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The present study is a review of the 1976 publication by professor A.D. NIAZI, director of the Natural History Museum of Bagdad, on the Lacertini of Iraq, including additional materials from Irqi collections. Twenty-two individuals of five taxa of this group originating from the territory under study were indentified in Iraqi collections: Lacerta cf. strigata EICHWALD, 1831 which had been removed from the list of Iraqi lacertids by many authors, L. media media LANTZ & CYRÉN, 1920, Timon kurdistanicus (SUCHOW, 1936) and two subspecies of Apathya cappadocica (WERNER, 1902). A key for identification and a map of the records are also presented.

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Two species of Lacerta genus are found in Northwest of Iran: Lacerta media and Lacerta strigata. Lacerta media has wide distribution range and is an important lizard fauna element in agro- ecosystems and river closed humid areas. The aim of this study was to provide reasons for high population size of this species in agro ecosystems. So, this study was performed in the farming areas in Meshkinshar, Ardabil province of Iran from 2003 to 2006. Based on extensive field research, it has been mainly found that Lacerta media is the most abundant reptile species in mentioned habitats and it just inhabits areas that are much closed to water. Our results also showed, animal is hidden by dense grass vegetation cover especially male that has green color. They use old hallows of mice and other small vertebrates for hiding and egg lying. In spring they are seen on cultivated filed boundaries on stones on sunny days. As specific result, they are found in apple orchards more abundant than other cultivated fields. It seems that permanent food accessibility (insects) and fewer predators are most reasons. Finally, Lacerta media is interesting species to study from a conservational point of view because of its unusual frequency of occurrence as parallel with human activities.

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The oriental green lizards of the Lacerta trilineata group are widely distributed in Greece, Anatolia, the eastern Mediterranean, the southern Caucasus, and the Zagros mountains in Iran. We studied their phylogeography using three mitochondrial markers with comprehensive sampling from most representatives of the group. Their phylogeny and divergence times (implementing fossil-based molecular clock calibrations) were inferred using Bayesian methods, and haplotype networks were reconstructed to assess how genetic diversity and current distributional patterns were shaped. According to our phylogenetic analyses, the group constitutes a well-supported monophylum containing several distinct evolutionary lineages with high haplotype diversity. Vicariance might explain the divergences within most lineages that have accumulated by range restriction and expansion of populations as a result of Quaternary climate oscillations and glacial refugia. However, niche divergence appears to be a major force promoting speciation, and large scale distributional patterns between lineages were shaped earlier by multiple, independent dispersals out of Anatolia during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene. The results of the present study also suggest that the group is in need of a taxonomical revision because the identified lineages and genetic diversity are not congruent with the currently recognized subspecies.

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The Northwest of Iran, covering the three provinces of Ardabil, East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan, is a special area that, due to its particular geographical and climatic conditions has a rich biodiversity. The present study was conducted with the aim of studying the habitat, substrate type, feeding, conservation and distribution of lizards in this area from 2003 to now. Our results have revealed that there are 20 lizard species belonging to 13 genera and 5 families in this area. Lacertid lizards have the highest species diversity with 12 species. We also found that high ranges of habitats with a different substrate types are inhabited by lizard species. The number of species in pine regions compared with other types of area is considerably greater. The conservation status of lizards is unknown and requires further study.

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Northwestern Iran has unique geographical and climatic conditions that support a rich flora and fauna. In view of the lack of in-depth studies on the lizards of the region, an investigation was started in the northern part of Ardabil Province for an inventory of this component of the fauna and their habitats. Collections were made from October 2003 to June 2005 and 165 specimens were collected and identified. Five families, 12 genera and 15 species are represented, including Agamidae: Laudakia caucasia, Phrynocephalus persicus, Trapelus ruderatus; Lacertidae: Lacerta media media, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta brandtii, Darevskia raddei raddei, Eremias strauchi strauchi, Eremias arguta, Ophisops elegans; Scincidae: Mabuya aurata transcaucasica, Eumeces schneiderii princeps, Abelepharus bivittatus; Anguidae: Pseudopus apodus and Gekkonidae: Cyrtopodion caspium caspium. Comparing this list to the data provided by Anderson (1999), it seems that most of the lizards are being reported for the Province for the first time. The families Gekkonidae and Anguidae are newly recorded, and the gecko Cyrtopodion caspium is first recorded from the west and northwest of Iran. With seven species represented in the area, lacertids have the highest species diversity among the lizard families and need further study. Habitat features also have been given for all species.

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Anhand ihrer Feld- und Literaturstudien identifizierten die Autoren 36 Amphibien- und Reptilienarten, die nachweislich in der turkischen Provinz Bitlis vorkommen, wobei die Fundorte und die an ihnen angetroffenen Habitattypen angegeben werden. die durch Beobachtung festgestellten Hauptgefahrdungsursachen werden benannt. insgesamt kennt man aus dem Untersuchungsgebiet Vorkommen von vier Froschlurch-, zwei Schwanzlurch- und Schildkrötenarten sowie 15 Echsen- und 13 Schlangenarten. Hyla savignyi Audouin, 1827, Heremites vittatus (Olivier, 1804), Timon kurdistanicus (Suchow, 1936) and Eirenis thospitis Schmidtler & Lanza, 1990, stellen Erstnachweise fur die Provinz Bitlis dar.

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The present work provides a list of all amphibians and reptiles recorded from Iraq up to 2014. It includes 115 species (105 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians) dating back to 25 families (20 families of reptiles and 5 families of amphibians). Conservation status of each species was mentioned.

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A total number of 70 herpetofaunistic species organised in 3 orders and 18 families were surveyed during a period of two years (2005– 2007) in southern Jordan. The orders are (1) Ophidia has 7 families: Leptotyphlopidae (1 species), Typhlopidae (2 species), Boidae (1 species), Colubdridae (17 species), Atractaspididae (1 species), Elapidae (1 species) and Viperidae (5 species). (2) Sauria has 7 families: Gekkonidae (12 species), Chamaeleonidae (1 species), Agamidae (8 species), Lacertidae (3 species), Sincidae (8 species), Anguidae (1 species), Varanidae (1 species). (3) Testudines has 4 families: Cheloniidae (2 species), Dermochetylidae (1 species), Emydidae (1 species) and Testudinidae (1 species). The species listed were all resident and were mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area encouraged the occurrence of the species. The results reinforce the necessity of longterm inventory plannings in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofaunistic and other wildlife communities in the study area. The over-increasing of human impact on the existing natural resources in the southern Jordan has threatened the ecology diversity of wildlife species, where the populations of some herpetofaunaistic species (especially frog species) and many reptilian species are declining in diversity status and abundance. The author recommend at the end the improving cooperation of different parties to enhance the public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve the sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna components.

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A total of 70 herpetofauna species from 3 Orders and 18 Families were surveyed during a period of two years (2005-2007) in Southern Jordan. The Ophidia included Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, Boidae, Colubdridae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae and Viperidae. The Sauria included Gekkonidae, Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Sincidae, Anguidae and Varanidae. Testudines included Cheloniidae, Dermochelyidae, Emydidae and Testudinidae. The species listed were all resident and mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area likely encouraged species presence. The results reinforce the necessity for long-term inventory planning in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofauna and other wildlife communities in the study area. The increasing human impact on the existing natural resources in Southern Jordan has threatened the ecology and diversity of wildlife species to such a degree that populations of anurans and many reptiles are declining in diversity, status and abundance. The author recommends improving cooperation of different parties to enhance public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna.

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An extensive review on the taxonomic status, occurrence, geographical distribution, and the IUCN conservation status of 122 species/taxa (10 amphibians and 112 reptiles) belonging to 71 genera (8 genera of amphibians and 63 of reptiles) and to 25 families (5 families of amphibians and 20 families of reptiles) was made. As a part of Iraq’s unique biota, the knowledge of the herpetofauna of Iraq is poorly discovered and requires extensive field surveys, further research, and explorations in order to create full frame knowledge of its status and conservation.

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Determining the age of any species allows it to be analyzed from the ontogenetic, demographic, and ecological perspectives. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the age structure of congener species (Lacerta media and Lacerta viridis) with the same ecological niche may vary in different areas. In this context, we applied skeletochronology method to reveal various demographic parameters, such as age structure, longevity, age at sexual maturity, growth rate, survival rate, adult life expectancy, and the relationship between age and body size in the green lizard, L. viridis, and the medium lizard, L. media. In L. media and L. viridis, the maximum lifespan was 10 and 8 years, respectively. The mean age and body size of females were significantly greater than those of males in L. media. However, in the examined L. viridis population, no appreciable variation in mean age or body size was found to exist between the sexes. It was estimated that the green lizards reach maturity at the age of 2 or 3 years. However, the L. media reached sexual maturity approximately 1 year later than the congener. The body size markedly increased with age in males for both studied populations. However, in females, body size positively increased with age only in L. media. The approach of skeletochronology that we utilized in this study to assess age structure makes it simple to gather a variety of time-dependent ecological data for such ectothermic species.

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TERRA TYPICA. Tiflis city (=Tbilisi), Georgia. DISTRIBUTION. The most part of the distribution range in North Eurasia is situated in the Caucasus. There it is noted in the Transcaucasia, in eastern and northern Georgia, submontane and montane regions of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as in river valleys in interior Dagestan. Besides, it occurs on the coast of the Black Sea of the Krasnodar Territory, Abkhazia and Ajaria. Outside of the Caucasus it is encountered in the eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran. One of the three subspecies, L. m. media Lantz et Cyren, 1920, occurs in the Caucasus. CONSERVATION STATUS. The species is included into the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2001): category 3 – a rare species within the limits of Russia with distribution on the extreme northern border of its range. Female (left) and male (right) of Medium Lizard

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Acanthodactylus cantoris blanfordi, Acanthodactylus cantoris schmidti, Acanthodactylus fraseri, Acanthodactylus micropholis, Apathya cappadocica urmiana, Eremias arguta, Eremias brevirostris, Eremias fasciata, Eremias grammica, Eremias guttulata, Eremias intermedia, Eremias lineolata, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias persica, Eremias pleskei, Eremias scripta, Eremias strauchi, Eremias velox velox, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta princeps princeps, Lacerta princeps kurdistanica, Lacerta saxicola defilippii. Lacerta saxicola raddei, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta trilineata media, Ophisops elegans.

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Acanthodactylus blanfordi, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus grandis, Acanthodactylus micropholis, Acanthodactylus nilsoni, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Eremias acutirostris, Eremias andersoni, Eremias arguta, Eremias fasciata, Eremias grammica, Eremias intermedia, Eremias lalezharica, Eremias lineolata, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias nigrolateralis, Eremias persica, Eremias pleskei, Eremias scripta, Eremias strauchi strauchi, Eremias strauchi kopetdaghica, Eremias velox velox, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta cappadocica urmiana, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta defilippii, Lacerta media media, Lacerta mostoufi, Lacerta praticola praticola, Lacerta princeps princeps, Lacerta princeps kurdistanica. Lacerta raddei raddei, Lacerta raddei vanensis, Lacerta steineri, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta valentini valentini, Lacerta zagrosica, Mesalina brevirostris brevirostris, Mesalina brevirostris fieldi, Mesalina watsonana, Ophisops elegans.

