NE-Turkey
From 25 May 25 to 3 June 2013 we visited northeastern Turkey. Target species were Kaznakov's viper, Caucasian salamander, Caucasian parsley frog and Baran viper (which we dipped). We drove from Trabzon airport to the east and back.
We were amazed by the humid, damp climate, the temperate rainforest and the impact of tea culture on the landscape. Notwithstanding the overall very friendly reputation of the Turkish people, it must be mentioned that, generally, we felt very noticed by the local people and from time to time we were checked by officials. As if there is a seemingly general suspiciousness towards nature-oriented tourists from abroad, possibly as a result of previous visitors having violated the protection of vulnerable species.
Table 1: Observations at the valley of Senyuva
Reptiles & amphibians |
|
05-2013 |
Caucasian Salamander |
Mertensiella caucasica |
1 |
Nothern banded newt |
Ommatotriton ophryticus |
>15 |
Common Tree Frog |
Hyla arborea |
>30 |
Caucasian Toad |
Bufo verrucosissimus |
2 + larvae |
Caucasian Parsley Frog |
Pelodytes caucasicus |
1 + spawn |
Marsh frog |
Pelophylax ridibundus |
>15 |
Long-legged Wood Frog |
Rana macrocnemis |
2 + larvae |
Clarks’ Lizard |
Darevskia clarkorum |
4 |
Ajarian Lizard |
Darevskia mixta |
1 |
Derjugin’s Lizard |
Darevskia derjugini |
>10 |
Red-bellied Lizard |
Darevskia parvula |
>20 |
Spiny-tailed lizard |
Darevskia rudis |
>20 |
Slow worm |
Angius fragilis |
2 |
Grass Snake |
Natrix n. persa |
3 |
“Large headed Grass Snake” |
“Natrix megalocephala” |
2 |
Dice Snake |
Natrix tessellata |
4 |
|
|
|
Other Highlights |
|
|
Bottlenose dolphin (?) |
|
|
Table 2: Hopa and Borca
Reptiles & amphibians |
|
05-2013 |
Caucasian Salamander |
Mertensiella caucasica |
larvae |
Long-legged Wood Frog |
Rana Macrocnemis |
1 |
Common Tree Frog |
Hyla arborea |
calling |
Caucasian Toad |
Bufo verrucosissimus |
2 |
Green Toad |
Pseudepidalea viridis |
1 + larvae |
Clarks’ lizard |
Darevskia clarkorum |
2 |
Derjugin’s lizard |
Darevskia derjugini |
>10 |
Spiny-tailed lizard |
Darevskia rudis |
>40 |
Red-bellied Lizard |
Darevskia parvula |
>20 |
Levant Green Lizard |
Lacerta media |
3 |
Slow worm |
Angius fragilis |
4 |
Aesculapian Snake |
Zamenis longissimus |
2 |
Smooth Snake |
Coronella austriaca |
7 |
Grass Snake |
Natrix n. persa |
1 |
“Large Headed Grass Snake” |
Natrix megalocephala |
2 |
Dice Snake |
Natrix tessellata |
2 |
Dahl’s Whip Snake |
Platyceps najadum |
2 |
Caspian Whip Snake |
Dolichophis caspius |
3 |
Caucasus Viper |
Vipera kaznakovi |
2 |
Transcaucasian Long-Nosed Viper |
Vipera transcaucasiana |
3 |
|
|
|
Other highlights |
|
|
|
|
|
Table 3: Ardanuc
Reptiles & amphibians |
|
05-2013 |
Green Toad |
Pseudepidalea viridis |
larvae |
Marsh Frog |
Pelophylax ridibundus |
>30 |
Banded Frog |
Rana camerani |
>15 |
Red-bellied Lizard |
Darevskia parvula |
>15 |
Sand Lizard |
Lacerta agilis |
2 |
Levant Green Lizard |
Lacerta media |
1 |
Caspian Whip Snake |
Dolichophis caspius |
1 |
Blunt-nosed Viper |
Macrovipera lebetina |
1 |
|
|
|
Other highlights |
|
|
Brown Bear |
Ursus arctos |
3 |
Bearded Vulture |
Gypaetus barbatus |
1 |
Griffon Vulture |
Gyps fulvus |
1 |
Common scops-owl |
Otus scops |
calling |
Long-legged Buzzard |
Buteo rufinus |
1 |
|
|
|
Table 4: Macka
Reptiles & amphibians |
|
06-2013 |
Caucasian Salamander |
Mertensiella caucasica |
>20 |
Common toad |
Bufo bufo |
2 |
Marsh Frog |
Pelophylax ridibundus |
>10 |
Common Tree Frog |
Hyla arborea |
3 + larvae |
Long-legged Wood Frog |
Rana macrocnemis |
8 |
Levant Green Lizard |
Lacerta media |
1 |
Ajarian Lizard |
Darevskia mixta |
>100 |
Slow Worm |
Angius Fragilis |
3 |
Grass snake |
Natrix natrix |
3 |
Dice Snake |
Natrix tessellata |
2 |
Caspian Whip Snake |
Dolichophis caspius |
1 |
|
|
|