Muammer Kurnaz

Verified

Muammer verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

Learn more

Verified

Muammer verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

Learn more

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at Gümüşhane University

The Italian wall lizard and the Balkan wall lizard have a series of taxonomic revisions. However, their phylogenetic relationships still remain uncertain in Turkey. In the present study, we have assessed taxonomic relationships, both of Podarcis siculus and Podarcis tauricus through estimation of phylogenetic relationships among 43 and 42 specimens...

The spiny-tailed lizard of the genus Darevskia have a series of taxonomic revisions, but still their phylogenetic relationships remain uncertain. In the present study, we have assessed taxonomic relationships among Darevskia bithynica and Darevskia rudis populations through estimation of phylogenetic relationships among 96 specimens using microsate...

The life-history traits of P. siculus were investigated by skeletochronology in a population inhabiting an altitude of 28 m a.s.l. in Filyos, Turkey. The mean age was 6.8 years while the minimum and maximum age ranged from 4-12 years in males and 4-10 years in females, respectively. The mean age of the specimens was not significantly different betw...

The effects of global climate change and the related temperature increases on the behavior and life adaptation of organisms are a significant concern for ectothermic species. In this study, the winter activities of reptiles in the Anatolian Peninsula were examined by considering the potential effects of climate change on their behavior. In this con...

Until 2016, two subspecies of Neurergus strauchii were identified; at this time, one more subspecies was described from Tunceli as N. s. munzurensis. However, this study mainly focused on morphological characters. We aim to test of Neurergus species, including N. s. munzurensis taxa by phylogenetic analysis, using partial base sequences of 12S rRNA...

Climate change poses a significant threat to ectothermic, dispersal-limited reptiles such as Zamenis snakes in the western Palearctic. This study used ensemble ecological models to assess the potential distribution of six Zamenis species under climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5). In addition, we examined niche dynamics through overlap,...

Climate change poses a significant threat to ectothermic, dispersal-limited reptiles such as Zamenis snakes in the western Palearctic. This study used ensemble ecological models to assess the potential distribution of six Zamenis species under climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5). In addition, we examined niche dynamics through overlap,...

The seasonal dynamics of reptile species, particularly their responses to temperature fluctuations, play a crucial role in their ecological functioning. Here we report the winter activity of the Blunt-nosed Viper (Macrovipera lebetinus), a reptilian species primarily distributed across the Middle East for the first time. While extensive research ex...

The genus Lacerta, particularly the green lizard (Lacerta viridis), is a significant lizard group in the Western Palearctic. This study aims to predict its geographic range in Northern Türkiye and identify key habitat types based on the CORINE Land Cover classification. Occurrence records, gathered from published sources and on-site investigations,...

The degree to which closely related species conserve or diverge in their niche characteristics may provide insight into evolutionary and diversification processes, as well as some understanding of broad-scale biogeographic patterns. In this study, we used an ensemble of 10 algorithms to predict the distributions of 12 Ablepharus species in geograph...

Ecological niche modeling predicts the potential distribution areas of species and contributes to measuring the niche differentiation among taxa. Montivipera albizona and M. bulgardaghica are two mountain viper taxa distributed in Anatolia. In the present study, the habitat suitability of M. albizona and M. bulgardaghica was assessed, and ecologica...

The present study was designed to obtain information about life history traits of Lacerta viridis in the Belen population with an altitude of 292 m. In the adult sample (21 males and 15 females), the age ranged from 3 – 10 (X = 6.97) years for both sexes collectively, 5 – 10 (X = 7.43) years in males, 3 – 8 (X = 6.33) years in females and not diffe...

The Caucasian Biodiversity Hotspot is one of the 36 majorly valuable region in the terrestrial world. Due to its climatological and geological uniqueness, species have adapted well to local dynamics and as a result of it, species richness level is remarkably high. Genus Darevskia, which is one of the largest vertebrate group in Western Palearctic,...

Darevskia is a particularly species-rich radiation of Palearctic rock lizards from the Caucasus region. Thanks to intense systematic and taxonomic research, the knowledge of species-level diversity within this genus has increased over the last quarter century. Here, we described a new species, Darevskia salihae sp. nov. from northeastern Turkey. Th...

Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 is one of the widespread lizard genus in North Africa, southern Europe, Asia Minor to the Iberian Peninsula and east through the Arabian Peninsula and western India. We recently discovered Acanthodactylus ilgazi from Eastern Anatolia Turkey. However, a nomenclatural clause for electronic publishing of species names ac...

