B.Kutrup, N.Yılmaz, “Preliminary data on some new specimens of Vipera barani collected from Trabzon (Northeastern Turkey)”, Biota, 3/1-2, 85-90, 2002

KUTRuP & YlLMAZ Bİota 3lı-z.zooz 85 Preliminary data on some new speclmens of Vipera barani collected from Trabzon (Northeastern Turkey) Bi|al KUTRUP' & Nurhayat Y!LMAZ' 'Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Aıts and Sciences, Dept. of Biology, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey E-mail: kutrup@ktu.edu.tr 'Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Rize, Arts&Sciences, Dept. of Biology, 53100, Rize, Turkey E-mail: nurhayat@ktu.edu.tr Abstract This study was carried out to find viper specimens in Trabzon, situated in northeastern Turkey. During the study period, a total of 9 viper specimens were col|ected from new locations in Arpaözü (Caykara), Ballıca, Sugeldi (Of), and Çamlık (Vakfikebir), For morphometric studies, these specimens were examined, and for all of these specimens, 16 different items of data were collected. ln addition, collected data were compared with data from other vipers (Vipera barani and Vipera pontica) which are described from Rize, Artvin and Adapazarı. Trabzon viper specimens are characterised by partial fragmentation of frontal and parietals, high ventrals and loreals, fewer subcaudals and yellow green tail tips than in Vipera barani and Vipera pontica. When comparing the subalpine population (Arpaözü) with other lowland onbs (Of, Yomra and Vakfikebir), differences in apical and dorsal patterns could be detected. The Arpaözü population had one apical, which is normally found only in Vipera ursinii and occasionally inthe Vipera kaznakovicomplex (V, kaznakovi, V. dinnikiand V. darevskD. On the other hand, the number of apicals was 2 or 3 in Vipera barani and V, pontica. Aiso, the number of zigzag bands was low in the Arpaözü specimens (48-49 instead of 62-67 in the lowland specimens). As a result, it is clearly indicated that the new viper specimens from Trabzon show some similarities in colour patterns as well as scalation characters with V. barani and V, pontica. However, the number of circumoculars, loreals and crown scales is lower in our specimens than in both species. Taking into consideration the differences and similarities, the Trabzon specimens are most similar to V, barani Key words: Reptilia, Viperidae, Vipera barani,rrabzon Received 30 August; accepted 20 December 2001 85 Bİota 3lı-z,zooz İNTRODUCTİON Recent studies of KUTRuP & YlLMAZ the systematics of vipers in the Caucasus have shown that the taxonomy of this group is rather complex. lt has been reported that there are two viper groups in this region, Vipera kaznakovi and Vipera u rsinii (Yedmederja et al. 1986, Nilson et al. 1995). Vipera barani has been evaluated to be an important species in the Vipera kaznakovi group as Vipera pontica. Only Vipera kaznakoviis well defined and restricted in distribution and geographically separated from the other species in this region. Among these species, Vipera pontica shows clear similarities with Vipera barani in having high fragmentation of the frontal and parietals, in the number of ventrals as well as by their yellow green tail (Bil|ing et al. 199O). lnitially, Vipera barani Böhme and Joger, 1983, was originally described from a single specimen - a melanistic female from Sapanca (Adapazarı) which is situated on the southwest coast of the Black sea. Then, Frazen and Heckes identified and described Vipera barani from Rize (Nilson, pers, comm.). Recently Baran et al, (1997) published information about three viper specimens that they consid- ered as being V. pontica f rom Çamlyhemsin (Rize). Nevertheless, some Cerman herpetologists (Frazen and Heckes) believe that the Çamlyhemsin population should be evaluated as V. barani The taxonomy of the Vipera barani and Vipera pontica has been confusing and contradictory (Höggren et al. 1993, Nilson et al. 1994, 1995, )oger et al. 1997). The original question of whether the specimens belonging to the Eastern Black Sea Region (Rize and Trabzon) and