identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
67CACD00A9FF53D7AB3A4309A8472A60.text	67CACD00A9FF53D7AB3A4309A8472A60.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ablepharus pannonicus (Lichtenstein 1823)	<div><p>6. Ablepharus pannonicus (Lichtenstein, 1823)</p><p>Scincus pannonicus Lichtenstein, 1823</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Fitzinger (1823), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species with a broad range in Western and Central Asia. Bakradze and Darevsky (1973) reported finding this species from Vashlovani Nature Reserve (Eastern Georgia). No further confirmation is available.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/67CACD00A9FF53D7AB3A4309A8472A60	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
3295019E80F954AEBB2BAF3F689084F2.text	3295019E80F954AEBB2BAF3F689084F2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Anguis colchica (Nordmann 1840)	<div><p>2. Anguis colchica (Nordmann, 1840)</p><p>Figs 17–18, 131 (Engl. Colchis Slow Worm; Geo: კოლხური ბოხმეჭა, ძლოკვი, bokhmecha).</p><p>Otophis eryx var. colchica Nordmann, 1840</p><p>Anguis fragilis var. colchica: Nikolskii (1913: 40)</p><p>Anguis fragilis fragilis: Muskhelishvili (1970: 39)</p><p>Anguis fragilis colchicus: Bannikov et al. (1977: 142); Dunayev and Orlova (2017), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Gvoždík et al. (2010), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977); Gvoždík et al. (2010).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. The species belongs to a widespread western Eurasian complex A. fragilis . Gvoždík et al. (2010) elevated the Caucasian form of slow worm ( A. f. colchica) to a species level. This species is likely allopatric with A. graeca and A. fragilis . Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between A. colchica and its closest relatives, A. graeca and A. fragilis (NCBI Accession # MK 107684, OP 493517, and MN 122840) varies between 6.5-8 %.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010926 (Mtisdziri environs), 1007148 (Baniskhevi), 1007149 (Lanchkhuti) (BOLD: AGJ 8222, similarity 99.63–99.82 %). Closest homologous sequences: A. colchica (BOLD: AEW 3477; unknown location; similarity 95.39–96.85 %); A. colchica (NCBI OP 493529; Georgia; similarity 98.48 %). Next closest taxon: A. graeca (NCBI NC_048977; Greece; similarity 94.16 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3295019E80F954AEBB2BAF3F689084F2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
69BA527ECB3859798784302D99DFB31E.text	69BA527ECB3859798784302D99DFB31E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas 1814)	<div><p>4. Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814)</p><p>Figs 8, 122 (Engl. Caucasian Toad, Geo. კავკასიური გომბეშო, ჩვეულებრივი გომბეშო, kavkasiuri gombesho)</p><p>Rana verrucosissima Pallas, 1814</p><p>Bufo vulgaris: Nikolskii (1913: 214)</p><p>Bufo bufo verrucosissima: Bannikov et al. (1977: 47)</p><p>Bufo bufo verrucosissimus: Sinsch et al. (2008), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Orlova and Tuniyev (1989), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999), Sinsch et al. (2008).</p><p>Infraspecific variation. B. v. verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Sinsch et al. (2008) suggest that there is no firm evidence of separate species status for B. verrucosissimus . Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between B. verrucosissimus from Georgia and nominal B. bufo from Slovenia (NCBI Accession # ON 564369 and MW 350662) is less than 2 %. No evidence for sharp geographic border between nominal B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus in Anatolia. Moreover, recent study of Gür and Kalaycı (2025) suggests presence of toads with mitochondrial haplogroups associated with B. bufo and B. verrucosissimus in a limited geographic area of NE Türkiye. The separate species status for B. verrucosissimus still requires validation, although we list it here as a separate species following the majority of authors.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007164 (BOLD: ACE 5152; Akhaldaba (Savaniskhevi). Closest homologous sequence: B. verrucosissimus (BOLD: ACE 5152; Akhaldaba; similarity 100 %). Second-closest taxa – B. bufo (BOLD: AAC 2139; Russia, Nizhnee Ershovoye Lake; similarity 97.53 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/69BA527ECB3859798784302D99DFB31E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
EE9D47C9E04B55E2A258CA6A0B6D0169.text	EE9D47C9E04B55E2A258CA6A0B6D0169.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Bufotes viridis (Laurenti 1768)	<div><p>3. Bufotes viridis (Laurenti, 1768)</p><p>Figs 7, 122 (Engl. Green Toad, Geo. მწვანე გომბეშო, mtsvane gombesho)</p><p>Bufo viridis Laurenti, 1768</p><p>Pseudepidalea viridis: Frost et al. (2006)</p><p>Bufotes variabilis: Bánki et al. (2026), et auct., partim.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. This is the nominal species of the B. viridis complex. The other candidate species (some with unconfirmed species status) from this complex do not exist in Georgia.</p><p>The subspecies B. v. sitibundus (green toads from the Caucasus, West Asia, and West Kazakhstan) treated as species ( B. sitibundus) by Dufresnes et al. (2019). However, Frost (2026) retain the name B. viridis . Mitochondrial Cytochrome b differences (p - distance) between nominal B. viridis from Denmark and Türkiye (the latter potentially can be attributed to the subspecies B. v. sitibundus) (NCBI accession # OQ 130164 and AB 159263) exceed 5 %, but there is no evidence of either geographic or genetic isolation of green toads from the Caucasus and Europe.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007180 (BOLD: AAC 5952; Pantishara Canyon). Closest homologous sequence: B. viridis (BOLD: AAC 5952; Iran, Sultanye; similarity 100 %); B. variabilis (NCBI NC_050665; unknown location; similarity 99.24 %). Next closest taxon: B. pewzowi (NCBI NC_047225; Central Asia; similarity 95.9 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EE9D47C9E04B55E2A258CA6A0B6D0169	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
BD3E74AFB6CC5EDCB485DAECE5BE48BD.text	BD3E74AFB6CC5EDCB485DAECE5BE48BD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Coronella austriaca Laurenti 1768	<div><p>34. Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768</p><p>Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Laurenti (1768), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>C. a. austriaca Laurenti, 1768 — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Smooth snakes from the Caucasus belong to the “ eastern clade ”, genetically closest to the snakes from Central Europe (Sztencel-Jablonka et al. 2015), but non-named to the present time.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010917 (Atskvita), 1010918 (Gonio) (BOLD: ACH 8958), 1027414 (Jebota) (BOLD: AGJ 4778), similarity 97.43–99.52 %. The closest homologous sequences: C. austriaca (BOLD: ACH 8958; Georgia; similarity 97.36–100 %). C. austriaca (NCBI KC 997591; Georgia; similarity 97.39–99.52 %; KC 997589; Macedonia; similarity 94.8 %). Next closest taxon: Zamenis longissimus (NCBI MN 993251; Georgia; similarity 89.86 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BD3E74AFB6CC5EDCB485DAECE5BE48BD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F26CE1161D415F8BBAC249C8CAA3FFF3.text	F26CE1161D415F8BBAC249C8CAA3FFF3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia adjarica (Darevsky & Eîselt 1980)	<div><p>14. Darevskia adjarica (Darevsky &amp; Eîselt, 1980)</p><p>Lacerta parvula adjarica Darevsky &amp; Ei ̂ selt, 1980</p><p>Darevskia parvula adjarica: Tarkhnishvili (2012), et auct.</p><p>Lacerta saxicola gracilis: Nikolskii (1913: 80), partim.</p><p>Lacerta saxicola parvula: Terentyev &amp; Chernov (1940: 98); Darevsky (1967: 73), partim.</p><p>Lacerta parvula: Bannikov et al. (1977: 220), et auct., partim.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas et al. (2022 a), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Bannikov et al. (1977), Murphy et al. (2000), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Formerly considered to be a geographic subspecies of D. parvula . The range extends over SW Georgia. Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between D. ajarica from Georgia and D. parvula from NE Turkey (NCBI Accession # U 88609 and MK 092688) reaches 3.7 %. The transition zone between species of the complex D. parvula is not studied on the population level, hence we cannot reject free gene flow across the transition zones given current knowledge.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027440, 1007137, 1007138, 1007139 (Shuakhevi). The closest homologous sequences: D. ajarica (NCBI MN 015094; deposited as D. parvula, Ajaristskali, Georgia; similarity 99.21 %). Next closest taxon: D. rudis (NCBI NC_046011; unknown location; similarity 89.87 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F26CE1161D415F8BBAC249C8CAA3FFF3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
C4F5B8AE76725BBD91A31B2EF1466277.text	C4F5B8AE76725BBD91A31B2EF1466277.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia alpina (Darevsky 1967)	<div><p>15. Darevskia alpina (Darevsky, 1967)</p><p>Lacerta caucasica alpina Darevsky, 1967</p><p>Lacerta alpina Darevsky, 1967: Murphy et al. (2000), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>May be a hybrid species between species of the complexes “ caucasica ” and “ saxicola ” (Murphy 2000; Tarkhnishvili 2012).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C4F5B8AE76725BBD91A31B2EF1466277	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
00649B4FD0015E2E9FC7884370E429BA.text	00649B4FD0015E2E9FC7884370E429BA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia armeniaca (Mehely 1909)	<div><p>16. Darevskia armeniaca (Méhely, 1909)</p><p>Lacerta parvula adjarica Darevsky &amp; Ei ̂ selt, 1980</p><p>Lacerta saxicola gracilis: Nikolskii (1913: 80), partim.</p><p>Lacerta saxicola parvula: Terentyev &amp; Chernov (1940: 98); Darevsky (1967: 73), partim</p><p>Lacerta parvula: Bannikov et al. (1977: 220), et auct., partim.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Bannikov et al. (1977), Murphy et al. (2000), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Conventional species status. Parthenogenetic form, supposedly a hybrid between males of D. valentini and females of D. mixta (Murphy et al. 2000; Yanchukov et al. 2022), or a backcross between D. valentini and another parthenogen (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2017 b, 2020), with a small range in southern Georgia, and no remarkable differences between populations.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027438 (BOLD: AAE 7437; Akhalkalaki). The closest homologous sequences: D. armeniaca (BOLD: AAE 7437; NE Armenia, NE and E Türkiye; similarity 100 %); D. armeniaca (NCBI NC_046006; Saghamo Lake; similarity 100 %), D. mixta (NC_046008; Baniskhevi; similarity 99.85 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/00649B4FD0015E2E9FC7884370E429BA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
2A2D4D93D437513D9C0D7AED535685DB.text	2A2D4D93D437513D9C0D7AED535685DB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia brauneri (Mehely 1909)	<div><p>17. Darevskia brauneri (Méhely, 1909)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola var. brauneri Méhely, 1909 .</p><p>Lacerta saxicola brauneri: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 98); Darevsky (1967: 43).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2016).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. b. brauneri (Méhely, 1909); D. b. myusserica Doronin, 2011; D. b. arribasi (Tuniyev et al. 2023) stat. nov.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Member of the Darevskia (saxicola) complex; historically treated as a subspecies in broad treatments (e. g., Bannikov et al. 1977). Although currently species status of D. brauneri is widely accepted, it is not clear to what extent there are stepped genetic and phenotypic clines separating it from D. saxicola or D. szczerbaki . Tarkhnishvili et al. (2017 b) showed that mitochondrial haplogroups from some populations of nominal D. brauneri from Georgia are closer to D. saxicola from the North Caucasus than to formally conspecific populations. Distribution restricted to the western and central Greater Caucasus.</p><p>Tuniyev et al. (2023) described a population near Ertso Lake (Georgia) as D. arribasi . The diagnostic scalation and morphometric characters reported in that description fall within variation documented for nominal D. brauneri from the western Caucasus (Darevsky 1967) and for D. brauneri populations from the Enguri and Tekhuri basins in Western Georgia (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2016). Based on BLAST comparisons of available mtDNA / mitogenome data (e. g., D. arribasi OQ 414972 versus D. brauneri NC _050005 / NC_046012), the divergence is low (≈ 2 % scale), and – until clear evidence for genetic isolation is demonstrated – we treat the Ertso population as subspecies D. b. arribasi (not a separate species). Subspecies D. b. myusserica occurs locally in the north-western Georgia. More generally, contact zones and isolation among several nominal taxa in the D. saxicola complex remain insufficiently tested.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027443 (BOLD: AGK 0404; Martvili), 1007133, 1007134 (BOLD: AGK 0403; riv. Manshura), similarity 98.78–100 %. The closest homologous sequences: D. brauneri (BOLD: AAJ 4454; SW Russia; similarity 97.61–97.77 %); D. brauneri (NCBI NC_050005; Lebarde, Georgia; similarity 98.78–100 %). Next closest taxon: D. szczerbaki (NCBI ON 046496; Russia’s Black Sea coast; similarity 97.71–97.92 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2A2D4D93D437513D9C0D7AED535685DB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
