A new population and subspecies of the critically endangered Anatolian meadow viper Vipera anatolica Eiselt and Baran, 1970 in eastern Antalya province

Abstract

We report on a new population of Vipera anatolica from the Geyik Mountain Range in eastern Antalya Province, Turkey. It represents only the second known location, and is situated in a valley about 200 km east from the terra typica at Kohu Dağ in western Antalya Province. We compare both populations and, based on marked differences in morphology, habitat, genetics, and its geographically isolated location, we describe the recently discovered population as a new subspecies. Aspects of ecology, threats, and conservation needs are discussed.

Extended snake venomics by top-down in-source decay: Investigating the newly discovered Anatolian Meadow viper subspecies,Vipera anatolica senliki

“…species and subspecies are compared by their composition. Taxonomic relations based on Alencar et al 79 and Göçmen et al 41 are shown without genetic distances. The asterisked data set is a result of this study.…”

“…Vipera anatolica senliki is a newly discovered subspecies of V. anatolica . 41 After the description of a new subspecies ( V. a. senliki ), the populations in Kohu Mountain, Çığlıkara Cedar Reserve became nominotypic ( V. a. anatolica ). Therefore, a comparative analysis of venoms between these two subspecies is warranted, and this, in the context of venoms of other closely related and geographically proximal Vipera species, could provide insights into inter-specific and geographic venom variation in this region.…”

“…40 The venom proteome was previously described and is composed of snake venom metalloproteases (svMP), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP), phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), disintegrins (DI), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), C-type lectin-like proteins (CTL), Kunitz-type protease inhibitors (KUN) and various small peptides. 18 In a recent field study by Göçmen et al 41 a new population of the rare Anatolian meadow viper was discovered at the Senir, Serinyaka and Gelesandra Plateaus of Gündoğmuş district in eastern Antalya province, around 200 km distant from the known habitats. Subsequent, morphological and genetic analysis against known V. anatolica (now V. a. anatolica ; Vaa) populations allowed a taxonomic classification and is designated Vipera anatolica senliki ( V. a. senliki ; Vas) as new subspecies.…”

“…Subsequent, morphological and genetic analysis against known V. anatolica (now V. a. anatolica ; Vaa) populations allowed a taxonomic classification and is designated Vipera anatolica senliki ( V. a. senliki ; Vas) as new subspecies. 41 The combination of venom gland transcriptomics, decomplexing bottom-up proteomics, intact mass profiling and ISD top-down proteomics of V. a. senliki venom shed further light on the detailed venom composition of V. a. senliki and subspecies venom variations.…”

A new subspecies of Ottoman viper, Montivipera xanthina (Gray, 1849), (Squamata: Viperidae) from Geyik Mountains, Mediterranean Turkey

“…Other sympatrically living reptiles are; Testudo graeca, Anatololacerta pelasgiana, Stellagama stellio, Eirenis modestus, Platyceps najadum and newly described critically endangered viper subspecies Vipera anatolica senliki. Also, Pelophylax bedriagae and Ablepharus budaki were given as sympatric species in Göçmen et al (2017). Derivatio nominis: The newly described subspecies were named in honor of Prof. Dr. Cemal Varol TOK who made valuable contributions to Turkish Herpetofauna and also the word "var'ol" is a verb that means "to exist, to stay alive, to be in existence".…”