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The author updates the knowledge on the herpetofauna of southern Dobruja according to his own studies within the area, during 1993-1998, when he identified 18 taxa. They represent 37.5% of the total amphibian and reptile species from Romania. Also the author makes some remarks on respective ecosystems and on the urgent protection need of some species.

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The final part of a series of papers on the lizards of the Caucasus, that have been published in previous years. The paper reports on the life habits, capture and keeping in terraria of several lizards of Soviet Transcaucasia. In these respects the agamid Phrynocephalus helioscopus persi- cus and three species of the lacertid genus Eremias occuring in that area (i. e. strauchi, velox, pleskei) are discussed. Finally a !ist of all lizard species and subspecies actually known to occur in this region is given.

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The current book provides a synthesis of the information concern- ing field identification of all the species and subspecies of Amphibia and Reptilia hitherto registered in Bulgaria. It comprises 61 species and 23 subspecies, among which 5 species (Pelophylax lessonae, P. kurtmuelleri, Hemidactylus turcicus, Eremias arguta, Montivipera xanthina) that have not been found yet on the territory of the country, but which are known from sites in proximity to Bulgar- ian frontiers. The frogs and toads are represented with 14 spe- cies, newts and salamanders with 6 species, turtles and tortoises with 7 species (Trachemys scripta introduced; Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas considered extinct), and snakes with 19 species (Vipera aspis and V. ursinii considered extinct). The structure of each species’ description includes the following headings: Name, Diagnosis, General Distribution, Distribution in Bulgaria, Habitats, and Biology. Besides in Bulgarian and Latin, all species are sup- plemented with their English, French, German and Russian names. All synonyms in the main herpetological literature are listed after the currently accepted Latin name. Original keys for identification of the families, genera and species, based entirely on morphologi- cal characters of adult specimens, as well as on the structure of amphibians’ eggs and larvae, are elaborated to facilitate the users. A photo gallery, comprising original colour photos shot in nature, and numerous line drawings of different key characters are made for better distinction between the species. For purely conservation- al reasons, the distribution maps not only indicate the scientifically confirmed species distribution in the country, but also show the areas with suitable habitats where a given species is likely to oc- cur. The degree of suitability is indicated with a different degree of shading: optimal (black); suboptimal (80% gray); suitable (60% gray); less suitable (20% gray); white means unsuitable. The guide is also introducing the readers to some general aspects of the tax- onomy, systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of herpeto- fauna. Special chapters are devoted to the methods of observation and capture of amphibians and reptiles, first aid after a snake’s bite, and the relationship between herpetofauna – humans. The status of each species according to main biodiversity conservation acts and conventions is given in Table 1. Being the first publication of its kind, the book is intended for professional herpetologists, students or nature lovers.

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Many regions of the former USSR still re- ceive little attention from Western visitors, herpetologists not excluded. For the Cau- casus Mountains this is all the more sur- prising since the area forms a zone where northern and Middle Eastern flora and fauna meet, and which is thus of considera- bly zoogeographical interest. Presently we find three larger states in the Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Arme- nia. Turkey borders to the southwest, Iran to the southeast, and in the north it is the Russian federation. Various smaller parts claim independence. The Black Sea forms the natural western boundary, the Caspian Sea the eastern one. Herpetologically the Caucasus is historically well-known because of the work of Darev- sky and collaborators on the rock lizards (at the time still in the large genus Lacerta, now in Darevskia) and the discovery of the first case of parthenogenesis in vertebrates (DAREVSKY, 1967; DAREVSKII, 1978; DAREVSKY & KULIKOVA, 1961). Below we will concentrate on the results of our field trip to Georgia during the last two weeks of June 2003. Predictably, because of our common interest in the group, the lacertids will receive the most attention.

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In this investigation, lizard species of Turkish Thrace are investigated indetail for the first time. Morphological characretirstics, range, distribution and subspecific states of the species are given. Furthermore, some observations concerning their biological and ecological characteristics are also given. In this study a total of 678 specimens and 10 species belonging to 3 families of Lacertilia have been investigated from Turkish Trace.

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In the present study forty-four specimens of Lacerta praticola were collected from Dereköy (Kırklareli) and were investigated in detail in the view of morphological features. The results were compared with the existing knowledge of literature. The population was decided to be classified as a subspecies of L.p. pontica. Additionally, some information about the ecology of the species are given.

