Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

10 Gobius ophiocephalus Goby fish
11 Aphanius cypris Orientkilli
Amphibians and Reptiles
Seyhan Delta coastal sand dunes are very important habitats for lizards, snakes,
tortoises, sea turtles, common agama and tree frogs. Striped-neck terrapin and
European pond turtle are <strong>of</strong>ten found in the freshwater poodles and canals, while
tortoises are <strong>of</strong>ten found in the sand dunes <strong>of</strong> Akyatan Lagoon. Montpellier snake, Dahl's
whip snake, snake-eyed lizard, mabuya aurata, chameleon, Crytodactylus kotschyii and
Agama stellio are other reptile species the site supports.
Reptile species Akyatan Wildlife Improvement Area supports are chameleon, tortoise,
ghost crab and blue crabs.
Chameleons (Chamaeleon chamaleon) are rarely seen in the thick shrubs and woods
close to the water sources. Chameleons generally feed every kind <strong>of</strong> insect and other
invertebrates. The threat to the predator mammals is the negative effects <strong>of</strong> pesticides in
the agriculture lands located close to the wildlife improvement area.
Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are found in high numbers in Akyatan Lagoon and the
coast. Entering the lagoon particularly for reproduction, blue crabs get caught in the nets
<strong>of</strong> fishers and thrown back in the water after being dismembered. Dead or wounded
crabs washed ashore are consumed by jackals and mongooses.
Globally endangered green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and sea turtles (Caretta caretta)
in limited numbers nest in the site. Eirenis aurolineatus, a narrowly distributed snake
species particular to Mediterranean biome, is another important reptile species in the
site.
Birds
Many waterfowls winter in the wetlands in the south <strong>of</strong> <strong>Turkey</strong> since wetlands in Central
Anatolia freeze in winters. Moreover the site provides groups <strong>of</strong> numerous avian species
in high numbers with feeding and resting areas due to being on the migration route.
According to studies in 1990 250 bird species are recorded in Akyatan Lagoon. In the
censuses during the year <strong>of</strong> 2009 152 different bird species were recorded in Akyatan
and Tuzla Lagoons in total and in the censuses in winter <strong>of</strong> the same year 65521 bird
species <strong>of</strong> 47 families in total were counted.
Pied avocet (Recuvirostra avosetta), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), little stint
(Calidris minuta), curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), dunlin (Calidris alpina), ruff
(Philomacus pugnax) and black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) form crowded groups
during migration.
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