72E9DA088AD558E2911347C994A7AA15.text	72E9DA088AD558E2911347C994A7AA15.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia caucasica (Mehely 1909)	<div><p>18. Darevskia caucasica (Méhely, 1909)</p><p>Lacerta caucasica Méhely, 1909</p><p>Lacerta muralis var. caucasica: Boulenger (1913)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola caucasica: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 97)</p><p>Lacerta caucasica: Nikolsky (1913: 82), Darevsky (1967: 111), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970); Bannikov et al. (1977); Doronin et al. (2021), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>A recent phylogeographic study by Doronin et al. (2021) suggests strong genetic differences between D. caucasica from Georgia and the populations from the northern Caucasus. A recent genomic study (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2025) supports the presence of a few genetically distant units within D. caucasica .</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027425 (BOLD: AGJ 4669; Zakagori Fortress), 1027426 (BOLD: AAJ 4512; Mount Tbatana), 1027427 (BOLD: AGJ 4670; Lebarde), similarity 91.59–95.29 %. The closest homologous sequences: D. caucasica (NCBI NC_049999; Truso, Georgia; similarity 95.29–100 %). The next closest taxa: D. mixta (NCBI NC_046008; Baniskhevi; similarity 94.98–96.05 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/72E9DA088AD558E2911347C994A7AA15	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
42109EB4ED715EC7A777BD6B7B7E8A47.text	42109EB4ED715EC7A777BD6B7B7E8A47.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia clarkorum (Darevsky & Vedmederja 1977)	<div><p>19. Darevskia clarkorum (Darevsky &amp; Vedmederja, 1977)</p><p>Lacerta clarkorum Darevsky &amp; Vedmederja, 1977</p><p>Lacerta dryada Darevsky &amp; Tuniyev, 1997</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Darevsky and Vedmederja (1977), Darevsky and Tuniyev (1997), Bischoff (2007), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Darevsky and Vedmederja (1977), Darevsky and Tuniyev (1997), Bischoff (2007), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. c. dryada (Darevsky &amp; Tuniyev, 1997) comb. nov. — although we do not find sufficient evidence for recognising this form as a species, considering some phenotypic differences from typical D. clarkorum, we suggest treating it as a geographic subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A phenotypically and genetically distinct species geographically isolated from its closest relatives, D. mixta and D. caucasica (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2025) . Nominal D. dryada is suggested to be recognised as a species, based on the phenotypic analysis (Arribas et al. 2021), although Schmidtler et al. (2002) treat it as an ecological race. Genetic differences based on the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene between nominal D. clarkorum from Türkiye and nominal D. “ dryada ” from SW Georgia (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2025) and nominal D. clarkorum from NW Türkiye vary between 99.76 and 96.22 %. For these reasons, we decide to treat the form as geographic subspecies of D. clarkorum .</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027431 (BOLD: AGJ 4668), 1007143 (BOLD: AGJ 4668) (Charnali riv. Valley). The closest homologous sequences: D. clarkorum dryada (NCBI NC_050002; deposited as D. clarkorum, Charnali; similarity 98.74–98.9 %). Next closest taxon: D. armeniaca (BOLD: AAE 7437; Armenia; similarity 95.74–95.81).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/42109EB4ED715EC7A777BD6B7B7E8A47	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
B950A2FD062353EB9C30BD132F9AB664.text	B950A2FD062353EB9C30BD132F9AB664.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia daghestanica (Darevsky 1967)	<div><p>20. Darevskia daghestanica (Darevsky, 1967)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola daghestanica Darevsky, 1967</p><p>Lacerta caucasica: Nikolskii (1913: 82), partim</p><p>Lacerta caucasica daghestanica: Bannikov et al. (1977: 214), et auct.</p><p>Lacerta daghestanica: Murphy et al. (2000), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Doronin et al. (2021), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>Not applicable, although deep genetic differences among the populations are shown (Doronin et al. 2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Commonly considered as a sister species of D. caucasica or even its subspecies (Darevsky 1967), however, this is a basal lineage equidistant from D. caucasica, D. mixta, and D. clarkorum (Murtskhvaladze et al. 2020) .</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027439 (BOLD: AAJ 4512; Tusheti). The closest homologous sequences: D. daghestanica (NCBI NC_050003; Tusheti, Georgia; similarity 100 %); D. daghestanica (BOLD: AAJ 4512; Dagestan; similarity 98.61 %). Next closest taxon: D. mixta (NCBI NC_046008; Baniskhevi, Georgia; similarity 93.71 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B950A2FD062353EB9C30BD132F9AB664	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
B36679703C155783BBC192E47815E5A1.text	B36679703C155783BBC192E47815E5A1.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia dahli (Darevsky 1957)	<div><p>21. Darevskia dahli (Darevsky, 1957)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola dahli Darevsky, 1957</p><p>Lacerta dahli: Darevsky (1967: 126), et auct.</p><p>Lacerta (Zootoca) dahli: Bischoff (1978).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Murphy et al. (2000), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2010).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>A parthenogenetic hybrid form. The parental species D. mixta and D. portschinskii (Murphy et al. 2000; Tarkhnishvili et al. 2017, 2020; Yanchukov et al. 2022). The mitochondrial genome is shared with D. mixta and parthenogenetic D. armeniaca (Murphy et al. 2000) .</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027435 (BOLD: AAE 7437; Kojori). The closest homologous sequences: D. dahli (NCBI NC_046007; Kojori, Georgia; similarity 99.85 %); D. armeniaca (BOLD: AAE 7437; Armenia; similarity 99.85 %). Both D. dahli and D. armeniaca are hybrid parthenogens, and D. mixta is their matrilineal ancestor, hence very high similarity of mtDNA among these species is not surprising.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B36679703C155783BBC192E47815E5A1	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
EA34C86D68765692A9B6A0347D8A548F.text	EA34C86D68765692A9B6A0347D8A548F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia derjugini (Nikolskii 1898)	<div><p>22. Darevskia derjugini (Nikolskii, 1898)</p><p>Lacerta derjugini Nikolskii, 1898</p><p>Lacerta derjugini: Darevsky (1967: 8); Muskhelishvili (1970: 79); Bannikov et al. (1977: 207); Murphy et al. (2000), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. d. abchasica (Bischoff, 1982); D. d. barani (Bischoff, 1982); D. d. orlowae (Bischoff, 1984); D. d. derjugini (Nikolskii, 1898) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Sympatric with other Darevskia, remaining distinct phenotypically and genetically. Although phenotypic diversity is high, genetic diversity within this species is modest (our data). This is one of two ground-dwelling species of the genus Darevskia from Georgia. Found throughout Western Georgia and the forest belt of Eastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027442 (Lagodekhi), 1007107, 1007108 (Sioni), 1007111, 1007112 (Mulakhi), 1007118 (Racha), 1007120 (Baniskhevi) (BOLD: AGK 0406), 1007113 (BOLD: AAJ 4526; Kintrishi), similarity 98.42–100 %. The closest homologous sequences: D. derjugini (BOLD: AAJ 4526; Georgia; similarity 98.51–99.84 %); (NCBI NC_049998; Georgia; similarity – 99.35–100 %). Next closest taxon: D. caucasica (NCBI NC_049999; Truso, Georgia; similarity 93.17–94.02 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EA34C86D68765692A9B6A0347D8A548F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
C27D00A8EC2D5144A58E49BF55607EE6.text	C27D00A8EC2D5144A58E49BF55607EE6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia mixta (Mehely 1909)	<div><p>23. Darevskia mixta (Méhely, 1909)</p><p>Lacerta mixta Méhely, 1909</p><p>Lacerta mixta: Nikolskii (1913: 82); Darevsky (1967: 136)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola mixta: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 98)</p><p>Lacerta (Zootoca) “ mixta ”: Bischoff (1978)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically validates species status. In spite of little genetic (mtDNA) differences from D. caucasica, forms a narrow contact zone with this species in the Greater Caucasus. This species was previously thought to be a hybrid between D. derjugini and D. saxicola . The vernacular name “ Ajarian lizard ” should be changed to “ Georgian lizard ”, because the species is endemic to Western Georgia, but is absent from the Ajara region.</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -IDs 1027434 (Sairme; BOLD: AAE 7437), 1007129 (Tchkhorotskhu; BOLD: AAE 7437). The Closest homologous sequence: CaBOL -IDs 1027434, 1007129, 1007131 – D. armeniaca (BOLD: AAE 7437; Armenia; similarity 99.53 %); D. armeniaca (NCBI NC_046006; southern Georgia; similarity 99.09–99.23 %); D. mixta (NCBI NC_046008; Baniskhevi; similarity 98.94–99.07 %). Next closest taxon: D. caucasica (NCBI NC_049999; Truso, Georgia; similarity 96.05–96.14 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C27D00A8EC2D5144A58E49BF55607EE6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
8CBB54FF11AE54EF83EE4C7F5F90F869.text	8CBB54FF11AE54EF83EE4C7F5F90F869.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia obscura (Lantz & Cyren 1936)	<div><p>27. Darevskia obscura (Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1936)</p><p>Lacerta saxicola obscura Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1936</p><p>Lacerta depressa rudis: Bedriaga (1886), partim</p><p>Lacerta saxicola rudis: Nikolskii (1913: 75), partim</p><p>Lacerta rudis obscura: Darevsky (1967: 107); Muskhelishvili (1970: 90); Bannikov et al. (1977: 212), et auct.</p><p>Darevskia rudis obscura Tarkhnishvili (2012); Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Gabelaia et al. (2018), Arribas et al. (2022 b), Bánki et al. (2026), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. o. obscura (Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1936) – upper flow of the Mtkvari (Kura) River from the westernmost part of Trialeti Mountains, eastern part of Meskheti Mountains, and mountains surrounding upper currents of Mtkavi (Kura) River and its tributaties; D. o. macromaculata (Darevsky, 1967) – western part of Javakheti Plateau in Georgia; D. o. bischoffi (Böhme &amp; Budak, 1977) – SW Georgia / adjacent NE Turkey; D. o. chechenica (Eiselt &amp; Darevsky, 1991) comb. nov. — Eastern Greater Caucasus (east of Enguri valley); D. o. svanetica (Darevsky &amp; Eiselt, 1980) comb. nov. — western Greater Caucasus (e. g., upper Enguri basin).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. D. obscura was elevated from within the D. rudis complex mainly based on a distinct mitochondrial lineage separating populations of the Caucasus / Georgia from D. rudis found in the northern and central Anatolia (Candan et al. 2021; Arribas et al. 2022 b). Following this logic, and based on the mitochondrial phylogeny (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2013; Candan et al. 2021) all populations of D. rudis s. l. from Georgia, including subspecies chechenica and svanetica, should be attributed to D. obscura and not to D. rudis s. str. Remarkably, this taxonomy does not rely on the original vewpoint of Lantz and Cyrén (1936), who described the lizards from Borjomi Gorge as a new subspecies of the rock lizard, Lacerta saxicola, based on their phenotypic differences and not associating them with D. rudis from other parts of Georgia. Darevsky (1967) placed this form into a broader polytypic D. rudis . Tarkhnishvili et al. (2013) showed monophyletic mitochondrial origin of D. o. obscura + D. o. macromaculata related to other subspecies of D. rudis s. l. from Georgia, and Gabelaia et al. (2018) suggested to elevate its status to a species, based on its phenotypic differences from other subspecies of D. rudis s. l. The current species status of polytypic D. obscura is, however, based solely on the differences of mitochondrial DNA of the lizards from the Caucasus from the mitochondrial DNA of D. rudis s. str. from Anatolia, without reference to morphology or nuclear genome. There is no evidence for (or against) gene flow across a contact zone between D. obscura and D. rudis . Consequently, we suggest candidate species status of this form, which may require revision in the future.</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -1010930 (BOLD: AAF 7228; Akhalkalaki, Saaghdgomo Mt.). The closest homologous sequences: D. “ rudis ” (BOLD: AAF 7228; unknown location; similarity 100 %); D. obscura (NCBI NC_046011; Borjomi Gorge, deposited as D. rudis; similarity 99.7 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8CBB54FF11AE54EF83EE4C7F5F90F869	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
