Russian Journal of Herpetology最新文献

{"title":"Records of Amphibians in the Caves of Zonguldak Province in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey","authors":"U. Bülbül, Engin Zaman","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-324-330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-324-330","url":null,"abstract":"An inventory belonging to knowledge of the amphibian fauna is provided from the caves in Zonguldak province, western Black Sea Region of Turkey. No systematic field survey of amphibians in Turkish cave environments has yet been performed. The number of known caves in the western Black Sea region is approximately 280 and the province of Zonguldak ranks second with 41 caves in this region. We conducted our field surveys in 31 caves of Zonguldak during the period in 2017 – 2019 and our results revealed occurrences of four amphibian species. Dedicated surveys using appropriate methods will increase the number of amphibian species in the caves.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49033001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and Ecological Correlates of Anuran Tadpoles in Scrub and Subtropical Pine Forests","authors":"Sidra Ikram, M. Rais, Sumbul Gill, W. Ahmad, M. Saeed, A. Akram, I. Khan, M. Akhter","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-317-323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-317-323","url":null,"abstract":"We recorded tadpoles of eight anuran species from subtropical scrub and pine forests (District Rawalpindi and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan). These include Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Euphlyctis spp., Minervarya spp., Allopaa hazarensis, Nanorana vicina, and Hoplobatrachus tigerinus. Our results showed that the forest type featuring scrub vegetation, low elevation and warmer climate (day air temperature 30°C, day water temperature 28°C) had more species richness (six of the eight recorded species) while the subtropical pine forest featuring relatively low air (16°C) and water (14°C) temperatures and higher elevation had relatively higher anuran endemism. The Indus Valley Toad is an abundant species throughout scrub forest. Changes in climate resulting in increased temperatures in pine forests could negatively impact endemic species by encouraging the spread of species adapted for warmer temperatures.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43573278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First Record of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the Eastern Himalayas","authors":"C. K. Deepak, Deuti Kaushik, Chandra Deuti","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-367-372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-367-372","url":null,"abstract":"The gekkonid lizard genus Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 is represented by seven species in India, six of which are patchily distributed across montane habitats of peninsular India and one in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Here we report the occurrence of Hemiphyllodactylus sp. in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. This is the first record of the genus from Eastern Himalayas and the larger Indian Himalayan Region. It is also the northern most distribution record of the genus for the country. The specimen collected is distinct from known Indian species and shows close affinity to Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis sensu lato with respect to morphological characters as well as geographic proximity of collection locality. However, considering the restricted montane distribution and limited range of species from mainland Southeast Asia and peninsular India, it most likely belongs to a hitherto undescribed species. The finding emphasizes the conservation significance of tropical evergreen forests of Eastern Himalayas and North east hills for herpetofaunal diversity and biodiversity in general.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44337781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Notes on Breeding of Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Black Sea Coast of Turkey","authors":"U. Bülbül, Halime Koç","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-364-366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-364-366","url":null,"abstract":"The eggs and embryos of the Caucasian salamander were investigated in a breeding population (Kayabaşı, Trabzon). We found 24 eggs at the beginning of June 2018. About three weeks later, the shaped embryos were observed in the eggs. Finally, we performed the last visit to the study site one month later from the second visit. The hatching process was almost finished except for 1 egg that had an embryo inside and 2 – 3 eggs, no living embryos inside. We observed that the egg development period lasted about 50 days in the Kayabaşı population. The hatching period of the Caucasian salamander may differ according to different ecological conditions.