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Acanthodactylus boskianus is a widespread species in Northern Africa and Western Asia. In this study, we used morphological and genetic approaches to study populations of A. boskianus from the Zagros Mountains in western Iran, the easternmost limit of the species’ distribution. Our morphological and genetic data indicate that populations of A. boskianus in Iran are distinct from other populations of A. boskianus. Therefore, we describe the Iranian populations as Acanthodactylus zagrosicus sp. nov. The new species is the third endemic species of Acanthodactylus in Iran and the ninth Acanthodactylus species distributed in Iran overall. According to our surveys, this species is distributed widely in the Zagros Mountains including Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, and Khuzestan Provinces.

Ghaedi, Zeinab, Badri, Sahar, Saberi-Pirooz, Reihaneh, Vaissi, Somaye, Javidkar, Mohammad, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham (2021): The Zagros Mountains acting as a natural barrier to gene flow in the Middle East: more evidence from the evolutionary history of spiny-tailed lizards (Uromasticinae: Saara). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 192 (4): 1123-1136, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa113, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/192/4/1123/5959944

Mozaffari, Omid, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Saberi-Pirooz, Reihaneh (2020): Fahimi's racerunner, a new species of the genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Iran. Zootaxa 4768 (4): 565-578, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4768.4.7

Eremias fahimii sp. nov. (Figs. 3 and 4) Eremias persica Anderson, 1999: 221 (part.); Leviton, Anderson, Adler and Minton, 1992: 57 (part.); Mozaffari, Kamali and Fahimi, 2006: 176 (part.). Diagnosis. An Eremias species with three nasals; lower nasal resting on two supralabials; subocular bordering mouth; lateral scales of forth toe not forming distinct fringes; forth toe with single complete row of subdigital scales; the two series of femoral pores separated by a single scale; collar scales distinctly larger than adjacent gulars; 30���31 gulars in straight median series; 60���63 dorsals; 31 scales in the tenth caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Comparisons. Whether the subgenera represent monophyletic groups or not, as morphologically-defined taxa they are useful bins for comparing and diagnosing our new species. Eremias fahimii sp. nov. can be excluded from the subgenus Scapteira by lacking the lateral fringes on the fourth toe (Fig. 3D) and by a subocular scale that is in contact with the edge of mouth (Fig. 3C). The latter character also excludes it from the subgenus Ommateremias. It can be excluded from the subgenus Rhabderemias by its large size and by having longitudinal dorsal stripes that are broken into a spotted pattern (Anderson, 1999). Within the Iranian members of the subgenus Eremias, E. fahimii sp. nov. can be differentiated from E. isfahanica by having more supralabial scales (9���10 vs. 6���8) 6���7 of them located anterior to subocular (vs. 5), smaller gap between femoral pores (1 scale vs. 3) (Fig. 3E), fewer supraciliary scales (5���6 vs. 7) and fewer subdigital lamella under the 4 th toe (20���21 vs. 22���26). It can be distinguished from Eremias kopetdaghica Szczerbak, 1972 by having more mid-dorsum scales (60-63 vs. 48-59), more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 20���26), more gular scales (30���31 vs. 19���28) (Fig. 3A) and the absence distinctly keeled upper caudal scales (Fig. 3F). With the latter character, it can be distinguished from Eremias strauchi Kessler, 1878. It can be distinguished from E. lalezharica by having more mid-dorsum scales (60���63 vs. 54���59), more pairs of submaxillary shields (5 vs.4) (Fig. 3A), fewer gular scales (30���31 vs. 33���40), fewer collar scales (12 vs. 13���15), more femoral pores (19���21 vs. 16���18) and a smaller gap between the femoral pores (1 scale vs. 3���5). It can be distinguished from E. montana by having more transverse rows of ventral plates (31���32 vs. 27���28), more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 27���28), more gular scales (30���31 vs. 23���25), more collar scales (12 vs. 9���11) and more supralabials anterior to subocular (6���7 vs. 4���5) (Fig. 3C). It can be distinguished from E. papenfussi by having more supralabial scales (9���10 vs. 8), 6���7 of them located anterior to the subocular (vs. 5), more gular scales (30���31 vs. 24���28) and more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 23���28). There are also very obvious differences in the shape and size of the parietals, interparietal and frontoparietals. E. fahimii sp. nov. has a relatively large quadrilateral interparietal (vs. small oval in E. papenfussi) and the length of this scale is almost as long as the parietals��� junction and a little bit shorter than the frontoparietals��� junction; While this length is about half of the parietals��� junction and a third of the frontoparietals��� junction in E. papenfussi. Quadrilateral shape of interparietal in E. fahimii sp. nov. has led frontoparietals to grow trapezoidal and parietals to grow almost rectangular. But in E. papenfussi that is opposite. Frontoparietals are rectangular and parietals are trapezoidal (Figs. 3B and 6). E remias fahimii sp. nov. can be distinguished from Eremias suphani Basoglu and Hellmich, 1968 by lacking the extension of gular scales to the second inframaxiallary scales (Franzen & Heckes, 1999) (the second and third pair of submaxillary shields are in contact) (Fig. 3A). It can be distinguished from Eremias velox Pallas, 1771 by having more mid-dorsum scales (60���63 vs. 46���56) and more gular scales (30���31 vs. 23���25). Regarding to its color pattern in adult form, it can also distinguish from E. kopetdaghica, E. strauchi, E. lalezharica and E. velox by absence of lateral color ocellus (Fig. 4) (Mozaffari et al., 2016). Description of Holotype (ZFMK 