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The paper reports the results of the first skeletochronological study of age structure and distinguishing characteristics of growth in the triploid toad Bufotes baturae, inhabitant of Sasyk-Bulak hot spring in the Pamir Mountains (3797 m a.s.l.). Minimal and maximum ages of males of the species were three and seven years, respectively. The age of females ranged from three to six years. Mean age for both sexes was 4.0 years. The majority of males (46.2%) were three years old, most females (58.8%) were four years old. The age of sexual maturity was reached after three hibernations (46% in males and 24% in females). The majority of toads breed once at the age of three or four years. Only few (18% in females and 23% in males) individuals in this population were older. Harsh high-altitude cold desert conditions and limited food resources may cause high mortality of the toads. The correlation between the minimal age at sexual maturity and the degree of dryness of climate was demonstrated among species of the genus Bufotes. As a rule, toads which live in more humid climatic conditions mature earlier. Perhaps, this explains that substantial part of semi-aquatic individuals of B. baturae in the hot spring mature at earlier age (3 years) than other polyploid species (4 – 5 years) that inhabit arid environments. In both sexes of B. baturae, growth rate was similar to that of other closely related high-mountain species, diploid B. latastii and triploid B. pseudoraddei.

In the Talysh Mountains, the marsh frog, Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771), increases its distribution due to human activity. In the mountain forest belt, frogs inhabit flowing ponds with cold spring water. These reservoirs are characterized by a stable temperature regime: the water in them is kept at the level of 10 – 12°C in winter and does not fall below 6°C, and in summer does not rise above 18°C. Probably, the cold flow water of ponds in the mountain-forest belt of Talysh can cause some features of growth and maturation for P. ridibundus. The aim of our work was to study the features of the structure of growth layers including the variation in degree of expression of lines of arrested growth (LAGs) of the marsh frogs in ponds with cold flow water. Frogs were collected in the upper part of the Tangeru River gorge in Sym village of Astara District of Azerbaijan (480 m a.s.l.) in August 2018. In total, we studied skeletochronologically 8 females and 9 males. In contrast to the results of the tubular bones studies in the marsh frog presented in earlier works, the studied individuals are characterized by a more complex and diverse structure in the cross section of shin bones. All the revealed diversity of this structure can be divided into three groups. To the first group are relatively rare cases in which there are growth layers with wintering LAGs and additional growth layers but without additional LAGs. The second group includes more frequent cases in which there are growth layers not only with wintering LAGs but with additional LAGs differing discretely from wintering LAGs. The third group includes the rarest cases where there are growth layers with wintering LAGs and with additional LAGs without discrete difference from wintering LAGs. The revealed high variable structure of growth layers and distinctiveness of LAGs in P. ridibundus can be explained by unusual temperature regime in habitat of studied population and the existence of several activity period during a year. The most continuous period of low temperatures (February and March) corresponds to formation hibernation LAGs and dark rings in growth layers. Besides, period from early December to late January may be so cold that frog growth retard sufficiently or stop completely. The formation of more dark parts of growth layers or even several additional LAGs can correspond to this period.

The paper provides the first data about age structure and growth of the Zamda toad, Bufotes zamdaensis (Boulenger, 1882), from the Himachal Pradesh State (India). The study of age structure of toads was carried out using skeletochronology. The minimal and maximal ages in males of B. zamdaensis were 4 and 7 years, respectively, with mean age of 5.4 years. The majority of males (60%) were 5 years old. The age in females ranged from 5 to 9 years with mean value of 6.1 years. The majority of females (71%) were 5 – 6 years old. Males of B. zamdaensis can reach maturation after four winterings and females after five winterings. Unlike closely related species B. latastii, the growth rate in both sexes does not decrease significantly after the 1st and 2nd wintering and remains high after the 3rd and 4th wintering.

