New anomalies and pathologies in the caudal region of the lizard’s axial skeleton

Currently, more than 58 skeletal anomalies and pathologies are known in the recent Squamata reptiles. In this paper, eight pathologies of a complex nature are described in Agamidae and Lacertidae: Paralaudakia caucasia (Eichwald, 1831) and Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758. Description of tail pathologies was carried out based on the analysis of X-ray images and on the results of computer microtomography. In the specimen of P. caucasia (ЗИН 19116.1) complete ablation of the caudal vertebra was revealed, which provoked the detachment of chevron and the proliferation of soft tissues. In some Agamidae, after pseudoautotomy, partial ablation of the caudal vertebra occurs to promote wound healing. Complete ablation of the distal caudal vertebra has not been previously reported in literature. In females of L. agilis, deformation of the right transverse process of the vertebra with “false bifurcation” without the formation of a cartilaginous tube (VOLSU 98.2), scoliosis, hematoma and callus on the cartilaginous tube were noted, as well as the absence of an autotomy plane in the postpygal vertebra (ZIN 31549). An unusual pathology in L. agilis (ZIN 31549) is the absence of an autotomy plane in the postpigal vertebra and of its anterior neural spine. The loss of the plane of autotomy during ontogeny is characteristic of some Iguanidae, but it has not been previously noted in Lacertidae. The described cases of anomalies expand the spectrum of known pathologies in reptiles.

Population-genetic structure of the eastern sand lizard Lacerta agilis exigua (Reptiilia, Lacertidae), assessed by ISSR-PCR and IRAP-PCR markers

Впервые описано присутствие участков гомологии в геномах восточной прыткой ящерицы к длинным концевым повторам эндогенных ретровирусов Sabrina и SIRE-1 и выполнен сравнительный анализ спектров продуктов амплификации фрагментов геномной ДНК ящерицы Lacerta agilis exigua, полученных с использованием двух типов ДНК маркеров - фрагментов геномной ДНК, ящериц, фланкированных инвертированными повторами микросателлитных локусов и длинными концевыми повторами эндогенных ретровирусов The presence of homology regions in the long terminal repeats of the endogenous retroviruses Sabrina and SIRE - 1 in the genomes of the eastern sand lizard was described for the first time. A comparative analysis of the spectra of amplification products of genomic DNA fragments of the mentioned lizard species obtained using two types of DNA markers - fragments of genomic DNA, flanked by inverted repeats of microsatellite loci and long terminal repeats of endogenous retroviruses, was performed.

Materials on the ecology of background species of reptiles in the Tambov Region

The paper presents data on the ecology of two common species of reptiles in the Tambov Region: the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758, and the common grass snake, Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758). The material was collected in the Michurinsky, Pervomaysky, Tambovsky and Inzhavinsky (on the territory of the Voroninsky State Nature Reserve) Districts of the Tambov Region during the 2019 field season. Field observations and accounting for the numbers of animals on the routes were carried out in the most typical biotopes for the study sites: in pine forest, deciduous forest, in steppe areas affected to varying degrees by anthropogenic transformation, in floodplains of rivers and along the shores of lakes and artificial reservoirs. Information on the following aspects of the ecology of these reptile species in the region is presented and discussed: habitat distribution and numbers, seasonal and diurnal activity, phenology of reproduction and development and the influence of anthropogenic factors. All materials obtained as a result of our own research are compared with the data of the literature sources cited in the paper. On the basis of wide distribution in the region, relatively high numbers and trends to synanthropy it is stated that the state of the populations of the sand lizard and common grass snake in the region in the present conditions is safe and special measures for their protection are not required.

Review of type specimens of lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae) described by Georgy Fedorovich Sukhov

