Russian Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 15, No. 2(2008)

Biology and Distribution of Geckos of Genus Indogekko Khan, 2003 (Sauria: Gekkonidae)
Muhammad Sharif Khan
Notes on morphology, ecology and distribution of geckos of genus Indogekko Khan, 2003 are provided, with comments on their distribution in upper Indus Valley and circum Hindukush Region (northwestern Pakistan, southwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan.
Keywords: Sandstone geckos; Morphology; Biology; Distribution.
Morphological Features and Possible Affinities of Some Lissotriton vulgaris Populations in Nera River Area (South-Western Romania)
Alexandru Iftime and Oana Iftime
We report a number of populations of Lissotriton vulgaris vulgaris from Caras-Severin county (south-western Romania) exhibiting some morphological characteristics reminiscent of the “southern” L. vulgaris subspecies group (L. v. meridionalis, L. v. graecus, L. v. ampelensis). The possible affinities of these populations with L. v. ampelensis and L. v. ampelensis — L. v. vulgaris intergrading populations, geographically the closest that present similar morphological traits, are discussed.
Keywords: Lissotriton vulgaris vulgaris, Lissotriton vulgaris ampelensis, morphology, intergrading, distribution, south-western Romania.
Albinism and Leucism Among European Viperinae: A Review
László Krecsák
The records of albino, partial albino, and leucistic individuals among four species of European Viperinae (Vipera ammodytes, Vipera aspis, Vipera seoanei, and Vipera berus) were summarized based on literature records, museum material, reports of field herpetologists and herpetoculturists, and a short description of all reported specimens was made. For the first three species only scattered observations have been made (1, 1, and 6 reports), whereas at Vipera berus these defects proved to be more widespread (16 reports), and present an occurrence pattern shift to the Nordic countries. Different hypotheses are postulated on the offset geographic distribution pattern of albinism and leucism at this species, taking into account the differences in predation pressure and population densities between populations in Southern and Northern Europe. The possible negative effect of the color defects on the fitness and survival of the specimens carrying them is debated.
Keywords: Vipera ammodytes, Vipera aspis, Vipera seoanei, Vipera berus, fitness, survival.
On the Taxonomic Status of a Mangrove Sea Snake Hydrelaps darwiniensis Boulenger, 1896 (Serpentes, Hydrophiidae)
Vladimir E. Kharin
The erection of the subfamily Hydrelapinae nov. for the mangrove sea snake Hydrelaps darwiniensis Boulenger, 1896 is substantiated. Key for identification of subfamilies of family Hydrophiidae is given. Lectotype and paralectotype of H. darwiniensis is given.
Keywords: Serpentes, Hydrophiidae, Hydrelapinae, Aipysurinae, Ephalophinae, Hydrophiinae, Hydrelaps darwiniensis, lectotype, paralectotype.
Hematological and Plasma Biochemistry in Fan Throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana (Sauria: Agamidae)
Arttatrana Pal, Siba Prasad Parida, and Mitali Madhusmita Swain
Hematological and plasma biochemistry were examined in eighty fan throated lizards collected from their natural habitat. For the present study, maximum 10 adult specimens of each sex were sacrificed in each month. The sex wise difference in RBC and WBC count in male being higher as compared to females but in males, the percentage of lymphocytes were less and neutrophils were more in comparison with females. The esonophils and monocytes count were insignificant. The erythrocytes were oval or elliptical in shape with oval nucleus in both the sexes of the species. The length and breath of erythrocytes were 14.765 ± 4.752 and 7.75 ± 0.963 μm in males and 15.5 ± 1.29 and 10.375 ± 0.478 μm in females. The length and breath of nuclei were 6.925 ± 1.738 and 3.775 ± 0.518 μm in males and 7.75 ± 0.957 and 5.25 ± 0.251 μm in females. It revels that the size of the RBCs in females was higher than that of males. The shape of WBCs was rounded, circular, or disk-shaped. In females, the content of hemoglobin percentage was less than in males. The mean value of plasma protein and cholesterol content were 49.759 ± 0.5650 and 4.53 ± 0.2386 μg/ml in males and 91.42 ± 0.6991 and 13.205 ± 0.0801 μg/ml in females.
Keywords: blood, hemogram, protein, cholesterol.
Diet of Physalaemus biligonigerus (Cope, 1861, “1860”) and Eleutherodactylus platydactylus (Boulenger, 1903) (Anura: Leiuperidae, Brachycephalidae) from Bolivia and Paraguay
Dennis Rödder
I studied the stomach contents of 58 Physalaemus biligonigerus and 57 Eleutherodactylus platydactylus based on specimens housed in the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany. The diet of E. platydactylus was dominated by arthropods, with Coleopterans (20%) followed by Hymenoptera (30.9%) being the most frequently consumed food items. The diet of P. biligonigerus consists of a variety of arthropods with Isopterans being the main part. Looking at the frequency of occurrence, Isopterans (29.4%) and Coleopterans (14.7%) are the food items found most often. According to the number of prey items found, the diet of P. biligonigerus is dominated by Isopterans (83.5%), other arthropods were found in very small percentages (from 4.4 to 0.3%). Diet analyses revealed that P. biligonigerus has a narrow trophic niche breath preferring colonial terrestrial arthropods like Isoptera whereas E. platydactylus has a wide trophic niche breath preying on a great diversity of arthropods. Cluster analyses allow the hypotheses that trophic ontogeny in both species occur.
