2001

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 9, pp. 151-152

Book Review: Four Recent Handbooks for Turkey
Tiirkiye Amfibiliri. The Amphibians of Turkey byNecla Ozeti and I. Yilmaz, 1994. Izmir, 219 pp., 40

photos incol.

92(InTurkish withare printed on high quality stock, many of the photo-graphs have not reproduced well.

Tiikiye Omurglilari, Amfibiler edited by Ali Demirsoy, 1996. Meteksan; Ankara, vi + 69 pp., numerous

The tabular format of species presentation issomewhat unusual and innovative. These tables arethe same for each species and include Latin and Turkish names, the author, date; one or more illustrations;maps and figs. (In Turkish).

distribution map for Turkey, showing both range andpis.,text-figs.

English summary).

Tiikiye Omurglilari,by Alispot localities; remarks on habitats, relationships, tax-+ 205 pp.,onomic status, etc.; conservation status (rare, endan-Siiriingenler edited

Demirsoy, 1996. Meteksan; Ankara,viii

numerous maps and figs. (In Turkish).

gered,Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles)
by Ibrahim Baran and Mehmet Atatiir. 1998. Republicof Turkey Ministry of Environment: Ankara, x + 214
122 col. pis., 7 text-figs. (In English).

pp.,

vulnerable,summary publications for Turkey had
been Ba§oglu and Ozeti (1973) and Ba§oglu andBaran (1977, 1980). The four handbooks reviewed
herpetologicalhere accompanied us on a recent herpetological expedition to western and southern Turkey. The combination of these references enabled us to quickly identify

most species in the field.
Turkish Herpetofauna by Baran and Atatiir has acolor photograph of each species, illustrated keys, one
paragraph each on identification, habitat, biology, anddistribution.

The distributionsections include brief

statements of the overall distribution and the range
within Turkey. Where subspecies are recognized, ashort distribution statement is given for each. There isno descriptive differentiation of subspecies. There are
no distribution maps. The color photographs are ofgood quality and usually enabled quick identificationetc.);

overallgreatest size; morphological characteristics; color pattern; reproduction; time from hatching to maturity;
conservation status of habitats; defense mechanisms;

population
Until the publication of these books, the standard

widespread,

distribution and range within Turkey; type locality;

densities;

potential

hazards;

zoogeo-graphic origins; and conservation proposals for thefuture. A table listing the fauna summarizes the global

and Turkish distributions, zoogeographic source, pre-sumed geological time of arrival in Turkey, biogeographic and conservation status, and special remarks.

The books also contain descriptions and comments on higher taxa for the general reader. The bibliographies are extensive, much more so than that of theBaran and Atatiir handbook in English. Contributors
to thesevolumes are prominent Turkish herpetolo-gists: Varol Tok, Ibrahim Baran,

dinMehmet Atatiir, Abi-Budak, and Mehmet Oz. These volumes are

obviously designed for the serious Turkish zoology
student or wildlife professional and should serve thispurpose well. They appear to be part of a larger series
covering the entire Turkish fauna. Subspecies are covered individually, although there areinconsistencies:

somestrange

sometimes there is a separate tableof live specimens. Photos and text are on glossy paper

and map for the species as a whole, in addition to theand this hardback book is sturdily bound. The bibliog-

subspecies accounts, and sometimes not. The usage ofraphy includes 53 references, and while not exhaus-

generic names is sometimes confusing, as for exam-

tive,

servesasa

good

introduction

tothe

herpetological literature of Turkey. The nomenclatureis reasonably current,with the exception, of course, ofchanges (e.g. the break-up of Eumeces and Coluber)
since its publication. It is the only one of these handbooks to include Rana dalmatina Schneider, Sinch,and Nevo, 1992. Of the four, this book got most useon the trip, particularly as it is in English.

The two paper-bound books edited by Demirsoy,
Tiikiye Omurglilari, Amfibiler and Tiikiye Omurglilari,

Siiriingenler are useful to Western herpetolo-gists, in particular,

because they have a distribution

map for each species, usually accompanied by a blackand white illustration, often a photograph, but sometimes one or more line drawings. Although the books

Cyrtodactylus (-Cyrtopodion) (Mediodactylus)heterocercus and Agama (-Laudakia) stellio so that itple:

not clear which genericname is recognized by theauthors. As I don't read Turkish, I can't comment onerrors in the text. Some of the range maps may be too

general, especially in those cases where spot distributions are not shown. For example, Laudakia stellio isshown to extend to broad contact with the Iranian border,

whereas it has never been recorded for Iran. We

used the maps of these volumes in conjunction withthe photographs and English text of theBaran andAtatiir book and this greatly facilitated our work.

Tiirkiye Amfibiliri. The Amphibians of Turkey byOzeti and Yilmaz is aimed primarily at Turkish zool-ogy students and serves as an introduction to amphib-Vol. 9, p. 152

Asiatic Herpetological Research

2001

Steven C. Anderson

iology. It is an update, or second edition of Ba§ogluand Ozeti (1973). The first chapter is an introduction
to nomenclature, and in particular, to the taxonomy of

the Turkish amphibian fauna. One chapter deals withthe biology of amphibians in general, including mor-phology, reproduction, development, distribution, andfolklore. Two subsequent chapters cover these topics

Department of Biological Sciences, University of thePacific, Stockton, CA 9521 1 USA and Department ofHerpetology, California Academy of Sciences, Golden
Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118 USA. email:asaccus @ aol. com

in more detail, one for salamanders and one for frogs.

These chapters are arranged by family and include
families not found in Turkey. They include keys to theTurkish genera and species and spot locality maps.

These maps are useful, if somewhat cluttered (severaltaxa per map); localities are numbered and named in
the figure legends.

Keys to the generic level for egg
masses and larvae have been provided. The descrip-Literature CitedBa§oglu, M. and N. Ozeti 1973. Tiirkiye Amfibileri.
The Amphibians of Turkey. Ege Universitesi Fen
Fakultesi Kitaplar Serisi No. 50. Ege Universitesi
Matbaasi; Bornova/Izmir, 155 pp., 9 pis.

M.

andBaran.

1977.

tions and discussions of morphology are accompaniedBa§oglu,

by useful illustrations taken from several sources (notSuriingenleri. Kisim I. Kaplumbaga ve Kertenkeleler.

always attributed). There is a short chapter on methods and techniques, a glossary, and a bibliography ofThe Reptiles of Turkey. Part I. The Turtles and Lizards. Ege Universitesi Fen Fakultesi Kitaplar Serisi

181 references, including the most important techni-No. 76. Ilker Matbaasi; Bornova/Izmir, 255 pp., 16I.

Tiirkiyecal papers for the fauna, an excellent introduction topis.

the literature of the Turkish amphibian fauna. At theBa§oglu,

end of the book are 1 3 plates of black and white pho-Suriingenleri. Kisim II. Yilanlar.The Reptiles of Tur-tographs illustrating the covered taxa and some habiThe photographs (or at least the printing of them)key. Partare of rather poor quality, although they are adequate

218 pp.

tats.

to illustrate pattern differences

between the species.

An English summary includes a comprehensive key tothe amphibians of Turkey. This key, along with theEnglish figure legends, and specific collecting localities, makes this book particularly useful to non-Turkish speaking herpetologists.

M.
II.

andI.

Baran.

1980.

Tiirkiye

Snakes. Ege Universitesi Fen Fakultesi

Kitaplar Serisi No. 81. Ilker Matbaasi; Bornova/Izmir,