Catalogue of Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum, Florence

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1 Scripta Herpetologica. Studies on Amphibians and Reptiles in honour of Benedetto Lanza: pp , 2014 Catalogue of Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum, Florence Roberto Sindaco 1 *, Riccardo Nincheri 2, Benedetto Lanza 3 1 c/o Museo Civico di Storia Naturale - Via San Francesco di Sales 88, Carmagnola (TO), Italy 2 Via Empolese 85/B, San Vincenzo a Torri, Scandicci (FI), Italy 3 c/o Museo di Storia Naturale dell Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sezione di Zoologia, «La Specola» Via Romana 17, Firenze, Italy * Corresponding author: rsindaco@gmail.com Abstract. A catalogue of the Arabian reptiles in the collection of La Specola Museum in Florence is presented. The collection includes more than 1000 specimens, belonging to 83 taxa (species and subspecies), 43 genera and 13 families. Keywords. Reptiles, Arabian Peninsula, collections, catalogue. Introduction The origin of this catalogue is twofold. In the compilation of a catalogue of the Arabic herpetological collection of the La Specola Museum was the object of the thesis of one of the authors (R.N.). The thesis was carried out under the supervision of Bettino Lanza, Giuliano Frangioni and Marta Poggesi. After more than 10 years Bettino Lanza invited the other co-author (R.S.) to revise the Arabic collection to publish a catalogue, which took place between 2004 and 2006, but for various reasons, the work remained unfinished. The project of this monograph seemed to us an excellent opportunity to accomplish this catalogue, strongly backed by Bettino Lanza, and publish it in a book dedicated to him. Materials and methods The collection of the Arabian Reptiles of the Museum of Natural History La Specola, Department of Zoology, University of Florence, is partly the result of collections made by the staff of the Museum, and in part is due to acquisitions or exchanges. The study area includes the following countries (from north-west to southeast): Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Yemen (including the Socotra Archipelago) and Oman. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are represented by samples collected through a series 137

2 Sindaco et al. of donations from the following people: B. Lanza (1968), F. Sammicheli (1971), Valenti and Scavengers (1978), J. Gasperetti (1980, 1984, 1985), Brett and Connolly (1982), H. Al Khalidi (1982), Kluyver (1982), Pollinger (1982), Barnes (1983), Brett and Daniels (1983), Buttiker (1983), A. Kidwai (1983), D. Lickfold (1983), Stoesser (1983), A.K. Nasher (1984), Sweeney (1984), Tilbury (1985). Other undated donations were made by J. Mc Stay and by the Zoological Museum Koenig in Bonn. A small collection comes from the Farasan Islands, which were visited by B. Lanza in April 1984 during a mission by the Group L. Mares for Scientific Research and Diving Techniques. Jordan has been visited four times by the Group L. Mares for Scientific Research and Diving Techniques, whose missions also included the collection of Reptiles and Amphibians. The collections were made by Marco Borri in April 1978, by Fabio Sammicheli in April 1976, by Benedetto Lanza and Paola Giorgio Lanza in April 1975, and by Marta Poggesi in December Some samples from Jordan were also donated to the Museum by Silvio Bruno in Syria is represented almost exclusively by a small, but representative collection donated by Gianluca Serra and published by Sindaco et al. (2006). As for Yemen, which gave the biggest contribution to the Arabic collections, the rich material was collected during five expeditions in northern Yemen, organized by the Museum La Specola in The missions were carried out in November 1979 (B. Lanza, M. Borri, M. Poggesi and P. Giorgio Lanza), in July-August 1980 (M. Borri and M. Poggesi), in November 1980 (M. Borri and M. Poggesi), in June-July 1981 (M. Borri and M. Poggesi), and finally in February 1984 (M. Borri, M. Poggesi, F. Sammicheli and P. Manetti). A limited number of Yemeni specimens was donated in 1988 by Beat Schätti (Muséum d Histoire Naturelle in Geneva), and by Mousa M. Al Safadi (University of Sana a) in The archipelago of Socotra is represented in the collection by two snakes only, obtained in exchange from the Natural History Museum of London. All the specimens were determined by B. Lanza at the time of their inclusion in the collection, verified by R. Nincheri while working on his thesis, and subsequently revised by R. Sindaco. For the identification and taxonomy of specimens were consulted most influential papers, recent and past, related to the systematic treatment of Amphibians and Reptiles of these regions (e.g. Arnold, 1986; Gasperetti, 1988; Leviton et al. 1992; Schätti and Gaspe ret ti, 1994; Sindaco, 1998; Disi et al., 2001; Venchi and Sindaco, 2006). When not indicated otherwise, the taxonomy follows mainly the monographs on Western Palearctic reptiles by Sindaco and Jeremčenko (2008) and Sindaco et al. (2013). Within the same taxon, finds are sorted by Country and Catalogue number. Each record corresponds to a jar, so you can find more repeated records of the same species from the same locality. For each record the following informations are reported: Catalogue Number, Country, Location, Altitude (in meters, if available), Date, Collector/Donor (Leg. = legit, Don. = donavit), Sex and/or developmental stage of the specimens (spec. = specimen, = male, = female, ad. = adult, imm. = immature, j = juvenile). 138

