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On Eggs Re-Laying of Greenbelly Lizards from the Darevskia (Chlorogaster) Complex (Reptilia, Lacertidae)

Authors: Kidov A. A., Ivanov A. A., Kondratova T. E., Stolyarova E. A., Nemyko E. A.

The paper discusses cases of eggs re-laying in two lizard species from the Darevskia (chlorogaster) complex. A male and a female of D. Chlorogaster were captured on 22 March, 2016 in the Gilan province (Iran), and she subsequently laid eggs on 29 May (4 eggs) and 5 July (4 ones). The eggs had length of 10.4–12.8 mm, the width of 6.1–6.5 mm, and the weight of 0.240–0.340 g. Young lizards came out from seven eggs after 52–55 days of incubation. The body length of these newborn lizards was 22.9–27.8 mm, the tail length was 38.5–46.5 mm, and the weight was 0.330–0.460 g.

Current Distribution and Some Features of the Biology of the Common Lizard – Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823) (Lacertidae, Reptilia) in the Saratov Region

Authors: Tabachishin V. G., Yermokhin M. V.

On the territory of the Saratov region, the populations of viviparous lizards mainly inhabit the river valleys of the Don basin. Most populations were found along the sides of lake basins. In the conditions of the drying up of floodplain lakes, some populations have degraded while the others have moved to river-bed biotopes. The reduction in the number of local populations has led to their increased disconnection.

Notes on the Snakes of the Northern Caucasus

Authors: Doronin I. V.

The paper provides new information on the distribution of rare and endangered snakes over the Stavropol Region, namely, Eryx jaculus, Dolichophis caspius, Elaphe sauromates, and Platyceps najadum.

On Melanism in the Meadow Lizard, Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834) (Lacertidae, Reptilia)

Authors: Doronin I. V., Doronina M. A.

The paper discusses the finding of a Meadow lizard (Darevskia praticola praticola) melanist in the Stavropol Region. Information about the clutch and offspring from this female melanist is given.

Daily Diet of Pelobates fuscus (Pelobatidae, Amphibia) in the Khoper River Floodplain (Saratov Region)

Authors: Yermokhin M. V., Tabachishin V. G.

The daily diet of Pelobates fuscus in local populations in the Khoper river floodplain is considered. The absence of gender differences in their daily diet is shown. Most of P. fuscus prey is made up of animals weighing 10–25 mg and having body lengths of 8–18 mm. Hymenoptera (70.8%) and Coleoptera (52.1%) predominate by the number of specimens and by biomass, respectively. The number of daily caught invertebrates usually does not exceed 15. The lowest feed consumption is in April and October, while the highest one is in the summer months.

Rediscovery of the Caucasian Smooth Newt, Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914) (Salamandridae, Amphibia) in North Ossetia–Alania

Authors: Kidov A. A., Tskhovrebova A. I., Gagieva Z. A., Ivanov A. A., Cherchesova S. K.

Lantz’s newt, or the Caucasian smooth newt, Lissotriton lantzi, is an endemic species for the Caucasian mountain-forest belt. In North Ossetia–Alania, only 4 findings of this newt are known in the Prigorodniy, Alagirskiy and Irafskiy districts. Since 1983, there has been no new information about any findings of L. lantzi in this region. On August 4, 2020, L. lantzi larvae were caught in a lake on the left shore of the Urukh River in the Irafskiy district. Newts live here in a beech forest at an altitude of 810 m. The authors assume that L.

Shchukinsky Peninsula as a New Habitat of the Grass-snake Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758) (Colubridae, Reptilia) in Moscow

Authors: Kuzikov I. V.

The paper provides new information about the Moscow findings of the grass snake Natrix natrix, listed in the Red Data book of this city. Regular meetings of common grass snakes on the territory of the Shchukinsky Peninsula for a significant period, starting from 2012, indicate its relatively stable, but low population abundance.

On the Distribution of the European Common Spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus (Pelobatidae, Amphibia) in Moscow

Authors: Petrovskiy A. B., Afrin K. A., Stepankova I. V., Shpagina A. A., Kidov A. A.

The European common spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus, has not been observed in Moscow since the end of the 20th century. The species is listed in the Red Data Book of Moscow (2017) as endangered or completely extinct. The paper presents new findings of P. fuscus on the territory of the city, namely, in the “Moskvoretskiy” Natural-Historical Park and the “Kosinskiy” Natural-Historical Park in August 2020.

Herpetological century: Centenary Anniversary of the Laboratory of Herpetology of the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences

Authors: Ananjeva N. B., Doronin I. V.

The publication describes the history of the formation of the Department/Laboratory of Herpetology in the Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences and previously unknown facts of the biography of its staff. An overview of the events dedicated to the celebration of the centenary anniversary of the establishment of the Department is given.

Ice walking common frog (Rana temporaria) (Ranidae, Amphibia)

Authors: Milto K. D.

A record of Rana temporaria on the ice cover of the Gulf of Finland is described. Frog slowly moved on the ice surface with speed around 0.03 m/s. Air temperature near ice surface was +3.5°C, and the frog body temperature was +4°C. In the Saint Petersburg region, common frogs can hibernate in the coastal waters of Baltic Sea with salinity of  0 – 5.8‰.

