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Home , Abovyan, Hyla savignyi, Kotayk Province, Marmarik, Syunik Province

Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 325-329 (2021) (published online on 09 February 2021)

New data concerning orientalis Bedriaga, 1890 (Anura: ) in Southern

Ilona Stepanyan1,*, Meri Arzumanyan2, and Mark Kalashian1

The tree Hyla orientalis Bedriaga, 1890 (formerly carried out in during and early summer. known as Hyla arborea schelkownikowi Chernov, 1926 potentially suitable for tree between the altitudes (Gumilevsky, 1939; Bannikov et al., 1977; Kuzmin, of 1,100-1,700 m a.s.l. were surveyed. These habitats 1999; 2012; Egiazaryan, 2007; Pipoyan et al., 2012) included mountain forest landscapes, already known is widely distributed in northern (Lori and Tavush from Pipoyan et al. (2012) as suitable for H. orientalis, provinces) and central ( Province, Basin of and adjacent relatively drier areas similar to where the River) Armenia (Fig. 1A). Hyla orientalis occurs in nearby (Djanašhvili, 1956; usually inhabits open, well-illuminated broad-leaved Tarkhnišhvili and Gokhellashvili, 1999) and central and mixed forests, bush and shrub lands, meadows, Armenia (Arakelyan et al., 2011; Stepanyan, 2014). gardens, and lake shores with low riparian vegetation Encountered specimens were distinguished from Hyla in mountain-forest landscape, at elevations ranging savigny Audouin, 1827, which also occurs in Southern between 880-1,850 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Typically, Armenia, by presence of the inguinal loop in their this species occupies humid areas (Egiazaryan, 2007; lateral band (Chernov, 1926; Bannikov et al, 1977; Arakelyan et al., 2011; Stepanyan, 2014) except of the Arakelyan et al, 2011). All collected H. orientalis rather dry habitats occupied in the gorge of the Marmarik were photographed, morphometric data were collected River, where it was re-introduced in last century. Here, following Bannikov et al. (1977) and Lada and Sokolov H. orientalis occurs at the border of mountain forest and (1999), and, afterwards, released back to their habitats. dry mountain steppe. Dorsal colouration and patterns of the specimens were Until now, only a single record of H. orientalis in characterised according to Gvoždik and Moravec (2003). South Armenia was known, located in Province, The following seventeen morphometric characters were near Vanek village, in forested landscape (Pipoyan et measured: L – body length; L.c. – head length; L.tc. - al., 2012) (Fig. 1A). No population surveys or further head width; D.r.o. – distance from the tip of the snout investigations into presence of H. orientalis in Syunik to the front edge of the eye; D.r.n. – distance from the Province have been performed. Here, we present data tip of the snout to the nostril; L.o. – maximum length on newly discovered populations of H. orientalis at of palpebral fissure; Lt.p. – the greatest width of the several localities in , including notes eyelids; Sp.p. – the distance between the inner edges of on their ecology, collected during field surveys in the eyelids; Sp.o – the distance between the front edges 2014-2018. A comparative morphometric analysis of the eyelids; Sp.n – the distance between nostrils; is provided as well to compare individuals from the L.tym – width of tympanic membrane; F- femur length; newly discovered populations with those from Northern T – tibia length; C.s – foot length: the distance between Armenia (Arzumanyan et al., 2017). Field work was the posterior margin of the metatarsal tubercle and the tip; D.p – length of the first toe of the hind limb, C.i – length of the inner calcaneal tubercle; M – body weight. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using

1 Scientific Center of and Hydroecology of the STATISTICA 10. National Academy of Science of Republic of Armenia, Overall, six adults of H. orientalis (5 males and 1 P.Sevak str. 7, 0014, , Armenia. female) were collected from four localities in Syunik 2 , A. Manoogian str 1, 0025, Yerevan, Province (Fig. 1C). Presence of H. orientalis near Vanek Armenia. village was confirmed, and in three other localities * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] the species was registered for the first time. All four © 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. localities are briefly characterised below. 326 Ilona Stepanyan et al.