7BF14684913C51A69B12D5A857E7334D.text	7BF14684913C51A69B12D5A857E7334D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia pontica (Lantz & Cyren 1918)	<div><p>26. Darevskia pontica (Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1918)</p><p>Lacerta praticola pontica Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1918</p><p>Lacerta praticola: Nikolskii (1913: 55), Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 96), Darevsky (1967), et auct., partim.</p><p>Darevskia praticola pontica: Bannikov et al. (1977: 209), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Pontic populations are phenotypically diagnosable in some characters, but published discussions also note very small genetic differentiation and lack of demonstrated effective genetic isolation from D. praticola sensu lato; rank remains inconsistently treated (species vs subspecies) across modern sources and databases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7BF14684913C51A69B12D5A857E7334D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
A07DFAFBA38E5B6E90C29EA9BFD5B37E.text	A07DFAFBA38E5B6E90C29EA9BFD5B37E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia portschinskii Kessler 1878	<div><p>24. Darevskia portschinskii Kessler, 1878</p><p>Lacerta portschinskii Kessler, 1878</p><p>Lacerta saxicola portschinskii: Nikolskii (1913: 70), Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 98); Darevsky (1967: 78); Muskhelishvili (1970: 87).</p><p>Lacerta portschinskii (Kessler, 1878): Bannikov et al. (1977: 219), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. p. portschinskii (Kessler, 1878); D. p. nigrita (Bakradze, 1976).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. This species is closely related to D. rudis, D. obscura, and D. valentini, but is substantially smaller and forms a narrow contact zone with all three species. Hybrid zone with D. obscura present in the Tana River valley (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2013). Endemic of the central Lesser Caucasus.</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -ID 1027436 (BOLD: AGJ 4671; Kojori). The closest homologous sequences: D. portschinskii (BOLD: AAJ 4522; Armenia; similarity 97.38 %). Next closest taxon: D. obscura (NCBI NC_046011; deposited as D. rudis . Akhaldaba, Georgia; similarity 94.07 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A07DFAFBA38E5B6E90C29EA9BFD5B37E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
DF6B868FA8AB549CA3D63AA0F9AE4F5D.text	DF6B868FA8AB549CA3D63AA0F9AE4F5D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia praticola (Eversmann 1834)	<div><p>25. Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834)</p><p>Lacerta praticola Eversmann, 1834</p><p>Lacerta praticola: Nikolskii (1913: 55), Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 96), Darevsky (1967: 9), Muskhelishvili (1970: 83), Bannikov et al. (1977: 208).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Muskhelishvili (1970), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. p. praticola (Eversmann, 1834) – Eastern and central Georgia.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A widespread, distinct species with a fragmented range; Georgian populations referred here to D. praticola represent the eastern / nominotypical lineage. Pontic populations from NW Georgia are treated separately below as D. pontica (candidate species), reflecting ongoing disagreement in the literature and databases about rank.</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -IDs 1027433 (Tushurebi), 1007101–1007103 (Sioni) (BOLD: AAJ 4486), similarity 99.66–100 %. Closest homologous sequences: D. p. praticola (private; Armenia / Azerbaijan; 99.66–100 %); D. praticola (NCBI NC_050000; Sioni; 99.83 %). Next closest taxon: D. alpina (NCBI ON 046493; 89.18 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DF6B868FA8AB549CA3D63AA0F9AE4F5D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
913537000F1F5142B0BF5EF76F347540.text	913537000F1F5142B0BF5EF76F347540.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia raddei (Boettger 1892)	<div><p>28. Darevskia raddei (Boettger, 1892)</p><p>Lacerta muralis var. raddei Boettger, 1892</p><p>Lacerta caucasica var. tenuis: Nikolskii (1913: 86), partim</p><p>Lacerta saxicola raddei Darevsky (1967: 83)</p><p>Lacerta raddei Bannikov et al. (1977: 217), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Darevsky (1967), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. r. nairensis (Boettger, 1892) comb. rev.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Genetic analyses (Grechko et al. 2007) do not support clear species-level separation between D. raddei and D. nairensis . Mitochondrial DNA data indicate that the Georgian populations are genetically closer to D. r. nairensis than to nominal D. r. raddei from Armenia (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2020). Given the lack of demonstrated reproductive isolation and limited divergence, we retain nairensis at the subspecific rank. In Georgia, the species is restricted to the upper reaches of the Mtkvari (Kura) River, near the border with Türkiye.</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -IDs 1027441 (Aspindza, Pia), 1007104, 1007105, 1007106 (Tmogvi) (BOLD: AAJ 4471), similarity 100 %. Closest homologous sequences: D. raddei (NCBI NC_050001; Tmogvi; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: D. cf. rostombekowi (BOLD: AAJ 4471; Armenia; similarity 98.65–98.83 %). Next closest sexually reproducing taxon: D. daghestanica (NCBI NC_050003; Tusheti, Georgia; similarity 92.15 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/913537000F1F5142B0BF5EF76F347540	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F0820129BDBC5B468698BDF916102F3B.text	F0820129BDBC5B468698BDF916102F3B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Darevskia valentini (Boettger 1892)	<div><p>29. Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892)</p><p>Lacerta muralis var. valentini Boettger, 1892</p><p>Lacerta saxicola valentini: Méhely (1909); Nikolskii (1913: 77); Darevsky (1967: 93), et auct.</p><p>Lacerta valentini: Engelmann et al. (1993); Murphy et al. (2000), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arribas (1999), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Darevsky (1967), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Iankoshvili (2023).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>D. v. valentini — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. This species is closely related with D. rudis, D. obscura and D. portschinskii, but is phenotypically distinct and forms a narrow contact zone with D. obscura and D. portschinskii . There is a broad gene introgression between this species, D. portschinskii, and D. obscura across their contact zones (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2013).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027437 (BOLD: AEK 3321; (Saghamo Lake), 1007158 (BOLD: AAF 7228; Kirkhbulaki River), similarity 100 %. Closest sequences: CaBOL -IDs 1027437 – D. valentini (BOLD: AEK 3321; uknown location; similarity 100 %), 1007158 – D. rudis bischoffi (Unknown location: similarity 100 %). Second-closest taxons: 1027437 – D. rudis (BOLD: AAF 7228; unknown location; 98.77 % similarity), 10027437 – D. cf. valentini (BOLD: AEK 3321; N Türkiye; similarity 98.74 %). A broad mitochondrial DNA introgression among D. valentini, D. obscura, D. rudis, and D. portschinskii explains high genetic similarity.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F0820129BDBC5B468698BDF916102F3B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
290D3D4B3C97522AA0E27FAFC19A2770.text	290D3D4B3C97522AA0E27FAFC19A2770.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin 1789)	<div><p>40. Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin, 1789)</p><p>Coluber caspius Gmelin, 1789</p><p>Zamenis gemonensis var. caspius: Nikolskii (1913: 136)</p><p>Coluber jugularis caspius: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 136), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Nagy et al. (2004), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. This snake belongs to the eastern species group of a large superspecies D. jugularis (Nagy et al. 2010) . Formerly considered to be a geographic subspecies of D. jugularis . However, it is isolated geographically from the nominal form of D. jugularis . Reported mitochondrial differentiation from the geographically distant population of D. schmidti (cytochrome b) is ~ 6–7 %. Yet, populations of these taxa may approach or contact in the western Caspian area, and population-level studies are needed to validate their separate species status.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/290D3D4B3C97522AA0E27FAFC19A2770	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
FBE63A072DCA5F45B353EA5D89781286.text	FBE63A072DCA5F45B353EA5D89781286.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Dolichophis schmidti (Nikolskii 1909)	<div><p>39. Dolichophis schmidti (Nikolskii, 1909)</p><p>Coluber schmidti Nikolskii, 1909</p><p>Hierophis schmidti: Nikolskii (1909 a)</p><p>Zamenis gemonensis: Nikolskii (1913: 135), partim.</p><p>Coluber jugularis erythrogaster: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 136)</p><p>Coluber jugularis schmidti: Muskhelishvili (1970: 142), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Nagy et al. (2004), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. This snake belongs to the eastern species group of a large superspecies D. jugularis (Nagy et al. 2010) . Formerly was considered to be a geographic subspecies of D. jugularis . The species is not isolated geographically from the nominal form of D. jugularis . Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between D. schmidti and its closest relative, D. caspius (NCBI Accession # AY 486923 and PP 378902) reaches 6.5 % and p - distance based on mitochondrial cytochrome b structure exceeds 10 %, and reaches 6–7 % between D. schmidti and D. caspius . Yet, populations of the latter two species may have a contact zone in the western Caspian area, and population-level studies are needed to validate their separate species status.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027412 (BOLD: AGI 6555; Tbilisi). The closest homologous sequences: D. schmidti (NCBI AY 039197; unknown location; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: Lytorhynchus diadema (Duméril, Bibron &amp; Duméril, 1854) (NCBI ON 763668; Qatar; similarity 85.91 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/FBE63A072DCA5F45B353EA5D89781286	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
7D73CF1C563D5A2192E29AD94535E5EA.text	7D73CF1C563D5A2192E29AD94535E5EA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eirenis collaris (Menetries 1832)	<div><p>44. Eirenis collaris (Ménétries, 1832)</p><p>Coluber collaris Ménétries, 1832</p><p>Contia collaris: Nikolskii (1913: 159); Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 151)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Engelmann et al. (1993), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. c. collaris (Ménétries, 1832) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species with Eastern Mediterranean / Caucasus. Found in southeastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007176 (Taribana). There were no COI sequences in BOLD database of properly identified E. collaris . Closest sequences: E. coronella (BOLD: AAI 9400; Iran; similarity 89.3 %). Second-closest taxa: E. persicus (BOLD: AAO 1126; Iran; similarity 87.86 %); Euprepiophis perlacea (NCBI NC_024546; Sichuan, China; similarity 87.93 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7D73CF1C563D5A2192E29AD94535E5EA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
0D699F219A7F5F55BFCB1852E70F0730.text	0D699F219A7F5F55BFCB1852E70F0730.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eirenis modestus (Martin 1838)	<div><p>43. Eirenis modestus (Martin, 1838)</p><p>Coronella modesta Martin, 1838</p><p>Contia modesta: Nikolskii (1913: 161); Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 152)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Martin (1838), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. m. modestus (Martin, 1838) — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Belongs to the most basal lineage of dwarf snakes (Pyron et al. 2013). Species with a broad Eastern Mediterranean range. Eastern and central Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010925 (Minadze environs), 1027406 (Pantyshara Canyon), 1007145 (Tbilisi), 1007146 (Tbilisi), 1007177 (Pantyshara Canyon) (BOLD: AGI 6497), similarity 99.03–99.81 %. Closest homologous sequences: E. modestus (NCBI AY 039181; unknown location; similarity 99.01–100 %). Next closest taxon: Hemorrhois hippocrepis (Linnaeus, 1758) (NCBI OZ 203535; W Mediterranean; similarity 86.36 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0D699F219A7F5F55BFCB1852E70F0730	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
6F975E377ECA5AA783DD43BA88FA138B.text	6F975E377ECA5AA783DD43BA88FA138B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Elaphe dione Pallas 1773	<div><p>36. Elaphe dione Pallas, 1773</p><p>Coluber dione Pallas, 1773</p><p>Coluber dione: Nikolskii (1913: 144)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Steineger (1907), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A widespread distinct species, with the range extending from the Caucasus to Pacific.</p><p>Barcoded specimen: CaBOL -ID 1010929 (BOLD: ACB 5976; Kvareli). Closest homologous sequences: E. bimaculata (NCBI NC_024743; China; similarity 98.80 %); E. dione (NCBI NC_041068; Krasnoyarsk distr., Russian Federation; similarity 98.5 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6F975E377ECA5AA783DD43BA88FA138B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
