2002. Volume 9. No. 1. Contents

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF THE EASTERN SAND LIZARD, Lacerta agilis exigua Eichwald, 1831 (SQUAMATA, LACERTIDAE) IN KAZAKHSTAN

Marina A. Chirikova, Vladimir M. Dubjansky, and Tatjana N. Dujsebayeva

208 specimens of Lacerta agilis exigua from 11 localities of Western, Central and Eastern Kazakhstan have been studied, and compared in respect of their body proportions and scalation. The sexual dimorphism of some characters (Ventr., L.ta/L.a) is shown. Maximum body length (SVL) and anal index (L.ta/L.a) is recorded for the specimens from the southern populations (Taldy-Kurgan, Aktyubinsk). A maximum number of scales around the mid-body (Sq) has found in Semipalatinsk, Aktyubinsk, and Uralsk localities. The increasing of Ventr. in two directions: from west to east and from south to north is shown. A cline variation is shown for scale correlation in the postnasal region. The frequency of 2/1 combination increases from east to west, while 1/2 and 1/1 combinations change in opposite direction. The variation of preanals with an additional shield between two enlarged ones is shown for 10 (except of Ayaguz) localities.

Key Words: Squamata, Lacertidae, Lacerta agilis, body proportions, scalation, morphological variation, Kazakhstan.

A REASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF Cuora flavomarginata Gray 1863 ON MAINLAND CHINA

Jonathan J. Fong, James Ford Parham, and Jinzong Fu

The geographic distribution of Cuora flavomarginata Gray 1863 is poorly known, but an examination of the Chinese literature and museum records helps elucidate its historic range. According to these data, there are two clusters of localities, one on the eastern coast of China near and along the Fuchun and Yangtze River drainage and another in southern China along the Pearl River drainage. The localities in southern China are probably invalid due to the turtle trade. The best estimate of the historical distribution of C. flavomarginata is along the eastern Yangtze River and its associated tributaries as well as the Fuchun drainage. The identification of viable C. flavomarginata populations in these areas, if they still exist, is necessary for their conservation.

Key words: Cuora flavomarginata, China, distribution, turtle trade.

REPRODUCTION AND POPULATION SIZE OF Leptodactylus labyrinthicus (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE)

C. A. Agostinho, F. Foresti, S. L. Lima, and J. Jim

Aiming to estimate the adult population size and learn about their reproductive dynamics four natural populations of frog (Leptodactylus labyrinthicus) were studied. Population size was estimated by fortnightly sampling with capturing, marking and recapturing. Sampling was conducted from 6 to 11 p.m. in marsh area near the pond of nesting site, from August 1988 to July 1989. Breeding season was determined by monthly counting of foam nest in four studied sites during three years. It was observed that breeding aggregation started in August, with the first spawning. October was the month of the greatest animal concentration coincident with the reproduction peak. The last spawn occurred in December, when almost all the frogs emigrated. Out of the reproduction period the frogs could not be found either in reproduction site or in adjacent territories.

Key words: Leptodactylus labyrinthicus, breeding, spawn period.

SKELETAL AND DENTAL ONTOGENY IN THE LONG-TAILED CLAWED SALAMANDER, Onychodactylus fischeri (URODELA: HYNOBIIDAE)

Sergei V. Smirnov and Anna B. Vassilieva

Skull, hyobranchial, and dental ontogeny of Onychodactylus fischeri (Hynobiidae) is described based on a developmental series ranging from early larvae to old postmetamorphic animals. If compared with other hynobiids (Ranodon sibiricus and Salamandrella keyserlingii), larvae of O. fischeri display the underdevelopment of certain larval specific features: e.g., the coronoid is edentate and occurs as a tiny bone only in the earliest larvae; the "Zahnfeld" on the vomer and palatine is absent, the palatine portion of the palatopterygoid is reduced. On the other hand, adult postmetamorphic O. fischeri specimens show the underdeveloped cranial and postcranial skeletal features in comparison with adult R. sibiricus and S. keyserlingii. Two phenomena seem to account for the abbreviation of the ontogenetic trajectory in O. fischeri. First, in O. fischeri which has the largest eggs among hynobiids, the initial larval development appears to have been shifted into the embryonic period (embryonalization which is accompanied in amphibians by the reduction or loss of certain larval specific features). Second, paedomorphosis caused by the retarded rate of somatic development in O. fischeri appears to have resulted in the loss or reduction of features that appear later in R. sibiricus and S. keyserlingii and, likely, in the ancestral ontogeny.