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The structure and evolution of a satellite DNA family was examined in lizards from the genus Darevskia(family Lacertidae). Comparison of tandem units of repeated DNA (satDNA), CLsat, in all species from the genus Darevskiahas shown that their variability is largely explained by single-nucleotide substitutions, which form about 50 diagnostic positions underlying classification of the family into three subfamilies. Maximum differences between the subfamilies reached 25%. At this level of tandem unit divergence in the subfamilies, no cross-hybridization between them was observed (at 65°C). The individual variability within one subfamily within the species was on average 5% while the variability between species consensuses within a subfamily was 10%. The presence of highly conserved regions in all monomers and some features of their organization show that satellites of all Darevskia species belong to one satDNA family. The organization of unit sequences of satellites CLsat and Agi160 also detected by us in another lizard genus, Lacerta s. str. was compared. Similarity that was found between these satellites suggests their relatedness and common origin. A possible pathway of evolution of these two satDNA families is proposed. The distribution and content of CLsat repeat subfamilies in all species of the genus was examined by Southern hybridization. Seven species had mainly CLsatI (83 to 96%); three species, approximately equal amounts of CLsatI and CLsatIII (the admixture of CLsatII was 2–5%); and five species, a combination of all three subfamilies in highly varying proportions. Based on these results as well as on zoogeographic views on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Darevskia species, hypotheses on the evolution of molecular-genetic relationships within this genus are advanced.

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e reptile fauna of Romania comprises 23 species, out of which 12 species reach here the limit of their geographic range. We compiled and updated a national database of the reptile species occurrences from a variety of sources including our own eld surveys, personal communication from specialists, museum collections and the scienti c literature. e occurrence records were georeferenced and stored in a geoda- tabase for additional analysis of their spatial patterns. e spatial analysis revealed a biased sampling e ort concentrated in various protected areas, and de cient in the vast agricultural areas of the southern part of Romania. e patterns of species richness showed a higher number of species in the warmer and drier regions, and a relatively low number of species in the rest of the country. Our database provides a starting point for further analyses, and represents a reliable tool for drafting conservation plans.

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The south-western part of Mehedinţi County comprises many herpetofauna species, compared to most regions in Romania. This is how we managed to encounter 14 amphibian species (Salamandra salamandra, Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Triturus dobrogicus, Bombina bombina, Bombina variegata, Pelobates fuscus, Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelophylax ridibundus, Pelophylax lessonae, Rana dalmatina, Rana temporaria) plus Pelophylax kl. esculentus and 15 reptile species (Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis taurica, Darevskia praticola, Anguis fragilis, Zamenis longissimus, Dolichophis caspius, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata, Vipera ammodytes). Salamandra salamandra, Bombina variegata and Rana temporaria were identified at very low altitudes, lower than any other indication from Romania up to present. This is explained by the fact that mountain valleys, bearing here a typical aspect, reach all the way to the Danube, carrying with them the occurring species. In Blahnita Plain, Darevskia praticola appears in cleared areas, being present in the vegetation girdles bordering the canals found between agricultural fields.

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The paper describes a first case of successful hunting of a Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C. L. Koch, 1841) spider for a juvenile individual of Pontic Lizard, Darevskia pontica (Lantz et Cyrén, 1919), recorded in the territory of Slavyansk-on-Kuban town (Krasnodar Region, Russia).

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The greatest number of reptiles having melanism (the number of specimens and species) have been recorded in the Caucasus in populations of five Darevskia species: Darevskia alpina, D. brauneri, D. lindholmi, D. pontica and D. rudis. The occurrence of melanistic specimens in reptiles can be explained by the influence of geochemical anomalies, thermoregulatory adaptation, isolation, and occurence in the periphery of their range. Melanism of D. lindholmi appears to depend on geochemical factors. The melanistic specimens of D. rudis, D. pontica and D. brauneri were found in a city on the northeastern boundary of their range. D. alpina was recorded in the mountains on the eastern periphery of the range.

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New records of Darevskia alpina from the vicinities of Zemo Bachiani Village in South Ossetia are presented and discussed: D. brauneri from the place of the confluence of the Luhunistskale River into the Rion River in Georgia and vicinities of Ertso Lake in South Ossetia, D. pontica from the vicinities of Slavyansk-na-Kubani, Timashevsk, Novotitarovskaya Village, Poltavskaya Village and Burakovsky Village in Krasnodar Region, D. portschinskii nigrita from the vicinities of Kizilkilisa Village in Georgia, D. praticola from the vicinities of Tskhinval, Acrisheu Village, Malaya Gufta Village, Hetagurova Village and the southern slope of the Zonkar Ridge in South Ossetia. Information on an attempt to introduce D. pontica into the territory of Rostov-on-Don is provided.