The paper discusses the distribution of Nikolsky’s pitviper, Gloydius caucasicus, in Azerbaijan. According to the authors’ own research results, literature data and museum collections, 32 findings of this species in the Jalilabad (1 locality), Yardymly (11 localities), Lerik (10 localities), Lenkoran (10 localities) and Astara (5 localities) administrative districts are presented. All the known findings of the pitviper are located within 10–1,980 m above sea level in the Lenkoran lowland, the mountain forest belt of the Talysh Mountains, as well as in the mountain-xerophytic steppe of the Yardymly, Deman and Diabar intermountain depressions. The species is recorded on the territory of “Hirkan” National Park and Zuvand regional reserve. G. caucasicus is a rare snake species in Azerbaijan. The main threat to the pitviper in the region is habitat loss. To preserve the species in the northwestern periphery of the habitat, the authors recommend creating a specially protected natural area in the Jalilabad and Yardymly districts on the Alashar-Burovar Ridge. It is also necessary to include G. caucasicus into the Red Data Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the category “Vulnerable species” (VU).

Lantz’s newt, or the Caucasian smooth newt, Lissotriton lantzi, is an endemic species for the Caucasian mountain-forest belt. In North Ossetia–Alania, only 4 findings of this newt are known in the Prigorodniy, Alagirskiy and Irafskiy districts. Since 1983, there has been no new information about any findings of L. lantzi in this region. On August 4, 2020, L. lantzi larvae were caught in a lake on the left shore of the Urukh River in the Irafskiy district. Newts live here in a beech forest at an altitude of 810 m. The authors assume that L. lantzi in North Ossetia–Alania inhabits the entire forest belt in the range of altitudes of 700–1000 m above sea level.

The European common spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus, has not been observed in Moscow since the end of the 20th century. The species is listed in the Red Data Book of Moscow (2017) as endangered or completely extinct. The paper presents new findings of P. fuscus on the territory of the city, namely, in the “Moskvoretskiy” Natural-Historical Park and the “Kosinskiy” Natural-Historical Park in August 2020.

In this paper we present results of laboratory reproduction of the Ladakh toad (Bufotes latastii) for three generations. Two pairs of animals, which were collected in April of 2013 in Jammu and Kashmir (India), became founders of a laboratory population. The first female gave offspring four times, while the second only once. The number of eggs in clutches obtained from the first female was 6804 – 10149 and from the second was 4080 eggs. Males, which were born in laboratory, started to vocalize at the age of 3 – 4 months after metamorphosis and at the age of one year successfully reproduced. Females become mature at the two-year age only. Thus, B. latastii is a fast-growing and early-maturing species. The number of eggs in clutches of 2-year-old laboratory females ranged from 31 to 6420 eggs (n = 28) and 3-year-old females from 19 to 6859 eggs (n = 21). Clutches were single- or double-row strings. The average thickness of egg strings was 3.2 – 5.9 mm. The diameter of eggs was 0.8 – 1.9 mm. The duration of embryonic development (until separation of pre-larvae from egg strings) was 2 – 5 days. The total body length of pre-larvae was 2.0 – 4.3 mm. The first larvae that started swimming and feeding were observed within 2 – 3 days after separation of pre-larvae from egg strings. The body length of larvae at the time of start of exogenous feeding was 2.9 – 4.3 mm and the length of tail was 1.6 – 6.3 mm. The total duration of embryogenesis was 4 – 8 days, larval development was 86 – 125 days, and overall development was 90 – 127 days.

The paper provided the first data about age structure and growth of the Lataste’s toad, Bufotes latastii (Boulenger, 1882), from the Jammu and Kashmir State (India). The study of age structure of toads was carried out using skeletochronology. The minimal and maximal ages in males of B. latastii were 3 and 10 years, respectively, with mean age of 6.0 years. The majority of males (70%) were 5 or 6 years old. The age in females ranged from 4 to 10 years with mean value of 5.9 years. The majority of females (71%) were 4 – 6 years old. Males of B. latastii can reach maturation after three winterings and females after four winterings. The body length increment in males is 3.6 times, whereas in females is 3.7 – 4.0 times. After maturation, the growth rate is retarded and the individuals of different ages did not differ in its body length. In spite of maximal age of 10 years in both sexes, the largest male was 5 years old and the largest female was 4 years old.

