1. INTRODUCTION
A New snake species Coluber cypriensis
(Schätti, 1985) which is endemic for Cyprus and a new lizard species, Ablepharus
budaki (Göçmen et al., 1996b) were recently described, stemming from
progressively increasing works on the herpetofauna of Cyprus (Schmidtler, 1984; Schätti,
1985; Osenegg, 1989; Schätti & Sigg, 1989; Wiedl & Böhme, 1992; Böhme &
Wiedl, 1994; Göçmen et al., 1996a). It was also reported that the taxonomical
states of Telescopus fallax, Vipera lebetina and Natrix natrix
were still problematical and the subspecific status of Bufo viridis
uncertain. The former Rana ridibunda of Cyprus is now a synonym of R.
levantina, a new species from Israel (Schneider et al., 1992; Böhme
& Wiedl, 1994). Basoglu & Baran (1977) included the Chamaeleo chamaeleon
populations of Cyprus to the nominate race, but Böhme & Wiedl (1994) were of the
opinion that they belong to C. c. recticrista, an eastern Mediterranean
race. The same authors pointed to the similarity of Ophisops elegans from
Cyprus to those from Hatay (SE Anatolia).
Budak & Göçmen (1995) found some significant
morphological differences between the L. laevis from Northern Cyprus and the
nominate race (L. laevis laevis) from Adana & Mersin (Budak, 1976),
however it would not be possible to differentiate the two populations by using
Werner's (1936) diagnostic characteristics. Thus, they strengthen the doubts of Osenegg
(1989) and Schatti & Sigg (1989) on this topic. According to Budak & Göçmen
(1995), the established differences may be at species level, raising the Cyprus form
to L. troodica. A serological study of Tosunoglu et al. (1999)
provided a significant degree of certainty to the difference of the two populations,
suggesting the name L. troodica for the Island form. So now, it is one of
the endemic species of the Island.
For a long time the Ablepharus populations of
the Island were accepted as, Ablepharus kitaibelii kitaibelii, the race of
adjacent mainland, until Göçmen et al. (1996b) pointed to the similarities of
this form to A. k. chernovi from Turkey & Armenia, and named it as A.
k. budaki. Later Schmidtler (1997) revised the genus Ablepharus
within its distribution area and concluded that the form from Cyprus is a distinct
species, its relatives inhabiting Israel, Syria and Turkey, and raised it to species level
as A. budaki.
On the other hand, Natrix natrix, which was
found to be extinct in Cyprus (Schmidtler, 1984; Schätti, 1985; Osenegg, 1989; Schätti
& Sigg, 1989), was again found as a breeding population in S Cyprus (Wiedl &
Böhme, 1992); and after quite a long time, Coluber najadum was reported
once more from N Cyprus (Göçmen et al, 1996a) after its initial report from the
Island by Boulenger (1910)
Amphibians and reptiles are considered together in books on
the herpetofauna. That is the way we tried to introduce and describe the amphibians and
reptiles of Cyprus in this site. Short explanations on their descriptive general
characteristics and relations with the environment are given below.
2.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AMPHIBIANS
Amphibians are a class of vertebrates between fishes
and reptiles, resembling in some aspects the fishes and in some others the higher groups;
i.e., amphibian embryos resemble those of fishes and their usual four limbs are similar to
those of terrestrial vertebrates. Amphibia (Greek Amphibios) means “living a double life”.
They live in water during an early stage of development and on land during the adult
stage, but always dependent on water. They are thought to be originated from fish-like
ancestors but then adapted to a living on land; for example, the adults have legs instead
of paired fins, the gills of larvae disappear and the adults develop lungs.
The skin of an amphibian is naked; i.e., it does not contain
scales, feathers or hairs; it is always kept moist by secretions of a lot of skin glands,
some of which are poison glands (Fig. 1).
Adult amphibians are carnivorous; insects, earthworms and
some land snails being their main diet. While in their larval stages urodeles are
carnivorous but anurans are herbivorous.
They usually metamorphose during their development; i.e.,
after the embryo they experience a larval stage, the duration of which is dependent on
species, also on temperature and some other extrinsic conditions.
The urodeles exhibit various lively colours, while in
anurans the colouration is in accordance with the environment. For example, Bufo viridis
(Green Toad) is so well camouflaged in its environment, one notices it only when it jumps
away.
Amphibians can not tolerate aridness and salinity in their
environments. That is why they do not live in the seas and would not survive if their
skins become dry.
Figure 1. A generalized male frog in
dorsolateral view (slightly modified from Arnold & Burton, 1978). 
3.
