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Language: English
The Amphibians of the Former Soviet Union is a comprehensive synopsis of the systematics, morphology, genetics, distribution, ecology, population trends, history of studies, and conservation of amphibians inhabiting the territory of the former Soviet Union (inclusive of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Georgia, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Each species is described in detail, with discussions of taxonomic problems, synonymy, systematics, biogeography, morphological variation, habitats, activity, overwintering, reproduction, development, feeding and diet, natural enemies, parasites, morphological anomalies and malformations, influences of anthropogenic stressors, and protection. Illustrated keys to various developmental stages and a comprehensive bibliography are included. The Amphibians of the Former Soviet Union is supplied with a computer disk containing interactive dot maps of all known localities, complete with data on the year of the record and sources of information for each species at each locality.
Preface 7
Acknowledgements 11
Chapter 1. History 12
Chapter 2. Keys for Species Identification 22
Spawn 26
Larvae 29
Adults 34
Chapter 3. Species accounts 37
Turkestanian Salamander, Hynobius turkestanicus Nikolsky, 1909 37
Siberian Newt, Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870 41
Primorian Newt, Salamandrella tridactyla Nikolsky, 1905 50
Semirechensk Salamander, Ranodon sibiricus Kessler, 1866 56
Long-Tailed Clawed Salamander, Onychodactylus fischeri (Boulenger, 1886) 62
Fire Salamander, Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758) 66
Caucasian Salamander, Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) 71
Smooth Newt, Triturus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) 76
Lantz’s Newt, Lissotriton lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914) 83
Carpathian Newt, Lissotriton montandoni (Boulenger, 1880) 87
Banded Newt, Ommatotriton ophryticus (Berthold, 1846) 90
Alpine Newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris (Laurenti, 1768) 95
Great Crested Newt, Triturus cristatus (Laurenti, 1768) 98
Danube Crested Newt, Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903) 103
Southern Crested Newt, Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870) 106
Fire-Bellied Toad, Bombina bombina (Linnaeus, 1761) 110
Yellow-Bellied Toad, Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) 115
Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad, Bombina orientalis (Boulenger, 1890) 118
Common Spadefoot, Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768) 122
Eastern Spadefoot, Pelobates syriacus Boettger, 1889 128
Caucasian Parsley Frog, Pelodytes caucasicus Boulenger, 1896 131
Common Toad, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) 134
Caucasian Toad, Bufo verrucosissimus (Pallas, 1814) 139
Eichwald’s Toad, Bufo eichwaldi Litvinchuk, Borkin, Skorinov et Rosanov, 2008 144
Asiatic Toad, Bufo gargarizans Cantor, 1842 146
Green Toad, Bufo viridis Laurenti, 1768 150
Pewzow’s Toad, Bufo pewzowi Bedriaga, 1898 157
Swat Toad, Bufo pseudoraddei Mertens, 1971 161
Middle Asiatic Toad, Bufo oblongus Nikolsky, 1896 163
Natterjack Toad, Bufo calamita Laurenti, 1768 165
Mongolian Toad, Bufo raddei Strauch, 1876 168
Common Tree Frog, Hyla arborea (Linnaeus, 1758) 172
Oriental Tree Frog, Hyla orientalis Bedriaga, 1890 173
Lemon-Yellow Tree Frog, Hyla savignyi Audouin, 1827 178
Japanese Tree Frog, Hyla japonica Guenther, 1859 180
Common Frog, Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758 185
Moor Frog, Rana arvalis Nilsson, 1842 195
Agile Frog, Rana dalmatina Bonaparte, 1840 204
Long-legged Wood Frog, Rana macrocnemis Boulenger, 1885 207
Central Asiatic Frog, Rana asiatica Bedriaga, 1898 212
Siberian Wood Frog, Rana amurensis Boulenger, 1886 216
Dybowski’s Frog, Rana dybowskii Guenther, 1876 221
Ezo Brown Frog, Rana pirica Matsui, 1991 227
Marsh Frog, Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) 231
Pool Frog, Pelophylax lessonae (Camerano, 1882) 245
Edible Frog, Pelophylax esculentus (Linnaeus, 1758) 250
Terentjev’s Frog, Pelophylax terentievi (Mezhzherin, 1992) 255
Dark–Spotted Frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus (Hallowell, 1861) 256
Chapter 4. Faunal Patterns and Geography 262
Physical Geography 262
Taxonomic Composition and Species Richness 263
Distribution by Geographic Zones and Regions 263
Vertical Distribution 264
Ecological Geography 265
Dynamics of Geographic Distribution 266
Chapter 5. Ecology 269
Habitats and Abundance 269
Activity Cycles 271
Reproduction 271
Development and Growth 272
Mortality Factors 274
Feeding 275
Assemblage Structure and Resource Partitioning 277
Chapter 6. Anthropogenic Stressors and Conservation 280
The Problem of Population Declines 280
Conservation Status 287
Management for Conservation 290
Perspectives for the Future 294
References 296
Color plates 341
