NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 7 (2): 291-296 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2011 Article No.: 111137 www.herp-or.uv.ro/nwjz Distribution and morphology of Platyceps ventromaculatus (Gray, 1834) (Serpentes: Colubridae) in south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey Mehmet Zülfü YILDIZ Zoology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Osmanbey Campus, Harran University, 63300 Şanlıurfa, Turkey. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: 11. August 2011 / Accepted: 30. October 2011 / Available online: 30. October 2011 Abstract. Four specimens of Platyceps ventromaculatus from three localities were examined in terms of morphometry and pholidosis. They are deposited in the Zoology Museum of Harran University. The taxonomic status of the species is discussed and it is concluded that the current status is valid and with this study for the first time the occurrence of the species in Turkey is confirmed. In addition, the known distribution area of the species in south-eastern Anatolia is extended as a result of these new localities. Key Words: Platyceps ventromaculatus, Gray’s racer, distribution, south-eastern Anatolia, Şanlıurfa. Introduction mens were deposited in 96% ethanol according to Göçmen et al. (2007). Later, they were numbered and de- Gray’s racer, Platyceps ventromaculatus (Gray, posited in the Zoology Museum of Harran University (ZMHRU). 1834), is a rare species in Turkey. It is widespread Mensural, meristic and qualitative data were re- throughout south-western Asia from northern In- corded following Khan (1997). Measurements: snout-vent dia to Turkey (Baran 1982, Leviton et al. 1992) and length (SVL: from anterior tip of snout to anterior lip of distributed in Iraq (Reed & Marx 1959), Kuwait, anal aperture), total length (TTL: from anterior tip of Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia (Al-Sadoon 1989, snout to posterior tip of tail), tail length (TL: from poste- Leviton et al.