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Systematics, Distribution and Ecology of the Snakes of Jordan

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Systematics, Distribution and Ecology of the Snakes of Jordan Vertebrate Zoology 61 (2) 2011 179 179 – 266 © Museum für Tierkunde Dresden, ISSN 1864-5755, 25.10.2011 Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan ZUHAIR S. AMR 1 & AHMAD M. DISI 2 1 Department of Biology, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 11112, Jordan. amrz(at)just.edu.jo 2 Department of Biology, the University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. ahmadmdisi(at)yahoo.com Accepted on June 18, 2011. Published online at www.vertebrate-zoology.de on June 22, 2011. > Abstract The present study consists of both locality records and of literary data for 37 species and subspecies of snakes reported from Jordan. Within the past decade snake taxonomy was re-evaluated employing molecular techniques that resulted in reconsideration of several taxa. Thus, it is imperative now to revise the taxonomic status of snakes in Jordan to update workers in Jordan and the surrounding countries with these nomenclatural changes. The snake fauna of Jordan consists of 37 species and subspecies belonging to seven families (Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae and Viperidae). Families Leptotyphlopidae, Boidae and Elapidae are represented by a single species each, Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus, Eryx jaculus and Walterinnesia aegyptia respectively. The families Typhlopidae and Atractaspididae are represented by two and three species respectively. Species of the former genus Coluber were updated and the newly adopted names are included. Family Colubridae is represented by twelve genera (Dolichophis, Eirenis, Hemorrhois, Lytorhynchus, Malpolon, Natrix, Platyceps, Psammophis, Rhagerhis, Rhynchocalamus, Spalerosophis and Telescopus) and includes 24 species. Family Viperidae includes fi ve genera (Cerastes, Daboia, Echis, Macrovipera and Pseudocerastes), each of which is represented by a single species, except the genus Cerastes which is represented by two subspecies. We also included distributional data for all species. Scale counts and body measurements are given for most species. Notes on biology and ecology as well as distribution maps and a complete listing for all previous and recent records are provided for each species. Zoogeographic analysis for the snake fauna of Jordan is also given, along with notes on species status and conservation. > Key words Snakes, Squamata, reptiles, Jordan, distribution, systematics, zoogeography, ecology, conservation. Introduction The diversity of reptiles in the Middle East was and Since the 1980’s, the Middle East has witnessed still is of great interest for local and European herpe- growing interest in herpetology. The present knowl- tologists. Also, this area has received attention due to edge of the snakes of Jordan is attributed to the con- its geographic location that makes a land bridge be- tinuous efforts of several local and foreign scientists tween Europe, Africa and Asia. (Amr, 2011). Since the mid 1970’s the number of Animal biodiversity in the Middle East is rather new records increased enormously, and our know- interesting due to its location, where three different ledge about the distribution, ecology and systemat- faunal elements meet, namely: the Ethiopian, Ori- ics of the snakes of Jordan has improved (Disi, 1983, ental and Palaearctic. The fauna is a combination of 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2002; Disi et al., 1988, these elements in addition to the occurrence of en- 1999, 2001, 2004; Al-Oran, 2000; Al-Oran & demic forms. Also, the entire area underwent many Amr, 1995; Al-Oran et al., 1997, 1998; Amr & Disi, geological changes in the past that resulted in the 1998; Amr et al., 1994, 1997a & b; Abu Baker et formation of very different habitats and ecological re- al., 2002, 2004; El-Oran, 1994; Modry et al., 2004; gions. Joger et al., 2005; Shanas et al., 2006; Venchi & 180 AMR & DISI: Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan Sindaco, 2006; Amr, 2008; Damhoureyeh et al., and Palestine). He recorded Dolichophis jugularis 2009). Two articles appeared with major taxonomic from As Salt mountains. and ecological misinterpretations on the reptiles and John C. Phillips from the Museum of Compara- snakes of Jordan (Lahony et al., 2002; Al-Quran, tive Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA), and 2009). The records of Eryx jayakari and Echis pyr- his assistant William M. Mann, arrived to ‘Aqaba, amidium by Lahony et al. (2002) is erroneous, and Jordan, in April 1914. They traveled through Wādī the status of reptiles, especially snakes, indicated by ‘Araba, Petra, and southern Jordan. Their trip contin- Al-Quran (2009) is entirely based on false assump- ued to include Jerusalem, Mount Hermon and Leba- tions, where they were divided into resident, breeding non. The collection was deposited at the Museum of and migrant species. Comparative Zoology. Thomas Barbour (1914) pub- Since 2000, snake taxonomy has been re-evaluat- lished the results of this expedition, where he listed 23 ed employing molecular techniques, and this has re- species of reptiles, including a new species, Leptoty- sulted in the reconsideration of several taxa (Nagy et phlops phillipsi (= Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus). al., 2000, 2003, 2004; Helfenberger, 2001; Lenk In 1927 – 1928 and later in 1934, Henry Field et al., 2001; Schätti & Utiger, 2001, Garrigues headed the Marshall Field North Arabian Desert et al., 2005). Thus, it is imperative now to revise the Expedition for archaeological and anthropological taxonomic status of snakes in Jordan to update these studies in the Near East. Karl P. Schmidt (1930, nomenclatural changes. 