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J. Exp. Zool. Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 279-282, 2019 www.connectjournals.com/jez ISSN 0972-0030 NEW LOCALITY RECORDS OF BLUNT-NOSED VIPER, MACROVIPERA LEBETINA EUPHRATICA (MARTIN, 1838) IN SOUTHERN (OPHIDIA : )

Muhanad Al-Jabry1, Zine El Abidine El Moussawi2, Nasrullah Rasregar-Pouyani and Rasoul Karamiani3 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, 67149 67346 Kermanshah, . 2Education Directorate of Thi-Qar Province, Nasiriya, Iraq. 3Iranian Plateau Herpetology Research Group (IPHRG), Razi University, 714967346 Kermanshah, Iran. (Accepted 18 October 2018)

ABSTRACT : The Levant viper, Macrovipera lebetina euphratica is recorded from AL-Tar subdistrict (western Hammar marsh) Al-Nasiriya Province south Iraq. Information on morphological features and the biology of this subspecies is given. Key words : Macrovipera lebetina euphratica, distribution, morphology, south Iraq.

INTRODUCTION (2016) five adult female specimens have been collected Macrovipera lebetina obtusa was first described in from north eastern Iraq: of these two specimens were Jelisawetpol in Transcaucasia by Dwigubsky in 1832 (Tok collected from Diyala province, Khanaqin district (34° et al, 2002). It is distributed in Palestine, , western 18' 26.28" N, 45° 23' 27.54" E; alt. 216m.) and three of Jordan, northern , southern and central and them have been collected from Al-Khalis district (33° 49' along the Tigris-Euphrates drainage in Iraq, to the east in 1.63" N, 44° 32' 56.60" E; alt. 210m.). and ; from northern Baluchistan to According to Stümpel and Joger (2009), M. lebetina borders of Kashmir and to the north in Transcaucasia to segregate into four major lineages which support the the Kura Valley and in Transcaspia to the Fergana basin, validity of the allopatric subspecies lebetina, obtusa, through N. , the Cyclades, and turanica and cernovi. In this study, the morphological Persia, to N.W. India (Boulenger, 1920; Corkill, 1932; characters of a Macrovipera lebetina euphratica Leviton et al, 1992) with an isolated relict population in specimen found outside previously-known localities were , Tunisia (Nilson and Andren, 1988). It is well- examined and an attempt was made to determine its known from steppic parts of Syria and Lebanon. It may contribution to the Iraqi herpetofauna. be called an Irano-Turanian in the Levantine MATERIALS AND METHODS countries (Al-Oran et al, 1998). Specimens have been Two adult specimens was collected from AL-Tar recorded in Iraq from Baghdad (Boulenger, 1920). In subdistrict (western Hammar marsh) Al-Nasiriya Province 1928, 1929 and 1930, seven further specimens were south of Iraq with geographical coordinates between obtained in 1928, from Sulaimaniya, Mandali, Mosul, (30,53, 11) N, (46,037, 9) E and Altitude (-1) m on, 26th Baqubah, Jebel Hamrin, Quaragan and Barzan on the of August 2017 and 28th February 2018 the collected Zab river. It is noticeable that all these records are from specimens was initially fixed in 96% ethanol and then the north-eastern quadrant of Iraq, where the country stored in 70% ethanol. The specimens are deposited in commences its rise to Kurdish and Persian hills (Corkill, the collection of Laboratory of Zoology at Alshohada 1932). Based on (Schmidt, 1939). The lebetina secondary school Al-Nasiriya Province. So classified by euphratica Martin (1838) it is found in Balad and Sinjar, taxonomic keys according to (Leviton at el, 1992; Rhadi, also found in Bisan valley and Daray Mar, Halabja, 2016). Sulaimaniya Province, these locations form a part of a mountainous region, which has a special significance. RESULTS Since it rests just beyond high mountains of Hawraman Characteristics of both specimens where found Vipera lebetina obtusa Dwigubsky 1832 The head is broad, triangular and distinct from the (Lahony et al, 2013). Moreover, according to Rhadi neck, rounded and blunt when viewed from above, Top 280 Muhanad Al-Jabry et al

