Abstract
The Arabian Peninsula is home to many unique organisms due to its distinctive geographical location. Seven species of amphibians inhabit Saudi Arabia. One of them is the Dhofar toad (Bufo dhufarensis), a species of toad in the family Bufonidae found in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Oman. This species lives near freshwater springs, pools, dams, rivers and rural gardens. By evaluating the genetic variety within evolutionary lineages using sequence analysis, we were able to determine the degree of genetic diversity of the Dhofar toad (Bufo dhufarensis). Additionally, we examine the probable connections between this species and other toads and frogs. We collected 27 samples from Bufo dhufarensis and prepared the samples for DNA extraction and PCR using suitable primers. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences in toads from Riyadh Province were determined for the first time and deposited in a public gene data repository. Bufo dhufarensis, which was found in Riyadh Province, is very closely related to the toad Bufo dhufarensis, which was found in Oman, according to a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA sequence. This is the first report of the genetic diversity of Bufo dhufarensis in Riyadh Province based on the 16S rRNA gene.