3 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum R E P T I L I A Laurenti, 1768 TESTUDINATA Linnaeus, 1758 Family Geoemydidae Theobald, 1868 Genus Mauremys Gray, 1869 Mauremys caspica siebenrocki Wischuf and Fritz, 1997 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Hufuf oasis (Dharan); 1971; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Al Qatif; xi.1971; collector unknown; 2 spec. and 4 eggs. Family Testudinidae Gray, 1825 Genus Testudo Linnaeus, 1758 Testudo graeca terrestris Forskål, 1775 Taxonomy according to Fritz et al. (2007). MZUF Jordan, Petra; 1986; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 spec. SQUAMATA Oppel, 1811 S a u r i a Mac Cartney, 1802 Family Agamidae Gray, 1827 Genus Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843 Acanthocercus adramitanus (Anderson, 1896) MZUF Yemen, Azzou (wadi), further Falla and Al Hejira villages; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 1. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 2. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah - Bagim [= Baqim] road, about 60 km NW of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF 27863, Yemen, Nefah (jabal), 4 km W of Ju Amlah; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Jaddah (jabal) area, about 20 km NNW of Ju Amlah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Jaddah (jabal) area, about 20 km NNW of Ju Amlah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, between Al Funduk and Katabar; vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Madak and neighb., on the track of Maqsala, about 25 km from Ju Amlah; 6.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi), about 26 km WNW of Sadah; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 2 ). MZUF Yemen, Sharawa village, 43 km on the road Sa dah Sandia; 29.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi), about 26 km WNW of Sadah; 14.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 4 j. 139

4 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, Yesnam (wadi), about 25 km NW of Ju Amlah; vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 19.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 3 j. MZUF Yemen, Madi (wadi), 21 km WNW of Sadah; 6.vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Madi (wadi), 21 km WNW of Sadah; 22.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Itlah (wadi), about 34 km NW Sa dah, m 1950; 8.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1, 1 j. MZUF , , Yemen, Sa dah; 17.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 2, 1 j. MZUF , 28192, 28195, , Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; ix.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 8 j. MZUF , Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; ix.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 1 j. MZUF 28214, , Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; viiiix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 2 j. MZUF 28242, Yemen, Madak and neighb., on the track of Maqsala, about 25 km from Ju Amlah; 14.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Dhar (wadi); 6.ii.1983; M. Borri, M. Poggesi, F. Samicheli leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Shibam neighb. (38 km NW Sana a ), along the Wadi Ahyar; m 2500; 5-17.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 16, 12, 32 j. MZUF Yemen, Kanin (jabal); 3.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 2, 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Hadja [= Hajjah]; iii.1988; collector unknown; 3 j. Acanthocercus yemensis (Klausewitz, 1954) MZUF Yemen, Jaddah (jabal) area (about 20 km NNW of Ju Amlah; 11.vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 1. MZUF Yemen, Jaddah (jabal) area (about 20 km NNW of Ju Amlah; 11.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 spec. MZUF , Yemen, Al Funduk - Katabar, between * (50th km of the road Sada - Sandia); 2.vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 6. MZUF , Yemen, Madak and neighb., on the track of Maqsala, about 25 km from Ju Amlah; 6.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 7, 4. MZUF Yemen, San a - Shibam road, about 40 km NW of San a; 25.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 3. MZUF Yemen, L Anam area; 3.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 2, 1 indet. MZUF , Yemen, Madak and neighb., on the track of Maqsala, about 25 km from Ju Amlah; 21.x.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 6, 7. MZUF Yemen, Bab al Filak, 10 km E of Dhomar, on road to Rodah, m 2420; 2.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Kawkaban, 38 km NW San a; 31.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Ma netti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Hadda, 6 km SW of San a, m 2500; 4.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1,

5 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Genus Laudakia Gray, 1845 Laudakia stellio stellio (Linnaeus, 1958). MZUF Syria, Jebel Bilas and Jebel Abu Rigimin; Spring 2001; G. Serra leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Syria, Halili Jezel; 3.ii.2001; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Laudakia stellio brachydactyla (Haas, 1951) MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza, P. Giorgio leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1975; B. Lanza, P. Giorgio leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 4 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; undated; collector unknown; 1. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 24 spec. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; 19.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Jordan, Khor el Ayran (wadi Rum); 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Jordan, Jebel Rehbi, 4 km SSE Qa Disah; 23.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, El Khozeili, about 5 km S Wadi Rum; 14.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; 24.vi.1963; collector unknown; 11 spec. Genus Phrynocephalus Kaup, 1825 Phrynocephalus arabicus J. Anderson, 1894 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Az Zalim; 14.xi.1982; J. Smith, R. Agar leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ma rib; 8.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, P. Manetti, F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. Genus Pseudotrapelus Fitzinger, 1843 Pseudotrapelus sinaitus sinaitus Heyden, 1827 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; undated; collector unknown; 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 3, 1. MZUF Jordan, Abu Rashrasha, about 10 km NNW Qa Disa; 22.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 j. MZUF , Yemen, Nefah (jabal); ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 3. Pseudotrapelus sp. Until recently, the genus Psedotrapelus was considered monospecific, but recent studies (Melnikov et al. 2012a, 2012b, 2013) have led to the description of new species for single localities, whereby at the moment it is not clear to what taxon assign animals of Yemen. MZUF Yemen, Al Funduk - Katabar, 50th km road Sa dah - San a; vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.;