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DNA sequence indicates the Lacertidae contain two subfamilies, Gallotiinae and Lacertinae, the latter comprising two monophyletic tribes, the Eremiadini of Africa and arid southwest and central Asia, and the Lacertini of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest and east Asia. Relationships within the 108 species of Lacertini are explored using mtDNA (291 bp cytochrome b; 329 bp 12S rRNA for 59 nominal species, and reanalysis of the data of Harris et al. 1998, and Fu 2000). The morphology of the tribe is reviewed and 64 of its characters (equivalent to 83 binary ones) also used to assess relationships. The Lacertini are assigned to 19 monophyletic units of 1 to 27 species, recognised here as the following genera (contents are indicated in brackets): Algyroides, Anatololacerta gen. nov. (L. danfordi group), Apathya (L. cappadocica group), Archaeolacerta (L. bedriagae), Dalmatolacerta gen. nov. (L. oxycephala), Darevskia (L. saxicola group), Dinarolacerta gen. nov. (L. mosorensis), Hellenolacerta gen. nov. (L. graeca), Iberolacerta (L. monticola group), Iranolacerta gen. nov. (L. brandtii and L. zagrosica), Lacerta s. str. (sand and green lizards, L. agilis group), Parvilacerta gen. nov. (L. parva and L. fraasii), Phoenicolacerta gen. nov. (L. laevis group), Podarcis (wall lizards), Scelarcis (L. perspicillata), Takydromus (Asian grass lizards), Teira (L. dugesii), Timon (ocellated lizards, L. lepida group) and Zootoca (L. vivipara). Both mtDNA and morphology indicate that Lacerta and Timon are sister taxa, and DNA suggests further possible relationships among genera (Fig. 1, p. 6). Neither DNA nor morphology indicates that the archaeolacertas (sometimes formalised as Archaeolacerta sens. lat.) form a clade. Instead, they are representatives of an ecomorph associated with living on rock exposures and using the narrow crevices that these contain. The Lacertidae probably arose in the European area, with the Gallotiinae later reaching Northwest Africa and the Canary Islands, and the ancestor of the Eremiadini invading Africa in the mid-Miocene. The Lacertini spread through much of their present European range and diversified, perhaps largely by repeated vicariance, around 12–16 My ago, producing the ancestors of the present mainly small-bodied genera, which then underwent often modest speciation. Three units spread more widely: the Lacerta-Timon clade of large-bodied lizards probably dispersed earliest, followed by Algyroides and then Podarcis. Overall, European Lacertidae show a pattern of repeated spread, often accompanied by restriction of previous groups. Expansion of Lacertini may have displaced earlier lacertid lineages from all or much of Europe; while spread of Podarcis may have restricted many other genera of Lacertini. The earlier expansion of the Lacerta-Timon clade probably did not have this effect, as difference in adult body size restricted competitive interaction with other forms. Several invasions of more distant areas also occurred: of East Asia by Takydromus over 10 My ago, and more recently of northwest Africa by Podarcis, Scelarcis and Timon, and Madeira by Teira. Relationships within the Eremiadini estimated from both mtDNA, and nDNA differ considerably from those based on morphology. They indicate relatively mesic forms may have diversified widely across Africa and given rise to at least three independent invasions of arid habitats. MtDNA also indicates that Lacerta andreanskyi belongs in the Eremiadini and may occupy a basal position there. It is assigned to a further new genus, Atlantolacerta gen. nov.

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1. The signals that animals use to communicate often differ considerably among species. Part of this variation in signal design may derive from differential natural selection on signal efficacy: the ability of the signal to travel efficiently through the environment and attract the receiver`s attention. For the visual and acoustic modalities, the effect of the physical environment on signal efficacy is a well-studied selective force. Still, very little is known on its impact on chemical signals. 2. Here, we took a broad, phylogenetic comparative approach to test for a relationship between animals` signal chemistry and properties of their natural environment. Our study focused on lizards from the Lacertidae family. 3. We sampled 64 species across three continents and determined the lipophilic composition of their glandular signalling secretions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For each species, an array of environmental variables of high temporal and spatial resolution was obtained from climate databases. 4. Species varied considerably in the overall richness (number of constituents) of their secretions, as well as in the relative contribution of the major chemical compound classes. Signal richness and the relative contribution of the respective compounds exhibited little evidence of phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that chemical signals may change very rapidly. Neither insularity nor substrate use affected chemical signal composition, however, we found a strong statistical relationship between the chemistry of the lizards` secretions and aspects of the thermal and hydric environment they inhabit. 5. Species from `xeric` milieus contained high proportions of stable fatty acid esters and high molecular weight alcohols in their glandular secretions, which likely increase the persistence of secretion scent-marks. In contrast, species inhabiting `mesic` environments produced secretions of a high chemical richness comprising high levels of aldehydes and low molecular weight alcohols. This chemical mix probably creates a volatile-rich signal that can be used for long-distance airborne communication. 6. We argue that the observed variation in signal design results from differential natural selection, optimizing signal efficacy under contrasting environmental conditions.

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A complete catalogue is provided for the type specimens of lacertid lizards in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, as of December, 1993. The collection contains a total of 514 type specimens, representing 63 taxa, of which 42 are currently regarded as valid at the specific or subspecific level. Types representing an additional four taxa appear to have been lost from the collection. The collections are especially rich in African lacertid types and in historically significant specimens collected early in the Nineteenth Century by Pallas, Eversmann, and Hemprich & Ehrenberg. Also present are the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis described by Eisentraut.

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This study used skeletochronology to assess the relationships of age and body length of the individuals in a population of the Levant green lizard (Lacerta media), located in the Harmancik Village, Torul District, Gümüshane Province. The mean age and SVL in the adult individuals of the Harmancik population were 101.57 ± 4.04 mm and 5.31 ± 1.34 years for all individuals (101.10 ± 3.61 mm and 5.31 ± 1.03 years in adult females and 102.09 ± 4.57 mm and 5.33 ± 1.67 years in adult males). The age range varied was 4-8 years in adult males and 4-7 years in adult females. The age of the subadult males and subadult females was at 3 years, while the age of the two juveniles was 2 years. A positive correlation was found between body size (SVL) and age in adult female and male individuals of the species. A male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD = -0.097) was observed.

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The final part of a series of papers on the lizards of the Caucasus, that have been published in previous years. The paper reports on the life habits, capture and keeping in terraria of several lizards of Soviet Transcaucasia. In these respects the agamid Phrynocephalus helioscopus persi- cus and three species of the lacertid genus Eremias occuring in that area (i. e. strauchi, velox, pleskei) are discussed. Finally a !ist of all lizard species and subspecies actually known to occur in this region is given.

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General remarks on Georgia as nature area and on ist herpetofauna, with discussion about ist population density. Short presentation and hints on distribution and habitats of Eremias arguta transcaucasica, E. velox caucasica, Ophisops elegans elegans, Lacerta agilis brevicaudata, L. agilis ioriensis, L. agilis grusinica, L. media media and L. strigata.

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Bericht über die Entdeckungsgeschichte der Eidechsen des Lacerta kulzeri-Komplexes, speziell jener des Djebel Druz in Syrien. Der Lebensraum der Dj. Druz-Eidechsewn sowie einige Freilandbeobachtungen werden mitgeteilt. Bemerkenswert ist, dass die Eidechsen offensichtlich von sich aus das Wasser aufsuchen. Die übrige Herpetofauna des Dj. Druz wird aufgelistet und teilweise kurz kommentiert.

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During two excursions to Syria (March/April and May 1994) 9 species of lacertid lizards were found (Acanthodactylus grandis, A. orientalis, A. tristrami, Lacerta media wolterstorffi L. cappadocica wolteri, L. l. laevis, L. (cf.) kulzeri, Mesalina brevirostris and Ophisops elegans ssp.). Three of them (A. tristrami, L. cappadocica wolteri and L. (cf.) kulzeri) are reported for the first time for this country. Concerning L. cappadocica, L. laevis, L. (cf.) kulzeri and O. elegans systematical questions are discussed. Ecological data are presented. Further amphibians and reptiles found during the excursions are listed, Coluber najadum is reported for the first time for Syria.

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The physical geography of Iraq is summarised. Using data from the relevant literature and current information from the Internet, a very provisional checklist of Iraqi amphibians and reptiles is presented. Ten amphibian species are reported for Iraq, and exactly 100 reptile species.

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Many regions of the former USSR still re- ceive little attention from Western visitors, herpetologists not excluded. For the Cau- casus Mountains this is all the more sur- prising since the area forms a zone where northern and Middle Eastern flora and fauna meet, and which is thus of considera- bly zoogeographical interest. Presently we find three larger states in the Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Arme- nia. Turkey borders to the southwest, Iran to the southeast, and in the north it is the Russian federation. Various smaller parts claim independence. The Black Sea forms the natural western boundary, the Caspian Sea the eastern one. Herpetologically the Caucasus is historically well-known because of the work of Darev- sky and collaborators on the rock lizards (at the time still in the large genus Lacerta, now in Darevskia) and the discovery of the first case of parthenogenesis in vertebrates (DAREVSKY, 1967; DAREVSKII, 1978; DAREVSKY & KULIKOVA, 1961). Below we will concentrate on the results of our field trip to Georgia during the last two weeks of June 2003. Predictably, because of our common interest in the group, the lacertids will receive the most attention.

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The interspecific relationships among female size, clutch size, egg size, and hatchling size were examined for 64 European lacertids. The eggs of all species increased linearly in both linear dimensions and mass during incubation. Across species initial egg mass was positively correlated with juvenile mass, with an allometric relationship exponent of 0.87. Initial egg mass across species increased proportionally with female mass to the power of 0.57. Moreover, an increase in maternal mass was also accompanied by an increase in clutch size. The number of eggs per clutch across species scaled with female mass to the power of 0.39. Removing the effect of female mass resulted in a negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size. Species for which the average egg size was lower than expected on the basis of female mass, tended to have larger relative clutch size. The total egg mass per clutch was about one third of female mass (exponent 0.94).

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A phylogenetic-comparative approach was used to assess and refine existing secondary structure models for a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial encoded large subunit (16S) rRNA in two large lizard lineages within the Scincomorpha, namely the Scincidae and the Lacertidae. Potential pairings and mutual information were analyzed to identify site interactions present within each lineage and provide consensus secondary structures. Many of the interactions proposed by previous models were supported, but several refinements were possible. The consensus structures allowed a detailed analysis of rRNA sequence evolution. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from Bayesian analyses of all sites, and the topologies used for maximum likelihood estimation of sequence evolution parameters. Assigning gamma-distributed relative rate categories to all interacting sites that were homologous between lineages revealed substantial differences between helices. In both lineages, sites within helix G2 were mostly conserved, while those within helix E18 evolved rapidly. Clear evidence of substantial site-specific rate variation (covarion-like evolution) was also detected, although this was not strongly associated with specific helices. This study, in conjunction with comparable findings on different, higher-level taxa, supports the ubiquitous nature of site-specific rate variation in this gene and justifies the incorporation of covarion models in phylogenetic inference.

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It is a fact that the amphibians and reptiles respond to unfavourable weather conditions by searching an underground refuge to survive during winter. The current literature has shown that some species of reptilians and amphibians may become active before their known end of hibernation periods, especially in lowland areas. In the present study, it has been detected that the changing weather conditions in a highland area in Gümüshane, Turkey can cause similar effects on Lacerta media, Bufo bufo and Rana macrocnemis that share the same habitats. One of the reasons of the early activities of some reptilian and amphibian species before their known end of hibernation periods may be the high sensitivity of these species to the changing temperature conditions. Effects of global warming on reptilians and amphibians obvious, and some members of these animals can even be active during winter. This conclusion brings into mind that L. media, B. bufo and R. macrocnemis can continue to be active at highland areas as long as air temperature values allow them.

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A new tandemly repeated (satellite) DNA family namely Agi160, from Lacerta agilis and Lacerta strigata (Lacerta sensu stricto (s. str.), Linnaeus 1758) have been cloned and sequenced. Agi160 is found in the above two species, as well as two other representatives of the same genus, L. viridis and L. media. DNA hybridization did not reveal it in Darevskia, Podarcis, Zootoca, Eremias, Ophisops, and Gallotia - the other genera of the family Lacertidae. The results suggest that Agi160 is a Lacerta s. str. specific family of tandem DNA repeats. However, a comparison between sequences of Agi160 and CLsat repeat units revealed 60 bp regions 62-74% identical. The latter is a satellite DNA family typical for Darevskia (syn. L. saxicola complex) (Grechko et al., Molecular-genetic classification and phylogenetic relatedness of some species of Lacertidae lizards by taxonoprint data. Mol Biol 32:172-183, 1988.). Both Agi160 and CLsat tandem repeats share several common features (e.g., the same AT content and distribution of multiple short A-T runs, internal structure of repeated units, the presence of conservative regions). These data are indicative of their common origin and a possibly strong selective pressure upon conserving both satellites. A comparative analysis of structure, organization, and abundance of these two families of satDNA reveals evolutionary pathways that led to their formation and divergence. The data are consistent with the hypotheses of the concerted evolution of satellite DNA families. The possibility of use of Agi160 as a phylogenetic tool, defining relationships within Lacerta s. str., as well as within the whole family of Lacertidae is discussed.

