The Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve surprised everyone by revealing important findings: the discovery of five new species unknown to science, the first-time recording of three species in Saudi territory, and 34 extensions of global ranges. These advancements bring the total number of identified terrestrial species in the reserve to 791, which, despite occupying only 1% of Saudi territory, hosts over half of the country’s terrestrial species.
According to researchers, these findings are the result of four years of research conducted by a team of Saudi and international experts. Among the new species, a striped gecko (Hemidactylus sp.) stands out, identified by its white nodules and horizontal stripes, playing a key role in desert pest control.
Additionally, a Hejaz black-collared snake (Rhynchocalamus hejazicus), non-venomous with bright red color and a distinctive black collar, and three plants of ecological, cultural, and medicinal value were found: thistle (Echinops sp. aff. glaberrimus), mignonette (Reseda sp. aff. muricata), and henbane (Hyoscyamus sp.).
Furthermore, in the iconic Wadi Al-Disah Valley, which is on the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 200 species were documented.
The importance of the reserve as a bioclimatic refuge
The reserve’s general director, Andrew Zaloumis, highlighted its crucial role as a bioclimatic refuge in the context of climate change threatening traditional habitats. These achievements were possible thanks to the collaboration between Saudi scientists and experts from 14 countries.
Since 2021, the reserve has conducted seasonal biodiversity studies in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and other institutions. So far, they have recorded:
– 461 plant species.
– 240 bird species.
– 39 reptile species.
– 18 bat species.
– 31 mammal species.
– One amphibian species.
– One freshwater fish species.
These efforts are complemented by monitoring programs designed to enhance the sustainable management of the reserve. Additionally, the reserve has significantly contributed to global scientific knowledge. The results have been published in four peer-reviewed academic articles, with four more in the process of being published. According to the Saudi Press Agency, these discoveries strengthen Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global nature conservation and position the country as a key player in biodiversity protection.
Discovery of a new predator species in the Atacama Trench
A team of scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the United States and the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO) in Chile made a surprising discovery in one of the most unexplored places on the planet: the Atacama Trench. This region, located off the coasts of Peru and Chile, revealed a new species of marine predator never before recorded, which the researchers named Dulcibella camanchaca.
While exploring the ocean floor remains one of the greatest challenges for science due to extreme conditions hindering access to these environments, the researchers had no trouble finding this new species. This recent discovery is of great significance as it represents a significant advance in understanding deep-ocean biodiversity.
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