6 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 18.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 1.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah; m 2000; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 9.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Yemen, Al Arf, about 80 km S of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Nefah (jabal); 16.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2. MZUF Yemen, Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, 34 km NW of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF 28191, , 28196, Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah); m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 2 indet. MZUF , Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah); m 1950; undated; collector unknown; 5. MZUF , 28220, Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah); m 1950; 27.viii - 3I.x.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 3. MZUF Yemen, Mokha; 11.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 3, 2 j. MZUF Yemen, 60 km from San a on the road to Hodeidah; 1.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ma rib; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Sug ad Dabab, Ta izz; iii.1988; collector unknown; 5 spec. Genus Trapelus Cuvier, 1814 Trapelus agnetae (F. Werner, 1929) Status according to Wagner et al. (2012). MZUF Jordan, Jurf Ed; 11.iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 2 spec. Trapelus flavimaculatus (Rüppell, 1835) MZUF Saudi Arabia, Rabigh, 20 km N; 5.iii.1983; collector unknown; 2 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Mastabah neighb.; 16.vii.1982; collector unknown; 2. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Mand adh Dhahab, 24.5 km SW, m 95; 2.vii.1982; collector unknown; 1. Trapelus lessonae (De Filippi, 1865) MZUF Jordan, H4 pipeline station; 3.vii.1966; V. Sbordoni leg.; 1 spec. 142

7 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1826 Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis Blanford, 1874 MZUF Jordan, Aqaba, km ENE, Gal area, about 12 km E of the reclaimed area; 17.v.1975; B. Rosas, R. Barducci leg.; 1. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Sawawin [about N E], m 50; vi.1983; Digby Liekgold leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Ar Rika (wadi) [about N E]; v.1983; Digby Liekgold leg.; 2 spec. Uromastyx yemenensis shobraki Wilms & Schmitz, 2007 MZUF Yemen, between Mafraq and Moka, km 13.5; 5-6.iv.1988; B. Schätti leg.; 1 ad., 1 j. Uromastyx ornata Heyden, 1827 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia ; undated; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 spec. Uromastyx ornata philbyi Parker, 1930 MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; undated; M. Borri and M. Poggesi leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 3.iv.1980; M. Borri and M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. Family Chamaeleonidae Gray, 1827 Genus Chamaeleo Laurenti, 1768 Chamaeleo calyptratus calcarifer Peters, 1869 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Ash Shaaban [= Shaban]; 14.iv.1983; A.K. Nasher leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Fayfa (jebel); 1.x.1984; A.K. Nasher leg.; 1 spec. Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus Duméril & Duméril, 1851 MZUF Yemen, Shibam (38 km NW Sana a ), 17.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Suq ad Dabab (Ta izz); 3.iii-2.IV.1988; collector unknown; 7 spec. Chamaeleo chamaeleon orientalis Parker, 1938 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Bani Sar; 3.ix.1984; collector unknown; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; xi.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Bagim [= Baqim]; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 spec. 143

8 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah) neighb., m 1950; vi-vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. Family Gekkonidae Gray, 1825 sensu lato The family Gekkonidae, as traditionally known, has been recently splitted in five families, of which three occur in the Arabian Peninsula: Gekkonidae s.s. (Bunopus, Cyrtopodion, Hemidactylus, Stenodactylus, Tropiocolotes), Sphaerodactylidae (Pristurus, Teratoscincus) and Phyllodactylidae (Asaccus, Haemodracon, Ptyodactylus) (Han et al. 2004, Gamble et al. 2008). Bunopus spatalurus spatalurus J. Anderson, 1901 MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Jabal Nefah; 1.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Al Arf, about 80 km S of Sa dah; 5.vi.1981; M. Borri leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 27.viii-3. ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 spec. Bunopus tuberculatus Blanford, 1874 MZUF Jordan, Jebel Umayd and Jebel El Kharaza, km NNE of Qa Disah; 12.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Bani Malik (wadi); 8.i.1983; W. Buttiker W.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Makkah bypass, km 108; 3.v.1982; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Jiddah City dump; 11.vi.1985; collector unknown; 1, 1. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Makkah bypass, km 80; 19.iv.1985; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1. MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Genus Hemidactylus Mocquard, 1895 The Arabian Hemidactylus are under revision. Moravec et al. (2011) show on the base of mtdna that in the Middle East there are some cryptic species previously included in H. turcicus. In Yemen, Busais and Joger (2011a, 2011b) recognize 8 monophyletic taxa on molecular basis, three belonging to the H. yerburii group, two to the H. robustus group and three belonging to a new group; of these, the authors described three new species and a subspecies, leaving out a fourth species until a more comprehensive sample is available. Lately, Carranza and Arnold (2012) described 8 new species from Oman. The classification of part of the MZUF collection will be therefore subject to change in the next future. Hemidactylus sp. MZUF Yemen, San a; ii.1979; C. Poglayen leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vi-vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. 144