102757). Size: A medium-sized Eremias with a SVL of 54.5 mm and TL of 147 mm. Scalation (Fig. 3): Subocular bordering mouth; 9/10 supralabials, six/seven anterior to subocular; lower nasal rests on first and second supralabials as well as the frontonasal; three (two large and one small) supraocular scales; lateral scales of the fourth toe do not form distinct fringes and 20/21 subdigital lamella under the toe; two rows of 19/20 femoral pores separated by a single scale that reach the knee; five submaxillary shields, first three pairs in contact; 30 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 12 scales; 60 scales across middorsum; 15 longitudinal and 32 transverse rows of ventral plates; 31 scales in the 10 th caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Description of Paratype (ZFMK 102758). Size: SVL of 56 mm and TL of 149.7 mm. Scalation: Subocular bordering mouth; 9 supralabials, six anterior to subocular; lower nasal rests on first and second supralabials as well as the frontonasal; three (two large and one small) supraocular scales; lateral scales of the fourth toe do not form distinct fringes and 20 subdigital lamella under the toe; two rows of 20/21 femoral pores separated by a single scale that reach the knees; five submaxillary shields, first three pairs in contact; 31 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 12 scales; 63 scales across mid-dorsum; 15 longitudinal and 32 transverse rows of ventral plates; 31 scales in the 10 th caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Table 1 shows the variation between the holotype and the paratype. Coloration. In life, the dorsum is dark brown to black with a series of five longitudinal light cream or milky white stripes. The medial stripe starts anteriorly at the posterior margin of the parietals. But four other stripes start from the anterior margin of parietals, passing through them. The inner stripe pair connect with each other in the pelvic region; but the outer pair extends to at least the anterior third of the tail. Sometimes the black or dark brown space between light stripes breaks up and makes dark irregular spots in a light brown or sandy background. Another two pairs of light lateral stripes on each side of body, one starts at the upper and the other starts about the lower edge of the ear opening. Both stripes may break up into small light spots on flanks. Head is sandy to light brown with irregular black spots. Dorsal side of the limbs is light brown with black irregular cloudy patterns and light spots. Dorsal side of the tail light brown, dark brown or black with previous mentioned light stripes (Fig. 4). The venter and ventral side of tail milky white. Etymology. According to Arnold et al. (2007), ��� Eremias is a Greek noun meaning solitary devotee, and is related to Eremia, signifying an isolated place or desert.��� (Arnold et al., 2007; Mozaffari & Parham, 2007) The epithet fahimii is for Hadi Fahimi (1980-2018), a great young ecologist, environmentalist, herpetologist, mammalogist, co-author of the Atlas of Reptiles of Iran (Mozaffari et al., 2016) and friend of the authors, who passed away too soon in a plane crash. Remarks. Habitat in type locality consists of mild slopes and covered with highly weathered rocky materials. The dominant vegetation is Atriphaxis, Artemisia, Peganum and annual grass (Fig. 5). Examining fecal materials shows that like almost all Eremias species, they feed on small arthropods. The main ingested food of the two specimens were coleopterans, because of their availability due to the beginning of the dispersal season of these insects. The other reptile species syntopic with Eremias fahimii sp. nov. are Eumeces schneiderii Daudin, 1802, Malpolon insignitus Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809, Mesalina watsonana Stoliczka, 1872, Ophisops elegans Menetries, 1832, Psammophis schokari Forskal, 1775 and Trapelus agilis Olivier, 1807., Published as part of Mozaffari, Omid, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham & Saberi-Pirooz, Reihaneh, 2020, Fahimi's racerunner, a new species of the genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Iran, pp. 565-578 in Zootaxa 4768 (4) on pages 571-573, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4768.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/3785866, {"references":["Anderson, S. C. (1999) The Lizards of Iran. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, 442 pp.","Leviton, A. E., Anderson, S. C., Adler, K. & Minton, S. A. (1992) Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, 252 pp.","Szczerbak, N. N. (1972) New subspecies of Eremias strauchi - Eremias strauchi kopetdaghica ssp. nova (Sauria, Reptilia) from Turkmenia. Vestnik Zoologii, 6, 83 - 86.","Franzen, M. & Heckes, U. (1999) Eremia susphani Basoglu & Hellmich, 1968 und Eremias strauchi Kessler, 1878 in der ostlichen Turkei: Diagnostische Merkmale, Verbreitung und Lebensraume (Sauria: Lacertidae). Salamandra, 35 (4), 255 - 266.","Mozaffari, O., Kamali, K. & Fahimi, H. (2016) Atlas of Reptiles of Iran. Iran department of the environment, Tehran, 361 pp.","Arnold, E. N., Arribas, O. & Carranza, S. (2007) Systematics of the Palearctic and Oriental lizard Tribe Lacertini (Squamata: Lacertidae: Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa, 1430 (1), 1 - 86. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1430.1.1","Mozaffari, O. & Parham, J. F. (2007) A new species of racerunner lizard (Lacertidae: Eremias) from Iran. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 58, 569 - 574."]}