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1. Sexual dimorphism and geographical variability in signs of external morphology are revealed in the species of the studied complexes of rock lizards. The most important for their diagnosis are the features of folidosis of the head. Interspecific and intraspecific differences in morphometric features, color and pattern of the body were detected. 2. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Darevskia (caucasica) samples were divided into the group of the northern slope of the Central Caucasus (D. caucasica), the East Caucasus (D. daghestanica), the Western Caucasus (D. alpina), the northern slope of the Central and Western Caucasus (D. alpina ). Reliable identification and significant genetic differences of D. caucasica and D. daghestanica samples favor their attribution to different species. Within D. alpina two groups with high genetic differences (distances) were identified. Inside Darevskia (saxicola) two lines are described, one of which is connected with the Crimea and the Western Caucasus (D. lindholmi-D. Brauneri), and the second - with the North and West Caucasus (D. saxicola-D. Szczerbaki). 3. As a result of the nomenclatural revision, the lectotype Lacerta praticola pontica, L. saxicola brauneri, L. saxicola daghestanica, L. saxicola lindholmi, and the neotype L. saxicola; Specific locations, years and authors of the description of a number of taxa have been refined. 4. It has been established that the studied supernumerary complexes include the following valid taxa: Darevskia (praticola) - D. pontica pontica, D. pontica hungarica, D. praticola praticola, D. praticola hyrcanica, D. praticola loriensis; Darevskia (caucasica) - D. alpina, D. caucasica caucasica, D. caucasica vedenica, D. daghestanica; Darevskia (saxicola) - D. brauneri brauneri, D. brauneri myusserica, D. saxicola, D. szczerbaki, D. lindholmi. Lacerta saxicola darevskii is regarded as a minor synonym for Lacerta saxicola brauneri. 5. For the first time accurate inventories of findings (1,443 locations) and GIS maps of species arealways were compiled, reliably characterizing the features of their distribution; The structure of areals, the current trends of their changes and the factors influencing the distribution of rock lizards are revealed. It is recommended to carry out conservation measures of international and national level in order to preserve the populations of D. alpina, D. brauneri myusserica and D. szczerbaki, especially in typical territories. 6. The first and only reliable paleontological find of Darevskia sp. - Darevskia sf. brauneri from the Pleistocene site, the caves of Mezmaiskaya. A hypothesis is proposed for the formation of species of complexes, according to which the isolation of their common ancestor from a hypothetical form it is logical to associate with the Miocene and Pliocene boundaries, or with the Cimmerian century of the Pliocene, 153 and the radiation of modern species - with the Akchagylian age, corresponding to the Piacenza and Gelazian tiers. The parallel formation of several Darevskia (praticola) and Darevskia (caucasica) lines around the Greater Caucasus is assumed in the early Pliocene. At the end of the Pontian age, the primary area of ​​the ancestor of the modern forms of Darevskia (saxicola) and the subsequent formation in the Mediterranean landscapes of the Black Sea coast, along the surviving cliff, D. szczerbaki, and the cuestas of the North Caucasus - D. saxicola, could have occurred at the periphery of the Caucasian peninsula.

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The paper presents analysis of the distribution of Darevskia praticola praticola, D. praticola loriensis, D. p. hyrcanica, and D. pontica in the Caucasus. GIS modeling (Maxent 3.3.3k) was used. Analysis of the obtained GIS maps of distribution has allowed us to locate territories with maximum occurrence probabilities of these taxa. Analysis of the bioclimatic factors that affect the lizard habitats from the complex and their zoogeographical position is given; data on the modern changes in the boundaries of the taxa from the Darevskia (praticola) complex are presented.

