran
Eirenis nigrofasciatus: NE, W and S Iran
Eirenis walteri: E Iran, SW Turkmenistan, W and S Pakistan
Eirenis angusticeps: NE Pakistan
and
Eirenis mcmahoni: NW Pakistan

See:
Rajabizadeh, M., Z.T. Nagy, D. Adriaens, A. Avci, R. Masroor, J. Schmidtler, R. Nazarov, H. Reza Esmaeili & J. Christiaens (2015): Alpine–Himalayan orogeny drove correlated morphological, molecular, and ecological diversification in the Persian dwarf snake (Squamata: Serpentes: Eirenis persicus).- Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (early view)

The former Rhynchocalamus barani is now Muhtarophis barani
The ssp. R. melanocephalus satunini is a full species now: Rhynchocalamus satunini

See:
AVCI, A., C. ILGAZ, M. RAJABIZADEH, C. YILMAZ, N. ÜZÜM, D. ADRIAENS, Y. KUMLUTAS & K. OLGUN (2015): Molecular Phylogeny and Micro CT-scanning revealed extreme cryptic biodiversity in Kukri snake, Muhtarophis gen. nov., a new genus for Rhynchocalamus barani (Serpentes: Colubridae).- Russ. J. Herp. 22(3): 159 - 174

See:
DE POUS, Ph., L. MACHADO, M. METALLINOU, J.
CERVENKA, L. KRATOCHVIL, N. PASCHOU, T. MAZUCH, J. SMID, M. SIMO-RIUDALBAS, D. SANUY & S. CARRANZA (2015): Taxonomy and biogeography of Bunopus spatalurus (Reptilia; Gekkonidae) from the Arabian Peninsula.- J Zoolog Syst Evol Res doi: 10.1111/jzs.12107. 15 pp.

Bufo tihamicus => Amietophrynus tihamicus
Duttaphrynus dodsoni => Amietophrynus dodsoni
Duttaphrynus arabicus => Amietophrynus arabicus

See:
PORTIK, D.M. & T.J. PAPENFUSS (2015): Historical biogeography resolves the origins of endemic Arabian toad lineages (Anura: Bufonidae): Evidence for ancient vicariance and dispersal events with the Horn of Africa and South Asia -- BMC Evolutionary Biology (2015) 15:152

See:
Yildiz, M.Z. & B. Akman (2015): A new subspecies of Atif's Lycian Salamander, Lyciasalamandra atifi (BASOGLU, 1967) from Alanya (Antalya, Turkey).- Herpetozoa 28(1/2): 3 - 13

See:
MEZZASALMA, M., A. DALL’ASTA, A. LOY, M. CHEYLAN, P. LYMBERAKIS, M.A.L. ZUFFI, L. TOMOVIC, G. ODIERNA & F.M. GUARINO (2015): A sisters’ story: comparative phylogeography and taxonomy of Hierophis viridiflavus and H. gemonensis (Serpentes, Colubridae).- Zool. Scripta; doi:10.1111/zsc.12115; 14 pp.

See:
Böhme, W., K. Ehrlich, K. Milto, N. Orlov & S. Scholz (2015): A NEW SPECIES OF DESERT MONITOR LIZARD (VARANIDAE: Varanus: Psammosaurus) FROM THE WESTERN ZAGROS REGION (IRAQ, IRAN) -- Russ. J. Herpetol. 22(1): 41 – 52

see:
Rastegar-Pouyani, E., H. Oraie, A. Khosravani, M. Kaboli, A. Mobaraki, M. Yousefi, R. Behrooz, Z. Fakharmanesh & M. Wink (2014): A re-evaluation of taxonomic status of Montivipera (Squamata: Viperidae) from Iran using a DNA barcoding approach.- Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 57: 350 - 356

Comment: in the database, the former species still will be kept under their names (M. latifii, M. raddei kurdistanica, M. r. "albicornuta", M. kuhrangica) at the time

See:
Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani, Seyyed Saeed Hosseinian Yousefkhani & Michael Wink (2015): Taxonomic reevaluation of Eremias strauchi strauchi Kessler, 1878 and Eremias strauchi kopetdaghica Szczerbak, 1972, based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences (Reptilia: Lacertidae).- Zool. Middle East 61(2): 118–124