Eremias persica and similar species Blanford described Eremias persica in 1875 but the type locality is not exact and limited to just ���near Esfahan ���. In 1974 Szczerbak designated the lectotype, but did not give a register number. Therefore there isn���t any certain specimen from the type series. Since there are many specimens identified as Eremias persica (Anderson, 1999; Leviton et al., 1992; Mozaffari et al., 2006) from all over Iran���s central and eastern plateau and the new population of Eremias from Markazi Province of Iran shows some morphological similarities to the E. persica, two groups of datasets where added to the phylogenetic analyses; one group from around the type locality and the other from north easternmost known population of this species due to this possibility that the recent new population of Eremias could be the north westernmost population of E. persica. According to combined morphological and genetic evidence, the new population of Eremias from Markazi Province of Iran is considered as undescribed species., Published as part of Mozaffari, Omid, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham & Saberi-Pirooz, Reihaneh, 2020, Fahimi's racerunner, a new species of the genus Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Iran, pp. 565-578 in Zootaxa 4768 (4) on page 571, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4768.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/3785866, {"references":["Anderson, S. C. (1999) The Lizards of Iran. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, 442 pp.","Leviton, A. E., Anderson, S. C., Adler, K. & Minton, S. A. (1992) Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, 252 pp."]}

Eremias fahimii sp. nov. (Figs. 3 and 4) Eremias persica Anderson, 1999: 221 (part.); Leviton, Anderson, Adler and Minton, 1992: 57 (part.); Mozaffari, Kamali and Fahimi, 2006: 176 (part.). Diagnosis. An Eremias species with three nasals; lower nasal resting on two supralabials; subocular bordering mouth; lateral scales of forth toe not forming distinct fringes; forth toe with single complete row of subdigital scales; the two series of femoral pores separated by a single scale; collar scales distinctly larger than adjacent gulars; 30–31 gulars in straight median series; 60–63 dorsals; 31 scales in the tenth caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Comparisons. Whether the subgenera represent monophyletic groups or not, as morphologically-defined taxa they are useful bins for comparing and diagnosing our new species. Eremias fahimii sp. nov. can be excluded from the subgenus Scapteira by lacking the lateral fringes on the fourth toe (Fig. 3D) and by a subocular scale that is in contact with the edge of mouth (Fig. 3C). The latter character also excludes it from the subgenus Ommateremias. It can be excluded from the subgenus Rhabderemias by its large size and by having longitudinal dorsal stripes that are broken into a spotted pattern (Anderson, 1999). Within the Iranian members of the subgenus Eremias, E. fahimii sp. nov. can be differentiated from E. isfahanica by having more supralabial scales (9–10 vs. 6–8) 6–7 of them located anterior to subocular (vs. 5), smaller gap between femoral pores (1 scale vs. 3) (Fig. 3E), fewer supraciliary scales (5–6 vs. 7) and fewer subdigital lamella under the 4 th toe (20–21 vs. 22–26). It can be distinguished from Eremias kopetdaghica Szczerbak, 1972 by having more mid-dorsum scales (60-63 vs. 48-59), more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 20–26), more gular scales (30–31 vs. 19–28) (Fig. 3A) and the absence distinctly keeled upper caudal scales (Fig. 3F). With the latter character, it can be distinguished from Eremias strauchi Kessler, 1878. It can be distinguished from E. lalezharica by having more mid-dorsum scales (60–63 vs. 54–59), more pairs of submaxillary shields (5 vs.4) (Fig. 3A), fewer gular scales (30–31 vs. 33–40), fewer collar scales (12 vs. 13–15), more femoral pores (19–21 vs. 16–18) and a smaller gap between the femoral pores (1 scale vs. 3–5). It can be distinguished from E. montana by having more transverse rows of ventral plates (31–32 vs. 27–28), more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 27–28), more gular scales (30–31 vs. 23–25), more collar scales (12 vs. 9–11) and more supralabials anterior to subocular (6–7 vs. 4–5) (Fig. 3C). It can be distinguished from E. papenfussi by having more supralabial scales (9–10 vs. 8), 6–7 of them located anterior to the subocular (vs. 5), more gular scales (30–31 vs. 24–28) and more scales in the 10 th caudal annulus (31 vs. 23–28). There are also very obvious differences in the shape and size of the parietals, interparietal and frontoparietals. E. fahimii sp. nov. has a relatively large quadrilateral interparietal (vs. small oval in E. papenfussi) and the length of this scale is almost as long as the parietals’ junction and a little bit shorter than the frontoparietals’ junction; While this length is about half of the parietals’ junction and a third of the frontoparietals’ junction in E. papenfussi. Quadrilateral shape of interparietal in E. fahimii sp. nov. has led frontoparietals to grow trapezoidal and parietals to grow almost rectangular. But in E. papenfussi that is opposite. Frontoparietals are rectangular and parietals are trapezoidal (Figs. 3B and 6). E remias fahimii sp. nov. can be distinguished from Eremias suphani Basoglu and Hellmich, 1968 by lacking the extension of gular scales to the second inframaxiallary scales (Franzen & Heckes, 1999) (the second and third pair of submaxillary shields are in contact) (Fig. 3A). It can be distinguished from Eremias velox Pallas, 1771 by having more mid-dorsum scales (60–63 vs. 46–56) and more gular scales (30–31 vs. 23–25). Regarding to its color pattern in adult form, it can also distinguish from E. kopetdaghica, E. strauchi, E. lalezharica and E. velox by absence of lateral color ocellus (Fig. 4) (Mozaffari et al., 2016). Description of Holotype (ZFMK 102757). Size: A medium-sized Eremias with a SVL of 54.5 mm and TL of 147 mm. Scalation (Fig. 3): Subocular bordering mouth; 9/10 supralabials, six/seven anterior to subocular; lower nasal rests on first and second supralabials as well as the frontonasal; three (two large and one small) supraocular scales; lateral scales of the fourth toe do not form distinct fringes and 20/21 subdigital lamella under the toe; two rows of 19/20 femoral pores separated by a single scale that reach the knee; five submaxillary shields, first three pairs in contact; 30 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 12 