2001. Volume 8. No. 2. Contents

THE PAPUAN FROG GENUS Hylophorbus (ANURA: MICROHYLIDAE) IS NOT MONOSPECIFIC: DESCRIPTION OF SIX NEW SPECIES

Rainer Günther

Six new species of the microhylid frog genus Hylophorbus are described on the basis of morphological and bioacoustic investigations of material which was collected recently in Irian Jaya (West Papua) and Papua New Guinea. The genus Hylophorbus was previously regarded as monospecific; four older names were treated as synonyms of H. rufescens. It is shown that at least five species occur in Irian Jaya and two in Papua New Guinea, but there is evidence that more species can be expected. Collection of adequate material at the type localities of the older names is necessary to better assess their taxonomic-nomenclatural status.

Key Words: Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae, Hylophorbus, new species, morphology, bioacoustics, distribution, synonyms, key to species, Irian Jaya (West Papua), Papua New Guinea.

DEVELOPMENT AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE DENTITION IN THE ASIAN SALAMANDER, Ranodon sibiricus (URODELA: HYNOBIIDAE)

Anna B. Vassilieva and Sergei V. Smirnov

During ontogeny, the dentition in the hynobiid salamander Ranodon sibiricus exhibits successive series of non-pedicellate monocuspid, subpedicellate monocuspid, and pedicellate bicuspid teeth. Vomerine, premaxillary, and dentary teeth all display this ontogenetic trajectory, whereas coronoid and palatine teeth lack the pedicellate stage and maxillary teeth lack the non-pedicellate stage. Abbreviated development in the latter elements may be a consequence of the ontogenies of the corresponding bones: the coronoid and palatine are typically resorbed before the formation of the first pedicellate bicuspids, whereas the maxilla forms after the loss of the last non-pedicellate monocuspids. The palatine is rarely retained after metamorphosis, and in these instances its rudiment may bear pedicellate bicuspids. Jaw dentition is always monostichous; other dentigerous bones show a transition from mono- to bi- and tristichous teeth, which transform into monostichous following resorption of the corresponding bones. Undivided (non-pedicellate) and divided (subpedicellate and pedicellate) teeth show contrasting patterns of mineralization: the former mineralize from one center of calcification, which appears in the apex; the latter mineralize from two centers, which appear in the tooth apex and base. Similar ontogenetic differences in tooth calcification are characteristic of other salamanders and anurans and, most likely, apodans.

Key Words: Dentition, Teeth, Morphology, Ontogeny, Urodeles, Amphibians.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF VIPERS OF "kaznakovi" COMPLEX (OPHIDIA, VIPERINAE) FROM THE WESTERN CAUCASUS

Boris S. Tuniyev and Sergei V. Ostrovskikh

In this article description of two new species of vipers of "kaznakovi" complex is given. Distribution and ecology of these species from mountain areas of the western Caucasus are under discussion.

Key Words: Ophidia, Viperinae, new species of "kaznakovi" complex, Western Caucasus, Russia.

Anomalochelys angulata, AN UNUSUAL LAND TURTLE OF FAMILY NANHSIUNGCHELYIDAE (SUPERFAMILY TRIONYCHOIDEA; ORDER TESTUDINES) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF HOKKAIDO, NORTH JAPAN

Ren Hirayama, Kazuhiko Sakurai, Tsutomu Chitoku, Gentaro Kawakami, and Norio Kito

Anomalochelys angulata, a new genus and species is described as the most abberant taxon of the Nanhsiungchelyidae (order Testudines, superfamily Trionychoidea), an extinct land turtle group of the Cretaceous, on the basis of a good carapace and partial plastron collected from the Upper Cretaceous of Hobetsu-cho, Central Hokkaido, North Japan. Anomalochelys is unusual in the possesion of the crescent-shaped nuchal with horn-like anterior projections. Its geological age was determined as the Cenomanian by the radiolarian assemblage contained in the matrix.

Kew Words: Anomalochelys, Nanhsiungchelyidae, Testudines, Reptilia, Upper Cretaceous, Japan.

A NEW SPECIES OF Coluber (sensu lato) FROM THE DAHLAK ISLANDS, ERITREA, WITH A REVIEW OF THE HERPETOFAUNA OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

Beat Schätti

A new racer species, Coluber (sensu lato), is described from the small islands of Andeber, Nocra, and Sarad in the Dahlak archipelago. This polymorphous species is most closely related to C. (s.l.) florulentus (Geoffroy) and C. (s.l.) taylori Parker. Phylogenetic relationships and generic allocation of East African and Palaearctic racer genera are briefly discussed. Three species of amphibians are known from Dahlak al-Kabir, and a total of fifteen terrestrial reptile species including two endemic snakes, viz. the new species of Coluber (s.l.) and Echis megalocephalus, have been recorded from nine islands in the Dahlak archipelago.

Key Words: New species, Coluber (sensu lato) sp., Coluber (sensu lato) florulentus, Coluber (sensu lato) taylori, systematics, relationships, Dahlak islands.

PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND SYSTEMATICS OF Lacerta agilis BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME B GENE SEQUENCES: FIRST RESULTS

S. A. Kalyabina, K. D. Milto, N. B. Ananjeva, L. Legal, U. Joger, and M. Wink

The phylogeny and phylogeography of Lacerta agilis was inferred from the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Lacerta agilis (Sauria: Lacertidae) is a widespread species composed of several described subspecies. Fifty specimens of Lacerta agilis were studied from different locations throughout the distribution range. Two species, Lacerta media and Lacerta praticola were used as outgroup taxa. Within Lacerta agilis three genetically distinct groups were found. The first monophyletic group (morphologically treated as L. a. brevicaudata and L. a. exigua subspecies) includes specimens from a large part of European Russia, Caucasus, and Kazakhstan. The second monophyletic group comprises two subgroups of L. a. agilis specimens from Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and L. a. chersonensis from Northwest Russia. Specimens of L. a. boemica from Northern Caucasus form the separate group, which appears to be genetically distinct from other groups of Lacerta agilis. Some hypotheses on the history of the distribution of Lacerta agilis are proposed considering the molecular data.

Key Words: Lizards, Lacertidae, Lacerta agilis, phylogeography, systematics, mitochondrial DNA, cytochrome b.

CAPTIVE BREEDING AND CONSERVATION

ON THE BIOLOGY OF PIT VIPERS OF Protobothrops GENUS (SERPENTES: COLUBROIDEA: VIPERIDAE: CROTALINAE)

Nikolai L. Orlov, Sergei A. Ryabov, Konstantin A. Shiryaev, and Nguyen Van Sang

The data on some aspects of biology of two mainland species of this genus: P. jerdonii and P. mucrosquamatus are presented. Mode of reproduction and food RATION are described for these pitviper on the base of own observations in the nature and in laboratory.

Key Words: Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae, Protobothrops, P. jerdonii bourreti, P. jerdonii xanthomelas, P. mucrosquamatus, reproduction, feeding.