Present distribution of the common frog, Rana temporaria and the moor frog, R. arvalis (Amphibia, Anura) in the “old” Moscow

Authors: Petrovskiy A. B., Shpagina A. A., Kidov A. A.

The common frog (Rana temporaria) and the moor frog (R. arvalis) lived in all green areas of Moscow until the end of the 20th century. The reduction in the area of woody vegetation, the destruction of breeding sites and introduction of the invasive fish Perccottus glenii contributed to the extinction of these amphibians in most of the city. The paper provides information on the distribution of brown frogs in Moscow based on the results of monitoring in 2020. R.

New data on some Russian herpetologists. Communication 3

Authors: Doronin I. V.

Unknown biographic data about I. S. Darevsky, D. B. Krasovsky, and S. A. Chernov are presented. This information was obtained during work with the museum collection of the Gorsky State Agrarian University (Vladikavkaz), that of E. N. Pavlovsky’s Chair of Biology at S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, and the archive of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Rediscovery of Karelin’s newt (Triturus karelinii, Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) in the Stavropol region and Karachay-Cherkessia (North Caucasus, Russia)

Authors: Kidov A. A., Ivanov A. A., Kidova E. A.

Karelin's newt (Triturus karelinii) in Russia is known for sure in Republic of Crimea, Krasnodar region, Republic of Adygea, and Republic of Dagestan. No reports of this species distribution in other regions of the North Caucasus have yet been confirmed by collection materials. The paper presents data on few Karelin's newt findings in the Stavropol region and Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. In May 2018, five adult T. karelinii (two males and three females) were captured in the vicinity of the Novoekaterinovskaya village (Kochubeyevskiy district, Stavropol region).

New data on the distribution of Pallas's spadefoot toad (Pelobates vespertinus (Pallas, 1771)) and fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina L., 1761) (Anura, Amphibia) on the territory of the Saratov region and adjacent territories

Authors: Tabachishin V. G., Yermokhin M. V.

New data on the geographical distribution of Pelobates vespertinus and Bombina bombina in the Saratov region and adjacent districts of the Volgograd, Voronezh, Penza and Ulyanovsk regions are presented. The habitation of B. bombina and P. vespertinus populations in 25 and 22 localities, respectively, was established. Most modern populations of these species of anuran amphibians have been recorded near water bodies in river valleys.

Specific composition, numbers and biotopical distribution of snakes (Serpentes) on the southern slope of the Navagir mountain ridge (Abrau Peninsula) and some problems of its preservation

Authors: Tsellarius A. Y.

Seven species of snakes were revealed in 1997–1998, six of which (Natrix tessellata, N. natrix, Zamenis longissimus, Hierophis caspius, Platyceps najadum, and Elaphe sauromatus) were in the lower part of the slope, in the area of mediterranean vegetation. In 2001–2003, the first three species were revealed only, and their numbers significantly decreased, reaching a maximum in the middle part of the slope, in the zone of transition from mediterranean vegetation to broad-leaved forests.

A new record of the Bogdanov's thin-toed gecko, Tenuidactylus bogdanovi (Sauria, Gekkonidae), in South Kazakhstan

Authors: Chirikova M. A., Amirekul K. A.

In the Shymkent city (South Kazakhstan) in 2019 and 2021 several specimens of Bogdanov's thin-toed gecko (Tenuidactylus bogdanovi) were found. The find was located 129 km north of the nearest known location in the Tashkent city in Uzbekistan. The repeated finding of Bogdanov's gecko in Shymkent confirms the eligibility of including this species in the list of herpetofauna of Kazakhstan.

Amphibians of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Russia)

Authors: Gorelov R. A., Bakiev A. G.

Literary information about the batrachofauna of the Orenburg nature reserve is incomplete and contradictory. Data on the specific composition and abundance of amphibians in the Orenburg Nature State Reserve at its five cluster territories by the results of our 2015–2020 inventory are presented. The previously published materials about amphibians on the cluster territories “Talovskaya Steppe”, “Burtinskaya Steppe” and “Aytuarskaya Steppe” have been supplemented.

New data on some Russian herpetologists. Communication 4

Authors: Doronin I. V.

Previously unknown biographic and bibliographic data about Peter V. Nesterov are provided. The main part of information was found in the Central State Historical Archive of Saint Petersburg.

On the northern border of the range of Darevskia pontica (Lantz et Cyrén, 1918) (Sauria: Lacertidae)

Authors: Doronin I. V., Smirnova N. G.

New findings of Darevskia pontica at the northern border of its habitat, in the Kuban-Azov lowland within the administrative boundaries of the Krasnodar and Rostov regions, are presented and discussed. The species was found in the Rostov region for the first time. It is proposed to include D. pontica into the regional Red Data Book of the Rostov region.

On findings of colour anomalies in the moor frog Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842 (Ranidae, Amphibia) in the Moscow region

Authors: Katz A. V.

Information on two findings of colour anomalies in the moor frog, Rana arvalis, in the Moscow region is prerented. In one case, the colour anomaly in a frog found in Shchelkovo District was probably the result of a decrease in the number of iridophores. This anomaly corresponds to none of the colour morph of R. arvalis described previously. The second finding was made in Volokolamsk District, and the colour anomaly was expressed in a strongly pronounced spotted pattern, which is unusual for this species.

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