Eryx tataricus (Lichtenstein in Eversmann, 1823)

Jablonski, Daniel, Khalili, Faizurrahman & Masroor, Rafaqat, 2023, The herpetofaunal diversity of Takhar Province, Afghanistan, Herpetozoa 36, pp. 73-90 : 73

Eryx tataricus (Lichtenstein in Eversmann, 1823)

Figs 9 , 10A, B

Takhar records.

Bay Yawa (Keserkul), 37.4280°N, 69.7195°E, 685 m a.s.l., 29 May 2020, found in the arid habitat near water (CUHC-PA 188); Taleqan (Takhar University Campus), 36.7388°N, 69.4852°E, 792 m a.s.l., 17 September 2020, hilly area with the steppe vegetation, one juvenile individual of unknown sex (CUHC-PA 175); Bay Yawa Sharqi, 37.4337°N, 69.7538°E, 958 m a.s.l., 15 September 2021, rocky habitat, one adult individual of unknown sex (CUHC-PA 220).

Distribution in Afghanistan.

This species has been recorded in Provinces of Badakhshan, Badghis, Faryab, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kunduz, Laghman, Nangarhar ( Wagner et al. 2016) and Takhar. It represents 35% of all provinces.

Chorotype.

Turanian.

Remarks.

We bring the first record from Takhar Province that creates a connection to so-far isolated and surprisingly high elevated record (FMNH 161123) from Zebak "102.4 kilometres east of Faizabad", (2653 m a.s.l.; 18 August 1965), Badakhshan Province ( Anderson and Leviton 1969). More data are needed regarding the morphology and genetics of the species from Afghanistan to resolve its distribution. It can be confused with E. elegans (Gray, 1849), a similar species inhabiting mostly rocky habitats. Record provided by Boulenger (1889), i.e. “Afghanistan” cannot be exactly georeferenced.

Figures

Figure 9. Herpetofaunistic records of Erycidae, Colubridae, Natricidae and Elapidae from Takhar Province in the context of updated records from Afghanistan (white dots: published data; red dots: new data).

Figure 10. A. Juvenile individual of Eryx tataricus from Taleqan (CUHC-PA 175); B. Adult female of E. tataricus from Bay Yawa (Kaserkul) (CUHC-PA 188); C, D. Dorsal and ventral view on subadult male of Hemorrhois ravergieri from Bay Yawa (Kaserkul) (CUHC-PA 177); E. Ventral view on adult female of Natrix tessellata from Taleqan (CUHC-PA 176); F. Adult female of N. tessellata from Bay Yawa (CUHC-PA 206); G. Juvenile individual of Naja oxiana from Bay Yawa (CUHC-PA 199).