153F63FBC35355BBAFAC7C2DBF8E79D2.text	153F63FBC35355BBAFAC7C2DBF8E79D2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Elaphe urartica Jablonski, Kukushkin, Avci, Bunyatova, Ilgaz, Tuniyev, & Jandzik 2019	<div><p>35. Elaphe urartica Jablonski, Kukushkin, Avcı, Bunyatova, Ilgaz, Tuniyev, &amp; Jandzik, 2019</p><p>Elaphe urartica Jablonski et al., 2019</p><p>Coluber quatuorlineatus: Nikolskii (1913: 146), partim.</p><p>Elaphe quatuorlineata sauromates: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 146), Muskhelishvili (1970: 163), Bannikov et al. (1977: 287), et auct. partim.</p><p>Elaphe sauromates: Lenk et al. (2001), et auct. partim.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Jablonski et al. (2019), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Formerly considered as subspecies E. quatuorlineata sauromates, after elevation of the status of this subspecies, between 2001 and 2019 referred to as E. sauromates; elevated to a separate species as a result of genetic study of Jablonski et al. (2019). The two species have coinciding differences in mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between E. urartica and its closest relatives, E. druzei and E. sauromates (NCBI Accession # NC 073569, NC 073568, and MK 070315) varies between 4.3–5.6 %. Yet, the transition zone of 600 km width between populations of E. urartica and E. sauromates in the north-western Caspian area was never studied explicitly, including genetic markers or phenotypic characters.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027413, 1007171 (BOLD: AGI 6496; Chankaani vill.; similarity 99.45 %). The closest sequences: Elaphe sp. (BOLD: AGI 6496; Dagestan; similarity 100 %). Second-closest taxa – E. quatuorlineata (NCBI KF 728072; Greece; similarity 92.44 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/153F63FBC35355BBAFAC7C2DBF8E79D2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
A7606F2645F753C48BC30AD09F5AB018.text	A7606F2645F753C48BC30AD09F5AB018.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus 1758)	<div><p>2. Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758)</p><p>Figs 13, 125 (Engl. European Marsh Turtle; Geo. ჭაობის კუ, chaobis ku)</p><p>Testudo orbicularis Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Radde (1886), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. o. orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) – W Georgia; E. o. persica Eichwald, 1831 – E Georgia.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Subspecies E. o. colchica (Fritz, 1994) and E. o. iberica (Eichwald, 1831) (Eastern Georgia) were described for the southern Caucasus; the former was then synonymized with E. o. orbicularis and the latter with E. o. persica (Fritz et al. 1998; Bánki et al. 2026; Uetz et al. 2025).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1010934 (BOLD: AAF 8183; Poti). Closest homologous sequences: E. orbicularis (BOLD: AAF 8183; unknown location; similarity 100 %; Russia; similarity 99.85 %), E. orbicularis (NCBI FJ 392292; Poland; similarity 100 %). Second-closest taxon E. trinacris (BOLD: AAF 8183; Sicily; similarity 98.39 %); E. trinacris Fritz, Fattizzo, Guicking, Tripepi, Pennisi, Lenk, Joger &amp; Wink, 2005 (NCBI KX 559027; Sicily; similarity 98.4 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A7606F2645F753C48BC30AD09F5AB018	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
A151301D7652556992FEFAA8F2C30316.text	A151301D7652556992FEFAA8F2C30316.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eremias arguta (Pallas 1773)	<div><p>8. Eremias arguta (Pallas, 1773)</p><p>Lacerta arguta Pallas, 1773</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Gray (1845), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. a. transcaucasica Darevsky, 1953.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species, distinct from sympatric steppe-runners. Sporadically found in SE Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1039481 (BOLD: AAJ 1050; Samukhi Valley) Closest homologous sequences: E. a. arguta (NCBI MK 831315; Kazakhstan, Ustjurt; similarity 94.59 %); E. a. transcaucasica (NCBI MK 831303; Azerbaijan, Baku; similarity 94.26 %); Next closest taxon: E. szczerbaki (NCBI NC_062143; similarity 84.61).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A151301D7652556992FEFAA8F2C30316	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
592CD9636D2D5FCD97867C57DEA75E63.text	592CD9636D2D5FCD97867C57DEA75E63.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eremias velox (Pallas 1771)	<div><p>7. Eremias velox (Pallas, 1771)</p><p>Lacerta velox Pallas, 1771</p><p>Eremias gracilis: Eichwald (1841); Nikolsky (1913: 96)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Kessler (1872), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. v. caucasia Lantz, 1928 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. This is a distinct species with a broad range in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Fairly common in the south-east of Georgia. Simultaneously, judging from substantial differences in the structure of COI gene, E. v. caucasica may be a species separate from E. velox . Infraspecific taxonomy requires detailed population-level study.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010909, 1010910 (BOLD: AAJ 1050; Pantishara Canyon; similarity 99.01 %). Closest homologous sequences: E. velox ssp. 2 RuHF (BOLD: ACE 8498; W Kazakhstan; similarity 93.49 %); E. v. caucasia with a private status (Azerbaijan, Salyan; similarity 99–99.34 %); E. velox (NCBI HQ 733909.1; China, Shengdu, Sychuan; similarity 91.6 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/592CD9636D2D5FCD97867C57DEA75E63	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
37325F6D28485AE39B6756A05B5C94C6.text	37325F6D28485AE39B6756A05B5C94C6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus 1758)	<div><p>31. Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758)</p><p>Anguis jaculus Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Eryx jaculus familiaris: Eichwald (1831)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Daudin (1803), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. j. turcicus (Werner, 1935).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species with a broad distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and North Africa.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027415 (BOLD: ABY 1321; Tbilisi). The closest homologous sequences: E. jaculus (BOLD: ABY 1321; central Armenia; similarity 97.65 %); E. jaculus (NCBI KU 986317; Armenia; similarity 97.67 %). Next closest taxon: E. tataricus (NCBI MG 582067; unknown location; similarity 89.21 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/37325F6D28485AE39B6756A05B5C94C6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
146BCEE97F535A3DB0B5CF8E875E1CC9.text	146BCEE97F535A3DB0B5CF8E875E1CC9.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Eumeces schneiderii (Daudin 1802)	<div><p>5. Eumeces schneiderii (Daudin, 1802)</p><p>Scincus schneiderii Daudin, 1802</p><p>Eumeces schneiderii princeps: Muskhelishvili (1940: 43)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Boulenger (1891), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>E. s. princeps (Eichwald, 1839) – Caucasus / Iran form. Sometimes treated at species rank as Novoeumeces princeps (Eichwald, 1839) (e. g., Griffith et al. 2000).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species found in West Asia and North Africa. The subspecies princeps is found in the Caucasus and Iran. Found in the extreme south-east of Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010914, 1007157 (BOLD: AGK 0463; Chachuna Managed Reserve; similarity 100 %). The closest homologous sequence: E. s. princeps (BOLD: AAY 3469; Turkey; similarity 100 %); E. s. princeps (NCBI MT 682657; Türkiye; similarity 99.67 %). Next closest taxon: E. s. pavimentatus (NCBI MT 682650.1; Turkey; similarity 89.59 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/146BCEE97F535A3DB0B5CF8E875E1CC9	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
DE289DAC273C51F79C1DFC4CAD516709.text	DE289DAC273C51F79C1DFC4CAD516709.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Hemorrhois ravergieri (Menetries 1832)	<div><p>41. Hemorrhois ravergieri (Ménétries, 1832)</p><p>Coluber ravergieri Ménétries, 1832</p><p>Zamenis ravergieri: Nikolskii (1913: 142)</p><p>Coluber ravergieri: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 141), et auct.</p><p>Coluber ravergieri ravergieri: Muskhelishvili (1970: 153)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Nagy et al. (2004), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. The species with a broad distribution in the Caucasus and Central Asia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007153, 1027408 (BOLD: AGI 4826; Tmogvi; similarity 100 %). Closest homologous sequences: H. ravergieri with a private status (Tajikistan; similarity 96.9 %); H. ravergieri (NCBI OQ 417080; NW China; similarity 96.54 %). Next closest taxon: H. hippocrepis (Linnaeus, 1758) (NCBI OZ 203535; W Mediterranean; similarity 88.28 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DE289DAC273C51F79C1DFC4CAD516709	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
5601C88CC4795C3A8FD89CD6CF86B51F.text	5601C88CC4795C3A8FD89CD6CF86B51F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Hyla orientalis Bedriaga 1890	<div><p>5. Hyla orientalis Bedriaga, 1890</p><p>Figs 9, 123 (Engl. Eastern Treefrog, Geo. აღმოსავლური ვასაკა, aghmosavluri vasaka)</p><p>Hyla arborea var. orientalis Bedriaga, 1890</p><p>Hyla arborea: Nikolskii (1913: 218), partim</p><p>Hyla arborea schelkownikowi: Chernov (1926), Bannikov et al. (1977: 49), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999: 132), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Stöck et al. (2008), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. The separate species status of H. orientalis has been primarily supported by mitochondrial phylogenetic differentiation (Stöck et al. 2008). However, the contact zone between H. orientalis and the nominal H. arborea sensu stricto has not been sufficiently investigated using multilocus genomic data. In the absence of detailed analysis of clinal variation and potential introgression across this boundary, the strength of reproductive isolation remains incompletely demonstrated. Therefore, although H. orientalis is listed here as a distinct species following most recent taxonomic treatments, its status requires further integrative validation.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027455 (Tskordza environs), 1027456 (Tbilisi, Chili Lake) (BOLD: AAE 5180; similarity 100 %). Closest homologous sequences: H. orientalis (BOLD: AAE 5180; Ukraine and Turkey; similarity 100 %); H. orientalis (NCBI OQ 693595; Latvia (?); similarity 98.78 %). Second-closest taxa – H. molleri Bedriaga, 1889 (BOLD: AAF 4233; Spain; similarity 96.42 %); H. molleri (NCBI MK 013995; Spain; similarity 95.74 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5601C88CC4795C3A8FD89CD6CF86B51F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
264C6036DEED56DCA392A6486C139D35.text	264C6036DEED56DCA392A6486C139D35.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Hyla savignyi Audouin 1827	<div><p>6. Hyla savignyi Audouin, 1827</p><p>Hyla savignyi Audouin, 1827</p><p>Hyla arborea var. savignyi: Nikolskii (1913: 219)</p><p>Hyla arborea savignyi: Bannikov et al. (1977: 49), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Audouin (1827), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Infraspecific variation. H. s. savignyi Audouin, 1827 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. This species represents a well-supported evolutionary lineage within the H. arborea complex. Its species-level status is supported by multilocus genetic analyses, consistent differences in mating calls, and morphological traits (Kaya and Simmons 1999; Kaya et al. 2009; Litvinchuk et al. 2006; Stöck et al. 2008). Although H. savignyi and H. orientalis are parapatric in Eastern Georgia, and the extent of gene flow across their contact zone is not fully resolved, possible limited introgression does not preclude species status when lineages remain phenotypically and genetically distinct across their ranges. Divergence time estimates between H. savignyi and related taxa exceed 11 Mya (Kumar et al. 2017), further supporting long-term evolutionary independence.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007179 (BOLD: AEB 5890; Dali Reservoir). Closest homologous sequences: H. savignyi (BOLD: AEB 5890; uknown location; similarity 99.63 %), H. savignyi (BOLD: ADZ 9961; Turkey; similarity 98.54 %); H. savignyi (NCBI MK 013999; Türkiye; similarity 99.64 %). Next closest taxon: H. felixarabica Gvoždík, Kotlík, and Moravec, 2010 (NCBI MK 013989; Middle East; similarity 87.64 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/264C6036DEED56DCA392A6486C139D35	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
