Si̇vas province herpetofauna

Sivas province has a very high biodiversity due to many reasons such as being at the intersection of Iran-Turan floristic region and Europe-Siberian floristic region, being a gateway between Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea climates, having very large surface area and rich aquatic habitats, and showing geological and geographical diversity. In order to reveal the herpetofauna of Sivas province, field studies were carried out regularly in all months of between March 2016 and December 2020. As a result of the study, a total of 38 species belonging to 15 families (Bufonidae, Hylidae, Pelobatidae, Ranidae, Salamandridae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Testudinidae, Agamidae, Geckonidae, Lacertidae, Boidae, Scincidae, Colubridae, Viperidae) were recorded. Among the species detected, Hyla orientalis, Pelobates syriacus, Mertensiella caucasica, Mediodactylus kotschyi, Apathya cappadocica, Eryx jaculus, Elaphe sauromates, Platyceps najadum and Telescopus fallax were recorded for the first time in Sivas province. Also new localities were recorded for Rana macrocnemis, Salamandra infraimmaculata, Emys orbicularis, Mauremys caspica, Testudo graeca, Stellagama stellio, Trapelus lessonae, Apathya cappadocica, Darevskia rudis, Ophisops elegans, Eumeces schneideri, Heremites vittatus, Dolichophis caspius, Dolichophis schmidti, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata, Zamenis hohenackeri, Macrovipera lebetina, Montivipera albizona and Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana.