1995. Volume 2. No. 2. Contents

POPULATION ECOLOGY OF THE CAUCASIAN PARSLEY FROG (Pelodytes caucasicus Boulenger) IN THE BORJOMI CANYON

A. T. Chubinishvili, R. K. Gokhelashvili, and D. N. Tarkhnishvili

Certain aspects of the population ecology of Pelodytes caucasicus were studied. Breading season of the Caucasian parsley frog lasts from the second half of May up to the end of September. One female deposits from 100 up to 750 eggs. There is a positive correlation between body size of the female and fecundity. As usual tadpoles stay in basins until following spring. Body size of the metamorphosing tadpoles depends on physical characters of the basin and larvae density. Survivability of tadpoles from egg until metamorphosis in different basins varies from 0.5 up to 10%. Individuals attain sexual maturity when 2 - 3 years old. Males of the Caucasian parsley frog can live up to 6 years. We did not found females, elder than 4 years old. The population renews more then by half annually. Population dynamics of the Caucasian parsley frog in general corresponds to the typical model of "sources and sinks."

Key words: Pelodytes caucasicus, Population ecology, Age-distribution, Phenology of Reproduction, Survivability

REVIEWED DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES OF Phrynocephalus strauchi NIKOLSKY, 1899 (SQUAMATA, AGAMIDAE) AND MATERIALS ON THE HISTORY OF ITS STUDY, DISTRIBUTION, AND VARIABILITY

E. A. Dunayev

The status of the Strauch toad agama was identified differently after reviewed description as Phrynocephalus helioscopus strauchi, Ph. helioscopus, Ph. reticulatus strauchi. The holotype was not identified by Nikolskii. The lectotype status established by Fedchenko's collection (No. R-2116 ZMMU²), because he worked before Middendorf in the Fergana Valley. Besides, Nikolskii preferred the first one in his study. Specimens of Middendorf's collection (Nos. 8703, 8704 ZISP) are paralectotypes. Ph. strauchi is endemic of the Fergana Valley. The data collected on the Aral Sea coast and the south-west of Tadzhikistan were erroneous, because of bad marking of animals and wrong identification. We found that one of collection numbers of Ph. guttatus in the Fergana Valley was Ph. strauchi (No. 5029 ZISP). Different ecological forms of this species occupy sandy and stony habitats. They differ in background colors of the back (gray - for the sandy form, deep-red - for the stony), the number of transverse stripes on the back in the adult forms (3 and 2, respectively). In this paper we describe the colors in detail. The sandy form has well developed edges on the caudal scales, while the stony form does not have them. All the outlined differences were ecologically dependant, and, according to Mayr, we can name the two forms as ecological races.

Key words: Phrynocephalus strauchi, types, systematics, ecological races, distribution.

ON THE MEDITERRANEAN INFLUENCE ON THE FORMATION OF HERPETOFAUNA OF THE CAUCASIAN ISTHMUS AND ITS MAIN XEROPHYLOUS REFUGIA

B. S. Tuniyev

The Caucasian Isthmus has common origin within the areas of Ancient Mediterranean and it inherited the united type of mountain belts with Mediterranean mountain systems. On the basing of paleo-areas and recent chorology of Caucasian amphibians and reptiles the analysis was given, including the historical changing of the main characteristic of Mediterranean species-complex, its composition and connection with corresponding phyto-landscapes. The recent refugia of Mediterranean species in the Caucasus are described and made conjecture about stages of colonization the Caucasian Isthmus by these species. The possible ways of preservation of these refugia till now are discussed.

Key words: biogeography, Caucasus, Mediterranean, herpetofauna, refugia.