scales; 60 scales across middorsum; 15 longitudinal and 32 transverse rows of ventral plates; 31 scales in the 10 th caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Description of Paratype (ZFMK 102758). Size: SVL of 56 mm and TL of 149.7 mm. Scalation: Subocular bordering mouth; 9 supralabials, six anterior to subocular; lower nasal rests on first and second supralabials as well as the frontonasal; three (two large and one small) supraocular scales; lateral scales of the fourth toe do not form distinct fringes and 20 subdigital lamella under the toe; two rows of 20/21 femoral pores separated by a single scale that reach the knees; five submaxillary shields, first three pairs in contact; 31 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 12 scales; 63 scales across mid-dorsum; 15 longitudinal and 32 transverse rows of ventral plates; 31 scales in the 10 th caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keels. Table 1 shows the variation between the holotype and the paratype. Coloration. In life, the dorsum is dark brown to black with a series of five longitudinal light cream or milky white stripes. The medial stripe starts anteriorly at the posterior margin of the parietals. But four other stripes start from the anterior margin of parietals, passing through them. The inner stripe pair connect with each other in the pelvic region; but the outer pair extends to at least the anterior third of the tail. Sometimes the black or dark brown space between light stripes breaks up and makes dark irregular spots in a light brown or sandy background. Another two pairs of light lateral stripes on each side of body, one starts at the upper and the other starts about the lower edge of the ear opening. Both stripes may break up into small light spots on flanks. Head is sandy to light brown with irregular black spots. Dorsal side of the limbs is light brown with black irregular cloudy patterns and light spots. Dorsal side of the tail light brown, dark brown or black with previous mentioned light stripes (Fig. 4). The venter and ventral side of tail milky white. Etymology. According to Arnold et al. (2007), “ Eremias is a Greek noun meaning solitary devotee, and is related to Eremia, signifying an isolated place or desert.” (Arnold et al., 2007; Mozaffari & Parham, 2007) The epithet fahimii is for Hadi Fahimi (1980-2018), a great young ecologist, environmentalist, herpetologist, mammalogist, co-author of the Atlas of Reptiles of Iran (Mozaffari et al., 2016) and friend of the authors, who passed away too soon in a plane crash. Remarks. Habitat in type locality consists of mild slopes and covered with highly weathered rocky materials. The dominant vegetation is Atriphaxis, Artemisia, Peganum and annual grass (Fig. 5). Examining fecal materials shows that like almost all Eremias species, they feed on small arthropods. The main ingested food of the two specimens were coleopterans, because of their availability due to the beginning of the dispersal season of these insects. The other reptile species syntopic with Eremias fahimii sp. nov. are Eumeces schneiderii Daudin, 1802, Malpolon insignitus Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809, Mesalina watsonana Stoliczka, 1872, Ophisops elegans Menetries, 1832, Psammophis schokari Forskal, 1775 and Trapelus agilis Olivier, 1807.

Saberi-Pirooz, Reihaneh, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Ataei, Saeedeh, Taati, Mehrnaz, Qashqaei, Ali Turk, Carretero, Miguel A. (2018): A phylogenetic assessment of the meadow lizard Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834) from Iran. Zootaxa 4441 (1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4441.1.2

Badiane, Arnaud, Garcia-Porta, Joan, Červenka, Jan, Kratochvíl, Lukáš, Sindaco, Roberto, Robinson, Michael D., Morales, Hernan, Mazuch, Tomáš, Price, Thomas, Amat, Fèlix, Shobrak, Mohammed Y., Wilms, Thomas, Simó-Riudalbas, Marc, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Papenfuss, Theodore J., Cluchier, Alexandre, Viglione, Julien, Carranza, Salvador (2014): Phylogenetic relationships of Semaphore geckos (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae: Pristurus) with an assessment of the taxonomy of Pristurus rupestris. Zootaxa 3835 (1): 33-58, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3835.1.2

Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. nov. Tropiocolotes steudneri ��� Gholamifard et al. 2010: 61 Holotype. ZFMK 92344, Bushehr Province, Asalouyeh, Nayband, Iran; 46 m asl. [27 �� 19 ��� 59,52������ N, 52 �� 39 ��� 28,94������ E], coll. M. Moazeni, 10 February 2011; Paratypes: ZFMK 92345 - 48, Bushehr Province, Asalouyeh, Nayband, Iran; 46 m asl. [27 �� 19 ��� 59,52������ N, 52 �� 39 ��� 28,94������ E], coll. M. Moazeni, 10 February 2011. Diagnosis. Tropiocolotes naybandensis sp. nov. differs from T. tripolitanus, T. scorteccii, T. algericus, T. somalicus, T. occidentalis and T. bisharicus by possessing smooth or weakly keeled dorsal scales and smooth ventral scales (versus strongly keeled scales in T. tripolitanus, T. scorteccii, T. algericus, T. somalicus, T. occidentalis and T. bisharicus). It differs from T. nattereri, by possessing clearly tricarinated subdigital scales (versus smooth subdigital scales). It is distinguised from T. wolfgangboehmei by having three pairs of postmental scales (two pairs in T. wolfgangboehmei) and by a completely different coloration and pattern (see Fig. 7 versusversus Fig. 9). It is differentiated from T. nubicus by having slightly keeled scales on tail and flanks (versus smooth scales in T. nubicus) and larger gular scales (26-29 versus 31-38 in T. nubicus). T. naybandensis differs from T. steudneri by possessing larger gular scales (26-29 versus 30-42 in T. steudneri) and by differences in pattern (see Fig. 7 versus Fig. 10). Description of the Holotype (Figs. 7���8). An adult male with intact tail; snout-vent-length (SVL) 29.28 mm; tail length 34.31 mm; tail 1.17 times SVL, cylindrical tapering evenly to its tip; head narrow, 8.45 mm long (about 28.8 % of SVL); head width (HW) 5.22 mm; head height (HH). 