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First record and range extension of the saw scaled viper, carinatus sochureki, Stemmler 1969, (: ), from AL-Basra, Southern

Fadhil Abbas Rhadi1, 2, 3* , Nasrullah Rasregar-Pouyani1, 2, Rasoul Karamiani1, 2, Rihab Ghaleb Mohammed1, 2, 3

1: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, 6714967346 Kermanshah, 2: Iranian Plateau Herpetology Research Group (IPHRG), Faculty of Science, Razi University, 6714967346 Kermanshah, Iran 3: Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon, Iraq

Abstract: The first record of Saw Scaled Viper, Echis carinatus sochureki Stemmler, 1969 is presented based on one specimen (female) collected during field work on herpetopfauna of AL-Basra Province, southern Iraqi in December 2014. The specimen identification based on morphometrics, color pattern and pholidotic characters.

Key words. Saw scaled viper, Echis carinatus sochureki, Iraq, Al-Basra Province, distribution Citation: Rhadi F. A., Rastegar-Pouyani N., Karamiani R., Mohammed R.G. 2015. First record and range extension of Saw Scaled Vper, Echis carinatus sochureki Stemmler, 1969 (Squamata: Viperidae), from AL-Basra, Southern Iraq. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 9(2): 6–9.

Corresponding author. *Fadhil Abbas Rhadi, E-mail: [email protected]. Submitted: March 30th 2015. Published: 2nd June 2015.

Introduction. The genus Echis Merrem 1820 includes , , Iran, in North Africa, in the commonly known as saw-scaled or carpet vipers; "Saw–scaled" and western , South Iraq, and is derived from the obliquely keeled and serrated lateral body Northern on the Arabian Peninsula (Joger 1984; Leviton scales. When threatened, the body coils into parallel loops that et al. 1992; Ananjeva et al. 2006). are rubbed together to produce a "sizzling" warning noise which becomes stronger and quicker in proportion to the degree of The of Echis is unsettled, and Echis is one of the threat. The saw-scaled vipers are relatively small, but they are most taxonomically complex genera of snakes in Africa very aggressive and quick to strike, and produce highly virulent (Mallow et al. 2003; Mazuch 2005; Marin and Fernandez 2012). hemotoxic venom, and expansion in places among the most This is a group of vipers in which morphology and coloration common venomous snakes. are very similar and therefore difficult to distinguish on the basis of these characters. Traditionally, until the 1950´s only Saw-scaled vipers are often not kept in captivity because of their two were recognized: E coloratus Gunther 1878 and E. highly virulent venom, or if kept only by experienced breeders carinatus Schneider 1801. Echis carinatus first described as (Mallow et al. 2003; Mazuch 2005). These traits, coupled with Pseudoboa carinatus by Schneider (1801) from specimens their extensive geographic distribution ,especially in heavily collected at Arni, Madras, (Mallow et al. 2003; Mazuch populated regions, make them some of the most dangerous 2005). snakes in the world (Mallow et al. 2003). Constable (1949) suggested that the Pakistan and other, The head of saw-scaled vipers are short, somewhat spade- populations should be referred to as E.carinatus pyramidium shaped, and widen slightly posterior to eyes as distinct from the (Geoffroy 1827; type loc. Egypt). Stemmler (1969) modified narrow neck. The snout is short and rounded and the eyes are this arrangement by placing all Pakistan’s and some other, relatively large with vertically elliptical pupils. Dorsally, the populations in E. carinatus sochureki (Stemmler 1969, type head is covered with small irregular imbricate scales that may locality Ban Kushdil Khan, Pishin, Baluchistan, Pakistan), and be either keeled or smooth. The body is cylindrical and E. carinatus pyramidium has been returned to E. pyramidium. moderately slender, the keeled body scales are in 25-40 rows, In 1969 Mertens described E. c. astolea from the Mekkran middorsal scales in straight, longitudinal rows, and the lateral Coast of Pakistan (type locality: Astola Island, Baluchistan). scales distinctive, being small, strongly oblique, and keeled with Following additional analysis, Cherlin (1983a) raised minute serrations. Subcaudals are undivided, the anal plate Stemmler's sochureki to full species and restricted E. carinatus single and the tail is short (Khalaf 1959; Leviton et al. 1992; to peninsular India. Echis carinatus was divided into two Mallow et al. 2003). subspecies: Echis c. carinatus on the Indian peninsula mainland and E. c. sinhalensis (Deraniyagala, 1951) on . All Echis species are distributed North India, , South mainland Pakistan populations, except those in northwestern

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Figure 1. (A) Echis carinatus sochureki found in Al-Salhiya - Kut al Kawam; (B) same individual: ventral view; (C) the habitat where the individual was found; (D) The surrounding habitat. Photos by Fadhil Abbas Rhadi