See:
CATTANEO, A. (2014): VARIABILITÀ E SOTTOSPECIE DI MONTIVIPERA XANTHINA (GRAY, 1849) NELLE ISOLE EGEE ORIENTALI (Reptilia Serpentes Viperidae) -- Naturalista sicil., S. IV, XXXVIII(1): 51-83

See:
Margarita Metallinou, M., J. Cervenka, P.-A. Crochet, L. Kratochvíl, T. Wilms, Ph. Geniez, M.Y. Shobrak, J.C. Brito & S. Carranza (2015): Species on the rocks: Systematics and biogeography of the rock-dwelling Ptyodactylus geckos (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in North Africa and Arabia.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 85: 208 - 220

See:
Wielstra, B., E. Bozkurt & K. Olgun (2015): The distribution and taxonomy of Lissotriton newts in Turkey (Amphibia, Salamandridae).- ZooKeys 484: 11–23

See:
SMID, J., J. MORAVEC, L. KRATOCHVIL, A.K. NASHER, T. MAZUCH, V. GVOZDIK & S. CARRANZA (2015): Multilocus phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the Hemidactylus robustus species group (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) with descriptions of three new species from Yemen and Ethiopia.- Systematics and Biodiversity (2015), 1 -
23

See:
KAMRAN KAMALI & STEVEN C. ANDERSON (2015): A New Iranian Phrynocephalus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from the hottest place on earth and a key to the genus Phrynocephalus in southwestern Asia and Arabia.- Zootaxa 3904 (2): 249–260

See:
Schätti, B., F. Tillack & C. Kucharzewski (2014): Platyceps rhodorachis (Jan, 1863) – a study of the racer genus Platyceps Blyth, 1860 east of the Tigris (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae).- Vertebrate Zoology 64(3): 297 - 405

See:
Elham Abtin, Göran Nilson, Asghar Mobaraki, Ashraf Ali Hosseini, Mousa Dehgannejhad (2014): A New Species of Krait, Bungarus (Reptilia, Elapidae, Bungarinae) and the First Record of that Genus in Iran.- Russ. J. Herpetol. 21(4): 243 - 250

Species now within Anatololacerta:
Anatololaceta anatolica
Anatololacerta budaki
Anatololacerta danfordi
Anatololacerta pelasgiana

See:
Bellati, A., S. Carranza, J. Garcia-Porta, M. Fasola & R. Sindaco (2015): Cryptic diversity within the Anatololacerta species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the Anatolian Peninsula: Evidence from a multi-locus approach.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 82: 219–233

See:
Akman, B. & O. Godmann (2014): A new subspecies of Lyciasalamandra antalyana (Amphibia: Salamandridae) from the Lycian Coast, Turkey.- SALAMANDRA 50(3): 125–132.

See:
VASCONCELOS & CARRANZA (2014): Systematics and biogeography of Hemidactylus homoeolepis Blanford, 1881 (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with the description of a new species from Arabia.- Zootaxa 3835 (4): 501–527

------------------------------------------------------------------
Pristurus rupestris has been split in two species:
Pristurus rupestris is destributed now only in UAE and NE Oman
The new species, Pristurus sp. 1 now (not clear, which of the available names, Pristurus r. guweirensis HAAS, 1943 or Pristurus migiurtinicus SCORTECCI, 1933 have to be used, due to the lack of P. migiurtinicus).

See:
BADIANE, A., J. GARCIA-PORTA, J. CERVENKA, L. KRATOCHVÍL, R. SINDACO, M.D. ROBINSON, H. MORALES, T. MAZUCH, T. PRICE, F. AMAT, M.Y. SHOBRAK, T. WILMS, M. SIMÓ-RIUDALBAS, F. AHMADZADEH, T.J. PAPENFUSS, A. CLUCHIER, J. VIGLIONE & S. CARRANZA (2014): Phylogenetic relationships of Semaphore geckos (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae: Pristurus) with an assessment of the taxonomy of Pristurus rupestris.- Zootaxa 3835 (1): 033–058

See:
Melnikov, D., E. Melnikova, R. Nazarov, M. Rajabizadeh, A. Al-Johany, Z.S. Amr & N.B. Ananjeva (2014): TAXONOMIC REVISION OF Phrynocephalus arabicus ANDERSON, 1984 COMPLEX WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM AHVAZ, SOUTH-WESTERN IRAN.- Russian Journal of Herpetology 21(2): 149 – 159

