200 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 27 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2015 SHORT NOTE Xerotyphlops vermicularis (MERREM, 1820), in the west Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains: rediscovery after more than 100 years The Eurasian Blind Snake, Xerotyph - lops vermicularis (MERREM, 1820), the only representative of the snake family Typhlo - pidae (Scolecophidia) in Europe (gRil- liTSCH & gRilliTSCH 1993), is found in the southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, specifically in former yugoslavia (Croatia, FyR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia), Albania, Bul garia, greece and Turkey (gRilliTSCH & gRilliTSCH 1993; gASC et al. 1997; gRilliTSCH et al. 1999) where it represents a chorotype element of the Turano-Mediterranean fauna (JABlONSki et al. 2012). However, the recent molecular data show that this traditionally accepted species is probably a species complex, since some populations from the Middle East show deep genetic divergences indicating their separate evolution since the end of Middle and late Miocene (kORNiliOS et al. 2012). This species prefers xerothermic habitats with deep, dry and soft (sandy) soil where it can burrow, typically rocky slopes with low, sparse bush vegetation, open areas with stones as well as cultivated fields (gRil liTSCH & gRilliTSCH 1993). The known edge of its distribution in the east of the Balkans is formed by several localities on Bulgarian territory (see BESH- kOv & NANEv 2006; STOJANOv et al. 2011), from where it was originally published only at the beginning of the 20th century (kOvA- CHEv 1912; CHiCHkOFF 1914). in Bul garia, this species has a scattered distribution at altitudes below 500 m above sea level. it is found only in the southern parts of the coun- try where it persisted from an earlier more extended distribution. Here it is found in warm valleys of the Struma River (south- western Bulgaria), the lower Maritsa River (Harmanli region), the Arda River (eastern Rhodope Mts.) and the Tundja River (Der - ventski Highlands, south-eastern Bulgaria), in which the Mediterranean climatic influ- ence is strongest (BESHkOv 1998; STOJANOv et al. 2013). The center of distribution in Bulgaria is the Struma River valley, where the highest number of recent record localities SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 27 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2015 SHORT NOTE 201 is known ( BESHkOv & N ANEv 2006; STO- species was doubtful ( BESHkOv 1998; JANOv et al. 2011). Besides, there are his - BESHkOv & N ANEv 2006) but not impossi - torical records of Xerotyphlops from isolat - ble, considering to the low research efforts ed localities south of Burgas (near Sozopol, there (see PETROv et al. 2006). During the Ropotamo) and the western Rhodope authors’ visit to the valley, the anthropo - Mountains (near varvara village) ( DOBREv genic interventions were obvious, including & D iMiTROv 1997; S TO JANOv et al. 2011 ). enlargement and reconstruction of roads and in the latter case, the species is probably the local buildings. The presented finding extinct due to complete biotope destruction of three specimens, after more than 100 caused by intensive building activities such years, substantiates the persistent occur - as asphalting of the vicinity of the hot min - rence of this species in the region of the eral springs and urbanization ( BESHkOv western Rhodopes in spite of clear interfer - 1998; P ETROv et al. 2006; BESHkOv & N A- ences into the surrounding landscape. Even NEv 2006; S TOJANOv et al. 2011). though, only dead specimens were found, a During a visit to the western Rhodope viable population in the western Rhodopes Mts., Eurasian Blind Snakes were discov - is likely to occur. The Chepinska River val - ered by the second author of this paper (PB), ley is extended and hardly accessible, which about five kilometers from the village of both complicates the detection of the spe - varvara (province Pazardzhik), between the cies and probably protects the population villages of varvara and Marko Nikolov in against deleterious human influences. the Chepinska River valley. in total, three On the basis of the current chorologi - adult specimens, probably killed by a vehi - cal knowledge ( STOJANOv et al. 2011), it cle, were found on the road in two locations seems that the population at varvara village of the valley. One specimen (Fig. 1A) at is isolated from other Bulgarian populations 42.14038N/24.12875E (habitats Figs. 1D, of this species. Maybe the individuals in the 1E) and two specimens (Figs. 1B, 1C) at western Rhodope Mts. are remnants of a 42.13509N/24.12487E (habitat Fig. 1F), formerly continuous population, that had between 340-360 m a.s.l., on May 20, 2013. extended through the Maritsa River valley The location of the first finding was a newly into the upper Thracian Plain. The species reconstructed asphalt road, extending across could have spread along the northern slopes the valley, and two specimens were found of the Rhodope Mts., a belt of habitats that together near a place called “Banja i”. The was fragmented by agricultural landscape part of valley where the specimens were transf ormation only in historical times. found has very steep walls. Suitable