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Twenty-one species of reptiles and amphibians belonging to nine families were recorded in this survey. These species included one amphibian, one tortoise, 12 lizards, and seven snakes. The present study is the fi rst attempt to compare between opportunistic and systematic survey methods in Jordan for reptiles and amphibians. The opportunistic survey is the method of choice when conducting a survey to assess the presence or absence of reptilian species regardless of their abundance. On the other hand, the systematic survey proved to be an excellent method to evaluate the abundance of species, expressed in the total number of observations. Ophisops elegans was by far the most frequently observed species and accounted for 28.94 % and 61.03 % of all observations when employing opportunistic and systematic surveys respectively. Additionally, this lizard was found in all types of habitats studied within the reserve.

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The Arasbaran Protected Area is a forested and mountainous area, which is located in northern part of East Azerbaijan province and bordered to the north by Armenia and Azerbaijan and southern Aras River of the Iranian Plateau confined to 38°40` to 39°08`N and 46°39` to 47°02`E. A study on the status of Sauria in this area was carried out from June to September 2011 and 2013. A total of 141 specimens were collected and identified, which represented four families, 11genera, and 12 species and subspecies, including collected Agamidae: Paralaudakia caucasia, Phrynocephalus persicus, Trapelus lessonae, Anguidae: Pseudopus apodus, Lacertidae: Darevskia raddeii, Iranolacerta brandtii, Eremias strauchi, Lacerta media, Lacerta strigata, Ophisops elegans and Scincidae: Eumeces schneideri Ablepharus bivittatus. The Lacertidae with six species, showed the highest diversity among the families represented here. In this study a new locality was found for Lacerta strigata 30 km north of kalibar, in the Arasbaran.

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Zoogeographically, the Jordanian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian, and Afrotropical) and occupying four different ecozones. Ninetythree species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles are recorded from Jordan, showing different distribution patterns. The Mediterranean ecozone harbours the highest number (35) of recorded species, followed by the Sudanian Tropical penetration zone (16), and the Badyiah ecozone (12), respectively. Jordan is not separated by natural boundaries from the surrounding countries, which prevents the operation of isolation mechanisms, and seems to result in the absence of endemism. There are, however, three areas of endemism within the Eastern Mediterranean region taken as one whole unit: the Badyiah shared by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the northern part of the Mediterranean ecozone shared by Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan, and southwest Jordan, Israel and Sinai. Some Palearctic species such as Coluber schmidti and C. ravergieri are relicts of the postglacial period and continue to survive in refugal enclaves with delicate ecological patterns. The distribution of some species, such as Bufo viridis, Mauremys caspica rivulata, Natrix tessellata, Coluber ventromaculatus, C. jugularis asianus, Walterinnesia aegyptia, and Vipera palaestinae, has been greatly influenced by climatic as well as anthropogenic changes.

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The lizard fauna of Jordan is very diverse and forms 55.5% of the terrestrial herpetofauna of the country. Lizard species of Arabian origin form the highest percentage (43%) of the lizards, followed by Saharo-Sindian (35%), Palaearctic (20%) and only 2% with Afrotropical affinities. 69.1% of the lizard species inhabit two ecozones: Badia (Eastern Desert); and Wadi Araba and Wadi Rum. The Badia may form the focal point for the evolution of certain Acanthodactylus species. Jordan forms the southernmost limit of the distribution of some Palaearctic species (i.e. Lacerta media, L. laevis, Pseudopus apodus) and they inhabit the Mediterranean ecozone. The presence of diverse habitats in Jordan allowed certain allopatric congeneric species of the genus Ptyodactylus to live in isolation from one another. Southern Jordan and Wadi Rum are part of the Levantine land bridge and act as a “biogeographical filter”. Most of the species found in Wadi Rum are of Arabian affinities and their distribution does not extend towards the west.

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Zoogeographically, the Syrian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian and Afrotropical) and is characterized by the presence of five ecozones. 50% of the terrestrial herpetofaunal species are of palaearetic affinity while 32.3%, 14.6% and 3.1% are of Saharo-Sindian, Arabian and Afrotropical affinities, respectively. Five records of reptiles are new to the Syrian fauna: Emys orbicularis, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schreiben syriacus, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis, and Lepto- typhlops macrorhynchus; Coluber rogersi is reported for the second time. An updated list of the herpetofauna of Syria is given.

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The paper provides data on the current location of the type specimens of Lacerta viridis media Lantz et Cyrén, 1920 as on December 1, 2018. In the collections of ZISP, NHM and NMG 17 syntypes were identified during our study, ten of which appeared to be lost. According to catalogue records, other type specimens of this taxon likely were also stored in NMG, but this cannot be established for sure due to the loss of part of the collection. It is possible that part of the type specimens is stored in the Göteborgs Naturhistoriska Museum, as the majority of the Cyrén’s collections is kept there. The herpetological collection of NM KhNU has two specimens of L. media, coming from the collection of the Caucasian Museum. Most probably these lizards were received from Tiflis for study by A.M. Nikolsky, who lived and worked in Kharkov from 1903 to 1942. However, these specimens cannot be attributed to the type series of this species as their localities data are absent from the list of Lantz and Cyrén. The designation of the lectotype by Šmíd et al. (2014) is considered invalid, as it does not correspond to ICZN rules. To ensure the stability of the nomenclature we designate herein the specimen ZISP 12387 as the lectotype of L. viridis media. The history of the taxon description is given. It is demonstrated that O. Cyrén (1933) was first who upgraded the status of this taxon to a species level, using a binomen.

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The publication presents the results of GIS modelling using the MaxEnt 3.3.3k program for the distribution of the Lacerta media Lantz et Cyrén, 1920 in the past, present time and future. During the analysis, the geographical co- ordinates of 26 places of finds of the species in the territory of Dagestan were used. The obtained models of past dis- tribution (the Last Glacial Maximum and Middle Holocene) in the northeastern part of the Caucasus demonstrate a stable location of a potentially suitable territory within the boundaries of the known modern range. It was shown no noticeable changes in the range of the species with potential climate warming in the future (2050 and 2070). We can conclude that there are no threats to the species from global warming, in addition, the anthropogenic impact on Dagestan populations is minimal. The most promising areas were identified for the search for new populations: upstream and downstream the Samur, Kurakh, Andy-Koysu and Avar Koysu rivers. In addition, they include the gorges in the middle reaches of the Gamriozen, Halagork, Uluchay and Chiragchay rivers. This territory is poorly studied by herpetologists.

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DNA barcoding remains a recognized and widely used method for taxon identification in biodiversity inventory and monitoring. In this publication, we present information about the results of using this method in the study of green lizards of the genus Lacerta. A total of 67 sequences of the COI gene fragment of three species (L. agilis, L. media, L. strigata) were analyzed. For the first time, all subspecies of L. agilis known in the Caucasus were studied using DNA barcoding, and a phylogeographic hypothesis for L. strigata in the Caucasian part of the range was proposed. Genetic identification has been successful at the species level. In the composition of L. agilis within the Caucasus, we can diagnose only the subspecies L. a. boemica and L. a. exigua, while L. a. brevicaudata, L. a. grusinica and L. a. mzymtensis are identical from L. a. exigua, while L. a. ioriensis from L. a. boemica.

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The analysis of cytb of mitochondrial DNA (1143 bp) in Lacerta media was carried out using 34 individuals from 19 localities. Special attention was paid to previously unexplored populations on the northern border of the range within the North Caucasus and Western Transcaucasia. Two types of dendrograms of phylogenetic relations (Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood) were reconstructed, showing identical topology. Phylogenetic reconstruction identifies four supported clades. Similarly, four haplogroups are distinguished on the median network of haplotypes. The populations of the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands and the Northern Za- gros are distinguished at earlier stages of the process of phylogeny L. m. media. Subsequently, the populations of the central part of the Armenian Highlands, the Greater Caucasus, and, at the final stage, the Central Za- gros and the eastern part of the Asia Minor Highlands become isolated. The data obtained do not confirm the scenario of dispersal of the nominative subspecies from west to east and northeast, proposed by Ahmadza- deh et al. Instead, we consider the opposite direction – from east to north, south, and west. Two geographical regions were identified where representatives of several clades/haplogroups live, is the Armenian Highlands and the Zagros Mountains.

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The mitochondrial DNA cytb sequences (1143 bp) were examined in the representatives of Lacerta media. A total of 34 lizards from 19 localities were analyzed. Special attention was paid to previously unex- plored populations on the northern border of the range within the North Caucasus and Western Transcauca- sia. Two types of dendrograms of phylogenetic relationships, Bayesian (BA) and maximum likelihood (ML), were reconstructed, showing identical topology. Phylogenetic reconstruction identifies four supported clades. Similarly, on the median-joining haplotype network, four haplogroups are distinguished. At earlier stages of the phylogeny of L. m. media, the populations of the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands and the Northern Zagros are isolated. Next, the populations of the central part of the Armenian Highlands and the Greater Caucasus become isolated. At the final stage, these are the populations of the Central Zagros and the eastern part of the Asia Minor Highlands. The data obtained do not support a scenario on the nominative sub- species dispersal from the west to the east and northeast, suggested previously by F. Ahmadzadeh et al. [4]. Instead, we consider the opposite direction, i.e., from the east to the north, south, and west. Two geograph- ical regions, the Armenian Highlands and the Zagros Mountains, inhabited by the representatives of several clades/haplogroups are identified.

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DNA barcoding remains a recognized and widely used method for taxon identification in biodi- versity inventory and monitoring. In this publication, we present information about the results of using this method in the study of green lizards of the genus Lacerta. A total of 67 sequences of the COI gene fragment of three species (L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata) were analyzed. For the first time, all subspecies of L. agilis known in the Caucasus were studied using DNA barcoding, and a phylogeographic hypothesis for L. strigata in the Caucasian part of the range was proposed. Genetic identification has been successful at the species level. In the composition of L. agilis within the Caucasus, we can diagnose only the subspecies L. a. boemica and L. a. exigua, while L. a. brevicaudata, L. a. grusinica, and L. a. mzymtensis do not differ in this marker from L. a. exigua and L. a. ioriensis from L. a. boemica.

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An analysis of the spatial distribution of green lizards of the genus Lacerta in Dagestan is given. The distribu- tion ranges of L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata are specified and detailed. A set of vector (points of records) and raster synthetic maps are created, reflecting the spatial distribution of species. Bioclimatic modeling of habitat suitability is carried out. The minimum overlap of ecological (eco-climatic) niches is noted for L. me- dia with all species studied, the maximum in L. agilis and L. strigata.

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An analysis of the spatial distribution of green lizards of the genus Lacerta in Dagestan is given. The distribution ranges of L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata are specified and detailed. A set of vector (points of records) and raster synthetic maps is created, reflecting the spatial distribution of species. Bioclimatic mod- eling of habitat suitability is carried out. The minimum overlap of ecological (eco-climatic) niches is noted for L. media with all the species studied, and the maximum overlap is observed in L. agilis and L. strigata.

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From the publisher: Before you a unique atlas-determinant. For the first time in one edition descriptions of all species of amphibians and reptiles living on the territory of Russia are presented, illustrated with beautiful color photographs. The book is written by E.A. Dunaev and V.F. Orlova, the famous Russian herpetologists, researchers of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov. Lomonosov. A simple and accessible form of presentation, detailed descriptions of the external appearance, lifestyle and behavior, photographs reflecting all variants of the variability of these animals, will help the curious reader to become more familiar with turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs and other representatives of the herpetofauna. And special keys will allow you to determine who you met on a country walk, in a city park, at a dacha or while traveling to different corners of our country. The book is of great interest not only for nature lovers, but also for specialists in herpetology and students of biological faculties of universities. It lists the amphibians and reptiles of the native fauna, reflects the latest changes in the taxonomy of these groups, lists species included in the Red Book of Russia and regional Red Books, lists reference and scientific publications on reptiles and amphibians of Russian fauna.