See:
ARRIBAS, O.J., P. GALÁN, N. REMÓN & H. NAVEIRA (2014): A new mountain lizard from Montes de León (NW Iberian Peninsula): Iberolacerta monticola astur ssp. nov. (Squamata: Lacertidae).- Zootaxa 3796 (2): 201–236

See:
PETZOLD, A., M. VARGAS-RAMÍREZ, C. KEHLMAIER, M. VAMBERGER, W.R. BRANCH, L. DU PREEZ, M.D. HOFMEYR, L. MEYER, A. SCHLEICHER, P. ŠIROKÝ & U. FRITZ (2014): A revision of African helmeted terrapins (Testudines: Pelomedusidae: Pelomedusa), with descriptions of six new species.- Zootaxa 3795 (5): 523–548

-----------------------------------------------

Blanus strauchi has been split into three species:
Blanus s. strauchi (BEDRIAGA, 1884) and Blanus s. bedriagae BOULENGER, 1884: SW Turkey
Blanus aporus WERNER, 1898: central Anatolian south coast
Blanus alexandri sp. nov.: SE Anatolia

See:
SINDACO, R., P. KORNILIOS, R. SACCHI & P. LYMBERAKIS (2014): Taxonomic reassessment of Blanus strauchi (Bedriaga, 1884) (Squamata: Amphisbaenia: Blanidae), with the description of a new species from south-east Anatolia (Turkey).- Zootaxa 3795 (3): 311–326

Podarcis guadarramae (Boscá, 1916) for Podarcis hispanicus Type I
P. guadarramae lusitanicus ssp. nov. for Podarcis hispanicus Type IA
Podarcis virescens sp. nov. for Podarcis hispanicus Type II

See:
PHILIPPE GENIEZ, PAULO SÁ-SOUSA, CLAUDE P. GUILLAUME, ALEXANDRE CLUCHIER & PIERRE-ANDRÉ CROCHET
Systematics of the Podarcis hispanicus complex (Sauria, Lacertidae) III: valid nomina of the western and central Iberian forms.
Zootaxa 3794 (1): 001–051

See:
Dehling, J.M. & U. Sinsch (2013): Diversity of Ridged Frogs (Anura: Ptychadenidae: Ptychadena spp.) in wetlands of the upper Nile in Rwanda: Morphological, bioacoustic, and molecular evidence -- Zoologischer Anzeiger 253: 143–157

See:
Ahmadzadeh, F., M. Flecks, M.A. Carretero, O. Mozaffari, W. Böhme, D.J. Harris, S. Freitas & D. Rödder (2013): Cryptic Speciation Patterns in Iranian Rock Lizards Uncovered by Integrative Taxonomy -- PLoS ONE 8(12): e80563. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080563
---------------------------------------------------
And a new subspecies of Phoenicolacerta kulzeri, The Wadi Ramm lizard, Phoenicolacerta kulzeri khazaliensis has been described.

See:
Modrý, D., P. Necas, L. Rifai, W. Bischoff, N. Hamidan & Z. Amr (2013): Revision of the Levantine “Lacerta” laevis / kulzeri-Complex: 3. The Rock Lizard of Wadi Ramm, Phoenicolacerta kulzeri khazaliensis ssp. n.- Vertebrate Zoology 63(3): 307 - 312

See:
Melnikov, D., E. Melnikova, R. Nazarov & M. Rajabizadeh (2013): TAXONOMIC REVISION OF PHRYNOCEPHALUS PERSICUS DE FILIPPI, 1863 COMPLEX WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM ZAGROS, SOUTHERN IRAN.- Curr. Studies in Herpetol. 13(1/2): 34 - 46

See:
METALLINOU, M. & S. CARRANZA (2013): New species of Stenodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Sharqiyah Sands in northeastern Oman.- Zootaxa 3745 (4): 449–468

See:
Smíd, J., J. Moravec, L. Kratochvíl, V. Gvozdik, A.K. Nasher, S.M. Busais, T. Wilms, M.Y. Shobrak & S. Carranza (2013): Two newly recognized species of Hemidactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Arabian Peninsula and Sinai, Egypt. -- ZooKeys 355: 79–107

