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Storage of grass frog Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Amphibia) oocytes in a carbon monoxide and oxygen mixture under pressure

Authors: Gagarinskiy E. L., Uteshev V. K., Fesenko E. E.

The development of a technology for hypothermic preservation of amphibian oocytes is one of the urgent tasks for cryobiology. The previously proposed method of “dry” hypothermic preservation in small sealed containers allowed us to increase the duration of refrigerated storage of unfertilized oocytes of the grass frog Rana temporaria up to 7 days (fertilization 40%; hatching 20%).

Laboratory hybridization of Darevskia chlorogaster and D. capsica (Reptilia, Lacertidae)

Authors: Erashkin V. O., Kidov A. A.

The results of our laboratory hybridization of green-bellied (Darevskia chlorogaster) and Caspian (Darevskia capsica) lizards are presented. When crossing D. chlorogaster females and D. caspica males, 7 hybrid individuals were obtained. The newborn lizards had body lengths of 24.59–27.11 mm and masses of 0.32–0.37 g. Incubation lasted 57–61 days. After the first period of hibernation (286–357 days after leaving the eggs) the hybrids had their first attempts at mating and laying eggs.

Comparative characteristics of growth in juvenile lizards from the genus Darevskia (Reptilia, Squamata, Lacertidae) under artificial conditions

Authors: Erashkin V. O., Guridova D. V., Strakhova E. D., Andreeva K. I., Kidov A. A.

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the growth rates and characteristics of 10 lizard species from the genus Darevskia (D. armeniaca, D. arribasi, D. brauneri, D. caucasica, D. daghestanica, D. derjugini, D. mixta, D. pontica, D. raddei, and D. valentini) in laboratory conditions. It has been shown that lizards from different species complexes, but originating from close localities, are characterized by similar growth features.

Age structure, growth and reproduction of Anguis colchica (Reptilia, Anguidae) in the east of the Lesser Caucasus

Authors: Ivanov A. A., Nikonova V. R., Balashova A. O., Erashkin V. O., Kidov A. A.

The results of our study of age and growth of the Eastern slowworm (Anguis colchica) in two localities in the east of the Lesser Caucasus are presented. 33 individuals (18 males and 15 females) from the vicinity of Stepanavan town (Lori Marz, Armenia) were studied. A sample from the vicinity of Zanavi village (Borjomi municipality, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia) contained 19 specimens (6 males and 13 females). The body length of captured animals was measured and the tip of the tail was clipped.

New findings of rare amphibians and reptiles in South Ossetia

Authors: Kidov A. A., Ivolga R. A.

The paper presents new data on the distribution of Pelodytes caucasicus, Bufo verrucosissimus and Pelias tuniyevi in South Ossetia. The research was carried out on the Dzau district territory in the first decade of July 2023 and in the third decade of April 2024. In the Patsa River gorge (a right tributary of Bolshaya Liakhva River), P. caucasicus, B. verrucosissimus, and P. tuniyevi were discovered for the first time, and P. caucasicus and B. verrucosissimus were discovered in the Ertso Depression.

Natural polyploidy in reptiles

Authors: Litvinchuk S. N.

Natural polyploidy cases in reptiles are analyzed. They are characterized by spontaneous autotriploidy, non-hybrid mixoploidy (2/3n), hybrid biotypes (2 and 3n), polyploid species, and tetraploid hybrids obtained from crossing triploids with diploids. Polyploid species are always triploid and parthenogenetic. Neither gynogenesis nor various types of hemiclonal inheritance have been observed among them. In all cases studied, reticulate speciation in reptiles stops at the stage associated with tetraploidy.

Distribution and ecology of the Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the North Caucasus (Russia)

Authors: Mazanaeva L. F., Gichikhanova U. A., Ismailova Z. S.

The article provides information on the distribution of Zamenis hohenackeri in the North Caucasus, mainly in Dagestan and the adjacent territory of Chechnya, and analyzes literature data on the distribution of the species in the republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia-Alania. Based on the literature and original data of the authors, as well as collection specimens, the most complete map and cadastre of the species findings in the North Caucasus have been compiled, which include 43 locations of the species.

Parasitic mites and ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida, Mesostigmata) from the true lizards (Lacertidae, Reptilia) of the Caucasus and their vector significance

Authors: Orlova M. V., Doronin I. V., Gichikhanova U. A., Mazanaeva L. F.

15 species of ixodid ticks (Ixodida) and 2 ones of gamasid mites (Mesostigmata) were identified in the true lizards (Lacertidae) of the Caucasus harbor according to our own and literature data. Of which one species of ixodid and both species of gamasid ticks are specific to reptiles. The core of the fauna of ixodid ticks is formed by species of the genus Haemaphysalis. The largest number of ixodid tick genera and species are associated with lizards of the genus Lacerta.

