Natrix natrix scutata in the northern Zagros Mountains. The range-wide mitochondrial lineage of Natrix natrix scutata (Pallas, 1771) presented in the northern Zagros Mountains

Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758) is common species distributed from Central Europe to Central Asia. In this range, it forms four subspecies that include several mitochondrial lineages. One of the lineages, the so-called 8, has a wide distribution from the Baltic area to Anatolia and Kazakhstan. In Anatolia, this lineage meets several others, however, their occurrence is unclear, especially in the south-eastern Türkiye. Obtaining one specimen from the poorly studied Hakkâri Province, we investigated its genetic affiliation. The specimen corresponds with populations of the lineage 8 from Armenia and thus extending the occurrence of this mitochondrial lineage representing Natrix natrix scutata (Pallas, 1771) southward to the northern edge of the Zagros Mountains.