Краткие сообщения

Since 2019, single individuals of the dice snake Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) have been repeatedly found in the Kama Cis-Urals. The lack of data on the thermobiology of the species in atypical conditions determined the purpose of this work – a comparison of the most important thermobiological characteristics of the water snake from the Lower and Middle Volga region, as well as the Kama Cis-Urals.

Currently, there is an unacceptably high rate of decline in the biodiversity of vertebrates, and, first of all, amphibians. This situation requires emergency measures to save the endangered species of these animals. One of such measures is the development of assisted reproductive technologies, including cryopreservation and cryobanking of reproductive cells (sperm and oocytes). However, cryopreservation technologies, successfully used for banking sperm, have not yet been adapted for cryobanking amphibian oocytes.

A method has been developed for creating artificial nesting sites for the Far Eastern turtle during the period of high water content of the Amur River in its breeding areas. The Far Eastern turtle is listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and Khabarovsk Krai. Among the factors limiting natural reproduction are high and prolonged floods on the Amur River. Artificially created sites above the zone of coastal flooding by natural waters provide turtles with conditions for successful reproduction.

We analyzed karyotypes of most toad species of the family Bufonidae inhabiting the Palearctic (6 genera, 29 species). All diploid species had 11 pairs of chromosomes. In most of them (Bufo, Bufotes and Barbarophryne) the nucleolar organizer (NOR) was located on the 6th pair and only in a few species of the genus Bufotes on the 5th, Strauchbufo – on the 4th, Epidalea – on the 11th, and Sclerophrys – on the 10th.

The object of our study of the functional activity of the body's immune reactions over a long period (2021–2024) was Pelophylax ridibundus in the reservoir of an urbanized territory (Silikatnoye Lake, Nizhny Novgorod) infected with Hepatozoon spp. A hydrochemical analysis of the habitat of P. ridibundus was done. Intraerythrocyte parasites were accounted for with the calculation of the extent and intensity of invasion and abundance of hemoparasites.

The results of our study of age and growth of the Eastern slowworm (Anguis colchica) in two localities in the east of the Lesser Caucasus are presented. 33 individuals (18 males and 15 females) from the vicinity of Stepanavan town (Lori Marz, Armenia) were studied. A sample from the vicinity of Zanavi village (Borjomi municipality, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia) contained 19 specimens (6 males and 13 females). The body length of captured animals was measured and the tip of the tail was clipped.

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the growth rates and characteristics of 10 lizard species from the genus Darevskia (D. armeniaca, D. arribasi, D. brauneri, D. caucasica, D. daghestanica, D. derjugini, D. mixta, D. pontica, D. raddei, and D. valentini) in laboratory conditions. It has been shown that lizards from different species complexes, but originating from close localities, are characterized by similar growth features.

15 species of ixodid ticks (Ixodida) and 2 ones of gamasid mites (Mesostigmata) were identified in the true lizards (Lacertidae) of the Caucasus harbor according to our own and literature data. Of which one species of ixodid and both species of gamasid ticks are specific to reptiles. The core of the fauna of ixodid ticks is formed by species of the genus Haemaphysalis. The largest number of ixodid tick genera and species are associated with lizards of the genus Lacerta.

The development of a technology for hypothermic preservation of amphibian oocytes is one of the urgent tasks for cryobiology. The previously proposed method of “dry” hypothermic preservation in small sealed containers allowed us to increase the duration of refrigerated storage of unfertilized oocytes of the grass frog Rana temporaria up to 7 days (fertilization 40%; hatching 20%).

The study focuses on demographic characteristics of amphibians in a megacity environment, using Moscow City as a case study. The relevance of our research is driven by the impact of the urban environment on ecosystems. In Moscow City, home to over 13 million people, the urban infrastructure affects the natural habitats of amphibians. The study primarily examines the common toad (Bufo bufo) and common frog (Rana temporaria).