Articles

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.

On the issue of the thermal adaptation of the larvae caucasian brown frog Rаna macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885 (Amphibia, Ranidae) to low-temperature environmental conditions

Authors: Gazimagomedova I. K.

The results of the study of hematological parameters of the blood of the larvae caucasian brown frog Rana macrocnemis and the total activity of catalase compared with adults and at different temperature conditions: at 23°C and after five days of hypothermia at 5°C. Differences in the blood formula were revealed in different periods of ontogenesis and under the influence of artificial hypothermia.

Influence of the geochemical background of the Western Caspian region of Azerbaijan on acid-base balance regulation of Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) (Amphibia, Ranidae) blood

Authors: Vershinin V. L., Vershinina S. D., Gasimova G. A.

This research paper examines the influence geochemical specifics of habitats on acid base balance of marsh frog blood. An aquatic species, P. ridibundus, is surrounded throughout its entire life cycle by an aquatic environment, which ensures the free exchange of gases and ions across the entire surface of the body, thanks mainly to passive and active transport, which is easily realized in a significant volume.

Histological and computed tomography study of osteoderm regeneration in the skink lizard Eurylepis taeniolata Blyth, 1854 (Scincidae, Squamata)

Authors: Cherepanov G. O., Gordeev D. A., Melnikov D. A., Ananjeva N. B.

Skink lizards have an unusual complex osteoderm, which consists of several bone elements – osteodermitis. We have carried out the first histological and computer microtomographic study of the structure of the original and regenerating complex osteoderms of skink lizards using Eurylepis taeniolata as an object. The topography of osteoderms in the integument of the original region of the tail and its regenerated part was studied. The fundamental similarity of the morphology and microstructure of the original and regenerated osteoderms was showed.

On the issue of sex differences in metric characters in Anguis colchica (Nordmann in Demidoff, 1840) (Anguidae, Reptilia)

Authors: Ryzhov M. K., Romanova E. B., Bakiev A. G.

The length of the body without a tail (L.) and the length of an intact tail (L. cd.) were measured in 91 males and 110 females of Anguis colchica from the Chamzinsky rayon of the Republic of Mordovia. A comparative analysis of three morphometric characters (L., L. cd., L. / L. cd.) of males and females was carried out with the construction of variation series and using the frequency approach. Range of variability of L. and L.

Modelling the range dynamics of the marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) (Ranidae, Amphibia) in Russia under alternative scenarios of global climate change

Authors: Petrosyan V. G., Osipov F. A., Bashinskiy I. V., Dergunova N. N., Bobrov V. V.

Predictive maps of the distribution of the marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) in Russia under the conditions of global climate change up to 2100 are presented. It is shown that under the influence of global climate change, the range will expand and the centroid will shift to the north-east.

Ecological niches breadth analysis of Darevskia (Lacertidae, Reptilia) parthenogenetic lizards with various scenarios of clonal lineage formation in populations

Authors: Osipov F. A., Bobrov V. V., Dergunova N. N., Arakelyan M. S., Petrosyan V. G.

In this work, we tested the conditions for fulfilling the concept of geographic parthenogenesis by a comparative analysis of the breadth of the ecological niches of parental and parthenogenetic lizards of the genus Darevskia with a various number of established hybridization events. Estimates of the breadth of ecological niches of the parthenogenetic species D. rostombekowi Nb = 0.6(±0.08) and parental bisexual species D.

Geographical variation of duration of larval development and body size in Rana temporaria (Ranidae, Anura) metamorphs

Authors: Lyapkov S. M.

With the help of artificial inter-population crosses of adult Rana temporaria from four spatially remote populations of the European part of the species' range, the magnitude and direction of changes in metamorphic traits were estimated.

Phylogeny and geographic distribution of rock lizards (Lacertidae, Reptilia) in Alborz mountain range

Authors: Iryshkov E. S., Solovyeva E. N., Arakelyan M. S., Rastegar-Poyani E., Moaddab M., Milto K. D., Galoyan E. A.

Rock lizards of the genus Darevskia have long been an important model object for study of reptile evolution. To understand the overall picture, it is important to know how bisexual and parthenogenetic species are distributed within this genus. The ranges of Caucasian species of rock lizards have been studied for a long time and in detail. However, recent attention to the species inhabiting the territory of Iran has been attracted after the description of several new species in 2013.

Age differences in the leukocyte blood composition of the common viper Vipera berus (Reptilia: Serpentes: Viperidae)

Authors: Romanova E. B., Solomaykin E. I., Bakiev A. G., Gorelov R. A.

The results of our comparative analysis of parameters of the leukocyte blood system of underyearlings and mature specimens of the common viper Vipera berus are presented. The material was the blood of 36 females and 26 males caught in the Middle Volga basin, and 13 underyearlings born in captivity from 4 females of this sample. V. b.

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