Acanthodactylus khamirensis HEIDARI, RASTEGAR POUYANI, RASTEGAR-POUYANI & RAJABIZADEH, 2013

See:
HEIDARI, N., N. RASTEGAR POUYANI, E. RASTEGAR-POUYANI & M. RAJABIZADEH (2013): A new species of Acanthodactylus Fitzinger 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from southern Iran.- Zootaxa 3722 (3): 333–346

Tarentola neglecta lanzai BSHAENA & JOGER, 2013

See:
Bshaena, I. & U. Joger (2013): A new gecko from Libya: Tarentola neglecta lanzai n. ssp. .- Amphibia-Reptilia 34: 353-362

See:
KRAUSE, V., F. AHMADZADEH, M. MOAZENI, PH. WAGNER & T.M. WILMS (2013): A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from western Iran (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae). - Zootaxa 3716 (1): 022 – 038

See:
Tuniyev, S.B., I.V. Doronin, B.S. Tuniyev, A.L. Aghasyan, A.A. Kidov & L.A. Aghasyan (2013): NEW SUBSPECIES OF MEADOW LIZARD, Darevskia praticola loriensis ssp. nov. (REPTILIA: SAURIA) FROM ARMENIA.- Russian Journal of Herpetology 20(3): 223 – 237.

See.
Gvozdík, V., N. Benkovsky, A. Crottini, A. Bellati, J. Moravec, A. Romano, R. Sacchi & D. Jandzik (2013): An ancient lineage of slow worms, genus Anguis (Squamata: Anguidae), survived in the Italian Peninsula.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (in press).

See:
Tuniyev, S.B., N.L. Orlov, B.S. Tuniyev & A.A. Kidov (2013): ON THE TAXONOMICAL STATUS OF STEPPE VIPER FROM FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTH MACROSLOPE OF THE EAST CAUCASUS.- Russ. J. Herp. 20(2): 129 - 146.

See:
NAZAROV, R., D. MELNIKOV & E. MELNIKOVA (2013): THREE NEW SPECIES OF Ptyodactylus (REPTILIA; SQUAMATA; PHYLLODACTYLIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.- Russ. J. Herp. 20(2): 147 - 162

See:
WIELSTRA, B., S.N. LITVINCHUK, B. NAUMOV, N. TZANKOV & J.W. ARNTZEN (2013): A revised taxonomy of crested newts in the Triturus karelinii group (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae), with the description of a new species.- Zootaxa 3682 (3): 441–453

See:
Gvozdík, V., N. Benkovsky, A. Crottini, A. Bellati, J. Moravec, A. Romano, R. Sacchi & D. Jandzik (2013): An ancient lineage of slow worms, genus Anguis (Squamata: Anguidae), survived in the Italian Peninsula.- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (in press).

See:
Biton, R., E. Geffen, M. Vences, O. Cohen, S. Bailon, R. Rabinovich, Y. Malka, T. Oron, R. Boistel, V. Brumfeld & S. Gafny (2013): The rediscovered Hula painted frog is a living fossil.- NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 4:1959

See:
Melnikov, D.A., N.B. Ananjeva & T.J. Papenfuss (2013): A NEW SPECIES OF Pseudotrapelus (AGAMIDAE, SAURIA) FROM NIZWA, OMAN.- Russian Journal of Herpetology 20(1): 79 – 84

Melnikov, D. & T. Pierson (2012): A NEW SPECIES OF PSEUDOTRAPELUS (AGAMIDAE, SAURIA) FROM DHOFAR, OMAN.- Current Studies in Herpetology 12(3/4): 143 - 151

BEUKEMA, W., PH. DE POUS, D. DONAIRE-BARROSO, S. BOGAERTS, J. GARCIA-PORTA, D. ESCORIZA, O.J. ARRIBAS, EL H. EL MOUDEN & S. CARRANZA (2013): Review of the systematics, distribution, biogeography and natural history of Moroccan amphibians.- Zootaxa 3661 (1): 001–060

Taxonomic changes:

Bufo dhufarensis => Duttaphrynus dhufarensis
Bufo dodsoni => Duttaphrynus dodsoni
Bufo olivaceus => Duttaphrynus olivaceus
Bufo scorteccii => Duttaphrynus scorteccii
Bufo stomaticus => Duttaphrynus stomaticus