Review on Systematics and Distribution of the Leaf-toed Geckos of the Genus Asaccus (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) in the Middle East

A review of the known Middle East species of the genus Asaccus Dixon and Anderson, 1973 is presented. The genus Asaccus is a vicariance group that is distributed in southern Anatolia, eastern Iraq, western and southwestern Iran, Syria, northern Oman and the United Arab Emirates. This genus belongs to one of the least known families of geckos Phyllodactylidae that encompasses 10 genera, 158 species and 46 subspecies.The genus Asaccus is divided into two distinct geographical lineages. The first group is endemic to the Mesopotamian region (western Iran, eastern Iraq, Turkey and Syria), which includes Asaccus andersoni, A. elisae, A. griseonotus, A. granularis, A. iranicus, A. kermanshahensis, A. kurdistanensis, A. nasrullahi, A. tangestanensis, A. zagrosicus, A. saffinae, and A. barani all restricted to the Zagros mountains and neighboring regions. The second group, occurring in the northern Oman Mountains as well as some areas in the United Arab Emirates includes A. arnoldi, A.caudivolvulus, A. gallagheri, A. gardneri, A. margaritae, A. montanus and A. platyrhynchus. Historical and biogeographical events in the Middle East have had a major impact on the distribution and subsequent evolution of Asaccus.