Figure 1. (A) Distribution map of Hyla orientalis in Armenia (circles: according to Arakelyan et al., [2011]; square: according to Pipoyan et al., [2012]); (B) Map of localities of H. orientalis from northern, central and south Armenia mentioned in this study: 1: Debed; 2: Marmarik; 3–6: localities in Syunik Province (Arzumanyan et al., 2017; our data). (C) populations of H. orientalis (circles) and H. savignyi (stars) in Syunik Province (Stepanyan, 2014; our data) in the vicinity of (3), Nor Arachadzor (4), Vanek (5) and Kavart (6). (D) H. orientalis from Kavart, Synik Province.

A single adult female of H. orientalis was found near Corylus avellana trunk. Vanek village (39.279°N, 46.342°E; 1,126 m a.s.l.) in Three adult males were found in the vicinity of mixed forest (aedificators: Quercus iberica and Carpinus Svarants village (39.3719°N, 46.240°E; 1,520 m a.s.l.) betulus, interspersed with trees of Pyrus sp., Prunus sp., in a small shallow pond situated at the border of broad- Pinus sp., Corylus avellane, and Juglans regia), along leaved forest (aedificators: Quercus iberica, Carpinus the shore of the Achanan River, as previously described betulus, Fraxinus excelsior interspersed with trees of by Pipoyan et al. (2012). The female was caught on a Salix sp.). New data concerning Hyla orientalis in Southern Armenia 327

A single male of the species was detected near Nor H. orientalis was found at a distance of about 200 m Arachadzor village in mountain-forest landscape along from the forest border, in woodland on the border of the shore of the artificial storage reservoir David-Bek forest and steppe close to a small temporary pond. (39.341°N, 46.403°E; 1,370 m a.s.l.). The area is According to previous studies, H. orientalis, being covered with forest (aedificator - Carpinus betulus mainly a mesophilic species, prefers humid mountain interspersed with Quercus iberica, Q. macranthera, forest landscapes in all Transcaucasian countries - Acer laetum, A. campestre, Fraxinus excelsior). Armenia (Arakelyan et al., 2011; Pipoyan et al., 2012; One male of H. orientalis was observed near Kavart Stepanyan, 2014), Georgia (southern suburbs of Tbilisi village (39.253°N, 46.388°E; 1,170 m. a.s.l.) (Fig. 1D). and in the Tsivi-Gombori range) (Djanašhvili, 1956; The landscape of this area is characterised by forest, with Tarkhnišhvili and Gokhellashvili, 1999), Quercus iberica and Carpinus betulus as aedificators, (Alekperov, 1978; Litvinchuk et al., 2006) and, also, interspersed with Corylus avellana, Pyrus sp., Prunus wet, subtropical ecosystems in northern (Gvoždík, sp., and Fraxinus excelsior. However, the specimen of 2010). In addition to these conditions, H. orientalis

Table 1. Morphometric data of Hyla orientalis from four localities in the Syunik Province in Armenia, compared with published data on individuals Tablefrom 1.northern Morphometric and central data of Hyla Armenia orientalis (Fig. from 1B: four 1-2; localities Arzumanyan in the Syunik et al.,Province 2017). in Armenia,X: Mean, compared SE: Standard Error, Min: with published data on individuals from northern and central Armenia (Fig. 1B: 1-2; Arzumanyan et al., 2017). minimum value of Xparameter,: Mean, SE: Max:Standard maximum Error, Min: value minimum of parameter. value of parameter, For other Max: abbreviations, maximum value ofplease parameter. refer For to otherthe main text. abbreviations, please refer to the main text.