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Während zweier Aufenthalte von sechseinhalb bzw. acht Monaten im syrisch-libanesisch-islraelischen Grenzgebiet hatte ich Gelegenheit, die dortige Herpetofauna zu studieren. Besonders intensiv untersuchte ich Südwest-Syrien, nämlich die östlichen Golanhöhen und den Hermon. 6 Amphibien-und 33 Reptilienarten konnten nachgewiesen werden, die mit Angaben ihrer Fundorte, Nahrungsgewohnheiten, Habitate und hinweisungswürdigen Anmerkungen aufgelistet werden.

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In this study, the adult cranial osteology of Trachylepis vittata and Lacerta media media collected from Kermanshah Province, western Iran, are described and compared based on seven dry skull preparations. Herein, variation patterns are considered in morphology of the cranial, elements of position in the skull structure and elements of connection together between the skull of two species in order to use in phylogenetic analyses and systematic studies. The skull roof, the palate, the mandible, the teeth within each of these two species discussed and compared. The obvious differences are as follows: A complete loss of any one bone was not discerned in the study of the skull of both species, but a obvious decrease was watched in the postorbital bones in T. vittata. Articulations of the jugal, the squamosal and the palatine in the various regions. The variations in form, size and position in bones such as: The nasal processes of the premaxilla, the parietal, the supraoccipital, otoccipital, the paraoccipital process, prearticular, the dentary.

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Herpetological trip to Israel in 2016 A combination of a long lasting wish to visit the Middle East and motivated by a book of Bar & Haimovitch (2012) we undertook a trip to Israel in the period April 11- 21 2016. The field guide mentions 92 reptile and amphibian species occurring in Israel. Besides that you can find a lot of other animals in Israel, amongst which specific birds, mammals and eighteen species of scorpions (Stockmann & Ythier, 2010). We had five accommodations (two days each) from the most northern part (the Golan Heights to the most southern part of Israel (Eilat). In the table you can see what kind of reptiles and scorpions we discovered in specific regions of Israel. We thank Aviad, Aviv and Ilian for their enthusiastic support and hospitality and Gert-Jan for his support to organize this trip.

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A maximum parsimony phylogeny of 14 Caucasian species of rock lizards, genus Ijicerta, subgenus Archaeolacerta, was constructed from mitochondrial cytochrome b and ATPase 6 partial gene sequences. Congruence analyses were carried out between the two genes. A synthesis of the data sets reveals three well supported monophyletic groups: (1) the caucasica group including (Lacerta derjugini ((Lalpina, L. clarkorum) (L. caucasica, L. daghestanica))); (2) the rudis group including (L. parvula (L. portschinskii (L. vakntini, L. rudis))); and (3) the saxicola group including (L. mixta (L. nairensis (L. saxicola, L. raddeijj). Despite the diagnosis of three groups, the placement of L. praticola as a basal taxon is uncertain, as are the relationships among the three groups. The mitochondrial DNA sequence data suggested prior hybridization between L. mixta and L. alpina and possibly between L. saxicola and L. nairensis. Lacerta raddei was resolved as a paraphyletic species on the mtDNA tree; this may result from either hybridization or random gene sorting.

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Squamata or scaled Reptiles are the largest order of new Reptiles including Lizards, Snakes and Amphisbaenia. They have formed 95 precent of new Reptiles. Our goal is Lizard Biodiversity of Torbat-e Heydaryeh in Razavi Khorasan Province. The study of Lizards Biodiversity of Torbat-e Heydaryeh in Razavi Khorasan Province was carried out in 2012 until 2013. In this research 132 specimens were collected and observed and identified on the basis of morphological, morphometric and meristic characters. The collected and observated Lizards belonging to 5 families: Agamidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Gekkonidae and Varanidae including 8 genera and 12 species. Results showed that Agamidae and Lacertidae families have the most frequency. The Agamidae family has the most genera and Lacertidae family has the most species. laudakia caucasia, laudakia microlepis, Trapelus sanguinolentus and Mesalina watsonana were the dominant species in this region and had a wider distribution rang in coparision with other species.

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Past climatic events are one of the major drivers for divergence of species that could shape the present biodiversity and species dispersal patterns. Irano-Anatolian region is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. This region is predicted to serve various refugia during Quaternary glaciations. The eastern three-lined lizard (Lacerta media media) is a medium-sized lacertid species, which is originated from central Anatolian and is currently distributed almost across Irano-Anatolian region. In this study, the phylogeography, demographic history of the subspecies using mtDNA genes (cyt b, 12S and 16S) along with the species distribution models (SDMs) under past-present-future scenarios have been investigated. The results revealed that four distinct clades are well-established within the L. m. media which may intensely diverge during Pleistocene climatic fluctuations since the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). The past climate oscillations may isolate the population in various refugia throughout the Irano Anatolian region which has been led to this divergence. The results of SDMs also indicates several localities with suitable climate conditions for eastern three-lined lizard in the region since LGM (21 thousand years ago) until the current date. This suitability can be expanded under future climate scenarios considering the existence of various low and high altitude refugia. Some conservation implications arise from the results that emphasize the importance of the region and its multiple refugia in preserving biodiversity. It can be suggested that, future conservation practices should be focused on the obtained biogeographical units such as central Anatolia, west and northwestern Iran, which encompass high levels of diversity including distinct clades within the eastern three-lined lizard.

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Partial DNA sequences from three mitochondrial (cytochrome b, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (-fibrinogen intron 7 and C-mos) genes were used to estimate the phylogenetic relationships among all eight extant species of green lizards, Lacerta sensu stricto, and many currently recognized subspecies. All eight species form a monophyletic group. L. agilis, L. schreiberi and L. strigata are genetically well differentiated species. L. trilineata and L. pamphylica are not monophyletic units based on analyses of the -fibrinogen intron 7. Lacerta media is closely related to some Lacerta trilineata. L. bilineata and L. viridis are closely related, and recognition of L. bilineata as a distinct species makes L. viridis paraphyletic also. For both L. bilineata and L. viridis, some subspecies appear to remain in their southern glacial refugia, while a single genetic entity shows successfully postglacial expansion. The topology derived from C-mos variation is concordant with that derived from mtDNA, with substitutions occurring at a similar rate to that of transversions in the rRNA genes. Although C-mos is typically used at deeper taxonomic levels it is also phylogenetically informative within green lizards. -fibrinogen intron 7, typically used for assessing phylogenetic relationships among bird species, is a useful phylogenetic marker for reptiles also, showing considerable variation between species. There is not complete concordance between estimates of relationships derived from the mtDNA and nuclear markers, probably because rapid diversification led to incomplete lineage sorting in the green lizards. Introgression could also be occuring between some species.

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Four types of nuclear DNA markers identified by the taxonprint, RAPD, and IMP (Inter-MIR-PCR) methods, and the nucleotide sequences of satellite DNA monomers have been used to analyze the molecular genetic similarity between some populations, subspecies, and species of lizards combined into the group Lacerta s. str., as well as representatives of some other genera. The notions on the systematics and phylogeny of this group based on morphological and zoogeographic criteria have been compared to the conclusions based on molecular genetic data. The genus and species subdivisions of populations based on nuclear molecular markers and morpho- logical characters generally agree with each other, the degree of genetic differences being correlated with the tax- onomy suggested by zoomorphologists. The degree of differences between the subspecies of one of the species studied, Lacerta agilis, varies depending on the molecular markers used: according to the results of RAPD anal- ysis, all subspecies substantially differ from one another, the variation within populations being small; with respect to other markers, the differences are smaller and not equivalent. The existence of the so-called eastern and western clades of this species earlier assumed by other researchers on the basis of mtDNA and morphological data has been confirmed. There are no distinct gradations exceeding individual variation in 14 populations of L. agilis exigua (the eastern clade) with respect to IMP markers, although these populations inhabit a vast area from the Ural Mountains to the Kabardino-Balkar Republic (the Caucasus). These data suggest that the subspecies has been rap- idly spreading northwards since the Pleistocene glaciation (about 15,000 years ago).

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Six species belonging to the genus Lacerta live in Türkiye. In this study, both present and future potential distribution maps were created based on occurrence data and climatic variables for these six species. Two scenarios for future projections (shared socioeconomic pathways, SSPs,: 245 and 585) and two timeframes (2041–2060 and 2081–2100) were used. The present and future potential distributions of these species were compared. As a result, it was predicted that the distribution ranges in the six species will expand in the future, and this expansion has revealed new environments.

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n this study the Check list lizards of Iraq were investigated. by reviewing the old and new data as well as carrying out field work and study of material in the Natural history Museum of Iraq as well as many departments and colleges in various universities, are discussed.Further, various relevant websites in the Internet specialized lizards. I found in this study 7 families, 27 genera and 50 species distribution in the different parts of Iraq. During this study I found Asaccus saffinae (Afrasiab & Mohamad, 2009) the first time in SheraSwar Cave in the Saffine Mountain near Erbil, Kurdistan and the first record new species in Iraq and found Ptyodactylus puiseuxi (Boutan, 1893) the first time in same area . Also found Carinatogecko heteropholis(Minton, S. Anderson, and J. A. Anderson, 1970) Which is one of the endemic species in western Iran in the Erbil western Zagros foothills in Erbil. Trapelus ruderatus (Olivier, 1804) found in the central of Iraq. Cyrtopodion scaber (Heyden, 1827) Previously found in southern Iraq But recently also recorded in the center and northern Iraq. Varanus nesterovi (Bohme, Ehrlich, Milto, Orlov & Scholz, 2015) new species in the northern of Iraq. Lacerta media (Lantz & Cyren, 1758) found newly in central and northern of Iraq and Timon kurdistanicus, Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902) (Suchow, 1936) northern of Iraq. I note the two families were finding Previously in Iraq and they did not record any new genus and species in Iraq.

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Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is one way to achieve niche differentiation. In the present study, habitat suitability of Lacerta media Lantz & Cyrén, 1920 and Lacerta strigata Eichwald, 1831 was evaluated and the ecological niche spaces were evaluated between the two species. Based on the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) result, northwestern and western Iran has been predicted as the most suitable for L. media and the southern Caspian Sea region has been predicted as suitable for L. strigata presence. Also there are several records of L. strigata presence in East Azarbaijan and Fars provinces and L. media presence in Alborz, Markazi and Esfahan provinces that are currently situated outside the suitable predicted region. Maximum temperature of the coldest month and precipitation of the warmest quarter with contribution more than 68% and 76% for L. media and L. strigata, respectively, were distinguished as the key contributing factors for the presence of both species. However, ecological niche overlap was calculated between the two species and that the niches were significantly different.

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The aim of this study is to detect areas of endemism in lizards in Iran. This is the first study of its kind focusing on this subject. Areas of endemism for two families of lizards (Lacertidae and Gekkonidae) that have the highest number of endemic species than other lizard families in Iran were identified by Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE). Distribution data were collected from previous studies on the Iranian lizards and also from the recent literature on the descriptions of new endemic species. A total of 81 species of lizards were available for analysis. The study area was divided into a 2° × 2° grid of 63 Operational Geographic Units (OGUs). PAE was applied to the data matrix to detect areas of endemism and detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran and near the Persian Gulf. Southern Iran is the main region where most species from Arabia came into Iran and were stopped in their dispersal. Two grids in southern and northeastern Iran were recognized as the areas with the highest density of species in the studied families. Lacertidae and Gekkonidae did not have a shared endemic species in the region (cells 59 and 60) but the area of endemism identified by PAE in the Persian Gulf region suggests that exchange between Iranian and Arabian herpetofauna was very high during interglacial periods. The distribution pattern of the endemic species of these families is concentrated in the region of the Alborz and the Zagros Mountains, but the single area of endemism in southern Iran has an important role in the historical biogeography of the Iranian herpetofauna. During interglacial periods, the Persian Gulf acted as a corridor between the herpetofauna of the two sides and this suggests the importance of this area of endemism for the Gekkonidae family. Also, the OGUs with the highest density of species are located around the country and, the lowest density is in the Central Plateau. PAE detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran, but according to the number of species per units, two OGUs can be identified as high density in northeastern and southern Iran.

