New Arabian desert kites and potential proto-kites extend the global distribution of hunting mega-traps

•Recently discovered mega-traps are documented by a combination of satellite image analysis and fieldwork.•A relative chronology could be established between a proto-kite form (the ‘open kites’) and the desert kites in the Khaybar region.•Morphologically homogeneous groups of desert kites show a distinctive geographic distribution.•Mapping of morphologically distinct kites is proposed for the southern part of their geographic range.