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42254876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and population systems of Water Frogs (the Pelophylax esculentus complex) in Northwestern Russia","authors":"K. Milto, A. Barabanov, L. Borkin, J. Rosanov, S. Litvinchuk","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-298-316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-298-316","url":null,"abstract":"Peculiarities of distribution and population systems of water frogs of the Pelophylax esculentus complex in the northwest of Russia were studied using cytogenetic (genome size) and external morphological characters (439 specimens from 101 localities). We registered three species: P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, and P. esculentus of a hybrid origin. All frogs, including hybrids, were diploid. The first species was prevailing (82% localities); the second species was revealed in 18% localities and hybrid frogs in 13% localities. All species reach the northernmost limits of their distribution. Pelophylax lessonae is widely spread through Pskovskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast’s, as well as in southern Leningradskaya oblast’, preferring forest habitats. Pelophylax esculentus is found in Pskovskaya oblast’ (forest and agricultural biotopes) in co-existence with P. lessonae only. Pelophylax ridibundus, which was introduced since the 18th century, is distributed in St. Petersburg City and Leningradskaya oblast’ along southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and Narva River on the Estonian border. All populations of the species were usually observed in open water bodies and rivers that flow down on cultivated, urban or barren lands and were allopatric in relation to P. lessonae and P. esculentus. Water frogs of northwestern Russia form three types of population systems only: so called pure single-species (L or R) systems and a mixed (L – E) system; no type with unisexual hybrids was revealed. Thus, their diversity is lower than in other regions of central and eastern Europe.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42537710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age Determination of Ophisops elegans (Ménétriés, 1832) (Squamata: Lacertidae) Populations from Different Altitudes in Turkey","authors":"H. Güler, N. Üzüm","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-255-261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-255-261","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, comparison of body size and age of two populations of Ophisops elegans from different altitudes was carried out (Kepez, 180 m; Paşayaylası, 1250 m). We applied phalangeal skeletochronology to obtain the age of juveniles and adults by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. Male-biased sexual dimorphism was observed in Kepez, while female-biased sexual dimorphism was determined in the Paşayaylası population. Both male and female individuals in Kepez and Paşayaylası populations reached sexual maturity at the age of 3. The maximum age or longevity was calculated as 7 years in males and 9 years in females. Considering all individuals, the Kepez population was found to be older than Paşayaylası population. For both populations, a significant positive correlation was found between age and size in males and females.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47808160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mongolian Marmot (Marmota sibirica) Ecosystem Engineering Effects on Herpetofauna","authors":"Suuri Buyandelger, Baatjargal Otgonbayar, R. Reading","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-275-283","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-275-283","url":null,"abstract":"The Mongolian marmot (Marmota sibirica) is a relatively large-bodied, social rodent that lives in colonies across the Mongolian steppes and adjacent parts of China and Russia. Marmots serve as ecosystem engineers that display multiple functions on the steppe environments they inhabit. Mongolian marmots experienced a 75% decline across Mongolia in the 1990s that led to their listing as endangered globally. The decline of marmots likely affected other species given their importance to the ecosystems they inhabit. To examine the role of marmots on herpetofauna, we established drift fence arrays with associated pitfall and funnel traps on active marmot colonies, inactive colonies, and control sites in the forest-steppe and semi-desert zones of Mongolia. In total, we identified 555 individuals representing 5 species of reptiles in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (semi-desert) from 2010 – 2011 and 22 individuals of 3 species of reptiles and one amphibian species in Hustai National Park (forest-steppe) in 2014 and 2016. We found significantly higher species abundance and some diversity indices on active and inactive colonies compared to control sites in Hustai. Vegetation height and cover significantly affected the abundance and species richness of reptiles in Ikh Nart. In Ikh Nart, we found that under conditions of higher vegetation cover and height, reptiles were distributed more widely across the landscape, but with lower vegetation cover and height, reptiles associated more strongly with marmot burrows. Burrows likely provide shelter from extreme climatic conditions and refugia from predation. Our research provides insights into how marmots create important habitats for associated fauna. This and similar experimental approaches will allow us to better understand the biodiversity patterns in and around marmot burrows.