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The paper provides data on the current location of the type specimens of Darevskia (praticola) complex as of March 2016: Lacerta praticola Eversmann, 1834 (storage holotype place (on monotype) is unknown), Lacerta vivipara stenolepis Nikolsky, 1911 (holotype for monotypes – ZISP 7203, location unknown), Lacerta praticola pontica Lantz et Cyrén, 1918 (lectotype – ZISP 22853, paralectotypes – ZISP 5279, 5280, 22847, 22852.1-2, 22854), Lacerta praticola hungarica Sobolewsky, 1930 (location lectotype and paralectotypes ZISP 9814 unknown, paralectotypes – ZMMU R 2538), Lacerta plicata Bartenef et Reznikova, 1931 (holotype (on monotypes) – ZISP 15204), Darevskia praticola hyrcanica Tuniyev, Doronin, Kidov et Tuniyev, 2011 (holotype – SNP 1473.5, paratypes – SNP 1473.0-19, ZISP 12301, 12630, 12632-12635), Darevskia praticola loriensis Tuniyev, Doronin, Tuniyev, Aghasyan, Kidov et Aghasyan, 2013 (holotype – SNP 1568.9, paratypes – SNP 1569.1-19, ZISP 17075). The history of description of all known forms of the complex is given. L. praticola pontica has been described in 1918, not in 1919.

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A reptile catalogue of the Zoological Museum, Stavropol State University, is presented. 1,019 specimens of 88 species collected within the territories of Russian Federation, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and some other areas are listed. The history of the Museum and the formation of its collection are given.

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New findings of Darevskia pontica at the northern border of its habitat, in the Kuban-Azov lowland within the administrative boundaries of the Krasnodar and Rostov regions, are presented and discussed. The species was found in the Rostov region for the first time. It is proposed to include D. pontica into the regional Red Data Book of the Rostov region.

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Als erste Belege für das Vorkommen in der Türkei werden eingehend besprochen: Lacerta praticola pontica, Varanus griseus griseus, Spalerosophis diadema cliffordi, Eirenis punctatolineatus kumerloevei ssp. nov., Eirenis persicus und Eirenis rothii. Darüber hinaus werden noch Funde folgender Schlangen erwähnt: Coluber jugularis jugularis, C. jugularis schmidti, Eirenis punctatolineatus punctatolineatus, Eirenis modestus modestus, Rhynchocalamus satunini.

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Considering all costs associated to sex, sexual reproduction could be expected to be rare. However, we find sexual reproduction to be pervasive in nature, and only a reduced number of taxa are completely asexual. In fact, the variety of sex reproductive systems, mating techniques and traits, reveals that the organisms’ reproduction has been an expressive target of selection and adaptation throughout evolution. Sex is selected because it facilitates adaptation in complex and changing environments (Weismann, 1889), and this has been already shown empirically in several models. However, studies and theories developed concerning the paradox of sex will not be able to clarify the current distribution and abundance of asexual lineages in nature. The understanding of rates of origin and extinction of asexual lineages, together with the putative differential evolution rates in organisms with sexual or asexual reproduction, should be considered in the main “origin of sex” question. The model used here, the genus Darevskia, is the first true parthenogenetic vertebrate described. It is a highly speciose genus, currently including 27 species, of which seven are parthenogenetic and of hybrid origin. Only a few of the sexual species contributed for the hybridization events which originated the parthenogens clonal lineages, and these were directional: the maternal species were always Darevskia raddei or D. mixta, and the paternal always D. valentini or D. portshinskii. Using a set of microsatellite and mtDNA markers, we first start to study the role of hybridization in the origin of vertebrate parthenogens, the extent of gene flow with sexual relatives and the relation between hybridization, asexuality and polyploidy, in the context of the main theories of asexual evolution proposed to date. We focus on the D. unisexualis, D. uzzelli and D. armeniaca parthenogens and polyploid backcrosses found in sympatric locations between the parthenogens and its sexual parentals. We find that only specific parental pairs are responsible for the origin of vertebrate parthenogenesis, regardless of their phylogenetic distance. Despite the recurrent hybridization presently reported in Darevskia, asexuality originated multiple times but only in a single temporal event the past. Parthenogenetic females are capable of backcrossing with sexual males, but can only produce polyploid individuals with reduced fertility that do not contribute for gene flow between parthenogens and sexuals. The sexual reproduction machinery can be lost with time in the parthenogenetic hybrids, which are most likely the result of a post-zygotic reproductive barrier to gene flow in the speciation continuum of Darevskia sexual species. In order to reconstruct the phylogenetic inference of this group, a set of capture sequence probes were designed from a transcriptome de novo assembly. Phylogenetic inference reconstruction has been extensively used to ask several evolutionary biology questions. However, despite the exponential use of high-throughput sequencing technologies and its promising applications in phylogenetics, next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques are still far from being as widely used in this field as in other areas of evolutionary genetics. The workflow developed in this thesis has proved to be not only cost-effective, but also to produce a very high number of cross genome phylogenetically informative markers in this non-model species. Finally, taking advantage of the hundreds of cross genome markers developed, a species tree was constructed and within genus relationships evaluated. Introgression tests showed a widespread pattern of gene flow across the genus, not only recent between recently diverged clades, but also both recent and ancient gene flow between early diverging Darevskia clades. Several evidences of hybridization with gene flow between diverging clades have been found in other systems. However, such widespread patterns where introgression has happened between all major clades, and in a very high number of species pairs, are not frequently found. It is also found that gene flow is completely absent between parthenogens sexual parental pairs. In groups with sexual-parthenogenetic reproducing species, pre- or post-zygotic reproductive barriers could be more difficult to attain and hybrid asexuality can, thus, effectively create reproductive barriers between diverging sexual taxa, that were likely faced with recurrent secondary contact. The work presented in this thesis shows that only a few sexual species pairs were responsible for the origin of the parthenogens, that some species acted always as the maternal species and others always as the paternal, that the phylogenetic distances between each pair are included in a wide range interval, and that introgression is found widespread across the genus but absent between the parental pairs. Regardless of the reproduction type, this study also shows the relevance and depth of hybridization during divergence. As has been shown intensively, gene flow is common during speciation and clades divergence. However, it would be interesting to analyse other groups together and test if deep branch gene flow is found only in some exclusive groups (such as sexual-asexual genera) or if it is something more widespread. This work presented here moves Darevskia towards providing a model that can be used to understand the origin of asexuality in vertebrates. Here the basis for future studies about sex and asexuality is provided, so that a focus on the differential evolution rates genomes of both reproduction mode can be analysed.

