Articles

VENOM’S YIELD AND VENOM’S PROPERTIES OF EASTERN STEPPE VIPER VIPERA RENARDI AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF ITS SEASONAL ACTIVITY

Authors: Malenyov A. L., Gorelov R. A., Atyasheva T. N., Bakiev A. G.

The venom yield of the eastern steppe viper Vipera renardi (Christoph, 1861) was shown to be higher in the summer than in the spring and autumn. No seasonal variability of the venom toxicity (the average lethal dose DL50 for banana crickets Gryllus locorojo Weissman et Gray, 2012) and the enzyme activities therein (proteases and L-amino acid oxidase) was detected.

RANA TEMPORARIA IN THE KAMCHATKA: FORMATION OF THE FIRST POPULATION

Authors: Lyapkov S. M.

The results of our first short-term study of a unique Rana temporaria population in May, 2015, are reported. This population was formed in the southern Kamchatka as a result of releasing 150 immature frogs in the spring of 2005. The numbers of breeding females was 2,648 in 2015. The activity season duration at the release locality (4 months) is 2 months shorter than that at the original locality of the translocated frogs in Moscow district.

LONG-TERM DYNAMICS OF THE SIZE-WEIGHT AND SEXUAL STRUCTURE IN POPULATIONS OF PELOBATES FUSCUS (ANURA, PELOBATIDAE) IN THE MEDVEDITSA RIVER VALLEY (SARATOV REGION)

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

The size, weight and sexual structure of several populations of mature individuals of the common spadefoot was analyzed in five lakes of the Medveditsa floodplain (Saratov Region, Lysogorsky District) in 2009 - 2016. The body length of the males participating in reproduction ranged from 29.0 to 56.0 mm (the weight from 2.35 to 20.87 g), and that of females ranged from 29.3 to 59.2 mm (the weight from 2.64 to 22.33 g). In most P.

COLOR POLYMORPHISM AND GENETIC VARIABILITY OF THE SAND LIZARD (LACERTA AGILIS) (LACERTIDAE, SAURIA) IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE TYUMEN AND STERLITAMAK CITIES

Authors: Bolnykh I. I., Zhigileva O. N.

The paper presents data on the variability of basic morphological characters of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) inhabiting the vicinities of the cities Tyumen (Western Siberia) and Sterlitamak (Southern Urals). Five subtypes of back coloration were identified. Typical and atypical variants of the coloration pattern are described. A high level of the genetic variability of the ISSR markers of sand lizards was revealed. It was significantly lower in the group of mature individuals as compared to juveniles.

ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN THE EVREISKAYA AUTONOMOUS OBLAST’ (RUSSIA)

Authors: Adnagulov E. V.

The author has collected and integrated records on 7 amphibian species and 9 reptile ones in the Evreiskaya Autonomous Oblast’ (Russian Federation). Most of these species are found to be distributed in the mountain-forest area of the region, which is due to a combination of several factors (temperature limits, the availability of refuges, and food base).

AGE, BODY SIZES AND GROWTH OF ZOOTOCA VIVIPARA (SAURIA: LACERTIDAE) FROM ITS MOUNTAIN POPULATIONS IN THE KUZNETSK ALATAU (SOUTHEAST OF THE WESTERN SIBERIA)

Authors: Epova L. A., Kuranova V. N., Yartsev V. V., Absalyamova E. N.

The present paper studies Zootoca vivipara populations from the low, medium and alpine zones of the Kuznetsky Alatau. By using skeletonchronology, the age of animals was determined, and the life longev-ity, sex -age structure, growth rate of bone and body were estimated. Males and females had the highest growth rates of bone and body until their second wintering, and then they decreased. Slow-growing specimens reach older ages. The body length of males and females in different age classes overlaps, and the oldest individuals were not necessarily the biggest ones.

ADDITIONS TO THE DESCRIPTION AND RAPID ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF A POPULATION OF THE RELIC VIPER (PELIAS MAGNIFICA (TUNIYEV ET OSTROVSKIKH, 2001)), (OPHIDIA, VIPERINAE) AT A TYPE LOCALITY

Authors: Tuniev S. B., Kidov A. A., Tuniev B. S.

Additional material collected in a type locality of Pelias magnifica (Tuniyev et Ostrovskikh, 2001) ex- pands our current understanding of the external morphology of the species (including its color polymor- phism), its preferred habitats and daily activity. A rapid assessment of the current population status was done.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS AND PECULIARITIES OF THE COLOR PATTERN OF KARELIN'S NEWT (AMPHIBIA: CAUDATA: SALAMANDRIDAE) FROM THE POPULATION IN THE BURCHU-GOL’ LAKE

Authors: Kukushkin O. V., Dovgal I. V., Leonov S. V., Kuschan N. B.

The intrapopulation variability of 20 morphometric characteristics and 26 indices of the body proportions of Karelin’s newt Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870) in the Burchu-Gol’ Lake (the Crimea, Chatyrdagh massif, 870 m a. s. l.) was estimated by employing standard statistical methods and discriminant analysis. The studied specimens demonstrated absolute discrimination into two groups, males and females, respectively.

THE FIRST CASE OF REPRODUCTION OF THE LATASTE’S TOAD, BUFOTES LATASTII (BOULENGER, 1882) IN LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Authors: Kidov A. A., Matushkina K. A., Litvinchuk S. N., Blinova S. A., Afrin K. A., Kovrina E. G.

The paper presents data on reproduction of Lataste’s toad, Bufotes latastii, in laboratory conditions. Dur- ing the summer, such animals  were  kept at  temperatures  within 26 – 30°C and a  daylight duration of  16 hours in a horizontal terrarium with its ground made of shredded bark. Laboratory-bred two-spotted crickets, Grillus bimaculatus, were food for adult toads. Within 28 days (from early February till early March) the animals were kept at temperatures within 9.4 – 15.8°C, humidity within 20 – 48%, and under natural lighting.

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