3.1 mm; eye diameter (ED) 2.17 mm; distance eye - snout (ESD) 2.84 mm; distance eye - ear (EED) 2.07mm; neck distinct, right limb length 9.58 mm; subdigital lamellae strongly tricarinate; lamellar formula (digit 1 to 5) for left manus is 11, 12, 15, 14, 12; rostral 1.35 times as wide as high, divided by a median cleft; nostril bordered by rostral, first upper labial and two small postnasals, which are separated by two large internasals; snout covered by irregularly shaped pentagonal and hexagonal scales which are juxtaposed; loreal region slightly swollen, scalation not different to remaining snout; 21 interorbitals, 10 / 10 upper labials, 8 / 8 lower labials; occipitalregion covered by juxtaposed scales slightly larger than the interorbitals; mental slightly wider than rostral, triangular in shape extending posteriorly not to the level of the suture between first and second lower labials; one pair of large postmentals, in contact with mental and the first two lower labials on the right body side and only in contact with the first lower labial on the left body side; second pair of postmentals only about one third the size of the first postmentals, separated from each other by three granular scales; the second pair of postmentals is in contact with the second lower labials (right body side) and with the first and second lower labial (left body side); the third pair of postmentals is only about a fourth of the size of the first postmental and not essentially larger than the surrounding scales but clearly discernible; body scalation along the vertebrate line homogenous, sub imbricate and smooth or weakly keeled. Flank scalation imbricate and clearly keeled; dorsal sides of forelimbs covered with imbricate scales, scales of ventral sides juxtaposed, partly imbricat and slightly swollen; dorsal and ventral sides of hind limbs covered with imbricate scales; ventral scales smooth, posteriorly pointed; dorsal and ventral scales of the tail homogenous and imbricate; scales at tail base not clearly carinated, but becoming increasingly so distally; hemipeneal pockets are well developed with three enlarged tubercular scales on either side; 3 postmental shields (PstmS); 21 interorbital scales including ciliary scales (IOS); 10 supralabial scales (Supralab); 7 sublabial scales (Sublab); 29 gular scales (Gulars); 2 nasalia (Nasalia); two internasal scales (INasals); 16 subdigital lamellae under the 1 st toe (SDL 1. toe); 18 subdigitallamellae under the 3 rd toe (SDL 3. toe); 60 scales around midbody (SAM); 77 ventral scales (Ventrals); three keels on each subdigitallamellae (KSDL); SVL/TL 0.85; SVL/HL 3.46; SVL/Arm length 3.06; SVL/Leg length 2.12; SVL/ED 13.49; HL/ED 3.89; HL/HH 2.72; HL/HW 1.63; Upper arm/ forearm 0.58; Thigh/shank 0.54. Dorsal side of head, body and limbs ivory-coloured with small, irregularly distributed dark brown (mostly star like) blotches on most scales; Only scales behind the eyes and on the nape predominantly brown, others more or less flecked, giving the animal a speckled appearance; On each side of the vertebral line six big unflecked (ivory-coloured) areas which are clearly separated but somehow forming transversal bands with single ivory-coloured scales in between; Tail with 13 ivory-coloured transversal bands; Ventral side of head, body and limbs ivory coloured and completely without any pattern; Ventral side of the tail also ivory-coloured and slightly speckled with small dark brown blotches. Variation of the Paratypes (ZFMK 92345 - 48). Of the four paratypes two are males (ZFMK 92347 - 48) and two are females (ZFMK 92345 - 46), of which ZFMK 92347 has an incomplete tail. Paratypes do not differ from the holotype regarding scalation, colouration and pattern; 3 postmental shields (PstmS); 17-22 interorbital scales including ciliary scales (IOS); 10-11 supralabial scales (Supralab); 7-8 sublabial scales (Sublab); 26-29 gular scales (Gulars); 2 nasalia (Nasalia); 2 internasal scales (INasals); 16 subdigital lamellae under the 1 st toe (SDL 1. toe); 17-18 subdigitallamellae under the 3 rd toe (SDL 3. toe); 56-60 scales around midbody (SAM); 74-78 ventral scales (Ventrals); three keels on each subdigital lamellae (KSDL); snout-vent- length (SVL) 27.10-32.41 mm; tail length (TL) 29.46-35.46 mm; head length (HL) 7.7-8.1 mm; head width (HW) 4.4 -5.0 mm; head height (HH 3.0- 3.1 mm; eye diameter (ED 1.8-1.9 mm; distance eye - snout (ESD 2.0- 2.2 mm; distance eye - ear (EED) 2.0- 2.4 mm; SVL/TL 0.84-0.91; SVL/HL 3.51-4.02; SVL/Arm length 2.60-3.02; SVL/Leg length 1.93-2.23; SVL/ED 14.26-16.88; HL/ED 4.05-4.35; HL/HH 2.51-2.62; HL/HW 1.60-1.72; Upper arm/ forearm 0.54-0.58; Thigh/shank 0.53-0.63. Etymology. This species is named after the type locality Nayband (Figs. 11 & 12). Ecological notes. The ecology of this species is largely unknown. Specimens were found under stones. The species is nocturnal and starts its activity at dawn. The type locality is a semi desert habitat, sparsely vegetated with Ziziphus spina-christi, Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflor, Calotropis procera, Ficus religiosa, Lycium edgewothii and Zygophyllum atriplicoides. Its climate is characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The collection site is close to the sea (only some hundred meters away). Sympatric lizard and snake species are: Hemidactylus flaviviridis R��ppell, Hemidactylus persicus Anderson, Pristurus rupestris Blanford, Cyrtopodion kiabii Ahmadzadeh, Flecks, Torki & B��hme, Laudakia nupta (De Filippi) and Echis carinatus (Schneider)., Published as part of Krause, Valentina, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Moazeni, Mostafa, Wagner, Philipp & Wilms, Thomas M., 2013, A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from western Iran (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) in Zootaxa 3716 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3716.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/215791