habi - Still unanswered is the question whether or tats between the walls of the valley and the not X. vermicularis is present in other river river were available only in patches. The valleys of the northern and north-western valley is xerothermic with short grass and Rhodope Mts. where similar xerothermic bush cover on a rocky substratum. Five syn - habitats are available, e.g., the valleys of topic species of reptiles were found in this the Stara River (south of the town of locality: Lacerta viridis (l AuRENTi , 1768) , Peshtera), vacha River (near krichim) or Podarcis muralis (l AuRENTi , 1768) , Anguis Chepelarska River (south of Asenovgrad). fragilis liNNAE uS , 1758 complex, Natrix Another burrowing snake species, Eryx ja - tessellata (l Au RENTi , 1768) and Vipera am - culus (l iN NAEuS , 1758), was recorded in modytes (liN NAEuS , 1758) . the region of these valleys (see PETROv et in the past, only one specimen of X. al. 2006; STO JANOv et al. 2011). vermicularis was found in this locality: ”..at unintentional introduction of the the second thermal spring, 6 km in Eli-Dere Eurasian Blind Snake into the Chepinska gorge (now Chepinska River gorge), May River valley due to human activities (e.g., 1908“ (kOvACHEv 1912 ; PETROv et al. 2006) . transport of construction material), howev - According to PETROv et al. (2006), the orig - er, cannot fully be excluded. The occur - inal locality of finding was almost fully rence of the snake at varvara was debated destroyed by intensive building activities, in with regard to mineral hot water springs, the middle of the 20th century. That is why which were considered the main factor of the potential current occurrence of the the species’ presence on the isolated locali - 202 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 27 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2015 SHORT NOTE Fig. 1: Three roadkill specimens (A-C) of Xerotyphlops vermicularis (MERREM , 1820), found between the villages of varvara and Marko Nikolov in the Chepinska River valley at 340-360 m a. s. l., on May 20, 2013 (province Pazardzhik, western Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria) and the corresponding record localities (D-F). A – Specimen from the first locality outside the thermal springs resort; B and C – specimens found at the thermal spring “Banja i”; D and E – habitat at the first locality; F – place of finding at the spring “Banja i”. ty in the western Rhodopes ( BESHkOv NOv et al. 2011) or, potentially, still unrec - 1998). Such hot springs, which could be ognized habitats of the species. suited to improve the geo-climatic condi - The present finding shows that this tions in their vicinity, occur also at other species escaped recent mapping activities in places of western Bulgaria, e. g., gorna Brest - western Bulgaria (see WESTERSTRöM 2005; nitsa, kozuch Hill near Rupite, Sandanski, PETROv et al. 2006; STOJANOv et al. 2011). Stara kresna, and vlahi. They represent May seems to be the main period of these localities where this species is known to oc - snakes’ supraterrestrial activities, when they cur (e.g., kresna and Sandanski; see STOJA- migrate at night in search of mates for re - SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 27 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2015 SHORT NOTE 203 production (e. g., gRilliTSCH & gRil liTSCH NAuMOv, B. (2011): Die Amphibien und Reptilien 1993; vAlAkOS et al. 2008; STOJA NOv et al. Bulgariens; Frankfurt am Main (Edition Chimaira), pp. 582. vAlAkOS, E. D. & PAFiliS, P. & SOTiROPOulOS, k. 2011). Attempts to cross roads can be fatal & lyMBERAkiS, P. & MARAgOu, P & FOuFOPOulOS, J. to these slow animals which was probably (2008): The amphibians and reptiles of greece; the case of the found specimens. Successful Frankfurt am Main (Edition Chimaira), pp. 463. future mapping of this secretive species WESTERSTRöM, A. (2005): Some notes on the herpeto- fauna of western Bulgaria; pp. 241-244. in: ANANJEvA, should take into account these habits as well N. & TSiNENkO, O. (eds.): Herpetologia Petropolitana; as the above considerations. Proceedings of the 12th Ordinary general Meeting of ACkNOWlEDgMENTS: The authors are very the Societas Europaea Herpetologica, St. Petersburg. grateful to v. BAlÁž (Brno) for his comments on a first kEy WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes: version of the manuscript. Xerotyphlops vermicularis; rediscovery, species distri- REFERENCES: BESHkOv, v. (1998): Bulgaria’s bution, mapping, European Worm Snake, Bulgaria, amphibians and reptiles; pp. 395-409. in: MEiNE, C. Balkan Peninsula (ed.): Bulgaria’s biological diversity: Conservation sta- SuBMiTTED: September 12, 2013 tus and needs assessment; vol. i, ii. Sofia & Moskva (Pensoft). BESHkOv, v. & NANEv, k. (2006): Amphibi - AuTHORS: Daniel JABlONSki (Corresponding ans and reptiles in Bulgaria. Sofia & Moskva (Pensoft), author < [email protected] >) - Depart - pp. 120. CHiCHkOFF, g. (1914): [Two new species for ment of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius the Bulgarian herpetology].- godishnik na Sofiiskiya university, Mlynská dolina B-1, 842 15, Bratislava, universitet: Fiziko-matematicheski fakultet (Annuaire Slovakia; Petr BAlEJ - Zdeňka Bára 114/4, 700 30 de l’université de Sofia.