Short Communications

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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