Krause, Valentina, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Moazeni, Mostafa, Wagner, Philipp, Wilms, Thomas M. (2013): A new species of the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 from western Iran (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa 3716 (1), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3716.1.2

Dezfoulian, Raheleh, Mebert, Konrad, Karami, Mahmoud, Kaboli, Mohammad, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham (2012): Habitat factors determining the distribution of the Caucasian Agama, Laudakia caucasia, (Squamata: Agamidae) in the Sorkh-e-Hesar National Park, Tehran province, Iran. Journal of Natural History 46 (43-44): 2735-2747, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.717642, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2012.717642

Cyrtopodion kiabii sp. nov. (Figs. 1 to 5) Holotype. ZFMK 91834 (field no. 138), adult male, collected 4.5 km SW of Nayband village at a distance of approx. 300 m to coast of Persian Gulf, 27 �� 21 ��� 9.5 ������ N, 52 �� 37 ��� 56.5 ������ E, 108 m above sea level, Bushehr Province, southern Iran, on 14 July 2007 by F. Ahmadzadeh. Paratypes. ZFMK 91835 (field no. 190), adult female, same locality and collection data as the holotype; ZFMK 91836, adult male, same locality as the holotype, collected on 30 June 2010 by F. Ahmadzadeh. Other specimens. FA 1001, adult male, same locality as the holotype, collected on 30 June 2010 by F. Ahmadzadeh. Diagnosis. A small and slender Cyrtopodion species of the agamuroides -group with angular-shaped toes and a maximal snout-vent length of 46.9 mm. Limbs are very long and thin, so that knee and elbow���at least in malesmeet when pressed alongside the straightened body. The head width is less than two thirds of the head length and the neck is about half as wide as the head, underlining the overall appearance, which is even more delicate than in the other species of the agamuroides -group. The eyes are large in relation to the short snout, which is barely longer than the diameter of the orbit (fig. 2). Due to the swollen nasals, the nostrils seem to be mounted. Postmentals are distinctly larger than the posterior gular scales, whereas Agamura has small, indistinguishable postmentals. The anterior pair of postmentals may be in contact or separated from each other by a diminutive median scale (fig. 2). Ventrals are large, with ten to twelve scales transversely across midbody (fig. 3), which is less in number than in the related species (14 to 18 in C. gastropholis, 22 to 28 in C. golubevi, 28 to 32 in C. persepolense, and 28 to 38 in C. agamuroides). Longitudinally, there are 98 to 104 scales between the mental and the vent, which is at the upper end of the variation observed within C. gastropholis and less than in the remaining species. Subdigital lamellae are not tuberculous as in Bunopus. Numbers under the fourth finger and fourth toe range from 22 to 24 and 25 to 28, respectively. Males possess four active preanal pores (fig. 4), separating the species from C. agamuroides which has only two. The subfemoral scales are larger than the surrounding scales, but no femoral pores or femoral tubercles are developed, distinguishing it from all members of the subgenus Tenuidactylus. Dorsal tubercles are roundish and equal to or larger than interspaces (versus trihedral and smaller than interspaces in the subgenus Cyrtopodion) and arranged in nine rows along the back. The tail is whorled and distinct caudal tubercles are present, both characters further discriminating this species from Agamura. The tubercles form the terminal row of each whorl opposed to being located in the middle of each whorl as in Mediodactylus. The subcaudal scalation is homogenous, a character practicable to distinguish all members of the agamuroides -group from the otherwise similar C. kirmanense which has a heterogeneous scalation under the tail. Subcaudals are arranged in a single row of transversely enlarged scales, as in C. gastropholis and C. golubevi, whereas, in C. persepolense the enlarged subcaudals are bifurcated and form a double row. In contrast, C. agamuroides does not have distinctly enlarged subcaudals. A comparison of the diagnostic characters of the agamuroides -group is shown in table 1. explained in the text. Values given (except for the categorical characters) are mean value, standard deviation and range. Values for C. golubevi, C. persepolense and C. agamuroides were calculated using the data presented by Nazarov et al. (2009). Description of holotype. Snout-vent length 46.9 mm, tail length 46.3 mm with the distal 26 mm regenerated. Forelimbs (measured from shoulder to carpus) are approximately half as long as the distance between snout and vent and hindlimbs (measured from pelvic hinge to carpus) are two thirds of the snout-vent length. The head is 1.6 times longer than wide and twice as wide as the neck. The orbit is nearly as large as the snout length. The nostril is pierced just above the suture of the rostral and first labial, contacting both and further surrounded by three smaller nasals. These scales around the nostril appear to be swollen. The rostral is large and has a long median groove from its posterior end to nearly the tip of the snout. Three internasals are bordering posteriorly with the median one being slightly embedded into the rostral groove. Numbers of supralabials total eleven and twelve on left and right side, respectively; ten infralabials on each side. The mental shield is large and triangular to pentagonal, followed posteriorly by three pairs of large postmentals, with the median pair divided from each other by a diminutive scale. There are twelve ventrals transversely across midbody and 104 ventrals in a longitudinal median row between mental and cloaca. 