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We surveyed for Lacerta media in six regions in Iran to evaluate ist current occurrence and available habitat. This species prefers to live along rivers in close proximity to gardens, making it vulnerable to habitat loss and exploitation.

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Some important differences were observed in the reproductive cycles, which are seasonal and are O the mixed type, in the two sympatric lizards Lacerta media and L. laevis. In Lacerta media, spermatocytogenesis begins at the end of summer. Spermiogenesis and mating occur in spring, after ibernation, which lasts four to five montns. Secondary sexual characters (epididymis and sexual segment of kidney) also develop in spring. A period of sexual inactivity is observed during the warmest months of the year uly and August). In Lacerta laevis, males undergo a period of sexual inactivity from mid-July to end- August. Spermiogenesis is very active in the autumn from the beginning of October, start of ibernation, and in the spring following post-hibernation activity. Secondary sexual characters showing secretory activity are well developed in both autumn and spring. Mating occurs in spring.

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This paper reports more than 400 original data on the Lebanese herpetofauna (covering 5 amphibians and 44 reptiles), deriving from museum collections and recent field observations. The most interesting data concern: (a) Cyrtopodion amictopholis, a species known only from Mt. Hermon, reported for the first time from Mt. Lebanon Range; (b) Lacerta fraasi, previously con- sidered endemic to the Mount Lebanon Range, also recorded from Antilebanon; (c) the occur- rence of Macrovipera lebetina is confirmed with certainty from two localities in the north. New records are given for many species known in Lebanon only on the basis of very few and often old reports.

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In this study, we aimed to determine the amphibian and reptile species distributed in Agri province (Turkey), as well the major factors threatening the species. For this purpose, we conducted 4 field excursions (20 days totally) at 223 different point, covering all the squares of 1:25.000 layout map. As a result of the literature and field survey, we recorded 4 anuran (Pseudepidalea variabilis, Pelophylax ridibundus, Rana camerani, R. macrocnemis), 2 chelonian (Mauremys caspica, Testudo graeca), 16 lizard (Paralaudakia caucasia, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Ablepharus bivittatus, Trachylepis aurata, Darevskia bendimahiensis, D. raddei, D. valentini, D. sapphirina, D. unisexualis, D. uzzelli, Eremias suphani, E. strauchi, E. pleskei, Lacerta media, Ophisops elegans, Parvilacerta parvd) and 14 snake (Typhlops vermicularis, Dolichophis jugularis, D. schmidti, Eirenis eiselti, E. modestus, E. collaris, Coronella austriaca, Hemorrhois ravergieri, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Platyceps najadum, Eryx jaculus, Montivipera wagneri, M raddei) species in Agri province, which is totally 4 amphibians and 32 reptiles. Three Anatolian endemic species (Darevskia sapphirina, Eirenis eiselti, Montivipera wagneri) and 7 species more was recorded in Agri as s first time in the literture. Taking into account the very limited herpetofaunal information available in the literature for Agri province, a significant contribution was made with this work. This study was conducted as a part of `The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks National Biodiversity Inventory and Monitoring Project`.

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The life and work of the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz (1886-1953), a pioneer of European herpetology. A trained and professional research-chemist, the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz was an active and particularly dynamic herpetologist. His residence of nearly twelve years in Russia enabled him to make several field trips to regions such as the Caucasus and Iran. He always carried with him a home made telescopic net that he used to catch lizards. That net became symbolic of Lantz for most people around him. He realized significant herpetological collections mainly deposited in the Museum of the Zoology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, he had to leave the country and stayed for a few years in France before joining England. During this period, Lantz visited the French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean border (Hyeres Islands, Bandol), enabling him to discover for the first time oviparous populations of common lizard and also to describe a new species of lizard from the French Pyrenees. Lantz is also at the origin of the discovery of unisexual reproduction by parthenogenesis in reptiles. His collaboration with the Swedish amateur herpetologist Otto Cyrén, whom he met through the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff, was particularly successful throughout his career. Lantz died at the age of 66 years, in Switzerland, as he was about to join the team of herpetologists at the Natural History Museum in Paris.

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Several recent papers have reviewed the life and work of French herpetologist Louis Amédée Lantz. They have detailed the composition of his collections deposited in several museums. However, since then, several other important specimens from his collections deposited at the Natural History Museum (NHM, UK) have come to light and we here present all of them in detail. We discovered paralectotypes of Lacerta saxicola obscura Lantz & Cyrén (BMNH 1918.11.21.5–7), syntypes of Lacerta boemica Sukhov (BMNH 1960.1.4.26–30, BMNH 1965.337–342) and Lacerta viridis media Lantz & Cyrén (BMNH 1960.1.4.25, 1966.512). We also identified numerous specimens from the French Mediterranean islands in Lantz’s collection deposited at the NHM, some of which represent the first reported specimens of their species from certain islands. We here provide data on all these specimens. We also place the Mediterranean island specimens from the Lantz collection in their historical context and emphasize the historical and taxonomic value of these collections.

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A phylogeographic analysis of eight species complexes of European reptiles was performed using different molecular methods. While mitochondrial genes (mainly cytochrome b sequences) enabled conclusions about phylogeography and differentiation, additional application of bisexually inherited markers provided information about speciation stages. As species with similar distribution patterns in southern and Central Europe were selected, matching phylogeographic patterns are useful for drawing general conclusions: (1) The species complexes are in different stages of speciation. In some cases, cryptic species were detected. (2) Highest genetic diversity occurs in southern Europe, the Near East and the Caucasus, regions corresponding with glacial refuges in the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas as well as in Turkey and the Caucasus. Often, several microrefugia must have existed in close neighbourhood. Additional microrefugia were located in southern France and in the Carpathian Basin. (3) North Africa and the Middle East did not serve as glacial refuges for Central or northern European lineages and are typically inhabited by independent clades. (4) Evidence for multiple range retractions and expansions, which were postulated for the times of Pleistocene climatic oscillations, could be found in the Balkans, but in Central Europe their traces have been wiped out by the last glacial. Only the Holocene invasion has left imprints in the genomes from this area. (5) Central and northern Europe were recolonized from Balkan and Pontic refugia in the Holocene. (6) Groups from the Iberian and Apennine Peninsulas rarely conquered other regions. This limitation can be attributed to the barrier function of the Pyrenees and the Alps.

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Little is known about altitudinal distribution of lizards in Iran. In the present study we studied distribution pattern of members of family Lacertidae along the eleveatinal gradient in Iran. To determine environmental drivers of distribution pattern of 48 lizard species, all known valid members of family Lacertidae, along elevational gradient in Iran. Firstly, we classified Iran digital elevation model (DEM) based on 100m intervals, that resulted in 56 altitudinal bands and number of species in each band was recorded. Secondly, we extracted mean value of following variables; altitude, slop, area, solar radiation index (SRI), normalized differences vegetation index (NDVI), annual precipitation, precipitation of wettest month, precipitation of driest month precipitation, precipitation of wettest quarter, precipitation of driest quarter, and precipitation of warmest quarter, and using VIF measure correlated variables were removed. Finally, we performed a multiple regression and found that area and precipitation of warmest quarter are the most important drivers of distribution pattern of family Lacertidae along elevational gradient in Iran. General distribution pattern of family Lacertidae was unimodal and maximum number of species living from 1475 m to 1675 m.

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The paper discusses the spread of the medium lizard, Lacerta media, in the Talysh Mountains on the terri- tory of Republic of Azerbaijan. Earlier, findings of this species were known in the North-Western part of the Talysh only. A new record of the medium lizard from the Sym village in the Astara District of Azerbaijan is presented.

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Turkey is biogeographically diverse and consequently has a rich herpetofauna. As a result of active herpetological research, the number of species has steadily increased in recent years. I present here a new checklist of amphibian and reptile species distributed in Turkey, revising the nomenclature to reflect the latest taxonomic knowledge. In addition, information about the systematics of many species is also given. In total 35 (19.4%) amphibian and 145 (80.6%) reptile species comprise the Turkish herpetofauna. Among amphibians, 16 (45.7%) anurans and 19 urodelans (54.3%) are present. Among reptiles, 11 (7.6%) testudines, 71 (49%) saurians, 3 (2.1%) amphisbaenians and 60 (41.3%) ophidians are considered part of the herpetofauna. The endemism rate in Turkey is considered relatively high with a total of 34 species (12 amphibian species – 34.3% and 22 reptile species – 15.2%) endemic to Turkey, yielding a total herpetofaunal endemism of 18.9%. While 38 species have not been threat-assessed by the IUCN, 92 of the 180 Turkish herpetofaunal species are of Least Concern (LC), 13 are Near Threatened (NT), 10 are Vulnerable (VU), 14 are Endangered (EN), and 7 are Critically Endangered (CR). In addition, 6 species are in the DD (Data Deficient) category.

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The Levant Green Lizard, Lacerta media israelica (Peters, 1964), is a rare and declining lizard species that is classified as regionally vulnerable in Israel and Lebanon. We found information about historical observations of this species at 42 different locations. During field work at these and 12 additional locations between March and July 2009, we found 35 individuals at 21 different sites. Sixty-six percent of formerly inhabited places appeared not to be inhabited by the species anymore. L. media israelica inhabited heterogeneous plots, with an average of 30% herbaceous and shrub layer, moderate slope angle and a high proportion of woodland cover. Most observations occurred at the margins of anthropogenic installations and near woodland sites, such as fruit plantations, car parks, trails and traditional pasture landscape. To conserve populations of the Levant Green Lizard, it will be important to maintain landscape heterogeneity, including extensively used semi-open shrubland areas (such as local garigue or ‘batha’) for the protection of this species.

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This article repoß about keeping and first time breeding of Lacerta media ciliciensis. After a hibemation of two months the male and the two females were kept together in a terrarium with the size of 130 x 50 x 30 cm. Each female layed 3 clutches. The clutches contained 1 - 7 eggs. The eggs had a length of I - 2 cm and a width of 0.4 - 1 cm. They were incubated on sand at a temperaturc of 25 - 30°C. The young hatched after 61 - 93 days. The juvenile coloration and how to raise the hatchlings is described. Mating behavior which was observed between the females is briefly discussed.

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THE LACERTA VIRIDIS-COMPLEX Compared with the beginning of this century there has been a considerable change in taxonomy of the, mostly, green large lizards ofthe genus La- certa. Even in the last decade a lot of new facts are published on the green lizards of Turkey. A classification at the beginning of the century is given. L. agilis, L. jayakari, L. princeps, L. lepi- da, L. pater, L. schreiberi, L. pamphylica, L. stri- gata, L. media, L. trilineata and L. viridis are considered here as one group. A short discription of the species (also of the juveniles), the subspe- cies and the ranges of the species arc enumerated in this article.

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e article presents information on the distribution of Lacerta media in Dagestan and neighboring areas of Georgia and Azerbaijan. On the basis of original data and available literature, a map of nds of lizards has been created. Previously unknown populations in Dagestan are described. Generally, La- certa media is widespread in the mountainous part of the republic. e range of inhabited altitudes is 840−2250 m above sea level. e area of the species range in Dagestan of about 521 kmІ (1.04% of the whole territory of the Republic and 1.86% of the area of its mountainous part) is represented by four small isolated territories. e lizard lives in the large semi-arid valleys of mountain rivers (Samur, Kurakh, Andiyskoye Koysu, Avarskoye Koysu). e population density is 7.5–10 to 50– 62.2 ind./ha. e maximum density of lizards was discovered in the valley of the river Samur, the minimum — Andiyskoye Koysu and Kurakh. e increased number of lizards in some locations is due to their inaccessibility to people and, therefore, poor anthropogenic development. e geobotanical characteristics of biotopes in di erent parts of the regional area is presented. e species population is stable in the region. e lizard is protected in the Kosobo-Kelebskiy reserve.

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The paper describes the history of biogeographic views on the herpetofauna of both Dagestan and the Caucasus as a whole. The species are grouped into eight zoogeographic groups on the basis of our de- tailed chorological analysis. Mesophilous and xerophilous refuges of the Dagestan herpetofauna are de- scribed. Our herpeto-geographical subdivision of the territory is given. The territory of Dagestan is lo- cated in the Palaearctic subkingdom of Holarctic kingdom and divided between two areas, namely, the Turanian and Mediterranean ones. The boundary between the regions is the junction of the northern foot- hills and plains of the Eastern Caucasus. A possible reconstruction of the regional herpetofauna genesis is considered.

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Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world`s lizard species. The body size–frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

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Faunal lists are important tools in ecology, biogeography, and conservation planning. Such lists can identify gaps in our knowledge of the distribution and taxonomy of regional faunas, and highlight issues needing further study. We present an up to date list of all land vertebrates occurring in Israel. We identify 786 species, of which 551 are birds, 130 are mammals, 97 are reptiles and eight are amphibians. Of these 369 species breed in Israel (including reintroductions), 199 (mostly birds) are regular visitors and 182 are accidental. Fourteen other species are invasive, and 22 species are extinct. We identify issues with the taxonomy and status of several species, and note recent developments in our understanding the Israeli land vertebrate fauna.

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This study aimed to check the erythrocyte and nucleus sizes of six species of reptiles, one species of Agamidae (Laudakia stellio), one species of Testudinidae (Testudo graeca), one species of Chamaeleonidae (Chamaeleo chamaeleon recticrista), and three species of Lacertidae (Ophisops elegans, Lacerta media, Phoenicolacerta laevis) from Coastal region in Syria using blood smears stained with Wright’s stain. The longest, widest and largest erythrocytes and the widest nuclei were found in T. graeca. The shortest and narrowest erythrocytes and nuclei were found in O. elegans. The longest, largest nuclei were found in C. chameleon. The shortest and narrowest nuclei were found in P. laevis.

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The etymology of the reptiles, especially the lizards of Iran has not been completely presented in other published works. Iran is a very active geographic area for any animals, and more especially for lizards, due to its wide range deserts and ecology. We have attempted to ascertain, as much as possible, the construction of the Latin binomials of all Iranian lizard species. We believe that a review of these names is instructive, not only in codifying many aspects of the biology of the lizards, but in presenting a historical overview of collectors and taxonomic work in Iran and Middle East region. We have listed all recorded lizards of Iran according to the order of the scientific names in the book of Anderson, The Lizards of Iran. All lizard species and types have been grouped under their proper Families, and then they have been alphabetically ordered based on their scientific binominal nomenclature. We also examined numerous published works in addition to those included in the original papers presenting each binomial.

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Jordan has a very diversified morphology, which is reflected also in the diversity of its herpetofauna. A total 90 amphibian and reptilian species is known to inhabit Jordan. Of those three are amphibians, with the fourth species most probably already extinct, 47 are lizard species, 35 are snake species and five turtle species. The amphibians are represented by three different families, lizards and snakes both by seven families and turtles by four families. The distribution, ecology and systematics for most species are given.

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Presented is a comprehensive overview of data on the herpetological species occurring in the Ararat region of Turkey. A total of 41 species, including their first records, published historical localities, and respective sources, are recorded in this assessment of surprisingly high regional species richness.

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The phylogeny of 12 species of Caucasian rock lizards and ground lizards, genus Lacerta, subgenus Archacolacerta, was determined from allozyme data. Three additional species of Lacerta Sorlned the outgroup. Of the 35 loci resolved, 20 were phylogenetically informative. Permutation tail probabilities calculated using Hennig86 and RandomCladistics and g, statistics obtained in PAUP revealed significant pattern in the data. Our analysis resolved 12 most parsimonious trees; among which were three well-supported monophyletic groups: I) (Lacerta alpina, L. caucasica, L. daglzestanica) [the L. caucasica group]; 2) (L. mixta. L. saxicola. L. raddei-nairensis) [the L. saxicola group]; and 3) (L. parvlila, L. portschinskii (L. valentini, L. rudis)) [the L. ruciis group]. The second and third groups formed a clade. The ground lizards L. praticola and L. derj~cginwi ere resolved as ingroup members. but their placement in the globally most parsimonious trees was ambiguous. A preferred tree was chosen by alternately pruning L. praticola and L. devugini from the tree. In doing so, L. praticola was resolved as the sister taxon of the L. calccasica group; and L, derjligini was resolved as the sister taxon of the clade containing the L. snxicola and L. rrldis groups. Our results are somewhat congruent with the morphology-based phylogeny of Darevsky (1967).

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The present work reports on Lacerta viridia atrigata Eichwald and L. princeps Blanf., from Iraq along with detailed notes on their natural . history, coloration as well as their taxonomy. Characters ot taxonomic importance are pointed out and a key to the available species of the Iraqi Lacerta is provided. Important evoiut!onary tendencies of certain taxonomic features are pointed out with some evolutionary notes related to the subject. The publlcation of Hass and Werner (1969) is critically discussed in relation to the present work.

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The global struggle to conserve as many species as possible with limited resources requires an improvement of our knowledge on the distribution of biodiversity. In Iran, the state of knowledge is poor for most groups of organisms, except few vertebrate groups and vascular plants. Reptiles are one of the best known, most diverse vertebrate groups in Iran, with a high rate of endemism (ca. 29%), but distribution patterns and related environmental drivers remain poorly understood. In the present study, based on a large publicly available dataset, we use general additive modelling (GAM) to identify explanatory variables for species richness of reptiles in Iran. Results indicate heterogeneity parameters (range +entropy) as the variables with the highest explanatory values. Based on the grid cells of the predicted environmental richness, using hotspot analysis, we suggest seven hotspots of reptile diversity (HRDs) across the country. Our results corroborate the previously recognized HRDs and detect three additional ones, located alongside the major mountain ranges around the central deserts plateau, particularly in the Zagros Mountains. Four of the largest HRDs (ca. 90%) situate within the Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus global biodiversity hotspot. In addition, our results reveal a large gap between identified HRDs and the current network of protected areas (PAs) in the country. While three of the detected HRDs in this study are partially touched (ca. 18%) by the PA network, overall, these areas are only covered by less than 10%. Therefore, the effectiveness of the current PAs for the protection of the reptile diversity of Iran is questionable.

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Chromosomal inter- and intraspecific variation in Lacertidae. The karyology of various species from the family Lacertidae (Reptilia, Sauria) has been studied with conventional and C-banding techniques. The study shows that this family is not so conservative from a karyological viewpoint as considered til! now. In fact supernumerary chromosomes have been observed in two of the species investigated. Moreover an inter- and intraspecific variability has been found in the C-banding pattern of the various species studied. The situation found in Podarcis sicula is particularly remarkable. Different Cbanding patterns have been observed in three different subspecies and in two populations of the same subspecies. The C-banding technique evidences also the existence in some of the species studied of a female sex heteromorphism, in which the W chromosomes is completely heterochromatic. These observations suggest that in lacertid lizards the evolution of the sex chromosomes follows the same steps hypothesized for snakes.

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Based on a literature review, as well as on our own data, 14 ixodid tick species belonging to 5 genera were registered for the lizard hosts of the genus Lacerta (L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata) in the Caucasus and the adjacent territories: Haemaphysalis sulcata, Haem. punctata, Haem. parva, Haem. caucasica, Haem. concinna, Haem. inermis, Ixodes ricinus, I. redikorzevi, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. rossicum, and Rh. turanicum. Tick species Haem. caucasica were recorded from Armenia for the first time. Our findings of Haem. punctata represent the first record of this species for Chechnya, Ingushetia (Russia), Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Most of the parasite species are associated with L. agilis (13) and L. strigata (12); L. media is a host of 6 tick species. Data on the infestation of Lacerta spp. by four tick species from our material (I. ricinus, Haem. punctata, Haem. caucasica, and Hyal. marginatum) are presented in the article. In addition, our article contains information on the range of infections associated with the above tick species. Castor bean tick I. ricinus (236 specimens), the most represented species in our collection, parasitizes all available terrestrial vertebrates including humans and can be vector of many various pathogens, so our study provides significant epidemiological information.

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After a brief description of Georgia’s landscape the author reports on the lizards of the family Lacertidae that were found during a herpetological trip in May 2012. In addition, a list of the recorded herpetological taxa is presented.

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The authors report on a herpetological excursion from April 22 to May 7 to northwestern Iran. The route led from Tehran via Esfahan, Chelgerd, Kuhdasht, Kermanshah, Marivan, Täbriz, Zanjan and Manjil back to Tehran. The first part of the article deals with reptiles and amphibians found in the Zagros Mountains.

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In the first part of our travel report, we presented our reptile and amphibian finds in the Zagros Mountains. In the second part we report on our observations in the mountains of Tabriz, Zanjan, Manjil and Teheran between May 3rd and 7th, 2016.

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A deviant population of green lizard of the Peloponnese (Greece) The author and several other amateur herpetologists report the presence of populations of green lizards in the west of the Peloponnese (Greece) that are deviant from the locally widespread Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata trilineata). Males had green backs and lavender-blue lateral sides, while females were similar to Balkan green lizards. The habitat of these animals appeared to be restricted to the surroundings of (temporary) dry riverbeds. In view of the striking similarity to a subspecies of Levant green lizard (Lacerta media ciliciensis) speculations are made about their origin. Genetic research will be required to clarify the taxonomic status of these deviant populations of green lizards in the Peloponnese.

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Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long wavelength-based) and lateral (short wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.

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Arid region in Iraq are extensive, as such lizards have been adapted to different substrates. Certain Iraqi lizards are adopted for life in or on eolian sand dunes, or at least on sandy soils and more or less restricted to such zones. Among the abundant species are species of Acanthodactylus, Scincus, Phrynocephaluss. Members of genus Scincus and to lesser extent species of Phrynocephalus, are adapted both for burrowing in soft sand and for sand running. Furthermore, the species of Laudakia, such as L. nupta appear to be restricted to areas such as limestone outcrops and rocky cliff faces where both basking surfaces and deep crevices even in mountains of Kurdistan for retreat are provided. Species of Trapelus, such as T. agilis, T. persicus, T. ruderatus occur on plains, valleys, and alluvial fans, on sandy, loam, clay, and gravel soils. These lizards are usually found in the vicinity of small rock piles, such as those erected by local inhabitants to mark the boundaries of grain fields in a dried region of Mosul city (near Syrian boundies). They retreat into these piles for shelter. Species of Phrynocephalus show distinct preference for particular soil types some species prefer open clay and gravel plains, while others usually found on sandy plains and steppes. Species which are rock-inhibiting able to negotiate the rough vertical surfaces of rock outcrops and montane habitats. These include species of Laudakia and several species of Lacerta. These lizards utilize the many angles and shadows of this environment for temperature regulation by asking and make use of the many crevices for retreat from predators and temperature extremes. The gecko, Cyrtopodion usually are found on rocky slopes and cliff faces, in crevices and caverns, and in about human habitation particularly C. scrabum. Moreover, Asaccus elisae is found in caverns in gypsum deposits and limestone. Species of Uromastix are confined in their local distribution to well-drained alluvial soils wherein they are able to excavate their burrows, for instance U. lorcatus prefers silty-clay soils. As regards, Varanus spp. inhabiting the most continuously distributed substrate. From above biodiversity of lizard habitat. It can be conclude that the evolution of lizards may be correlated with this specific affinity for substrate type.

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In spite of numerous studies done on the morphometric characters of lizards, information about the detailed characters of their skeletons remains insufficient. In this study, the skulls of two different species of lizards, cleared and double-stained, have been examined and compared: Laudakia caucasia Eichwald, 1831 and Lacerta media Lantz and Cyrén, 1920. The aim of this paper is to study the characteristics and peculiarities of the skulls of the two above-mentioned species of lizards in order to facilitate diagnosis and identification of the living species and subfossil remains and to evaluate changes in skull morphology in a phylogenetic context. For doing this, characters of the skull and mandibular elements were studied. The existence of differences between these two genera and families Laudakia caucasia (Agamidae) and Lacerta media (Lacertidae), according to the bone and skull characters, have been explained. The obvious differences that show off are: dimension of the supratemporal fossae, thickness of the individual bones, and head length/width ratio. Other obvious differences are the type of dentition, differences in form, size and special manner of joining bones like existence of differences in lower jaw and braincase architecture, and reviewing some differences in the skulls of two different phylogenetic lines.