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44726709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting the Distribution of Three Korean Pit Viper Species (Gloydius brevicaudus, G. ussuriensis, and G. intermedius) under Climate Change","authors":"M. Do, Seoyun Choi, Hoan-Jin Jang, Jae‐Hwa Suh","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-262-274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-262-274","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change can pose severe threats to wildlife populations causing population declines and destroying their habitats. Particularly, pit vipers belonging to reptiles, poikilotherm, are vulnerable to climate change due to their narrow movement range and low dispersal capability. This study aimed to identify pit viper species vulnerable to climate change using their predicted geographical habitat range based on the current and future Korean pit viper species distribution model. The results of this study showed that three major environmental factors related to altitude and temperature (BIO4 and BIO5) influenced the habitat distribution of three pit viper species. These factors showed significant variation between increased, maintained, and decreased habitat areas of the species due to climate change. It was also predicted that the habitat of Korean pit vipers would decrease by more than 80% under the RCP 8.5 scenario. Especially, Central Asian pit viper was predicted to lose 98.52% of its habitat, indicating that it would be the most vulnerable species to climate change. Although we confirmed that forest areas around the Taebaek Mountains, known as current major distribution areas of pit vipers, would provide maintained or even increased habitat areas to these species along climate change, habitable space for the vipers was still predicted to be very narrow. Therefore, it is critical to protect the forest areas around the Taebaek Mountains to minimize the impact of climate change on Korean pit vipers. Moreover, since some populations of Central Asian pit viper, most vulnerable to climate change, are geographically isolated, it will be necessary to establish systematic conservation measures by determining the protection priority of populations through studying genetic diversity between populations. We believe that the results of this study will provide an important basis for establishing management measures in designating the habitat of a threatened population due to climate change as a protected area.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45902242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating and Reconstructing the Genetic Diversity of Butterfly Lizards of the Genus Leiolepis Cuvier, 1829 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in Central Vietnam","authors":"X. T. Phan, B. Ngo, H. D. Nguyen, Q. T. Hoang, C. D. Ngo, C. Bui, Ty Nguyen, Nghiep T. Hoang","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-284-297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-284-297","url":null,"abstract":"Studies on genetic relationships and phylogenetic origins, and mutations in nucleotide of Leiolepis in central Vietnam are limited. In this study, thirty-five representative samples of four species (Leiolepis reevesii, L. guttata, L. guentherpetersi, and L. rubritaeniata) from multiple provinces in central Vietnam were collected for identification based on 16S rRNA sequences. The results from phylogenetic analyses showed that L. rubritaeniata is highly genetically conserved and was unique for the Central Highland areas. Patterns, colors, and genetic characteristics of the population of L. reevesii in Thanh Hoa Province exhibited differences between the populations in Thua Thien Hue Province. The population of L. guentherpetersi had the closest sister relationship to the population of L. guttata found in the same province, supporting a hypothesis that the origin of the triploid L. guentherpetersi from L. guttata. Leiolepis reevesii populations found in Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue provinces were not in the same clade for both morphology and genetics. Lastly, the overall similarity between L. rubritaeniata and L. reevesii populations further suggesting that both species were originally from the same clade with a diversification occuring to adapt to the ecological conditions.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49308771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Distribution Site and Supplementary Description on Variations of Gloydius huangi Wang, Ren, Dong, Jiang, Siler et Che, 2019 (Reptilia: Serpentes)","authors":"Shengchao Shi, Jianyi Feng, Jian-Ping Jiang","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-4-215-226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-4-215-226","url":null,"abstract":"The newly described species Gloydius huangi Wang, Ren, Dong, Jiang, Siler et Che, 2019 were described based on only three specimens from two sites. We report a new distribution site from Markam County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China with supplementary description on variation of morphology and mitochondrial genetics of the species. The new specimen varies from types of G. huangi on head scalation, coloration patterns, and hemipenis morphology. A distinct genetical distance 1.9 – 2.2% based on Cytb gene fragment exist between the new specimen and types of the species.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45998737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}