Photos / Sounds
What
Sclerophrys tihamicaObserver
daveshowlerDescription
Wadi El Kubt (460m),1 by camp after dark (21:00h); part buried itself by reversing into sand when disturbed.
What
Arabian Toad (Sclerophrys arabica)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
Male by pool (several others nearby), Wadi al-Jahr
What
Yellow Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus fulvus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photo: a larger stockier souslik compared to long-clawed souslik also present (more commonly) in area. This individual about 2 km west of the town of Gazli in shrub semi-desert (Kyzylkum).
What
Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photo. Foraging after dark on insects attracted to lights by desert compound. In sandy shrub semi-desert.
What
Reticulated Toad-headed Agama (Phrynocephalus reticulatus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See Photo. Observations (2012-13, 2015) indicate local but widespread on gravel patches within sandy desert/semi-desert, C-N Bukhara province
Photos / Sounds
What
Asian Sand Cat (Felis margarita ssp. thinobia)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photos. Single adult in burrow and running from burrow, at dusk in shrub semi-desert.
What
Turkestan Thin-toed Gecko (Tenuidactylus fedtschenkoi)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
presumably Tenuidactylus fedtschenkoi (photo at night by Maxim A. Koshkin (copyright), unfortunately only photo we have; a bit pale due to flash, but a pale individual none-the-less). Similar to T. caspius but head rather plain and much smaller tubercles on dorsum. I did not examine it closely enough at time.
Habitat rocky hills/crags with little vegetation. c. 380m a.s.l.
Any thoughts much appreciated.
What
Aralo-Caspian Racerunner (Eremias intermedia)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photo: Juvenile Eremias sp. probably E. intermedia, with pale blue-tinged tail and prominent ocelli. (Note: resembles E. nigrocellata known from a few localities much further south in Surkhandarya Province).
Photos / Sounds
What
Tessellated Water Snake (Natrix tessellata)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
Observation by D. Hodkinson; along edge of large canal with flowing water. (194 m a.s.l.)
What
Xinjiang Toad (Bufotes pewzowi)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photogragh: immature by canal side. Several seen and many heard during spring (2012-2015)
What
Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph: Many individuals observed/heard in spring in wetland area by canal (years 2012-2015). (194 m a.s.l.)
What
Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph. Immature or small adult on the edge of a large flowing canal just outside Jeyran Ecocenter reserve.
Very granular-skinned and rather different in appearance to those that looked like fairly typical P. ridibunda seen around wetlands further north (North of Bukhara city).
What
Steppe Ribbon Racer (Psammophis lineolatus)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph. Adult observed at dusk on loose sand with many xerophytic dwarf shrubs.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Desert Racer (Platyceps karelini)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
No photograph. Adult (boldy barred/spotted very pale grey/white and black) moving quickly across road at dusk (approx. 19:15h) into surrounding scrub desert habitat bordering the roadside. 191 m a.s.l.
(Lat long accurate to within 3km north or south along road).
What
Spotted Desert Racer (Platyceps karelini)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph, immature dead roadkill (found by Maxim A. Koshkin), 195 m a.s.l.
What
Rapid Racerunner (Eremias velox)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph. Adult (presumed male). 2 others nearby. (228 m a.s.l.).
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Whip Snake (Hemorrhois ravergieri)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
Three individuals (1 imm. on rocky slope above dry wadi; 2 adults on tamarisk litter alongside base of stoney wadi bed (in Kuldjaktau Mountains).
Distinctive black head contrasting with brown body, one with fairly obvious smallish darker spots on dorsum (other two more uniform but seen only briefly). No photographs as one individual disturbed at close range rapidly disappeared into a rock crevice, and the two others took refuge amongst dense tamarisk litter and shrubs upon approach.
What
Caspian Monitor (Varanus caspius)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph; hatchling from previous year hiding amongst tamarisk in bottom of dry wadi bed (in the low Kuldjaktau Mountains)
Photos / Sounds
What
Desert Lidless Skink (Ablepharus deserti)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photos (by David Hodkinson); on vegetated scree-boulder covered montane slope, 1930 m a.s.l.
Help with identification appreciated as have limited ref. material. Would appear to be A. deserti (rather than A. panonnicus) based on paired frontoparietals, other scale features, and 3 longitudinal dark lines on dorsum.
Consensus is that it is A. deserti (11/9/16)
What
Tessellated Water Snake (Natrix tessellata)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph; immature (first seen swimming in flowing canal, caught to take photo).
What
Sand Racerunner (Eremias scripta)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph.
On Barkhan sand dunes where Phrynocephalus mystaceus also present.
What
Aralo-Caspian Racerunner (Eremias intermedia)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph.
Several (10+) zipping over semi-consolidated sand with a little gravel, between small Artemisia diffusa bushes on loose sand hummocks with very occasional small saxaul Haloxylon persica and scarce grass/herb cover.
Photos / Sounds
What
Murree Hills Frog (Nanorana vicina)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photographs (Note: these are photographs of prints so image quality rather poor).
Subgenus Paa?
An unidentified frog identified as Paa (subgenus) species (possibly an undescribed species) by Prof. A. Dubois.
Observed in mountains above Pichmoru village, Palas Valley, North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), where spotlighted at about 20:00 h in a small pool under a rock overhang, 2,000 m a.s.l.
What
Lebanon Lizard (Phoenicolacerta laevis)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph. Taken in open rocky area within mixed montane woodland above Slunfeh town.
Assumed to be Phoenicolacerta, uncertain of species?
What
Desert Sand Boa (Eryx miliaris)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See photograph. Note 4 scales posterior to internasals.
Also several observed around this locality (loose sand substrate) in 2013 and 2015, and the Kyzylkum desert within Bukhara Province generally (but most not identified to species, i.e. some in more earthy consolidated substrates at higher elevation perhaps attributable to E. tataricus?).
Photos / Sounds
What
Forskal Sand Snake (Psammophis schokari)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
One crossing coast road at base of wadi, 30 m a.s.l.
Photos / Sounds
What
Forskal Sand Snake (Psammophis schokari)Observer
daveshowlerDescription
One dead (killed by locals) on path near bottom of valley, 700 m a.s.l.
Observer
daveshowlerDescription
See Photograph.
Spotlighted after dark in evening on ground on rocky hillside in open Juniperus-dominated woodland.