Ahmet Mermer

A new record of Schneider’s Skink, Eumeces schneideri Daudin, 1802 (Sauria: Scincidae) from Cyprus

Abstract This is the first report of the presence of Eumeces schneideri in northern Cyprus and is the second record from Cyprus. One specimen was collected and is described. The Cypriot population of Eumeces schneideri looks quite homogenous: it has a dorsal pattern with weakly developed orange dots or without orange dots in adult specimens, as in the new specimen. The darkened flanks, the two dorsolateral light bands and the presence of a few scattered small orange spots on the hind legs lead us to conclude that the Cypriot population is not identifiable with the known subspecies from the Levant countries. We thus accept that the subspecific status of our specimen is Eumeces schneideri ssp.

Population dynamics of Rana macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885 at Uludağ, Western Turkey

Abstract In a study on the population dynamics of the Uludağ Frog, Rana macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885 at Uludağ, 4,952 individuals were marked with toeclipping, visible implant elastomer and vi alpha tags between 2006 and 2008. 47.1% of the population consisted of males, 39.0% of females and 13.8% of juveniles, and a male-biased sex ratio was observed. According to the formula of Jolly-Seber, the mean population size was calculated for individual study plots as 1,535 in Kirazlıyayla, 1,578 in Sarıalan, 1,481 in the Hotels District, 823 in Lake Kilimli, 742 in Lake Kara, 675 in Lake Aynalı, 658 in Lake Koğukdere, and 151 in Lake Heybeli. The total population size was estimated at 7,643 individuals (3,113 in forest, 4,530 in the subalpine belt) in 1.30 ha areas (0.14 ha in forest, 1.16 ha in the subalpine belt) in study plots of Uludağ ranging between 1,476 to 2,450 m a.s.l. The capture probability ranged from 0.21 to 0.93 and the survival rate ranged from 0.57 to 0.98 among the populations, and the mean population density was calculated as 0.19–2.52 individuals/m2. The age in the population varied between 2 and 11 years, and the median age was calculated as 4 in males, 4.5 in females. The sexual maturity age ranged from 2nd to 6th years depending on altitude (from 1,476 to 2,450 m). It was found that the breeding period commenced in early April upon the melting of the snow and extended until the end of June, depending on altitude. The mean number of eggs in an egg mass was calculated to be 987±326. Spawned eggs hatched in 7 to 32 days depending on weather conditions and metamorphosis was completed in 46 to 130 days.

Population estimate and body size of European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from Pazarağaç (Afyonkarahisar/Turkey)

Data on population size, adult sex ratio, body size and mass are provided for a population of the turtle Emys orbicularis near Pazarağaç (Afyonkarahisar/Turkey). Using the mark-recapture method (triple catch), a population size of 664 turtles was estimated (95% confidence interval, range 332–996), corresponding to a density of 83 turtles per hectare (range 41.5–124.5). The adult sex-ratio was significantly skewed in favor of males (2.02 males: 1 female; P < 0.001). Almost all recorded specimens were adult (98.1%). Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass (BM) of adult turtles were: SCL = 128.65 mm, BM = 345 g for males (n = 168) and SCL = 135.37 mm, BM = 463 g for females (n = 83).

Serological characterization and confirmation of the taxonomic status of Montivipera albizona (Serpentes, Viperidae) with an additional new locality record and some phylogenetical comments

Th is is the fi rst record of the presence of Montivipera albizona (Nilson, Andren & Flardh 1990), in Kahramanmaras province, Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Here, one young male specimen was collected and is described. Th e present record of M. albizona extends its known distribution (Kulmac Mountain Range, Sivas) some 250 km to the south-west, where the Anatolian Diagonal exhibits a bifurcation. Our data based on the electropheoretic analysis of blood-sera, indicate that the M. xanthina populations from the western Anatolia and M. albizona distributed along the Anatolian Diagonal show signifi cant diff erences, qualitatively and quantitatively. Accordingly, it is concluded that M. albizona should not be included within the polymorphic species M. xanthina which lives in western Anatolia and therefore, it should be accepted as a valid species. Moreover, the actual distributions of the related taxa in Anatolia and the geographic structure of the Anatolian Diagonal were discussed.