Articles

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.

REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS OF BOMBINA BOMBINA AND PELOPHYLAX RIDIBUNDUS (AMPHIBIA, ANURA) FEMALES AS FUNCTIONS OF THEIR SIZE AND WEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS

Authors: Yermokhin M. V., Tabachishin V. G., Ivanov G. A., Rybal’chenko D. A.

Based on field surveys in 2013 – 2015 of four local populations of Bombina bombina and Pelophylax ridibundus in spawning lakes in the Medveditsa river valley (Saratov region) it was found that the body length (SVL) and weight of mature females of B. bombina and P. ridibundus ranged from 31.1 to 49.7 mm and from 63.1 to 138.1 mm; from 2.64 to 8.43 g and from 25.4 to 181.0 g, respectively.

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