D48B2C1ECC4A5E7EA4C8B22AEA8AA4F6.text	D48B2C1ECC4A5E7EA4C8B22AEA8AA4F6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lacerta agilis Linnaeus 1758	<div><p>10. Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Linnaeus (1758), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Yablokov (ed.) (1976), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2002).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>L. a. ioriensis Peters &amp; Muskhelishvili, 1968 (Eastern Georgia); L. a. grusinica Peters, 1960 (Western Georgia); L. a. brevicaudata Peters, 1958 (southern and central Georgia).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A distinct species with a broad western Eurasian range. Everywhere in Western Georgia, at the altitude above 600–800 m in Eastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010922 (BOLD: AAK 8295; Tskruti), 1027422 (BOLD: AFT 4708; Tianeti), similarity 95.06 %. Closest homologous sequences: CaBOL -ID 1010922 – L. a. brevicaudata with a private status (Armenia; similarity 99.47 %), 1027422 – L. a. exigua with a private status (Ukraine; similarity 95.87 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D48B2C1ECC4A5E7EA4C8B22AEA8AA4F6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
A565E1C1A143596589A67E0BC29CA5E3.text	A565E1C1A143596589A67E0BC29CA5E3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lacerta media Lantz & Cyren 1920	<div><p>12. Lacerta media Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1920</p><p>Lacerta viridis media Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1920</p><p>Lacerta trilineata media: Müller (1935); Muskhelishvili (1970: 63); Bannikov et al. (1977: 197), et auct.</p><p>Lacerta viridis strigata: Nikolskii (1913: 45), partim.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Suchow (1948), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2002).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>L. v. media Lantz &amp; Cyrén, 1920 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. The separate status is indirectly supported by phylogenetic differences from the closest relatives and parapatric distribution in western Anatolia; however, a clear contact zone between this species and the species of L. trilineata group remains unexplored (Ahmadzadeh et al. 2013). Belongs to a monophyletic L. trilineata species complex. Found in Central and Eastern Anatolia, Iran, and the Caucasus. Widespread in semiarid habitats throughout Eastern Georgia and sporadically in the northwestern Georgia. Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between L. media and its closest relative, L. trilineata (NCBI Accession # MZ 06558 and MK 330106) reaches 6.5 %.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010923 (Pantishara Gorge), 1010924 (Tmogvi) (BOLD: AAJ 3156; similarity 100 %). The closest homologous sequences: L. trilineata media with a private status (Türkiye; similarity 99.69 %); L. media (NCBI OM 267813; Gelendzhik, Russia; similarity 99.68 %). Next closest taxon: L. trilineata (NCBI MN 015090; Milos, Greece; similarity 92.68 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A565E1C1A143596589A67E0BC29CA5E3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
DC3A4E3DB1F45EE3AFC5EFCAE7631FC3.text	DC3A4E3DB1F45EE3AFC5EFCAE7631FC3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lacerta strigata Eichwald 1831	<div><p>11. Lacerta strigata Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Lacerta strigata Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Lacerta viridis var. strigata: Boulenger (1881)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Eichwald (1831), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2002).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A distinct species found throughout West Asia and the Caucasus, separated from its closest relatives&gt; 10 Mya (Kumar et al. 2017). Found in semiarid habitats throughout the country.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027421 (BOLD: AFT 6170; Chankaani). The closest homologous sequence: L. strigata (NCBI OM 267848; Georgia, Tianeti; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxa: L. agilis exigua with a private status (Ukraine; similarity 88.62 %); L. a. boemica (NCBI OM 267791; unknown location; similarity 90.52 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DC3A4E3DB1F45EE3AFC5EFCAE7631FC3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F464692BEC2954AEA60E1FE2CAAAE003.text	F464692BEC2954AEA60E1FE2CAAAE003.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff 1914)	<div><p>2. Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914)</p><p>Figs 2, 121 (Engl. Caucasian Smooth Newt; Geo. კავკასიური ჩვეულებრივი ტრიტონი, kavkasiuri chveulebrivi tritoni)</p><p>Triton vulgaris subsp. typica forma lantzi Wolterstorff, 1914</p><p>Molge vulgaris lantzi: Nikolskii (1918)</p><p>Triturus vulgaris lantzi: Bannikov et al. (1977: 22); Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999: 55), et auct.</p><p>Lissotriton vulgaris lantzi: Speybroeck et al. (2020); Raffaëlli (2022)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Dubois and Raffaëlli (2009), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Raffaëlli (2022), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Lantz (1912), Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. L. lantzi is a geographically isolated evolutionary lineage within the L. vulgaris species complex. Pabijan et al. (2015) suggest that L. lantzi is the oldest isolated lineage within the complex, evolving in isolation from its closest relatives since late Miocene. However, the isolation time (~ 6.4 Mya; Arntzen et al. 2015) may not be sufficient for the development of postzygotic isolation. This form is listed as a separate species in Frost (2026) but not in Raffaëlli (2022).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1010938 (BOLD: AAF 6940; Mtskemsi Lake, Tbilisi). Closest homologous sequences: L. vulgaris (BOLD: AAF 6940; Bakuriani, Georgia; similarity 100 %), L. vulgaris lantzi (NCBI EF 526059; Georgia; similarity 99.84 %). Next closest taxa: L. montandoni (BOLD: AAE 8020; Ukraine; similarity 94.74 %); L. kosswigi (NCBI MK 014005; Türkiye; similarity 94.22 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F464692BEC2954AEA60E1FE2CAAAE003	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
716854A3DB205137B285A3C8F847D839.text	716854A3DB205137B285A3C8F847D839.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Macrovipera lebetinus (Linnaeus 1758)	<div><p>47. Macrovipera lebetinus (Linnaeus, 1758)</p><p>Coluber lebetinus Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Vipera lebetina: Nikolskii (1913: 184), et auct.</p><p>Vipera lebetina obtusa: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 163); Muskhelishvili (1970: 200); Bannikov et al. (1977: 328), et auct.</p><p>Daboia lebetina: Engelmann et al. (1993)</p><p>Macrovipera lebetina: Tuniyev et al. (2019); Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Fretey (2019), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>M. l. obtusa (Dwigubsky, 1832).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Oviparous. A venomous snake, and the most medically significant viper in Georgia. In recent decades, the range has expanded from extreme south-eastern Georgia to Alazani Valley and Tbilisi City in the north and northwest.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027396 (Chachuna Managed Reserve), 1027397 (Tbilisi Botanical Garden) (BOLD: AGH 9530), similarity 99.39 %. The closest homologous sequences: M. lebetina (sic!) with a private status (Tajikistan; similarity 97.25 %); M. schweizeri (NCBI NC _ 044966.1; Milos, Cyclades Archipelago, Greece; similarity 96.50 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/716854A3DB205137B285A3C8F847D839	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
BA93AEC80E715A4DAE38D44916F56683.text	BA93AEC80E715A4DAE38D44916F56683.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Malpolon insignitus (St. - Hilaire 1827)	<div><p>46. Malpolon insignitus (St. - Hilaire, 1827)</p><p>Coluber insignitus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827</p><p>Coelopeltis monspessulana: Nikolskii (1913: 169), partim</p><p>Malpolon monspessulanus: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 156); Muskhelishvili (1970: 186), et auct., partim</p><p>Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus: Mertens &amp; Müller (1928); Bannikov et al. (1977: 315); Esterbauer (1985), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Carranza et al. (2006), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>M. i. insignitus (St. - Hilaire, 1827) — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Belongs to a widespread Mediterranean species group M. monspessulanus . Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between M. insignitus and its M. monspessulanus (NCBI Accession # AY 612033 and AY 188029) is below 5 % (and 8.4 % when Cyt b and 16 S combined cit. in Carranza, Arnold and Pleguezuelos 2006). The transition area between M. monspessulanus and M. insignitus in the northeastern Morocco never studied on population level, and at least one hybrid has been reported (Jimenez-Cazalla 2012). Potentially, free gene flow across the transition zone cannot be excluded on a priori basis.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027416 (BOLD: AGH 9517; Chachuna Managed Reserve). There were no sequences of properly identified M. insignitus in the BOLD Systems. The closest sequences: Malpolon sp. (BOLD: AEO 4390; Algeria; similarity 94.82 %). Malpolon sp. (NCBI ON 943657; Algeria; similarity 94.87 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BA93AEC80E715A4DAE38D44916F56683	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
9AB53ED651225455815B302CD9C4296C.text	9AB53ED651225455815B302CD9C4296C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Mauremys caspica (Gmelin 1774)	<div><p>4. Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774)</p><p>Figs 14, 125 (Engl. Caspian Turtle, Striped-Neck Terrapin; Geo. კასპიური კუ, kaspiuri ku)</p><p>Testudo caspica Gmelin, 1774</p><p>Clemmys caspica: Nikolskii (1913: 5); Muskhelishvili (1970: 206), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>McDowell (1964), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>M. c. caspica (Gmelin, 1774) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. The name has a priority related to the closely related species of turtles. Distinct species found from the eastern Mediterranean area to Western and Central Asia. Taxonomic status of the western subspecies of this polytypic species, M. c. rivulata, was elevated to a separate species. Found in SE Georgia.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9AB53ED651225455815B302CD9C4296C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F784B51B30DC5607A0BD90730DDBB634.text	F784B51B30DC5607A0BD90730DDBB634.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Mertensiella caucasica (Waga 1876)	<div><p>1. Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876)</p><p>Figs 1, 123 (Engl. Caucasian Salamander; Geo. კავკასიური სალამანდრა, kavkasiuri salamandra)</p><p>Exaeretus caucasicus Waga, 1876</p><p>Salamandra caucasica: Nikolskii (1913: 227), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Wolterstorff (1925), Kuzmin (2012), Raffaëlli (2022), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Bánki et al. (2026), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Waga (1876), Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tartarashvili and Bakradze (1989), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2000, 2008).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>Mtirala reduced-pigmentation population ( M. c. djanaschvilii Tartarashvili and Bakradze, 1989); “ M. sp. 1 ” lineage (Borjomi Gorge / Meskheti) per Tarkhnishvili et al. (2000) – treated here as a lineage label, not a formal taxon.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Separated from the closest relative, Chioglossa lusitanica, by a broad morphological and genetic hiatus, the distribution of both species is disjunct, and the time of split is estimated as 40-70 million years (Myr) (Kumar et al. 2017). Eocene relict, endemic of the western part of the Lesser Caucasus.</p><p>One undescribed but genetically isolated evolutionary lineage, perhaps a cryptic species, is present in Borjomi Gorge (Central Georgia) and the northern slopes of the Meskheti range: M. sp. 1 (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2000). The barcoded individuals belong to M. sp. 1 rather than to the “ typical ” M. caucasica . We do not follow the recent treatment of Mertensiella djanashvilii, as a separate species: the boundary between the nominal form and M. sp. 1 is not yet clear, and M. c. djanaschvilii does not genetically differ from the other populations of the nominal M. caucasica (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2000) . This form is treated as M. djanaschvilii Tartarashvili and Bakradze, 1989 (status elevated by Raffaëlli 2022; followed by Tuniyev and Ananjeva 2024) (not accepted here). Frost (2026) considers it as a subspecies. The taxonomy of M. caucasica requires detailed genetic studies across its range before a formal revision.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027447 (Tashiskari), 1027448 (Bakhvistskali River) (BOLD: AAB 0814; similarity 98.78 %). The closest homologous sequences: M. caucasica (M. sp. 1) (BOLD: AAB 0814; Georgia, Akhaldaba; similarity 100–98.7 %). The second-closest taxon is M. caucasica RuHF with a private status (Turkey, Ordu environs; similarity 88.48 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F784B51B30DC5607A0BD90730DDBB634	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
