The Three Reptile New Locality Records and Their Ecological Niche Models in Hakkari Province, Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye

In this study, three reptile species, Mauremys caspica, Mediodactylus orientalis, and Laudakia stellio, were recorded for the first time from Hakkari province, east Anatolia. The ranges of M. caspica, M. orientalis and L. stellio were extended 100 km, 281 km, and 175 km, respectively. For M. orientalis and L. stellio, these new locality records constitute the eastern border of the species in Türkiye. M. caspica, M. orientalis and L. stellio average AUC (Area Under the Curve) values were calculated as 0.861, 0.867, and 0.821, respectively. Annual mean temperature (Bio1) was determined as the most important bioclimatic variable for M. orientalis (79.3%) and L. stellio (52.8%), while mean temperature of wettest quarter (Bio8) was the most effective bioclimatic variable for M. caspica (37.4%). There is a possibility of new species records due to the important location of Hakkari province geographically; thus, we suggest additional studies in the area.