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Telescopus urii, Telescopus salvadori, Telescopus smidi, Telescopus forskali Ribeiro-Júnior, Koch, Flecks, Campbell, Calvo, Spawls, Vidal & Meiri, 2025 |
Abstract
The Saharo-Sindic desert, the world largest arid region, is often treated as having low alpha and beta diversity of reptiles. However, the region is, in general, poorly studied and its biodiversity is likely to be grossly underestimated. Among the species in this region, the Telescopus dhara–obtusus complex has the widest distribution, a long history of controversial species definition, and unstable taxonomic status. We analysed 27 meristic characters, 19 measurements, and 35 osteological characters of this species complex by examining 282 specimens. We also analysed intra- and interspecific genetic structure and differentiation using five mitochondrial and two nuclear genes from 40 specimens. Our results reveal the T. dhara–obtusus complex as paraphyletic, comprising two major species groups: the T. dhara group and the T. obtusus group. The T. dhara group has eight species: T. dhara, T. guentheri (revalidated), T. pulcher, and five new species. The T. obtusus group is formed by 12 species: T. obtusus, T. somalicus, T. tripolitanus, T. variegatus, T. semiannulatus, T. beetzi, T. finkeldeyi, T. gezirae, and four new species. We describe all new taxa, redescribe the senior ones, and provide the first detailed description of a skull for the genus. The total number of species of Telescopus increases from 14 to 25.
Arabian Peninsula, cryptic species, molecular phylogeny, osteology, Sahara Desert, taxonomic revision
Telescopus dhara group
Telescopus guentheri (revalidated),
Telescopus urii sp. nov.
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| Telescopus urii. Coloration in life. A, Hatseva, Arava Valley; photograph by S. Jamison. B, Judean Desert, West Bank; photograph by G. Haimovitch. C, D, central Negev Desert, Israel; photographs by S. Jamison (C) and G. Haimovitch (D). E–G, Gilboa Mountains, West Bank; photographs by S. Jamison (E, F) and B. Shermeister (G). H, Arava Valley, Israel; photograph by G. Haimovitch. |
Telescopus forskali sp. nov.,
Telescopus insularis sp. nov.,
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| Telescopus forskali. Coloration in life. A, B, Dhofar, South Oman; photographs by S. Carranza. C, Oman; photograph by S. Carranza. D, east of Thumrait, Oman; photograph by D. Hegner. |
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| Telescopus salvadori. Coloration in life. A, B, Central Oman; photographs by S. Carranza. Telescopus smidi. Coloration in life. A, B, near Taif, Saudi Arabia; photographs by S. Carranza. |
Telescopus salvadori sp. nov.,
Telescopus smidi sp. nov.,
Telescopus geniezi sp. nov.,
Telescopus reussi sp. nov.,
Telescopus wangariae sp. nov.
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| Telescopus crocheti. Coloration in life. A, B, Near Borama, Ethiopia; photographs by D. Hegner. C, Borama, Ethiopia; photograph by T. Mazuch. D, E, Shanshacade Village, Togdheer, Somalia; photographs by T. Mazuch. Telescopus sp. (Telescopus crocheti and/or T. mazuchi). A, South of Omar Caves, Ethiopia; photograph by M. Largen. B, Meru National Park, Kenya; photograph by A. Childs. |
The Telescopus obtusus group
Telescopus crocheti sp. nov.,
Telescopus mazuchi sp. nov.,
Telescopus somalicus (elevated to species status),
Marco A Ribeiro-Júnior, Claudia Koch, Morris Flecks, Patrick D Campbell, Marta Calvo, Stephen Spawls, Nicolas Vidal and Shai Meiri. 2025. What is revealed from a widely distributed species in Africa and Southwest Asia? The Case of the Telescopus dhara–obtusus species complex (Squamata: Colubridae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 205(3); zlaf117. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf117 [06 November 2025]