Three new cliff racer species from the Sultanate of Oman (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubrinae) and zoogeographic traits of its herpetofauna
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the distribution and geographic variation of East Arabian taxa of the Platyceps rhodorachis complex. Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov. from the Eastern Oman Mountains and their periphery deviates in morphological characters from P. r. rhodorachis (Jan, 1863) distributed beyond the Gulf (Iran) and P. gallagheri sp. nov. of the Ras Musandam area. Cliff racers from Masirah Island and central Al-Wusta (P. masirae sp. nov.) considerably differ vis-à-vis polymorphic P. hajarensis and Dhofar populations with as yet unresolved taxonomic status. Morphologically, the latter are most similar to East Yemen cliff racers. The distribution of the new Omani taxa is compared to geographic patterns observed among the regional terrestrial herpetofauna. Ranges of certain southern Arabian reptiles and the systematics of P. variabilis (Boulenger, 1905) are briefly reviewed.
Source: Revue suisse de zoologie
DOI: 10.35929/rsz.0132
Authors: Beat Schätti, Frank Tillack, Andrea Stutz, Christoph Kucharzewski
Institution: Museum für Naturkunde
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405414270