An international team led by researchers from the Center for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) of the University of Porto has discovered a new species of snake in the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia.
The discovery was discovered in a study recently published in the scientific journal Zoosystematics and Evolution, the center of the University of Porto said in a statement.
The small snake with a black collar and reddish coloring was named Rhynchocalamus hejazicus.
The black collar and reddish coloration distinguish the new species from its closest relatives.
Widely distributed, the small snake fills “much of the existing gap in the distribution of the genus Rhynchocalamus between the Levant and the coastal regions of Yemen and Oman.”
The snake inhabits sandy and rocky soils with variable vegetation cover and can be found in “habitat” disturbed by humans, indicating that “the species should not be classified as a threat,” the study states.
The study also highlights the need for further monitoring and conservation of this new species, about which “little is known” about its natural history and behavior.
“However, it appears that Rhynchocalamus hejazicus is primarily nocturnal, as all individuals were found active at night,” he adds.
The researchers collected samples from a wide area around the ancient Arab oasis city of Al-Ula as part of a collaboration with the Royal Al-Ula Commission in Saudi Arabia, which encourages scientific activity and research to promote conservation in the region.
Research coordinator José Carlos Brito, quoted in the statement, emphasizes that the discovery is “surprising and gives hope that as yet undiscovered species may be present in the kingdom.”
“The discovery of such a special snake highlights the gap in characterization of rare species with more secretive habits, as well as the need to intensify sampling efforts and monitoring strategies to fully capture species diversity in unexplored areas,” he adds at the research center.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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