O. G. Dely szerk.: Vertebrata Hungarica 21. (Budapest, 1982)
Rustamov, A. K. ; Shammakov, S.: On the herpetofauna of Turkmenistan 215-226. o.
(Table 2 cont.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Naja oxiana (xx) + + + + + + Vipera lebetina (xx) + + + + Echis carinatus (xx) + + + + + + + Agkistrodon halys (x) + + + * Typically lowland species are marked with (x), and mountain-lowland species with (xx). Species occurring in a natural region are marked with (+), and those occurring only in a given region with (++) from the adjacent piedmonts of the Kopetdag and from the lower reaches of river valleys. These include Mabuya aurat a, Euroeces schneide n, Mesalina guttulat a, Eremias velo x, Natrix tesseilat a. Coluber rhodor hachis, C. ravergler i and Vipera lebetina. There are rather many species, namely 39, in the Amu Darya natural region. This is explained by the diversity of habitats, the juxtaposition with the Kara-Kum, and the geographical situation of the River. It is not a mere chance that many widely dispersed species may be found here, as well as 7 species whose southern boundary of distribution runs just over these places. The are the following species: Alsophylax loricatus, Gymnodactylus fedtchenko i, Phrynocephalus rog3ikow i, Phr. reticulatus, Eremias regel i, E. argut a and E. nigrocellat a. The Sarykamysh region, despite its immediate proximity to the Kara-Kum and Amu Darya natural regions, harbours considerably fewer species than the latter two, only 21, Some psammophilous and southern form do not reach these places in their migration. They are representatives of the Scincidae family, and also such species as Mesalina guttulat a, Eremias script a, Coluber rhodorhachi s, Boiga trigonatu m, Naja oxia na, Echis carinatu s and Vipera lebetin a. The faunistical characteristics of other natural regions will not be dealt with; the biotopic relationships of reptiles are discussed below. 2. Biotopic and vertical distributions Seven biotopes can be distinguished in lowland Turkmenistan, namely, 1) sandy desert areas, 2) clay desert areas, 3) scree desert areas, 4) solonchak desert areas, 5) man's constructions, 6) river floodplains and cultivated lands, and 7) water bodies. The distribution of reptiles over these biotopes is given in Table 3. It can be seen from Table 3 that, according to the biotopic relationships, clay desert areas are the most repleted with species. This biotope is inhabited by 20 species wich prefer compacted soils, while nine species, although occurring here, are less characteristic for it. The fauna of the sandy areas is comprised of 10 characteristic and 19 less characteristic species, scree areas - 1 and 9, solonchak areas 2 - and 15, man's constructions - 2 and 17, river floodplains and cultivated lands - 13 and 13 respectively, and, finally, 5 species inhabit water basins, their life being related to water to a large extent. Some species are eurytopic and others are stenotopic. The following reptiles may be attributed as eurytopic species occurring in various habitats: Agrionemys horsfieldi, Gymnodactylus caspicus. Agama sanguinolent a. Varanus griseu s. Eremias velo x. E. intermedia, Coluber karelini, C. rhodorhachi s. Spalerosophis diadem a. Boiga trigonatum, Psammophis lineolatu m, Naja oxian a and Echis carinatu s; the following species are rather similar to this group: Alsophilax pipien s. Gymnodactylus russowi, Phr.ynocephaius radde i, Mabuya aurata, Eumeces schneide n, Mesalina guttulata, Eremias lineolat a, Lacerta strigat a, Er.yx miliari s, Coluber ravergieri, Lithorhynchus ridgeway l, Elaphe dion e. Agkistrodon hal.ys , and Vipera lebetina . The following reptiles are stenotopic species: Mauremys caspica, Em.ys orbicularis, Teratoscincus scincus, Crossobamon eversmanni, Alsophylax laevis, A. loricatus, Gymnodactylus fedtchenko i, Phr.ynocephaius helioscopus. Phr. rossikow i, Phr. reticulatu s, Phr. maculatus. Phr. interscapulari s, Phr. mystaceus, Eumeces taeniolatus. Ablepharus pannonicus, A. deserti, Eremias regel i, E. arguta, E. nigrocellata, E. scripta. E. grammic a, Natrix natri x, N. tessellata. Coluber jugulari s, Pt.yas mucosus , and Elaphe quatuorlineata.
