Anguis colchica
Authors/Creators
- 1. Caucasus Leibniz Biodiversity Research Center, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- 2. Caucasus Leibniz Biodiversity Research Center, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia & Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- 3. Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Description
2.
Anguis colchica(Nordmann, 1840)Figs 17–18, 131 (Engl. Colchis Slow Worm; Geo: კოლხური ბოხმეჭა, ძლოკვი, bokhmecha).
Otophis eryx var. colchica Nordmann, 1840
Anguis fragilis var. colchica: Nikolskii (1913: 40)
Anguis fragilis fragilis: Muskhelishvili (1970: 39)
Anguis fragilis colchicus: Bannikov et al. (1977: 142); Dunayev and Orlova (2017), et auct.
Taxonomic sources followed.
Gvoždík et al. (2010), Bánki et al. (2026), Speybroeck et al. (2020), Tuniyev and Ananjeva (2024), Uetz et al. (2025).
Records in Georgia.
Nikolskii (1913), Muskhelishvili (1970), Bannikov et al. (1977); Gvoždík et al. (2010).
Taxonomic remark.
Candidate species. The species belongs to a widespread western Eurasian complex A. fragilis. Gvoždík et al. (2010) elevated the Caucasian form of slow worm (A. f. colchica) to a species level. This species is likely allopatric with A. graeca and A. fragilis. Mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) difference between A. colchica and its closest relatives, A. graeca and A. fragilis (NCBI Accession # MK 107684, OP 493517, and MN 122840) varies between 6.5-8 %.
Barcoded individuals.
CaBOL -IDs 1010926 (Mtisdziri environs), 1007148 (Baniskhevi), 1007149 (Lanchkhuti) (BOLD: AGJ 8222, similarity 99.63–99.82 %). Closest homologous sequences: A. colchica (BOLD: AEW 3477; unknown location; similarity 95.39–96.85 %); A. colchica (NCBI OP 493529; Georgia; similarity 98.48 %). Next closest taxon: A. graeca (NCBI NC_048977; Greece; similarity 94.16 %).
Notes
Files
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Linked records
Additional details
Identifiers
Biodiversity
References
- Nikolskii AM (1913) Reptiles and amphibians of the Caucasus. Herpetologia Caucasica. Caucasus Museum Publication, Tiflis, 272 pp. [in Russian]
- Muskhelishvili TA (1970) Presmykajushchiesja Vostochnoj Gruzii (The reptiles of the eastern Georgia). Tbilisi, Metsniereba, 241 pp. [in Russian]
- Bannikov AG, Darevsky IS, Ishchenko VG, Rustamov AK, Szczerbak NN (1977) Opredelitel zemnovodnyh i presmykayushchihsya fauny SSSR. Prosveshenie, Moscow, 415 pp. [in Russian]
- Gvoždík V, Jandzik D, Lymberaki P, Jablonski D, Moravec J (2010) Slow worm, Anguis fragilis (Reptilia: Anguidae) as a species complex: genetic structure reveals deep divergences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55 (2): 460–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.007
- Bánki O, Bánki Y, Döring M, Ower G, Hernández Robles DR, Plata Corredor CA, Stjernegaard Jeppesen T, Örn A, Pape T, Hobern D, Garnett S, Little H, DeWalt RE, Miller J, Orrell T, Aalbu R, Abbott J, Abreu C, Acero PA, et al. (2026) Catalogue of Life (2026-01 - 16 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgw64
- Speybroeck J, Beukema W, Dufresnes C, Fritz U, Jablonski D, Lymberakis P, Martínez-Solano Í, Razzetti E, Vamberger M, Vences M, Vörös J, Crochet P-A (2020) Species list of the European herpetofauna – 2020 update by the Taxonomic Committee of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. Amphibia - Reptilia 41: 139–189. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10010
- Tuniyev BS, Ananjeva NB (2024) High herpetological diversity in the Caucasian Ecoregion: an annotated list of species including comments on biogeography and conservation. Zoologicheskij Zhurnal 103 (12): 37–76. https://doi.org/10.31857/S0044513424120038
- Uetz P, Freed P, Aguilar R, Reyes F, Hošek J (eds.) (2025) The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org. Accessed 31 Jan 2025