those of Adapazaı are identical must be answered. For this purpose, DNA sequences of the vipers caught from Adapazan and Rize have been studied by Frazen and Heckes. There is another question; could it be that what we have is a series of populations within the subgenus pelias along the Anatolian Black Sea coast? The new specimens caught from Trabzon could fit into such a series. On the other hand, Çamlyhemsin and Adapazan specimens were evaluated as two different groups (V, barani in berus group and V. pontica in aspis group) by Joger et al. (1997). They also stated that the melanistic specimens belonging to V. barani show similarities with the aspis group. Recently, there has been a trend to evaluate both species as the same taxon. Despite intensive searching by several herpetologists, no additional Vipera barani specimen was captured. Examining more specimens belonging to Viper from new localities in Trabzon is aimed at gaining a broad perspective including colour pattern and pholidosis characteristics. MATERİAL AND METHODs The study was conducted from April to September of 1999 and 2OOO, and joint field trips were made in different parts of rrabzon to capture the samples of viper. A total of nine specimens (5 females and 4 males) were captured from four different locations. Two adult females were caught from the locality of Arpaözü, situ- ated approximately 20 km south of Uzungö| (Trabzon). This habitat was separated from the others by having steep wooded mountain slopes with many big, rocky outcrops at high altitudes (more than 2000m). The other specimens were caught in the lowland Black sea coast locations of Ballıca, Sulgeldi (Of), Cınariı (Yomra) and Çamlık (Vakfıkebir). One adult male was captured from Ballıca, situated approxi- mately 53 km east of Trabzon and another adult male was encountered in Sugeldi, 5 km to the eastern part of Ballıca. One adult female was caught in situated Bİota 3lı-z,zooz KuTRUP & YlLMAZ Cınarlı, which is nearby in the east of rrabzon. Two adult males, one adult and young females were retrieved 87 dorsal scale rows, apical plates, supralabials, sublabials, circumocular scales, lore- m. Although Ballıca and Sugeldi specimens were captured near the tea plant als, chanthals, crown scales and zig-zag spirals in the dorsal band were counted. A further rostral index (height/breadth) was calculated. The division of parietals and frontals was noted. This information was used in morphological description, taxonomical analyses and comparison with the other Vipera baraniand Vipera pontica captured from different locations. short grassland populated by Oak The new specimens from low|and popu- f rom Cam|ık which is 68 km west of Trabzon. The locality of Cumhuriyet is approximately one km from the sea with an alti- tude of 80 m., while the Ballıca and Sugeldi |ocalities are two or three km from the sea, with an altitude of 250-330 camellia sirennis, the cınarlı and Cumhuriyet specimens were captured on Quercussp., Alder Alnus sp. and haze|nut Corylus sp. trees. pattern and coloration were examined and noted for five adult and three Imma- ture specimens. ln addition, black and white slides were taken. Then specimens were fixed with 70% ethanol. For morphometric studies, 9 vipers were examined, and for all of these specimens 16 different items of data were obtained. Total and tail length were measured. ln addition, the number of ventrals, subcaudals, anterior, mid-body and posterior RESULTS AND DİSCUSS|ON lations of yomra, of and vakfikebir show some differences in terms of scalation and colour pattern in comparison to the sub- alpine population (Arpaözü). Also, our specimens were compared to Vipera barani and Vipera pontica, which were described from Adapazan and Rize, in order to clarify these morphological similarities and differences within both species. ln addition, they were compared to the Çamlyhemsin specimens, which had not yet received a clear taxonomic position (Table 1). Table 1. External morphology of the Trabzon viper specimens collected from the Arpaözü, Of, Yomra and