Keywords: Physalaemus biligonigerus, Eleutherodactylus platydactylus, diet, Bolivia, Paraguay.
Oligodon rhombifer Werner, 1924, a Junior Synonym of Oligodon ancorus (Girard, 1857) (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae)
Frank Tillack
Re-examination of the type specimens of Oligodon rhombifer Werner, 1924, showed that these do not differ from Oligodon ancorus (Girard, 1857), suggesting the former taxon to be a synonym of the latter.
Keywords: Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae, Oligodon rhombifer Werner, new subjective synonym of Oligodon ancorus (Girard); Southeast Asia: Sumatra (Indonesia), Philippines.
A New Specimen of Eublepharis angramainyu Anderson et Leviton, 1966 (Reptilia: Sauria: Eublepharidae), Leopard Gecko, in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey
Nazan Üzüm, Aziz Avci, Cetin Ilgaz, and Kurtulus Olgun
A female Eublepharis angramainyu Anderson et Leviton, 1966, Leopard Gecko, was found from a new locality (Akkus Village, Harran, Sanliurfa, Turkey) in Southeastern Anatolia. The distribution range of the species was extended with additional new locality (Akkus Village) in Southeastern Anatolia. Regarding pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements and color-pattern features, Akkus specimen show a similarity with Arsanli and Cicekalan specimens in Turkey.
Keywords: Eublepharis angramainyu, new locality, distribution, morphology, Southeastern Anatolia.
Description of a New Species of Rhacophorus Genus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Kon Cha Rang Area (Gia Lai Province, Vietnam)
Nikolai L. Orlov
A new rhacophorid species of the tribe Rhacophorini, assigned to the genus Rhacophorus on the basis of three specimens collected from the Kon Cha Rang area, 20 km northwest of Tram Lap village, 60 km northwest of the town of Kannack, in the An Khe District, Gia Lai Province, Central Vietnam is described. It is most similar to Rhacophorus calcanaeus, much different from other congeners.
Keywords: Rhacophoridae, Rhacophorus, a new species, central Vietnam, Gia Lai Province, Kon Cha Rang area.
Taxonomy of Naked-Toes Geckos Cyrtodactylus irregularis Complex of South Vietnam and Description of a New Species from Chu Yang Sin Natural Park (Krong Bong District, Dac Lac Province, Vietnam)
Roman A. Nazarov, Nikolai L. Orlov, Nguyen Ngoc Sang, and Ho Thu Cuc
A new species of Cyrtodactylus of Gekkonidae family, assigned to the Cyrtodactylus irregularis complex on the basis of twelve specimens collected from the Chu Yang Sin National Park, Krong Bong District, Dac Lac Province, central Vietnam is described. Forms of C. irregularis complex inhabiting an extensive territory, covering the southern part of the Annamite Mountains and Central Highlands, their distribution and variation are discussed; a detailed description of the type specimens of C. irregularis complex and a description of a new species are given.
Keywords: Gekkonidae, Cyrtodactylus, Cyrtodactylus irregularis complex, a new species, Dac Lac, Lam Dong and Dong Nai provinces, South Vietnam.
Distribution and Conservation Status of the Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) in Western Siberia and Kazakhstan
Dmitry V. Skorinov, Valentina N. Kuranova, Leo J. Borkin, and Spartak N. Litvinchuk
In Siberia, Lissotriton vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) was recorded in nine provinces of Russia (81 localities). The northern border of geographic range passes the taiga zone in Tyumen´ and Tomsk Oblast´s, as well as Krasnoyarsk Kray. The southern range limit, as a rule, coincides with the border between the forest-steppe and steppe zones in Kurgan, Omsk, and Novosibirsk Oblast’s, as well as Altayskiy Kray. In Kazakhstan, the species was recorded in 3 isolated localities only. The conservation status of L. vulgaris in Siberia is discussed.
Keywords: Amphibia, Salamandridae, Lissotriton vulgaris, conservation, Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan.
Bufo stuarti from Western Arunachal Pradesh, India
I. Agarwal and V. Mistry
Bufo stuarti is reported from India for the second time, after 72 years; from Western Arunachal Pradesh, with a range extension of ~400 km. Description of live specimens and natural history notes are presented.
Keywords: Bufo stuarti, range extension, northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh.