collected from South and South-eastern regions of Turkey

A total of 45 lizards (Acanthodactylus harranensis [n = 15], Acanthodacthylus schreiberi [n = 9] and Mesalina brevirostris [n = 21]) were collected from South and Southeastern Regions of Turkey and examined for helminth fauna. Acanthodactylus harranensis harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Skrjabinodon sp.), 1 species of Cestoda (Oochoristica tuberculata) and 1 species of Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchus sp. [cystacanth]). Acanthodactylus schreiberi harbored unidentified cysticercoids. Mesalina brevirostris harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Spauligodon saxicolae). All lizards represents new host records for the helminths reported in this study

Are the helminth communities from unisexual and bisexual lizards different? Evidences from gastrointestinal parasites of Darevskia spp. in Turkey

Specimens of three species of parthenogenetic lizards (Darevskia uzzelli, D. bendimahiensis,and D. sapphirina) from northeastern Turkey were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Only one species, the nematode Spauligodon saxicolae (Pharyngodonidae), was found. The extremely low infection and diversity parameters, falling among the lowest within the Palaearctic saurians, support depauperate helminth communities for these parthenogenetic lacertid lizards. Our results suggest that parthenogenetic Darevskia follow a pattern of parasitism similar to other unisexual lizards (i.e. Aspidocelis). The low rates of infection and diversity may be explained by the decreasing opportunities for interchanging helminths rather than factors of susceptibility of unisexual hosts

O vrstama zmija u gorju Zapadni Taurus, Turska

A total of 85 specimens belonging to 14 snake species collected from the Western Taurus Mountain Range were examined in this study. Along with morphological information about the species, the study contains some topographical observations concerning the localities. The collection of material from a number of new localities helped efforts to complete missing information related to the distribution of species in this region. Moreover, the data obtained were compared with those contained in the relevant literature with the purpose of shedding light on the taxonomical status of the species.Obrađeno je ukupno 85 primjeraka odnosno 14 vrsta zmija prikupljenih u gorju Zapadni Taurus. Rad donosi morfološke osobitosti vrsta te neka topografska opažanja lokaliteta. Prikupljeni materijal pomogao je upotpuniti nedostatke u poznavanju rasprostranjenja vrsta koje žive u ovoj regiji. Prikupljeni podaci uspoređeni su s relevantnom literaturom u svrhu produbljivanja znanja o taksonomiji vrsta

Parthenogenesis in Darevskia lizards : a rare outcome of common hybridization, not a common outcome of rare hybridization

Hybridization is a common evolutionary process with multiple possible outcomes. In vertebrates, interspecific hybridization has repeatedly generated parthenogenetic hybrid species. However, it is unknown whether the generation of parthenogenetic hybrids is a rare outcome of frequent hybridization between sexual species within a genus or the typical outcome of rare hybridization events. Darevskia is a genus of rock lizards with both hybrid parthenogenetic and sexual species. Using capture sequencing, we estimate phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among the sexual species, to determine how introgressive hybridization relates to the origins of parthenogenetic hybrids. We find evidence for widespread hybridization with gene flow, both between recently diverged species and deep branches. Surprisingly, we find no signal of gene flow between parental species of the parthenogenetic hybrids, suggesting that the parental pairs were either reproductively or geographically isolated early in their divergence. The generation of parthenogenetic hybrids in Darevskia is, then, a rare outcome of the total occurrence of hybridization within the genus, but the typical outcome when specific species pairs hybridize. Our results question the conventional view that parthenogenetic lineages are generated by hybridization in a window of divergence. Instead, they suggest that some lineages possess specific properties that underpin successful parthenogenetic reproduction

The effect of nest relocation on embryonic mortality and sex ratio of Loggerhead Turtles, Caretta caretta (Reptilia: Cheloniidae), at Dalyan Beach, Turkey

Marine turtles are globally endangered and one important conservation technique is nest relocation. This study assesses the relationship between nest site factors (wet nest depth, dry nest depth, total nest depth, nest diameter, distance to sea, moisture, clutch size and incubation duration) and embryonic mortality of natural and relocated nests at Dalyan beach, Turkey. Principal component analyses (PCA) revealed a three-factor structure for the natural nests and a four-factor structure for the relocated nests. The clutches in natural and relocated nests had a total of mortality ratio of 21% and 12%, incubation duration of 52 and 50 days, and estimated female ratio of 80% and 88%, respectively. Thus, mortality was lower and incubation faster in the relocated nests, but the proportion of females was higher. Hatching success in relocated nests (84.4%) was significantly higher than in natural nests (72.7%)

New data on the distribution of the Taurus Frog Rana holtzi WERNER, 1898, in the Bolkar Mountains of Turkey (Anura: Ranidae)

The Taurus Frog, Rana holtzi WERNER, 1898, is a rare local endemic of the Bolkar Mountains, in the Taurus Range (Turkey), where its known distribution was limited to only three localities (Karagol, Ciniligol and Egrigol) in the provinces of Nigde and Mersin. In this study, we report a new record locality for R. holtzi, Karagol (Camliyayla/Mersin), based on morphometrics and pattern/coloration characteristics. Thus, the known distribution range of R. holtzi in the Bolkar Mountains was extended by about 10 kilometers into a southwestern direction

Helminth fauna of Spiny Tailed Lizard, Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from Turkey

The present study investigated the composition of helminth parasites of Darevskia rudis, Spiny Tailed Lizard from Turkey. One hundred and two samples (49 females, 53 males) from the Tokat, Trabzon, Rize, Gumushane and Artvin Provinces were collected and examined for helminth parasites. New host and locality records were recorded. As a result of the present study, seven species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon sp., Spauligodon carbonelli, Spauligodon aloisei, Skrjabinelazia hoffmanni, Strongyloides darevsky, Oswaldocruzia filiformis; one species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides spp. (tetrathyridium) and one species of Acanthocephala Sphaerirostris scanensis were reported from the lizard samples. Sp. carbonelli and Sphaerirostris scanensis are here recorded for the first time in Turkey. D. rudis is the new host recorded for Sk. medinae, Spauligodon sp., Sp. carbonelli, Sp. aloisei from Nematoda, Mesocestoides spp. from Cestoda and Sphaerirostris scanensis from Acanthocephala. This host has been studied for the fi rst time for the helminth parasites from the Tokat and Gumushane Provinces. There is, to our knowledge, only one report of helminthes for D. rudis in Turkey

The first helminth study on Brandt's Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandtii (De Filippi, 1863) (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Van Province, Turkey

Population of Iranolacerta brandtii lizard including 56 (21 female, 34 male,1 juvenile) samples were examined for helminths. 17 of them were found to harbour one or more helminth parasites, while 39 didn't harbor any. Two helminth species were determined. These belong to Phylum: Nematoda, Spauligodon aloisei Casanova, Milazzo, Ribas & Cagnin, 2003 and Skrjabinodon medinae. Garcia-Calvente, 1948. This study represents new host and locality records in both host lizard and the helminth species. Sp. aloisei is recorded for the first time; Sk. medinae is the third report from Turkey nevertheless Sk. medinae is a new host record for I. brandtii