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Introduction and reintroduction of the takyr roundhead Phrynocephalus helioscopus (Agamidae, Reptilia) in the Altai region

Authors: Krymov N. G.

Information is provided on the introduction and reintroduction of the takyr roundhead (Phrynocephalus helioscopus) in the Altai region under the “Program of Comprehensive Study of the Methods of Keeping and Breeding in Captivity of the Takyr roundhead (Phryno-cephalus helioscopus)”.

New finds of Elaphe sauromates (Pallas, 1814) (Colubridae, Reptilia) in Kazakhstan

Authors: Akhmedenov K. M., Bakiev A. G.

A critical analysis of literature data on the records of Elaphe sauromates in the Atyrau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1857–2006 is presented. Doubtful finds of the species in the Volga-Ural interfluve and in the vicinity of the city of Atyrau require confirmation. New finds in the region in 2018 and 2021, like all reliable previous ones, were made only on the territory of the Zhylyoysky district.

Some data on the parasite fauna of the Caucasian agama Paralaudakia caucasia Eichwald, 1831 (Agamidae, Reptilia) in Dagestan

Authors: Gadzhiramazanovа A. G., Gichikhanova U. A., Mazanaeva L. F.

Information on the species composition of the parasite fauna of the Caucasian agama P. caucasia is given. In total, 12 individuals of the Caucasian agama were studied and 5 species of helminths were found (Macracanthorhynchus catulinus, Thelandros popovi, T. markovi, Parapharyngodon brevicaudatus, Parapharyngodon szczerbakin). Ectoparasites were not found on the studied agamas.

Age structure and growth of the oriental tree frog (Hyla orientalis, Amphibia, Hylidae) in the Samur Forest (North-Eastern Caucasus)

Authors: Kidov A. A., Ivolga R. A., Kondratova T. E., Ivanov A. A., Mazanaeva L. F., Askenderov A. D.

The paper presents the results of studying the age structure and growth of the eastern tree frog (Hyla orientalis) in the Samur Forest. In the Primorskiy village (Magaramkent district, Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation) in the first decade of May 2022, 7 females and 13 males were captured. The age of animals was determined by the cross sections of phalanx by standard method of skeletochronology. Age of females was 2–5 years (3.4 on average), males 1–6 years (3.4 on average).

Rare species of amphibians and reptiles – candidates for the inclusion into the third edition of the Red Data Book of Tambov region

Authors: Lada G. A., Sokolov A. S., Goncharov A. G.

Five species of amphibians and five species of reptiles are recommended to the inclusion into the third edition of the Red Data Book of Tambov region. Their conservation status, distribution, main limiting factors, adopted and necessary protection measures are discussed.

Distribution of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca austriaca Laurenti, 1768) (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the Caspian lowland of Russia and Kazakhstan

Authors: Mazanaeva L. F., Orlova V. F., Shepelya E. Y.

The distribution of smooth snake in the Caspian lowland of Russia and Kazakhstan is analyzed according to the collections of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University and published works. The map with smooth snake finds includes 36 localities of the species (Volgograd Region, Stavropol Territory, Kalmykia, Chechen Republic, Dagestan, and Kazakhstan).

Comparative analysis of the growth and development of male and female Pevtsov's toad, Bufotes pewzowi (Amphibia: Anura, Bufonidae) in laboratory conditions

Authors: Matushkina K. A., Astakhova E. A.

Differences in growth rates are shown, as well as in the cost of rearing male and female Bufotes pewzowi under laboratory conditions. We observed a tendency for females to be superior in length and weight, but statistically significant differences (U = 13, p < 0.05) were noted only in weight after 50 weeks of rearing. Over the entire period of the study, the weight gain of females was 54.2±5.04 g, males – 45.3±6.15 g. The actual cost of rearing 1 female was 497.2±58.34 rubles (426.6–557.7), 1 male – 389.9±75.86 rubles (244.7–488.2).

Foster’s or island rule in populations of Phrynocephalus mystaceus and Eremias velox (Reptilia, Lacertilia) on the sandy massif Sarykum

Authors: Polynova G. V., Polynova O. E.

The sandy massif Sarykum, whose age is about 100 thousand years, is an island habitat for psammophilic species of terrestrial vertebrates. The paper presents new morphometric data on the populations of two species of psammophilous lizards living in this area. These are the nominative subspecies of the Secret Toadheaded Agama (Phrynocephalus mystaceus mystaceus Pallas, 1776) and the Caucasian Central Asian Racerunner (Eremias velox caucasica Lantz, 1928).

Thermobiological characters of toad-headed agamas (Phrynocephalus mystaceus) (Reptilia, Agamidae) on the Sarykum dune (Dagestan, Russia) obtained by using of temperature loggers

Authors: Cherlin V. A., Okstein I. L., Aligadzhiev E.

The paper compares two variants of thermobiological studies of toad-headed agamas (Phrynocephalus mystaceus) – the traditional one, based on route trapping and measurements of body temperature in captured lizards, and the new one, using temperature loggers that register body temperature once a minute and implemented interperitoneally. Both work options are not alternative. The main thing is the correct interpretation of the results: the traditional method provides data obtained from many individuals characterizing the temperature parameters of the activity of the studied reptiles.

Some features of thermobiology of steppe-runner Eremias arguta (Gmelin, 1789) and spotted toadhead agama Phrynocephalus guttatus (Gmelin, 1789) (Squamata, Reptilia) in cohabitation in the Northern Pre-Caspian

Authors: Chetanov N. A., Litvinov N. A., Ganshchuk S. V., Yugov M. V.

The paper presents data on temperatures of the body and the selected substrate for the steppe-runner and the spotted toadhead agama. Thermal preferences and modal classes for both species were determined, and interspecies differences were analyzed. Significantly higher average temperatures were found in the steppe-runner, while the maximum voluntary temperatures are higher in the spotted toadhead agama. These features are associated with the biotopic confinement of species.

