1999. Volume 6. No. 1. Contents

PHYLOGENY AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE MOUNTAIN LIZARDS OF EUROPE AND NEAR EAST (Archaeolacerta MERTENS, 1921, SENSU LATO ) AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE EURASIAN LACERTID RADIATION

Oscar J. Arribas

Archaeolacerta s. l., in the currently utilized sense results to be a polyphyletic taxon, composed of three monophyletic and phylogenetically well differentiated taxa: a)-Archaeolacerta (s. str.) Mertens, 1921, which includes three species: A. bedriagae, A. oxycephala, and A. mosorensis, distributed by the northern part of the Central Mediterranean (Corsica, Sardinia, and west Balcanic Peninsula). His most related genera seem to be Teira (his adelphotaxon in our study), Apathya, and Omanosaura. b)-Iberolacerta gen. nov., with two subgenera: Iberolacerta s. str. and Pyrenesaura subgen. nov. includes six species: I. monticola, I. cyreni, I. bonnali, I. aranica, I. aurelioi, and I. horvathi. They are distributed by the mountains of Western Europe (Iberian Peninsula, Pyrenees, Central and Eastern Alps and the north of the Dinaric Chains). His adelphotaxon are the Caucasian and Near East species of Darevskia gen. nov. c)-The third taxa is Darevskia gen. nov., which includes the species of the "L." saxicola complex besides "L." derjugini, "L." praticola, and "L." chlorogaster. They are distributed by Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Near East. Other clear relationships among some taxa of the Eurasian Radiation [= "Eurasische linie" from (Mayer and Benyr, 1994)] have been found: Algyroides seems to be the sister group of the species considered of uncertain phylogenetic relationships belonging to the "L." danfordi-laevis group and of Podarcis. "L." brandtii seems to be a very primitive species within the Eurasian Radiation. Omanosaura and Apathya appear as sister taxa. "L." graeca occupies a very basal position in the sister group of Podarcis and relatives (see above). "L." andreanskyi is the sister species of the Darevskia nov. and Iberolacerta nov. clade. The assimilation of "L." andreanskyi to Teira is very problematic. Also the "L." parva group seems to be related to Timon. Some groups of species like "L." brandtii, "L." parva-fraasii and "L." danfordi-laevis probably merit generic rank, but it is necessary a more deep study before to take a decision.

Key words:-Lacertidae, Lacerta, Archaeolacerta, Iberolacerta gen. nov., Darevskia gen. nov., Pyrenesaura subgen. nov., Taxonomy, Phylogeny.

A MOLECULAR TAXONOMY OF SOME MEDITERRANEAN SCINCID LIZARDS, GENUS Chalcides LAURENTI 1768 (REPTILIA, SCINCIDAE)

Vincenzo Caputo, Marina Sorice, and Laura Crescimbeni

Genetic variation at 26 enzyme loci was analysed in a number of populations of the Chalcides ocellatus group from Maghreb and the Iberian peninsula. The study evidenced six major groups showing much greater genetic differentiation than expected among populations of a single species, and allowed us to identify six reproductively isolated taxa: Chalcides ocellatus (distributed in southern and eastern Morocco, throughout the Mediterranean basin, central and southern Sahara, and eastern Africa as far as Pakistan), C. polylepis (western Morocco from the Atlas mountains to the Atlantic coast), C. colosii (north-western Morocco across the Rif mountains), C. montanus (northern Morocco, across the High and Middle Atlas mountains), C. parallelus (endemic to north-eastern Morocco and north-western Algeria), and C. bedriagai (endemic to the Iberian peninsula). These species probably evolved following the complex geological and climatic events that have been affecting the Mediterranean basin ever since the Miocene.

Key words: Chalcides, Morocco, Iberian peninsula, electrophoresis, taxonomy.

BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON Limnonectes limnocharis (ANURA: RANIDAE) IN INDIA

A. K. Mohanty and S. K. Dutta

The paper includes studies on several biological parameters (diagnosis, description, distribution, species complex, polymorphism, food, size, sex ratio, breeding, and population dynamics) of Limnonectes limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae). The species is widely distributed in most of the Asiatic countries and is polymorphic in nature. So far, 15 species have been included in L. limnocharis species complex. The major habitats of the species are wetlands and agricultural fields and the food primarily consists of insects. Random sampling of 2427 individuals revealed the sex ratio (male: female) as 1.889:1. Breeding activity of the species is confined to monsoon period and clutch sizes range from 1125 to 1950. The study also reports population dynamics of the species which is correlated with sex ratio (more males than females).

Key words: Biology, Anura, Ranidae, Limnonectes limnocharis, India.