H. orientalis, H. orientalis, H. orientalis, Syunik population, Debed population, Marmarik population, southern Armenia northern Armenia central Armenia Parameters female males males females males females (N = 1) (N = 5) (N = 81) (N = 2) (N = 44) (N = 5) X ± SE X ± SE X X ± SE X ± SE Min – Max Min – Max Min – Max Min – Max 39.0 ± 1.82 40.45 ± 0.39 46.95 41.03 ± 0.47 45.5 ± 1.38 L 47.9 34.75 – 46.08 34.0 – 47.0 34.9 – 45.7 39.13 – 49.8 12.5 ± 1.93 12.82 ± 0.22 14.5 12.75 ± 0.18 13.19 ± 0.78 L.c. 15.7 10.9 – 13.89 10.0 – 16.2 11.1 – 14.9 10.2 – 15.3 11.7 ± 1.77 12.37 ± 0.2 15.22 ± 0.23 16.44 ± 0.57 Lt.c. 17.6 16.55 8.94 – 14.85 9.0 – 15.0 11.7 – 17.9 14.05 – 18.6 6.1 ± 1.91 5.79 ± 0.14 7.6 6.53 ± 0.80 5.85 ± 0.85 D.r.o 7.7 3.12 – 8.4 4.00 – 9.00 5.1 – 7.7 2.63 – 7.9 2.28 ± 1.72 2.43 ± 0.03 4.05 3.62 ± 0.1 4.64 ± 0.45 D.r.n 4.1 2.3 – 2.51 2.00 – 2.90 2.2 – 4.9 3.7 – 6.7 4.3 ± 1.74 4.59 ± 0.10 4.55 4.42 ± 0.1 4.75 ± 0.36 L.o 4.9 3.4 – 5.10 3.50 – 5.80 3.20 – 5.60 3.63 – 6.6 2.7 ± 1.85 2.85 ± 0.06 5.35 5.18 ± 0.13 5.85 ± 0.35 Lt.p 5.1 1.62 – 3.2 1.50 – 3.40 4.10 – 6.80 5.1 – 7.6 3.2 ± 1.78 3.11 ± 0.12 4.85 5.26 ± 0.11 4.57 ± 0.36 Sp.p 4.1 2.14 – 4.22 2.00 – 4.30 4.10 – 6.60 3.08 – 5.9 7.5 ± 1.85 7.54 ± 0.12 8.0 7.96 ± 0.13 7.67 ± 0.92 Sp.o 8.3 6.01 – 8.99 6.00 – 9.00 6.40 – 9.60 4.15 – 9.9 3.1 ± 1.72 3.13 ± 0.05 3.15 3.72 ± 0.08 4.3 ± 0.32 Sp.n 4.6 2.49 – 3.68 2.50 – 3.70 3.10 – 4.70 3.1 – 5.1 3.1 ± 1.53 3.13 ± 0.12 3.8 3.31 ± 0.11 3.46 ± 0.46 L.tym 3.1 2.32 – 4.10 2.00 – 4.50 2.10 – 3.90 1.8 – 5.1 21.2 ± 1.81 20.55 ± 0.27 23.9 21.10 ± 0.26 22.87 ± 0.66 F 23.3 17.8 – 23.9 15.0 – 23.2 18.10 – 24.4 21.1 – 25.5 22.1 ± 1.59 19.73 ± 0.23 22.75 20.42 ± 0.22 21.71 ± 0.6 T 22.8 17.85 – 23.01 15.7 – 22.00 18.2 – 23.50 19.53 – 24.4 11.5 ± 1.92 10.19 ± 0.16 8.9 10.38 ± 0.18 11.81 ± 0.18 C.s 11.1 7.98 – 12.1 8.50 – 12.40 8.10 – 11.90 11.3 – 12.5 3.8 ± 1.71 4.20 ± 0.10 5.4 4.97 ± 0.12 4.92 ± 0.15 D.p 6.3 3.4 – 5.9 3.00 – 5.80 3.2 – 6.5 4.3 – 5.3 2.01 ± 1.76 2.62 ± 0.07 2.15 2.42 ± 0.08 2.49 ± 0.27 C.i 2.3 1.45 –3.62 1.60 – 3.40 1.40 – 3.50 2.1 – 4.1 5.0 ± 1.89 4.94 ± 0.13 8.15 5.60 ± 0.21 8.28 ± 0.89 M 10.1 4.01 – 7.98 3.50 – 6.80 3.50 – 8.10 5.4 – 10.9