Chagai were to be called E.sochureki sochureki Stemmler; the viper E. carinatus as an Asian species with four recognized insular form was now E. sochureki asteolae Mertens 1970 subspecies: E. c. carinatus from peninsular India. ,E. c. astolae (Auffenberg and Rehman 1991). (Mertens 1970) from Astolae Island, Pakistan; E. c. sinhaleus (Deraniyagala 1951), from Sri Lanka; and E. c. sochureki In the last 50 years, the taxonomy of these vipers increased Stemmler 1969 from Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, south enormously. Currently ten to twelve species with 20 subspecies and central Iran, Iraq, Oman and U.A.E. (Disi et al. 2001; AL- are recognized and very little information is available for these Smari 2003; Mallow et al. 2003; Mazuch 2005; Amr and Disi taxon. (Mallow et al. 2003; Mazuch 2005; Ananjeva et al. 2006). 2011). Cherlin (1990) distinguished three subgenera within the genus Echis: Echis, Turanechis and Toxicoa, which are not congruent In Iraq, Corkill (1932) described a under the name E. with current molecular and morphological data. Therefore, there carinatus and mentioned it from Al-Diwaniyah province, is no single view on taxonomy of the genus Echis (Mazuch southern Iraq. Corkill's records from the lower Tigris-Euphrate 2005). Consequently the genus Echis needs a major taxonomic drainage are believed to be E. c. sochureki (Joger 1984). Since revision based on more specimens across their range and along that time, no further specimens recorded, and it was regarded a with increased molecular analysis. rare snake in Iraq. Afrasiab et al.2012 collected two specimens from the village of Said Dakheel near Alnasiriyah province, Three species, or subspecies that belong to this genus are found southern Iraq (31°07’53’’N, 46°26’10’’E), in 2011, and in the Arabian Peninsula, E pyramidium, E carinatus sochureki mentioned a particularly dry winter that may have caused an and E.coloratus. The painted saw-scaled viper E.coloratus exodus of the snake from the drying marsh land in the south (Gunther 1878) is widely distributed from eastern Egypt through caused by drought due to reduced water supply of the rivers Palestine, Jordan, Lebnon and north, south, east, and west Saudi Euphrates and Tigris. Prolonged drought together with late rains Arabia. The Egyptian saw-scaled viper E. pyramidium (Geoffory at the end of a hot April (possibly the impact of global warm) and Saint-Hilaire 1827), described from Egypt, and is widely cause an increase of humidity and, and as a consequence, distributed from southern Arabia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, obviously mass reproduction of Echis at Said Dakheel. Libya, and Tunisia. Current taxonomy defines the saw-scaled

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Table1: Measurements for the specimen examined.

Sex Female

Scale counts

Ventrals 174

Subcaudals (single) 30

Anal plate single

Dorsal scales at midbody 27

Scales around eye 18/17 (right/left)

Scales between eyes and upper 2 labials

Upper labials 12/11 (right/left)

Lower labials 11/12 (right/left)

Figure 2. Map showing the known distribution of Echis carinatus Measurements sochureki in Iraq. Indicated as black square known location (according to

Corkill,1932; Afrasiab et al.2012). the new locality is marked with black Snout-vent length (mm) 467 circle. Tail length (mm) 50 In December 2014 during field work on herpetopfauna of AL- Basra province (southern Iraq), a single specimen of E. c. Head length (mm) 21.29 sochureki (Figure 1. A, B) was collected in a scrublands close to the river Shatt al Arab as Saghir (Figure 1. C, D), on the Head width (mm) 19.42 outskirts of the Shat Al-Arab District, At Tannumah town in eastern region of Basra city, close to the Iraqi-Iranian border Eye- nostril distance (mm) 3.32 from the place called Al-Salhiya, Kut al Kawam (30° 30' 33.6" N, 47° 53' 12" E; alt. 4 m.). Here, snakes can find prey, refuge, Eye- rostral distance (mm) 5.85 and moisture. Nostril -nostril distance (mm) 4.74 The importance of this record is that it shows that the distribution of E. c. sochureki in Iraq is not limited to the historical locations. This report shows that E. c. sochureki has a References. potential much wider distribution than the previously thought and suggest the existence of continuous populations. The Afrasiab SR, Al-Ganabi MI, Alfartosi K. 2012. Snake species collected specimen is now deposited in the Razi University new or rare to the herpetofauna of Iraq. Short note. Zoological Museum (RUZM) at Razi University of Herpetozoa 24 (3/4): 179 – 181. Kermanshah, Iran under museum number RUZM-VE12.1. AL- Smari AK. 2003. Pharmacological characterization of the Counts and measurements for this specimen are given in Table Rat's Paw Oedema induced by Echis coloratus venom. 1. This new locality is about 150 km away from the village of Online Journal of Biological Science 3(3): 309-319. Said Dakeel (Alnasiriyah province), the nearest previously Amr ZS, Disi AM. 2011. Systematics, distribution and ecology published record for this subspecies (Afrasiab et al. 2012) of the snakes of Jordan. Vertebrate Zoology 61(2): 179-266. (Figure 2). Ananjeva NB, Orlov NL, Khalikov RG, Darevsky IS, Ryabov SEA, BAV. 2006. The of Northern Eurasia Taxonomic Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status. Acknowledgements. We are grateful to the Iraqi Ministry of Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Printed Higher Education and Scientific Research for their kind in Bulgaria 245 pp. collaboration. Also, we thank the authorities of Razi Univserity Auffenberg W, Rehman H. 1991. Study on Pakistan (Kermanshah-Iran) for their support during field work. We also Reptiles.Pt.1. The Genus Echis (Viperidae).Bulletin of the thank the Department of the Environment in Al-Basra Province, Florida Museum of Natural History, Bioloical science 35 Iraq for providing facilities and for their efforts in study (5): 263-314. herpetofauna Al-Basra. Cherlin VA. 1983. New facts on the taxonomy of snakes of the Echis genus. Vestnik Zoologii 2: 42-46.

