Comparison of geographic variations in Typhlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Ophidia: Typhlopidae) from the Iranian plateau with Turkey and Turkmenistan

Typhlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) is one of the cosmopolitan species of the genus Typhlops that occupies a vast range of different localities from North Africa to western Afghanistan. In this study, different populations of T. vermicularis were investigated to clarify if there was any degree of geographic variation in this taxon throughout the studied range. For this purpose, 103 specimens of this taxon belonging to 12 populations from all over Iran, Turkey, and Turkmenistan were studied. Morphometric characters were examined by ANOVA and principal component analysis. Results showed that despite the vast distribution range of this species, there is no significant difference among populations of T. vermicularis in various regions of the Iranian plateau and between populations from within the plateau and outside of it.