SUMMER DIET OF Agama etoshae MCLACHLAN 1981 FROM NAMIBIA

N. J. L. Heideman

Agama etoshae is insectivorous but also consumes food items belonging to other arthropod groups. Ants constituted the major dietary item suggesting that the species engages primarily in sit-and-wait foraging. No intersexual dietary differences were found. The species is infected by two types of nematode and a cestode. No significant intersexual differences in parasitemia existed.

A REDESCRIPTION OF Vibrissaphora ailaonica WITH A NEW RECORD IN VIETNAM¹

Cuc Thu Ho, Amy Lathrop, Robert W. Murphy, and Nikolai Orlov

Specimens of Vibrissaphora ailaonica were collected on Mt. Fan Si Pan, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. Prior to this, the species was known only from two localities in southern Yunnan, China. This collection represents not only the southern-most distribution for the genus, but also a new species record for Vietnam. We provide a redescription of V. ailaonica, and comments on its ecology and reproductive biology.

Key words:-Amphibia, Anura, systematics, Leptobrachium, Vibrissaphora ailaonica.

ON THE HYBRIDOGENOUS ORIGIN OF THE PARTHENOGENETIC SPECIES Lacerta dahli AND Lacerta rostombekovi REVEALED BY RAPD TECHNIQUE

N. L. Ryabinina, V. V. Grechko, S. K. Semenova, and I. S. Darevsky

The hypothesis of hybridogenous origin of lacertid parthenogenetic species was verified by RAPD method with several arbitrary primers. The hypothesis appeared to be correct as both parthenogenetic lizard DNAs contain only the RAPD loci of putative parental bisexual species and practically no ones specific for parthenospecies. The most probable parentals are L. mixta and L. portschinskii for L. dahli, and some of the populations of L. raddei/nairensis complex and L. portschinskii, too, for L. rostombekovi.

Key words:-parthenogenesis, hybridogenesis, lizards, RAPD, DNA.

HERPETOFAUNA OF THE PUR REGION OF THE YAMALO-NENETSKIY AUTONOMOUS AREA

I. Y. Yumashev

During summer 1997 we carried out the counting of amphibians and reptiles in two points in the south of the Pur region in a sub zone of northern taiga.

Key words: Reptiles, amphibians, Salamandrella keyserlingi, Rana amurensis, Rana arvalis, Bufo bufo, Lacerta vivipara, Vipera berus, Pur.

A NEW LINDHOLMEMYDID GENUS (TESTUDINES: LINDHOLMEMYDIDAE) FROM THE MID-CRETACEOUS OF UZBEKISTAN

Igor G. Danilov

The monotypic Khodzhakulemys gen. nov. is erected to include Mongolemys occidentalis Nessov, 1984, from the Khodzhakul Formation (upper Albian - lower Cenomanian), Khodzhakulsai, Sheikhdzheili and Khodzhakul localities, Uzbekistan. New genus is distinguished from Mongolemys by stronger developed buttresses and presence of nuchal emargination. By degree of development of buttresses Khodzhakulemys occupies transitional position between Mongolemys and Lindholmemys. Phylogenetic relationships of Khodzhakulemys could not be determined with certainty, due to scarce material on this genus. Presence of different genera of lindholmemydids in the late Cretaceous of Middle Asia (Khodzhakulemys, Lindholmemys) and Mongolia (Mongolemys, Gravemys, Hongilemys) emphasizes peculiarities of these late Cretaceous turtle faunas.

Key words: Khodzhakulemys, New genus, Lindholmemydids, Turtles, Cretaceous, Uzbekistan.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW MAINLAND SPECIES OF Goniurosaurus GENUS, FROM THE NORTH-EASTERN VIETNAM

Nikolai L. Orlov and Ilya S. Darevsky

A new species of eublapharid gecko, genus Goniurosaurus Barbour, 1908 (Sauria: Eublepharidae), from the north-eastern Vietnam is described. The distribution of species of this genus has been analyzed. Natural history data of new species, Goniurosaurus murphyi, and an identification key to the species of Goniurosaurus are provided.

Key words: Reptilia, Sauria, Eublepharidae, new species, Goniurosaurus murphyi, taxonomic key, Vietnam.

CAPTIVE BREEDING AND CONSERVATION

SHORT NOTES ON THE CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY AND BREEDING OF RARE LONG-NOSED CAUCASIAN VIPER Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana AT THE MOSCOW ZOO

Sergei V. Mamet and Sergei V. Kudrjavtsev

Report on long-term management and successful breeding of the rarest of the subspecies of Long-Nosed Viper, Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana, at the Moscow Zoo is presented, which is completed with measurements of the young vipers.

Key words: Long-nosed caucasian viper, captivity, reproduction, Moscow Zoo.