Fig. 2 :Projected distribution of Macrovipera lebetina euphratica in north and northeast Iraq. The locality described in this study is marked with a red square. Indicates as black square known locations according to Boulenger (1920), Corkill (1932), Rhadi (2016). of the head is covered with small keeled scales, only the in sandy habitats. It is not often found in either supranasal scales are unkeeled, supraoculars completely well – watered or very dry desert region (Mallow et al, divided into five scales, Fourth supralabial enlarged, 2003). Often found around human habitation (Phelps, positioned under the eye. Rostral as high as broad in 2010). Our specimens was collected in 26th of August contact with 3 scales on the snout. A grey stripe from the 2017 and 26th of February 2018 among the reeds and eye backwards, widening above the jaw angle. papyrus of the western Hammar marsh (Fig. 1 D). Dorsal colour Dark brown, with blak blotches in four DISCUSSION longitudinal rows (two laterally and two dorsally), the The population of M. lebetina inhabiting Euphrates latter meeting at the middorsal line. 25 dorsal scales are basin of Turkey, Iraq and Syria is currently named M. strongly keeled, except for those bordering the ventrals. lebetina euphratica. It has been synonymized with M. Ventrals colour yellowish-light or gray with darkly lebetina obtusa (Mallow et al, 2003). pigmented, light posteriorly, powdered with fine dark M. lebetina euphratica (Martin, 1838) is widespread spots.170 ventrals scals. anal divided. Table 1 gives scale in central and northern Iraq as stated by (Boulanger, 1920; counts and measurements of both specimens. Corlill, 1932; Schmidt, 1939; Liveton et al, 1992; Lahony Width of Rostral (8.17) mm and height (5.79) mm. et al, 2013; Radhi, 2016) particularly in the north-east 10-11 supralabials, suborbitals separated from borders (Zagros mountain range). The same case applies subralabials by two rows of small scales. 12-13 to the species found in Iraq. We collected Two adult infralabials, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th scales in contact with anterior specimens from Al-Tar subdistrict (western Hammar chin shield; 17 scales around eyes 43 subcaudals, divided; marsh) /Al-Nassriya Province south of Iraq: with tail 120 mm; snout–vent length 1000 mm 9Table 1, Fig. geographical coordinates between (30053’ 11’’) N, (46037’ 1 A, B, C, D). 9’’) E and Altitude (-1) m. Habitats and Biology The importance of this record is that it reveals that The Levantine Viper avoids deserts, high mountains the distribution of M. lebetina euphratica in Iraq is not or densely forested areas,however, biogeographically, it limited to the historical locations (north and north-east is considered an Irano-Turanian species (Amr and Disi, Iraq). This report shows that M. lebetina euphratica has 2011). It is a of rocky, semiarid, vegetated area or a potential of much wider distribution than the previously New locality records of blunt-nosed viper in southern Iraq 281

Fig. 1 :An adult, Macrovipera lebetina euphratica (A : dorsal view, B : ventral view, C : dorsal view for head, D : Natural Habitat).

Table 1 : The metric and meristic characters used in this study and compared with (Schmidt, 1939; Radhi, 2016) specimens. Our specimens Definition Schmidt (1939) Radhi (2016) Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Head length 49,63 47,3 - 31.52- 46.5 Head width 38,23 36,20 - 16.52- 31.7 Snout-Vent length 1000 780 - 557-1020 Tail length 120 120 150 85-150 Scales around the eye 17 17 15-17 Number of supralabials 10\11 10\11 10-11 10-11 Number of infralabials, 12/13 12\13 13\14 12-14 Number of Scales around eye, 17 17 - 15-17 Number of Scales between eye and supralabial, 3 3 -- Number of canthals, 3 3 -- Dorsal scales on mid-body 25 25 - 25-27 Ventral scales 170 164 169-177 168-170 Subcaudals 43 43 44-47 43-49