RELATIONS OF AMPHIBIANS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
Amphibians
have some natural enemies; some birds, aquatic turtles, snakes, several mammals, even some
large freshwater fish predate on amphibians, also their aquatic larvae are seriously
harmed by some insects. But of course, the greatest adversary of amphibians is man. On the
other hand, amphibians are beneficial to man, consuming large quantities of harmful
insects, thus keeping under control some agricultural pests and some pathogenic vectors.
Being usually ignorant of the benefits of amphibians in maintaining a natural equilibrium,
we greatly harm them intentionally or unintentionally; i.e., we destroy or obliterate
wetlands, their natural habitats, or seriously pollute some freshwater systems (rivers and
lakes). Thus, irreversibly deplete the natural stocks of the amphibian populations.
4. GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF REPTILES
Reptiles are a class of vertebrates between amphibians
and birds, adapted to a terrestrial life style. Their skins are dry, almost without any
skin glands. Over their skins a keratinous layer is present, which forms scales and plates
at different parts of the body (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). From
time to time, this layer is completely renewed.
Reptiles usually have four limbs, but some of them are
limbless. Even those with limbs have very low bodies so that they are in contact with the
ground. The majority of them live on land, but some are aquatic, however even those have
lungs.
Reptiles usually have copulation organs so they have
internal fertilization. They are usually oviparous, i.e., the females lay their eggs to
suitable places in their environment. The eggs are either covered with deformable elastic
skins or with hard, brittle shells. Some reptiles give birth to live young. They never
have a larval stage during their development, the young emerging from the eggs are like
miniature copies of the adults.
Reptiles are mainly carnivorous, however some turtles and
some lizards feed mainly on plant material.
Figure 2: Head plates in a
turtle: A, B-Dorsal, C-Lateral views. Pf: Praefrontale, F: Frontale, N: Nasale, M:
Massetericum. T: Tympanicum (slightly modified from Basoglu & Baran, 1977).
Figure 3. Keratin plates in
a generalized turtle shell: A- Carapace, B- Plastron. N: Nuchale, V1-V5:
Vertebralia, C1-C4: Costalia, M1-M11:
Marginalia, Sc: Supracaudalia, G: Gulare, H: Humerale, P: Pectorale, Ab: Abdominale, F:
Femorale, An: Anale, Ax: Axillare. In: Inguinale (slightly modified from Basoglu &
Baran, 1977).
Figure 4. Head and abdominal
plates in a lizard: A-Lateral, B-Dorsal, C-Ventral views, D-Ventral view of hind leg
region. An: Anale, Co: Collaria, F. Frontale, Fp: Frontoparietalia, Im: Inframaxillaria,
In: Internasale, Ip: Interparietale, FeP: Femoral Pores, KC: Cloacal Cleft, L: Loreal
Plates, M:Massetericum, Me: Mentale, MG: Median Gularia, N: Nasale, O: Occipitale, P:
Parietalia, Pan: Preanale, Pf: Praefrontalia, Pn: Postnasalia, Po: Preoculare, R:
Rostrale, SG: Supraciliar Granules, Su: Sulcus Gularis, Sl: Supralabialia, Sn:
Supranasalia, So: Suboculare, Soc: Supraocularia, SP: Supraciliar Plates, St:
Supratemporalia, T: Tympanicum, TP: Temporal Scales, V: Ventralia (slightly modified from
Basoglu & Baran, 1977 and Baran & Atatür, 1998).
Figure
5: Head plates in a typical snake: A- Dorsal, B- Lateral, C- Ventral views. 1: Rostrale,
2: Internasalia, 3: Praefrontalia, 4: Frontale, 5: Supraocularia, 6: Parietalia, 7:
Nasale, 8: Frenale, 9: Praeocularia, 10: Postocularia, 11: Temporalia, 12: Posttemporalia,
13: Supralabialia, 14: Sublabialia, 15: Mentale, 16: Anterior Inframaxillaria, 17:
Posterior Inframaxillaria, 18: Gularia, V: Ventrale (slightly modified from Basoglu &
Baran, 1978).
Figure
6: Ventral views of tails in snake families found in Cyprus Island. A-Typhlopidae (Typhlops
vermicularis), B-Colubridae (Coluber jugularis), C-Viperidae (Vipera
lebetina). Ay: Anal cleft, An: Anale, S: Subcaudale (slightly modified from
Basoglu & Baran, 1978).
5.
RELATIONS OF REPTILES WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
Some birds of prey and some mammals are the natural
enemies of reptiles. But again, their most dangerous enemy is man.
Some of the snake and lizard species are poisonous.
Poisonous lizards belonging to the genus Heloderma live in Middle America, i.e., no lizard
living in Cyprus Island is poisonous. But approximately 30% of the Cyprus snake species
are venomous. However, almost everybody is afraid of the snakes and they are usually
indiscriminately killed whenever seen. Some limbless lizards inhabiting the adjacent
mainland, but which do not exist in Cyprus, for example European Glass Lizard, Ophisaurus
apodus [Pseudopus apodus])
are also usually get killed, being mistaken with snakes.
