Systematics, Biogeography and Evolution of Reptiles and Amphibians 

Tamar K, Carranza S, Šmíd J, Moravec J. 2025. Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Levant fan-footed gecko Ptyodactylus puiseuxi Boutan, 1893 and the resurrection of Ptyodactylus bischoffsheimi Boutan, 1893 (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae). Systematics and Biodiversity. 23(1). Published online. doi:10.1080/14772000.2025.2454011

Pola L, Egan DM, Mukhtar FA, Alkaboor AA, Ferguson E, Rowntree N, Velenská D, Waldhauser V, Hlaváč D, Roobas B, Shobrak M, AlShammari AM, Carranza S, Ramalho RO, Olson D, Smithson J, Šmíd J. 2025. Beyond boundaries: phylogeographic structure and major range extension of the Sinai Fan-Toed Gecko, Ptyodactylus guttatus (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Arid Environments;227:105335. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105335

Carranza S, Al-Amri AS, Busaidi AA, Els J, Estarellas M, Al-Buthari R, Koppetsch T, Tulloch S, Saadi SA, Al-Rashdi SHA, Hashmi SA, Burriel-Carranza B. 2025. Unveiling the black desert cobras: first records of Walterinnesia aegyptia Lataste, 1887 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Oman and taxonomic revision of the genus Walterinnesia Lataste, 1887. Zootaxa;5621(2):291–300. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5621.2.9

Burriel-Carranza B, Koppetsch T, Tabares J, Talavera A, Mochales-Riaño G, Estarellas M, Wipfler B, Els J, Simó-Riudalbas M, Adams D, Al Saadi S, Garcia-Porta J, Tamar K, Šmíd J, & Carranza S. 2025. Cryptic speciation in arid mountains: An integrative revision of the Pristurus rupestris species complex (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) from Arabia based on morphological, genetic and genomic data, with the description of four new species. PLoS ONE, 20(2 February). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315000

Talavera A, Valbuena-Ureña E, Burriel-Carranza B, Mochales-Riaño G, Adams DC, Amat F, Carbonell F, Carranza S. 2024. Integrative systematic revision of the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), with the description of a new subspecies. PeerJ, 12:e17550. DOI:10.7717/peerj.17550

Talavera A, Palmada-Flores M, Burriel-Carranza B, Valbuena-Ureña E, Mochales-Riaño G, Adams DC, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Soler-Membrives A, Amat F, Guinart D, Carbonell F, Obon E, Marquès-Bonet T, Carranza S. 2024. Genomic insights into the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), a Critically Endangered glacial relict. iScience, 27(1):108665. DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108665

Kelly M, Cuomo CA, Beukema W, Carranza S, Erens J, Foubert M, Li Z, Lötters S, Schulz V, Steinfartz S, Van Praet S, Veith M, Pasmans F, Martel A. 2024. High phenotypic diversity correlated with genomic variation across the European Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans epizootic. PLOS Pathogens, 20(10):e1012579. DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1012579

Burriel-Carranza B, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Carné A, Mochales-Riaño G, Talavera A, Al Saadi S, Els J, Šmíd J, Tamar K, Tarroso P, Carranza S. Integrating genomics and biogeography to unravel the origin of a mountain biota: The case of a reptile endemicity hotspot in Arabia. Systematic Biology. DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syae032

Burriel-Carranza B, Mochales-Riaño G, Talavera A, Els J, Estarellas M, Al Saadi S, Urriago Suarez JD, Olsson PO, Matschiner M, Carranza S. 2024. Clinging on the brink: Whole genomes reveal human‐induced population declines and severe inbreeding in the Critically Endangered Emirati Leaf‐toed Gecko ( Asaccus caudivolvulus ). Molecular Ecology, 33(15). DOI:10.1111/mec.17451

Burriel-Carranza B, Talavera A, Mochales-Riaño G, Al Hashmi S, Al Busaidi A, Els J, Carranza S. 2024. First record of dermal fluorescence in the desert-adapted Stenodactylus and Trigonodactylus geckos. Journal of Arid Environments, 222(April):105161. DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105161

Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Menéndez I, Talavera A, Riaño G, Burriel-Carranza B, Simó-Riudalbas M, Carranza S, Adams DC. 2023. Evolution along allometric lines of least resistance: Morphological differentiation in Pristurus geckos. Evolution. DOI:10.1093/evolut/qpad166

Tamar K,  Uvizl M,  Shobrak M, Almutairi M, Busais S,  Ali Salim AF,  RHM AlGethami AR  AlGethami, Alanazi ASK, Alsubaie SD, Chirio L, Carranza S, Šmíd J. 2023. A new species of Pseudotrapelus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from Central Arabia. Vertebrate Zoology, 73:1033-1045. DOI:10.3897/vz.73.e110626