thought (south Iraq) and suggests the existence of a collected from areas of the Western Hammar marshes continuous population and this report also indicates that among reeds and papyrus. This new locality is about (336) the environment of this species is different from the km away from previously-known localities (north and environment of its former known location (Corkill, 1932; northeast Iraq) according to the nearest previously Schmidt, 1939; Khalaf, 1959; Leviton et al, 1992; published record for this subspecies (Radhi, 2016) (Fig. Afrasiab et al, 2013; Rhadi, 2016) past tense that this 2). species is found in the mountainous stony areas along the Many ophidians (like Levantine Viper) display Zagros mountain range and was collected from under the latitudinal pattern of geographic variation in Pholidosis. stones. While the samples mentioned in this study was The general pattern of body crossbars and blotches in 282 Muhanad Al-Jabry et al Macrovipera lebetina appeared to be influenced by Boulenger G A (1920) A List of from Mesopotamia. J. Bombay latitudinal pattern and elevation (Moradi et al, 2014). Nat. Hist. Soc. 27, 347–50. Corkill N L (1932) The Snakes of Iraq. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. When comparing the southern populations collected 35, 552–72. from southern Iraq (Al-Nassriya Province) whith Khalaf K T (1959) of Iraq with some notes on the northeastern population (Schmidt, 1939; Rhadi, 2016) amphibians. AR Rabbits Press, Baghdad, 96 pp. (Table 1). There was a slight difference in the Lahony S R A, Mohammad M K, Ali H H, Al-Moussawi A A and morphometric and merstic characteristics but pholidotic Abd Al-Rasul M S (2013) Fauna and Flora of Hawraman and body coloration patterns showed significant Mountain (Part One) Hawraman Lowest Zone, Kurdistan differences between southern populations and northeastern Province North East of Iraq. Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. 12(4), population of M. lebetina geographic variation in pattern 7-34. may be strongly related to habitat. The differences between Leviton A E, Anderson S C, Adler K and Minton S A (1992) Handbook to Amphibians and Reptiles. [St. Louis]: Society the northeastern and Wetlands southren regions may be for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. due to the lower elevations and warmer summers. Mallow D, Ludwig D and Nilson G (2003) True Vipers : Natural The collected specimens is now deposited in the History and of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Alshuhaada Secondary School Zoological Museum Company.Malabar, Florida, vii + 359. (SHZM) under museum number SHUZM-VM1-1,2 Moradi N, Rastegar-Pouyani N and Rastegar-Pouyani E (2014) Counts and measurements for this specimens are given in Geographic Variation in the Morphology of Macrovipera lebetina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ophidia: Viperidae) in Iran. Acta Table 1. Herpetologica 9(2), 187–202. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nilson G and Andren C (1988) Vipera lebetina transmedite anea, a We are grateful to the Iraqi Ministry of Education new subspecies of viper from , with remarks on the taxonomy of V. lebetina and V. mauritanica (Reptilia: for their kind collaboration. Viperidae). Bonnerzoologische Beitrlige 39, 371-379, Bonn. REFERENCES Phelps T (2010) Old World Vipers : a natural history of the Amr Z S and Disi A M (2011) Systematics, distribution and ecology azemiopinae and , Edition Chimaira. of the snakes of Jordan. Vertebrate Zoology 61(2), 179-266. Schmidt K P (1939) Reptiles and Amphibians from Southwestern Al-Oran R M, Rostum S, Joger U and Amr Z (1998) First record of Asia. Field Museum of Natural History. the Levantine viper, Macrovipera lebetina, from Jordan. Stümpel N and Joger U (2009) Recent advances in phylogeny and Zoology in the Middle East 16 (October 2014), 65–70. taxonomy of Near and Middle Eastern vipers–an update. Rhadi F A (2016) Systematics of semi-venomous and venomous ZooKeys 31, 179-191. snakes of central and southern Iraq and molecular phylogeny Tok C V, Cihan D and Ayaz D (2002) A New Record of Macrovipera of the Echis in Iraq (Ophidia: Viperidae). Ph.D. Thesis, Lebetina obtusa (Viperidae) from South-Eastern Anatolia. Razi University,Iran, 1- 276 pp (in English). Zoology in the Middle East (March 2013) 25, 23–26.