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On the Ecology of the Desert Sand Boa Eryx milliaris (Reptilia, Boidae) in Kalmykia

The paper contains data on the inhabitation, abundance and temperature selectiveness of the desert sand boa in Kalmykia. Bioclimatic variables influencing its range are also analyzed by modeling with the Maxent software. Two models were used in our analysis, built on 19 standard bioclimatic variables and on a shortlist after the removal of correlated variables. The body temperature of the desert sand boa varied from 12 to 33°С. Its population level stays rather high in Kalmykia, up to two specimen per ha on sand hills of the Chernozemelskiy district.

Comparative Characteristics of Morphometric and Reproductive Parameters of the Common Brown Frog, Rana temporaria (Amphipia, Ranidae) from the Populations of Old and New Moscow

The paper discusses the results of our study of the variability of some morphometric and reproductive characteristics in the common brown frog, Rana temporaria, from two populations of the Moscow city. The first population exists in isolation in the Timiryazev Forest Park, for a long time surrounded by districts with multi-storey buildings. The second population is located on the territory with mainly rural buildings (the settlement Kokoshkino), recently annexed to Moscow. The size and reproductive parameters in frogs from these two localities were compared.

Ontogenetic Changes in the Properties of the Poisonous Secretion of Vipera renardi (Reptilia: Viperidae)

The paper presents the results of our long-term (August 2014–October 2016) observations of changes in some properties of the poisonous secretion of eastern steppe vipers of the nominative subspecies Vipera renardi renardi (Christoph, 1861) during their postembryonic ontogenesis. The poisonous secretion of newborn vipers differed from the venom of adult snakes by an increased protease activity and the absence of any L-amino acid oxidase activity; all newborns had colorless venom.

Sexual Variability of Histological Skin Parameters of Salamandrella keyserlingii (Amphibia, Caudata) in the Aquatic and Terrestrial Phases of its Seasonal Cycle

Histological features of the dorsal (DS), throat (TS) and tail skins (caudal skin, CS) were exa-mined in Salamandrella keyserlingii females of the aquatic and terrestrial morphotypes. Using histological and statistical methods, sexual differences in the relative areas of epidermis, strata compactum and spongiosum, connective tissue in the whole, granular and mucous glands were measured.

Distribution and Conservation of the Nikolsky’s Pitviper, Gloydius caucasicus (Reptilia, Viperidae) in Azerbaijan

The paper discusses the distribution of Nikolsky’s pitviper, Gloydius caucasicus, in Azerbaijan. According to the authors’ own research results, literature data and museum collections, 32 findings of this species in the Jalilabad (1 locality), Yardymly (11 localities), Lerik (10 localities), Lenkoran (10 localities) and Astara (5 localities) administrative districts are presented.

Differences in Features of External Morphology Traits of Young and Adult Snakes of the Family Colubridae (Reptilia)

Characteristics of the meristic features of the external morphology of young and adult snakes (the Colubridae family) of three species, namely, the grass snake Natrix natrix, the dice snake N. tessellata and the Pallas’ coluber Elaphe dione, living in the Samara region, are described. For the first time, a comparative analysis was carried out of a number of morphological characters of unevenaged snakes, namely: newborns obtained in laboratory conditions, juvenile specimens, and adult snakes captured in nature.

Bioacoustic Characteristics of the Crimean Gecko Mediodactylus danilewskii (Strauch, 1887) (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae)

For the first time, the amplitude-frequency and temporal characteristics of the acoustic signals (the distress one and two types of advertisement calls) of the Crimean gecko (Mediodactylus danilewskii) were analyzed. The distress call is a rather long one (usually around 150–350 ms, but sometimes up to nearly 1 s), with a peak frequency of 6.86 kHz in both males and females. The upper harmonics of this type of signal lie in the ultrasonic region of the frequency spectrum.

Morphological characteristics of the populations of Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 (Colubridae, Reptilia) on the northern border of its habitat in Russia

Detailed morphological characteristics of the populations of Coronella austriaca on the northern border of its range, in the Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod regions, are presented. L.corp. of males and females reaches 543 mm and 601 mm, respectively. Ventr. is 166–175 and 175–189, respectively, Scd. Is 5059 and 32–56, Lab. left/right is usually 7/7 (89.7%), Sublab. is 9/9 (72.4%), respectively.

Leukocyte blood composition of Naturix natrix (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the Mordovian State Nature Reserve (Russia)

The state of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) population in the Mordovian State Nature Reserve was assessed using the hematological approach. The leukocyte blood count was estimated together with calculation of the associated leukocyte indices (neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L), eosinophil:lymphocyte (E:L), heterophil:eosinophil (H/E) and heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratios). The surface area of leukocytes (heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, azurophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) was measured.

Comparative leukocyte blood profile of Emys orbicularis (Reptilia: Emydidae) from two populations

 A comparative estimation of the leukocyte profile of the marsh turtle Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) living in the Ural river basin (Orenburg region, Belyaevsky district, 11 females and 5 males) and in the Volga river basin (Astrakhan region, Krasnoyarsk district, 28 females and 20 males) was made.