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328 Ilona Stepanyan et al. can inhabit rather dry open woodland landscapes enlarges our knowledge of the distribution of H. such as those in the Marmarik river gorge in Armenia orientalis in Southern Armenia. Despite the fact that (Arakelyan et al., 2011: Stepanyan, 2014) and north and H. orientalis mainly inhabits wet mountainous forest north-west of the Tbilisi Gorge (Pipoyan et al., 2012). landscapes, our results show the ability of this species to During our survey in the Syunik Province, we found inhabit biotopes with less humid (i.e. drier) conditions. that: Our data show that in southern Armenia H. orientalis a) H. orientalis can inhabit rather dry habitats on the can occur in sympatry with H. savignyi, which in general border of the forest and the steppe, similar to those in inhabit drier arid and semiarid landscapes. ; b) H. orientalis can spread down to the border of forests Acknowledgements. We would like to express our gratefulness and steppes, where in some localities in Syunik to Dr. S. Pipoyan for useful discussions and comments on our Province it occurs sympatric to H. savignyi (Fig. work. Invaluable assistance during field work was provided by Dr. G. Karagyan and Ms. T. Ghrejyan, to whom we would like to 1C.). The latter species occupies in Armenia arid express our gratitude as well. This work is partially supported by and semiarid landscapes, and is distributed along the “The Rufford Small Grants Foundation” Funding Agency [Grant Araks River Basin (Arakelyan et al., 2011; Stepanyan, № 13769-1]. 2014). The specimens of H. orientalis collected in Syunik References Province did not demonstrate any specific dorsal colour Alekperov, A.M. (1978): Zemnovodnye i presmykayushchiesya pattern. The majority of the studied individuals had Azerbaidzhana. [ and Reptiles of Azerbaijan]. Baku, green dorsal colouration, except of one female from the Elm Press. [in Russian] vicinities of Vanek village, which showed a brown dorsal Arakelyan, M.S., Danielyan, F.D., Corti, C., Sindarco, R., Leviton, colouration, perhaps due to background matching with A. (2011): Herpetofauna of Armenia and Nagorno . the Corylus avellana trunk where the frog was found. Salt Lake City, SSAR. Earlier studied specimens of H. orientalis from the Arzumanyan, M.V., Stepanyan, I.E., Arakelyan, M.S. (2017): populations of Northern (Debed) and Central Armenia Nekotorie fenotipicheskie osobennocti kvaksh Armenii. [Some phenotypic characteristics of tree frogs (Amphibia: Hylidae) (Marmarik) were characterised by more variable from Armenia]. Biological Journal of Armenia. 69: 70–75. [in dorsal colouration, and different types of dorsal colour Russian] patterns. These include five types of dorsal colouration Bannikov, A.G., Darevsky, I.S., Ishchenko, V.G., Rustamov, and five types of dorsal colour patterns in the Debed A.K., Shcherbak, H.H. (1977): Opredelitel zemnovodnih I population, and four types of dorsal colouration and presmikaushihsya Armenii. [Guide to the amphibians and reptiles two types of colour patterns in the Marmarik population of the fauna of USSR.] Moskow. Prosveshenie. [in Russian] (Nikoghosyan et al., 2014; Arzumanyan et al., 2017). Chernov, S.A. (1926): K poznaniyu gerpetofauni Armenii i Nakhichevanskogo kraya [Contribution to the knowledge The low diversity of dorsal colouration and colour of herpetofauna of Armenia and the Nakhichevan region]. patterns of specimens from the populations of southern Uchebnye Zapiski SeveroKavkazskogo Instituta Kraevedeniya Armenia might be a result of our small sample size. This 1: 63–72. [in Russian] interpretation can be further tested by studying a more Djanašhvili, A.G. (1956): Guide to the amphibians of Georgia. comprehensive dataset. Tbilisi University Publishers, Tbilisi. [in Georgian] Morphometric measurements of the tree frogs Egiasaryan, E.M. (2007): Fauna i ecologiya amfibii Armenii. from Syunik Province (our data), Northern (Debed [Fauna and Ecology of Amphibians of Armenia]. Doctoral dissertation. Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Science population) and Central Armenia (Marmarik of Armenian Republic, Yerevan, Armenia. [in Russian]. population) according to Arzumanyan et al. (2017) are Gumilevsky, B.A. (1939): Batrachofauna Armenii i Nakhichevanskoi summarised in Table 1. Comparative analysis of these ASSR [Batrachofauna of Armenia and Nakhichevan ASSR]. data demonstrated that a single female of H. orientalis Zoologicheskii Sbornik, Yerevan 1: 1–24. [in Russian] from the vicinities of Vanek village differs from other Gvoždik, V. (2010): Second species of tree frog, Hyla orientalis females (populations of Northern and Central Armenia) (formerly H. arborea) from Iran confirmed by acoustic data. by four parameters – L.c, Lt.c., L.tym and D.p. No clear Herpetology Notes 3: 41–44. Gvoždík, V., Moravec, J. (2005): Variation of Hyla savignyi: color differences in morphometric parameters between males pattern of Cypriote and mainland populations. Russian Journal of H. orientalis from all studied populations could be of Herpetology 12: 32–34. recorded (Table 1). Kuzmin, S.L. (1999): Zemnovodnie bivshego SSSR [Amphibians The data presented in the current paper noticeably of the former USSR]. MKM, Moscow. . [in Russian] New data concerning Hyla orientalis in Southern Armenia 329