Key words: Skull, Hyobranchium, Dentition, Ontogeny, Amphibians.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS Boiga (Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae) FROM TANAHJAMPEA ISLAND AND DESCRIPTION OF "BLACK FORM" OF Boiga cynodon COMPLEX FROM SUMATRA (INDONESIA)

Nikolai L. Orlov and Sergei A. Ryabov

Present article consists of three parts: 1. The description of a new species of the genus Boiga is based on the morphometric examination of 8 adult specimens (5 males and 3 females) from the Tanahjampea island (Sulawesi Selatan Province, Indonesia). Snakes were collected in 1999 and kept at the Tula Exotarium (Russia), and later were transferred to the collection of Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg for further examination. Moreover, for the analysis of the coloration several dozens of live individuals of this species were studied (including juveniles). Also, a comparative analysis of the new species with all the species of the Boiga genus of the Sunda Archipelago (Indonesia) and southern Indochina was carried out: Boiga cynodon, B. dendrophila ssp., B. drapiezii, B. irregularis, B. jaspidea, B. multomaculata, B. nigriceps, B. cyanea, B. guangxiensis, B. ocellata, B. saengsomi. 2. A detailed description of an unusual color form of Boiga cf. cynodon "black form" collected in 1999 from the island of Sumatra (Bengkulu Province, Indonesia) is given. Comparison of this record with known literature data from Southeast Asia is discussed. 3. A complete annotated list of all the species of Boiga genus is presented.

Key words: new species, Boiga tanahjampeana, Tanahjampea Island, Indonesia, Boiga cynodon complex, check-list of the genus Boiga.

FORAGING MODE OF THE SAND LIZARD, Lacerta agilis, AT THE BEGINNING OF ITS YEARLY ACTIVITY PERIOD

Szil?rd Nemes

At the beginning of its yearly activity period Lacerta agilis behaves as an ambush foraging lizard. Proportion of attacks on prey discovered while lizards are moving (PAM), movement per minute (MPM) and percent of time spent moving (PTM) are low. A correlation was found between MPM and PTM. There are no significant differences between PTM and MPM among sexes or age categories. Prey search locomotion is rarely used and is discontinuous when it occurs. Pause duration has a positive correlation with movement length. Lizards counterbalance long movements with longer pauses in order to increase the probability of prey detection and capture. Contrary to other ambush foraging lizards, Lacerta agilis frequently tongue flicks, probably in order to detect and identify prey animals.

Key words: Lacerta agilis, Lacertidae, foraging mode, ambush foraging, tongue flicks, Romania.

THE STUDY OF AGE, GROWTH, AND LONGEVITY IN THE TRIPLOID HYBRIDS OF ROCK LIZARDS OF THE GENUS Darevskia IN ARMENIA

Marine Arakelyan

Skeletochronological study of rock lizards hybrids Darevskia valentini x D. unisexualis, D. valentini D. armeniaca, D. nairensis x D. unisexualis, and their parental species, collected from three mixed populations (near village of Kuchak, Lchashen, Lchap - mountainous regions of central Armenia) proved their similar pattern of growth. However, the hybrids are characterized by faster rate of growth and predominantly bigger size of body in each age group contrary to their parental species. The longevity of studied hybrids is same as in parental species and reaches 6 - 7 years.

Key words: rock lizards, hybrids, age, growth, skeletochronology.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF THE SAND VIPER (Vipera ammodytes L.) FROM THE CENTRAL PART OF BALKAN PENINSULA

Ljiljana Tomovic, Jelena Radojicic, Georg Dzukic, and Milos L. Kalezic

Morphometric and meristic data of the sand viper (Vipera ammodytes L.) from the central part of Balkan Peninsula were analysed in order to determine presence and degree of sexual dimorphism. The data were analysed by univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics. The two sexes differed in the following characters: tail length, head width, ventral and body width, as well as the number of subcaudal scales. At multivariate level, degree and pattern of sexual dimorphism varied among geographic groups belonging to different subspecies and in transitional contact zone of these two subspecies. Possible causes that might generate the revealed pattern of intergender differences are discussed.

Key words: Sexual dimorphism, Sand Viper, Vipera ammodytes, the Balkans, geographic variation.

CAPTIVE BREEDING AND CONSERVATION

BREEDING OF BLACK MANGROVE SNAKE Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta (DUMERIL, BIBRON ET DUMERIL, 1854) [SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE: COLUBRINAE] FROM SULAWESI ISLAND (INDONESIA)

Sergei A. Ryabov and Nikolai L. Orlov

Key words: breeding, Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta; Sulawesi Island; Indonesia.

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

A NEW NAME FOR Phrynocephalus theobaldi orientalis WANG, PAPENFUSS et ZENG, 1999

Andrei Barabanov, Natalia Ananjeva, Theodore J. Papenfuss, and Wang Yuezhao

Key words: Reptilia, Agamidae, China, Phrynocephalus, Phrynocephalus theobaldi lhasaensis nom. nov.