In this study, we re-examine the Darevskia parvula group comprehensively using morphology, osteology and mitochondrial phylogeny, and describe a new endemic species from Turkey: Darevskia tuniyevisp. nov. A total of 257 adult specimens were evaluated for external morphology (scalation and biometry) with univariate (descriptive statistics and ANOVA...

The Anatolian Peninsula is very richly biodiverse in terms of its location and with new studies, this wealth has gradually increased as new taxa of Anatolian origin are added to the literature. Ablepharus budaki and A. anatolicus, formerly considered to be subspecies of A. kitaibelli and A. budaki respectively, are spread throughout the southern pa...

Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 is one of the most diverse and widespread lizard genus in the Palearctic realm. Here, we describe a new species, - Acanthodactylus ilgazi sp. nov. - from the Anatolian Peninsula. This new species ranges approximately 250 km north from the closest population of this genus in Turkey. Compared to other fringe-fingered li...

Interactions between the internal regulation and the environment drive the biophysiological patterns of amphibians. It is well known phenomenon that newts in the northern hemisphere are tend to have hibernation strategies in winter seasons. However, the winter activity record for newts is quite rare. Therefore, we would like to report two winter ac...

Each species is unique in the area it lives in and while they are distributed in these areas, they are affected by many biotic and abiotic variables. These factors both create all the life requirements of the species in the habitats they live in and reveal the ecological barrier of the species between each other. In this presented study, Testudo gr...

The spiny-tailed lizard, which has a series of taxonomic revisions, is one of the most common lizard species in Turkey. In this study, sequence data derived from three microsatellite loci (Du215, Du281, and Du323), two mitochondrial (16S rRNA and Cyt-b) genes and combined data were used to evaluate the taxonomic status of Darevskia rudis and Darevs...

In this study, we report new locality records for Eumeces schneiderii and Trapelus ruderatus from Malatya, Eastern Anatolia. As the new locality is about 60 km north of the known distribution area for E. schneiderii from Malatya and T. ruderatus is the first record for this province. A summary of metric and meristic characteristics was with color-p...

The Anatolian newt, Neurergus strauchii, is an endemic Anatolian species. Until recently, N. strauchii was represented by three subspecies. It has been discussed within a recent phylogenetic study in which the subspecies N. s. barani is recommended to be evaluated as a cryptic but distinct species. To address this subject, we aimed to discuss the n...

Turkey is biogeographically diverse and consequently has a rich herpetofauna. As a result of active herpetological research, the number of species has steadily increased in recent times. I here present a new checklist of amphibian and reptile species distributed in Turkey, revising the nomenclature to reflect the latest knowledge. In addition, info...

Species are affected by many biotic and abiotic variables while distributed in the geographical areas on the earth. These factors constitute all the life-related needs of the species in their habitats and constitute the ecological barrier between the species. In this study, E. strauchiwas recorded for the first time from Erzurum province and this r...

Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) and D. bithynica (Méhely, 1909) are morphologically different species, but they are phylogenetically same species in the D. rudis complex. These species are distributed in northern of Turkey. In the present study, we have evaluated taxonomic status of D. rudis and D. bithynica using ecological niche differentiation....

Age structure of the eastern spadefoot toad, Pelobates syriacus from the Kızılırmak Delta (Turkey) were assessed using phalangeal skeletochronology. Snout-vent length (SVL) ranged from 42.05 to 86.63 mm in males and 34.03 to 53.27 mm in females. Age of adults ranged from 2 to 8 years in males and 3 to 5 years in females. For both sexes, SVL was sig...

Many wild animals are exposed to road kills in the world. Amphibians and reptiles which live near the roads are the most endangered groups among vertebrates related to the road kills. However, there are only few studies about the road kills of amphibians and reptiles in Turkey. We recorded 23 individuals (6 amphibian individuals belonging to 2 spec...

Geographical distribution has an importance to contribute the conservation, ecology and evolution of the species. Many species have different evolutionary processes in their distribution area, and these processes were affected by many biotic and abiotic factors. In the present study, we contributed to knowledge of distribution of the Caspian stripe...

In the present study, we contributed to knowledge of distribution of the Italian wall lizard, P. siculus in Turkey. Besides , we gave some morphological data about species from Akçakoca population. The morphological data of the specimens from Akçakoca were generally found to be similar with the known literature. Only some morphological characterist...

The groups of red-bellied lizards had a small distribution area in the Pontic zone. The several studies performed on these lizard groups are based on taxonomy and systematics. Although there were several taxonomic or systematic researches on some species of this group, the phylogeographical pattern and species disturbing boundaries of this group is...

