Colubridae, Oppell, 1811

Aloufi, Abdulhadi, Zayer, Mohammed Al & Amr, Zuhair S., 2023, Reptiles and Amphibians along the Coastal Area of the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 66-87 : 79-80

Family Colubridae

Lytorhynchus diadema (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) Fig. 9B

Material examined: EZC065, Hejrat Al Oseferat, 24.8.2023.

Remarks: The crowned leaf-nosed snake has a wide range of distribution extending across North Africa, the Middle East reaching southwestern Iran ( Carranza et al., 2021). In the Arabian Peninsula, it is known from the sand deserts and sand dunes ( Gasperetti, 1988). It was reported from Dhahran and Abqaiq ( Haas, 1957, 1961; Mandeville, 1967; Leviton & Anderson, 1967) and Al Hassa region by Al-Sadoon

(2010). A sister taxon, Lytorhynchus kennedyi Schmidt 1939 , was recorded from Ara’r region, northern Saudi Arabia ( Alshammari, 2021).

Platyceps ventromaculatus (Gray, 1834) Fig. 9C

Material examined: EZC017, Abo Ma’an (Al Dhahi farms), 3.6.2023 . EZC039, Eastern Al Qudaih , 24.7.2023 . Observed: Al Ayashi (Al Huashem farm), 1.7.2023 .

Remarks: In the Arabian Penisula, the Hardwicke's rat snake is confined to eastern Arabia including all countries overlooking the Arabian Gulf ( Gasperetti, 1988). Haas (1957, 1961) reported this species from Dharan, Al Hassa, Jabal Qara and Al Qatif, and from Al Jubail by Martens (1996). Several records were also reported around the eastern coast by Mandeville (1967), Gallagher (1971) and Gasperetti (1988). It was collected from two localities in Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010).

Spalerosophis diadema cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837)

Observed: Al Sarar , 13.4.2023 . Hejrat Al Oseverat , 3.9.2023 . Qatar highway farms, 4.9.2023 .

Remarks: The diadem snake has an extensive range of distribution across North Africa reaching the Iranian plateau ( Sindaco et al., 2013). Recent molecular studies validated the presence of five species of this genus, and that S. d. cliffordii stands as a valid subspecies ( Yadollahvandmiandoab et al., 2023). It was not reported by Martens (1996) from Al Jubail, but reported from Hanidh ( Mandeville, 1967) and from several localities in Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010) This is a rather common species with a wide range of distribution across Saudi Arabia ( Gasperetti, 1988).

This snake is persecuted on the assumption that it is venomous owing to its large size and aggressive behaviour. All specimens recorded in this study were killed by farmers.

Figures

Figure 9. A. Eryx jayakari. B. Lytorhynchus diadema. C. Platyceps ventromaculatus. D. Malpolon moilensis. E. Psammophis schokari. F. Cerastes gasperetti.