Page 256 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

As in the whole world, the insect (Insecta) group is also very rich in Türkiye. However, it is possib-
le to give estimated figures about the insect fauna of Türkiye due to the lack of studies in some
groups and insufficient studies in some groups. The insect species identified so far in Türkiye are
around 30.000. However, the estimated number is between 60.000-80.000.

These figures show how insufficient the studies on insects are. Nevertheless, a faunistic list of
some insect groups has been compiled to a great extent. For example, in Türkiye, liballaes (Odo-
nata) are represented by 114 species, grasshoppers (Orthoptera) by 600 species (270 of which
are endemic), beetles (Coleoptera) by 10.000 species, molluscs (Mollusca) by 522 species (203 of
which are endemic), hemipteroptera (Heteroptera) by 1.400 species, homoptera by 1.500 spe-
cies, butterflies (Lepidoptera) by 6.500 species (600 of which are diurnal and the rest nocturnal).

Even though some habitats in Türkiye have been degraded or even destroyed, the Mediterrane-
an and Aegean coasts provide shelter for endangered species such as the Mediterranean Monk
Seal (Monachus monachus), Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) and Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

F.1.2.3. Endemic / Endangered Animal Species

Türkiye is very rich and interesting faunistically as well as floristically. Many studies have been
carried out and continue to be carried out on vertebrate animals of Türkiye. For this reason, there
are healthy data on the endemism status, endangerment classes and protected species of ver-
tebrate animals. Accordingly, 16 of the 141 reptile and amphibian species distributed in Türkiye
are endemic and 10 of them are under threat. Among birds, there are no species endemic to Tür-
kiye. However, 5 species and 32 subspecies of mammals, 16 species and/or subspecies of reptiles
and 70 species/subspecies of freshwater fish are endemic.

Some of the endemic and endangered reptile and amphibian species are as follows;
y Luchan’s salamander (Mertensiella Luschani),

y Neurergus (Neurergus Crocatus Crocatus and n. Strauchii Barani),
y Common newt (Triturus Vulgaris Kosswiigi),
y Banded newt (Triturus Vittatus Cilicensis),
y Fire-bellied toad (Bombina Bombina Arifiyensis),
y Taurus frog (Rana Holtzi),

y Armenian lizard (Lacerta Saxicola),
y Anatolian lizard (Lacerta Cappadocica),
y Taurus lizard (Lacerta danfordi Anatolica),
y Balkan green lizard (Lacerta Trilineata),

y Caucasian rat snake (Elaphe Hohenackeri),
y Meadow viper (Vipera Ursinii),
y Pontic adder (Vipera Pontica),
y Anatolian viper (Vipera Anatolica),
y Fırat turtle (Rafetus Euphraticus).

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