The paper provides data on the current location of the type specimens of lacertid lizard's taxa described by herpetologist Georgy F. Sukhov (1899–1942), as at July 1, 2020: Lacerta agilis tauridica Suchow, 1927 (lectotype [here designated] — ZISP No 12620, paralectotypes — ZISP No 3226, 3235, 3238, 3856, 10366в, 12230, 12231, 12520, 12619, 14110, NMNH No 2152 (14599–14600), 2163 (14621–14622), 2172 (14705–14712), 2184 (14772–14773), 2184 (14774–14777), 2188 (14872–14893), 2279 (15983–16037), 2279 (16038–16074), 2518 (16621)), Lacerta boemica Suchow, 1929 (lectotype [here designated] — ZISP No 30363, paralectotypes — ZISP No 16210, 30358-30362, 30364-30398.1, NHM No 1960.1.4.26–30, 1965.337–342, NMNO no No), Apathya cappadocica urmiana Lantz et Suchow, 1934 (holotype — ZISP No 12657b, paratypes — ZISP No 11444, 12657а, с, 12658), Lacerta princeps kurdistanica Suchow, 1936 (holotype — ZISP No 11441.1, paratypes — ZISP No 11440, 11441.2–4, 11442, 11443). According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th edition), the name Lacerta agilis caucasica Suchow, 1927 should be considered as a junior primary homonym of Lacerta caucasica Méhely, 1909, and the designation of the neotype of L. a. tauridica by Kalyabina-Hauf et al. must be rejected. The history of description of taxa as well as a list of Sukhov’s publications (12 articles published in 1927–1948) are given. Localities, collector’s names and dates of capture of the type specimens are clarified. Anderson and Šmíd et al. indicated that Eiselt restricted the type locality of L. princeps kurdistanica; this is not true.

State of herpetofauna of the shelterbelts at different distances from the agrocenoses treated by pesticides

Differences in the herpetofauna of the shelterbelts, which are located at different distances from the fields treated with pesticides, have been studied. It was found that the herpetofauna of artificial forest plantations on the right bank of the Samara River consists of five species: Bufotes viridis, Pelobates vespertinus, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca and Lacerta agilis. The grass snake was only found in forest plantations that remote at a distance of 5 kilometres from agrocenoses and could not be treated with pesticides. In the studied areas, two species of snakes (C. austriaca and N. natrix) had the lowest numbers. Amphibians and the sand lizard are the most numerous animals in both groups of shelterbelts. The highest indicator of relative dominance in the herpetofauna of forest belts was observed for the sand lizard, which reflects the greater ecological plasticity of this species. The Renkonen index (more than 90%) showed the similarity of herpetofauna groups of shelterbelts both remote and adjacent to agrocenoses treated by pesticides. The herpetofauna groups of forest belts of both groups had similar indices of dominancy (0.35–0.46), alignment (0.78–0.97) and diversity according to the Shannon (1.07–1.22) and Simpson indices (0.29– 0.35). The lowest indicator of species richness (0.48) is determined for the forest belts adjacent to agrocenoses. Thus, artificial forest plantations that are directly affected by agricultural activities (pesticide use, reduction in food, etc.) can also act as refugia to maintain biodiversity. Nevertheless, this will depend on the amount and duration of pesticide use, so further research is needed for definitive conclusions. Forest belts, which have existed for half a century or more, are a kind of separate ecosystems that can help in understanding various issues of Zoology (fauna and species distribution), Ecology (population dynamics, population structure) and microevolution (processes in new relatively isolated systems).

Estimation of amphibian and reptile diversity in the Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary

Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary occupies an extreme western position in the Leningrad Region (with the main city of St. Petersburg). The fauna of the Kurghalsky Wildlife Sanctuary is quite diverse and includes 6 species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles. The core of herpetofauna is formed by several species (Lissotriton vulgaris, Bufo bufo, Rana arvalis, Rana temporaria, Anguis fragilis, Zootoca vivipara, Vipera berus) widely distributed in the boreal zone of Eurasia. It is enriched by a few subboreal species (Pelobates fuscus, Pelophylax ridibundus, Lacerta agilis, Natrix natrix), regionally rare in the taiga zone. The highest diversity of amphibians and reptiles (8 species) was registered in the boreal and intrazonal groups of plant communities such as the forb-grassy meadows, greenmoss and light pine heath forests. The greatest similarity of herpetofaunas is characteristic for communities of spruce and small-leaved forests (93%), small-leaved forests and meadows (93%), broad-leaved forests and bogs (89%), pine and spruce forests (88%) and small-leaved forests and bogs (83%). Differences in the species composition of the local herpetofaunas are associated with a tendency to depletion of the number of species in boreal communities: from coniferous and mixed forests to bogs, reed communities and beaches. The general depletion of herpetofauna of the north is associated primarily with the loss of subboreal elements. The diversity and relatively high density of amphibian and reptile populations indicate the good preservation of forest and coastal ecosystems.