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In the spring of 2013 we identified the species Darevskia pontica in two localities situated on the slope of Metaliferi Mountains, north of the Mureş River. D. pontica inhabits forested areas, being present in the open, grassy sectors near some brooks or on some forest roadsides.

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The preliminary results of herpetological studies in the Cozia massif in Vâlcea county, Romania, are presented; the 10 reptile species identified in the field (4 of which are new records) are presented together with data on their habitat association, abundance and impact of human activity.

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The results of faunistic surveys upon the amphibian and reptile populations in the Cozia National Park are presented. We recorded (found) 11 amphibian species (including the hybridogenetic Pelophylax kl. esculentus) and 12 reptile species; some species (Bufotes viridis and Emys orbicularis) were found after a long lapse in scientific recording. We observe that the Cozia Massif appears to have a richer herpeto fauna than that of the adjoining Narâțu and Căpățânii massifs.

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ased on two specimens collected from Çatalca, İstanbul, Turkey we present a new distribution record for Darevskia pontica in Turkey. This find composes the south-easternmost record for the species and extends its range about 80 km. Data based on meristic pholidosis characters, metric measurements and color-patter features of the specimens were given in detail and it was observed that Çatalca population is similar to D. pontica reported in the literature.

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The life and work of the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz (1886-1953), a pioneer of European herpetology. A trained and professional research-chemist, the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz was an active and particularly dynamic herpetologist. His residence of nearly twelve years in Russia enabled him to make several field trips to regions such as the Caucasus and Iran. He always carried with him a home made telescopic net that he used to catch lizards. That net became symbolic of Lantz for most people around him. He realized significant herpetological collections mainly deposited in the Museum of the Zoology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, he had to leave the country and stayed for a few years in France before joining England. During this period, Lantz visited the French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean border (Hyeres Islands, Bandol), enabling him to discover for the first time oviparous populations of common lizard and also to describe a new species of lizard from the French Pyrenees. Lantz is also at the origin of the discovery of unisexual reproduction by parthenogenesis in reptiles. His collaboration with the Swedish amateur herpetologist Otto Cyrén, whom he met through the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff, was particularly successful throughout his career. Lantz died at the age of 66 years, in Switzerland, as he was about to join the team of herpetologists at the Natural History Museum in Paris.

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Data on reproduction of the Black Sea lizard, Darevskia pontica (Lantz et Cyren, 1919) in the Northwestern Caucasus (a valley of Ubin River in the Seversky District of Krasnodar Krai) are provided. Adult females are larger than males. Oviposition was noted in June. Fecundity of females varied from 1 to 6 eggs. Sizes of eggs were the following: 8.5–11.9×4.3–6.8 mm. The incubation of eggs under the laboratory conditions lasted from 37 to 42 days. Newborn lizards had length of a body (L) 22.0–26.7 mm and mass of 0.2–0.4 g. Strong negative dependence of eggs length and length of newborn lizards from fertility of females is noted.

