Biogeographia - vol. XX - 1999 (Pubblicato i/ 31 ottobre 1999) Biogeografia deH’AnatoIia A proposal for a chorotype classification of the Near East fauna, in the framework of the Western Palearctic regionl AUGUSTO VIGNA TAGLIANTI *, PAOLO A. AUDISIO *, MAURIZIO BIONDI **, MARCO A. BOLOGNA***, GIUSEPPE M. CARPANETO ***, ALESSTO DE BlASE*, SIMONE FATTORINI *, EMANUELE PMTTELLA*, ROBERTO SINDACO ****, ALBERTO VENCHI ***, MARZIO ZAPPAROLI ***** *Dz'pzzrtz'mento di Biologia Animzzlc e de[[’U0m0 (Zoologizz), Universitfz degli Studi “Lzz Szzpimzzz ’: Viczle a’e[[’Uniz/ersz’tz‘z, 32 — ]—00]85 Roma (Ira/zkz) **Dzpartimenro dz’ Scz'enzeAml9z'entzzZz', Um’z/ersitiz di Li/lqui/zz, Lac. Coppito — 1-671 00 I. ’/Iquilzz {]tzz[z'zz) ***Dz}mrz‘z‘mem‘o di Bio/ogizz, Um‘z/er:z’z‘z‘z degli Studi “Roma Tre”, Via/e G. Marconi, 446 — I—00]46 Roma (ftzzlzkz) ”qq**c/o Museo Ciz/ico zli Storizz Nzzrumle, CP. 89 — 1-1 0022 Czzrmzzgnolzz (TO) (frzzlizz) *****Dz'pzzrtimento di Protezione delle Pizmte, Urzizzersitiz dellzz Tuscizz, Via San Czzmil/0 de Lellis — ./301100 Viterlm (Ittz/izz) Key words: chororypes, Near East, Western Palearctic region, zoogeography. SUMMARY The distribution patterns of the Anatolian and, more generally, of the Near East fauna were analysed. As a result of the comparison of over 3,000 geographical ranges of terrestrial and freshwater animal species, a classification of chorotypes is proposed. The Near East chototypes are also examined in the general Framework of the Western Palearctic fauna, in accordance with a previous research focused on the Italian Peninsula, here revised and updated. The following taxonomic groups have been studied by a team of specialists: Chilopoda, Coleoptera (Carabidae, Hydraenidae, Phalacridae, Nitidulidae, Kateretidae, Scarabaeoidea, Meloidae, Oedemeridae, Tenebrionidae, Chrysomelidae), Amphibia and Reptilia. The map of each distribution pattern, as well as numerical and letter codes useful for tables, faunistic checklists and software databases, is given. INTRODUCTION The geographical distribution of plants and animals may be synthetically expressed by chorotypes. These are the items of a classification based on 1 Zoological researches in the Near East by Universities ofRorne: 186. This study was supported by grants from MURST 1999 (University of “Roma Tre”) “Variazione geografica e diversita a livello di specie, faune e zoocenosi: cause sroriche ed ecologicheq.