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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.
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ECOLOGIA BALKANICA
2016, Vol. 8, Issue 2
December 2016
pp. 91-93
Short note
An Exceptional Activity for Darevskia derjugini (Nikolsky, 1898)
From Turkey
Muammer Kurnaz*, Bilal Kutrup, Ufuk Bülbül
Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology,
61080, Trabzon, TURKEY
*Corresponding author: mkurnaz@ktu.edu.tr
Abstract. 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.
Key words: Hibernation, Darevskia derjugini, lizard, Northern Hemisphere.
Introduction
The climatic changes principally affect
summer and winter activity of reptiles (ZUG
et al., 2001). Hibernation, as a behavioral
response to seasonal change, is most likely a
direct response to cold temperatures and
changes in food availability (GREGORY, 1982;
ADOLPH & PORTER, 1993). After hibernation,
ectotherms need to be higher air and body
temperature for fecundity, mobility and
escape from the predator in their habitats
(ADOLPH & PORTER, 1993). In addition, the
effect of the photoperiod on seasonal
acclimation seems to be significant
(RISMILLER & HELDMAIER, 1988).
As known, all members of the Lacertidae
family in the Northern Hemisphere are
hibernating species the winter season. Most
of them are active from early April to the
middle of October in moderate lowland
populations. However, the active periods
may be changed from early May to late
September in colder highland populations
(above 2000 m a.s.l.).
The Derjugin’s lizard, Darevskia derjugini
(Nikoslky, 1898) is distributed from sea level
to 1700 m (BISCHOFF, 1982; BARAN &
ATATÜR, 1998). This species is active
between April and September (ORLOVA &
BISCHOFF, 1984). It typically inhabits humid
areas in forested habitats, and some
individuals are rarely recorded from rocks
or walls (TUNIYEV et al., 2009).
Winter activity was observed in some
other lizard species as reported for Podarcis
muralis (BURESH & TSONKOV, 1933; BESHKOV,
1977; BESHKOW & NANEV, 2002;
WESTERSTRÖM, 2005; TZANKOV et al., 2014),
Podarcis erhardi (BURESH & TSONKOV, 1933;
BESHKOV, 1977), Lacerta viridis (VONGREJ et
al., 2008), Sceloporus jarrovi (TINKLE &
HADLEY, 1973), Zootoca vivipara (GRENOT et
al., 2000) and Mediodactylus kotschyi
(MOLLOV et al., 2015).
© Ecologia Balkanica
http://eb.bio.uni-plovdiv.bg
Union of Scientists in Bulgaria Plovdiv
University of Plovdiv Publishing House
An Exceptional Activity for Darevskia derjugini (Nikolsky, 1898) From Turkey
In the present short note, we present for
the first time data about the extraordinary
activity of Darevskia derjugini in Turkey.
Materials and Methods
The specimen was found during an
excursion, during the day, between 10:30
and 11:30 AM. When the observation was
made, the air temperature in the locality
was 8°C. The specimen was caught by hand.
The sex of the individual was diagnosed
based on primer sexual character (presence
of hemipenis). After the specimen was
photographed, it was released back to its
natural habitat.
Results and Discussion
A male specimen of D. derjugini was
observed in the 2 March 2013 from Turkey
(Arsin, Trabzon), shown in Fig. 1. The
observation site was located at the 210 m
a.s.l. (40°55’18’’ N; 39°57’93’’ E). The
specimen was found under dry hazelnut
leaves and cut nut wood in harvest season.
Fig. 1. A male specimen Darevskia derjugini (Nikoslky, 1898), observed from Arsin,
Trabzon (Turkey) during the winter period (2 March 2013).
Although active periods during the
winter were reported for some lizards
(SHTERBACK & GOLUBEV, 1986; OKE, 1982,
CAMILLONI & BARROS, 1997; VONGREJ et al.,
2008; MOLLOV et al., 2015), this phenomenon
was not previously reported for D. derjugini.
Our data may contribute to the knowledge
of the annual activity of D. derjugini. In our
opinion, the unusual activity may be a result
of global warming of the world in the
Northern Hemisphere.
Lower air temperatures were very
effective to hibernate the lizards because
they cannot perform their vital activities
such as food availability, mobility, fecundity
and escape from predators in lower
temperatures (ADOLPH & PORTER, 1993). In
parallel with the air temperature in the
present study for D. derjugini was very low
to be carried out its vital activities. The early
awakening from hibernation of some lizards
may be caused due to constant changing of
the air temperatures. The lizards that can
cope with lower temperatures may be
monitored in different areas of the Northern
Hemisphere in the future.
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Received: 26.08.2016
Accepted: 02.10.2016
© Ecologia Balkanica
http://eb.bio.uni-plovdiv.bg
Union of Scientists in Bulgaria Plovdiv
University of Plovdiv Publishing House
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  • L J Vitt
  • J P Caldwell
ZUG G.R., L.J. VITT, J.P. CALDWELL. 2001. Herpetology. USA. San Diego Academic Press. Received: 26.08.2016
Darevskia derjugini. -The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T164576A5909273. Available at: [DOI]
  • N Ananjeva
  • A Agasyan
  • N Orlov
TUNIYEV B., N. ANANJEVA, A. AGASYAN, N. ORLOV, S. TUNIYEV. 2009. Darevskia derjugini. -The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T164576A5909273. Available at: [DOI]. Downloaded on 20 September 2016.
Zur Kenntnis Der Innerartlichen Gliederungder Arwin Eidechse, Lacerta derjugini NIKOLSKIJ, 1898
BISCHOFF W. 1982. Zur Kenntnis Der Innerartlichen Gliederungder Arwin Eidechse, Lacerta derjugini NIKOLSKIJ, 1898. -Zoologische Abhandlungen, 38: 1-52.