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An updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Iran is presented based on records of amphibian and reptile species whose presence has been confirmed in Iran as a result of extensive field expeditions, examination of herpetological collections, literature review, and personal communications from researchers. The herpetofauna of Iran consists of 13 species and five subspecies of frogs and toads belonging to five genera and four families, eight species of salamanders belonging to four genera and two families, nine species and six subspecies of turtles, terrapins and tortoises belonging to nine genera and six families, one species of crocodile, one species of amphisbaenian, more than 125 species of lizards belonging to 36 genera and eight families as well as 79 species of snakes belonging to 37 genera and six families

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Die Echsenfauna Dagestans (südöstlicher Nordkaukasus, Russland) umfaßt 17 Arten, welche neun Gattungen in fünf Familien angehören (Gekkonidae - l, Agamidae - 4, Anguidae - 2, Scincidae – l und Lacertidae - 9 Arten). Für jede Art wurden detaillierte Verbreitungskarten mit Katastern in Dagestan (50 300 km2) erstellt. Einige Angaben zu den Habitaten, zur Häufigkeit sowie über die lokale Arealdynamik werden ebenfalls mitgeteilt.

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Sex chromosomes are believed to be stable in endotherms, but young and evolutionary unstable in most ectothermic vertebrates. Within lacertids, the widely radiated lizard group, sex chromosomes have been reported to vary in morphology and heterochroma- tinization, which may suggest turnovers during the evolution of the group. We compared the partial gene content of the Z-specific part of sex chromosomes across major lineages of lacertids and discovered a strong evolutionary stability of sex chromosomes. We can conclude that the common ancestor of lacertids, living around 70million years ago (Mya), already had the same highly differentiated sex chromosomes. Molecular data demonstrating an evolutionary conservation of sex chro- mosomes have also been documented for iguanas and caenophidian snakes. It seems that differences in the evolutionary conservation of sex chromosomes in vertebrates do not reflect the distinction between endotherms and ectotherms, but rather between amniotes and anamniotes, or generally, the differences in the life history of particular lineages.

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We present an annotated checklist for a total 241 reptiles and 22 amphibians including 5 frogs, 9 toads, 7 newts and salamanders, 1 crocodile, 1 worm lizard, 148 lizards, 79 snakes and 12 turtles and tortoises, includes the most scientific literature up to August 2014 and also based on several field surveys conducted in different Provinces of Iran from 2009 to 2014. We present an up-to-dated checklist of reptiles and amphibians in Iran. We provide a comprehensive listing of taxonomy, names, distribution and conservation status of all amphibians and reptiles of Iran. This checklist includes all recognized named taxa, English names for classes, orders, families, species, subspecies along with Persian names for species, including indication of native and introduced species. For the first time we report two non-native introduced reptiles from natural habitats of Iran. Of the total 22 species of amphibians in Iran, 6 (27.2%) are endemic and of the total 241 species of reptiles, 55 (22.8%) are endemic. Of the 22 amphibians species in Iran, 3 (13%) are Critically Endangered, 2 (9%) are Vulnerable and of the 241 reptile species 3 (1.2%) are Critically Endangered, 4 (1.6%) are Endangered and 10 (4.1%) are Vulnerable. Accordingly, this paper combines significant aspects of taxonomy, common names, conservation status and distribution of the Iranian herpetofauna.

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The structural and functional features that animals develop in order to survive and thrive in their environment have long drawn the attention of the scientific community. Regarding insular ecosystems, the unique physical-natural conditions prevailing on them, the strictly defined by the seas boundaries and the more simplified systems induce the diversification and evolution of island biotas with a number of ways. The main aim of the present research was first, to investigate the effect of natural selection on the ecology, physiology and general biology of ectothermic animals, such as lizards and second, to examine how natural selection can shape morphological, functional and behavioral traits. To this aim, we studied insular and mainland populations of the lizard species Lacerta trilineata (Sauria: Lacertidae). The green lizards of the genus Lacerta comprises nine allopatric species, four of which occur in Greece, while only L. trilineata is distributed in both continental and insular Greek region. The latter feature makes L. trilineata an ideal organism to study the phenotypic plasticity of physiological and morphological traits. How and with what adaptations was its current distribution formed? How did insular and mainland populations have diversified to the different environmental conditions? Are there historical or ecological causes that led to this diversification? These are some of the subjects that this PhD Thesis was dealt with. Through a comparative framework, that contained several L. trilineata populations we tried to address these issues. The resolved phylogeny revealed that the first branch-off of the Greek green lizards occurred during the middle Miocene (13.91 Mya) and led to the separation of the L. viridis/bilineata group from the species L. agilis and L. trilineata. The next major cladogenetic event took place at late Miocene (11.65 Mya) and led to the separation of the latter two species. Regarding the clade of L. trilineata our results support the existence of six distinct lineages. The high intraspecific genetic divergences between these lineages, which are comparable to that recorded among lacertid species, raises questions regarding its taxonomic status and whether or not it is a single species. L. trilineata seems to originate and diverge in western Anatolia. Given the phylogeny of L. trilineata in the Aegean and the geological history of the Greek area, we assume that the ancestral form of this species invaded the Greek area from Anatolia before the complete formation of the MAT (~9 Mya). The forming of this barrier gave the two groups of L. trilineata lineages (west and east of the trench). Within each group, some other vicariant and dispersal events as well as the raise of the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the last glacial period during Holocene have resulted in the present distribution of the six evolutionary lineages of L. trilineata. In order to approach the thermal biology of this species, we studied two mainland and two island populations and determined three different thermal values for each population: lizard`s temperature under normal conditions in the field (body temperature), the temperature that a lizard may achieve in a special designed thermal gradient in the lab (selective temperature) and the potential temperatures that an animal could reach in its biotope (operative temperatures). From the correlation of these three values we tried to describe the strategy of thermoregulation that each population has adopted. The comparison between mainland and island populations revealed that both populations have adapted to their thermal environment, supporting the `labile` view on the evolution of thermal physiology for this species. In particular, insular lizards thermoregulate less effectively because of the more benign, in terms of thermal quality, environment and have lower thermal preferenda. Mainland lizards on the other hand, showed higher effectiveness as a result of the more demanding environment. However, predation regime seems to restrict the ability of the latter to achieve body temperatures close to their set-point range. To investigate the trophic ecology of the Balkan green lizard, we removed the digestive track of preserved specimens as well as collected the fecal material from live lizards, and we correlated the trophic data with morphological and functional traits. Our findings support that L. trilineata is a widely foraging predator, feeding on numerous invertebrate taxa, while Coleoptera and Orthoptera represent the predominant prey group. Ontogeny, sex, season and habitat affect the feeding ecology of this species. The seasonal variation in the diet of L. trilineata corroborate that the species is an opportunistic predator. However, juveniles followed a discrete feeding pattern, which indicates an ontogenetic shift. During their growth, lacertids undergo significant changes in the size, shape and performance of their feeding apparatus. A complementary underlying reason should be sought in the way adults exploit their environment and the areas that usually occupy. Finally, regarding the observed differences in diet composition between sexes as well as island and mainland populations, these probably reflect adaptations through sexual and natural selection. The more robust heads of male lizards allows them to develop a greater bite force and consequently to feed on harder prey items. In addition, the food scarcity prevailing in the Mediterranean islands offers little choice to insular lizards. Thus islanders have to take advantage of every available food resource in order to survive even plant material, which they achieved by increasing the head depth and width as well as bite force, compared to their mainland counterparts. Differences on feeding ecology usually affect several aspects of the digestive system such as physiology and morphology. In the study of the digestive procedure we tried to obtain a qualitative approach of the digestion of the main organic compounds (lipids, sugars and proteins). Islanders deviated from their mainland peers increasing the digestive tract length and the frequency of cecal valves in the hindgut. However, an increase in the digestive tract length and the frequency of cecal valves might cause an increase of gut passage time and, thus, food retention times. In other words, enzymes could have more time to act, which maximize the rate of energy intake and the digestive efficiency. We believe that these changes on the digestive procedure could be interpreted as adaptations for the limited food availability prevailing on islands. Finally, given that the ability of an animal to successfully colonize new habitats is mainly determined by its ability to cope with pathogens of the environment, we studied the immune response in association with the genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. For the study of cell-mediated response we used two methodological approaches: (a) the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and (b) the phytohemagglutinin-induced skin swelling test (PHA). Our finding revealed that the genetic boundaries of islands and the food scarcity prevailing on them caused decline in the genetic divergence at the MHC genes and in parasite tolerance. Nonetheless, the significant importance of balancing selection against genetic drift, in shaping MHC polymorphism, has lead to an increase on the nucleotide diversity of the remaining MHC alleles. As a result and besides the reduce parasite tolerance of islanders, the latter demonstrated high cell mediated response, which is comparable to their mainland peers. To sum up, it appears that island populations of L. trilineata have adapted to the different biotic and abiotic environmental conditions of islands, which have lead to the development of unique morphological, physiological and behavioral traits.

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The present study investigated the reptilian fauna in Amasya Province, Turkey. Reptile species were identified from collections made during field studies or recorded in literature, with some new locality records obtained. Field studies were undertaken over two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). Two lacertid species, one skink species, two colubrid species and one viper species were officially recorded for the first time or their information was updated. In addition to species locality records, chorotypical and habitat selection were also assessed and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species criteria included. Data on the distribution and locality information for each taxon is also provided. Our findings demonstrate that Amasya might be an ecotone zone between the Mediterranean, Caucasian, and European ecosystems. Although there are some concerns for the sustainable dynamics of reptilian fauna, relatively rich and different European nature information system habitat types provide basic survival conditions for reptilian fauna in the province.

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Uncommon appearance of hatchlings of the Three-lined Lizard (Lacerta media media LANTZ & CYRÉBN, 1920) in an outdoor enclosure in March 2012.

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Unusual appearance of six hatchlings of ther Three-lined Lizard (Lacerta media media LANTZ & CYRÉN, 1920) in an outdoor enclosure in April 2013.

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In this study, it is aimed to determine the amphibians and reptiles species of Adana province. This study was conducted in September and October 2013 and February, March, May, April, and June 2014. As a results of the study, 4 anuran species belonging to three families, 2 urodelian species belonging to one family, 6 tortoise species belonging to five families, 16 lizards species belonging to 6 families, one worm lizard, 19 snakes species belonging to 4 families, with a total of 48 different species of amphibians and reptiles, showing distribution in Adana, were identified. However, the species of Neurergus strauchii, Pelobates syriacus, Anatololacerta pelasgiana, Darevskia valentini, Eirenis decemlineatus, E. eiselti, E. lineomaculatus, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, which were recorded in the literature previously, could not be found. With the field survey and literature records, 56 amphibian and reptile species belonging to 21 families were determined in Adana province. In addition, chorotype information of the species and distribution localities in Adana were given in detail.

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1. A revision of Anatolian L. trilineata reveals its subdivision into three species: The western L. trilineata BEDRIAGA, 1886 (comprising in Anatolia the two subspecies- groupings cariensis and diplochondrodes), the eastern L. media LANTZ & CYREN, 1920 (comprising the subspecies L. m. (m.) media - probably subdivided into further „minor subspecies` - L. m. (i.) isaurica, L. m. (i.) ciliciensis, L. m. (w.) wolterstorffi, L. m. (w.) israelica) and L. pamphylica SCHMIDTLER, 1975; the latter being endemic and allopatric in Southern Central Anatolia. Probably these three species are equally related with each other, with the L. viridis-strigata-complex and possibly also with L. agilis. In Green Lizards generally the degree of specific differentiation is weil indicated by the degree of pholidotic differentiation. 2. In the intrapontic transversal valleys of Arav and Gök-rivers (West Pontus-Subregion) three species of Green Lizards prove to be ecological indicator-species of the three main vegetation-zones and herpetocoenoses: - Mediterranean-intrapontic vegetation-zone (Pinus halepensis; 300-600 m): L. m. me- dia and the reptiles Ophisops elegans, Coluber caspius, Mauremys caspica, Testudo graeca; the amphibians Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana ridibunda. - Supramediterranean-prepontic vegetation-zone (Pinus nigra; 600-1000 m): L. triline- ata galatiensis and the reptiles Lacerta parva, Podarcis muralis, Emys orbicularis, Testudo graeca and, additionally to the above mentioned amphibians: Rana macrocnemis. - Moderate-euxinic vegetation-zone (Pinus silvestris; 1000-1500 m): L. viridis paphla- gonica and the reptiles Lacerta cf. rudis, Podarcis muralis, Coronella austriaca; the amphibi- ans Triturus vittatus, Bufo bufo, Hyla arborea, Rana ridibunda and R. macrocnemis.

