The genus Blanus Wagler, 1830 (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) contains seven fossorial species found in the East Mediterranean Basin. Recent molecular-based studies suggested that former B. strauchi (Turkish worm lizard) is divided into three species spread from Southern Anatolia to Levantine region: B. strauchi, B. aporus and B. alexandri. Although these species not only have highly similar morphological characters but also are genetically distinct, the ecological niche differentiations have not been studied yet. We aim to predict the suitable habitats for related Blanus species and to determine niche overlaps and niche differentiation by similarity and identity tests. The occurrence records were obtained from literature and our own field surveys. These occurrence locations were assessed in 30 arc-second resolution layer, compatible with bioclimatic parameters from World-Clim (www.worldclim.org). Suitable habitat prediction analyses were performed in MaxEnt and the pairwise niche overlap comparisons were made in ENMTools. Our results show that precipitation and temperature dynamics may have an influence on the vegetation types, which provide suitable habitats for these species. Even in the most conservative model, where B.strauchi was designated as the ancestral species, the predicted distribution area was larger than the actual one. The niche overlap analysis confirms that the ecological differentiations among these taxa are valid. This result is in agreement with a previous molecular-based study. We speculate that the Messinian Salinity Crisis had an effect on precipitation and temperature dynamics and niche differentiation among the worm lizards, potentially contributing to species formation.

Blanus Wagler属，1830年（Squamata，Amphisbaenia）包含在东地中海盆地发现的7个古丛物种。最近的基于分子的研究表明，前B. strauchi（土耳其蠕虫蜥蜴）被分为从安那托利亚南部到黎凡特地区的三种物种：B。strauchi，B。aporus和B. alexandri。尽管这些物种不仅具有高度相似的形态特征，而且在遗传上也各不相同，但尚未研究生态位分化。我们的目标是预测相关的布朗族的合适栖息地物种并通过相似性和同一性测试确定生态位重叠和生态位分化。发生记录来自文献和我们自己的现场调查。在30弧秒分辨率的图层中评估了这些发生地点，与World-Clim（www.worldclim.org）的生物气候参数兼容。在MaxEnt中进行了合适的栖息地预测分析，在ENMTools中进行了成对生态位重叠比较。我们的结果表明，降水和温度动态可能会影响植被类型，从而为这些物种提供合适的栖息地。即使在最保守的模式下，B.strauchi被指定为祖先物种，预测的分布区域大于实际的分布区域。生态位重叠分析证实这些分类群之间的生态分化是有效的。该结果与先前基于分子的研究一致。我们推测，墨西拿盐度危机对蠕虫蜥蜴的降水和温度动态以及生态位分化有影响，可能有助于物种形成。