22 subdigital lamellae under the fourth finger and 26 under the fourth toe. The obviously adult male specimen has four active preanal pores within very large scales, no femoral pores are present, but subfemoral scales are enlarged. The scales directly behind the preanal pores are also larger than other surrounding scales. Two postcloacal tubercles are located on each side of the base of the tail. Nine rows of dorsal tubercles run across the middle of the back. These tubercles are roundish and often slightly keeled. The distance between tubercles is equal to or larger than the size of the tubercles. The surface of the femur is also marked with round tubercles. Original tail with one row of plate-like, transversely enlarged subcaudal scales, two of these per whorl. The dorsal and lateral tail scalation is heterogeneous, small granular scales are mixed with larger, trihedral tubercles, the latter arranged in rows consisting of six tubercles around the tail. The tubercles located in the terminal row of each whorl are the most prominent. The dorsal colouration consists of a light, sandy brown ground with darker blotches on the back, which are arranged in seven bands between neck and groin; limbs and original part of the tail with brown crossbars, which are much more distinct in the latter. The ventral side is uniformly whitish coloured. Variation. All paratypes and the additional specimen are generally similar to the holotype concerning morphometrics, pholidosis and colouration. Notable variation of scale characters includes the internasals, which are only two in number in all of these specimens in contrast to three in the holotype. The arrangement of the internasals is not symmetrical, but rather one of the two scales is slightly enlarged and projecting into the rostral as does the third, median internasal of the holotype. In ZFMK 91836 and FA 1001, the median pair of postmentals is bordering each other and not divided by a diminutive scale. Ventrals are even less in the paratypes than in the holotype, ranging from ten to eleven when counted transversely and from 98 to 102 when counted longitudinally. The female paratype ZFMK 91835 differs in some morphometric characters: the head is relatively shorter and the neck relatively wider than in the male types. Furthermore, the legs are slightly shorter (fig. 5). Complete measurements of all specimens are presented in table 2. Distribution. So far, the species is only known from the type locality. Etymology. We name this new species in honour of Dr. Bahram Hassanzadeh Kiabi (Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran, Iran) to appreciate his indefatigable work as an ecologist who contributed greatly to the knowledge of Persian wildlife. Ecological notes. The collected specimens were found in two abandoned buildings, situated in a cliffy, but not mountainous area approximately 100 m from the coast of the Persian Gulf (fig. 6). Activity was only observed during night and we assume this species to be strictly nocturnal as Cyrtopodion species are in general. Sympatric lizard and snake species comprise Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Hemidactylus persicus, Pristurus rupestris, Asaccus sp., Laudakia nupta, and Echis carinatus., Published as part of Ahmadzadeh, Faraham, Flecks, Morris, Torki, Farhang & B��hme, Wolfgang, 2011, A new species of angular-toed gecko, genus Cyrtopodion (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from southern Iran, pp. 22-32 in Zootaxa 2924 on pages 23-28, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.277950, {"references":["Nazarov, R., Ananjeva, N. & Radjabizadeh, M. (2009) Two New Species of Angular-Toed Geckoes (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from South Iran. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 16, 311 - 324."]}

Eremias papenfussi Mozaffari, Ahmadzadeh, and Parham sp. nov. Figures 2 and 3. Etymology. According to Arnold et al. (1978), ��� Eremias is a Greek noun meaning solitary devotee, and is related to Eremia, signifying an isolated place or desert.��� (Arnold et al. 1978; Mozaffari and Parham, 2007) The epithet papenfussi is for Theodore Johnstone Papenfuss of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, in honor of his extensive contributions to the field of herpetology through the collecting of new specimens and the training of herpetologists around the world. Material examined. Holotype: ZFMK 91701 (3), 59 mm snout-vent length (SVL), collected 14 April 2009; Paratypes: PHIM 171 (��), 62 mm SVL and ZFMK 91702 (3), 57 mm SVL, collected 14 April 2009; PHIM 177 (��), 62 mm SVL and PHIM 178 (��), 60 mm SVL, collected 1 May 2004. All specimens were collected from Tehran Province in the Alborz Mountain Range by OM. The Holotype, ZFMK 91701, as well as PHIM 171 and ZFMK 91702 were collected from the type locality in the Sooleghan Mountains (N 35 �� 47 ' 44.9 " E 51 �� 14 ' 20.2 " Elevation: 1794m). PHIM 177 and PHIM 178 were collected from Vardavard region (N 35 �� 47 ' 56.48 ", E 51 �� 7 ' 34.40 ") (Fig. 1). Differential diagnosis. By having movable eyelids, a lower nasal shield that rests on two supralabials, and ventral plates arranged in oblique longitudinal rows, we assign this new form to the genus Eremias. Iranian Eremias can be assigned to four morphologically-defined subgenera (Szczerbak 1974; Anderson 1999): Scapteria, Ommateremias, Rhabderemias, and Eremias. Whether these subgenera represent monophyletic groups or not remains to be tested with molecular phylogenetics, but as morphologically-defined taxa they are useful bins for comparing and diagnosing our new species. Eremias papenfussi can be excluded from the subgenus Scapteria by lacking the lateral fringes on the fourth toe (Fig. 2 F) and by a subocular scale that is in contact with the edge of mouth (Fig. 2 C). The latter character also excludes it from the subgenus Ommateremias. It can be excluded from the subgenus Rhabderemias by its large size and by having longitudinal dorsal stripes that are broken into a spotted pattern (Anderson, 1999). Within the Iranian members of the subgenus Eremias, E. papenfussi can be differentiated from Eremias strauchi Kessler, 1878 by having a smaller size (57���62 mm SVL versus 68���76), the absence of distinctly keeled upper caudal scales (Fig. 2 D), and color pattern (having dark and light marks on upper labials and lacking the color ocelli on flanks). It can be distinguished from Eremias suphani (Basoglu and Hellmich, 1968) by lacking the extension of gular scales