A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt

Sherif Baha El Din

Description

A new guide for Egyptian naturalists
Reptiles and amphibians are among Egypt's most successful wildlife, found in almost every habitat in the country, from homes to fields and the desert itself. For the first time, A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt provides concise, reliable, and up-to-date information on all of Egypt's principal species, with detailed material on their taxonomy, identification, natural history, and ecology. Based on fifteen years of fieldwork, this guide is a valuable tool for experts and amateurs alike in the identification, study, and conservation of these fascinating animals. With an easy-to-use key, high-quality maps, and over 100 color illustrations, this field guide covers 110 species including tortoises and turtles, lizards, snakes, and crocodiles found in Egypt. Each entry contains concise information about the species, including English, Latin, and Arabic names; world and Egypt distribution; distinguishing features; habitat and ecology; behavior; and conservation status. Included too are line drawings to illustrate key identification features and differences between species. With a comprehensive bibliography for further research, the guide supplies the accuracy and scientific rigor that scientists look for, while providing an accessible approach for generalists and amateurs. For biologists, nature lovers, and anyone interested in Egypt's rich natural heritage, A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt is an ideal reference tool.

Sujets

• Terrariums
• Amphibians
• Pets
• Reptiles

Informations

• Publié par: The American University in Cairo Press
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2006
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781617972676
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt
A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt
Sherif Baha El Din
The American University in Cairo Press Cairo - New York
Copyright 2006 by
The American University in Cairo Press
113 Sharia Kasr el Aini, Cairo, Egypt
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
www.aucpress.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Photographs and illustrations by the author unless otherwise indicated.
Dar el Kutub No. 14107/05
e-ISBN 978 161 797 267 6
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 13 12 11 10 09
Designed by Sally Makram/AUC Press Design Center
Printed in Egypt
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
The Egyptian Setting
Evolution of Egypt s Landscape and Its Herpetofauna
The Contemporary Egyptian Herpetofauna
Biogeography
Species Richness and Distribution
Herpetofaunal Habitats of Egypt
Desert Habitats
The Western Mediterranean Coastal Desert
Wadis and Mountains
Gravel Plains
Sand Dunes
Oases
Wetland Habitats
Littoral Habitats
Marine Habitats
Arable and Urban Landscape
Conservation
Methodology
Notes on the Text
Classification and Nomenclature
Species Included
Species Maps
Abbreviations
Amphibia
Order ANURA (Frogs and Toads)
Bufonidae
Genus Bufo
Bufo dodsoni, Dodson s Toad
Bufo kassasii, Nile Valley Toad
Bufo regularis, Egyptian Toad
Bufo viridis, Green Toad
Ranidae
Genus Ptychadena
Ptychadena mascareniensis, Mascarene Ridged Frog
Ptychadena schillukorum, Sudan Ridged Frog
Genus Rana
