Biogeographia - vol. XXI — 2000 (Pubb/icato il 30 giugno 2000) Biogeografia de|l’AnatoIia The reptiles of Anatolia: a checklist and zoogeographical analysis 1 ROBERTO SINDACO *, ALBERTO VENCH1”, GIUSEPPE M. CARPANETO **, MARCO A. BOLOGNA** ”‘c/0 Museo Ciz/ico di Storizz Naturzzle, CI’. 89 - I-10022 Czzmulgnolzz (TO) (Italy) **Dz'pzzrtiment0 Ali Biologia, Universitiz degli Studi “Roma Tre”, Vizzle G. Marconi, 446 — ]—00146R0mzz (Italy) Key words: reptiles, Anatolia, Near East, zoogeography, faunas. SUMMARY The geographical distribution 0F Reptiles in the Anatolian region is examined and discussed, in comparison with the reptile faunas of other Near East areas. The study area was confined to the Asiatic territories included within the political borders of the Turkish Republic, and the Greek islands along the Turkish coasts; the Turkish Thrace was excluded because on the European continental shelf. An updated checklist of the 109 species of indigenous reptiles (8 Turtles, 1 Amphisbaenian, 55 Lizards, 45 Snakes), belonging to 48 genera and 19 families, is presented. For each species are given: (1) the general distribution, (2) the distribution in Anatolia, (3) the main chorotype and the detailed one, (4) a short notice on affinities when available, (5) an outline of subspecies occurring in Anatolia, (6) a map with both bibliographic and unpublished records (for indigenous species only). The term “endemicq was used For species found solely in Anatolia or living within Anatolia and extending to some restricted adjacent areas. The highest number (10) of endemic taxa is referable to an “Armenianq pattern of distribution, which usually includes species inhabiting mountains or plateaux. These are usually adapted to steppe or rocky habitats in the north—eastern Anatolia and, more or less marginally, also in Transcaucasia. Excluding the endemic species, representing the 26% of the reptile fauna, three chorotypes are dominant: the SW—Asiatic (23%), the E—Mediterranean (18%), and the Turano—Mediterranean (9%). Other chorotypes are represented by low percentages, except for the Mediterranean (5%). From the similarity dendrogram, six larger divisions corresponding to main geographic regions of Anatolia were selected and then compared with 13 selected geographic areas outside Anatolia, in order to check their faunistic affinities. INTRODUCTION The herpetofauna of the Near East is very rich and diverse. In terms of species richness and taxonomic diversity of reptiles, this area harbours the most remarkable reptile fauna within the Western Palaearctic region, owing to the high habitat diversity and historical zoogeographical factors. Present knowledge is based on some major works dealing with national or regional areas (e.g., Baran, 1976, Basoglu and Baran, 1977, 1980; Baran and Atatiir, 1998: Turkey; Disi, 1 Zoological researches in the Near East by the Universities of Rome: 197. This study was supported by grants from MURST 1999 (University of “Roma Tre”) “Variazione geografim e diversita a livello di specie, faune e zoocenosi: cause storiche ed ecologicheq. ,