Distribution of Phrynocephalus helioscopus (Pallas, 1771) (Agamidae, Reptilia) in the West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Based on the results of our 2017–2021 field research, the coordinates of 17 meeting points of the sunwatcher toadhead agama (Phrynocephalus helioscopus) (Pallas, 1771) in the West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan are given, from 49°17.256'N, 48°14.048'E in the North to 46°34.330'N, 55°49.319'E in the South. The northern limit of the modern distribution in the Volga-Ural (Volga-Zhaiyk) interfluve is the saline in the Aral-sor lacustrine-saline depression and the Baigutta sor-liman depression in the left bank of the Ural (Zhaiyk) River.

On limits of the distribution range of the Crimean rock lizard Darevskia lindholmi (Sauria: Lacertidae)

New data on the boundaries of the distribution range of the Lindholm rock lizard (Darevskia lindholmi), an endemic of the Crimean Peninsula, are presented. This petrophilous lizard inhabit a wide range of biotopes in various landscape levels of the Mountainous Crimea. The upper boundary of D. lindholmi distribution in the southwest of the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains reaches an elevation of 1,520 m a.s.l.

Distribution and morphometric features of the common toad Bufo bufo L. (Bufonidae, Amphibia) in the North-East of the European part of Russia

The distribution and morphometric features of the common toad (Bufo bufo) in the North-East of European Russia are discussed. The northern boundary of the species' range in the region has a complex configuration. In the west and central part of the region, the toad is found up to latitude 65º42'N and 63º01'N, respectively, the eastern border of its habitat moves northwards up to 64º13' and then drops to the south along the Ural Mountain Ridge.

Reptiles of the Southwestern Tajikistan desert plains: Spatial distribution, population density and communities structure

Population density of reptiles in four desert areas of southwestern Tajikistan was estimated in spring 2018–2019. The structure of reptile communities in seven typical landscapes was described. The highest species diversity and population density were observed in sandy landscapes. Seven species of psammobionts formed the basis of these reptile communities.

Sexual differences in the morphometric traits of the black forest-steppe viper, Pelias berus nikolskii (Vedmederja, Grubant et Rudaeva, 1986) (Viperidae, Reptilia), from the Voronezh region

We studied sexual dimorphism in the black forest-steppe viper, Pelias berus nikolskii (Vedmederja, Grubant et Rudaeva, 1986), inhabiting the Voronezh region. From 2008 to 2017, 118 snakes were captured, of which 84 were males and 34 were females. Body length, tail length, and five head measurements were taken from the individuals was calculated. Analysis of Covariance showed that males and females differed in all traits except the greatest width of the head and head length.

History of Central Asian tortoise Agrionemys horsfieldii (Testudinidae, Reptilia) harvesting in Uzbekistan, and its population impact

The harvesting of the Central Asian tortoise has been a longstanding practice in Uzbekistan. Throughout the 1930s–1950s, this species was harvested to feed farm livestock and shepherd dogs, and during the World War II, tortoise meat was used to provide additional nutrition to the people. The 1960s marked the start of commercial trade in tortoises. The annual volumes of legal harvesting of wild tortoises started to grow in the late 1990s, and reached 85 thousand specimens per year by 2017.

Morphological characteristics of Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the Samara region

The morphological characteristics of Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768 in the Samara region are presented. The proportion of melanists in the total sample (n = 147) was 2.04%. In wild-caught individuals of different ages and in calves obtained under laboratory conditions which were not in a state of molting, five variants of belly coloration (n = 140) were recorded, namely: black (17.1%), gray (5.0%), brown (17.9%), beige (2.9 %), and orange (57.1%).

Wintering conditions for the adder, Vipera berus (Viperidae, Reptilia), in the southern of Karelia

In the southern part of Karelia, on the Kizhi island, the temperature dynamics in piles of stones (collected by peasants from fields), in which the common viper takes shelter from the winter cold, was studied. A key role in experiencing winter is played by snow drifts covering the stones from the outside, and heat coming from the depths of the earth. It has been shown that in ordinary winters, the temperature stays at 0°C for three months in the winter shelters of the viper, often drops down to -2°C, and even lower for a short time.

Reproductive ecology of Anuran Amphibians: Effects of internal and external factors

This research paper examines the influence of internal factors (female body weight, body condition) and external ecological factors on the reproductive parameters of females, as well as on the reproductive ecology of adult individuals of anuran amphibians. Among the most significant reproductive characteristics of females are the number of eggs in a clutch, the proportion of reproductive products to female body weight (contribution to reproduction), and the average weight of eggs.

On the problem of specific identification in triploid (Bufotes baturae) and tetraploid (B. pewzowi) green toads (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae) of Central Asia by morphometric characteristics

The paper presents the results of using multiplicative indices for species identification of polyploid green toads of Central Asia. Live adult individuals of Bufotes baturae (24 females and 17 males) from the territory of Tajikistan and B. pewzowi (14 females and 24 males) from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were studied. The animals were caught in nature, measured and immediately released. The species belonging of the studied green toads was established by cytogenetic methods.

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