Montivipera xanthina varoli, Afsar & Yakin & Çiçek & Ayaz, 2019

Afsar, Murat, Yakin, Batuhan Y., Çiçek, Kerim & Ayaz, Dinçer, 2019, A new subspecies of Ottoman viper, Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849), (Squamata: Viperidae) from Geyik Mountains, Mediterranean Turkey, Ecologica Montenegrina 22, pp. 214-225 : 217-222

Montivipera xanthina varoli n. subsp.

Holotype and type locality: Male, collected by Cemal Varol TOK and Batuhan Yaman YAKIN on August 31, 2017, in Mühür Dağ on western of Geyik Mountains, Gündoğmuş, Antalya, Turkey 1601 m. a.s.l.

Paratypes: 2 ♂ and 1 ♀, collected by Cemal Varol TOK, Murat AFSAR and Batuhan Yaman YAKIN on June 01 and June 15, 2016, in Mühür Dağ on western of Geyik Mountains, Gündoğmuş, Antalya, Turkey (1601 m and 1905 m a.s.l.) .

Diagnosis: This subspecies has similar characteristics with those of the southern populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). The whiteness between spots and zig-zag windings in the dorsum is more prominent in the new subspecies than in the southern population, and females have darker greyish-brown skin color than males. Whiteness between blackish spots can be also more prominent in male specimens compared to only adult female specimen. In three male specimens, there was almost no spotting and colorization under the head. The spots on ventrals became denser in the mid-body and forms darker colorization at the end of body. Also, just as stated in Nilson & Andren (1986), in three of the four evaluated specimens, they have neck spots united with the dorsal band. The tail tips of all four specimens are yellowish-orange or light orange while tail tip is yellow for other M. xanthina populations according to Nilson & Andren (1986). In addition to color-pattern properties, new subspecies are differ from M. x. nilsoni by having two series of circumocular scales which is similar to nominate subspecies; M. x. dianae by having lower number of rows of dorsal scales (anterior 23-24; mid-body 23; posterior 17-18); M. x. occidentalis a higher number of intercanthals and dorsal scales rows. Also new subspecies can be distinguished from other M. xanthina populations in Turkey by both having more intercanthals (12, 13) and less subcaudalia (≤30).

Description of Holotype: COMU-ZDEU 2017/15. Adult male; TBL 440 mm, SVL 404 mm, TL 38 mm, HL 23.60 mm, HW 16.58 mm, RW 3.39 mm, RH 3.26 mm. Pholidotic characters; V 157, PreV 3, SubC 28, aDSR 23, mDSR 23, pDSR 17, Ap 2, aInto 6, IntC 13, IntSup 30, Canr 2, Canl 2, 1cirR 12, 1cirL 10, 2cirR 16, 2cirL 12, Suboc 2, supR 10, supL 10, subR 14, subL 12. Indexes; Rostrale index: 103.98, Tail index: 9.40 ( Figure 2 ). This specimen was chosen as holotype since the larger male specimen’s tip of tail was damaged.

Dark brownish-black spots are present on dorsum on the gray ground-colour. The bands that begins at the back of the eyes have darker brownish-black colorization. Blackish-brown spots are present on the dorsum and occasionally these spots were circled blackish scales. The spots on the dorsum might be separate but they are connected especially at the end of the tails. At the connection region of spots or zig-zag windings on dorsum, a lighter white colorization is present. Large spots that are close the back of head and the first dorsal spot closest to head are not united. A small extension from dorsal spots reaches between head spots. Two small spots are present on the head close to the eyes. At the lateral sides of the body, between the two spots and zig-zag windings, there are brown spots which form a thin line that reaches to ventral. The head and back scales are carinated ( Figure 2 , 3A ).

Ventral has yellowish white color. The under of head has fewer small spots and towards the end of body, the small point-shaped spots becomes denser. In some of the ventrals, dark spots are present in the regions that connect with the back scales. There are fewer spots under the tail and a prominent yellowish-orange colorization can be observed ( Figure 3B ).

