Rhynchocalamus dayanae TAMAR, ŠMÍD, GÖÇMEN, MEIRI & CARRANZA, 2016
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Rhynchocalamus dayanae
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Dayan’s Kukri Snake |
| Synonym | Rhynchocalamus dayanae TAMAR, ŠMÍD, GÖÇMEN, MEIRI & CARRANZA 2016 Rhynchocalamus dayanae — BAR et al. 2021 |
| Distribution | Israel (Negev Mountain) Type locality: road no. 40 near Nafha Prison, Negev Mountain, Israel, 30.7317 N 34.7709 E WGS84, 700 m above sea level (a.s.l.) |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: HUJ R21704, Adult male, collected on the 21st of June 2008 by Gal Vine (Fig. 3). Paratypes. TAU.R15930 (Adult male, collected from road no. 10, Nahal Batur, 30.3922N 34.5918E, 700 m a.s.l., by Aviad Bar on the 11th of July 2011); TAU.R17093 (Sub-adult male, collected from Mitzpe Ramon, 30.6108N 34.8029E, 850 m a.s.l., by Maya Spector on the 26th of October 2014); HUJ.R21705 (Adult male, collected from road no. 171, 30.5011N 34.5884E, by Gal Vine on the 3rd of June 2008). All paratypes (Fig. 3) were collected in the Negev Mountain area, Israel, and were included in the molecular analysis (Table S1). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A new species of Rhynchocalamus from the Negev Mountain in southern Israel characterized by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 259.8–432.1 mm in adults; (2) tail length 59.2–94.1 mm in adults; (3) loreal scale present; (4) 3rd and 4th upper labial scales large and in contact with the eye; (5) one preocular scale; (6) usually two postocular scales on either side; (7) one temporal scale; (8) one post-temporal; (9) six upper labial scales; (10) eight lower labial scales; (11) four lower labial scales in contact with the anterior inframaxillars; (12) single gular scale in contact with anterior inframaxillars, situated between the posterior inframaxillars; (13) 2–8 gular rows separate the posterior inframaxillars from the 1st ventral; (14) 10–16 black dorsal scales in mid-body (Figs. 3–5); (15) 10–12 dorsal and temporal scales surrounding the margin of parietals; (16) 188–229 ventrals; (17) anal and subcaudal scales divided; (18) 54–62 subcaudal scales. |
| Comment | Distribution: see Bar et al. 2021 for a map. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet, ‘‘dayanae,’’ is named in honour of Professor Tamar Dayan, director of the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University and curator of the Terrestrial Vertebrate Collection. This naming of the new species constitutes a special recognition of Professor Dayan by two of her former students (KT and SM) to acknowledge her immense contribution to the conservation of Israeli fauna, and her efforts in establishing the National Natural History Museum at Tel Aviv University, and in promoting taxonomy, conservation and ecology studies in Israel. |
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