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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has identified five species new to global science: a gecko ( Hemidactylus sp. ) marked by brown stripes and white nodules, the Hejaz black-collared snake ( Rhynchocalamus hejazicus ), plus three plants — a globe thistle, a mignonette, and a hogbean.
In addition, the Reserve recorded three species new to Saudi Arabia and extended the known global range of 34 more. These outcomes, the result of four years of fieldwork by Saudi and international experts, increase the total number of terrestrial species documented in the Reserve to 791. Although the Reserve covers only 1% of the Kingdom's terrestrial area, it is home to more than half of Saudi Arabia's terrestrial species, reinforcing its role as a vital refuge for biodiversity in a changing climate.
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