Latest news with #MorphoBank
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Cryptic' creature with ‘window' in its eyelid found on rock. It's a new species
In the desert of Saudi Arabia, a 'cryptic' creature with a 'window' in its eyelid climbed along a pile of rocks. Its hard-to-reach home and camouflaged coloring helped it go unnoticed and, when occasionally found, be misidentified — until now. As scientists recently discovered, it turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers spent five years traveling throughout Saudi Arabia and Jordan as part of a project to survey reptile biodiversity, according to a study published July 1 in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Zoology. During the searches, researchers encountered dozens of 'cryptic'-looking lizards, the study said. The lizards sort of looked like a known species, but DNA analysis showed they were genetically distinct. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species: Mesalina cryptica, or the Arabian small-spotted lizard. Arabian small-spotted lizards are considered 'medium-sized,' reaching up to 6 inches in length, the study said. Their tails are significantly longer than their bodies, and their feet have one longer toe. Their lower eyelids have 'a transparent window made up of two large scales.' Photos show the brown coloring of the new species, which varies from 'beige to dark brown.' Small black and white spots dot the lizards' backs, and their tails have a slight blue tinge. Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word for ''concealed' or 'hidden'' because it had been 'overlooked' due to its visual similarity to other known species. Arabian small-spotted lizards were 'observed or captured in rocky or gravely habitats,' the study said. They were 'typically encountered in flat areas of hard gravel with sparse shrubby vegetation and scattered rocks of varying sizes, using rock crevices for shelter.' At some sites in Saudi Arabia, the lizards were seen 'climbing steep scree slopes,' researchers said. In Jordan, the lizards lived 'in flat deserts of volcanic black basalt rocks.' Photos shared on MorphoBank by the researchers show the new species in its natural habitat. Much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains unknown. Arabian small-spotted lizards have been found at dozens of sites in Saudi Arabia, a few sites in Jordan and one site in Kuwait, the study said. 'Our understanding of the species' real range is far from complete … It is very likely that the range of the species is continuous all the way from Jordan to Kuwait.' The new species was identified by its size, body proportions, coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from related species. The research team included Jiří Šmíd, Doubravka Velenská, Lukáš Pola, Karin Tamar, Salem Busais, Mohammed Shobrak, Mohammed Almutairi, Al Faqih Ali Salim, Saad Dasman Alsubaie, Raed Hamoud AlGethami, Abdulaziz Raqi AlGethami, Abdulkarim Saleh Alanazi, Ahmed Mohajja Alshammari, Damien Egan, Ricardo Ramalho, David Olson, Josh Smithson, Laurent Chirio, Marius Burger, Ryan van Huyssteen, Melissa Petford and Salvador Carranza.
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Black Cobra Spotted In Oman For The First Time
In a major ecological breakthrough, scientists have confirmed the first recorded presence of the black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, according to local media reports. The discovery raises the total number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman to 22. The find was made by researchers from the University of Nizwa's Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. The discovery has been officially published in the international journal Zootaxa, and the supporting data uploaded to MorphoBank, a global open-access scientific database. استكمالًا لجهود #هيئة_البيئة في تنفيذ مشروع الزواحف في سلطنة عُمان، تُسجّل الهيئة أول توثيق رسمي لأفعى "الصّل الأسود" في السلطنة،تم التوثيق في محافظة ظفار بالتعاون مع معهد الأحياء التطوري بإسبانيا وجامعة نزوى، ليرتفع عدد الأفاعي المسجّلة إلى 22 نوعًا.… — هيئة البيئة – عُمان (@ea_oman) April 17, 2025 Genetic testing showed a near-identical match between the specimens found in Oman and those previously recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. As a result, scientists have synonymized Walterinnesia morgani with W. aegyptia, resolving a longstanding taxonomic The desert black cobra, a member of the Elapidae family, is known for its glossy, jet-black appearance and highly venomous nature. It is primarily nocturnal, with adults reaching up to 150 cm in length. Juveniles tend to be less defensive compared to other cobra species. Officials from the Omani Environment Authority have praised the discovery as a significant step in the country's biodiversity research. They attributed the success to the efforts of the Snake Survey Team in Dhofar. The confirmed presence of the black cobra underscores Oman's importance as a regional biodiversity hotspot, local media added.
Muscat Daily
16-04-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Black cobra recorded in Oman for first time
Salalah – A team of scientists from the University of Nizwa, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, has confirmed the first recorded presence of black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, marking a significant addition to Oman's reptile species list. Led by the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre at the University of Nizwa, the study confirms the presence of the desert-dwelling cobra in several areas of Dhofar. With this, the number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman has risen to 22. The findings have been published on 'MorphoBank', an international open-access scientific database, enabling researchers around the world to access the data and build on the research. Genetic analysis conducted during the study showed that the specimens found in Dhofar are nearly identical to those recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Mitochondrial DNA results demonstrated a strong genetic match, leading to the reclassification of Walterinnesia morgani as a synonym of W. aegyptia, effectively resolving a long-standing taxonomic debate. The black cobra, a highly venomous nocturnal snake from the Elapidae family, is known for its uniform glossy black appearance and lack of patterns. Adults can grow up to 150cm in length. Juveniles of the species tend to exhibit less aggressive defensive behaviour than other cobra species.