Mochales-Riaño G, Fontsere C, de Manuel M, Talavera A, Burriel-Carranza B, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, AlGethami RHM, Shobrak M, Marques-Bonet T, Carranza S. 2023. Genomics reveals introgression and purging of deleterious mutations in the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr). iScience, 26(9):107481. DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107481

Mochales-Riaño G, Burriel-Carranza B, Barros MI, Velo-Antón G, Talavera A, Spilani L, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Crochet PA, Piris A, García-Cardenete L, Busais S, Els J, Shobrak M, Brito JC, Šmíd J, Carranza S, Martínez-Freiría F. 2023. Hidden in the sand: phylogenomics unravel an unexpected evolutionary history on the desert-adapted vipers of the genus Cerastes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107979

Burriel-Carranza B, Mazuch T, Estarellas M, Talavera A, Riaño G, Koppetsch T, Tamar K, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Saadi SA, Busais S, Kratochvíl L, Shobrak M, Šmíd J, Carranza S. 2023. Pristurus guweirensis Haas, 1943 (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae): the most abundant and widely distributed species of Pristurus previously referred to as Pristurus sp. 1. Zootaxa, 5297(4):594-599. DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5297.4.9

Burriel-Carranza B, Estarellas M, Riaño G, Talavera A, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Els J, Carranza S. 2023. Species boundaries to the limit: integrating species delimitation methods is critical to avoid taxonomic inflation in the case of the Hajar Banded Ground Gecko (Trachydactylus hajarensis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107834

Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Patton AH, Caetano DS, Šmíd J, Harmon LJ, Carranza S. 2022. Reconstructing Squamate Biogeography in Afro-Arabia Reveals the Influence of a Complex and Dynamic Geologic Past. Systematic Biology, 71(2):261-272. DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syab025.

Tomé B, Maia J, Perera A, Carranza S, Vasconcelos R. 2021. Parasites in a hotspot: Diversity and specificity patterns of apicomplexans infecting reptiles from the Socotra Archipelago. Parasitology, 148(1):42-52. DOI:10.1017/S0031182020002000

Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Simó-Riudalbas M, Menéndez I, Carranza S. 2021. Ecological specialization, rather than the island effect, explains morphological diversification in an ancient radiation of geckos. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1965):6. DOI:10.1098/rspb.2021.1821

Tamar K, Els J, Kornilios P, Soorae P, Tarroso P, Thanou E, Pereira J, Shah JN, Elhassan EEM, Aguhob JC, Badaam SF, Eltayeb MM, Pusey R, Papenfuss TJ, Macey JR, Carranza S. 2021. The demise of a wonder: Evolutionary history and conservation assessments of the Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus keyserlingii (Gekkota, Sphaerodactylidae) in Arabia. PLoS One, 16(1): 1–23. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244150. 

Šmíd J, Sindaco R, Shobrak M, Busais S, Tamar K, Aghová T, Simó-Riudalbas M, Tarroso P, Geniez P, Crochet PA, Els J, Burriel-Carranza B, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Carranza S. 2021. Diversity patterns and evolutionary history of Arabian squamates. Journal of Biogeography, 48: 1183–1199. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14070

Šmíd J, Uvizl M, Shobrak M, Salim AFA, AlGethami RHM, Algethami AR, Alanazi ASK, Alsubaie SD, Busais S, Carranza S. 2021. Swimming through the sands of the Sahara and Arabian deserts: Phylogeny of sandfish skinks (Scincidae, Scincus) reveals a recent and rapid diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 155(107012). DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107012

Pola L, Hejduk V, Zíka A, Winkelhöfer T, Šmíd J, Carranza S, Shobrak M, Abu Baker M, Amr ZS. 2021. Small and overlooked: Phylogeny of the genus Trigonodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with the first record of Trigonodactylus arabicus from Jordan. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(6):3511-3516. DOI:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.019

Machado L, Salvi D, James Harris D, Brito JC, Crochet PA, Geniez P, Ahmadzadeh F, Carranza S. 2021. Systematics, biogeography and evolution of the Saharo-Arabian naked-toed geckos genus Tropiocolotes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 155(106969). DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106969

Kelly M, Pasmans F, Muñoz JF, Shea TP, Carranza S, Cuomo CA, Martel A. 2021. Diversity, multifaceted evolution, and facultative saprotrophism in the European Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans epidemic. Nature Communications, 12(1):6688. DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-27005-0