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Data on the common tick parasitism, Ixodes ricinus in populations of sintopic species of lizards (Brauner’s rock lizard, Darevskia brauneri; Black Sea lizard, D. pontica; sand lizard, Lacerta agilis) on Northwestern Caucasus during the spring period are submitted.

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The article discusses the cases of finding pregnant females and eggs of the Pontic lizard (Darevskia pontica) in Northwest Caucasus in July and August. In the spring and early summer in 2017 in the region there were the temperatures below climate normal. The Pontic lizard began to lay eggs only in late July and in August. Along the Black sea coast of the Caucasus (Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai) there was egg laying in late July, and hatching took place from early August to early September. The Pontic lizards’ hatching in the North Caucasus (valley of the Malaya Laba River, the settlement Burniy, Krasnodar Krai) took place in July – August, and the young lizards hatched out in September. The authors believe that the cases of late laying in nature prove the changes in the reproductive season rather than some repeated parturiating.

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We report the investigation results of reproductive biology of the Black Sea lizard Darevskia pontica in the valley of the Malaya Laba River (Northwest Caucasus). Based on allocation of groups in size and color, we assume that these lizards begin to reproduce after the second hibernation. Adult females of the Black Sea lizard are statistically superior to the males in body length and weight. Females collected in nature from the III decade of May to the I decade of June laid eggs in the laboratory in the II – III decades of June. In the nature, eggs were found also in the II–III decade of August. The body length of the females which brought the offspring was equal to 50,4–57,3 mm. Clutches contain 3–7 eggs with a mass of 0,21–0,45 g and size of 9,0–10,8×5,1–6,4 mm. Incubation in the laboratory conditions lasted for 40–47 days. Newborn lizards had a mass of 0,20–0,36 g and a body length of 20,2–26,5 mm.

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We report data on the age and growth of the Black Sea lizard in the Ubin River valley (Severskiy District of Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Northwest Caucasus). Using skeletochronological analysis, we have studied 111 finger phalanxes, including 59 from females and 52 from males. The average age of females in the studied samples is 5.6±0.12 years (from 4+ to 8+ years). Males have an average age of 4.58±0.12 (from 3+ to 6+ years). Lizards of different age groups have a high individual variability in size and body weight. This circumstance makes it impossible to determine the age of these animals on the basis of allocation of different size`s groups. From studied females, 14 specimens aged 5+ to 8+ years (average age of 5.7±0.28 years) yielded offspring. Age variability in the reproductive performance has not been observed.

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An overview of the cases of introduction (both accidental and intentional) of amphibians and reptiles in the Caucasus and Crimea is provided. The introduction cases are systemized in accordance with the goals and ways of introduction and with regards to the expected scale of the impact and its nature. No negative consequences of the introduction of amphibian and reptile species in the Crimea and Caucasus are currently observed on any of the known examples. No cases of species naturalization, which the “invasion” term can be applied to, have been revealed. The importance of allochthonous populations as experimental sites to study microevolutionary processes and ecological adaptations of the species in new environmental conditions is discussed.

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Turkey is biogeographically diverse and consequently has a rich herpetofauna. As a result of active herpetological research, the number of species has steadily increased in recent years. I present here a new checklist of amphibian and reptile species distributed in Turkey, revising the nomenclature to reflect the latest taxonomic knowledge. In addition, information about the systematics of many species is also given. In total 35 (19.4%) amphibian and 145 (80.6%) reptile species comprise the Turkish herpetofauna. Among amphibians, 16 (45.7%) anurans and 19 urodelans (54.3%) are present. Among reptiles, 11 (7.6%) testudines, 71 (49%) saurians, 3 (2.1%) amphisbaenians and 60 (41.3%) ophidians are considered part of the herpetofauna. The endemism rate in Turkey is considered relatively high with a total of 34 species (12 amphibian species – 34.3% and 22 reptile species – 15.2%) endemic to Turkey, yielding a total herpetofaunal endemism of 18.9%. While 38 species have not been threat-assessed by the IUCN, 92 of the 180 Turkish herpetofaunal species are of Least Concern (LC), 13 are Near Threatened (NT), 10 are Vulnerable (VU), 14 are Endangered (EN), and 7 are Critically Endangered (CR). In addition, 6 species are in the DD (Data Deficient) category.