Reptiles prefer warm to hot regions, their species and
numbers diminish towards colder areas. A lessening in abundance is also observed with
increasing altitude. Some specially adapted reptiles live on trees or in water.
The relations of reptiles with man are a little different
from those of other animal groups. As mentioned before, some of the snakes are venomous,
so the majority of the human population is afraid of snakes and tries to kill them if
possible, without discriminating the venomous from the harmless ones. In so harming the
general snake populations, we also destroy the equilibrium of nature. Some people are also
using various snakes as pet trade material, which also depletes natural snake populations,
and as a result, mice and rats in nature get out of control, causing much harm to our
various agricultural crops.
Some human activities pollute, reduce or completely destroy
habitats suitable for snakes. Also, the skins of some snakes are used in the manufacture
of shoes, belts, etc., resulting in uncontrolled hunting of these species, seriously
endangering their survival.
Reptiles developed and evolved into many diverse groups up
to and during Mesozoic, thus becoming the masters of our planet; but in later geological
ages a lot of reptile groups became extinct, so today only a small percentage of those
diverse groups survive. Compared with other vertebrates, reptile species are significantly
fewer both qualitatively and quantitatively.
6.
HUMANS VERSUS AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
The great majority of the amphibian and reptilian
fauna of Cyprus Island is without poison or venom.
Two species of the Island's snakes; Telescopus fallax (Cat
Snake) and Malpolon monspessulanus (Montpellier Snake) are usually harmless unless they
bite thin regions (like fingers) because their paired poison teeth are way back in their
upper jaws. They usually feed on small rodents like mice, thus they are effective in
saving some agricultural crops and help in keeping the general hygienic properties of the
environment. Some of the other reptilian and amphibian species are potential biological
pest controllers, feeding on various insect and rodent pests. Decreases in the populations
of amphibians and aquatic turtles caused by chemical pollution in their wetland habitats
result in a proportional increase in various insect pests sharing the same environment,
eradication of which is an expensive process. Similarly, fear of snakes resulting from
ignorance causes the local people to kill any snake on sight, removing important rodent
controllers from the environment.One should always keep in mind that these amphibian and
reptilian species do not share common food sources with man, and various lizard and snake
species never harm us, unless provoked or stepped-on accidentally, etc. However; the
Blunt-nosed Viper, Vipera lebetina, which may be encountered especially during the night
time in open grasslands, rocky-stony areas in Cyprus, may be dangerous to small and large
mammals, even to man, being venomous and having a large pair of poison fangs in front of
its upper jaw.
Taking into consideration the presence of both poisonous and
non-poisonous snakes on the Island, and the probability of being bitten by any one of
them, at least some basic information and first-aid procedures should be given.
A bitten person should not try to catch the
culprit, which may lead to further bitings. Any snake can bite a man and usually the
majority of snake bites are done by non-poisonous species, even the bite of a poisonous
snake does not always inject an effective amount of venom into the wound. With the proper
and timely precautions, death from snake bites on the island would be very rare indeed.
Even in untreated viper bite cases, death in the first 24 hours is almost impossible.
However such bites should be considered seriously and treated accordingly.
There may appear some observable symptoms at
the bite area within half an hour and they may indicate the possibility of poisoning. Then
no time should be lost in getting treatment, bearing in mind that over-excitement and
panic can also be harmful.
In case of poisoning the first symptoms are:
The first and sometimes the only symptom may be shock,
which can also result from the bite of a non-poisonous snake. The victim usually feels
weak but in extreme cases can become semi-conscious with cold, damp skin, weak pulse and
rapid, shallow breathing.
In case of a real poisoning, the bite area swells within
several minutes.
Later; sweating, vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea
may appear.
The first-aid procedure should be:
Victim should be reassured and calmed.
The bite area should be immobilized, movement may spread
the venom.
Prompt medical attention should be seeked, preferably at a
hospital with viper antivenin facilities.
If medical attention is likely to be delayed for over an
hour, a firm (but not tight) ligature can be applied above the bite area to retard the
spreading of venom. Cutting with a sterile razor or sucking of the wound is not
recommended since the former may lead to shock and the latter to secondary poisoning.
Washing the wound with strong disinfectants or with potassium permanganate solution should
also be avoided.
In some highly
sensitive people (to snake venom) the bite is immediately followed by a collapse. Medical
attention should be given to them as soon as possible.
[Site Main Page] [Site
Ana Sayfa]
[English Herpetofauna Main Page] [Türkçe Herpetofauna Ana Sayfa]
|