Vakfıkebir and related taxa (V barani and V. pontica) clıaracters Tail lensth (mm) Total lensth (mm) Ventral subcaudal Dorsal scales Neck Mid-body pasterioı Apicals Chantals Rostral index Loreals §ıınralahiılc sublabials circumoculars crown sçales Zis-zas.band * Arpaözü of 2 2 (9) 52-73 444-590 142 28-29 ı (9) 82-83 78 5I8-543 634 1 vakfikebir Yomra (6) 48 4o-1 41 33-3,7 2 (9\ z2-69 176-621 149 V. bqrani z (6) 28-32 162-197 l40-145 29 30_3 l 37-38 (n=5) 56-69 550 142-145 26-37 24-25 26 23-25 ,r,1-1^ 21 21 21 2| 17-1 8 ll l7 2I-23 1,7 2l l7 1 2 2 2 2 aa 1.12-1.24 4-5 8-9 9-1 l -05 1.18 8-9 I8-24 48G9J l0_] no a 1.10 1 l42-147 32-36 71 2l |7 ı.08-1.16 -05_1 .07 30 (31) 254-2,77 2 l5 1.05_1.40 5-5 4-5 5-4 4-5 3-6 6-,7 9-9 9_8 8_9 9-9 9-10 9-9 l0_1 l l0-1 ( l1 26 9- 10 71-7< l 24-33 6,7-* 56 62-65 64-67 11-11 1 aa pontica (n=2) 25-26 2 l/. 3 1 = character was not visible because of damaged specimen l0_1 I 8_1 l 0_12 l ı_12 l0-14 9_1 2340 34 0 51_58 88 Rİota 3lı-z.zooz KUTRUP & YlLMAZ As can be seen in Table 1, the number of ventrals in the specimens caught from Trabzon falls between 141 and 145, except for two specimens collected from Yomra and Vakfikebir. These specimens have a high number of ventrals (148149), afeature which is not counted in V. barani and V. pontica. The number of subcaudals in males is higher than in females (33-38 instead oi 28-31 in females). Also, it is obvious that males have longer tails than females. Consequently, the rate of tail length to total length, which is 0.1 '|-0.13 in females and 0.15-0.17 in males, confirms this result. The Arpaözü population (two ' females) shows remarkable differences from the other lowland populations in ,1), a feature having one apical (Figure which is normally found only in Vipera ursinii, and occasionally in lhe V, kaznakovicomplex (V. kaznakovi, V, dinniki and V. darevskD.ln contrast, one apical V, pontica (Tab|e 1). However, colour patterns of the Arpaözü specimens are very different from the members of this group (V. kaznakovi complex). İhe number of crown scales (interchantals +intersupraoculars ) is much lower in Trabzon specimens (13-26) than in the V. pontica (34), V. barani (25,4O) and (25-33). But Çamlyhemsin specimens differs Vakfikebir only a young male from crown higher having in from the others V. and (33) V. barani in the than scales pontica specimens. Additionally, the Trabzon specimens have lower loreal counts (4-5, 5,4 and 5-5) (Figure 2). Four of the specimens examloreals like the ined have (5-5), while the others ones Çamlyhemsin show similarities with V. barani(3,6). Furthermore, our specimens differ from 5-5 Figure 2. Lateral view of the head of the adult male from Ballıca was not reported either in V, barani or in Figure 1. Dorsal view of the head of the adult female from Arpaözü the V. pontica, V, barani and fewer in having specimens Çamlyhemsin circumoculars (9-11 instead of 10-14 in V. barani, 11,12 in V. pontica and 10,12 in the Çamlyhemsin specimens) On the other hand, the Ballıca specimens show clear similarities in circumocular counts (12-13) with V. barani (Figure 2). Head scales between the rostral and posterior end of the parietal area, as well as temporal, are not keeled as in V, barani and V. pontica. The head morphology of the Trabzon specimens differs from that of V, pontica in having much more blunt and expanded snouts than any member Bİota 3lı-z,zooz KUTRUP & YİLMAZ Figure 3. Dorsal view of the adult Ballıca male 89 ing to Arpaözü did not show any significant differences in terms of colour and pattern from the lowland specimens. Only the number of spirals in the dorsal zig-zag band was lower in the Arpaözü specimens (48-49 instead of 62-67 inthe Of, Yomra, and Vakfikebir specimens, respectively) (Figure 3, Table 1). This high number of zig-zag bands (67) was normally found in the high populations of V dinniki (Nilson et al. 1995, Joger et al. 1997). On the other hand, the number of zig-zag bands which was observed in adult samples was iower than in young ones- This could be given an ontogenetic explanation, as pattern