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In Green lizards (Lacerta s. str.) two kinds of numerical variation appear in temporals, supraciliars, supraciliargranules, dorsals, gulars, femoral pores and subdigital lamellae: The first being correlated with climate, the second non-correlated. In the first kind of variation the mean values increase from forms living in moderate-continental regions to forms living in more warm-oceanic regions. This kind of variation is clearly visible even in closely related forms (mostly `minor subspecies`) and shows an almost parallel gradation in all the seven scale characteristics (see Abb. 2). Within the climatically extreme ranges of a form the pattern of scutellation seems to be generally rather uniform and to correspond to its climatic centre. The second kind of variation of these scales - non-correlated and non-parallel - has a greater importance only when comparing more distantly related forms (subspecies-groupings; Abb. 2). These results produce a number of difficult questions concerning the first kind of vari- ation and being mostly insolvable at present: Inherited or non-inherited (modificatory) character of variation? Influence of inherited climatic requests to non-inherited scutella- tion-patterns? Clinal changes of scutellation-patterns correlated with climate, as the expression of an ecological cline? Predictions of climatic adaptation basable on (modifica- tory) scutellation data? Importance of this kind of variation for taxonomy of lacertids?

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We present a comprehensive summary of the distribution of the lizards of Iran accompanied by an annotated checklist. The updated maps of distribution of all 146 species of 41 genera of 11 families are based on all available bibliographic records, catalogues of museum collections and our own field observations. The final dataset used for the distribution maps contains 8525 georeferenced records and cover 41% of the country when plotted on a grid of 0.25° × 0.25° resolution. The dataset is publicly accessible through GBIF portal (http://www.gbif.org/dataset/7db4f705-61ae-4c6e-9de2-06674e7d46b2). Following the latest biogeographic division of the country, ~53% of the species (76 species) inhabit the Iranian Province, ~41% (60 species) the Western Asian mountain transition zone, ~9% (13 species) the Turanian Province, and ~18% (27 species) the Arabian Province. In addition, ~2% (3 species) reach Iran from the Indo-Malay biogeographic region and ~2% (3 species) are believed to have been introduced to Iran by humans. Endemic species (46) represent ~32% of the known species diversity. The most species-rich family of lizards in Iran is Lacertidae with 47 species, followed by Gekkonidae (41), Agamidae (18), Scincidae (15), Phyllodactylidae (10), Sphaerodactylidae (4), Eublepharidae and Uromastycidae (3), Anguidae and Varanidae (2), and Trogonophidae with one representative.

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The last species list of the European herpetofauna was published by Speybroeck, Beukema and Crochet (2010). In the meantime, ongoing research led to numerous taxonomic changes, including the discovery of new species-level lineages as well as reclassifications at genus level, requiring significant changes to this list. As of 2019, a new Taxonomic Committee was established as an official entity within the European Herpetological Society, Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH). Twelve members from nine European countries reviewed, discussed and voted on recent taxonomic research on a case-by-case basis. Accepted changes led to critical compilation of a new species list, which is hereby presented and discussed. According to our list, 301 species (95 amphibians, 15 chelonians, including six species of sea turtles, and 191 squamates) occur within our expanded geographical definition of Europe. The list includes 14 non-native species (three amphibians, one chelonian, and ten squamates).

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Mediterranean habitats in the southern Levant have been exposed to various anthropogenic activities since the beginning on the Holocene. Past traditional human activities such as grazing, cutting and fire have shaped the landscape and modified the ecology of plant and animal species. These activities have changed in recent decades due to modernization processes and management policies. Mediterranean landscapes in northern Israel demonstrate well the modifications within the vegetation structure of habitats, usually from open to close vegetation shape. These processes may help us in understanding the indirect effects of habitat structure on fauna diversity, and to promote prescribed management towards species conservation. Here, we examined the ecology of a specialist and locally endangered green lizard (Lacerta media israelica) that became either extremely rare or extinct throughout most of its historically known distribution in the mountainous woodlands of the country. Field surveys of the green lizard and habitat structure analysis were performed in various sites in the Carmel, Galilee and Golan mountains since 2003 until 2015. Over 800 observations were recorded, mostly in the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, in addition to remnant sub-populations in the Carmel and Lower Galilee mountains. Lizards significantly preferred sites with heterogeneous vegetation structure, composed of woods, shrubs and meadows (maquis-garrigue). Such habitats are result of anthropogenic activity that controls the woody vegetation (grazing, cutting, agriculture and recreation sites). Traditional activity has dominated Mediterranean landscapes in the past thus increasing the complexity of habitats and perhaps influencing on the typical high species diversity. Our results suggest that recent modifications in habitat structure due to modern management have critically reduced the historical distribution of the studied species. The significant relationship between habitat heterogeneity in disturbed sites and the presence of green lizards emphasizes the need for suitable management in relatively undisturbed Mediterranean environments.

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The Caucasian Isthmus has common origin within the areas of Ancient Mediterranean and it inherited the united type of mountain belts with Mediterranean mountain systems. On the basing of paleo-areas and recent chorology of Caucasian amphibians and reptiles the analysis was given, including the historical changing of the main characteristic of Mediterranean species-complex, its composition and connection with corresponding phyto-landscapes. The recent refugia of Mediterranean species in the Caucasus are described and made conjecture about stages of colonization the Caucasian Isthmus by these species. The possible ways of preservation of these refugia till now are discussed.

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The species composition and daily activity of herpetofauna of Khosrov Reserve, where 21 species are noted, have been discussed. According to the character of dally activity three groups of reptiles have been separated: I — species, which are active in course of hot period of the day (Iranian group), 11—species with double-peak activity in the morning and in the evening (Mediterranean group). III -species, which are active In the evening (Autochthonal group). Analysis of dalily activity has shown that within the borders of general time and temperature are included species, characterised by the community of geographical origin and development.

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The results of five expeditions (1995, 1996, 2007, 2011, and 2012) to the north-eastern and eastern Turkey are presented. These data were collected from the Pontic (Lazistan) Ridge, Choroch River basin, and the upper flow basins of the Aras River, Kura River, Euphrates River, Tiger River, Dogankent (Kharshit) River, and the Van Lake basin. In total, 2 Caudata, 6 Anura, 2 Testudines (3 subspecies), 25 Sauria (30 subspecies) and 21 Serpentes species were found.

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Blood-serum proteins of the Anatolian populations of Lacerta trilineata, L. media and L. pamphylica were studied comparatively by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. In order to obtain useful biochemical data for classification, differences between the electrophoreograms of the samples collected from dif- ferent regions were distinguished qualitatively and quantitatively. These com- parisons indicate that the Anatolian populations of L. trilineata should be subdivided into three species.

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In this study, it was aimed to determine the amphibian and reptile species distributed in Kahramanmaraş province. Between the years 2016-2018, a total of 52 species (6 amphibians, 4 turtles, 21 lizards and 21 snakes species) belonging to 20 families were determined in Kahramanmaraş province during field surveys conducted at 451 localities. The records and their locations are presented in a map and a table. However, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892), Ablepharus chernovi Darevsky, 1953, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758), Parvilacerta parva (Boulenger, 1887), Anatololacerta pelasgiana (Mertens, 1959), Elaphe sauromates (Pallas, 1811) and Rhynchocalamus satunini (Nikolsky, 1899) were recorded for the first time from Kahramanmaraş.

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Knowledge on the spatial distribution of taxa is crucial for the decision-making processes in conservation and management of biodiversity that rely on precise distribution data. We present an annotated list for a total of 37 amphibian (20 caudatans and 17 anurans) and 141 reptile species (11 chelonians, 70 lizards, 3 amphisbaenians and 57 snakes) in Turkey, using both available scientific literature up to December 2020 and our own fieldwork data from 1987 to 2020. We provide a comprehensive listing of taxonomy, names, distribution and conservation status of Turkish amphibians and reptiles. The herpetofauna list will be particularly useful for establishing national conservation priorities as well as for placing Turkish fauna into phylogenetic and biogeographic contexts. We compiled information published in books, journals and various web sources and added our personal data. We projected the data in the WGS84 coordinate system and created an overlay grid with cells of 50x50 km2. The database comprises more than 500 grid cells and 11,913 records. As a result, the distribution of Turkish amphibians and reptiles has been extensively mapped with geographical information systems and a database has been created. The obtained data will be useful in planning future studies on taxonomy, ecology and conservation of Turkish amphibians and reptiles.

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Turkey türkei As a result of a literature survey and field studies covering all regions of the Turkish Province of Agri, the authors found the area inhabited by three anuran, two chelonian, 16 lizard and 14 snake species. The records and their locations are presented in a map, a table and an Appendix. In the field studies the present paper is based upon Mauremys caspica, Ablepharus bivittatus, Parvilacerta parva, Eremias pleskei, Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca, Eirenis eiselti, Dolichophis jugularis, Dolichophis schmidti, Platyceps najadum and Montivipera wagneri were recorded for the first time in the Province of Agri.

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As a result of a literature survey and field studies covering all regions of the Turkish Province of Agri, the authors found the area inhabited by three anuran, two chelonian, 16 lizard and 14 snake species. The records and their locations are presented in a map, a table and an Appendix. In the field studies the present paper is based upon Mauremys caspica, Ablepharus bivittatus, Parvilacerta parva, Eremias pleskei, Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca, Eirenis eiselti, Dolichophis jugularis, Dolichophis schmidti, Platyceps najadum and Montivipera wagneri were recorded for the first time in the Province of Agri.

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In this research, it is intended to determine amphibian and reptile species distributed in Hatay province (East Mediterranean region, Turkey). For this aim, it is realized herpetological trip to al region of the province of Hatay in March, April, May, July, September and October in 2016 and in March and May in 2017. As a result of this study, it is recorded five anuran, two urodela species belong to five families, six chelonian belong to 5 families, and 17 lizard belong to seven families and 22 snake species belong to four families in the province Hatay (7 amphibians and 45 reptiles in total). As a result of this project; Trapelus lessonae (De filippi, 1865), and Eirenis barani Schmidtler, 1988 were recorded for in the province of Hatay in first. We report the most updated information regarding the herpetofauna of Hatay province.

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In this research, it is intended to determine amphibian and reptile species distributed in Hatay province (East Mediterranean region, Turkey). For this aim, it is realized herpetological trip to al region of the province of Hatay in March, April, May, July, September and October in 2016 and in March and May in 2017. As a result of this study, it is recorded five anuran, two urodela species belong to five families, six chelonian belong to 5 families, and 17 lizard belong to seven families and 22 snake species belong to four families in the province Hatay (7 amphibians and 45 reptiles in total). As a result of this project; Trapelus lessonae (De filippi, 1865), and Eirenis barani Schmidtler, 1988 were recorded for in the province of Hatay in first. We report the most updated information regarding the herpetofauna of Hatay province.

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In this research, it is intended to determine amphibian and reptile species distributed in Hatay province (East Mediterranean region, Turkey). For this aim, it is realized herpetological trip to al region of the province of Hatay in March, April, May, July, September and October in 2016 and in March and May in 2017. As a result of this study, it is recorded five anuran, two urodela species belong to five families, six chelonian belong to 5 families, and 17 lizard belong to seven families and 22 snake species belong to four families in the province Hatay (7 amphibians and 45 reptiles in total). As a result of this project; Trapelus lessonae (De filippi, 1865), and Eirenis barani Schmidtler, 1988 were recorded for in the province of Hatay in first. We report the most updated information regarding the herpetofauna of Hatay province.