to the second inframaxiallary scales (the second and third pair of submaxillary shields are in contact) (Fig. 2 A). It can be distinguished from Eremias lalezharica Moravec, 1994 by having fewer gular scales (24���28 versus 33���40), fewer collar scales (10���12 versus 13���15), and more femoral pores (19���26 versus 16���18). It can be distinguished from Eremias novo Rastegar-Pouyani and Rastegar-Pouyani, 2006 by having fewer mid-dorsum scales (56���63 versus 63���67), more transverse rows of ventral plates (30���33 versus 27���30), and more gular scales (24���28 versus 23���24). It can be distinguished from Eremias montanus Rastegar-Pouyani and Rastegar-Pouyani, 2001 by having fewer mid-dorsum scales (56���63 versus 63���67), more transverse rows of ventral plates (30���33 versus 27���28), and more gulars (24���28 versus 23���25). It can be distinguished from Eremias velox (Pallas, 1771) by having more mid-dorsum scales (56���63 versus 46���56) and lacking lateral dark-margined blue ocelli. It can be distinguished from Eremias persica Blanford, 1875 by having fewer gular scales (24���28 versus 28��� 39) and its juvenile coloration (ventral surface of tail reddish versus bluish). Description of Holotype (ZFMK 91701). Size: A medium-sized Eremias with a SVL of 59 mm and a short tail (85 mm). In life, the dorsum is dark cream to light brown with a series of five longitudinal dark brown or black stripes starting anteriorly at the parietals. The medial stripe disappears a quarter of the way down the body, but the others extend to the base of the tail. The two lateral stripes extend to the dorsum surface of the tail and meet at the first one-fifth of the tail. The rest of the tail is a solid cream to light brown. White dots in four longitudinal rows are scattered among dark spots. A chocolate brown to brownish-orange stripe containing irregular dark spots and dark��� margined light ocelli start at the tympanum, cross the lateral sides and continue along entire tail length. The dorsal side of the limbs has light ocelli and spots. The venter and ventral side of tail are white (Fig. 3). Scalation (Fig. 2): Subocular bordering mouth; eight supralabials, five anterior to subocular; lower nasal rests on first and second supralabials as well as the frontonasal; lateral scales of the fourth toe do not form distinct fringes; row of 22 or 23 femoral pores that reaches knee, two series of femoral pores separated by two scales; five submaxillary shields, first three pairs in contact; 26 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 10 scales; 58 scales across middle of dorsum; 14 longitudinal and 31 transverse rows of ventral plates; 26 scales in 10 th caudal annulus; upper caudal scales smooth and without distinct keel. Variation among Paratypes (Table 2). Snout-vent length 57 to 62 mm; femoral pores 19 to 26; two series of femoral pores separated by one or two scales; five to six submaxillary shields; 24 to 28 gular scales between submaxillary shields and collar; collar made up of 10 to 12 scales; 56 to 63 scales across middle of dorsum; 14 to 15 longitudinal and 30 to 33 transverse rows of ventral plates; 23 to 28 scales in 10 th caudal annulus; in some specimens the lateral stripe is inconspicuous. In juveniles, the coloration is different from adults. In juveniles, the dorsal coloration is uniform dark brown with four longitudinal light stripes the ventral side of the tail is reddish. FIGURE 2. Morphology of Eremias papenfussi sp. nov. (PHIM 171). A: Ventral view of head; B: Dorsal view of head; C: Lateral view of head; D: Caudal scales in 10 th annulus; E: Ventral view of hind limb; F: Ventral view of hind foot. Remarks. All specimens were collected from the southern slopes of the central Alborz Mountains. The habitat in this part of the Alborz ccnsists of mild rocky slopes. The dominant vegetation is Amygdalus, Astragalus, and annual grass (Fig. 3). Whereas many parts of central Alborz are similar, we expect that Eremias papenfussi is distributed throughout the central Alborz. The other reptile species that are syntopic with Eremias papenfussi are Laudakia caucasia, Ophisops elegans, Cyrtopodion spinicauda, Trachylepis aurata, Typhlops vermicularis, Eirenis collaris, Natrix tessellata, Platyceps najadum, Telescopus fallax and Macrovipera lebetina. Eremias papenfussi is the fifth Eremias species known from the rocky mountain slopes of Iran along with E. strauchi, E. lalezharica, E. montanus and E. novo., Published as part of Mozaffari, Omid, Ahmadzadeh, Faraham & Parham, James F., 2011, Eremias papenfussi sp. nov., a new lacertid lizard (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Tehran Province, Iran, pp. 57-62 in Zootaxa 3114 on pages 57-61, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279346, {"references":["Mozaffari, O. & Parham, J. F. (2007) A new species of racerunner lizard (Lacertidae: Eremias) from Iran. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 58, 569 - 574.","Szczerbak, N. N. (1974) Yaschurki Palearcktiki [The Palearctic Desert Lizards]. Axadeimiya Nauk Ukrainskoi SSR Institut Zoologii, Naukova Dumka, Kiev, 296 pp.","Anderson, S. C. (1999) The Lizards of Iran. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, USA, 442 pp. Arnold, E. N., Arribas, O. & Carranza, S. (1978) Systematics of the Palearctic and Oriental lizard Tribe Lacertini (Squamata: Lacertidae: Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa, 1430, 1 - 86.","Rastegar-Pouyani, N. & Rastegar-Pouyani, E. (2006) A new form of Eremias (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the Alvand Mountains, Hamedan Province, western Iran. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics, 1, 14 - 20.","Rastegar-Pouyani, N. & Rastegar-Pouyani, E. (2001) A new species of Eremias (Sauria: Lacertidae) from the highlands of Kermanshah Province, Western Iran. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 9, 107 - 112.","Pallas, P. S. (1771) Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reiches, Vol. 1. Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, St. Petersburg, 504 pp."]}