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Lacerta praticola pon tica appeared to be well keepable under dutch climatological conditions. Kept in an open air ter- ranum the species came to reproduction. After hibernation mating started in early March. The first eggs were met haff April. The first hatchling was seen on August 15th.

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The study of genome size variation in cells of vertebrates using the DNA flow cytometry makes it possible to precisely determine polyploid individuals, which is extremely important when studying the processes of reticulate speciation. In addition, in many groups of vertebrates, closely related species often differ in the nuclear DNA content. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore the variability of genome size and ploidy in populations of 29 species and subspecies of mountain lizards of the genus Darevskia, as well as their hybrids. As a result of the study, the range of variability in individuals of different ploidy (91% of diploid and 9% of triploid individuals) was established not to overlap. Among diploid species, no correlation was found between the nuclear DNA content and phylogenetic relationships, geographic coordinates, altitude, average annual temperatures and precipitation. Representatives of all studied species complexes (with the exception of D. adjarica) had approximately the same limits of variability. Two species (D. derjugini and D. saxicola) show significant intraspecific variability. Comparisons of the genome size of parthenogenetic and bisexual species generally revealed no noticeable differences between them. Studies of triploid hybrids have shown that their genome size as a whole roughly corresponds to the sum of the average size of the diploid genome of the maternal parthenogenetic species and the haploid genome of the paternal species. The variability of genome sizes within samples of triploid hybrids was on average slightly higher than in most parthenogenetic species, but some lower than in bisexual species. The paper discusses peculiarities of reticulate speciation in this group of animals.

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A new record of D. pontica in the Kuban-Azov Lowland was described. This is the northernmost locality for the species. This population could be relic or recently introduced. To estimate the presumed relic origin of the population, we using GIS modeling estimated distributional range dynamics of the species since the Late Pleistocene. Currently and during the previous times, the locality had little suitable environmental conditions for a survival of the species. Therefore, we consider that the population more likely to be introduced.

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Investigated the albumins from 31 species and subspecies of the genus Lacerta s.1. by means of the immunoloical techniue Micro-Complement-fixation. Dendrograms were computed by means of the ktch-MargJiash algorithm. Moreover the taxa of the Lacerta saxicola and the Lacerta danfordi comlexes were analyzed by electrophoresis concerning 14 genetic loci. The results were discussel together with karyological and genitalmorphological data so far known yielding the following relationships: Lacerta graeca shows a closer relationshi to the subgenus Podarcis as does the quite closely related species air L. dugesii and L. perspicikata. Lacerta Iaevis probabl is connected closely to Podarcis, too. Lacerta parva shows a closer relationship to the `small izards` than to the sub-genus Lacerta s. str. A clear decision concerning the position of the Lacerta danfordi complex according to chemosystematical data was not possible. It is isolated from the other species probably about as long as L. puma. Biochemical differences between its `species` are too small to confirm their taxonomical revalorisation by Eiselt and Schmidtler Within the Lacerta saxicola complex the investigated taxa show a close relationship. Lacerta praticola and L. derjugini were definitly assigned to this group.

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The geographical position, mild climate, mountainous landscape, and habitat heterogeneity determine Bulgaria’s rich diversity of herpetofauna. Currently, 17 species of amphibians (20 subspecies) and 36 species of reptiles (45 subspecies) are known from Bulgaria. Due to its transitional position, Bulgaria lies at the southern or northern distribution limits of many species of amphibians and reptiles. Vertical distribution is presented for all species found in Bulgaria. The richest in terms of diversity and abundance are the areas below 400 m, where nearly 95 % of taxa occur. The geographical ranges of almost all amphibians and reptiles in Bulgaria are well-known, although on a local scale the information is often limited. Zoogeographical analysis demonstrates that amphibian species belong to nine chorotypes, of which the Eastern Mediterranean and the European chorotypes are represented with three species each. Out of the ten chorotypes recognized for the reptiles, 51.4 % of the species belong to the Eastern Mediterranean (25.7 %) and Turanian–Mediterranean (25.7 %) chorotypes. Only two subspecies are Bulgarian endemics (Salamandra salamandra beschkovi and Mediodactylus kotschyi rumelicus). Due to the high diversity and mosaic distribution of habitats in Bulgaria, the herpetofauna has a rather continuous occurrence and high relative abundance. Although 80 % of the Bulgarian herpetofauna is legally protected by the Biodiversity Protection Act (2002) and other conventions, some species are threatened through collection for trade or habitat changes due to construction. Several sites in the southern part of Bulgaria are very rich in herpetofauna (nine to ten species of amphibians and 19 to 21 species of reptiles).

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The taxonomic categories such as population and subspecies were studied on the example of three Caucasian lizard species of genus Darevskia - D. praticola, D. derjugini, and D. rudis by comparing the morphological data and results inferred from nuclear DNA markers. RAPD and new inter-MIR-PCR (IM-PCR) methods were used. The IM-PCR was used to characterize the lacertid DNA fragments located between dispersed SINE type repeats which occurred to be ortologous to mammalian repeats of the same type. It was shown that separation of the Northern population of D. derjugini (subspecies silvatica) is supported by the comparison with two Southern populations (derjugini and barani). The latter ones, in their turn, are very similar and hardly can be considered as good subspecies by the genetic distance. The subspecific division of D. praticola (praticola and pontica) also requires more specification. For example, several populations from North Caucasus (ssp. praticola) occurred to be heterogeneous. The level of differences between ssp. praticola and pontica is of the same order as in some of the praticola populations. Low level of molecular differences between two subspecies of D. rudis (obscura and bischoffi) does not confirm their validity as a full subspecies.

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The distribution of the meadow lizard, Darevskia pontica, in Romania is still inadequately documented. In the light of new distribution data reported here and gleaned from the literature, the species is more widely distributed in the country. The distribution seems to be continuous in southern Romania, even if fragmented and associated with extant woodland patches. The present distribution pattern could be the result of extensive deforestation process in the area, which isolated this forest lizard to remnant patches, as already indicated in the literature.

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For the first time at Azov seashore of Taman’ peninsula (settlement Golubitskaya and west of Peresyp’ village) there were found populations of meadow lizard Darevskia praticola pontica (Lantz et Cyren, 1919). The lizards live in the lower parts of a high shore slope with a phryganoid vegetation. The density of their population can reach 1 individual per square meter (1 individual per 1 m2), and in the places of their concentration — 5 and more individuals per 1 m2. In second place, in the upper parts of the shore slope near village Peresyp’ the glass lizard, Pseudopus apodus (Pallas, 1775) was also found. New records of these species are separated for 30 km to the east and 70 km to the south correspondingly from previously known localities. The runner, Elaphe sauromates Pallas, 1814, which has not been found earlier in the Eastern Azov area, is not rare in the Akhtanizov estuary region.

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The compicated history of the intraspecific taxonomy of meadow lizard, Darevskia praticola sensu lato is considered and the species’ geographical variability in Caucasian Isthmus is analyzed. It was confirmed the species status of Darevskia praticola sensu stricto and Darevskia pontica. Lectotype of Darevskia pontica was assigned and de- scribed; the known paralectotypes of D. pontica are noted. Description of the new subspecies Darevskia praticola hyrcanica ssp. nov. is given from the Talysh foothills and Elbrus range (Azerbaijan, Iran). The possible patters of speciation and distribution of closely related species Darevskia praticola sensu stricto and Darevskia pontica within the Caucasus and the Balkans are discussed.

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In this study, we present updated distributional data for all Serbian lacertids, having taken into account the available previously published information, and the so far unpublished authors’ field records and evidence from other sources. According to our current knowledge, eight lacertid species inhabit Serbia. Analysis of lacertid diversity within the country showed that biogeographic regions with highest species diversity are Metohija (eight species) and Kosovo (seven species). Regions in Serbia are mutually similar concerning lacertid faunas (average Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index is 0.82). Comparative analysis of lacertid faunas among all Balkan countries showed that Serbian lacertid fauna is the most similar to those of Albania and the FYR of Macedonia, and then to faunas of Romania and Bulgaria. Zoogeographic analysis showed that Serbian lacertids belong to three distinct chorotypes, with the East-Mediterranean being the richest (four species). Generally, diversity of lacertids in Serbia is most strongly determined by topographic diversity, habitat heterogeneity, and climatic peculiarities, with the inflow of the sub-Mediterranean climate along several river valleys in the south being especially important. This paper is intended to serve as a basis for further research, since data on distribution of lacertid species in Serbia are far from complete, with large distributional gaps of recorded species and with unconfirmed presence of two species.

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Die Eidechsen Bulgariens und deren Lebensräume werden in Text und Bild vorgestellt. Die Autoren konnten auf mehreren Reisen neun der insgesamt zehn vorkommenden Lacertiden-Arten finden.