Herpetology Notes, volume 10: 611-614 (2017) (published online on 26 October 2017)
A new locality of the Kurdistan newt, Neurergus derjugini derjugini (Nesterov, 1916) (Urodela: Salamandridae) represents a large population in Iran: Implication for conservation
Fatah Zarei1,2,*, Seyed Naseh Hosseini2, Seyed Seywan Amini2, Jalal Pezeshk2, Mahmood Soofi3 and Hamid Reza Esmaeili1,4
Cope (1862) described the genus Neurergus with the as synonyms. Accordingly, these authors proposed N. type species N. crocatus. In 1916, Nesterov described derjugini derjugini (Nesterov, 1916) and N. derjugini a new species derjugini (in the genus Rhithrotriton microspilotus (Nesterov, 1916) as valid taxonomic at that time) from the Surkev Mountains (Kurdistan, names. Hendrix et al. (2014) revealed weak genetic Iran). He also described Rhithrotriton derjugini var. differences between these taxa by mitochondrial DNA microspilotus, as a subspecies from the Avroman and clear differences by a nuclear marker, and stated region of Iran. Nesterov (1916) described differences that a separate species status for N. derjugini and N. between these two subspecies based on the shape and microspilotus seems currently not to be justified on the number of yellow spots. Rhithrotriton d. microspilotus existing databases. So, we follow the previous taxonomic has spherical-shaped spots while R. d. derjugini has decision as two distinct subspecies, N. d. derjugini and extended renal-shaped ones. After its type description, N. d. microspilotus before more detailed studies. no further specimens of R. derjugini could be found Here we present a new locality and apparently the and some researchers considered it as a synonym largest known population of N. d. derjugini from the of Neurergus crocatus (see Hendrix et al., 2014). mountainous southern perimeter of its geographic range Later, Schmidtler and Schmidtler (1975) classified in Kurdistan province of Iran. Since its discovery in a newly found population of Neurergus as Neurergus 1916, this is the second study that provides exact locality microspilotus, based on the description of R. derjugini data on the Iranian populations of N. d. derjugini. var. microspilotus from the geographically proximate The new locality, with approximate length of 1.4 km, Avroman Mountains in the west of Iran. Based on the lies in a region known as Miri Sour (35.439°N, 46.152°E; first records of R. derjugini from its type locality after 1386 m a.s.l.; 8.3 km south of Marivan and 5.8 km west its original description, Fleck (2010) and Schneider and of Kani Dinar, Kurdistan Province, Iran, Fig. 1A-D). Schneider (2011, 2013) recommended that since both It was found during an ornithological survey on May taxa resemble each other, it is better to consider them the 17th 2015. Having a stepping stone structure, it is a combination of a single stream (0.6-1.8 m width), small rocky waterfalls and numerous small to medium sized ponds (1.2-3.3 m radius). The stream is fed by several springs. The stream substrate composition consists 1 Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, Iran. of boulder, cobble, gravel, pebble, fine sediment and 2 Zarivar Bird Records Group Bureau, Chya Green Association, coarse woody debris. Adjacent riparian plant and tree Marivan 6671915640, Iran. community includes Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), 3 Workgroup on Endangered Species, J.F. Blumenbach Institute Bindweed (Convolvulus spp.), Common Wild Oat (Avena of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University of fatua), Grapevines (Vitis spp.), Raspberries (Rubus Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany. spp.), Willow (Salix spp.) and the Plane trees (Platanus 4 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, orientalis). The surrounding habitats of the Miri Sour Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians- University Munich, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, D-80333 Stream is dominated by Brant’s Oak (Quercus brantii), Munich, Germany. mixed with Persian turpentine (Pistacia atlantica) and * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] Hawthorn (Crataegus aronia). The Miri Sur adult newt 612 Fatah Zarei et al.
Figure 1. (A) Distribution of Neurergus species/subspecies (the square is N. d. derjugini); (B) previously known (circles) and new (Miri Sour: yellow square) localities of N. d. derjugini (A & B after Barabanov and Litvinchuk, 2015); (C & D) the Miri Sour Stream, Kurdistan Province, Iran. Photos (C-D) by Fatah Zarei.
