Elaphe druzei JABLONSKI, RIBEIRO‐JÚNIOR & MEIRI, 2023
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Elaphe druzei
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae, Colubrinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Elaphe druzei JABLONSKI, RIBEIRO‐JÚNIOR & MEIRI in JABLONSKI et al. 2023: 5 |
| Distribution | Israel (Israeli controlled Golan Heights), Lebanon, Syria Type locality: Majdal Shams, Hermon, Israeli controlled Golan Heights (33.27° N, 35.77° E; 1100 m elevation). Collected by Yaakov Pessah. |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: TAU-R 13051; Paratypes: TAU-R 19070, TAU-R 19145, TAU-R 19438 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Elaphe druzei sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Elaphe by the combination of the following characters (Table 4): (1) 200–222 ventralia, mean=208.60; (2) 57–78 subcaudalia, mean 66.81; (3) 10–12 sublabialia, mean=10.71; (4) mostly one preoculare (one, n=11; two, n=6); (5) mostly 25 (23–25) dorsalia at forebody; (6) 23 or 25 (rarely 21) dorsalia at midbody; (7) mostly 19 (rarely 21) dorsalia at hind body; (8) snout–vent length (maximum 1541 mm; mean=1066.80 mm); (9) the dorsal surfaces of head, neck and anterior-most part of body homogeneous black in adults; (10) the lateral surface of the head, above supralabialia, homogeneously black in adult specimens; (11) the dorsal surface of the body yellowish with wide, oval black blotches flled by brown; (12) dorsal scales on body distinctly keeled and elongated; (13) dorsolateral scales on body slightly elongated, rather smooth; (14) the base of the hemipenis is ornamented by long pines, becoming drastically spinulated calyces on about ½ of the total organ length (on the contact area between body and base); (15) the apical area and the body of the hemipenis with several, conspicuous spinulated calyces. |
| Comment | Distribution: The first, verified record of the E. quatuorlineata group from the Levant is from the vicinity of a Druze town, Majdal Shams, that is also the type locality of E. druzei sp. nov. Interestingly, one of the biogeographic hypotheses on the origin of Druzes says that they might have originated in the Zagros Mountains and the surroundings of Lake Van from where they later migrated south to the mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. This represents certain parallelisms with the uncovered phylogenetic relationship between the new species and the sister E. urartica that has its centre of distribution in eastern Anatolia, with the type locality near to Lake Van. The two species of Elaphe most probably diverged somewhere in Anatolia or the Middle East with subsequent independent evolution in eastern Anatolia and the Levant. |
| Etymology | Elaphe druzei was named after the ethnoreligious group of people from the Levant—The Druze. The Druze, similarly, to the new species described here, are present primarily in the mountains of northern Israel, southwestern Syria, and Lebanon. The oldest and most densely populated Druze communities are in Mount Lebanon which correspond to the main distribution range of the new species according to our data. Druze practice Abrahamic religion with secretive theology, however, they have taken their philosophy from different doctrines and religions including ancient Greek philosophers, Isma’ilism, Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Persians, and others which emphasizes the role of the mind and truthfulness. Moreover, Druze believe in seven prophets including Moses that is one of the most important prophets of all Abrahamic religions that live together in the Levant, and they have a reputation for being peaceful, cooperative, hospitable, and highly educated people. Te Druze are also widely respected for their contributions to society, particularly in the fields of science and medicine. Considering the geographic origin of the new species (the western Middle East), and the type locality (the Hermon area that is shared among three countries), we consider it symbolic that the Druze represent a human group that is inspired by elements joining different origins and cultures. This is very topical in the still divided Middle East. Such a view can provide a space and inspiration for collaboration on conservation and research relating to the unique biota of the Levant, including this newly described, unique, rare, mountain, and endemic snake. |
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