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Constable JD. 1949. Reptiles from the Indian Peninsula in the amphibians. Ar- Rabitta Press, Baghdad 96 pp. Museum of comparative Zoology. Bulletin of the Museum Leviton AE, Anderson SC, Adler KA, Minton SA. 1992. of Comparative Zoology 103: 59-160. Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles. Corkill NL. 1932. Snakes and snake bite in Iraq: A Handbook Oxford, Ohio VII, + 252 pp. for medical office. Pulished for the Royal College of Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson, G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural Medicine of Iraq: by Bailliere, Tindall and Cox 7&8, History and Taxonomy of Old World Vipers. Krieger Hernrietta Street. London, W.C.2. Publishing Company.Malabar, Florida; vii + 359. Disi AM, Modrý D, Nečas P, Rifai L. 2001. Amphibians and Marin GMM, Fernandez BR. 2012. An important new record of Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. An Atlas and Roman 1972 from Morocco. Field Guide. – Edition Chimaira. Frankfurt am Main, 408 Herpetology Note 5: 229-231. pp. Mazuch T. 2005. Taxonomy of Vipers of the genus Echis Joger U. 1984. The venomous snakes of the near and Middle Merrem 1820. Akva Tera Forum 1-15 (in Czeck). East. Wiesbaden (l. Reichert), pp. 1-115. In: Blume, H. & F Mertens R. 1969. Die Amphibien und Reptilien West Pakistan. rey, W. (Eds.): Beihefte Zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Naturkund 197: 1-96. Orients, Reihe A (Naturwissenschaften) Nr. 12. Stemmler O. 1969. Die Sandrasselotter aus Pakistan: Echis Khalaf KT. 1959. Reptiles of Iraq with some notes on the carinatus sochureki subsp. nov. Aquaterra 6(10): 118-125.

Fadhil Abbas Rhadi has earned his bachelor and M.Sc. in Biology from College of Science in the University of Babylon. Currently, Rhadi is a Ph.D. student at Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran under supervision of Prof. Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani. His dissertation research involves "Systematics and distribution of semi-venomous and venomous snakes of central and southern Iraq ". In addition, Fadhil is deeply interested in other reptiles and amphibians.

Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani completed his B.S. in Zoology at Razi University Kermanshah, Iran in 1986 and his M.S. in Zoology from Tehran University, Tehran, Iran in 1991, where he studied herpetology with the agamids as the central object. He started his Ph.D. in Gothenburg University, Sweden in 1994 under the advisement of Professor Göran Nilson and graduated in 1999, working on taxonomy and biogeography of Iranian Plateau agamids with Trapelus as the main object. Since 1996, he has reported numerous new taxa of (mainly geckonids, aga- mids and lacertids) from the Iranian Plateau. His research interests include taxonomy and bioge- ography of the Iranian Plateau, the Middle East and Central Asian herpetofauna.

Rasoul Karamiani earned his B.A. and M.S. from Lorestan and Razi Universities, respectively. His M.S. research focused on systematics of the Family Eublepharidae in Iran with special refer- ence to Eublepharis angramainyu. He also investigated skull comparison of the several genera of reptiles and amphibians. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student at Razi University, Kermanshah, western Iran under advisement of Prof. Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani and Dr. Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani. His PhD research involves ecology, phylogeography, molecular systematics, and population ge- netics of the snake-eyed skink Ablepharus in Iran. His research interests include behavior, ecolo- gy, conservation and phylogeography of amphibians and reptiles.

Rihab Ghaleb Mohammed earned her Bachelor and M.Sc. degrees in Biology from College of Science in the University of Babylon. Now, Rihab is a Ph.D. student at Razi University, Kerman- shah, Iran under supervision of Prof. Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani. Rihab‘s dissertation research involves "The study of fauna of central and southern Iraq ". She is also interested in other reptiles and amphibians

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