Rana bedriagae, Levant Green Frog
Rana saharica, Saharan Green Frog
Hylidae
Genus Hyla
Hyla savignyi, Savigny s Tree Frog
Reptilia
Order SQUAMATA: Suborder SAURIA (Lizards)
Gekkonidae
Genus Cyrtopodion
Cyrtopodion scabrum, Keeled Rock Gecko
Genus Hemidactylus
Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Yellow-bellied Gecko
Hemidactylus foudaii, Elba Gecko
Hemidactylus mindiae, Mount Sinai Gecko
Hemidactylus robustus, Red Sea Gecko
Hemidactylus sinaitus, Speckled Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus, Turkish Gecko
Genus Pristurus
Pristurus flavipunctatus, Semaphore Gecko
Genus Ptyodactylus
Ptyodactylus guttatus, Spotted Fan-toed Gecko
Ptyodactylus hasselquistii, Egyptian Fan-toed Gecko
Ptyodactylus ragazzii, Sahelian Fan-toed Gecko
Ptyodactylus siphonorhina, Saharan Fan-toed Gecko
Genus Stenodactylus
Stenodactylus mauritanicus, Northern Elegant Gecko
Stenodactylus petrii. Sand Gecko
Stenodactylus sthenodactylus, Elegant Gecko
Genus Tarentola
Tarentola annularis, Egyptian Gecko
Tarentola mauritanica, Moorish Gecko
Tarentola mindiae, Qattara Gecko
Genus Tropiocolotes
Tropiocolotes bisharicus, Bishari Pigmy Gecko
Tropiocolotes natterei, Natterer s Pigmy Gecko
Tropiocolotes nubicus, Nubian Pigmy Gecko
Tropiocolotes steudneri, Steudner s Pigmy Gecko
Tropiocolotes tripolitanus, Tripoli Pigmy Gecko
Agamidae
Genus Agama
Agama spinosa, Spiny Agama
Genus Laudakia
Laudakia stellio, Starred Agama
Genus Pseudotrapelus
Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Sinai Agama
Genus Trapelus
Trapelus mutabilis, Changeable Agama
Trapelus pallidus, Pallid Agama
Trapelus savignii, Savigny s Agama
Genus Uromastyx
Uromastyx aegyptia, Egyptian Dabb Lizard
Uromastyx ocellata, Ocellated Dabb Lizard
Uromastyx ornata, Ornate Dabb Lizard
Chamaeleonidae
Genus Chamaeleo
Chamaeleo africanus, African Chamaeleon
Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Common Chamaeleon
Lacertidae
Genus Acanthodactylus
Acanthodactylus boskianus, Bosc s Lizard
Acanthodactylus longipes, Long-footed Lizard
Acanthodactylus pardalis, Egyptian Leopard Lizard
Acanthodactylus scutellatus, Nidua Lizard
Genus Latastia
Latastia longicaudata, Long-tailed Lizard
Genus Mesalina
Mesalina bahaeldini, Mount Sinai Lizard
Mesalina brevirostris, Short-snouted Lizard
Mesalina guttulata, Small-spotted Lizard
Mesalina martini, Red Sea Lizard
Mesalina olivieri, Olivier s Lizard
Mesalina pasteuri, Saharan Lizard
Mesalina rubropunctata, Red Spotted Lizard
Genus Ophisops
Ophisops elbaensis, Mount Elba Snake-eyed Lizard
Ophisops elegans, Elegant Snake-eyed Lizard
Ophisops occidentalis, Western Snake-eyed Lizard
Genus Philochortus
Philochortus zolii, Grass-loving Lizard
Genus Pseuderemias
Pseuderemias mucronata, Anseba Lizard
Varanidae
Genus Varanus
Varanus griseus, Desert Monitor
Varanus niloticus, Nile Monitor
Scincidae
Genus Ablepharus
Ablepharus rueppellii, Rueppell s Snake-eyed Skink
Genus Chalcides
Chalcides ocellatus, Ocellated Skink
Chalcides cf. humilis, Saharan Ocellated Skink
Genus Eumeces
Eumeces schneideri, Golden Skink
Genus Scincus
Scincus scincus, Sandfish
Genus Sphenops
Sphenops sepsoides, Audouin s Sand-skink
Genus Trachylepis
Trachylepis quinquetaeniata, Bean Skink
Trachylepis vittata, Brideled Skink
Order SQUAMATA: Suborder SERPENTES (Snakes)
Typhlopidae
Genus Ramphotyphlops
Ramphotyphlops braminus, Flower-pot Blind Snake