Kuzmin, S.L. (2012): Zemnovodnie bivshego SSSR. [Amphibians of the former USSR. Second edition. MKM, Moscow. Russia. [in Russian] Lada G.A., Sokolov A.S. (1999): Metodi issledovaniya zemnovodnih. [Methods of research of Amphibians]. Tambov. [in Russian] Litvinchuk, S.N., Borkin, L.J., Rosanov, J.M., Skorinov, D.V. (2006): Allozyme and genome size variation in tree frogs from the Caucasus, with description of a new subspecies Hyla arborea gumilevskii from the Talysh Mountains. Russian Journal of Herpetology 13: 187–206. Nikoghosyan, G.N, Arzumanyan, M.V., Stepanyan, I.E. (2014): Color morph and color pattern variation in several populations of Armenian tree frogs. Biological diversity and conservation problems of the fauna of the Caucasus-2, International conference, 276–279. Pipoyan, S.K., Ananyan, V.Y., Tarkhnišhvili, D.N. (2012): Rasprostranenie kvakshi shelkovnikova Hyla arborea schelkownikowi v Armenii. [Distribution of Schelkownikow`s tree frog Hyla arborea schelkownikowi (Hylydae, Amphidbia) in Armenia]. Scholarly notes of Armenian State Pedagogical University after H. 17: 88–93. [in Russian] Stepanyan, I. (2014): Current protection status of Armenian amphibians and elaboration of measures of their conservation including public awareness rising. Final report for Rufford Small Grants foundation, on-line - https://www.rufford.org/ projects/ilona_stepanyan Tarkhnišhvili, D.N., Gokhellashvili, R.K. (1999): The Amphibians of the Caucasus. – Advances in research in the former Volume 4, Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Moscow. Russia.

Accepted by Wouter Beukema