9 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum MZUF Yemen, Madaq village, about 25 km from Ju Amlah; 6.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Seir Farasan Kebir I., Janaba Bay; iv.1985; Gigli et al. leg.; 1 j. Hemidactylus cf. dawudazraqi Moravec, Kratochvíl, Amr, Jandzik, Šmíd & Gvoždík, 2011 MZUF Jordan, Petra; 31.xii.1974; M. Poggesi, Bucciarelli leg.; 3 spec. Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppel, 1835 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Jiddah; vii.1983; J. Mc Stay leg.; 1. Hemidactylus sinaitus Boulenger, 1885 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Seir Farasan Kebir I., Janaba Bay; 1.iv.1984; B. Lanza leg.; 4 spec. MZUF Yemen, Moka, betw. Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; 15.ii.1984; Poggesi L. et al. leg.; 2 spec. Hemidactylus cf. robustus Heyden, 1827 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, 30 km N; i.1978; collector unknown; 3 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Jeddah; 25.ii.1983; collector unknown; 9 spec. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 9.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vi-vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 4 spec. Hemidactylus cf. turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758) MZUF Jordan, Petra; 31.xii.1974; M. Poggesi, Bucciarelli leg.; 3 spec. MZUF 2438, Syria, Damascus; collector unknown; 3 spec. MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Hemidactylus cf. yerburii J. Anderson, 1895 MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 14.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 5 spec. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 18.v.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2. MZUF , Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vivii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1, 1 juv. MZUF Yemen, Al Alb, 2 km from the Saudi Arabian border; 1.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Nefah (jabal), about 4 km W of Ju Amlah; 1.ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1,

10 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 9.xi.1979; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 2. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah - Bagim [= Baqim] road, about 60 km NW of Sa dah; 4.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; ix.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 8, 5 j. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah - Bagim [= Baqim] road, about 60 km NW of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Yemen, Shibam env.; 5.ii.1984; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 27.viii-30. ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 j, 1 ad. Pristurus celerrimus Arnold, 1977 Genus Pristurus Rüppell, 1835 MZUF U.A.E., Tayybal [= Tayybah]; iv.1992; R. Leptien leg.; 1 spec. Pristurus crucifer (Valenciennes, 1861) MZUF Yemen, Moka, betw. Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 5, 9, 4 j. MZUF Yemen, Khawkha, m 24.iii.1988; B. Schätti leg.; 3 ad., 2 j. Pristurus flavipunctatus (Rüppell, 1835) MZUF Yemen, between Mafraq and Moka, km 13.5; 5.iv.1988; B. Schätti leg.; 3 spec. Pristurus popovi Arnold, 1982 MZUF Yemen, Sana a - Shibam road, about 40 km from Sana a; 25.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 ad., 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Jabal Anam area; 3.ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Shibam env.; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 4, 2, 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Kawkaban; 31.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Kawkaban; 31.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 4, 1, 3 j. MZUF Yemen, village at foots of Jabal Kanin, 35 km SSE of Sana a; 30.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 8, 2, 3 j. MZUF Yemen, village at foots of Jabal Kanin, 35 km SSE of Sana a; 30.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF , Yemen, Bab al Filak, 10 km E of Dhomar, on road to Rodah, m 2420; 2.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 14, 7, 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Bab al Filak, 10 km E of Dhomar, on road to Rodah, m 2420; 2.ii.1984; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. 146

11 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Pristurus cf. rupestris Blanford, 1874 Preliminary genetic data show that under the name P. rupestris more taxa are involved (Salvador Carranza in litt.). The taxonomy of Yemeni populations is therefore subject to future taxonomic changes. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah - Bagim [= Baqim] road, about 20 km NW of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 1. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi), about 26 km WNW of Sadah; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 1. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah foothills, about 50 km NW of Sa dah, m 2350; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j, 1 ad. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi) - Jabal Anam road; 29.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah - Bagim [= Baqim] road, about 20 km NW of Sa dah; viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 1. MZUF Yemen, Sana a, Zubeiri street; viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF 27769b - Yemen, Sana a - Shibam road, about 40 km from Sana a; 25.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Sana a, Zubeiri street; 24.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF 27773, 27776, Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 2. MZUF Yemen, Nefah (jabal), about 4 km W of Ju Amlah; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Sa dah; 23.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi), about 26 km WNW of Sadah; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Sharawa village, on the road Sa dah - Sandia; viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 3. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 7, 5 j. MZUF Yemen, Samh (Haabar - Hadinat); iv.1988; B. Schätti leg.; 5, 3, 3 j. Pristurus rupestris guweirensis Haas, 1943 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; 2.i.1975; 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 2 spec. Pristurus saada Arnold, 1976 MZUF 27756, Yemen, Al Arf, about 80 km S of Sa dah; 5.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 1. MZUF 27772, 27774, Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vivii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 ad., 2 j. 147