1939) published the results of both expeditions along Interest in conservation and wildlife biology in with other materials collected from Palestine, Trans- Jordan increased enormously since the 1980’s. At Jordan, Syria, Arabia and Iraq in 1930 and 1938. present, many local and governmental agencies are Also, a new subspecies, Pseudocerastes persicus fi el- involved in fi eld research in protected areas and di (= Pseu docerastes fi eldi), was described from the nature reserves. This paper will be of great help to Bāyir area in the Eastern Desert. wildlife biologists to identify collected snakes, and Georg Haas, Otto Theodore and Heinrich help them to update their knowledge on the current Mendelssohn traveled through Jordan during March distribution and taxonomic status of snakes in Jor- and April 1936. They collected herpetological materi- dan. The present work also documents all Jordanian als from ‘Ammān, Al Qaţrānah, Ma‘ān, and between specimens deposited in Jordanian and international Petra and ‘Aqaba. Haas (1943) published the results museums. of this expedition. All this collection was deposited at the Hebrew University Museum. Haas (1951) pro- vided a summary of all records of reptiles between the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian Desert includ- Historical Background ing Jordan. In 1963 – 1964, and later in 1966, two internation- al expeditions were organized to explore the potential Between 1863 – 1897, Henry Baker Tristram, Ca- for the establishment of a Desert National Park and non of Durham, traveled in Lebanon, Syria, Pales- an International Biological Station in the Azraq area. tine and Jordan as part of the “Palestine Exploration The results of these expeditions were summarized by Fund” expedition. His book, “Survey of Western Pal- John Morton Boyd. During the fi rst expedition in estine: the Fauna and Flora of Palestine” was con- 1963, Mountfort (1965) reported on a number of sidered for many years as the most comprehensive reptiles that he saw on his trips around the country. work in the area (Tristram, 1884). Reptiles collected by Mr. S. Bisserôt and his col- Under the auspices of the Palestine Exploration leagues were kept at the British Museum of Natural Fund, Henry Chichester Hart joined Professor History and later examined by Yehudah Werner. Hull in an expedition to Sinai and the Dead Sea In his paper Werner (1971) gave a list of snakes re- area in 1883 – 1884. An account of this journey was corded from Jordan based on Haas (1951). published in 1891 (Hart, 1891). He made a short ac- Since 1983 Jordan has been extensively studied count on the Fauna of Petra and Wādī ‘Araba and re- by the local herpetologists. These efforts have cul- corded Platyceps elegantissimus from ‘Aqaba. minated in many publications covering various as- Mario Giacinto Peracca (1894), assistant in the pects including systematics, distribution, additional Department of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy of records, ecology and behaviour (see introduction for Turin University, published the fi rst contribution by references). an Italian expedition to the Middle East. He reported In two separate expeditions, the Italians Roberto on the collections of Enrico Festa, made in 1893, Sindaco and Nicoletta Fedrighini traveled into during his survey in Palestine, Lebanon and adjacent southern Jordan and the result of their collections was regions (the localities fall in modern Lebanon, Jordan published in 1995 (Sindaco et al., 1995). Vertebrate Zoology ■ 61 (2) 2011 181 Open areas are characterized by high cover of the Thorny Burnet, Sarcopoterium spinosum. The alti- tude varies from 700 to 1500 m asl, with an average annual rain fall of 400 – 600 mm. The soil consists of several types, terra rosa, sandy and sandy-loamy due to erosion of the Nubian sandstone that dominates much of southern part of Jordan, (Fig. 5) and calcare- ous soil in the centre and north. 2. Irano-Turanian region: This region is represented by a narrow strip that surrounds the Mediterranean ecozone except in the far north. The Irano-Turanian region extends to the north-east, joining the Syrian Desert. The vegetation is dominated by Anabasis ar- ticulata, Artemesia herba-alba, Astragulus spinosum, Retama raetam, Urginea maritima, Ziziphus lo tus, Zygophyllum dumosum and scattered Juniperus phoe- nicea and Pistacia atlantica trees (Fig. 6 and 7). The altitude ranges from 400 to 700 m asl, with average annual rainfall of 50 – 100 mm. The layer of surface soil is very thin or absent in some instances and sur- face rockiness is very high. Fig. 1. Map of Jordan showing the biogeographical regions.
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