ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Denisia Jahr/Year: 2004 Band/Volume: 0014 Autor(en)/Author(s): Modry David, Rifai Lina B., Abu Baker Mohammad, Amr Zuhair S. Artikel/Article: Amphibians and reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 407-420 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Amphibians and reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan D. MODRY, L. RIFAI, M. ABU BAKER & Z. AMR Abstract: Jordan has a very diversified morphology, which is reflected also in the diversity of its her- petofauna. A total of 90 amphibian and reptilian species is known to inhabit Jordan. Of those three are amphibians, with the fourth species {Pelobates sriacus) most probably already extinct, 47 are lizard species, 35 are snakes species and five turtle species. The amphibians are represented by three different families, lizards and snakes both by seven families and turtles by four families. The distribution, ecolo- gy and systematics for most species are given. Key words: Jordan, reptiles, amphibians, snakes, conservation, ecology. Introduction description of herpetofaunal communities. Nevertheless, the main ecological regions or Jordan, with a surface area of about ecozones were repeatedly defined and used 2 89.210 km lies at the junction of the Lev- under various names in former studies on antine and Arabian regions of the Near Jordanian fauna and flora (e.g. AL-ElSAWl East. Generally, from the physiographic an- 1983, Disi 1996, ZOHARY 1973) and the ba- gle of view, four main regions are usually sic delimitation of these regions is therefore recognised: Rift Valley, Mountain ranges, given also herein, together with typical ele- Eastern desert and Marine environment of ments of herpetofauna. the Gulf of Aqabah. This gives Jordan a very diversified morphology, reflected also in the Mediterranean ecozone - generally con- diversity of its herpetofauna. fined to the western highlands, typical by highest rainfall in the region. The vegeta- Jordanian territory forms, due to its geo- tion used to be dominated mostly by pine graphical position, a crossroad of different forests (Pinus hakpensis) in higher altitudes Zoogeographie realms (Afrotropical, Saharo- and oak forests (evergreen Quercus catiiprinos Sindian, Oriental, Palearctic), which influ- and deciduous Q. ithaburensis) at lower ele- ences the composition of the Jordanian her- vation. Other important trees include e.g. petofauna (e.g. ARNOLD 1987, Disi 1996, Juniperus ionicus, Cupressus sempervirens, JOGER 1987, HAAS 1952, WERNER 1987). Pistacia palaestina. Unfortunately, the major- Distribution of individual types of biogeo- ity of the region was deforested during the graphical regions in Jordan is, mainly in the long period of human occupation. Grazing of west, influenced by the altitude. The com- numerous herds of domestic animals leads to plicated mosaic of high mountains, steep forming secondary, heavily disturbed and slopes and deep wadis leads to the formation rather dry steppes. Deforested regions are of extremely narrow borders between indi- partly covered by secondary non-forest shrub vidual ecozones, or to their overlapping, and vegetation, known as garigue. Interestingly, causes mixing of floral and faunal elements isolated relict ecosystems with faunal and with different biogeographical affinities in floral elements, which can be confined to individual localities. The exact definition this ecozone, are found in the eastern desert and delimitation of these regions and deter- in Azraq and also in high elevations and mination of characteristic species is often deep valleys of the Ramm Mountains. The Denisia 14, zugleich Kataloge majority of species of the herpetofauna in der OÖ. Landesmuseen impossible and have very limited value for Neue Serie 2 (2004), 407-420 407 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Fig. 1: Ablepharus N 35° 3 37" 38° 39° species can be considered as Levant en- rueppellii is distributed A throughout ' demics, namely Chalcides guentheri, RAinorj- Mediterranean habitats. \ phlops simoni and Micrelaps muelleri. The giv- Southernmost record y / \ en distribution of Ablepharus rueppeüü (Fig. represents an isolated 33 1) is a typical example of distribution of a population in Wadi Ramm, which is probably r1 \ Mediterranean faunal element. of relict origin. V S i Irano-Turanian ecozone, an ecozone de- 32° i /1 fined mainly phytogeographically, forms a • • ^-*-- strip of mostly steppe habitats surrounding • -- the Mediterranean. It is often considered to I \ be only a transitional zone between drier 31° f • \ parts of the Mediterranean and surrounding / • \ ecozones. Regardless the poor definition, / • \ this ecozone is typical by prevailing