12 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, ponds at the base of Jabal Nefah; 1.ix.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF , Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 6, 8. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vi-vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 4, 1, 2 j. Pristurus sp. MZUF Yemen, Wadi Itlah, about 34 km NW of Sa dah; m 1950; 23.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. Ptyodactylus guttatus Heyden, 1827 Genus Ptyodactylus Gray, 1825 MZUF Jordan, Petra; 1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; 1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 2, 1, 3 j. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1, 2. MZUF Jordan, reclaimed area km ENE Aqaba; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Petra, m iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2, 2, 4 j. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; m 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Jordan, Abu Rashrasha, about 10 km NNW Qa Disa; M. Borri leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Jebel Rehbi, 4 km SSE Qa Disah; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 j. MZUF Jordan, Khor el Ayran (wadi Rum); 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Petra, m 24.vi.1963; S. Bruno leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Musa, m 3.v.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1 spec. Ptyodactylus cf. hasselquistii (Donndorf, 1798) The taxonomic status of Arabian Ptyodactylus is unsatisfactory. Preliminary genetic data show that more species are involved (Salvador Carranza in litteris). Therefore, pending for results of genetic researches, we prefer to list them as Ptyodactylus cf. hasselquistii. MZUF Yemen, Madi [= Magif] (wadi), 21 km WNW of Sa dah; 6.vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Yesnam (wadi), about 25 km NW of Ju Amlah; 4.vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 9.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 19.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m xi.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi); m 13.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF 28044, Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 14.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; collector unknown; 5,

13 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 16.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 195; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, between Umm Laylah and Bagim; 15.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Moka, betw. Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 7, 5. Stenodactylus grandiceps Haas, 1952 Genus Stenodactylus Fitzinger, 1826 MZUF Syria, Palmyra area, between 2000 and 2003, G. Serra leg.; 2 spec. Genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 Tropiocolotes nattereri Steindachner, 1901 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Jordan, Jebel Rehbi, 4 km SSE Qa Disah, m 23.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 j. Family Lacertidae Bonaparte, 1831 Genus Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 Acanthodactylus boskianus asper (Daudin, 1803) MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza leg.; 9, 12, 2 j. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 3, 2, 1 j. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2. MZUF 25633, Jordan, Wadi Rum; m 25.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1, 2. MZUF Jordan, Khor el Ayran (wadi Rum); 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Jordan, Jebel Rehbi, 4 km SSE Qa Disah, m 23.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 spec. MZUF , Jordan, Jebel Umayd and Jebel El Kharaza, km NNE of Qa Disah; 12.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2, 2 j. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Musa; 3.v.1975; B. Lanza e P. Giorgio leg.; 1. MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 2 spec. MZUF Yemen, between Wadi Maqsala and Anam; 28.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Sa dah, 34 km N [= wadi Itlah]; 17.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Itlah (wadi) (about 34 km NW Sa dah), m 1950; 23.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Itlah (wadi) (about 34 km NW Sa dah), m 1950; 8.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3, 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; vi-vii.1991; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.;

14 Sindaco et al. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; 27.viii-3.ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 1. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 2, 3 j. MZUF Yemen, Nefah (jabal); 1.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1 indet. MZUF Yemen, Al Arf, about 80 km S of Sa dah; vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Ar Akua (wadi), about 36 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; 19.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1, 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Mokha; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli; 3, 4. MZUF Yemen, Mokha and env.; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli; 16 j. MZUF Yemen, Mokha; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. Not cataloged - Yemen, Sana a; xii.1985; collector unknown; 1 spec. Acanthodactylus grandis Boulenger, 1909 MZUF Jordan, Petra, m 24.vi.1963; S. Bruno leg.; 1. The reliability of the collecting locality is doubtful. MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 3 spec. Acanthodactylus opheodurus Arnold, 1980 MZUF 21500, Jordan, Wadi Rum; v.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1. MZUF , Jordan, Wadi Rum; m 25.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2, 2. MZUF Jordan, Qa Disa; 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Abu Rashrasha, about 10 km N Qa Disa, 22.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 3 spec. MZUF Jordan, Aqaba, 20 km NE on road to Amman; 21.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2, 2. MZUF , Jordan, Jebel Umayd and Jebel El Kharaza, km NNE of Qa Disah; 12.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 6, 2. MZUF Jordan, El Khozeili, about 5 km S Wadi Rum; 14.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1, 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ma rib; 8.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, F. Sammicheli leg.; 1. Acanthodactylus orientalis Angel, 1936 MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Acanthodactylus schmidti Haas, 1957 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 6, 1, 2 j. 150

