Bufonidae

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 6th pair and only in few species of the genus Bufotes on the 5th one, Strauchbufo – on the 4th, Epidalea – on the 11th, and Sclerophrys – on the 10th one, respectively.

Hybridization and distribution of cryptic species of green toads (Bufotes) (Bufonidae, Amphibia) in Republic of Dagestan (Russia)

Authors: Skorinov D. V., Rakitskaya T. A., Askenderov A. D., Mazanaeva L. F., Litvinchuk S. N.

Distribution of cryptic species of green toads (Bufotes viridis and B. sitibundus) in Dagestan still understudied. We used the nuclear (microsatellite BM224) and mitochondrial (fragment of the CytB gene) markers characterized by species-specific alleles and haplotypes, respectively. Alleles of B. viridis predominated in toad populations in the plains in the north of the republic, while B. sitibundus alleles were more numerous in more southern mountainous and coastal (the coast of the Caspian Sea southeast of Makhachkala) regions.

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

Authors: Bobretsov A. V., Bykhovets N. M., Kochanov S. K., Petrov A. N.

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.

DISTRIBUTION AND CONTACT ZONE OF TWO FORMS OF THE GREEN TOAD FROM THE BUFOTES VIRIDIS COMPLEX (ANURA, AMPHIBIA), DIFFERING IN GENOME SIZE, IN THE VOLGA REGION

Authors: Faizulin A. I., Svinin A. O., Ruchin A. B., Skorinov D. V., Borkin L. J., Rosanov Y. M., Kuzovenko A. E., Litvinchuk S. N.

In the Volga region and adjacent territories, 263 specimens of green toads from 63 localities were studied. Genome size analysis by means of flow DNA cytometry allowed the specimens from 16 localities to be identified as the “western” (= viridis) form and the green toads from 20 localities as the “eastern” form (= variabilis or sitibundus). In the other localities studied, specimens with an intermediate genome size predominated.