Eiselt's pond turtle (Emys orbicularis eiselti) was described in 1998, based on only 4 museum specimens collected in the 1960s and 1970s. Its distribution range has been massively reduced by large-scale drainage measures and only little suitable habitat remains near the Turkish–Syrian border. During 20-yr-long fieldwork we could locate only 18 individuals of this subspecies. We estimate the number of surviving Eiselt's pond turtles to be less than 100 mature individuals in the wild. The distribution range (area of occupancy) in the Amik Maraş Rift Valley shrank from originally 11,612 km2 to only 206 km2 at present (approx. 2%), qualifying E. o. eiselti as a Critically Endangered taxon. Without immediate conservation measures and the strict protection of the remaining habitat, the subspecies will soon be extinct.

The vertebral anatomy of snakes has attracted the attention of researchers for decades and numerous studies have been made for extinct and extant species. The present study investigated the morphological variations in vertebral structure among different vertebral regions in the dice snake Natrix tessellata, and provides a detailed anatomical and microstructural description of the vertebral column. Vertebrae were analyzed and compared using x‐ray imaging, scanning electron microscopy, micro‐computed tomography, and histological techniques. The vertebral column of N. tessellata is divided into three regions: precloacal, cloacal, and caudal. Unlike in many other tetrapods and snakes, the atlas of N. tessellata does not form a complete ring. It has a flat and roughly trilobate shape with a prominent middle lobe. The axis has two hypapophyses. The anterior precloacal region of the vertebral column has longer and more paddle‐shaped hypapophyses, distinguishing it from the posterior and mid‐trunk vertebrae. The anterior cloacal vertebrae have a short hypapophysis rather than a hemal keel, and the lymphapophysis extends outward, curving slightly. The cotyle and condyle of the caudal vertebrae exhibited a closer resemblance to a rounded shape, while the pleurapophysis extended ventrolaterally and curved ventrally near its distal end. Paired hemapophyses were present at the posterior‐most point of the centrum instead of a hypapophysis. In light of previous fossil findings, our anatomical comparison of the vertebral and transverse processes indicates that the extant Natrix has a more flexible and less rigid spine than its ancestors. Overall, the vertebral differences among snake anatomical regions or taxa are a testament to the remarkable diversity and adaptability of these fascinating reptiles.

Reproductive biology of Marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus s.l.) was investigated in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye in terms of reproductive phenology, fecundity, clutch size, reproductive effort, and mate choice. Frogs are active for approximately ten months throughout the year and hibernate between November and January. Breeding occurs from mid-January until early June and metamorphosis took 45-65 days, with juveniles observed from the end of March. The tadpole reaches its largest size at stage 38, with a mean total length of 60.61 mm and juveniles have an average snout-vent length of 20 mm at the end of metamorphosis. Secondary sexual characters can be observed on individuals reaching 45 mm snout-vent length and we could not detect any amplexed pairs below this length. The clutch size of spawned egg masses ranged between 144 – 645 and the mean egg size was calculated as 1.73 mm. The mean fecundity was 3853 (ranging between 940 and 6000) eggs and the reproductive effort was 0.094 in females. Females were approximately 16% larger than males and the snout–vent length of males and females of amplexed pairs is significantly different but not correlated. These findings signify random mating instead of size-assortative mating. However, the preference of 6.8% larger females than single ones to mate indicates a size-dependent mating for Western Mediterranean population.