15 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976f. Sammicheli leg.; 2, 1 imm.) MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; m 25.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2. MZUF Jordan, Qa Disa; 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, El Khozeili, about 5 km S Wadi Rum; m 14.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Khor el Ayran (wadi Rum); 2.iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 2, 1, 1 j. Acanthodactylus sp. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. Genus Mesalina Gray, 1838 Mesalina cf. guttulata (Lichtenstein, 1823) Under the name M. guttulata (type locality: Egypt) are involved different taxa. As shown by Kapli et al. (2008), the population from south-west Asia are genetically distinct from the Egyptian ones, whereas the Arabian populations have not yet been studied. The populations from Highlands of Yemen and SW Saudi Arabia have been considered as a different species, Mesalina sp. A, by Arnold (1986), but never formally described. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 3 indet. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Dumsung [= Dumsuk] island (Farasan Ids.); 6.iv.1984; B. Lanza leg.; 1 j. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Farasan Kebir island (Farasan Ids.); 2.iv.1984; B. Lanza leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi) (about 21 km NW Sa dah); m 29.viii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Nefah (jabal), about 4 km W of Ju Amlah, m 16.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; 8.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Azzou (wadi), further Falla and Al Hejira villages; ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Umm Laylah, near the top, about 49 km NNW Sa dah, m 2300; 16.xi.1979; B. Lanza, M. Poggesi, M. Borri leg.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Itlah (wadi) (about 34 km NW Sa dah), m 1950; 23.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Madi (wadi); 22.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Maqsala (wadi) (about 26 km NW Sa dah); 14.xi.1979; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m 2000; 9.xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 9 spec. MZUF , Yemen, Ju Amlah (26 km NW Sadah), m 1950; ix.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 5, 4, 3 indet. MZUF Yemen, Kawkaban; 31.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Kanin (jabal); 3.i.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 4 spec. MZUF Yemen, Shibam (38 km NW Sana a); 17.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. 151

16 Sindaco et al. Mesalina martini (Boulenger, 1897) MZUF Yemen, between Moka and the hills, about 30 km from the sea; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. Genus Omanosaura Lutz, Bischoff and Mayer, 1985 Omanosaura jayakari (Boulenger, 1887) MZUF U.A.E., born in captivity (parents from Wadi Siji near Masafi), Langerwerf don.; 1. MZUF U.A.E., Wadi Hamm [about N 56 1 E]; R. Leptien leg.; 1. Genus Ophisops Ménétriés, 1832 Ophisops elegans cf. ehrenbergi Wiegmann, 1853 The intra-specific systematics of this taxon needs to be revised, as shown by the genetics studies by Kyriazi et al. (2008). MZUF Jordan, Petra; 24.vi.1963; S. Bruno leg.; 1, 1. MZUF Jordan, Petra; 24.vi.1963; S. Bruno leg.; 1 spec. Genus Phoenicolacerta Arnold, Arribas and Carranza, 2007 Phoenicolacerta kulzeri petraea Bischoff and Müller, 1999 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1975; B. Lanza leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; B. Lanza leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; 1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 2 spec. Phoenicolacerta laevis Gray, 1838 MZUF 420, Syria, Damascus; undated; Pilastri don.; 4 spec. Chalcides ocellatus (Forsskål,1775) Family Scincidae Gray, 1825 MZUF Jordan, Katrura to Birket Ziphrijeh; J.H. Hoofien leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Katrura to Har Henachem (or Menachem?), m 9.v.1953; J.H. Hoofien leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Ein Hussub; 14.iv.1954; Hoofien leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Ras Um Abadin; 8.iv.1953; J.H. Hoofien leg.; 1. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 j, 2 indet. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Gedda; undated; V. Ragazzi don.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Wadi Abiad-Jebel Abu Rigimin; Spring 2002; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Country not identified, road to wadi Haaira; 23.iv.1953; collector unknown;

17 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Genus Eumeces Wiegmann, 1834 Eumeces schneideri pavimentatus Daudin, 1802 MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1975; B. Lanza leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 7 ad., 1 j. MZUF Syria, Wadi Abiad-Jebel Abu Rigimin; Spring 2002; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Genus Eurylepis Blyth, 1854 Eurylepis taeniolatus arabicus (Ščerbak, 1990) MZUF Yemen, Wadi Warazan (Ta izz); 1988; M.M. Al Safadi don.; 1. MZUF Yemen, Quelaiah (wadi), Mahweet; 1988; M.M. Al Safadi don.; 1. Note: paratypus of Eumeces yemensis Al-Safadi, Genus Trachylepis Fitzinger, 1843 Trachylepis cf. brevicollis (Wiegmann, 1837) Preliminary data by Sindaco et al. (2008) show that the taxonomic status of the Arabian and African T. brevicollis needs to be reassessed, as current data are insufficient to establish whether more than one species is present in Arabia and whether animals genetically similar to African T. brevicollis also occur on the Arabian side of the Red Sea. According to these authors Owing to the morphological plasticity of members of the T. brevicollis complex, a genetic analysis of specimens coming from the type localities of all of the described taxa would appear to be necessary to solve the systematics of the group and draw species boundaries. MZUF Yemen, between Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 3, 2. MZUF Yemen, Marib; 8.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Abha env.; 20.iii. and 1.vi.1983; A.K. Nasher leg.; 2 spec. Scincus hemprichii Wiegmann, 1837 Genus Scincus Laurenti, 1768 MZUF Yemen, between Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1, 1. Scincus mitranus J. Anderson, 1871 MZUF U.A.E., Dhaid desert; ii.1980; W. Bischoff and J. Schmidtler leg.; 1 spec. 153

18 Sindaco et al. Scincus scincus meccensis Wiegmann, 1837 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; 1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1 ad., 2 j. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Makkah [bypass], km 80, m 200; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Makkah bypass, km 91, m 220; 9.iv. and 19.x.1982; J. Gasperetti leg.; 2 spec. Family Varanidae Gray, 1827 Genus Varanus Merrem, 1820 Varanus griseus griseus (Daudin, 1802) MZUF Saudi Arabia, Makkah bypass, m 254; 28.v.1982; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 j. Cat. number missed - Yemen; xii.1985; Sana a University don.; 1 spec. Varanus yemenensis (Böhme, Joger e Schätti, 1989) MZUF Yemen, Sug Sharas; 23.iv.1988; B. Schätti don.; 1 spec. Family Trogonophidae Gray, 1865 Genus Diplometopon Nikol skij, 1907 Diplometopon zarudnyi Nikol skij, 1907 MZUF Bahrain; 1.i.1985; J. Gasperetti don.; 1 spec. Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) Serpentes Family Boidae Gray, 1825 Genus Eryx Daudin, 1803 MZUF Syria, Palmyra oasis; ix.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Jebel Bilas; vi.2001; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Eryx jayakari Boulenger, 1888 MZUF U.A.E., Mafraq, m 2 v.1978; Valenti leg.; 1 spec. MZUF U.A.E., Abu Dhabi, 30 km WSW; iv.1978; E. Spazzini leg.; 1 j. Family Colubridae Oppell, 1811 sensu lato Some recent phylogenetic studies (i.e. Zaher et al. 2009, Pyron et al. 2011) split the colubroids in several families (or subfamilies), four of which occur in Arabia: Atractaspididae (including only Atractaspis), Lamprophiidae (occurring in Arabia with the genera Lamprophis and Micrelaps, and in Socotra with the genus 154

19 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Ditypophis), Psammophiidae (represented in Arabia by the genera Malpolon, Rhagheris and Psammophis) and Colubridae s.s. (including all the remaining genera). Genus Dasypeltis Wagler, 1830 Dasypeltis cf. scabra (Linnaeus, 1758) The taxonomy of the Arabian populations of Dasypeltis should be considered just provisional, since D. scabra seems in fact a taxon limited to southern and eastern Africa, while in Ethiopia and Eritrea occur other taxa (Trape and Mané 2006). MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah; 27.viii.-30.ix.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. Ditypophis vivax Günther, 1881 Genus Ditypophis Günther, 1881 MZUF Yemen, Socotra Island, Adho Dimellus; undated; W.R. Ogilvie-Grant and H.O. Forbes leg.; 1 spec. Genus Eirenis Jan, 1863 Eirenis coronella coronella (Schlegel, 1837) MZUF Syria, Mayuf; Spring 2003; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Hemerophis socotrae Günther, 1881 Genus Hemerophis Schätti & Utiger, 2001 MZUF Yemen, Socotra Island, Hanefu; 13.iii.1943; G. Popov leg.; 1 spec. Hemorrois nummifer (Reuss, 1834) Genus Hemorrhois Boie, 1826 MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; ; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Genus Lythorhynchus Peters, 1863 Lythorhynchus diadema (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854) MZUF Jordan, Qa Disa; 20.iv.1978; S. Bruno leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Jordan, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah; xi.1979; B. Lanza, M. Borri, M. Pogge si; 2 spec. 155