Sexual structure peculiarities in lizard populations of the family Lacertidae, genus Eremias and the family Agamidae, genus Phrynocephalus during their breeding season

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

Our sex ratio analysis of mature individuals in populations of 5 lizard species, genus Eremias (Lacertidae) and genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae), during the breeding season has shown that males predominate in the genus Eremias in most cases, while females predominate in the genus Phrynocephalus. This fact is confirmed by data collected by other researchers on 14 more species of the indicated genera. The authors believe that this difference is due to some ecological features of the noted systematic groups.

Population density dynamics of the Phrynocephalus mystaceus mystaceus (Reptilia, Agamidae) intrapopulation group on the Sarykum sandy massif during the breeding season

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

Our study of the Phrynocephalus mystaceus mystaceus (Pallas, 1776) intrapopulation group on the Sarykum sand massif was carried out during the breeding seasons (1^st ten days of May) in 2021 – 2024. In this part of the habitat, the species forms local groups with a very high population density (from 72.9 to 95.7 ind. / ha). Apparently, this is due to the island position of the population on the Sarykum.

Functional activity of the immune system of Pelophylax ridibundus (Amphibia: Ranidae) in environmental stress conditions

Authors: Romanova E. B., Plotnikova V. D., Kaknaeva M. S.

The object of our study of the functional activity of the body's immune reactions over a long period (2021–2024) was Pelophylax ridibundus in the reservoir of an urbanized territory (Silikatnoye Lake, Nizhny Novgorod) infected with Hepatozoon spp. A hydrochemical analysis of the habitat of P. ridibundus was done. Intraerythrocyte parasites were accounted for with the calculation of the extent and intensity of invasion and abundance of hemoparasites.

Karyotype diversity of Palearctic toads of the family Bufonidae (Anura, Amphibia)

Authors: Skorinov D. V., Pasynkova R. A., Litvinchuk S. N.

We analyzed the karyotypes of the most toad species of the family Bufonidae inhabiting the Palearctic (6 genera, 29 species). All diploid species had 11 chromosome pairs. In most of them (Bufo, Bufotes and Barbarophryne) the nucleolar organizer (NOR) was located on the 6^th pair and only in few species of the genus Bufotes on the 5^th one, Strauchbufo – on the 4^th, Epidalea – on the 11^th, and Sclerophrys – on the 10^th one, respectively.

Method of creating artificial nestings sites for the Far Eastern turtle Pelodiscus maackii (Brandt, 1857) (Reptilia, Testudines, Trionychidae) at high water levels of the Amur River

Authors: Tagirova V. T., Kriskevich D. D., Kuranova V. N., Andronova R. S.

A method has been developed for making artificial nesting sites for the Far Eastern turtle in its breeding areas during the period of high water level in the Amur River. The Far Eastern turtle is listed in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation and Khabarovsk region. Among the factors limiting natural reproduction are high and prolonged floods in the Amur River. Artificially created sites above the zone of coastal flooding by natural waters provide turtles with conditions for their successful reproduction.

Hypothermic storage of amphibian oocytes. How long can ovulated oocytes of the common frog Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Amphibia) be stored?

Authors: Uteshev V. K., Kaurova S. A., Shishova N. V., Kramarova L. I., Gakhova E. N.

Currently, there is an unacceptably high rate of decline in the biodiversity of vertebrates, and, first of all, amphibians. This situation requires emergency measures to save the endangered species of these animals. One of such measures is the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including cryopreservation and cryobanking of reproductive cells (sperm and oocytes). However, cryopreservation technologies, successfully used for banking sperm, have not yet been adapted for cryobanking amphibian oocytes.

Comparative thermobiological characteristics of the dice snake Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) (Colubridae, Reptilia) from the Kama Cis-Urals, Middle and Lower Volga regions

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

Since 2019, single individuals of the dice snake Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) have been repeatedly found in the Kama Cis-Urals. The lack of data on the thermobiology of the species in atypical conditions determined the purpose of this work – a comparison of the most important thermobiological characteristics of the water snake from the Lower and Middle Volga region, as well as the Kama Cis-Urals.

ЛИСТАЯ КНИГУ «ЗОЛОТОГО ВЕКА» ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННОЙ ГЕРПЕТОЛОГИИ (рецензия на книгу Н. Б. Ананьевой, И. В. Доронина «Илья Сергеевич Даревский: портрет герпетолога. Фотоальбом». СПб. : Зоол. ин-т РАН, 2015. 103 с.

Authors: Bobrov V. V.

Terrarium: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. Manual for Terrarium Holders by S. V. Kudryavtsev, S. V. Mamet, Yu. D. Zhuravlyov: A Book Review

Authors: Doronin I. V.

Terrarium: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. Manual for Terrarium Holders by S. V. Kudryav-tsev, S. V. Mamet, Yu. D. Zhuravlyov: A Book Review