often fades with age (Nilson el a|.1995). Only two meIanistic specimens (one female from Arpaözü and one male from Suge|di) were observed during the study period (Figure 1). ln these samples, a black coloration with high melanin pro- duction covered all other colour patterns. ln contrast, dorsal patterns belonging to unmelanistic specimens consisted of light brown in adults and dark brown in the young, and broad, black-bordered zigzag spirals with a total of 48-67 in both adults and young. Also, many dark of the berus complex (Figure 1). According to Billing et al. (1990), V. pon- tica has a pronounced snout. Also our specimens do not have the markedly raised snouts which are normally found in several Caucasian viper populations such as V, pontica (Nilson et al. 1995). A great number of different colour morphs was expressed in the Caucasian vipers (Billing et al. 1990, Höggren et al. 1993, Nilson et al. 1995, Kutrup 1999). Although the Arpaözü locality, which was situated in high subalpine mountain belts (20O0m) such a5 the Vipera dinnikilocality (NiIson et al. 1994, 1995, Höggren et al. 1993), has very different climatic factors and plant species, specimens belong- blotches, which were vertically placed and not connected to the zig-zag band, were observed along the body sides. Head patterns of two black bands extended from the posterior end of the parietal area to the sides of the neck and they had wide, black-bordered bands, which ran from the eyes to the neck along the upper sides of the supralabials (Figure 2). All unmelanistic specimens had a blotch which was approximately elliptical on the neck, just as in V. barani from Adapazarı (Joger et al. 1997) . rhe edges of the supra|abials, rostral , chanthals and supraoculars were white. A|l of the samples had black ventrals. Although bigger white spots were only seen on the ventral of the head in the melanistic sam- ples, many large and small white spots Bİota 3lı-z,zooz 90 KUTRUP & YlLMAZ extended from mentale to mid body area in the unmelanistic samples. These white spots also ran along the sides of the ventrals to the anale in young samples, The yellow coloration, which was seen at the posterior area of the subcaudals, was fairly distinct in all specimens. An examination of the morphology of the different specimens clearly indicate that Trabzon vipers show some differences in terms of colour patterns as well as scalation characteristics from v. barani and v, pontica. On the other hand, these vipers show similarities with v, barani and v. pontica in scalation as well as colour pat- terns. According to the scalation, the specimens of Trabzon vipers may be belong to either V. barani or V. pontica. But the colour patterns of our melanistic specimens are more similar to those in V. barani than to those in V, pontica. However, the number of crown scales (interchanthals + intersupraoculars), loreals and circumoculars is lower in our specimens than in both other species. Taking into account the differences and similarities as indicated above, irabzon samples have more similarities with V. barani than with V. pontica, Ultimately, we evaluate our vipers as Vipera barani. Furthermore, our viper samples can be eva|uated as be|onging to a subspecies of V. barani(Joger, pers. comm.). lt must be borne in mind that we would need a larger series of molecu|ar data to find out more. REFERENCES BARAN, l., TOSUNOCLU, M., KAYA, ,U. & KUMLUTAS, Y. 1997: Çamlyhemsin,(Rize Civarının Herpeto- faunasi Hakkında. Tr. j. of Zoology 21: 4O9-416- BlLLlNC, H., NILSON, C. & SATTER,U.199O: Vipera pontica sp. n., a new species in the kaznakovi group (Reptia-Viperidae) from north-eastern Turkey and adjacent Transcaucasiana. Zool. Scripta 19: 231-237. BÖHME, W. & JoCER, U. 1983: Eine neue Arts des Vipera berus -Komlexes aus der Turkei. Amphibia- Reptilia 4: 265 -27 1 . HOCCREN, M., NlLSON, C., ANDREN, C., ORLOV N. L. & TUNIEV B. S. 1993: Vipers of the Caucasus. Natural History and Systematic Review. Herpetological Natural History 1: 11-19. 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