Cryptic speciation in arid mountains: An integrative revision of the Pristurus rupestris species complex (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) from Arabia based on morphological, genetic and genomic data, with the description of four new species

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00023272%3A_____%2F25%3A10136857" target="_blank" >RIV/00023272:_____/25:10136857 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/25:10499146

Result on the web

<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315000" target="_blank" >https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315000</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315000" target="_blank" >10.1371/journal.pone.0315000</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Cryptic speciation in arid mountains: An integrative revision of the Pristurus rupestris species complex (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) from Arabia based on morphological, genetic and genomic data, with the description of four new species

Original language description

In the arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula, high levels of cryptic diversity among reptiles, and especially in geckos, have recently been revealed. Mountain ranges within the peninsula were shown to contain the highest richness of reptile endemicity, serving as refugia to species less adapted to the hyper-arid conditions of the lowlands. With up to 19 endemic reptile species, the Hajar Mountains of southeastern Arabia are a clear example of this pattern. Owing to its old geological history, complex topography and geographic isolation from the rest of the peninsula, this mountain range rises as a hotspot of reptile biodiversity and endemicity in Arabia, and provides the perfect scenario to study the processes of evolution and diversification of reptiles in arid mountain ranges. In the present study we investigate the systematics of the Pristurus rupestris species complex, a group of geckos exhibiting cryptic morphological traits along with a remarkably deep evolutionary history. Initially considered a single species distributed throughout coastal Arabia, and with some scattered populations at the Horn of Africa, several recent studies have shown that Pristurus rupestris actually comprises a species complex restricted to the Hajar Mountains of southeastern Arabia. Here, we utilize an integrative approach assembling several morphological, genetic, genomic, and ecological datasets to resolve this long-standing systematic challenge. Results support the existence of four new cryptic Pristurus species in the Hajar Mountains with three new Oman endemics. While no unique diagnostic morphological characters were identified, some slight morphological differences occur between species, especially among high-elevation species relative to the rest.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA22-12757S" target="_blank" >GA22-12757S: Genomic highways in extreme environments: historical and present patterns of population connectivity of desert reptiles</a><br>

Continuities

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Plos ONE

ISSN

1932-6203

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

20

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

85

Pages from-to

1-85

UT code for WoS article

001432410800035

EID of the result in the Scopus database

—