An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia with DNA Barcoding Data and Taxonomic Remarks

Despite the publication of numerous papers, spanning the period from the 19th century to recent times, that have been devoted to the faunistics and taxonomy of the herpetological fauna of the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot, the actual species diversity of the region still remains unclear. Some formally described taxa lack comprehensive validation based on integrative phylogenetic and biogeographic evidence, whereas other nominal species have been questioned or synonymized in subsequent studies. In this paper, we present an annotated checklist of 12 amphibian and 56 reptile species recorded from Georgia, accompanied by taxonomic remarks based on current molecular, morphological, and biogeographic knowledge. Most taxa are represented by DNA barcodes (COI) generated within the Caucasus Barcoding of Life (CaBOL) project and deposited in institutional collections and international databases. We explicitly distinguish between biologically confirmed species, effectively isolated from their closest relatives, and candidate species whose status requires further validation; particularly in cases where contact zones and potential clinal variation remain insufficiently studied. The checklist is supplemented with specimen photographs and generalised distribution maps. Overall, we aim to contribute to a more transparent and critically evaluated taxonomic framework for the herpetofauna of Georgia and the broader Caucasus region.