Gekkonidae

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 : 71-72

Family Gekkonidae

Bunopus tuberculatus Blanford, 1874 Fig. 4A

Material examined: EZC013, Bar Al Qatif, 1.6.2023.

Remarks: This a widely distributed species across arid regions in northern and eastern Saudi Arabia and the Middle East ( Arnold, 1986). The Arabian desert gecko was reported around Riyadh ( Al-Sadoon, 1988), Al Jubail ( Martens, 1996), several localities in Al Hassa ( Haas, 1957; Al-Sadoon, 2010), Tabuk ( Aloufi & Amr, 2015), 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid and Harrat al Harrah ( Aloufi et al., 2022b). This species prefers sand habitats and becomes active at night.

Cyrtopodion scabrum (Heyden, 1827)

Material examined: EZC-003, Al Zahra District , 26.5.2023 . EZC029, Josameen , 9.6.2023 . EZC037, Al Ayashi (Al Jumailiah farm), 6.7.2023 . EZC040-042, Hejrat Al Oseferat , 28.8.2023 . EZC050, Al Judaedah valley , 1.9.2023 . EZC056, Al Ahsa National Park , 4.9.2023. KFUPM collection, Jana Island , 15.8.2016. KFUPM collection, 2 specimens, Karan Island , 12.8.2016. KFUPM collection, Kurain Island , 15.8.2016 .

Remarks: The rough bent-toed gecko has a wide range of distribution in the Middle East reaching the coastal regions of the Red Sea ( Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008). In Saudi Arabia, it was recorded from several localities in the eastern province by Haas (1957). It is mostly associated with urbanized areas inside buildings in Al Jubail and Riyadh regions ( Al-Sadoon, 1988; Martens, 1996). Carranza et al. (2021) stated that it is believed that the presence of this species in the Arabian Penisula represents human introductions. This species was found along with Hemidactylus persicus in building’s walls and agricultural areas in Hofuf and Al Aba, and copulation was observed in May ( Ross, 1993).

Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppell, 1835 Fig. 4B

Material examined: EZC001, Al Mezerea farm, 22.5.2023. EZC014, Al Ayashi Farm, 28.5.2023. EZC035- 36, Al Ayashi (Al Jumailiah farm), 6.7.2023.

Remarks: This is a very common species encountered in farms across the study area. The yellowbellied gecko is rather common along the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. It is believed that it was introduced to Africa and Arabia ( Carranza et al., 2021). It is usually found around human settlements and avoids extreme desert habitats. It was not reported from Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010), however, reported from walls of buildings in Al Aba and Al Jubail ( Ross, 1993; Martens, 1996). It was found on palm trees looking for a prey, and becomes active at 28 ° C and disappears as the temperature reaches 38 ° C ( Ross, 1993).

Hemidactylus persicus Anderson, 1872 Fig. 4C

Material examined: EZC038, Al Jarari District, 6.7.2023. EZC061, Al Ayashi (Al Jumailiah farm), 6.7.2023. Al Suhaemeah farms, 5.9.2023.

Remarks: The Persian leaf-toed gecko is a common species along the eastern part of the Arabian Penisula reaching as far as Iraq ( Carranza et al., 2021). It was previously recorded from Al Khobar and Dhahran ( Haas, 1957, 1961), Al Jubail ( Martens, 1996), however, with no records from Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010).

Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis Haas, 1957 Fig. 4D

Material examined: EZC036, Sabkhat As Sahadah, 6.6.2023.

Remarks: The distribution of the Gulf short-fingered gecko extends across eastern Arabia including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, south Oman, Bahrain and to the east reaching Iran ( Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008). This species was originally described from Al Khobar ( Haas, 1957). It prefers saltencrusted flats known as “ sabkha ” along the coastal areas, and areas with windblown sand along with dunes and scarce vegetation cover. Metallinou et al. (2014) presented a distribution map for this species in eastern Arabia.

Stenodactylus doriae (Blanford, 1874) Fig. 4F

Material examined: EZC024, Sabkhat As Sahadah, 6.6.2023. EZC044, Hejrat Al Oseferat, 24.8.2023.

Remarks: The Middle Eastern short-fingered gecko has a wide range of distribution across the deserts of the Middle East ( Carranza et al., 2021). It is one of the most common species in the sand deserts of Saudi Arabia ( Arnold, 1986). In eastern Saudi Arabia, it was reported from Al Jubail ( Martens, 1996) and Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010).

Stenodactylus slevini Haas, 1957 Fig. 4G

Material examined: EZC011-12, Bar Al Qatif, 1.6.2023. EZC025, Sabkhat As Sahadah, 6.6.2023. EZC030, Josameen, 9.6.2023. EZC043-47, Hejrat Al Oseferat, 24.8.2023.

Remarks: This species was originally described from Dhahran ( Haas, 1957). Slevin's short-fingered gecko has a wide range of distribution extending from the eastern Arabian Penisula, Kuwait, southern Iraq, reaching as far as southern deserts of Jordan ( Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008). It was reported from two localities in Al Hassa ( Al-Sadoon, 2010).

Trigonodactylus arabicus Haas, 1957 Fig. 4E

Material examined: EZC010, Bar Al Qatif, 1.6.2023. EZC031, Josameen, 9.6.2023.

Remarks: The Arabian sand gecko was found in dried salt marshes, known as “ sabkha ”. Its distribution range extends along eastern, central Saudi Arabia, eastern Arabia including Oman, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, and southern Jordan ( Pola et al., 2021). It was reported from Al Jubail ( Martens, 1996)

Figures

Figure 4. A. Bunopus tuberculatus. B. Hemidactylus flaviviridis. C. Hemidactylus persicus. D. Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis. E. Trigonodactylus arabicus. F. Stenodactylus doriae. G. Stenodactylus slevini. H. Pristurus rupestris (Photo by J. Babbington). I. Ptyodactylus cf hasselquistii.