2000. Volume 7. No. 2. Contents

CLADISTIC ANALYSIS OF TEIIDAE (SQUAMATA) BASED ON MYOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

Silvia Moro and Virginia Abdala

The cranial musculature of twelve (12) species of all genera of Teiidae was compared and analyzed for taxonomic significance. Using 70 myological cranial characters a cladistic analysis of the taxa mentioned was performed. Parsimony analysis were conducted with the program PeeWee. To root the trees, Sphenodon, one lacertid, six gymnophthalmids, and two scincids, were added to the matrix. Only one tree was obtained with a fit = 295.0 and length = 195. There is a split between teiids and gymnophthalmids, but no between Teiini and Tupinambini. Podarcis is part of a clade with scincids. The scincids are a monophyletic group. These clade is the sister group of gymnophthalmids, except Echinosaura and Pantodactylus which are related to teiids. Teiids are monophyletics (except for Pantodactylus).

Key words: Teiidae, Cranial myology, Phylogeny.

DISTRIBUTION, BIOLOGY AND COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF THE SNAKES OF Xenopeltis GENUS (SERPENTES: MACROSTOMATA: XENOPELTIDAE) IN VIETNAM

Nikolai L. Orlov

New records of X. hainanensis, data on distribution and natural history of X. hainanensis and X. unicolor in Vietnam as well as comparison of the morphological characters of both species are at first presented. Morphological character set includes the data on the body, head and tail proportions, eye, skull and brain case shape, craniological and scalation characters. More wide diagnosis of Xenopeltis genus and identification keys are presented. New data show considerable differences in morphology and biology of these species that are important for the estimation of taxonomic status of X. hainanensis and phylogeny of the primitive snakes.

Key words: Reptilia, Serpentes, Xenopeltidae, Xenopeltis, X. unicolor, X. hainanensis, distribution, morphology, natural history, Vietnam.

SOME PECULARITIES OF DEVELOPMENT IN TWO POPULATIONS OF Salamandrella keyserlingii (HYNOBIIDAE, CAUDATA)

E. I. Vorobyeva, T. P. Antipenkova, O. V. Kolobayeva, and J. R. Hinchliffe

We compared limb development and some other developmental features of Salamandrella keyserlingii in the Urals (Sverdlovkskaya region) and in the Far East (Ussuriisk district) from active feeding stages to metamorphosis. The Ussuriisk larvae at stages 34 - 39 are in general larger than those from the Urals. They are characterised by earlier bifurcation of the dorsal fold, by more rapid regression of the abdominal (ventral) fold, and by earlier regression of the balancers in comparison with Urals population. Both populations are distinguished also by the tempo of development and reduction of the fin between the first and second digits. Most differences between these populations can be explained by heterochrony. Some of them are probably larval adaptations connected with different environment and behaviour of larvae whereas other differences may be due to a closer relationship with the ancestor population.

Key words: Caudata, Hynobiidae, development, limb, population.

ON THE DYNAMICS OF POPULATION OF COMMON FROG (Rana temporaria) IN THE NORTH-WEST OF RUSSIA

A. P. Kutenkov and S. S. Mosiyash

Multiannual variations in number on stages of ova, metamorphosing juveniles, youngs of the year before hibernation, yearlings, and mature frogs in a large population of common frog, Rana temporaria, were studied in 1981 - 1997 in the "Kivach" State Nature Reserve (southern Karelia, Russia). A method of estimating of the relative abundance was used to evaluate indices of number on each developmental stage. Many weather parameters were measured and phenological terms of setting in of different stages were recorded annually. In multiple regression, variation in abundance on preceding stage together with fluctuation of weather conditions determined from 56 to 93% of multiannual variance of the abundance of frogs on different stages. Graphic comparisons of observed data with calculated values indicate that regression models were found simulate the multiannual number variations well and few divergences are in result of influence of the extreme values of some established weather factors which were not include in equations. Regulation of the Common frog population dynamics in natural environment is discussed.

Key words: Amphibia, Ranidae, developmental stages, multiannual number variations, population regulation, weather conditions.

ECOLOGY OF SMOOTH SNAKE (Coronella austriaca LAUR.) IN BELARUS'

S. M. Drobenkov

In Belarus' the smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) is sporadically distributed, mainly along the ecotones of xerophytous biotopes, in dry edges of pine-forests and parvifoliate forest. It is a specialized saurophage feeding on viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), sand lizard (L. agilis), and slow worm (A. fragilis). Cannibalism (10.9%) is supposed to play an important role in regulation of the population number in deficiency of trophic resources. Broader distribution of this species is limited by a narrow spectrum of habitats, trophic specialization, and conservative use of the terrritory. Stable, though very low, number of population groups of smooth snake is regulated by a high level reproductive gain.

Key words: Belarus', ecology, habitat, population structure, regulation, smooth snake.

NEW DATA ON AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES DISTRIBUTION IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

E. V. Adnagulov, I. G. Tarasov, and V. V. Gorobeiko

The data on new findings of amphibians and reptiles in the Khabarovsk Territory, Amurskaya Region, and Evreiskaya Autonomous Region, obtained from 1990 to 1998 are reported. The information about records of Bufo gargarizans (Anura, Bufonidae) and Hyla japonica (Anura, Hylidae) on the limit of their distribution is included. The findings of Amphiesma vibakari and Elaphe rufodorsata (both Serpentes, Colubridae) are the first records of those reptiles in the Evreiskaya Autonomous Region and new for Middle Amur area. As for E. rufodorsata it is an extreme north-west location of the species in the Russian Far East. All the data of 248 locations are mapped.

Key words: Amphibians, Reptiles, distribution, Khabarovsk Territory, Amurskaya Region, Evreiskaya Autonomous Region.

A REDESCRIPTION OF THE BA VI WATER SKINK Tropidophorus baviensis BOURRET, 1939

André Ngo, Robert W. Murphy, Nikolai Orlov, Ilya Darevsky, and Nguyen Van Sang

Tropidophorus baviensis was described from Ba Vi, Vietnam by René Bourret in 1939 based on one specimen. We collected a series of thirty one animals (Fig. 1) from the same location (Fig. 2) and provide a redescription of T. baviensis discussing the extent of morphological variation in this series. The holotype falls within the variation observed in our sample. All specimens were found in a road cut away from water. Interestingly, the females, of this species appear to invest parental care in their offspring, as all juveniles were accompanied by an adult female.

Key words: Scincidae, Tropidophorus, Vietnam.

ABOUT TYPE LOCALITIES FOR SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS Gloydius HOGE ET ROMANO-HOGE, 1981 (CROTALINAE: VIPERIDAE: SERPENTES)

Nikolai L. Orlov and Andrei V. Barabanov

Type localities of several species of the genus Gloydius are given according with designation of their neotypes and lectotypes.

Key words: Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae, Gloydius, Palearctic Asia, nomenclature.

SOME TURTLE REMAINS FROM THE CRETACEOUS AND PALEOGENE OF VOLGOGRAD REGION, RUSSIA

Alexander O. Averianov and Alexander A. Yarkov

Fragmental remains of a chelosphargine Teguliscapha(?) sp. (Cenomanian), large sized Chelonioidea indet. (possibly protostegid) (Campanian), cheloniid Osteopyginae indet., as well as Trionychidae indet. and Testudinata gen. et sp. indet. 1 and 2 (Paleocene) are described from the Volgograd Region, Russia.

Key words: Chelospharginae, Protostegidae, Chelonioidea, Osteopyginae, Trionychidae, Cretaceous, Paleogene, Volgograd Region, Russia