Uromastyx yemenensis shobraki, Wilms, Thomas M. & Schmitz, Andreas, 2007

Wilms, Thomas M. & Schmitz, Andreas, 2007, A new polytypic species of the genus Uromastyx MERREM 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: Leiolepidinae) from southwestern Arabia, Zootaxa 1394, pp. 1-23 : 16-19

Uromastyx yemenensis shobraki ssp. nov.

Holotype. ZFMK 48681, adult male, Mafraq Mocca (Mafraq al­Mukha), km 13.5, Republic of Yemen, leg. B. Schätti, 5.–6.IV.1988.

Paratypes: ZFMK 48680, adult male, Mafraq Mocca (Mafraq al­Mukha), km 13.5, Republic of Yemen, leg. B. Schätti, 5.–6.IV.1988. MHNG 2496.55, adult female, Tihama, between Mocca (al­Mukha) and Oued Zabid, Republic of Yemen, coll. P. A. Panchaud, leg. M. Guillod, V.1990. MHNG 2496.56, male, Tihama, between Mocca (al­Mukha) and Oued. Zabid, Republic of Yemen, coll. P. A. Panchaud, leg. M. Guillod, V.1990. MHNG 2553.56, semiadult, Mafraq al­Mukha, km 1.5, Republic of Yemen, leg. B. Schätti, 05.IV.1994. MHNG 2455.100, adult female, Mafraq al­Mukha, km 13.5, Republic of Yemen, leg. B. Schätti, 19.VI.1989.

Diagnosis. Uromastyx yemenensis shobraki shows the distinctive features listed in the diagnosis of the nominate subspecies, U. y. yemenensis . It differs from U. benti in having smaller scales around midbody (189.68 +/­ 12.84 in U. yemenensis shobraki vs. 160.05 +/­ 8.98 in U. benti ) and smaller ventrals (86.91+/­ 5.13 in U. y. shobraki vs. 74 +/­ 4.02 in U. benti ). Uromastyx y. shobraki is differentiated from U. y. yemenensis not only by its larger maximum size [39.3 cm in U. y. shobraki (MHNG 2538.47) vs. 33.2 cm in U. y. yemenensis (BMNH 1946.8.11.68)] but also in different colour pattern (see Plate 5) and in significant genetic differences ( Tab. 5 ).

Description of the holotype. Snout­vent­length: 16.1 cm; tail length 15 cm; head length 32 mm; head width 33 mm; width of the tail between the 4th and 5th whorl: 21 mm; maximum tail width at the 5th whorl: 29 mm; 207 scales around midbody; 97 scale rows between gular­ and inguinal fold, 30 gular scales counted from a line between the anterior margins of the ear openings to the mental scale; 28 (left) and 27 (right) scales between the mid of the ear openings under the jaws to the mental scale; On each side 4 scale rows between the supralabials and the enlarged suboculars; 38 scales around the 5th whorl, 27 tail whorls, the last 21 whorls are made up as single continuous scale rows; 17 subdigital lamellae beneath the 4th toe; no preanal/femoral pores, but more or less enlarged callose scales along the thighs in the position normally occupied by femoral/preanal pores. The holotype has a total length of 31.1cm. The tail length is 93.17% of the SVL.

Head covered with irregularly arranged scales of different size; the smallest above the eyes. Occipital and neck scales small and smooth. Anterior margins of the ear openings not covered with enlarged scales. Scales of the forelegs smooth, scales on the sole with a well developed median keel. Subdigital scales only slightly keeled. Gular scales and ventral scales smooth. Forelegs and back without enlarged tubercles.

Thigh without enlarged tubercular scales; scales on the backside of the thigh distinctly smaller than those on the front. Ventral surface of the lower leg with smooth rhomboid scales, larger than the ventral scales. Dorsal surface with enlarged tubercular scales intermixed with very small smooth scales. Scales on the upper side of the feet slightly keeled and pointed. A patch of enlarged triangular and pointed scales present between the base of the 4th and 5th toe to the ankle.

Scales on the dorsal side of the tail, strongly keeled, with the median rows only slightly pointed while the marginal rows are strongly pointed.

Colouration in preservative. Dorsal surface of head, body and hind limbs dark brown, tail somewhat lighter. Light brown roundish dots (diameter 4–5 scales) are present on the dorsum, tending to form transverse rows. In addition, irregular light brown dots are present on the whole dorsum. Colouration of the hands not different from the colouration of the forearm. Head dark brown, with light brown pattern. Ventral side of the specimen yellowish brown. Ventral side of head and chest marbled with anthracite and dark brown. On the sides of the belly exists an anthracite­coloured stripe­like pattern.

Variation. For measurements and scale counts of the type series of U. y. shobraki see Table 7 .

Etymology. This taxon is named in honour of Dr. Mohammed Shobrak, Director of the “National Wildlife Research Centre, NWRC” in Taif, Saudi Arabia, for his outstanding achievements regarding the conservation of Arabian Wildlife.

PLATE 4. Dorsal & ventral view of ZFMK 47860 and ZFMK 49036 (Paratypes of U. yemenensis ) Photos: T. Wilms.

PLATE 5. Holotype of U. yemenensis shobraki (ZFMK 48681), dorsal & ventral view. Photos: T. Wilms.

Distribution. Uromastyx yemenensis is distributed in the south­western parts of the Republic of Yemen, with the range extending from the vicinity of Lawdar west to the Red Sea and from Zabid south to the Gulf of Aden. For the distribution areas of the subspecies of U. yemenensis see Fig. 4 . The areas of both subspecies are separated by a series of mountains and mountain ranges (example: Jebel Manar, Jebel Sawraq, Jebel Sabir, Jebel Dawran) with heights up to 3200 m.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Uromastyx yemenensis. U. y. shobraki: 1 Al­Mukha; 2 Taizz; 3 Zabid. U. y. yemenensis: 1 Lahij; 2 50 mls of Aden; 3 Zinjibar; 4 Abian­Area / Abian­Mountains; 5 Lawdar. U. benti: 1 Azzan; 2 Al­Mukalla; 3 Vicinity of Mirbat (Oman).