1E3A61E95AD75389834A0320FCBCD90A.text	1E3A61E95AD75389834A0320FCBCD90A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Natrix natrix (Linnaeus 1758)	<div><p>32. Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758)</p><p>Coluber natrix Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Tropidonotus natrix: Nikolskii (1913: 125)</p><p>Natrix megalocephala Orlov &amp; Tuniyev, 1987</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Stejneger (1907), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>N. n. scutata (Pallas, 1771).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species, separated from its closest relative, N. helvetica, with a narrow contact zone (Kindler et al. 2017). All grass snakes from Georgia, including striped morph described as N. n. persa (Pallas, 1814) belong to the mitochondrial lineage of subspecies N. n. scutata, which is also present in Eastern Europe, Türkiye, and Central Asia (Kindler et al. 2013). Nominal species Natrix “ megalocephala ” (Orlov and Tuniyev, 1987) was synonymised with N. n. scutata (Kindler et al. 2013), based on the lack of genetic divergence between this form and ring snakes from the same geographic area. Specimens that have diagnostic characters of nominal N. “ megalocephala ” are occasionally found in populations of typical N. n. scutata; we suggest treat it as a morph N. n. scutata f. megalocephala comb. nov. (regular font is used as suggested in Mebert et al. 2025 c).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027403 (BOLD: AGH 9359; Tushurebi vill.). The closest homologous sequences: N. natrix (BOLD: AAL 6710; Slovakia; similarity 96.44 %); (NCBI MN 993158; Austria; similarity 96.2 %). Next closest taxon: N. helvetica (NCBI MN 993168; Austria; similarity 94.82 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E3A61E95AD75389834A0320FCBCD90A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
14728AD092FD5B528B9112089AC7D068.text	14728AD092FD5B528B9112089AC7D068.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Natrix tessellata (Laurenti 1768)	<div><p>33. Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768)</p><p>Coronella tessellata Laurenti, 1768</p><p>Tropidonotus tessellatus: Nikolskii (1913: 130)</p><p>Natrix tessellata tessellata: Muskhelishvili (1970: 135)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Merrem (1820), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Genetically, dice snakes from eastern and southern Georgia belong to the “ Caspian lineage ” closer to the Central Asian than to the Anatolian populations (Jablonski et al. 2024). Genetic affinities of the snakes from the west of the country remain unknown.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027402 (BOLD: AEO 3649; Akhalkalaki). The closest sequences in BOLD Systems: N. natrix with a private status (Unknown location; similarity 99.08 %). Second-best match: N. tessellata with a private status (Tajikistan; similarity 98.92 %). NCBI: N. tessellata (NCBI JN 871607; Ukraine; similarity 99.84 %). Next closest taxon: N. helvetica (NCBI MN 993168; Austria; similarity 89.06 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/14728AD092FD5B528B9112089AC7D068	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
BE29A2C396285A37A3A0FA13E630F740.text	BE29A2C396285A37A3A0FA13E630F740.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ommatotriton ophryticus (Berthold 1846)	<div><p>3. Ommatotriton ophryticus (Berthold, 1846)</p><p>Figs 3, 121 (Engl. Northern Banded Newt; Geo. კავკასიური ტრიტონი, kavkasiuri tritoni)</p><p>Triton ophryticus Berthold, 1846</p><p>Molge vittata: Nikolskii (1913: 234)</p><p>Triturus vittatus ophryticus: Bannikov et al. (1977: 27); Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999: 40), et auct.</p><p>Ommatotriton ophryticus ophryticus: Raffaëlli (2022)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Litvinchuk et al. (2005), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Lantz (1912), Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>O. o. ophryticus Berthold, 1846 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Separated from the closest relative ( O. vittatus) in early Miocene or late Oligocene, no introgression was recorded based on the genomic data analysis (van Riemsdijk et al. 2022; Kalaentzis et al. 2025).</p><p>A member of species complex O. vittatus, which contains three allopatric species. Formerly was referred to as a geographic subspecies of O. vittatus . Mitochondrial Cytochrome b differences (p - distance) between O. ophryticus and O. nesterovi from NW Anatolia (NCBI accession numbers KX 682130 and DQ 821264) exceed 10 %. The range of O. ophryticus is fully isolated from that of O. vittatus and O. nesterovi . Found throughout the entire mountain forest belt of Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027445 (Triala Lake), 1027446 (Sakisto Lake) (BOLD: AAB 4753; similarity 100 %). Closest homologous sequences: O. nesterovi (BOLD: AAB 4753; Georgia, Tsodoreti Lake; similarity 100 %); O. ophryticus (NCBI EF 526042; Georgia; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: O. nesterovi (NCBI KX 682059; NW Turkey; similarity 89.66 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BE29A2C396285A37A3A0FA13E630F740	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
142FD9B553955253848356883EAD0485.text	142FD9B553955253848356883EAD0485.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ophisops elegans (Menetries 1832)	<div><p>9. Ophisops elegans (Ménétriés, 1832)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Ménétries (1832), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977); Tarkhnishvili et al. (2022).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>O. e. elegans Ménétriés, 1832 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A distinct species with a broad western Asian range. Sporadically found in SE Georgia. Sequences of this species deposited in NCBI GenBank are highly divergent, which can lead to the revision of the taxonomy of O. elegans sensu lato .</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010913, 1027423 (BOLD: AAK 5540; Taribana; similarity 99.48 %). Closest homologous sequences: O. elegans (BOLD: AAK 5540; Azerbaijan; similarity 99.82–100 %); O. elegans (MN 356545; Azerbaijan, Zarat; similarity 99.85 %); O. elegans (NCBI MN 536543; Türkiye, Akseki) has only 88.11 % similarity with the barcoded specimen.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/142FD9B553955253848356883EAD0485	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
3FAB9F5BF58250B8A700CD4E81C00050.text	3FAB9F5BF58250B8A700CD4E81C00050.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Paralaudakia caucasia (Eichwald 1831)	<div><p>4. Paralaudakia caucasia (Eichwald, 1831)</p><p>Figs 21–22</p><p>Stellio caucasius Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Stellio caucasicus: Ananjeva et al. (1988)</p><p>Agama caucasica: Nikolskii (1913: 25), Muskhelishvili (1970: 19), Bannikov et al. (1977: 111) et auct.</p><p>Laudakia caucasia: Ananjeva et al. (2006); Speybroeck et al. (2020)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Baig et al. (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Differs from the closest species, P. microlepis (Blanford, 1874), by a broad genetic and phenotypic hiatus (estimated divergence time 9-40 Mya; Kumar et al. 2017). A distinct species with a broad western Asian distribution. Rocky areas throughout the eastern and southern Georgia, locally in the Western Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1007155 (Pia), 1007156 (Tmogvi), 1007172 (Pantishara Gorge) (BOLD: ABZ 5724; similarity 99.64–100 %). Closest homologous sequences: P. caucasia (BOLD: ABZ 5724; Azerbaijan; similarity 98.56–8.72 %); P. caucasia (NCBI KF 691701; unknown locality; similarity 98.58 %). Next closest taxon: P. microlepis (Blanford, 1874) (NCBI KF 691703; Central Asia; similarity 90.73 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3FAB9F5BF58250B8A700CD4E81C00050	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
0FAFF6F180C3556D9D97C620840DB89E.text	0FAFF6F180C3556D9D97C620840DB89E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pelobates syriacus Boettger 1889	<div><p>1. Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889</p><p>Figs 5, 121 (Engl. Eastern Spadefoot Toad; Geo. სირიული მყვარი, siriuli mk’vari)</p><p>Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889</p><p>Pelobates fuscus: Nikolskii (1913: 221), partim</p><p>Pelobates transcaucasicus Delwig, 1928</p><p>Pseudopelobates transcaucasicus: Pasteur (1958)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Boettger (1889), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>P. s. boettgeri C. M. Cooke &amp; Pilsbry, 1920 — subspecies concept follows Dufresnes et al. (2019); Georgian populations tentatively assigned based on regional affiliation.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Parapatrically distributed with the closest relative, P. fuscus (Laurenti, 1768), without signs of hybridization or common presence of intermediate phenotypes or genotypes (Veith et al. 2006). The genomic data of Dufresnes et al. (2019) suggest that the spadefoots from the Balkans traditionally attributed to P. syriacus may belong to a separate species, P. balcanicus Karaman, 1928. MtDNA (COI) differences between the spadefoots from Georgia and the Balkans exceed 10 %. Found in Eastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007161 (BOLD: AAI 3784; Chachuna Managed Reserve). The closest homologous sequence: P. s. transcaucasicus (sic!) (BOLD: AEB 1563; Caucasus, unknown location; similarity 99.8 %). Second-closest taxon — P. balcanicus (BOLD: AEB 5662; unknown location; similarity 89.62 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0FAFF6F180C3556D9D97C620840DB89E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F5BF7DC7EFFD5AE9B3F2957C65364F95.text	F5BF7DC7EFFD5AE9B3F2957C65364F95.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pelodytes caucasicus Boulenger 1896	<div><p>2. Pelodytes caucasicus Boulenger, 1896</p><p>Figs 6, 122 (Engl. Caucasian Parsley Frog, Caucasian Mud-Diver; Geo. კავკასიური ჯვარულა, კავკასიური ჯვრიანა, kavkasiuri jvriana)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Boulenger (1896), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Relict species, diverged from its closest relatives since the Eocene, separated from the P. punctatus species group by broad morphological and genetic hiatus (Veith et al. 2006). Endemic of the western part of the Caucasus ecoregion.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027450 (not uploaded to BOLD; 558 bp) (Gombori). The Closest homologous sequence: P. caucasicus (NCBI MK 014015; Türkiye; similarity 96.90 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F5BF7DC7EFFD5AE9B3F2957C65364F95	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
D92DE3DF15B659F79B4F53F5497FA804.text	D92DE3DF15B659F79B4F53F5497FA804.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas 1771)	<div><p>8. Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771)</p><p>Figs 11, 122 (Engl. Lake Frog, Marsh Frog. Geo. ტბორის ბაყაყი, tboris bak’ak’i)</p><p>Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771</p><p>Rana esculenta var. ridibunda: Nikolsky (1913: 200)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Often treated at species rank as P. bedriagae (Camerano, 1882) in parts of the literature (e. g., Bülbül et al. 2011). Recent syntheses / databases have also treated bedriagae as a subspecies within P. ridibundus (e. g., ASW running log notes “ Pelophylax bedriagae → Pelophylax ridibundus bedriagae ”). It was shown that the COI sequences of individuals from Georgia are closer to P. bedriagae sensu lato from the Levant than to P. ridibundus from Europe, differing from the latter by over 5 %. However, because both haplogroups are found in the type area of the species, Tarkhnishvili et al. (2024) suggest that P. bedriagae is a junior synonym of P. ridibundus, or a geographic subspecies of the latter.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027451, 1027452, 1027453, 1027454, 1007162, 1007163 (for the exact locations throughout Georgia, see Tarkhnishvili et al., 2024) (BOLD: AAD 6744, similarity 99.24–99.85 %). Closest homologous sequences: P. ridibundus (BOLD: AAD 6744; Sochi; similarity 99.84 %; Azerbaijan; 99.22–100 %); P. ridibundus (NCBI ON 796894; Daghestan; similarity 100 %). Second-closest taxa – P. bedriagae (BOLD: AAD 6744; unknown location; max. similarity 98.76 %); P. cerigensis (NCBI OQ 694801; Karpatos, Greece; similarity 98.33 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D92DE3DF15B659F79B4F53F5497FA804	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
B11B03CADCC8588EB1ECF63195B276B3.text	B11B03CADCC8588EB1ECF63195B276B3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray 1838)	<div><p>13. Phoenicolacerta laevis (Gray, 1838)</p><p>Lacerta laevis Gray, 1838</p><p>Archaeolacerta laevis: Sindaco et al. (2000).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Arnold et al. (2007), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Tarkhnishvili et al. (2017 a).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically validates species status. Found at a single location in Georgia, genetically close to populations from southern Türkiye. Unintentionally introduced species.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027424, 1007127 (BOLD: AGH 8919; Anaklia; similarity 100 %). The closest homologous sequences: L. laevis (BOLD: AEB 4236; Türkiye; similarity 94.32 %); P. laevis (NCBI MN 015120.1; Türkiye; similaity 94.38 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B11B03CADCC8588EB1ECF63195B276B3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
