Lorestan University Press Journal of Animal Diversity 2676-685X 5 4 2023 12 31 Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Lytorhynchus Peters, 1863 (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) with special reference to the Iranian taxa 15 31 725060 10.22034/JAD.2023.5.4.2 EN Naeim Moradi Iranian Plateau Herpetology Research Group (IPHRG), Faculty of Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran 0000-0002-8288-3972 Soheila Shafiei Bafti Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran 0009-0007-6308-7616 Mohammad Ebrahim Sehhatisabet Department of the Environment of Iran, Provincial Office of Kerman, Iran 0009-0000-6574-0665 Behzad Zadhoush Department of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Iran 0000-0002-7536-5325 Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran 0000-0002-9639-2058 Journal Article 2023 07 28 The genus<em> Lytorhynchus</em>, spanning from the Sahara’s western fringes to the Middle East, eastern Pakistan, and northwestern India, has seen numerous species and subspecies classifications over the years. Many of these have been deemed synonymous due to overlapping morphological traits, a problem compounded by the absence of a comprehensive phylogenetic study. The taxa residing in Iran exhibit morphological variations attributable to their broad distribution and disjunct populations. Of the seven recognized species, three have been confirmed in Iran, although some populations display pholidosis distinct from initial descriptions. Species identification has also been fraught with ambiguities. This study aims to elucidate the diagnostic characteristics of taxa and furnish an updated identification key by revisiting past studies and examining new voucher specimens. The biogeography of Iranian taxa is also explored. https://jad.lu.ac.ir/article_725060_8417a3b819617feb73773c7cc9a7eb4d.pdf