©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at HERPETOZOA 22 (3/4): 99 - 113 99 Wien, 30. Dezember 2009 The herpetofauna of Simi (Dodecanese, Greece) (Amphibia, Reptilia) Die Herpetofauna der Insel Simi (Dodekanes, Griechenland) (Amphibia, Reptilia) MATT J. WILSON & HEINZ GRILLITSCH KURZFASSUNG Die Herpetofauna der Dodekanes-Insel Simi und des Nachbareilandes Sesklia wurde auf Grundlage von Beobachtungen des Erstautors sowie anderer Herpetologen, Literaturzitaten und einer kleinen Belegsammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien zusammenfassend dargestellt. Nach der Literatur waren bisher 13 Reptilien- arten und eine Amphibienart für die Insel nachgewiesen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte die Europäische Katzennatter Telescopus fallax (FLEISCHMANN, 1831) der Artenliste der Insel hinzugefügt und das Vorkommen der seltenen Goldstreifenmabuye Trachylepis aurata (LINNAEUS, 1758) bestätigt werden. Eine vergleichende herpeto- logische Artenliste von Simi, Rhodos, Tilos, Khalki, Nissiros und des türkischen Festlandes wird vorgelegt. ABSTRACT Information about the herpetofauna of the Dodecanese Island of Simi and the neighboring Islet of Sesklia was summarized based on recent herpetological trips by the first author and other herpetologists, as well as litera- ture data and a small collection of specimens from the Natural History Museum in Vienna. From the literature, thirteen reptile species and a single amphibian species were known to occur on the island. In the present paper the European Cat Snake Telescopus fallax (FLEISCHMANN, 1831), may be added to the species list of Simi, and the pres- ence of the rare Levant Skink Trachylepis aurata (LINNAEUS, 1758) was confirmed. A comparative herpetofaunal species list of the islands of Simi, Rhodes, Tilos, Khalki, Nissiros and the Turkish mainland was provided. KEY WORDS Amphibia, Reptilia, herpetofauna, Simi (Symi) Island, Sesklia Islet, Dodecanese, Greece, species abun- dance, Bufo viridis, Bufo variabilis, Trachylepis aurata, Telescopus fallax - new island record, Hemorrhois num- mifer, Montivipera xanthina INTRODUCTION Despite the considerable amounts of rhois nummifer and Montivipera xanthina. herpetological research conducted on neigh- However, only two authors reported detailed boring Rhodes, most of the smaller islands record localities. Unlike the larger Dodeca- in the Dodecanese group (Agathonissi, Arki, nese islands (Rhodes and Kos), Simi has Lipsi, Farmakonissi, Kalolimnos, Pserimos, escaped mass development for the tourist Giali, Nissiros, Tilos, Simi, Chalki) were industry, its small size, and steep limestone less well documented, certainly with regard landscape severely limiting the construction to their herpetofaunas. This paper presents of large hotel complexes. Although in re- the entire known herpetofauna of the small cent years the island has become more pop- island of Simi, and it is hoped that it will ular, tourism has only expanded through the trigger future investigations of the herpeto- construction of villas and apartments. In fauna of Simi and the neighboring islet of 2005, the island had a population of around Sesklia. From the literature thirteen reptile 2,500 inhabitants. species and a single amphibian species were Simi with a surface area of 58 km² is known to occur on the island of Simi: Bufo located 25 km north of Rhodes and just 5 viridis [B. variabilis], Testudo graeca, Bla- km from mainland Turkey (Fig. 1). The nus strauchi, Hemidactylus turcicus, Cyrto- highest point is Mount Vigla (616 m a.s.l.). podion kotschyi, Laudakia stellio, Anatolo- The island is predominantly composed of lacerta oertzeni, Ophisops elegans, Ablepha- limestone, presenting a rocky, and very bar- rus kitaibelii, Trachylepis aurata, Dolich- ren appearance, and due to the nature of the ophis jugularis, Eirenis modestus, Hemor- terrain, few areas can be used for cultiva- ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at 100 M. J. WILSON & H. GRILLITSCH ➙ Fig. 1: Map of the Dodekanese Island of Simi. The marked locations represent areas where herpetological observations or collections were made. Abb. 1: Karte der Dodekanes-Insel Simi. Die eingetragenen Fundorte markieren die Stellen herpetologischer Beobachtungen und Aufsammlungen. ______________________________________________ Figs. 2-3 (opposite page), Photos: Matt Wilson. / Abb. 2-3 (gegenüberliegende Seite), Photos: Matt Wilson. Fig. 2: Pedi valley, Simi, habitat of T. graeca, B. strauchi, H. turcicus, C. kotschyi, L. stellio, A. oertzeni, O. elegans, T. aurata, D. jugularis, E. modestus, and M. xanthina. Abb. 2: Das Tal Pedi auf der Insel Simi, Lebensraum von T. graeca, B. strauchi, H. turcicus, C. kotschyi, L. stellio, A. oertzeni, O. elegans, T. aurata, D. jugularis, E. modestus, und M. xanthina. Fig. 3: A dry ravine in the north of the Pedi valley, Simi, habitat of H. turcicus, C. kotschyi, L. stellio, A. oertzeni, O. elegans, A. kitaibelii, D. jugularis, and H. nummifer and location where T. fallax was found by N. SHUM (pers. comm.). Abb. 3: Ein trockener Hohlweg im Norden des Pedi Tales auf Simi, Lebensraum von H. turcicus, C. kotschyi, L. stellio, A. oertzeni, O. elegans, A. kitaibelii, D. jugularis, und H. nummifer sowie Fundort von T. fallax (N. SHUM pers. Mitt.). ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at The herpetofauna of Simi (Dodecanese, Greece) 101 2 3 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at 102 M. J. WILSON & H. GRILLITSCH tion or horticultural purposes. Three fairly heraceoticum, Dracunculus vulgaris, and fertile valleys can be found on the island at Arum dioscoridis. Some woodland areas in Pedi (Figs. 2, 3), Drakounda and Agios Vas- the remoter regions of Simi consist of silios. The Pedi valley area predominantly Cupressus sempervirens, while further consists of wheat fields, while some olive inland dense stands of Pinus brutia can be groves and fruit orchards can be found found. There are no natural fresh water close to farmland areas, whilst at Agios sources present, but artificial cisterns are Vassilios vineyards were also present. The located in cultivated areas. The islet of viper area of the valley is dominated by Sesklia, with a surface area of 1.5 km², is a phrygana and other plant cover such as Eu- property of the Panormitis monastery and is phorbia dendroides, as well as Origanum located just south of Simi. MATERIALS AND METHODS Early herpetological references for the dertaken by F. PAYSANT (Le Châtellier) (13- island can be found in BOETTGER (1888), as 19.4.2002) are referred to as PAYSANT (pers. well as WERNER (1930, 1933, 1935, 1938), comm.), and some additional records by N. WETTSTEIN (1953) and PIEPER (1970). Only SHUM (Simi) as SHUM (pers. comm.). lizards were known from the herpetofauna of In addition to what was already known Simi until the visit by CLARK (1972), who about the herpetofauna of Simi, this paper contributed several important records. In will document and describe the findings dur- more recent papers, both BUTTLE (1995b) ing four stays made by the first author on the and BROGGI (2002) documented a further island in July (6-11) 2006, April/May (18-2) new species. The latter author who quoted 2007, August (15-22) 2007, and August (10- five species new to Sesklia and CATTANEO 18) 2008. Weather conditions during the (2007) who added comprehensive informa- April/May excursion were favorable (24°C- tion on the snake fauna of Simi were, how- 29°C) which allowed for searches to be con- ever, the only to give specific locality data ducted throughout the day, and most reptile concerning individuals. In addition to the species could be observed at any time of day literature a small collection of specimens during this period. The summer visits were from Simi at the Natural History Museum in far less successful with very hot weather, Vienna (NHMW) was considered in the and due to extremely high temperatures species accounts. Furthermore, other natu- (35°C-42°C) and therefore searches were ralists who visited Simi in recent years only undertaken in the very early morning, (dates in parentheses) contributed with their late evenings and the first few hours after personal observations such as the members nightfall. Due to the lack of locality data in of the Belgian group HYLA (4-15.10.2007), the reports of previous authors, this author of which three were contacted – J. VAN DER was unable to visit specific locations and VOORT (Schoten), P. ENGELEN (Gent) and J. tended to search widely across the entire SPEYBROECK (Gent). Their observations are island. Furthermore, several hours were referenced as SPEYBROECK et al. (pers. spent on the islet of Sesklia. On some oc- comm.). Observations from another trip un- casions the length of snakes was measured. SPECIES ACCOUNTS Bufo viridis (LAURENTI, 1768) ing. BUTTLE (1995b) predicted the occur- [Bufo variabilis (PALLAS, 1769)] rence of the species on Simi and this was later confirmed by BROGGI (2002) who ob- The Green Toad is the only amphibian served tadpoles of the species and CATTA- known to inhabit Simi, and considering the NEO (2007) who found five adults. PAYSANT almost complete absence of naturally occur- (pers. comm.) found eight road-killed speci- ring freshwater, even its presence is surpris- mens in the southern part of the Pedi Valley ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria,