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Dhahran: Scientists working in the ancient AlUla oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia were excited to discover a new species of snake earlier this year. With its striking red color and stylish black collar, this reptile is perfectly suited for camouflage against the sand and rocks of Hejaz.

László Patko, who has worked for the past two years as head of applied research at the AlUla Royal Commission and cataloging the region's biodiversity, was part of the team that discovered the new, non-toxic Charismatic species.

The Hungarian academician told Arab News: The snake species, Rhynchocalamus hejazicus, is not only new to the region or country, but also new to science.

Institutions involved in the discovery include RCU, Hael University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Royal Reserve Development Authority.

These Saudi institutions worked alongside experts from Portugal's University of Porto, Egypt's Suez University, Yemen's University of Aden, and Malaysia's Natural History Collective.

Along with his Saudi, Czech and Portuguese colleagues, Patko compiled the findings in a paper. In just a few months, it was published in a prestigious international journal of biological sciences. Biosystematics and evolution.

It was very, very fast, because it was a complete, high-quality paper with significant scientific results. “It was quickly accepted and published.

“For me, it was a real pleasure to see that this is an important discovery not only for us, but for the entire international scientific community.”

The published paper describes the new species as “a small, secretive snake, with distinct coloration and a melanistic form. The new species occurs in the northwestern Hijaz region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and fills a large part of the existing distribution gap of this genus in the Arabian Peninsula.

Stephen Brown, Vice-Chancellor of Wildlife and Natural Heritage at the RCU, said the discovery of the new species underlines the vital importance of the Kingdom's conservation efforts.

“This discovery is not just about cataloging a new species. Brown said in a statement: “This demonstrates an ongoing commitment to protecting AlUla's lush and diverse ecosystems.” “It is a symbol of our dedication to preserving this unique oasis.

An RCU spokesperson agreed that there was still much to learn about the adaptations of desert animals.

“This find is critical to understanding the ecological dynamics of the region and the adaptive strategies of its desert wildlife, and enhances AlUla's reputation as a haven for historical and natural treasures,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The project that led to the discovery of the snake began with a region-wide wildlife inventory that began in November 2022 and centered around documenting the region's biodiversity.

“We've never had such a rigorous, scientifically rigorous compilation before,” Patko said. “In the framework of this project, we 'accidentally' found this new species.

“It was an accident in the sense that we thoroughly surveyed all of our nature reserves and described all the species we could find. We knew that some species were present in this reserve, but not from the number or location. We did not know their details.”

Scientists thought that this area could be home to new species. Between 2017 and 2022, geckos and snakes had been spotted in the area, but had never been collected or accurately described. Inventory offered the perfect opportunity to fill these voids.

In 2023, the team spent time in the wilderness observing animals based on morphology, including studying external features, color, scale pattern, and DNA.

“Of course, there are occasional observations, but if you're in the field, you work really hard,” Patko said.

“You rise in the desert, you sleep in the desert. You work in the wilderness with 10-15 different specialists. Then, the hard work pays off. It's a really cool way to get proof that shows why it's important to be in this field.

Using online databases, the team expected to find species such as Walterinnesia aegyptia, also known as the desert cobra or desert black snake – native to nearby Khyber, where the reptile is well camouflaged against the volcanic landscape. .

“The Khyber Herat is mostly black and gray due to basalt and old volcanic activity,” Patko said. “The first one we found was Melanism – a completely black snake.”

In contrast, the newly discovered snake is a vibrant red that has evolved to blend with AlUla's distinctive red, orange and yellow color palette. “It was very clear that this was indeed a new species,” Patko said.

Like many desert dwellers, snakes are nocturnal. “During the day, because of the very hot weather, Rhynchocalamus hejazicus probably hides under rocks,” Patko said. “Small insects come out at night to hunt invertebrates.”

And although it has small bites with which it bites its prey, the snake does not carry poison. It is also relatively small. This is a very cool snake. A small snake 20-30 cm long that is easy to control.

According to Patko, fewer than 20 species of snakes are known in AlUla, perhaps closer to 18.

We don't really know much about their ecology because we have only recently described these species. So we can only speculate,” Patko said.

“All the snakes we found were solitary. Some snakes can congregate in one place during the winter, but not these.

One thing Patko believes is clear, however, is AlUla's value as a thriving natural habitat, making conservation efforts in the area even more important in the interests of science and biodiversity.

“What is quite exceptional about this story is how the deserts of AlUla can hold these hidden gems,” he said.