| Southeastern Kazakhstan, Almaty (now Zhetysu) Region, Panfilov District, Ili Basin, Konyrolen Valley, coordinates 44.3689° N, 79.4133° E, altitude 1250 m
a.s. l., 17.08.2006, сoll. T. N. Dujsebayeva, O. V. Belyalov. Genbank KM 977961 (Poyarkov et al., 2014). |
| Etymology: The specific name “belyalovi” is
a Latin toponymic adjective in the nominative singular
(feminine gender), in honor
of Oleg Vyacheslavovich Belyalov (1960–2020), a Kazakhstan ornithologist, renowned photographer, and
creator of photo albums and nature films, who died
prematurely from COVID‑19. |
Poyarkov N.A., N.A. & Orlova, V.F. & Chirikova, M.A. (2014) - The mitochondrial phylogeography and intraspecific taxonomy of the Steppe Racerunner, Eremias arguta (Pallas) (Lacertidae: Sauria: Reptilia), reflects biogeographic patterns in Middle Asia. - Zootaxa, 3895 (2): 208-224.   × Steppe racerunner, Eremias (Eremias) arguta, is one of the most widespread species of the Asian racerunners (genus Er-emias). Several subspecies were traditionally recognized however, morphological variability is so high that delimitation of these subspecies was always problematic. Here we present a phylogenetic hypothesis for this species based on cyto-chrome b sequences (55 samples from 35 populations, 900 bp partial sequences), infer it biogeography and the revise its subspecific structure. Six major phylogenetic lineages were revealed. The southernmost populations (E. a. uzbekistanica) from Uzbekistan form a clade together with the Issyk-Kul Lake subspecies (E. a. darevskii) based on both molecular and morphological evidence. Within more northern populations, there is a split between populations from Northern Caucasus, Europe and Western Kazakhstan (E. a. deserti) and Central and Eastern Kazakhstan populations (E. a. arguta). Transcau-casian (E. a. transcaucasica) steppe racerunners are grouped with Middle Asian populations. Finally, the easternmost samples, assigned to “E. a. potanini” are nested within the E. a. arguta clade. Populations from the Ili River Valley form a separate lineage sister to the clade joining all other E. arguta lineages and might represent a yet undescribed taxon. Spe-cies distribution in relation to historical biogeography of Middle Asia is discussed. Orlova,V.F. & Chirikova, M.A.& Dujsebayeva, T.N. (2026) - New Subspecies of the Steppe Racerunner, Eremias arguta belyalovi ssp. n. (Sauria, Lacertidae), from Southeastern Kazakhstan and Northwestern China. - Russian Journal of Zoology, 105 (10): 25-40. × The Steppe Racerunner, Eremias arguta (Pallas, 1773), is a widespread lizard species from North Eurasia within the genus Eremias. Currently, five subspecies have been distinguished within the entire range of the species: E. a. arguta (Pallas, 1773); E. a. darevskii Tsaruk, 1986; E. a. deserti (Gmelin, 1789); E. a. transcaucasica Darevsky, 1953; and E. a. uzbekistanica Chernov, 1934. Results obtained in the last decade have indicated the morphological and genetic distinctiveness of lizards from the Ili River basin. This study describes a new subspecies, Eremias arguta belyalovi ssp. n., as identified in the southeastern part of the species’ range. It differs from other subspecies of E. arguta by the presence of brightly colored spots on the sides of the body in males (blue, greenish, or yellow depending on the season and age), its small size (max. SVL of males 65 mm), some distinguishing features of its pholidosis, and the fact that it is distinguished by the mitochondrial marker from the closest subspecies (E. a. arguta and E. a. uzbekistanica). The new subspecies inhabits the Kegen and Tekes basins of Southeastern Kazakhstan, the foothills of the
Ili River Basin, which straddles Kazakhstan and China (Xinjiang Province), and the western Dzhungarian
Depression in Xinjiang. Eremias arguta belyalovi ssp. n. inhabits gravelly-clayey and clayey piedmont plains
with xerophytic plant communities at elevations ranging from 630 to 2000 m above sea level.
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