026880919666504E848928992E16333E.text	026880919666504E848928992E16333E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Platyceps najadum (Eichwald 1831)	<div><p>42. Platyceps najadum (Eichwald, 1831)</p><p>Tyria najadum Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Zamenis dahlii: Nikolskii (1913: 139)</p><p>Coluber najadum: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 137); Muskhelishvili (1970: 147); Bannikov et al. (1977: 262), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Schätti and Monsch (2004), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021). Original description name: Tyria najadum (Eichwald, 1831) .</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>P. n. najadum (Eichwald, 1831) — nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Eastern Mediterranean distribution, with the Balkans and southeastern Caspian area as the edges of the range.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027410 (BOLD: AGH 8857; Tmogvi). Closest homologous sequences: P. najadum (NCBI MT 862588; Armenia; similarity 94.35 %). Next closest taxon: P. rhodorachis (NCBI MG 700033; Djibouti; similarity 88.07 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/026880919666504E848928992E16333E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
C80EA79128E951238B23046E0639B272.text	C80EA79128E951238B23046E0639B272.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pseudopus apodus (Pallas 1775)	<div><p>3. Pseudopus apodus (Pallas, 1775)</p><p>Figs 19–20, 126 (Engl. European Glass Lizard, Scheltopusik; Geo: გველხოკერა, ხოკერა, gvelkhokera)</p><p>Lacerta apoda Pallas, 1775</p><p>Ophisaurus apus: Nikolskii (1913: 36)</p><p>Ophisaurus apodus: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 111); Muskhelishvili (1970: 31); Bannikov et al. (1977: 140), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Mertens and Müller (1928), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>P. a. apodus Pallas, 1775 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A distinct species from a monospecific genus, with a broad western Eurasian distribution. Found only in Eastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -1027419 (BOLD: AEO 0661; Kesalo). Closest homologous sequences: P. apodus with a private status (Tajikistan; similarity 100 %); P. apodus (NCBI NC_071252; Georgia; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: A. graeca Bedriaga, 1881 (NCBI NC_048977; Greece; similarity 88.30 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C80EA79128E951238B23046E0639B272	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
A16A5B06AAC05B218A1C942FFF783AF3.text	A16A5B06AAC05B218A1C942FFF783AF3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Rana macrocnemis Boulenger 1885	<div><p>7. Rana macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885</p><p>Figs 10, 124 (Engl. Caucasian Brown Frog (Anatolian Brown Frog); Geo. მცირეაზიური ბაყაყი / კავკასიური მურა ბაყაყი, mtsireaziuri bak'ak'i / kavkasiuri mura bak’ak’i)</p><p>Rana macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885</p><p>Rana agilis: Nikolskii (1913: 202) [misidentification]</p><p>Rana camerani: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 44)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Boulenger (1885), Kuzmin (2012), Tarkhnishvili (2014), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Ishchenko (1978), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999), Tarkhnishvili et al. (2001).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>R. m. macrocnemis (Boulenger, 1885); R. m. camerani (Boulenger, 1896) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Ishchenko (1978) and Tarkhnishvili et al. (1999, 2001) showed that some morphological and genetic traits have geographically distinct distribution. The latter authors accept the presence of two parapatric subspecies of this species in Georgia, R. m. macrocnemis and R. m. camerani . However, the distribution of the two subspecies does not coincide with that described by Veith et al. (2003). The taxonomic status of R. m. camerani deserves further studies on the population genomic level.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1007165, 1007166, 1007167 (Tabatskuri; sbsp. camerani), 1010912 (Bjolieti, Guria; sbsp. macrocnemis) (BOLD: AAE 7567, similarity 98.93–99.1 %). Closest homologous sequence: R. macrocnemis (BOLD: AAE 7567; SW Türkiye; similarity 98.56–99.39 %). Second-closest taxon – R. tavasensis Baran and Atatür, 1986 (BOLD: AEB 3363; unknown location; similarity 92.24 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A16A5B06AAC05B218A1C942FFF783AF3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
2CD441741FEF5859B19DD90D8C4C891A.text	2CD441741FEF5859B19DD90D8C4C891A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Telescopus fallax Fleischmann 1831	<div><p>45. Telescopus fallax Fleischmann, 1831</p><p>Telescopus fallax Fleischmann, 1831</p><p>Tarbophis iberus: Nikolskii (1913: 166)</p><p>Tarbophis fallax iberus: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 154); Muskhelishvili (1970: 181)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Fleischmann (1831), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>T. f. iberus (Eichwald, 1831) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species with a broad Eastern Mediterranean and West Asian distribution.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027407 (BOLD: AGH 8203; Didgori, Mtskheta District). Closest homologous sequences: T. fallax (NCBI MN 962063; unknown location; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: Masticophis taeniatus (NCBI MF 402140; USA; similarity 87.31 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2CD441741FEF5859B19DD90D8C4C891A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
F1654B72AFAD56439382543F2D075FFA.text	F1654B72AFAD56439382543F2D075FFA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Tenuidactylus caspius Eichwald 1831	<div><p>1. Tenuidactylus caspius Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Figs 15–16, 127 (Engl. Caspian Gecko; Geo. კასპიური გეკონი, kaspiuri gekoni)</p><p>Gymnodactylus caspius Eichwald, 1831</p><p>Cyrtopodion caspium: Böhme (1985); Dunayev and Orlova (2017)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Eichwald (1831), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Prondzynska (2025), https://biodiversity.iliauni.edu.ge.</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>T. c. caspius Eichwald, 1831 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Large settlements of Eastern Georgia, Kutaisi and Sokhumi in Western Georgia. The natural range covers the extreme south-east of the country.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027417 (Tbilisi), 1027418 (Samukhi valley) (BOLD: AAD 4501, similarity 100 %). The Closest homologous sequence: T. caspius (BOLD: AAD 4501; Azerbaijan; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: Crossobamon eversmanni (Wiegmann, 1834) (NCBI PP 375986; Pakistan; similarity 81.71 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F1654B72AFAD56439382543F2D075FFA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
09BEC1BEEEA35E5F96DF99167074AB1B.text	09BEC1BEEEA35E5F96DF99167074AB1B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Testudo graeca Linnaeus 1758	<div><p>1. Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Figs 12, 126 (Engl. Mediterranean Tortoise; Geo. ხმელთაშუაზღვეთის კუ, khmeltashuazghvetis ku)</p><p>Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Testudo ibera Pallas, 1814</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Linnaeus (1758), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>T. g. ibera Pallas, 1814; T. g. nikolskii Chkhikvadze &amp; Tuniyev, 1986.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Van der Kuyl et al. (2005) found that only two subspecies are clearly distinguishable (graeca and ibera), which is consistent with treating local Caucasus names like nikolskii within ibera . However, we maintain the subspecific name nikolskii considering phenotypic differences and distinct range of the northeastern Caucasian population.</p><p>Genetic distance from the closest species, T. kleinmanni, suggests 12–15 Mya of isolation (Kumar et al. 2017). The subspecies T. g. nikolskii is described from Western Georgia and is considered rare. T. g. ibera is widespread in Eastern Georgia. However, no data supporting or rejecting the genetic distinction between the two subspecies is available.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -1010937 (Tbilisi); (BOLD: AGJ 9996). Closest homologous sequence: T. graeca (NCBI DQ 080050, NCBI NC_007692; Gaziantep, Türkiye; similarity 96.96-98.48 %). Next closest taxon: T. marginata (NCBI NC_007698; unknown location; similarity 93.47 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/09BEC1BEEEA35E5F96DF99167074AB1B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
086BF30609DE5437A3631108273C579E.text	086BF30609DE5437A3631108273C579E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Trachemys scripta (Thunberg 1792)	<div><p>3. Trachemys scripta (Thunberg, 1792)</p><p>Fig. 13 (Engl. Pond Slider; Geo. წითელყურა კუ, tsitelk’ura ku)</p><p>Testudo scripta Thunberg, 1792</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Conant and Collins 1998, Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Reshetnikov et al, 2023.</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>T. s. elegans Wied, 1839 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. The species unintentionally introduced during the last decade: a common pet species. Currently, reproducing populations exist in vicinities of Tbilisi and Batumi.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/086BF30609DE5437A3631108273C579E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
DDFA436E10D853F59C26C72162363241.text	DDFA436E10D853F59C26C72162363241.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Triturus karelinii (Strauch 1870)	<div><p>4. Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870)</p><p>(Figs 4, 121) (Engl: Eastern Crested Newt; Geo. კარელინის სავარცხლიანი ტრიტონი, karelinis savartskhliani tritoni)</p><p>Triton karelinii Strauch, 1870</p><p>Molge cristata var. karelinii: Nikolskii (1913: 232)</p><p>Triturus cristatus karelinii: Bannikov et al. (1977: 24); Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999: 66), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Bucci-Innocenti et al. (1983), Kuzmin (2012), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Raffaëlli (2022), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Frost (2026).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Bannikov et al. (1977), Tarkhnishvili and Gokhelashvili (1999).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Triturus karelinii builds a monophyletic group together with two allopatric Triturus species. One of these, T. ivanbureschi Arntzen &amp; Wielstra, 2013, is separated by a narrow hybrid zone from other crested newts of genus Triturus (Arntzen et al. 2014) .</p><p>A member of T. cristatus species complex, with seven allopatric and parapatric species. Formerly was referred to as a subspecies of T. cristatus . Wielstra et al. (2019) suggest that the north-western Anatolian Eastern crested newts belong to two different species, T. anatolicus and T. ivanbureschi . It is not completely clear whether there is a geographic gap or narrow hybrid zone between T. anatolicus and T. karelinii . Mitochondrial Cytochrome b differences (p - distance) between T. karelinii from NE Türkiye and T. ivanbureschi from the Balkan Peninsula (NCBI accession # DQ 821247 and DQ 821249) is 1.3 %, which does not exceed the differences commonly recorded for conspecific populations. However, this does not challenge the taxonomic status of T. karelinii, which is the first species of Triturus described for Anatolia. Found throughout Western Georgia and the forest belt of Eastern Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010933 (Gogni), 1010936 (Tskaltubo) (BOLD: AAB 6118; similarity 99.54 %). Closest homologous sequences: T. karelinii (BOLD: AAB 6118; Ukraine and Georgia respectively; similarity 99.84 %); T. karelinii (NCBI HQ 697276; Azerbaijan; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: T. macedonicus (NCBI NC_015794; Balkans; similarity 93.31 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DDFA436E10D853F59C26C72162363241	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
