Diversity and conservation of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles and amphibians in Saudi Arabia.

摘要

This review describes the diversity of the freshwater, marine, and terrestrial herpetofauna of theKingdom of Saudi Arabia that consists of 128 extant species and subspecies; 121 species and subspecies ofreptiles and seven species of amphibians according to current taxonomic systems. Four main categories ofthreats affecting amphibians and reptiles were identified as habitat loss and degradation, water issues, humandisturbance and related activities, and legislation and public awareness; and supportive examples for eachcategory are provided. Key species that require urgent protection are: Chalcides levitoni, Platyceps insulanus,Dasypeltis scabra, Hemidactylus alfarraji, Hemidactylus asirensis, Hemidactylus mindiae, Lytorhynchusgasperetti, Pelomedusa barbata, Phoenicolacerta kulzeri ssp., Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei, and Varanusyemenensis, due to their limited distribution, as well as Uromastyx aegyptia due to over-harvesting and trade.According to the IUCN Red List, eight of these species are Data Deficient, four are Vulnerable, one CriticallyEndangered, and one Near Threatened. The status of herpetofauna in Saudi Arabia is still far from beingcompletely understood. Nevertheless, the lack of formal conservation measures and low public concern makesamphibians and reptiles extremely vulnerable in the near future.