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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0).

CURRENT STATUS OF THE BATRACHOLOGICAL COLLECTION OF THE ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SARATOV UNIVERSITY

A brief history of the formation of the batrachological collection of the Zoological Museum (Saratov State University) is given. The museum’s collections taken within the Saratov region and beyond are analyzed.

ON POSSIBLE ESTIVATION OF PHRYNOCEPHALUS HELIOSCOPUS (PALLAS, 1771) AND EREMIAS ARGUTA (PALLAS, 1773) IN THE ALTAI REGION

Summer counts of Phrynocephalus helioscopus (Pallas, 1771) and Eremias arguta (Pallas, 1773) were conducted in the Altai Region during April - September, 2016. A sharp decline in the activity of lizards in June and July was noted, due to the high temperatures and dry weather. As a result of excavation of some burrows, lizards in a non-active state were found. The possibility of summer hibernation (estivation) of the species is considered.

LIZARDS (REPTILIA, SAURIA) FROM VIETNAM IN THE HERPETOLOGICAL COLLECTION OF THE ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF MOSCOW UNIVERSITY. 3. GENUS BRONCHOCELA (FAMILY AGAMIDAE)

Data are given on the lizard specimens of the genus Bronchocela (the family Agamidae) of the Vietnam fauna, accumulated in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum of Moscow University. The following data are presented for each specimen: the accession number, the date and location of capture, the habitat, and the collector. The places of capture are shown on the map of the country. A new key for the Vietnamese species of Bronchocela is provided.

A NEW RECORD OF THE GREEN SEA TURTLE CHELONIA MYDAS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE BLACK SEA NEAR THE ABKHAZIA COAST

A new record of the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758) occurrence in the eastern part of the Black sea, on the territory of Republic of Abkhazia, is reported.

NEW RECORDS OF THE DIADEM SNAKE SPALEROSOPHIS DIADEMA (SQUAMATA, COLUBRIDAE) IN KAZAKHSTAN

The paper presents seven new records of the diadem snake Spalerosophis diadema in Kazakhstan in 2016 - 2017. It is proposed to include this species into the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan.

SCHNEIDER'S SKINK (EUMECES SCHNEIDERI (DAUDIN, 1802)) AS A NEW SPECIES FOR THE FAUNA OF KAZAKHSTAN

In June 2017 on the territory of the Southern Kazakhstan region, on the right bank of the Syrdariya River, in the vicinities of the Darbaza mountain, under a nest of the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) the remains of 5 dead individuals of Schneider's skink (Eumeces schneideri) were found. This finding is located 110 km north-west from the nearest known habitation place of Schneider's skink on the Chatkal Range and allows us to include it into the herpetofauna list of Kazakhstan, and also to considerably expand our representations of its propagation north.

New Records of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Vladimir Region, Russia

New data on the distribution of 10 amphibian and 6 reptile species in the Vladimir Region is given. The list of species contains 198 new records including such rare species as Bombina bombina and Coronella austriaca.

On Anomalies of the Caudal Regeneration and Autotomy in Mediodactylus danilewskii (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae)

The paper presents data on the findings of three Danilewski’s gecko (Mediodactylus danilewskii) individuals with bifurcations of their regenerated tails in the Karadag Reserve (the southeastern Crimea). Possible causes of such an abnormality are discussed.

A New Record of Lacerta media Lantz et Cyrén, 1920 (Reptilia, Lacertidae) in Talysh

The paper discusses the spread of the medium lizard, Lacerta media, in the Talysh Mountains on the territory of Republic of Azerbaijan. Earlier, findings of this species were known in the North-Western part of the Talysh only. A new record of the medium lizard from the Sym village in the Astara District of Azerbaijan is presented.

Condition of Populations and the Conservation Status of the Vipera renardi (Christoph, 1861) (Reptilia, Serpentes) in the Saratov Region

The historical and modern distributions of the steppe viper (Vipera renardi) in the territory of the Saratov region are analyzed. The condition of its local populations in various parts of the area is shown. The ne-cessity of monitoring and determining its conservation status in the publication of the Red DATA Book of the Saratov Region are established.

On the Distribution of Eremias arguta deserti (Gmelin, 1789) (Reptilia, Lacertidae) in Kabardino-Balkaria

The paper discusses the distribution of the Steppe Runner (Eremias arguta) in the North Caucasus, in the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria. A new find of the species from the Geduko natural boundary in the Baksan District is presented.

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

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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