Deepak V, Passos P, Nagy ZT, Zaher H, Šmíd J, Nguyen TQ, Carranza S, Cisneros-Heredia DF, David P, Tamar K, Gower DJ. 2021. Contributions to ophiology in Zootaxa 2001–2020: patterns and trends. Zootaxa, 4979 (1):17-22. DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4979.1.4

Calvete JJ, Pla D, Els J, Carranza S, Damm M, Hempel BF, John EBO, Petras D, Heiss P, Nalbantsoy A, Göçmen B, Süssmuth RD, Calderón-Celis F, Nosti AJ, Encinar JR. 2021. Combined Molecular and Elemental Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Absolute Quanti fi cation of Proteomes : Application to the Venomics Characterization of the Two Species of Desert Black Cobras , Walterinnesia aegyptia and Walterinnesia morgani. Journal of proteome Research, 20(11):5064-5078. DOI:10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00608

Vasconcelos R, Pujol-Buxó E, Llorente GA, Saeed A, Carranza S. 2020. Micro-hotspots for conservation: An umbrella tree species for the unique socotran reptile fauna. Forests, 11(3):1-10. DOI:10.3390/f11030353

Slavenko A, Tamar K, Tallowin OJS, Allison A, Kraus F, Carranza S, Meiri S. 2020. Cryptic diversity and non-adaptive radiation of montane New Guinea skinks (Papuascincus; Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 146(106749):106749. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106749

Greener MS, Verbrugghe E, Kelly M, Blooi M, Beukema W, Canessa S, Carranza S, Croubels S, De Troyer N, Fernandez-Giberteau D, Goethals P, Lens L, Li Z, Stegen G, Strubbe D, van Leeuwenberg R, Van Praet S, Vila-Escale M, Vervaeke M, Pasmans F, Martel A. 2020. Presence of low virulence chytrid fungi could protect European amphibians from more deadly strains. Nature Communications, 11(1):5393. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19241-7

Yamaguchi N, Vasconcelos R, Mohamed T, Abdel-Fattah Ahmed T, Alatalo JM, Barnett R. 2019. Toads in Qatar: The species present and their probable original source. Journal of Arid Environments, 160:91-94. DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.09.012

Tamar K, Chirio L, Shobrak M, Busais S, Carranza S. 2019. Using multilocus approach to uncover cryptic diversity within Pseudotrapelus lizards from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 26(7):1442-1449. DOI:10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.05.006

Tamar K, Simó-Riudalbas M, Garcia-Porta J, Santos X, Llorente G, Vasconcelos R, Carranza S. 2019. An integrative study of island diversification: Insights from the endemic Haemodracon geckos of the Socotra Archipelago. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 133:166-175. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.009

Tamar K, Mitsi P, Carranza S. 2019. Cryptic diversity revealed in the leaf-toed gecko Asaccus montanus (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) from the Hajar Mountains of Arabia. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 57(2):369-382. DOI:10.1111/jzs.12258

Simó-Riudalbas M, Tamar K, Šmíd J, Mitsi P, Sindaco R, Chirio L, Carranza S. 2019. Biogeography of Mesalina (Reptilia: Lacertidae), with special emphasis on the Mesalina adramitana group from Arabia and the Socotra Archipelago. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 137:300-312. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.04.023

Oromi N, Valbuena-Ureña E, Soler-Membrives A, Amat F, Camarasa S, Carranza S, Sanuy D, Denoël M. 2019. Genetic structure of lake and stream populations in a Pyrenean amphibian (Calotriton asper) reveals evolutionary significant units associated with paedomorphosis. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 57(2):418-430. DOI:10.1111/jzs.12250

Machado L, Šmíd J, Mazuch T, Sindaco R, Al Shukaili AS, Carranza S. 2019. Systematics of the Saharo-Arabian clade of the Palearctic naked-toed geckos with the description of a new species of Tropiocolotes endemic to Oman. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 57(1):159-178. DOI:10.1111/jzs.12226