Genus Typhlops
Typhlops vermicularis, Greek Blind Snake
Leptotyphlopidae
Genus Leptotyphlops
Leptotyphlops cairi, Cairo Worm Snake
Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus, Beaked Worm Snake
Leptotyphlops nursii, Anderson s Worm Snake
Boidae
Genus Eryx
Eryx colubrinus, Theban Sand Boa
Eryx jaculus, Javelin Sand Boa
Colubridae
Genus Dasypeltis
Dasypeltis scabra, Egg-eating Snake
Genus Dolichophis
Dolichophis jugularis, large Whip Snake
Genus Eirenis
Eirenis coronella, Crowned Peace Snake
Genus Hemorrhois
Hemorrhois algirus, Algerian Whip Snake
Hemorrohis nummifer, Coin-marked Snake
Genus Lycophidion
Lycophidion capense. Wolf Snake
Genus Lytorhynchus
Lytorhynchus diadema, Diademed Sand Snake
Genus Macroprotodon
Macroprotodon cucullatus. Hooded Snake
Genus Malpolon
Malpolon moilensis, Moila Snake
Malpolon monspessulanus, Montpellier Snake
Genus Natrix
Natrix tessellata, Diced Water Snake
Genus Platyceps
Platyceps florulentus, Flowered Racer
Platyceps rogersi, Spotted Racer
Platyceps saharicus, Saharan Cliff Racer
Platyceps sinai, Sinai Banded Snake
Genus Psammophis
Psammophis aegyptius, Saharan Sand Snake
Psammophis punctulatus, Speckled Sand Snake
Psammophis schokari, Schokari Sand Snake
Psammophis sibilans, African Beauty Snake
Genus Rhynchocalamus
Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, Palestine Black-headed Snake
Genus Spalerosophis
Spalerosophis diadema. Diadem Snake
Genus Telescopus
Telescopus dhara, Egyptian Cat Snake
Telescopus hoogstraali, Hoogstraal s Cat Snake
Elapidae
Genus Naja
Naja haje, Egyptian Cobra
Naja nubiae, Nubian Spitting Cobra
Genus Walterinnesia
Walterinnesia aegyptia, Black Desert Cobra
Atractaspididae
Genus Atractaspis
Atractaspis engaddensis, Palestine Burrowing Asp
Viperidae
Genus Cerastes
Cerastes cerastes, Horned Viper
Cerastes vipera, Sand Viper
Genus Echis
Echis coloratus, Burton s Carpet Viper
Echis pyramidum, Carpet Viper
Genus Pseudocerastes
Pseudocerastes persicus, False Horned Viper
Order CROCODYLIA (Crocodiles)
Crocodylidae
Genus Crocodylus
Crocodylus niloticus, Nile Crocodile
Order TESTUDINES (Turtles and Tortoises)
Testudinidae
Genus Testudo
Testudo kleinmanni, Egyptian Tortoise
Cheloniidae
Genus Caretta
Caretta caretta, Loggerhead Turtle
Genus Chelonia
Chelonia mydas, Green Turtle
Genus Eretmochelys
Eretmochelys imbricata, Hawksbill Turtle
Genus Lepidochelys
Lepidochelys olivacea. Olive Ridley Turtle
Dermochelyidae
Genus Dermochelys
Dermochelys coriacea, Leatherback Turtle
Trionychidae
Genus Trionyx
Trionyx triunguis, Nile Soft-shelled Turtle
Emydidae
Genus Trachemys
Trachemys scripta, Red-eared Terrapin
Gazetteer of Egyptian Localities
Glossary
Bibliography
Index of Scientific Names
Index of English Names
Acknowledgments
Many friends and colleagues have helped me throughout this project in various ways. I would like to thank them all: Moustafa Fouda, Waheed Salama, Omar Attum, Ahmed Riad, Tom Cole, Richard Hoath, Mohamed Kassas, Alan Resetar, Hala Barakat, Esther Wenman, John Grainger, John and Patsy Gasperetti, Gabriel Mikhail, Francis Gilbert, Barry Clarck, John Gerhart, David and Heddi Merrie, Ibrahim Helmy, Ahmed Disi, Loutfy Boulos, Mohamed Ibrahim, Kaori Odani, Jeff and Linda Millington, John and Susan Warberton, Jose Rosado, Harold Voris, Steve Goodman, Nick Arnold, Mohamed Gad, John Poynton, Pierre-Andre Crochet,