steppe y | • habitats with some typical herpetofaunal el- 30° s • 1 ements, e.g. Trapelus ruderatus and Acantho- / dactylus tristrami. The distribution of latter / species (Fig. 2) gives an example of an oc- i •——— / currence of species confined to the Irano- Turanian ecozone. Saharo-Arabian ecozone - also called the Badyiah, covers the major part of the the Mediterranean ecozone are of Palearctic Jordanian inland. Depending on the geolo- origin. Most of the species of amphibians gy, geomorphology and latitude and alti- and reptiles inhabiting this ecozone are tude, this region is formed by the various widely distributed in the eastern Mediter- types of arid semidesert and desert habitats. ranean region, namely Rana bedriagae, Hyla Permanent natural water resources are ex- savignyi, Testudo graeca, Hemidactylus turd- tremely rare, the most important is the cus, Lacerta hevis, Typhbps vermicularis, Eryx Azraq oasis and Ghadir Burqu'. Various rep- jaculus, Malpolon monspessulanus and several tile taxa are typical for this ecozone, i. a. others. However, some of the local reptile Trapelus pallidus agnetae, Acanthodactylus ro- bustus, A. grandis, Malpolon moilensis, N 35° 36° 37° 38° 39° Pseudocerastes persicus and numerous others. t Fig. 3 shows a distribution of Pseudocerastes y persicus, as a typical example of species dis- y tributed within this ecozone. 33°- \ y y \ Afrotropical (or Sudanian) ecozone - y \ often called the Afrotropical penetration, • V y extends from Al Karama region in the north • / 32°- • through the Rift Valley to Aqabah and also to the east, including the sea shore. This -' | zone is typical by the presence of various 1 \ African elements and by extensive penetra- 31°- \ tion of Arabian herpetofaunal elements. / \ Phrynocephalus arabicus, Coluber elegantis- \ • simus, Atractaspis engaddensis and some oth- y j er reptile species are typically confined to 30°- this ecozone. In contrast, another scincid Fig. 2: Distribution of ) - .—- 1 t Acanthodactylus tristrami lizard, Scincus scincus meccensis (Fig. 4) is an / showing a pattern typical • Arabian faunal element that penetrates the **• •— / for species confined to territory of Jordan from sand deserts of Sau- the Irano-Turanian di Arabia. 408 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at In past two decades, Jordanian herpetol- N 35° 36° 37° 38° 39° Fig. 3: Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi is an ogy underwent remarkable progress, result- t example of a species, ing in dozens of publications in widely re- widely distributed in dry spected herpetological journals, for an arid and semiarid overview of history of Jordanian herpetology 33° habitats. Typically, it is parapatrical with Cerastes and a comprehensive summary of the cur- gasperettii. rent knowledge about the distribution, tax- onomy and biology of amphibian and reptil- ian species see DlSl et al. (2001). Amphibians of Jordan The amphibians represent a group of vertebrates depending on water and sur- rounding habitats, at least during the breed- ing season and larval development. Mainly in arid regions, the availability of suitable 30° water bodies represents the main limiting factor of amphibian distribution. Relatively humid regions of NW Jordanian highlands represent the centre of amphibian diversity in Jordan. Unfortunately, this region is, log- ically, also widely influenced by urbanisa- danian populations are threatened by regu- tion, agriculture and industry. The distribu- lation and/or destruction of suitable breed- tion of some amphibian species, namely ing sites. On the other hand, intense irriga- Pelobates syriacus and Triturus vittatus is lim- tion enables quick colonisation of new habi- ited only to this region and the current oc- tats in arid regions. currence of these species is questionable. P. syriacus has not been reported since 1973 and the occurrence of T. vittatus needs con- firmation as well. The remaining three am- phibian species are representatives of three amphibian families, basic data on their dis- tribution and ecology follow. 37° 38' 39° Bufonidae Bufo viridis LAURENTI 1768 (Fig. 5) In Jordan, B. viridis is the most wide- spread amphibian species, inhabiting all suitable habitats. It is limited only by the availability of breeding sites. As it is a pio- neering species, it quickly colonises tempo- rary water bodies, mostly in anthropogenous tc: habitats also extending its distribution into desert areas. Thus, it is difficult to determine 31 what the localities of original distribution are and where the species occurs secondari- ly due to previous human activities. Logical- Fig. 4: Distribution of Scincus scincus meccensis. ly, it is distributed mainly in the Mediter- 30° TT This species