4 Manavgat and Side
Manavgat is a small city between Antalya and Alanya. From the Taurus mountain ridge in the north to the coast in the south a lot of rivers run through the province. Although this area is full off tourism, forest fires and sheep farming, there are still plenty of good herp locations. The Turks may even be helpful in finding good spots, if you just ask…
Much of the coastal area is lowly elevated, to Turkish standards. Close to the beaches and hotel buildings we found many (often dry) riverbeds and maquis vegetation. Striped skink is common here. A handsome lizard found here is Lacerta pamphylia, an endemic species, which is related to L. trilineata and L. media.
Around the old city of Side we found many reptiles, including reddish whip-snake and the special Hatay Lizard (Phoenicolacerta laevis). This species is common in eastern Turkey, but (probably due to an introduction) they are also found around beach hotels and resorts near Side.
- Special thanks to Daniel Kane, for giving good herp-advise for the Side-area! -
| South-west Turkey | 7 Antalya | 3 East of Antalya | 4 Manavgat and Side | 5 Slopes of the east Taurus | 6 Alanya | 1 Lycian coast | 2 Finike |
Manavgat and Side
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Reptiles & amphibians |
04-2008 |
10-2008 |
04-2009 |
04-2010 |
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Levant water frog |
Rana bedriagae |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
Common tree frog |
Hyla arborea |
3 |
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|
|
|
Green toad |
Bufo viridis |
|
|
|
>10 |
|
Balkan terrapin |
Mauremys rivulata |
>10 |
>10 |
|
|
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Spur-thighed tortoise |
Testudo graeca |
>10 |
3 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
Turkish gecko |
Hemidactylus turcicus |
>10 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
Budaks' snake-eyed skink |
Ablepharus budaki |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
Striped skink |
Trachylepis vittata |
>10 |
>10 |
3 |
>10 |
|
Hatay Lizard |
Phoenicolacerta laevis |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
Ocellated skink |
Chalcides ocellatus |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Starred agama |
Laudakia stellio |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
Snake-eyed lizard |
Ophisops elegans |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
Emerald Lizard |
Lacerta pamphylia |
>10 |
|
|
|
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Eurpean glass Lizard |
Ophisaurus apodus |
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|
|
3 |
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Worm snake |
Typhlops vermicularis |
1 |
|
|
|
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Dahl’s whip snake |
Platyceps najadum |
3 |
|
|
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Reddish whip snake |
platiceps collaris |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Black whip snake |
Dolichophis caspius |
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|
|
3 |
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Dwarfsnake |
Erenis modesus |
4 |
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|
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Other highlights |
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White-Spectacled Bulbul |
4 |
>10 |
>10 |
>10 |
|
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TR_TestudoSide1_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/955.jpgSpur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) are common in near the coast.
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TR_hylaroep_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/956.jpgMale common treefrog (hyla arborea) in spring 2011, in a pond near Manavgat.
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TR_collaris_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/479.jpgReddish whip snake (Platiceps collaris). This one was found near the coast of Side.
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TR_collaris2_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/478.jpgSame specimen.
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TR_Hardun4_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/724.jpgMale hardun (Laudakia stellio) in spring.
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tr_hataylizard1_gl
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/481.jpgRecently discovered: Hatay lizard (Phoenicolacerta laevis) in a garden of a hotel resort near Side. hatay lizards are normaly distributed in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and eastern Turkey. They are problably introduced in SW-Turkey, e.g. with palm trees etc. when the big hotels were built.
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tr_hataylizard4_gl
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/516.jpgA female Hatay lizard.
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tr_hataylizard3_gl
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/483.jpgHatay lizards can be very variable; in spring the males may have red, yellow, green or bue heads.
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TR_pamphilica1_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/722.jpgA male Emerald Lizard (Lacerta pamphylia). This species is closely related to lacerta trilineata and L. media and is only found in a coastal strip between Antalya and Alanya.
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TR_TestudoSide2_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/954.jpgA Spur-thighed tortoise on the run.
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TR_vitata_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/485.jpgThe striped skink (Trachylepis vittata) is the most common skink in South Turkey.
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TR_Parelskink 2011_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/961.jpgOcellated skinks (Chalcides ocellatus) are common in the dunes along the coast of southern Turkey.
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tr_windhoos_gl
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/486.jpgA landspout (small tornado) near the coast, Side.
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TR_orchidee_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/517.jpgUnknown species of orchid in a forest...
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TR_Manavgatarchitect_GL
http://www.klooiplek.eu/images/trips/preview/725.jpgTypical Manavgat' architecture...
