Article

Seasonal dynamics of sex hormone levels in Elaphe dione (Pallas 1773) (Colubridae, Reptilia) in the northern part of the range

Authors: Klenina A. A., Kuznetsova E. V.

We investigated seasonal changes in the plasma levels of sex hormones in males (testosterone) and females (progesterone and estradiol) of Elaphe dione (Pallas 1773). Snakes (21 males and 17 females) were captured from May to August 2022 on the Samarskaya Luka (Samara Region, Russian Federation). Some individuals (4 males and 11 females) after capture were kept under controlled laboratory conditions for two months, then they were released at the capture sites. Blood was sampled immediately after capture.

Atmospheric advection of heat or cold: The formation of the false spring phenomenon in the spawning migrations of anuran amphibians (Amphibia, Anura) in Europe

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

The spawning migrations of four widespread species of anuran amphibians in European fauna (Pelobates vespertinus, Bombina bombina, Pelophylax ridibundus, and Rana dalmatina) were analyzed. In the years with an abnormally early start of the spawning migrations of the anuran amphibians and their passage through a false spring, powerful anticyclones over Central Asia, Trans-Urals or Western Siberia blocked the west–east atmospheric transfer.

Year-round habitat of snakes of the genus Elaphe (Colubridae, Reptilia) in industrial waste from a timber processing complex in the Lower Amur region

Authors: Tagirova V. T., Kriskevich D. D., Kuranova V. N.

We studied the colonization of the Amur Rat Snake Elaphe schrenckii and the Steppes Rat Snake E. dione of a sawdust mountain, located among the wastes a timber processing complex, during high floods of the Amur River. Since 2013, both species of snakes live in this territory year-round. For snakes, shelters from the cold are shelters in the form of “floa-ting” cracks (depth 1–1.5 m, temperature in winter up to +18°C) with a snow “roof”. Species E. schrenckii dominates in numbers on group wintering.

Filling gaps in the taxonomy of the Phrynocephalus helioscopus species complex (Reptilia, Squamata, Agamidae) with description of two new subspecies

Authors: Solovyeva E. N., Dunayev E. A., Nazarov R. A., Abduraupov T. V., Poyarkov N. A.

Phrynocephalus helioscopus species complex have been thoroughly studied during recent years, but several lineages remained unassigned. Based on the morphological differences and divergence in COI (mtDNA) gene sequences, two new subspecies are described in the present article within the Phrynocephalus helioscopus species complex: Ph. helioscopus karatauensis ssp. nov. from the environs of Karatau Ridge in Kazakhstan and Ph. saidalievi orlovae ssp. nov.

Places, times and wintering conditions of the viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823) (Sauria: Lacertidae) in Western Siberia

Authors: Kuranova V. N., Yakovlev V. A.

A number of aspects of the hibernation of the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) in the Asian part of its range are analyzed. The results of our own field work for the period from 1971 to 2022 in the Altai Republic (Altai Nature Reserve, Tomsk, Kemerovo, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions are used). Within 17 localities of the foothill and flat parts of the south of Western Siberia (51°22΄ – 57°04΄ N, 57°33΄ – 88°08΄ E), 54 wintering sites were recorded. 173 li-zards of different sexes and ages were noted in the wintering shelters.

The Godeffroy Trading House and its exhibits in the herpetological collection of the Zoological museum of Moscow University

Authors: Dunayev E. A.

The article provides information about the history of the formation of the memorial collection of amphibians and reptiles obtained by the Zoological Museum of Moscow University from the Godeffroy Trade Museum at the end of the XIX century. The collection includes 20 specimens of 16 amphibian species and 86 specimens of 70 reptile species. A complete list of collection samples, their taxonomic and geographical analysis is given. Most of the amphibians in the Godeffroy collection belong to the Australian tree frogs (Hylidae: Pelodryadinae).

A new species of skink from mountains of southern Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae)

Authors: Bragin A. M., Geissler P., Trofimets A. V., Neang T., Le X. S., Nguyen V. T., Poyarkov N. A.

We provide an integrative taxonomic revision of miniaturized sphenomorphine skinks from Vietnam and Cambodia based on morphological analysis and COI DNA barcoding. Our data reveal a new species, Sphenomorphus valentinae sp. nov., from Chu Yang Sin National Park, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam.

Materials for the distribution of the great crested newt Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) in the Tula region

Authors: Shiryaev K. A., Terentev R. A.

Over the entire observation history (up to and including 2023), the great crested newt Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) was found in 39 localities within 12 out of 23 administrative districts of the Tula region, with 23 locations (59%) discovered in the last 4 years (2020–2023). The vast majority of the find points (92.3%) belong to the zones of coniferous-broadleaved and broadleaved forests. The species is less common in the forest-steppe zone, although in general its distribution here is insufficiently studied.

Redistribution of habitats between the Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and the Common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) in the southern taiga subzone. Reaction to temperature rise or result of processes not related to climate change?

Authors: Tsellarius A. Y.

Main observations were made in a sample plot (by 10 km2) during 1999–2023. In 1999 about 40% of the sample plot was arable lands. In 2000–2003 the ploughing had been stopped. In sandy patches, former arables began to be replaced by heathlands with xerophytic grass and sparse sprouts of pine. In 1999–2005 Z. vivipara inhabited the outer edges of floodplain forest with high density; L. agilis distribution was restricted to small patch (about 25 ha) of drained peatland located 4 km away from floodplain forest. Since 2006 L.

Adaptive blood reactions of Testudo graeca nikolskii Ckhikvadze et Tuniyev, 1986 (Testudinidae, Reptilia)

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

In order to check the health of individuals of the Mediterranean tortoise Nikolskii Testudo graeca nikolskii Ckhikvadze et Tuniyev, 1986 (22 individuals: 6 males and 16 females) collected in the vicinity of Anapa (Krasnodar region of Russia), a haematological approach was used to assess adaptive blood reactions. Intraerythrocytic parasites Haemogregarina spp. (Adeleorina, Coccidia) were detected in blood smears of 54.5% of turtles.

Pages