Amphibians and squamate reptiles from azokh 1

Abstract

The amphibian and squamate reptile fossil remains from the 2002 to 2009 excavation campaigns in Azokh 1 Cave (Nagorno-Karabakh region) are described. The fauna includes three anurans (Pelobates cf. syriacus, Pseudepidalea viridis sensu lato and Ranidae/Hylidae indet.), at least five lizards (Agamidae indet., Pseudopus apodus, Lacerta sp., Ophisops elegans and Lacertidae indet.) and seven snakes [Eryx jaculus, cf. Coronella austriaca, cf. Elaphe sp. (probably E. sauromates), cf. “Coluber” sp., “Colubrinae” indet., Vipera sp. [V. berus complex (probably V. ursinii)], Vipera sp. (“Oriental vipers” complex or Daboia)]. Of particular relevance is the occurrence of species that currently live at high altitude in the Caucasus, such as the representatives of the V. berus complex and the smooth snakes cf. Coronella austriaca. Azokh 1 represents the first fossil evidence for their presence in the Caucasian area at around 200 ka. The other taxa have greater similarities with the fossil and extant herpetofauna of the Irano-Turanian or Mediterranean biogeographical provinces. No Middle Asian desert taxon has been found. Through the Azokh 1 chronological sequence, the evolution of the paleoherpetofaunal assemblages suggest a progressive increase in aridity between Unit Vu (late Middle Pleistocene) and Units II and I (Upper Pleistocene to subrecent) and the replacement of a meadow-steppe by an arid mountain steppe environment.