The purpose of the research is to study helminthofauna of Caucasian toad in vivo and in vitro. Materials and methods. Researches were conducted in vivo and in laboratory setting (Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy). Fecal from mature animals catching in six places in the north Caucasus and Transcaucasia during April–May 2012–2015 were investigated. Specimen of animals contained in laboratory during 1–4 years after catching and born in vitro have also be analyzed. Method of sequential irrigation was used for detachment helminths and their ootids. Died animals were anatomized according to Skryabin's method. Total 200 fecal samples of bufo in vivo and 150 samples of animals from laboratory have been studied.Results and discussion. Results and discussion. Eggs and adult proboscis worms of four species have been found in fecal of Caucasian toad: Acanthocephalus falcatus (Froelich, 1789), A. ranae (Schrank, 1788), Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis (Shipley, 1903) и P. caucasicus (Petrochenko, 1953). Eggs of P. caucasicus were found in fecal masses of laboratory animals even in 4 years after catching. Helminths were not found in fecal of animals which were born in laboratory. Worms of four species were found in the process of helminthological autopsy of eight died species of Bufo caucasicus: Aplectana acuminata (Schrank, 1788), Cosmocerca commutata (Diesing, 1851), Oswaldocruzia filiformis Goeze 1782, Rhabdias bufonis (Schrank, 1788).

For the first time we have summarised the results of the study of batraho- and herpetofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia. We present an Annotated List of species as authentically living in the region, as well as ever mentioned for it in literature, field notebooks, museum collections and our own expeditions in South Ossetia. The batrachofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia counts nine species and the herpetofauna 19 species. It provides a complete inventory of all finds (65 localities). A number of confirmed species have been assigned for the first time in scientific literature for the territory of South Ossetia: Emys orbicularis, Darevskia mixta, Natrix megalocephala, Hierophis schmidti, Pelias dinniki, P. kaznakovi. We detected the morphological specificity of the South Ossetia' populations of Darevskia praticola, D. brauneri and D. caucasica. The Assessment of conservation status has been evaluated for all forms of amphibians and reptiles in the region. According to its results, five amphibian species and ten reptile species are recommended for inclusion into the Red Data Book of the Republic of South Ossetia. The central problem of environmental activities in the Region is the lack of a network of different rank protected areas covering all natural zones and altitudinal belts. The South Ossetian State Nature Reserve is the single protected area of South Ossetia, which provides protection only for three endangered species of amphibians and three species of reptiles.

Darevskia praticola differs from the other species of the genus in having a large but disjunct distribution, covering the Balkan and the Caucasus regions. Furthermore, most Darevskia species occupy saxicolous habitats, whereas D. praticola inhabits meadows and forest environments. Here we determine the phylogeographic and phylogenetic relationships of Darevskia praticola sensu lato and evaluate the current, morphology-based taxonomy. We sequenced two mtDNA genes (Cyt-b and ND4) and two nuclear loci (MC1R and RELN) for samples collected across the species range. Because our sequences amplified with the Cyt-b primers appear to represent a nuclear pseudogene we excluded this marker from the final analysis. Our results support monophyly of D. praticola and show its division into three clades. The first divergence, dated to the Late Pliocene, is between the Balkans and the Caucasus. The Caucasus lineage is further subdivided in a western Greater Caucasus and a Transcaucasia clade, likely due to subsequent diff...

This article provides data on the distribution of lacertid lizards in the region of the Southwest Caspian. The study was performed between 2007 and 2014 in the territory of Jalilabad, Masalli, Yardimli, Lenkoran, Masalli and Lerik administrative districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On the basis of field data and the results of studies of museum collections, we noted a change in the range of lizards under the influence of anthropogenic deforestation. In particular, it is noted that there is a narrowing of the distribution of the green belly lizard, Darevskia chlorogaster and the extension of the habitats of Azerbaijani, D. raddei and striped, Lacerta strigata lizards. Because of the fact that the green belly lizard distribution in the region decreased by more than a third, it is proposed that it be included in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan. Refs 7. Figs 1.

