Micrelaps in the southern levant: Variation, sexual dimorphism, and a new species (serpentes: Atractaspididae)

Variation in the primarily East African snake genus Micrelaps (Atractaspididae) was investigated in the southern Levant (mainly Israel) from museum specimens and some photographs. The fossorial M. muelleri Boettger, 1880, hitherto considered rare, inhabits the mesic Mediterranean zone (n=82). Its usual colour pattern is a variable number of black and yellow rings but two rare longitudinally striped morphs also occur. Sexual dimorphism, hitherto unknown, affects pholidosis, proportions and colour pattern. A new species, M. tchernovi Werner, is described (n=6) from the semi-arid Irano-Turanian zone in the central Jordan Valley. It differs mainly in colour characters, having black saddles rather than rings. The distinction of the two species is verified using Principal Coordinates Analysis. Their relationships with the African members of the genus are briefly discussed.