Description of Paratypes: COMU-ZDEU 2016/10, 2017/16, 2♂ and 1♀ was chosen as paratypes ( Figure 3 ). The measurements of the other male specimens are respectively: TBL 356 mm and 554* mm, SVL 322 mm and 504 mm, TL 29 mm and 43* mm, HL 18.32 mm and 26.56 mm, HW 12.02 mm and 18.77 mm, RW 3.15 mm and 4.64 mm, RH 2.78 mm and 4.39 mm. Pholidotic characters; V 157 and 157, PreV 3 and 3, SubC 26 and 27*, aDSR 23 and 23, mDSR 23 and 23, pDSR 17 and 17, Ap 2, aInto 7 and 6, IntC 13 and 12, IntSup 31 and 27, Canr 2 and 2, Canl 2 and 2, 1cirR 12 and 12, 1cirL 12 and 10, 2cirR 13 and 12, 2cirL 13 and 14, Suboc 2 and 2, supR 10 and 10, supL 10 and 10, subR 13 and 12, subL 13 and 11. Indexes; Rostrale index: 113.30 and 105,69, Tail index: 9 and 8,53. The values of the only examined female: TBL 543 mm, SVL 503 mm, TL 43 mm, HL 25.95 mm, HW 20.53 mm, RW 4.08 mm, RH 3.53 mm. Pholidotic characters; V 160, PreV 3, SubC 27, aDSR 24, mDSR 23, pDSR 18, Ap 2, aInto 6, IntC 13, IntSup 29, Canr 2, Canl 2, 1cirR 11, 1cirL 11, 2cirR 13, 2cirL 13, Suboc 2, supR 10, supL 10, subR 13, subL 13. Indexes; Rostrale index: 115.58, Tail index: 8.54.

In male specimens, the dorsum ground-colour is brownish-grey. The spots and zig-zag windings are blackish brown, and darker scales are present around it. These spots can be connected or separated. At the connection points of dorsal spots, there is a lighter white colorization. Two large oblique spots on the backsides of the head are united with back pattern at the neck and form a “Y” shape. Following this Y shape, the spots with the shape of quadrangle, circular or half-moon shaped form zig-zag bands especially in male specimens and turn into a straight line on the tail. On the lateral side, the spots with the same color as dorsal spots form a line towards ventralia. The ventral is yellowish white, and under head it is almost spotless, towards the tail the spots continuously increase but there are almost no spots, or fewer spots under the tail. Less prominent little dark spots make a line on each side of the ventrals. Anal plate has less spots, however between midbody to anal plate spot the density is very high. Towards the tip of the tail, yellowish-orange colorization is present, and it is especially prominent below the tail.

The only female specimen has the brownish-grey dorsal background, and dark black spots and, darker scales around the spots. At the connection points of dorsal spots and zig-zag windings, a lighter whitish colorization can be observed. Dorsal spots and zig-zag windings continues after midbody in a separated manner and forms a line at the tip of tail. Large spots that are close the back of the head and neck are united with the first dorsal spot close to the neck and forms a “Y” shape ( Figure 4A ).

Ventral background color is yellowish white and dark spots are present in the sides of ventrals close to the dorsal scales. In some ventrals, the middle sections also have dark spots. The tail has a prominent colorization with yellowish-orange color and very few spots under the tail ( Figure 4B ).

Habitat and Distribution: The specimens were collected in rocky areas with subalpine herbaceous plant vegetation on mountain slope on Mühür Mt. on western of Geyik Mountains, Gündoğmuş/ Antalya, Turkey ( Figure 5 ). Euphorbia nicaeensis is common, and Verbascum sp. is also observed in the area. In addition, Astragalus sp. and Juniperus oxycedrus are also seen. There are steppe areas in the higher parts, and moist areas in the regions close to the valley floor. Other sympatrically living reptiles are; Testudo graeca , Anatololacerta pelasgiana , Stellagama stellio , Eirenis modestus , Platyceps najadum and newly described critically endangered viper subspecies Vipera anatolica senliki . Also, Pelophylax bedriagae and Ablepharus budaki were given as sympatric species in Göçmen et al. (2017).

Derivatio nominis: The newly described subspecies were named in honor of Prof. Dr. Cemal Varol TOK who made valuable contributions to Turkish Herpetofauna and also the word “var’ol” is a verb that means “to exist, to stay alive, to be in existence”.

Figures

Figure 2. The holotype of Montivipera xanthina varoli (male) from Geyik Mountains, Antalya, Turkey.

Figure 3. The holotype of Montivipera xanthina varoli (preserved) from Geyik Mountains, Antalya, Turkey (A-Dorsal, B-Ventral).

Figure 4. A female paratype of Montivipera xanthina varoli from Geyik Mountains, Antalya, Turkey (A-Dorsal, B- Ventral).

Figure 5. Habitat of M. x. varoli n. subsp. from Geyik Mountains, Antalya, Turkey.