Data on reproduction of the Karelin’s newt from the Talysh population in captivity are provided. 11 pairs from the Zarbyulyun natural boundary (Astara administrative region, Azerbaijan) were involved in the study. Oviposition was observed between 19 and 90 days after placement of animals into water. Females spawned between January 24 and June 5 at a temperature of 6.0–23.5 °C. The total duration of the oviposition period in different pairs was between 40 and 133 days. Fertility of females during the reproductive period varied from 44 to 2362 eggs, an average daily amount of eggs was 0.6–19.0. The maximum length of the laid egg in the first day after oviposition was 3.8–5.8 mm, the maximum width — 2.4–3.3 mm, diameter of the vitellus: 1.8–2.7 mm. Developmental time estimated from oviposition to hatching was 7–15 days, and larval development from hatching to start of feeding was 5–8 days. During the reproductive period, we obtained 14 to 345 prelarvae from each female, that was 10.3–41.2 % of the laid eggs. The survival of prelarvae from hatching to start of feeding from different spawns was 61.5–100.0 %, so that from each female 14 to 328 actively feeding larvae were obtained. Refs 7.

Pelodytes caucasicus inhabits Turkey, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, and six regions of Russia (226 localities). The forest cutting strongly threatens its populations. Therefore, the frog is listed in Red Data Books of Georgia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, and the Russian Federation. Additional factors influencing the decline of P. caucasicus populations are destruction and contamination of suitable water bodies, clearing of forests from fallen trees, destroying of litter, mortality on roads, and preying by the introduced North American raccoon. Using of MaxEnt, we developed a species distribution model based on climate, landscape and land cover data to estimate the potential distribution range, ecological preferences and conservation status of P. caucasicus. Two precipitation parameters, annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality, had the highest contribution percentage to the model (52% and 11% respectively). As a rule, suitable habitats for the species located in woodland mountain areas with annual precipitation ranged from 513 mm to 2376 mm. Drier regions to the north and south of the Caucasus limit its distribution.

Using both nuclear and mitochondrial sequences, we demonstrate high genetic differentiation in the genus Talpa and confirm the existence of cryptic species in the Caucasus and Anatolia, namely, T. talyschensis Vereschagin, 1945, T. ognevi Stroganov, 1948, and Talpa ex gr. levantis. Our data support four clades in the genus Talpa that showed strong geographical associations. The ‘europaea’ group includes six species from the western portion of the genus' range (T. europaea, T. occidentalis, T. romana, T. caeca, T. stankovici, and T. levantis s.l.); another three groups are distributed further east: the ‘caucasica’ group (Caucasus), the ‘davidiana’ group (eastern Anatolia and Elburz) and T. altaica (Siberia). The phylogenetic position of T. davidiana was highlighted for the first time. The order of basal branching remains controversial, which can be attributed to rapid diversification events. The molecular time estimates based on nuclear concatenation estimated the basal divergence of the crown Talpa during the latest Miocene. A putative scenario of Talpa radiation and issues of species delimitation are discussed. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London

The article presents the first results of a study of age and growth of the Hyrcanian frog, Rana pseudodalmatina in the Talysh Mountains. The animals were caught in the first Decade of March 2011 in Sym village in Astara District of Azerbaijan. The age was determined by a skeletochronological analysis of clipped phalanges of the third toe of hind limb. Preparations were made and examined with well-visible thick sections of 56 males and 7 females. Males in the sample were 1 – 5 years old and females were 2 – 4 years old. The average age of males was 3.2 years and 3.7 years of females. Most of studied frogs were specimens in the age of three and four years. The most intensive growth of the Hyrcanian frog occurs before reaching sexual maturity. A male at the age of one year had a body length equal to 309.8% of the average length of the metamorphs from the same reservoir, two-year-old males were 328.8 – 341.3%, three-year-olds were 271.7 – 385.9%, four-year-olds were 347.8 – 388.6%, five-year — 369.6 – 421.2%. The relative length of a two-year-old female was 342.4%, three-year-old females — 391.3 – 432.1, four-year-olds — 383.2 – 397.8%.