specimens are characterized as follows: the ground a result, the newts and their larvae were restricted to coloration of the head, dorsal and lateral sides of the thirteen remaining small ponds which were quickly trunk and anterior portion of the tail is black, covered running dry. In order to preserve the remaining with irregularly dispersed extended renal-shaped yellow population in Miri Sour Stream, which were suffering spots; spots are also present on the limbs; the underside from drought and to minimize the negative effects of of the belly and tail is red-orange; the throat and chest water usage by horticultural activities, we did awareness mottled with very little red pigments; and tail flattened rising. Convincing the downstream orchard owners, laterally (Fig. 2). The closest known N. d. derjugini water extraction was minimized as much as possible. locality to the Miri Sour Stream is Penjwin (35.583°N, With the involvement of local people and applying 45.917°E; 26.6 km northwest of Miri Sour; a locality streambed materials, we built five new ponds (1.6-2.1 in the Sulaymaniyah Province of Iraqi Kurdistan region m radius, water depth less than 15 cm) along the stream (Schneider and Schneider, 2011). in the shade of trees. Four drying springs were revived In summer 2015, the Miri Sour population experienced and their water routes were directed towards the main a severe drought. Extraction of stream water for use in streambed. In late-summer 2015 when the drought downstream orchards was also a major problem. As reached a peak, we used plastic pipes and gallons to A new locality of the Kurdistan newt represents a large population in Iran 613
has now (counted in May 2017) reached to about 1,147 individuals (Fig. 3). The number of known localities for N. d. derjugini remains small (n = 13), five in the west of Iran and eight in Iraqi Kurdistan region (Nesterov, 1916; Najafimajd and Kaya, 2010; Schneider and Schneider, 2011; Al- Sheikhly et al., 2013; Barabanov and Litvinchuk, 2015; Bozorgi et al., 2015). The total number of N. d. derjugini individuals observed also remains small, ranged from one in Baneh and Mawat-Isawa to 165 in Qara and Abubakra (Al-Sheikhly et al., 2013; Bozorgi et al., 2015). In nearly 60% of surveyed localities, less than 10 individuals have been found and almost 20% of occupied streams lacked records of either breeding or development through metamorphosis (Nesterov, 1916; Najafimajd and Kaya, 2010; Schneider and Schneider, 2011; Al-Sheikhly et al., 2013; Barabanov and Litvinchuk, 2015; Bozorgi et Figure 2. Two adults of N. d. derjugini in the Miri Sour al., 2015). Our results suggest that the population size of Stream. Photo by Jalal Pezeshk. N. d. derjugini in the Miri Sour Stream seems to be the largest, and nourishes hope for its future conservation. Apart from our conservation measurements, several other factors may have been involved in this population transport the upstream spring water to the downstream increase. Where impact of human density is low, there ponds. Following these measurements and full-time are higher populations of newts (Rastegar-Pouyani et protection of the habitat during the past three years, the al., 2015). Based on our observation, fortunately, this is initial newt population counted in May 2015 (n = 388) the case in the Miri Sour Stream, as it remains relatively
Figure 3. A glance of present-day status of N. d. derjugini in the Miri Sour Stream. Photo by Fatah Zarei. 614 Fatah Zarei et al. unknown and difficult to reach by the public. Also, the Fleck J. (2010): Beobachtungen an Bergbachmolchen der Gattung extraordinary riparian forest and plant community along Neurergus Cope, 1862—elaphe. Rheinbach 18: 6–14. the stream play an important role in supporting primary Hendrix R., Fleck J., Schneider W., Schneider C., Geller D., Avci A., Olgun K., Steinfartz S. (2014): First comprehensive insights production in the stream through exporting foliage to the into nuclear and mitochondrial DNA based population structure benthic community of the highland streams where the of Near East mountain brook newts (Salamandridae: genus macroinvertebrate community is the sole food source Neurergus) suggest the resurrection of Neurergus derjugini. for the newts (Farasat and Sharifi, 2014). Amphibia-Reptilia 35: 173–187. Najafimajd E., Kaya U. (2010): A newly found locality for Acknowledgements. This work was the result of a three- the critically endangered Yellow Spotted Newt, Neurergus year conservation effort, financially supported by Chya Green microspilotus (Nesterov, 1916) nourishes hope for its Association, Marivan, Iran. We thank Jiri Smid and two other conservation: (Salamandridae: Caudata). Zoology in the Middle reviewers for their very helpful comments and insightful reviews, East 51: 51–56. which greatly improved the manuscript. Nesterov P.V. (1916): Three new species of amphibian from Kurdistan. Ann. Mus. Zool. l’Acad. Sci. Petrograd 21: 1–30. References Rastegar-Pouyani N., Mirani R., Bahmani Z., Karamiani R., Takesh M., Browne R.K. (2015): Conservation status of Kurdistan Al-Sheikhly O.F., Nader I.A., Rastegar-Pouyani N., Browne newt Neurergus microspilotus in Kermanshah and Kurdistan R.K. (2013): New localities of the Kurdistan newt Neurergus Provinces, Iran. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 9: 36–41. microspilotus and Lake Urmia newt Neurergus crocatus Schmidtler J.J., Schmidtler J.F. (1975): Untersuchungen an (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Iraq. Amphibian and Reptile westpersischen Bergbachmolchen der Gattung Neurergus Conservation 6: 42–49. (Caudata, Salamandridae). Salamandra 11: 84–98. Barabanov A.V., Litvinchuk S.N. (2015): A new record of the Schneider C., Schneider W. (2011): The Kurdistan newts of the Kurdistan newt (Neurergus derjugini) in Iran and potential Genus Neurergus in Iraq (Caudata: Salamandridae). Herpetozoa distribution modeling for the species. Russian Journal of 23: 3–20. Herpetology 22: 107–115. Schneider W., Schneider C. (2013): Fieldnotes on the distribution of Bozorgi F., Kiabi B.H., Kami H.G., Mohammadi R., Alizadeh K. Neurergus derjugini (Nesterov, 1916), Neurergus microspilotus (2015): Rediscovery of Neurergus derjugini derjugini Nesterov (Nesterov, 1916), and Neurergus kaiseri Schmidt, 1952, in Iran. 1916 (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae) in western Iran. Herpetozoa 26: 27–38. Russian Journal of Herpetology 22: 103–106. Farasat H., Sharifi M. (2014): Food habit of the endangered Yellow Spotted Newt Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata, Salamandridae) in Kavat Stream, western Iran. Zoological Studies 53: 61.
Accepted by Jiri Smid