2006. Volume 13. No. 1. Contents

Morphological Variations in the Common Lizard, Lacerta (Zootoca) vivipara

Guillaume Cl. P., Heulin B., Pavlinov I. Y., Semenov D. V., Bea A., Vogrin N., and Surget-Groba Y.

Knowledge on variations in the reproductive modes, karyotypes, and mtDNA sequences of Lacerta (Zootoca) vivipara made headway but the morphological differences between any forms or populations remain unclear. That is why we studied different patterns of morphological variability using nine biometrics and 10 meristic variables on 242 common lizards: 119 oviparous (French, Spanish, and Slovenian), 114 viviparous (French, Bulgarian, and Russian), and nine hybrids. Our analyses confirm, for each population, the existence of a clear sexual dimorphism. Observed differences between reproductive strains (oviparous vs. viviparous) could not be connected immediately with the reproductive mode. Results of comparison between regions correspond to the geographical origin of the samples. We observe three clusters: western (Pyrenees and France), Slovenian, and eastern (Bulgaria, Russia, and Siberia). Comparisons of samples defined by their karyotypes are very similar. L. (Z.) v. carniolica subspecies is different for a majority of the studied variables. Our results show the special interest of the Russian samples but do not support the validity of the sachalinensis subspecies. The absence of clear relation between morphological and genetic structure of the species reveals that samples of the “complex” of common lizards are very closely related and have likely relatively recently diverged.

Keywords: variability, common lizard, Lacerta (Zootoca) vivipara, viviparity, oviparity, morphometry

Taxonomy, Natural History, and Distribution of the Snakes of the Nicobar Islands (India), Based on New Materials and with an Emphasis on Endemic Species

S. P. Vijayakumar and Patrick David

During an extensive survey of herpetofauna of the Nicobar Islands, a total of 15 islands were sampled for snakes. A total of 14 species of snakes belonging to 11 genera and five families were recorded. The colubrid Oligodon woodmasoni was recorded for the first time since its description. We also confirm the occurrence of the pitvipers Trimeresurus albolabris and Trimeresurus andersoni. More than 50 new geographical localities have been identified for the species recorded. For the first time ecological and distributional data are provided for the endemic species Trimeresurus labialis, Trimeresurus cantori, Oligodon woodmasoni, Dendrelaphis humayuni, Lycodon tiwarii, and Boiga wallachi. A compilation of the past-confirmed records of snake species and the results of the current study indicate the Nicobar Islands snake fauna is composed of 19 species of non-marine and three species of marine snakes. The highest number of species was observed in forest and the encounter rate was greater in streams, ponds and caves. Grasslands, though extensive in the Central Nicobars, supported very few species. Trimeresurus cantori was identified as the most commonly encountered species in the Central Nicobars. The encounter rate for T. cantori was more than twice the next common species, Trimeresurus labialis.

Keywords: Reptilia, Serpentes, Nicobar Islands, India, Distribution, Encounter rate, Trimeresurus, Taxonomy, Natural History

Diet of the Stripe-Necked Terrapin, Mauremys rivulata, in Jordan

Lina Rifai and Zuhair S. Amr

Stomach contents of Mauremys rivulata were analyzed by stomach flushing technique. Mauremys rivulata is an omnivorous species, with food items including aquatic insects and their larvae, amphibians and plants. Juvenile turtles were strictly carnivorous and larger ones shifted to a more herbivorous diet. Animal remains found in juveniles were more diverse, consisting of at least six different species of insects and amphibians, while larger animals consumed at the most of three different animal species.

Keywords: –Mauremys rivulata, stripe-necked Terrapin diet, Jordan.

A Short Report on the Nile Soft-Shell Turtle, Trionyx triunguis (Forsskål 1775), at Dalyan Beach, Turkey

Oguz Türkozan, Cetin Ilgaz, and Can Yilmaz

A total of 62 emergences were recorded with 29 (46.8%) resulting in nests. The nests suffered strongly from a high rate of fox predation (93% of the nests depredated). The mean number of eggs in a clutch was 23 ± 9.23. Sixteen hatchlings were measured and weighed. The mean straight carapace length was 44.99 ± 1.93 mm and weight 11.58 ± 0.88 g. Protection measures for the survival of the species were discussed.

Keywords: Nile soft-shell turtle, Trionyx triunguis, reproductive ecology, Dalyan, Turkey

Reptile Abundance in Temperate-Zone Europe: Effect of Regional Climate and Habitat Factors in Latvia

Andris Ceirans

The role of large-scale factors in influencing reptile abundances in temperate-zone lowland Europe is relatively obscure. Data on relative abundances of reptiles were collected in various regions of Latvia. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between reptile abundance and climate and habitat predictors. For lizards, habitat was a more important regional-scale factor than climate, although warmth of summer was important in Lacerta agilis. For snakes, however, climate was a highly significant factor. Natrix natrix in Latvia is common only in areas with mild winter climate at elevations below 50 m a.s.l., while Vipera berus is frequent in upland areas with relatively harsh winters. Potentially, the latter species could be negatively affected by global warming.

Keywords: reptiles, abundance, climate, habitats, temperate-zone Europe, Latvia

A New Acanthosaura Allied to A. capra Günther, 1861 (Agamidae, Sauria) from Central Vietnam and Southern Laos

Nikolai L. Orlov, Nguyen Quang Truong, and Nguyen Van Sang

A new agamid species from central Vietnam and Southern Laos is described. It is distinguished from A. armata, A. coronata, A. crucigera, and A. lepidogaster by lacking a spine on the occiput between the tympanum and nuchal crest. The new species differs from coronata and lepidogaster by having a large crest and from armata, crucigera, and lepidogaster by lacking a dark marking on the nape. It most closely resembles A. capra, but differs from it by having large keeled scales intermixed with small scales on the lateral and dorsal surface of body (scales relatively uniform in capra). Strong difference in coloration in live of adult males and females of compared species of genus Acanthosaura are described.

Keywords: Agamidae, Acanthosaura, A. capra, a new species, Laos, Vietnam

THE FIRST RECORD OF MASS TRIPLOIDY IN HYBRIDOGENIC GREEN FROG Rana esculenta IN RUSSIA (ROSTOV OBLAST’)

Leo J. Borkin, Georgiy A. Lada, Spartak N. Litvinchuk, Daniel A. Melnikov, and Jury M. Rosanov

Two green frog species, Rana ridibunda and hybridogenic R. esculenta, were found in Rostov Oblast’, south-western Russia. The latter one was recorded in this region of Russia at the first time, providing the south-eastern range limit. Using DNA flow cytometry, we found high incidence of triploidy (96%, LLR kind) among hybrids. This is the first record of mass triploidy for R. esculenta in Rostov Oblast’ in particular, and the country in general. Starting in Kharkov Province in eastern Ukraine, the distribution of triploids down Severskii Donets River covers a distance above 480 km and demonstrates two parallel trends. First, the occurrence of triploidy increases in comparison with diploid R. esculenta. Second, the incidence of the LLR triploids seems to increase, while the RRL triploid portion declines. In Rostov Oblast’ triploid LLR hybrids co-existed with Rana ridibunda.

Keywords: mass triploidy, Rana esculenta, genome size, Russia