Variability of morphophysiological parameters of green toads of the Bufotes viridis complex (Anura, Amphibia) depending on altitude zoning

Authors: Gamidova D. M., Askenderov A. D., Rabadanova A. I.

In Dagestan, morphometric parameters of the body and cytomorphological parameters of erythrocytes were studied in 124 green toads from four regions. In the course of the analysis of variance, variability between populations in these parameters was revealed, which is associated both with the influence of altitudinal zonality, sex, and the interaction of these factors.

On the history of the study of land turtles (Testudinidae, Testudo) of the Caucasus

Authors: Gichikhanova U. A., Mazanaeva L. F.

An analysis of the literature on long-term studies of the land turtle (Testudinidae, Testudo graeca) in the Caucasus was carried out. Particular attention is paid to the results obtained over the past decades. Starting from the 19th century, the main stages in the history of study have been identified. The main focus of the researchers was on the ecology, biology and taxonomy of the species. Despite a long history of study, the species in the Caucasus still remains insufficiently studied.

Description of cases of axial bifurcation of the Mediterranean Spur-thighed tortoise – Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 (Testudinidae, Reptilia) based on field research and herpetological collection of ZIN RAS

Authors: Gordeev D. A., Mazanaeva L. F., Gichikhanova U. A.

Axial duplications are the most complex variant of anomalies characteristic of animals, including turtles. For turtles, the following variants of duplications are described: anakatamesodimus, derodimus, dicephaly, Siamese twins. We present a description of two specimens of the Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758): with dicephaly and ischio-omphalopagia, a variant of Siamese twins, in which lateral fusion occurs in the region of the sacrum.

On the morphology of the blind snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820)) (Typhlopidae, Reptilia) in Dagestan

Authors: Ismailova Z. S., Rabadanova Z. G.

The worm-like blind snake – Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) has a wide range. The Dagestan population is located at the northern limit of the species' range. This paper provides information on the morphology of the Dagestan population and a comparison of its morphological data with the Turkish and Cypriot populations. A total of 67 sexually mature individuals (14 males and 53 females) were studied. 23 signs were analyzed, of which 19 were linear and 4 were signs of folidosis.

Reproductive characteristics of Darevskia daghestanica (Reptilia, Lacertidae) in Intra-Mountain Dagestan

Authors: Kidov A. A., Erashkin V. O., Ivanov A. A., Mazanaeva L. F., Askenderov A. D., Kondratova T. E.

The paper presents the results of studying the reproductive biology of Darevskia daghestanica in the valleys of Khzanor and Kitlyarta rivers (Tsunta district, Republic of Dagestan, Republic of Dagestan). Adult females were caught in the II–III decades of May 2021. In the following, the animals were kept singly in a laboratory. Lizards laid eggs from the third decade of May to the second decade of June. The body length of breeding females was 43.95–56.20 mm.

Caucasian toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814), (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Caspian Sea basin (Russian Caucasus)

Authors: Lotiev K. Y., Telpov V. A., Doronin I. V., Yufereva V. V., Klenina A. A., Popova A. L.

The Caucasian toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814), is a typical representative of the West Caucasian forest mesophilic batrachofauna, requiring special protection measures. The known habitat of the species in the Russian part of the Caucasus was limited to the Black Sea basin. In the course of the studies undertaken, the Caucasian toad was found in many localities of the Predgorny district of the Stavropol territory (Caspian Sea basin), where at present relatively favorable natural conditions have developed for it.

Variation of age composition and postmetamorphic growth rates in Pelophylax ridibundus (Ranidae, Anura): Comparison populations from Moscow region and Kamchatka

Authors: Lyapkov S. M., Bryakova M. A.

Using skeletochronology, the age composition and growth rates of Pelophylax ridibundus population from the Eastern European part of the native range (Zvenigorod Biological station (ZBS) of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow region) were compared with introduced populations of Kamchatka, differing in the duration of the activity season (T). Both females and males of the ZBS population (T = 5.5 months) reach maturity after the 3rd wintering.

Snake diversity of the Aralo-Caspian basin

Authors: Milto K. D.

Snake diversity of the Aralo-Caspian basin includes 61 species in 8 families and is composed by local faunas of the Northern Caspian depression, Greater Caucasus and Ciscaucasia, Lesser Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Alborz and Turkmeno-Khorasanian mountains, Aralo-Caspian isthmus, deserts and mountains of the Middle Asia and plains of the Aral Sea region. Regions with richest snake diversity are Alborz, Turkmeno-Khorasanian mountains and Transcaucasia.

Comparative assessment of the impact of pesticide pollution on the cytomorphology of erythrocytes Bufotes viridis (Laurenti, 1768) and Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) (Anura, Amphibia)

Authors: Rabadanova A. I., Gamidova D. M.

A comparative assessment of morphological features of erythrocytes Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) and Bufotes viridis (Laurenti, 1768) living near the territory sprayed with pesticides was carried out. Multidirectional changes in the parameters of erythrocytes in the compared species were revealed, expressed in an increase in the width, area and volume of cells in P. ridibundus and a decrease in the values of these parameters in B. viridis.

State of populations of anuran amphibians (Anura, Amphibia) in the north of the Caspian lowland

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

The distribution of three species of anuran amphibians (Pelobates vespertinus, Bombina bombina and Pelophylax ridibundus) in the north of the Caspian lowland within the south-east of the Saratov region is considered. The biotopic habitat of local populations of these species is revealed and trends in their abundance under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors are discussed. Reduction of their numbers is shown and the continuation of this trend is predicted if the direction of climate change in the region remains unchanged.

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