Taxonomic diversity of the genus Pseudotrapelus (Agamidae; Sauria) and biogeography of Afro-Arabia

D.A. Melnikov and E.N. Melnikova

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2013, 317(4): 438–451 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2013.317.4.438

Full text

Abstract

This is the first annotated check-list on taxonomic structure of Pseudotrapelus, a genus that was considered previously to be monotypic. The paper is based on a large collection (more than 250 specimens from the whole range of the genus), and represents the first publication about this genus in Russian. Five Pseudotrapelus species are divided into two groups: the African one with Ps. sinaitus sensu stricto and the Arabian one with Ps. neumanni, Ps. aqabensis, Ps. dhofarensis and Ps. jensvindumi. The division into two groups was caused, probably, by separation of Arabia from Africa 28–23 mya. The collision of these landmasses via the Gomphoterium land bridge, south from the Sinai Peninsula 18–15 mya caused the secondary colonization of Arabia by Pseudotrapelus (this time by Ps. sinaitus) and formation of the sympathry zone and, probably, hybridization with the Arabian species group in the Aqaba area. South-Western Arabia is the center of recent taxonomic diversity of Pseudotrapelus.

Key words

Afro-Arabia, biogeography, Pseudotrapelus, taxonomy

Submitted October 15, 2013 · Accepted December 10, 2013 · Published December 30, 2013

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