This study provides information about age and growth of Lacerta trilineata BEDRIAGA, 1886, in the population from Sergen, West Turkey, at an altitude of 420 m a.s.l. Age at maturity, sexual size difference (SSD) and growth rate of the sample are presented. Cross-sections of phalangeal bones were examined based on the skeletochronology method. in th...

The Caucasian salamander, Mertensiella caucasica, is a vulnerable species, distributed in a restricted area from the southwest of Georgia to the northeast of Turkey. This study presents five new localities from the Gümüşhane province in Turkey. The new localities extent the known distribution by about 40 km southwards. We determine the species’ pot...

We studied age, growth and longevity in a population (Değirmenyeni) of B. bombina from Turkey by skeletochronology performed on the phalanges. The mean age was found to be 4.23 years. The maximum life span was 7 years. The sexual maturity was 2 – 4 years. The sexes did not exhibit any differences in terms of mean body size (SVL). For both sexes, we...

Two new localities (Hisarlı and Söğütlüdere) of the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) which has been recently reported for the first time in Turkey were found in the present study. We showed the restricted distribution area of the species in Turkey and tried to explain the protection and threat conditions of the yellow-bellied toad. B. varieg...

Darevskia clarkorum is an endangered species distributed within a restricted area in Georgia and Turkey. The study has presented a new locality in the Province of Gümüşhane for the species. As the new locality is about 40 km away from the known distribution area, it is important in terms of defining the southernmost distribution area and limited lo...

Life history traits of the Yellow-bellied Toad, Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758), were studied in a population from Enez (Edirne, Turkey) applying skeletochronological techniques to phalangeal bones. in the adult sample (21 males and 22 females) age ranged from two to eight ( x̄ = 4.35) years. The age at sexual maturity was one to two years. Ther...

The present study was designed to compare the life history traits of two Podarcis muralis populations located at sites of different elevation. The age at maturity was similar in both populations, whereas longevity was found to be lower in the lowland one (Dereköy). The males and females of both populations had a similar snout-vent length (SVL) and...

The authors investigated potential effects of climatic factors on age and growth in two populations of Darevskia derjugini (NIKOLSKY, 1898), located at different elevations in Turkey. although elevation, mean annual temperature, precipitation and humidity were significantly different among the study sites of Şavşat (highland population) and Düzköy...

We investigated the age structure, body size, longevity and growth in a breeding population of Darevskia valentini inhabiting highland altitude in Balahor, Turkey. According to the skeletochronological analysis (n= 25; 14♂♂, 11 ♀♀), the estimated ages ranged from 3 to 9 years (from 4 to 7 in males and from 3 to 9 in females). The maximum life span...

In this study, we present new morphological comparison between Darevskia derjugini derjugini and Darevskia derjugini barani in Turkish populations. Totally 55 specimens (21 for D. d. derjugini and 34 for D. d. barani) were used for the comparisons. Independent T-Test results indicated that the morphological characters used in discrimination of the...

Life-history traits of a Turkish population of Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814) were studied using the methods of skeletochronology. In the adult sample (20 males and 20 females from the population of the village of Sergen), the age ranged from 4-10 (x = 6.68) years for both sexes collectively, 5-10 (x = 7.2) years in males, 4-10 (x = 6.15) years i...

Observations of reptiles out of their active periods in the field are very surprising for the researchers. The current short note presents data on the exceptional activity of Darevskia derjugini for the first time in Turkey. Changing climates and global warming may affect the hibernation period of most lizards in the northern hemisphere.

We investigated age structure, body size and longevity in two breeding populations of Darevskia clarkorum inhabiting altitudes ranging from 450 m a.s.l. (Kamilet) to 2250 m a.s.l. (Başyayla) in Turkey by skeletochronology performed on the phalanges. The mean age was found to be 6 years in the Kamilet population and 7 years in the Başyayla populatio...

Bombina variegata (L., 1758) is recorded from Turkey for the first time. With the record of the present study, the known easternmost distribution area of the species has been extended from Greece to Turkey. The specimens were collected from Kurtkaya-Enez (Edirne). The morphometric characters and color-pattern features of the specimens were compared...

In the present study, we investigated potential effects of some environmental climatic factors on life-history traits of two Darevskia parvula populations located at different elevation sites and evaluated age, body size, SSD and growth rate results in these lizards. The age at maturity and longevity were found to be similar in both populations. Ma...

The lacertid lizard Podarcis tauricus tauricus is recorded from Yörükköy, Düzce Province, in the western Black Sea region. With the record of the present study, the known distribution area of the subspecies has been extended about 90 km eastward. The pholidolial and morphometric characters and color-pattern features of the specimens were compared w...