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چکیده
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This chapter focused on Amphibians and Reptiles of Euphrates and Tigris River Basin that is confined to Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey as a main part of Mesopotamia. The Mesopotamian terrestrial biome has an area of approximately 700,000 km2, divided into ten main ecoregions. Herpetofauna of the basin includes 10 species of amphibians in 8 genera and 4 families in two orders of Caudata and Anura, furthermore 134 species of reptiles in 64 genera and 21 families, 4 turtle species, 71 species of lizards, 57 species of snakes and 2 species of amphisbaenians. Predominant vegetation along the Euphrates and Tigris River and their tributaries provide food, refuge, and breeding ground for many semiaquatic and aquatic species. The main threats to the survival of amphibians and reptiles in this region are human overexploitation, dam construction, water pollution, illegal fishing methods, ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, wars, and political conflicts
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