ANURAN DENTITION: DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION

S. V. Smirnov and A. B. Vasil'eva

Dentitional development was studied in 3 anuran species differing in their adult teeth morphology: in Pipa carvalhoi (Pipidae) and Pyxicephalus adspersus (Ranidae) which have non-pedicellate teeth and in Pelobates fuscus (Pelobatidae) displaying the occurrence of pedicellate teeth typical for anurans and all recent amphibians. It was revealed that generalized pattern of anuran dentitional ontogeny includes 2 main stages. Stage I is represented by the teeth of the first generation, which are non-pedicellate and calcify from the center of calcification appearing in the ventral portion of teeth and gradually spreading along the full dental length. Stage II is represented by the pedicellate teeth of the second and later generations which calcify separately in their ventral and dorsal portions. Usually a more or less pronounced noncalcified zone remains in these teeth to divide them into calcified crown and pedicel. However, this pedicellate structure of typical anuran teeth may be lost due two phenomena: 1) paedomorphosis may result in the loss of Stage II of dentitional development (pipids) and 2) acceleration of skull development accompanied by the hypercalcification may result in the complete calcification of teeth and in the elimination of a zone of division (P. adspersus). In both cases the non-pedicellate teeth appear although these non-pedicellate conditions are ontogenetically distinct.

Key words: anurans, teeth, pedicely, development.

ONTOGENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHELL IN Trionyx sinensis (TRIONYCHIDAE, TESTUDINATA) AND SOME QUESTIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF BONY PLATES

G. O. Cherepanov

The embryonic and postembryonic development of the bony shell in Trionyx sinensis (Trionychidae) is observed. There are two main types of ossifications in trionychid armor, like in other turtles. Ossifications of the first type (neurals and costals) are modified elements of axial skeleton. Ossifications of the second type (nuchal, preneural, plastrals) are dermal bones developing independently from the internal skeleton. Hypotheses on the special epithecal origin of bony callosities as well as on the unique nature of anterior neural and plastral plates in Trionychidae do not confirm by morphogenetic data.

Key words: Trionychidae, bony shell, morphogenesis.

ON SOME MESOZOIC TURTLES OF THE FERGANA DEPRESSION (KYRGYZSTAN) AND DZHUNGAR ALATAU RIDGE (KAZAKHSTAN)

L. A. Nessov

Cryptodires Xinjiangchelys tianshanensis, sp. nov. (Xinjiangchelyidae) from the middle Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan, "Trionyx" kyrgyzensis, sp. nov. (Trionychidae) from the early Cretaceous of Kyrgyzstan are diagnosed. Piece of carapace of another cryptodire Adocus sp. (Adocidae) from the late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan is described. Turtle X. tianshanensis is one of the oldest known indisputable cryptodires of Asia, "T." kyrgyzensis is the oldest or one of three oldest species among described trionychids.

Key words: fossil turtles, xinjiangchelyids, trionychids, new species, adocids

COMMUNAL CLUTCHES IN Alsophylax pipiens IN SOUTHERN MONGOLIA

N. B. Ananjeva and N. L. Orlov

Communal clutches in Alsophylax pipiens in Transaltai Gobi (Southern Mongolia) and conglomerations of geckos in the same places were observed. These conglomerations studied in two main types of biotopes have a complicated structure. The possible advantages of this phenomenon for survival in severe conditions of extraarid Gobi desert are discussed.

Key words: Reptilia, Sauria, Gekkonidae, Alsophylax pipiens, Mongolia, communal clutches

WINTER ACTIVITY OF A COMMON WALL LIZARD (Podarcis muralis) POPULATION IN CENTRAL ITALY

L. Rugiero

Above-ground activity of wall lizard (P. muralis) was studied in an urban habitat during wintertime. The winter above-ground activity of lizards was rather regular, though not intense as in the rest of the year. Active lizards were found in all of the sampling dates. The main behavior was thermoregulation, but other activities such as hunting and fighting were also recorded. Differences in the intensity of winter activity in relation to sampling date, lizard age and sex were also studied.

Key words: activity, ecology, Lacertidae, Podarcis muralis.

