Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 

Species:

Mesalina cryptica  ŠMÍD et al., 2025

Synonyms:

Mesalina guttulata   SINDACO & JEREMCENKO, 2008

Common names:

Arabian small-spotted lizard (Englisch)

Types:

Holotype: NMP6V 76,937 (sample code CN15773; MorphoBank accessions: M908788–M908801.

Terra Typica:

Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Province, about 7 km N of Hadlulah Al Muzahimeyah (24.561°N, 46.307°E) 750 m a.s.l., collected by J. Šmíd, S. Carranza, M. Shobrak on 14 June 2019.


Relevant taxonomic literature:

  • Sindaco, R. & Simó-Riudalbas, M. & Sacchi, R. & Carranza, S. (2018) -  Systematics of the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Arabia with the description of two new species. -  Zootaxa, 4429 (3): 513-547.    

  • Šmíd, J. et al. (2025) -  Phylogeny and systematics of Arabian lacertids from the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae), with the description of a new species. -  BMC Zoology: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40850-025-00233-3