Karlsson Linnér R, Biroli P, Kong E, Meddens SFW, Wedow R, Fontana MA, Lebreton M, Tino SP, Abdellaoui A, Hammerschlag AR, Nivard MG, Okbay A, Rietveld CA, Timshel PN, Trzaskowski M, Vlaming R, Zünd CL, Bao Y, Buzdugan L, Caplin AH, Chen CY, Eibich P, Fontanillas P, Gonzalez JR, Joshi PK, Karhunen V, Kleinman A, Levin RZ, Lill CM, Meddens GA, Muntané G, Sanchez-Roige S, Rooij FJV, Taskesen E, Wu Y, Zhang F; 23and Me Research Team; eQTLgen Consortium; International Cannabis Consortium; Social Science Genetic Association Consortium, Auton A, Boardman JD, Clark DW, Conlin A, Dolan CC, Fischbacher U, Groenen PJF, Harris KM, Hasler G, Hofman A, Ikram MA, Jain S, Karlsson R, Kessler RC, Kooyman M, MacKillop J, Männikkö M, Morcillo-Suarez C, McQueen MB, Schmidt KM, Smart MC, Sutter M, Thurik AR, Uitterlinden AG, White J, Wit H, Yang J, Bertram L, Boomsma DI, Esko T, Fehr E, Hinds DA, Johannesson M, Kumari M, Laibson D, Magnusson PKE, Meyer MN, Navarro A, Palmer AA, Pers TH, Posthuma D, Schunk D, Stein MB, Svento R, Tiemeier H, Timmers PRHJ, Turley P, Ursano RJ, Wagner GG, Wilson JF, Gratten J, Lee JJ, Cesarini D, Benjamin DJ, Koellinger PD, Beauchamp JP. 2019. Genome-wide association analyses of risk tolerance and risky behaviors in over 1 million individuals identify hundreds of loci and shared genetic influences. Nature Genetics, 51(2):245-257. DOI:10.1038/s41588-018-0309-3

Burriel-Carranza B, Tarroso P, Els J, Gardner A, Soorae P, Mohammed AA, Tubati SRK, Eltayeb MM, Shah JN, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Simó-Riudalbas M, Pleguezuelos JM, Fernández-Guiberteau D, Šmíd J, Carranza S. 2019. An integrative assessment of the diversity, phylogeny, distribution, and conservation of the terrestrial reptiles (Sauropsida, Squamata) of the United Arab Emirates. PLoS One, 14(5): 1-14. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0216273.

Vasconcelos R, Razgour O, Tarroso P, Fasola M, Carranza S, Alves PC. 2018. Combining molecular and landscape tools for targeting evolutionary processes in reserve design: An approach for islands. PLoS ONE, 13(7):1-20. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0200830

Valbuena-Ureña E, Oromi N, Soler-Membrives A, Carranza S, Amat F, Camarasa S, Denoël M, Guillaume O, Sanuy D, Loyau A, Schmeller DS, Steinfartz S. 2018. Jailed in the mountains: Genetic diversity and structure of an endemic newt species across the Pyrenees. PLoS ONE, 13(8):1-23. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0200214

Thanou E, Kornilios P. 2018. Next-generation sequencing yields the complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Milos viper Macrovipera schweizeri (Reptilia, Viperidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources, 3(2):1250-1251. DOI:10.1080/23802359.2018.1532348

Tamar K, Metallinou M, Wilms T, Schmitz A, Crochet PA, Geniez P, Carranza S. 2018. Evolutionary history of spiny-tailed lizards (Agamidae: Uromastyx) from the Saharo-Arabian region. Zoologica Scripta, 47(2):159-173. DOI:10.1111/zsc.12266

Tallowin OJS, Tamar K, Meiri S, Allison A, Kraus F, Richards SJ, Oliver PM. 2018. Early insularity and subsequent mountain uplift were complementary drivers of diversification in a Melanesian lizard radiation (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 125:29-39. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.020

Stark G, Tamar K, Itescu Y, Feldman A, Meiri S. 2018. Cold and isolated ectotherms: Drivers of reptilian longevity. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 125(4):730-740. DOI:10.1093/BIOLINNEAN/BLY153

Sindaco R, Simó-Riudalbas M, Sacchi R, Carranza S. 2018. Systematics of the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Arabia with the description of two new species. Zootaxa, 4429(3):513-547. DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4429.3.4

Simó-Riudalbas M, Tarroso P, Papenfuss T, Al-Sariri T, Carranza S. 2018. Systematics, biogeography and evolution of Asaccus gallagheri (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) with the description of a new endemic species from Oman. Systematics and Biodiversity, 16(4):323-339. DOI:10.1080/14772000.2017.1403496

Salvi D, Mendes J, Carranza S, Harris DJ. 2018. Evolution, biogeography and systematics of the western Palaearctic Zamenis ratsnakes. Zoologica Scripta, 47(4):441-461. DOI:10.1111/zsc.12295

Salvi D, Perera A, Sampaio FL, Carranza S, Harris DJ. 2018. Underground cryptic speciation within the Maghreb: Multilocus phylogeography sheds light on the diversification of the checkerboard worm lizard Trogonophis wiegmanni. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 120:118-128. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.013

Mendes J, Salvi D, Harris DJ, Els J, Carranza S. 2018. Hidden in the Arabian Mountains: Multilocus phylogeny reveals cryptic diversity in the endemic Omanosaura lizards. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 56(3):395-407. DOI:10.1111/jzs.12210