SPACING PATTERN AND REPRODUCTION IN Varanus griseus OF WESTERN KYZYLKUM

A. Yu. Tsellarius, Yu. G. Men'shikov, and E. Yu. Tsellarius

The monitors are distributed over the space unevenly: areas of high concentration (settlements) alternating with thinly populated areas. The settlements are partly isolated: the ranges of settlements may broadly overlap, but core areas of settlements overlap slightly or no overlap at all. The area of a settlement amounts to a kind of "public property" for settled inhabitants of this settlement. The signal field of settlement is attractive for members of this settlement and repellent for strangers. In each settlement the only one female laid eggs and only few males may be her partners. The majority of adult animals are excluded from reproduction and their main "function" is a maintenance of the signal field of high tension, i.e., peculiar protection of territory of settlement.

Key words: Reptilia, Varanidae, space use, social structure, reproduction.

EMBRYONIC ABNORMALITIES IN LIZARDS Lacerta vivipara (SAURIA, LACERTIDAE) INHABITING A RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATED TERRITORY

D. V. Semenov and S. A. Ivanova

Some reproductive features of common lizard Lacerta vivipara in radioactive environment were studied on the territory of the East Ural radioactive track in comparison with a control. On the polluted area a hermaphrodite specimen was found and 20.5% of embryos had obvious abnormalities.

Key words: common lizard, Lacerta vivipara, reproduction biology, radioactive contamination, hermaphroditism, embryonic abnormalities.

ON SOME SACRAL ANOMALIES IN LABORATORY COMMON PLATANNA (Xenopus laevis)

E. E. Kovalenko

A new variant of abnormal sacral structure in Anura is described: the sacral diapophyses are completely absent on one or both sides, the hind limbs and the pelvic arch are developed quite normally. This anomaly was found in 4 froglings of Xenopus laevis from two laboratory series obtained from different breeders. That compels one to modify the notion about the leading part of the ilium in the sacrum morphogenesis.

Key words: Anura, Xenopus, sacral structure anomalies.

NEW RECORDS OF TETRAPLOID TOADS (Bufo viridis GROUP) FROM ALMA-ATA AND TALDY-KURGAN REGION, KAZAKHSTAN

L. J. Borkin, A. E. Vinogradov, Z. K. Brushko, and S. L. Kuzmin

Tetraploid toads have been identified by means of DNA flow cytometry. The samples were collected at four localities from Alma-Ata City and southern part of the Dzhungar Alatau Mountains area.

Key words: tetraploid toads, Bufo viridis group, eastern Kazakhstan.

FIRST RECORD OF THE DANUBE NEWT, Triturus dobrogicus, IN MOLDAVIA

S. N. Litvinchuk and L. J. Borkin

Tritutus dobrogicus has been found in Kagul, a town in southern Moldavia. Distribution of this species in Ukrainian part of the Danube River Valley is mapped.

Key words: Triturus dobrogicus, Triturus cristatus, Moldavia, Odessa Region, Ukraine.

CONSERVATION AND BREEDING

ON THE CLUTCH SIZE OF THE EGYPTIAN COBRA Naja haje haje (L.) OF THE MOSCOW ZOO

D. B. Vasil'ev

Several years' experience in captive husbandry and breeding of the nominative subspecies of the Egyptian Cobra at the Moscow Zoo is summarized. The data on the clutch size, which is much larger then any previously known one, are given.

Key words: Egyptian Cobra, clutch size, captive breeding, Moscow Zoo.

RARE SNAKES OF THE MOUNTAINOUS FORESTS OF NORTHERN INDOCHINA

N. L. Orlov

Study of diverse fauna of snakes of mountainous forests in karst region of northern Indochina is very complicated because of extreme rarity of many species. Presentation into zooculture of these species is discussed as a practical base for the study of their biology and conservation.

Key words: Reptilia, Ophidia, Indochina, faunistic, captive breeding.