04C9DE6BA9275191A623EFE4E9530C6F.text	04C9DE6BA9275191A623EFE4E9530C6F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus 1758)	<div><p>52. Vipera ammodytes (Linnaeus, 1758)</p><p>Coluber ammodytes Linnaeus, 1758</p><p>Vipera ammodytes: Nikolskii (1913: 181); Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 162); Muskhelishvili (1970: 196); Bannikov et al. (1977: 326), et auct., partim.</p><p>Vipera transcaucasiana: Nilson et al. (1999), et auct.</p><p>Vipera meridionalis transcaucasiana: Thanou et al. (2023); Dufresnes et al. (2024 b)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Boulenger (1913); Terentyev and Chernov (1940); Muskhelishvili (1970); Bannikov et al. (1977).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>V. a. transcaucasiana Boulenger, 1913 .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Either a polytypic species or species complex. Recent genomic study suggested a closer relation of the vipers from the Southern Caucasus ( V. a. transcaucasiana) to the southern Balkan lineage V. meridionalis, than to “ typical ” V. ammodytes (Thanou et al. 2023) . However, the p - distance between mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of V. m. transcaucasiana and nominal V. a. ammodytes from Balkans is less than 5 %. We prefer to follow a conservative approach and maintain the subspecific status for V. ammodytes from Georgia.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010927 (Gomaro), 1007150 (Tashiskari) (BOLD: AFE 9729; similarity 99.82 %). The closest homologous sequences: V. transcaucasiana with a private status (Türkiye and Russia; similarity 99.48–100 %); V. ammodytes (KU 986335; unknown location; similarity 96.79 %) Second-closest taxon: V. ammodytes (BOLD: ACH 1831; uknown location; similarity 96.01–96.72 %); V. eriwanensis (NCBI KC 122723; Kars, Türkiye; similarity 89.13 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/04C9DE6BA9275191A623EFE4E9530C6F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
38802FF551595810A7CEA9606126F8EA.text	38802FF551595810A7CEA9606126F8EA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Vipera darevskii Vedmederja, Orlov & Tuniyev 1986	<div><p>51. Vipera darevskii Vedmederja, Orlov &amp; Tuniyev, 1986</p><p>Vipera darevskii Vedmederja, Orlov &amp; Tuniyev, 1986</p><p>Vipera ursinii: Reuss (1933), et auct., [misidentification]</p><p>Vipera kaznakovi dinniki: Darevsky (1956)</p><p>Pelias darevskii: Tuniyev (2016)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Vedmederja et al. (1986), Bánki et al. (2026), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021), Mebert et al. (2025 a).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>V. d. darevskii Vedmederja, Orlov and Tuniyev, 1986 (nominotypical).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Belongs to the V. kaznakovi complex. There is no clear evidence of genetic isolation between V. darevskii and V. kaznakovi; the form may represent an ecological / geographic derivative. This is a highland-adapted taxon, in Georgia it is restricted to the Lesser Caucasus ranges and areas to the south with an elevation greater than 2000 m. Its range extends elsewhere into northern Armenia and west to the Black Sea Mountains in Türkiye. Mitochondrial DNA is shared with neighbouring populations of V. kaznakovi; mtDNA identity may reflect introgression rather than species-level isolation. However, phylogenomic data show Black Sea coastal V. kaznakovi being sister (closest relationship) to high mountain V. darevskii in Artvin province, Türkiye, even closer than morpho-ecological equivalent Sako's Viper V. d. sakoi from centro-western Black Sea mountains (Dufresnes et al. 2024 b; Mebert et al. 2025 a).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1010920 (Didi Abuli environs), 1027400 (Tskordza), 1027401 (Didi Abuli Mt.), 1007142 (Didi Abuli Mt.) (BOLD: ADX 0147), similarity 99.47–100 %. There were no sequences of properly identified V. darevskii in the BOLD Systems. The closest sequence is V. kaznakovi with a private status (Artvin, Türkiye; similarity 99.81–100 %). NCBI: V. dinniki (KC 122720; Krasnodar, Russia; similarity 99.09 %). Next closest taxon: V. eriwanensis (KC 122723; Kars, Türkiye; similarity 95.9 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/38802FF551595810A7CEA9606126F8EA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
36DD1FA6AB4F5E9EBE6AF7081A96997D.text	36DD1FA6AB4F5E9EBE6AF7081A96997D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Vipera dinniki Nikolskii 1913	<div><p>50. Vipera dinniki Nikolskii, 1913</p><p>Vipera berus dinniki Nikolskii, 1913</p><p>Pelias dinniki: Tuniyev (2016); Dunaev and Orlova (2017)</p><p>Vipera ursinii renardi: Muskhelishvili (1970: 190) [misidentification]</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Vedmederja et at. (1986), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>V. d. dinniki (Nikolskii 1913); V. d. tuniyevi (Ananjeva et al. 2021) comb. et stat. nov.; Pelias tuniyevi Ananjeva et al. 2021 – original combination.</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. Belongs to the diverse species complex of V. kaznakovi . There is no clear evidence of genetic isolation between V. dinniki and V. kaznakovi, which may be an ecological or geographic subspecies of the latter. The genetic distance (p - distance based on the Cytochrome b structure) between this form and nominal V. dinniki varies between 0.009 and 0.017, with no evidence of fixed genetic differences. V. d. tuniyevi nests within V. dinniki lineages (Ananjeva et al. 2021), However, we suggest keeping subspecies status for this form considering distinct geograpic and environmental differences between V. d. dinniki and V. d. tuniyevi (the former is found above the timberline of the Greater Caucasus, the latter – in forest and mountain habitats of central Georgia).</p><p>Barcoded specimens: CaBOL -ID 1027398 (BOLD: ADX 0147; Ardoti). The closest homologous sequences: V. dinniki (BOLD: ADX 0147; Russia; similarity 99.23 %); V. dinniki (NCBI KC 122720; Krasnodar, Russia; similarity 99.24 %). Next closest taxa: V. kaznakovi (BOLD: ADX 0147; similarity 99–99.8 %; V. eriwanensis (NCBI KC 122723; Kars, Turkey; similarity 95.74 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/36DD1FA6AB4F5E9EBE6AF7081A96997D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
DD17C5D2259A5F33BF886F06BB9775CA.text	DD17C5D2259A5F33BF886F06BB9775CA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Vipera kaznakovi Nikolskii 1909	<div><p>49. Vipera kaznakovi Nikolskii, 1909</p><p>Vipera kaznakovi Nikolskii, 1909</p><p>Vipera pontica: Billing, Nilson &amp; Sattler (1990)</p><p>Pelias kaznakovi: Tuniyev (2016)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Nikolskii (1909 b), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021), Mebert et al. (2025 b).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. A easily identified viper that is clearly distinct from other sympatric / parapatric vipers in the Caucasus (incl. V. r. where ranges meet). However, within the kaznakovi complex (incl. dinniki, darevskii, and “ tuniyevi ”), species boundaries and contact-zone gene flow remain insufficiently tested with nuclear / genomic data; therefore, we treat the latter taxa as candidate species pending integrative assessment. Vipera pontica (Billing et al. 1990) was proven to be a hybrid between V. kaznakovi and V. ammodytes transcaucasiana and not a separate species (Dufresnes et al. 2024 b).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027394 (Gomaro), 1027395 (Kveda Kinchkha) (BOLD: ADX 0147), similarity 99.85 %. The closest homologous sequences: V. kaznakovi with a private status (Artvin, Türkiye; similarity 99.85–100 %). The next closest taxa: V. dinniki (NCBI KC 122720; Krasnodar, Russia; similarity 98.94 %) and V. eriwanensis (NCBI KC 122723; Kars, Türkiye; similarity 95.74 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DD17C5D2259A5F33BF886F06BB9775CA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
7D0B81997E22570A97468F390BCF51FD.text	7D0B81997E22570A97468F390BCF51FD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Vipera renardi (Christoph 1861)	<div><p>48. Vipera renardi (Christoph, 1861)</p><p>Pelias renardi Christoph, 1861</p><p>Vipera ursini renardi: Terentyev &amp; Chernov (1940: 160); Muskhelishvili (1970: 190); Bannikov et al. (1977: 322)</p><p>Vipera ursinii eriwanensis: Joger (1984); Nilson et al. (1988); Engelmann et al. (1993)</p><p>Vipera (Pelias) eriwanensis: Nilson et al. (1999)</p><p>Pelias eriwanensis: Tuniyev (2016)</p><p>Pelias shemakhensis: Tuniyev et al. (2013)</p><p>Pelias shemakhensis kakhetiensis: Tuniyev et al. (2018)</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Mebert et al. (2025 b)</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021), Mebert et al. (2025 b).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>V. r. eriwanensis (Reuss, 1933) .</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Candidate species. The species belongs to a widespread western Eurasian complex Vipera ursinii . The nominal subspecies is found in the Javakheti region (southern Georgia); the subspecies V. e. shemakhensis occurs in grasslands of Eastern Georgia, except the Javakheti Plateau. Some authors describe / recognize subspecies kakhetiensis for Georgian populations, but in this checklist, we treat Georgian “ kakhetiensis ” - type material within V. e. shemakhensis for stability / consistency. Zinenko et al. (2016) found very little genetic differentiation between the nominal V. renardi, V. shemakhensis, and V. lotievi, the same applies to V. eriwanensis; following the most of species’ lists, we keep the name V. eriwanensis for all steppe vipers from Georgia, although suggest that separate species status for V. eriwanensis has insufficient evidence. Further population-level genomic studies might lead to synonymization of this species with V. renardi . Vipera e. shemakhensis is mentioned as a separate species in Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2023), but Uetz et al. (2025) consider it as a subspecies.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1010921 (BOLD: AGJ 8696; Kvernaki ridge). Closest homologous sequences: V. eriwanensis (BOLD: ACV 0623; Turkiye; similarity 99.64 %). V. eriwanensis (NCBI KC 122723; Kars, Turkey; similarity 99.84 %). Next closest taxon: V. renardi (NCBI KC 122760; Adygea, Russia; similarity 98.2 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7D0B81997E22570A97468F390BCF51FD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
B7350E1730CC53C3BC79044465C8F84E.text	B7350E1730CC53C3BC79044465C8F84E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem 1820)	<div><p>30. Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820)</p><p>Typhlops vermicularis Merrem, 1820</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Hedges et al. (2014), Bánki et al. (2026), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Distinct species, found throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1007178 (BOLD: ABX 8557; Chachuna Managed Reserve). Closest homologous sequences: X. vermicularis (BOLD: ABX 8557; NCBI KU 985938; Azat River Canyon, Armenia; similarity 100 %); (NCBI KY 660151; Patras, Greece; similarity 95.4 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B7350E1730CC53C3BC79044465C8F84E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
C2CF8336C3C3574DA5210009881EC31A.text	C2CF8336C3C3574DA5210009881EC31A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch 1873)	<div><p>38. Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873)</p><p>Coluber hohenackeri Strauch, 1873</p><p>Elaphe hohenackeri: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 143); Muskhelishvili (1970: 159); Bannikov et al. (1977: 280), et auct.</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Utiger et al. (2002), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Infraspecific variation.</p><p>Z. h. hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) — subspecies occurring in Georgia (the Reptile Database also lists Z. h. lyciensis Hofmann et al. 2018 and Z. h. aurica (Werner 1898) for parts of the wider range).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Genetically close to other populations from the Caucasus and eastern Türkiye.</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -ID 1027409 (BOLD: AGH 7939; Gomaro). The closest homologous sequences: Z. hohenackeri (NCBI AY 122765; unknown location; similarity 100 %). Next closest taxon: Pseudoxyrhopus imerinae (NCBI JQ 909566; Madagascar; similarity 90.02 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C2CF8336C3C3574DA5210009881EC31A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
D24B7A9881D45D30BC414A3B36B80AC2.text	D24B7A9881D45D30BC414A3B36B80AC2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti 1768)	<div><p>37. Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768)</p><p>Natrix longissima Laurenti, 1768</p><p>Coluber longissimus: Nikolskii (1913: 154)</p><p>Elaphe longissima: Terentyev and Chernov (1940: 144), et auct.</p><p>Elaphe longissima longissima: Muskhelishvili (1970: 163).</p><p>Taxonomic sources followed.</p><p>Utiger et al. (2002), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).</p><p>Records in Georgia.</p><p>Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977), Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili (2021).</p><p>Taxonomic remark.</p><p>Biologically confirmed species. Published phylogeographic work recognizes multiple mitochondrial clades within the species; one (“ Asian clade ”) is native to the eastern Black Sea area (Musilová et al. 2010).</p><p>Barcoded individuals.</p><p>CaBOL -IDs 1027411 (Kvemo Chalovani), 1007147 (Nabeghlavi environs) (BOLD: AAL 5946), similarity 99.48 %. Closest homologous sequences: Z. longissimus (BOLD: AAL 5946; Georgia and France; similarity 100 %); Z. longissimus (NCBI MN 993244; Austria; similarity 98.95 %). Next closest taxon: Coronella austriaca (NCBI KC 997587; Spain; similarity 90.09 %).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D24B7A9881D45D30BC414A3B36B80AC2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Tarkhnishvili, David;Iankoshvili, Giorgi;Seropian, Armen;Kachlishvili, Nino;Todua, Mariami	Tarkhnishvili, David, Iankoshvili, Giorgi, Seropian, Armen, Kachlishvili, Nino, Todua, Mariami (2026): An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks. Caucasiana 5: 59-138, DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.5.e189214