20 Sindaco et al. MZUF Saudi Arabia, N E; 1983; Brett and Daniels leg.; 2 j. MZUF United Arab Emirates, Mafraq yard, 30 km WSW of Abu Dhabi; iv.1978; Spazzini E. leg.; 1 spec. Lythorhynchus kennedyi K.P. Schmidt, 1939 MZUF Syria, Mayuf; Spring 2003; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) Genus Natrix Laurenti, 1768 MZUF Jordan, Petra; 24.vi.1963; ex coll. S. Bruno; 1 spec. Note: the reliability of the locality reported in the label is doubtful. Genus Platyceps Blyth, 1860 Platyceps elegantissimus (Günther, 1878) MZUF Saudi Arabia, Pumping Station 8 E-W [about N 43 49E], m 90; 1982; Brett and Connelly leg.; 1 spec. Platyceps cf. rhodorachis (Jan in De Filippi, 1865) According to Schätti (2006a) The phylogenetic relationships and systematic status of the Arabian populations require a more detailed analysis. The same author state that P. r. subniger Boettger, 1893 from NE Africa is morphologically closer to P. rhodorachis auct. of SW Arabia, suggesting possible conspecificity, According to Schätti and McCarty (2004) it cannot be excluded that the high ventral phenotype from Yemen belongs to P. saharicus. MZUF Saudi Arabia; 25.vi.1983; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Qatam (wadi); xi.1982; M. Kluyvert leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Sawawim (wadi), m 500; 1984; J. Sweeney; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia; x.1992; J. Gasperetti leg.; 1 spec. Note: melanistic specimen. MZUF Saudi Arabia; without data; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Sana a, hospital; ii.1979; L. Polayen leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Sana a; vi-vii.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 2 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah; xi.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah; ii.1981; L. Curatola leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Khazain hills, 17 km NWN of Sadah, m xi.1979; B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 3 j. 156

21 Arabian reptiles in the collections of the La Specola Museum Platyceps cf. ventromaculatus (Gray, 1834) After numerous authors have remarked that no significant morphological differences exist between P. rogersi and the western populations of P. ventromaculatus, Schätti (2006b) and Schätti and Schmitz (2006) put definitely in synonymy these two taxa. Moreover, P. ventromaculatus s.s. is a species ranging in Pakistan and NW India; because the western populations differ in colour pattern, hemipenis morphology as well as in molecular features (Schätti and Utiger 2001, Schätti et al. 2005), it might justify the recognition of two separated taxonomic entities. Therefore we list the specimens as P. cf. ventromaculatus in the MZUF collections. MZUF Syria, Palmyra; 30.v.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, between Palmyra and Deyr-ez-Zor; 25.x.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Palmyra surroundings; x.2002; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865 Spalerosophis diadema cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837) MZUF Jordan, Aqaba; 26.iv.1975; B. Lanza and P. Giorgio leg.; 1. MZUF Saudi Arabia, N E; m 90; 1983; P. Brett and B. Daniels leg.; 1 j. MZUF Syria, Al Talila; 8.ix.2002; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Al Talila; Spring 2001; G. Serra leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, after Umm Laylah, about 51 km NW of Sa da; 17.ix.1980; T. Pellicciani leg.; 1 spec. Telescopus nigriceps Ahl, 1924 Genus Telescopus Wagler, 1830 MZUF Syria, Sed Wadi Abiad; v.2002; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. Family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 Genus Lamprophis Fitzinger, 1843 Lamprophis fuliginosus arabicus Parker, 1931 MZUF Yemen, Sana a; ix.1979; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 j. Genus Malpolon Fitzinger, 1826 Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy de Saint-Hilaire, 1827) MZUF Syria, Palmyra area; Spring 2001; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. 157

22 Sindaco et al. Psammophis schokari (Forskål, 1775) Genus Psammophis Boie, 1826 MZUF Jordan, Wadi Rum; iv.1976; F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Shoiba, m 3 vi.1983; D. Stoesser leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Ram Ram; ii.1983; D. Lickgold leg.; 1 spec. Note: Only head and fore part of the body. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Abha env., m 2000; 1984; A.K. Nasher leg.; 1 j. MZUF Syria, Al Talila; 14.xii.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Al Talila; 10.v.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah env.; 1981; collected by local people; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Moka and env.(up to 30 km inland); 15.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. MZUF Yemen, Moka and env. (up to 30 km inland); 13.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Moka and env.(up to 30 km inland); 14.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, F. Sammicheli leg.; 1 j. Rhagerhis moilensis (Reuss, 1834) Genus Rhagerhis Peters, 1862 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Ailith; 13.iii.1983; collector unknown; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Ad Dawadami, m 95; iii.1983; collector unknown; 1 j. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Khawr umm Waal; xii.1982; M. Kluyver leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Saudi Arabia, Jiddah City dump; 24.xii.1982; Smith leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Syria, Al Talila; 26.x.2000; G. Serra leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Moka, betw. Moka and hills, about 30 km from the sea; 13.ii.1984; M. Poggesi, M. Borri, M. Manetti, M. Sammicheli leg.; 1 spec. Naja arabica Scortecci, 1932 Family Elapidae Boie, 1827 Genus Naja Laurenti, 1768 MZUF Saudi Arabia, Niwar (wadi); m 1500; 2.v.1983; W: Buttiker leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Rugaffah villsge env.; m 23.ix.1980; M. Borri, B. Lanza, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah dint., about 26 km NW of Sa dah, m 1950; ii-iii.1980; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. MZUF Yemen, Ju Amlah, 30 km N along road; 2.vi.1981; M. Borri, M. Poggesi leg.; 1 spec. Walterinnesia aegyptia Lataste, 1887 Genus Walterinnesia Lataste, 1887 MZUF Jordan, Petra; iv.1978; M. Borri leg.; 1 j. 158