Lyciasalamandra atifi oezi, Tok & Afsar & Yakin, 2016

Tok, Cemal Varol, Afsar, Murat & Yakin, Batuhan Yaman, 2016, A new subspecies, Lyciasalamandra atifi oezi n. ssp. (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Gazipaşa (Antalya, Turkey), Ecologica Montenegrina 9, pp. 38-45 : 40-42

Lyciasalamandra atifi oezi n. ssp.

Holotype and type locality: One male, collected by C. Varol TOK and Batuhan Yaman YAKIN between the Hasdere and Doğanca Villages in Gazipaşa - Antalya, ( Turkey) 390 m a.s.l. on March 5, 2016 ( Figure 1A, B ).

Paratypes: Five females and two juveniles, collected by C.Varol TOK and Batuhan Yaman YAKIN between the Hasdere and Doğanca Villages in Gazipaşa - Antalya ( Turkey) 390 m a.s.l. on March 6 and April 13, 2016 ( Figure 1 C, D ) .

Diagnosis: This subspecies can be distinguished from the nominate subspecies and the subspecies bayrami by the following characteristics. The ground color of the dorsal side is dark brown unlike the subspecies bayrami but as in the nominate subspecies. However, unlike the nominate subspecies, much fewer irregularly scattered white flecks are distinguished on this ground color, whereas some specimens are almost fleckless ( Figure 1 A ). The white flecks, which are striking on the posterior edges of the parotid glands in the nominate subspecies, are on the dorsal side and much fewer and scattered in this new subspecies ( Figure 1 B ). The light coloration, distinctly visible in front of, behind, and under the eye in the other two subspecies, is indistinct in this subspecies. A row of white flecks found in the paravertebral area in the males of subspecies bayrami is absent in the males of this new form ( Table 2).

Description of holotype: Total body length (TBL) 144 mm, tail length 65.62 mm, head flat, head length (HL) and head width (HW) 17.09 and 11.94 mm, respectively. Parotoids distinct, parotoid length (PL) 8.97 mm and parotoid width (PW) 2.41 mm. Hindlimb longer than forelimb, Pa 20.91 mm, Pp 22.91 mm. Nostril to eye distance (NoED) 3.79 mm, distance between nostrils (Ln) 5.47 mm, and the eye length (O) 4.62 mm. Ratios HW/HL, TL/TBL, PW/ PL and NoED/HL are 0.69, 0.47, 0.26, and 0.22, respectively ( Table 1).

The ground color of the dorsal side is dark brown, and very few scattered and irregular white flecks are striking as far as the tail on the posterior part of the head and on the dorsal side. The parotoids contain irregularly scattered black dots and a few white flecks. The black flecks continuing as far as the tip of the tail in the vertebral area are distinct. The upper parts of the extremities are brownish and partly flesh-colored. They contain few and sparse white flecks. The lateral sides of the body are off-white and easily distinguished from the dorsal side. The ventral side is flesh-colored, and white flecks can be seen towards the lateral sides. The projection on the base of the tail is visible to the naked eye ( Figure 1 A, B ) ( Table 2).

Description of paratype: The five female and two juvenile specimens collected from the vicinity of the Doğanca Village were determined as paratypes. In the females, the TBL 138 mm (range: 127-154), HL and HW 15.79 mm (range: 12.32-18.01) and 11.74 mm (range: 11.21-12.97). Parotoids were distinct also in the females, PL 9.48 mm (range: 8.23-11.13) and PW 2.59 mm (range: 2.10-2.88). The NoED is 3.77 mm (range: 3.60-3.89) and Ln is 5.06 mm (range: 4.82-5.49) and O is 3.94 mm (range: 3.47-4.33). Forelimb 23.46 mm (range: 21.86-23.74) and hindlimb 23.95 mm (range: 21.33-28.74). HW/HL, TL/TBL, PW/ PL and NoED/HL ratios were 0.75 (range: 0.66-0.93), 0.47 (range: 0.47-0.49), 0.20 (range: 0.19-0.33), and 0.24 (range: 0.20-0.32), respectively.

The TBL is 82.50 mm (range: 80-85), and HL and HW are 11.30 mm (range: 11.11-11.50) and 8.55 mm (range: 8.40-8.71) for juveniles, respectively. PL is 6.55 mm (range: 6.54- 6.57) and PW is 1.86 mm (range: 1.84-1.88). NoED is 2.72 mm (range: 2.64-2.81) and Ln is 3.49 mm (range: 3.26-3.72) and O is 3.09 mm (range: 3.08-3.11). Forelimb 14.76 mm (range: 14.49-15.03) and hindlimb 15.71 mm (range: 15.01- 16.41). HW/HL, TL/TBL, PW/ PL and NoED/HL ratios were 0.75 (range: 0.73-0.78), 0.45 (range: 0.45- 0.46), 0.28 (range: 0.28- 0.29), and 0.24 (range: 0.24-0.24), respectively ( Table 1).

Moreover, the coloration given for the holotype and the density of the irregularly scattered black dots and a few white flecks on the parotoids mostly resemble the females selected as the paratypes. The light coloration, distinctly observable in front of, behind, and under the eye in the other two subspecies, is indistinct. Moreover, whilst a relatively larger number of irregularly scattered white flecks are striking on the ground color of the dorsal side in some female specimens, the flecks concerned are absent in some. The black flecks continuing as far as the tip of the tail in the vertebral area are distinct in the females. The upper parts of the extremities are brownish and partly flesh-colored. They contain sparse white flecks. The lateral sides of the body are off-white and easily distinguishable on the dorsal side. The ventral side is flesh-colored, and white flecks can be seen towards the lateral sides ( Figure 1 C ) ( Table 2).

The ground color of the dorsum is dark brown, and, as in the adult specimens, scattered black flecks are striking on the posterior parts of the parotoids in the two juvenile specimens collected from the same region. However, unlike the adult specimens, denser small and white flecks are present on top of the head as well as on the dorsum, tail, and extremities. Additionally, scattered yellow flecks in different sizes and shapes are present on the tail ( Figure 1 D ) ( Table 2).

Habitat and Distribution: The specimens were collected from the open areas in the forest around the Doğanca Village, Gazipaşa ( Figure 2 ). One ♂, four ♀♀ and two juvenile specimens were obtained from beneath the karstic stones in the region during the first study (05.03.2016) carried out in these areas. In the other study, however, only one ♀ specimen was detected under a stone in an open forest area covered with needles of pine trees during the research performed in the same region.

Derivatio nominis: The name of the newly described species here is derived from the surname of the Turkish herpetologist Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öz, who made valuable contributions to the Lycian salamander taxonomy.

Figures

Figure 1. A Dorsal aspects of the holotype; B Parotoids of holotype; C Dorsal aspects of the paratype female; D Dorsal aspects of the juvenile specimen from the Doğanca Village (Gazipaşa, Antalya).

Figure 2. Habitats of Lyciasalamandra atifi oezi n. ssp. from the Doğanca Village (Gazipaşa, Antalya).