Borislav Naumov

The distributions of the six species constituting the smooth newt species complex ( Lissotriton vulgaris sensu lato and L. montandoni ) – an addition to the New Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe

The ‘smooth newt’, the taxon traditionally referred to as Lissotriton vulgaris , consists of multiple morphologically distinct taxa. Given the uncertainty concerning the validity and rank of these taxa, L. vulgaris sensu lato has often been treated as a single, polytypic species. A recent study, driven by genetic data, proposed to recognize five species, L. graecus , L. kosswigi , L. lantzi , L. schmidtleri and a more restricted L. vulgaris . The Carpathian newt L. montandoni was confirmed to be a closely related sister species. We propose to refer to this collective of six Lissotriton species as the smooth newt or Lissotriton vulgaris species complex. Guided by comprehensive genomic data from throughout the range of the smooth newt species complex we 1) delineate the distribution ranges, 2) provide a distribution database, and 3) produce distribution maps according to the format of the New Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe, for the six constituent species. This allows us to 4) highlight regions where more research is needed to determine the position of contact zones.

Contributions to the functional morphology of caudate skulls: kinetic and akinetic forms

A strongly ossified and rigid skull roof, which prevents parietal kinesis, has been reported for the adults of all amphibian clades. Our μ-CT investigations revealed that the Buresch’s newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) possess a peculiar cranial construction. In addition to the typical amphibian pleurokinetic articulation between skull roof and palatoquadrate associated structures, we found flexible connections between nasals and frontals (prokinesis), vomer and parasphenoid (palatokinesis), and between frontals and parietals (mesokinesis). This is the first description of mesokinesis in urodelans. The construction of the skull in the Buresch’s newts also indicates the presence of an articulation between parietals and the exocipitals, discussed as a possible kind of metakinesis. The specific combination of pleuro-, pro-, meso-, palato-, and metakinetic skull articulations indicate to a new kind of kinetic systems unknown for urodelans to this date. We discuss the possible neotenic origin of the skull kinesis and pose the hypothesis that the kinesis in T. ivanbureschi increases the efficiency of fast jaw closure. For that, we compared the construction of the skull in T. ivanbureschi to the akinetic skull of the Common fire salamander Salamandra salamandra. We hypothesize that the design of the skull in the purely terrestrial living salamander shows a similar degree of intracranial mobility. However, this mobility is permitted by elasticity of some bones and not by true articulation between them. We comment on the possible relation between the skull construction and the form of prey shaking mechanism that the species apply to immobilize their victims.

On the amphibious food uptake and prey manipulation behavior in the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi, Arntzen and Wielstra, 2013).

Feeding behavior in salamanders undergoing seasonal habitat shifts poses substantial challenges caused by differences in the physical properties of air and water. Adapting to these specific environments, urodelans use suction feeding predominantly under water as opposed to lingual food prehension on land. This study aims to determine the functionality of aquatic and terrestrial feeding behavior in the Balkan-Anatolian crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi) in its terrestrial stage. During the terrestrial stage, these newts feed frequently in water where they use hydrodynamic mechanisms for prey capture. On land, prey apprehension is accomplished mainly by lingual prehension, while jaw prehension seems to be the exception (16.67%) in all terrestrial prey capture events. In jaw prehension events there was no detectable depression of the hyo-lingual complex. The success of terrestrial prey capture was significantly higher when T. ivanbureschi used lingual prehension. In addition to prey capture, we studied the mechanisms involved in the subduction of prey. In both media, the newts frequently used a shaking behavior to immobilize the captured earthworms. Apparently, prey shaking constitutes a significant element in the feeding behavior of T. ivanbureschi. Prey immobilization was applied more frequently during underwater feeding, which necessitates a discussion of the influence of the feeding media on food manipulation. We also investigated the osteology of the cranio-cervical complex in T. ivanbureschi to compare it to that of the predominantly terrestrial salamandrid Salamandra salamandra.

Sexual Size Dimorphism in Genus Triturus Rafinesque, 1815 (Amphibia: Salamandridae) in Bulgaria—Preliminary Results

ABSTRACT We studied a sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in three species from the genus Triturus. We used fifteen body measures for calculating the SSD. We performed the multivariate SSD index to calculate the dimorphism in overall body size. We found a well express female-biased SSD in T. karelinii, and male-biased in T. macedonicus. In T. cristatus we also found a male-biased SSD but weakly pronounced. In general SSD possess similar values but is express by different traits. The tendencies of displaying the sexual dimorphism in all the species are also similar. It is still not clear which factors affect the sexual dimorphism in newts.

SPECIES DIVERSITY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN THE SPECIAL PROTECTED AREA "BESAPARSKI RIDOVE", SOUTHERN BULGARIA

ABSTRACT We present briefly the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Special Protected Area “Besaparski ridove” in southwestern Bulgaria, based on a 2 × 2 km UTM grid. Between 1998 and 2008, we identified 24 species, and failed to verify the literature data only for a fossorial boa, Eryx jaculus. We documented five new amphibian species for the region (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus karelinii, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Rana dalmatina, and R. graeca) and four species of reptiles (Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, Ablepharus kitaibelii, and Zamenis longissimus). The least common amphibians in the protected area were S. salamandra, R. graeca, and T. karelinii (number of squares in which these species are present from the total, A = 1.85%) and the most common were Pelophylax ridibundus (A = 35.19%), B. bufo (A = 20.37%), and Epidalea viridis (A = 18.52%). The least common reptiles were T. graeca, T. hermanni, Z. longissimus, Platyceps najadum (A = 1.85%) and A. kitaibelii and E. jaculus (A = 3.7%). The most common reptiles were Podarcis tauricus (A = 44.44%), Lacerta trilineata (A = 42.59%), and L. viridis (A = 29.63%).

The Herpetofauna of Northern Black Sea Coast

ABSTRACT We are present a brief review of the herpetofauna of the northeastern part of the Black sea coast. A total twenty seven species was recorded. Of which two newt species (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus karelinii), nine species of tailless amphibians (Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, P. syriacus, Bufo bufo, Epidalea viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, P. esculentus), ten species of lizards (Mediodactylus kotschyi, Angius fragilis, Pseudopus apodus, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Lacerta agilis, L. trilineata, L. viridis, Podarcis muralis, P. tauricus) and seven species of snakes (Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Dolichophis caspius, Elaphe sauromates, Zamenis longissimus, Coronella austriaca, Vipera ammodytes). Their conservation status was stated and their presence in the protected areas in the study area was analyzed. A map of the herpetologically important areas was draw.

New Data for the Vertical Distrbution of the Smooth Newt (Lissotriton Vulgaris) (Amphibia, Salamandridae) in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT The highest record of smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) from Bulgaria is reported. Two specimens were recorded in Vitosha Mt. at 1854 m a. s. l. The new locality moves the vertical border of the species distribution with 400 m a.s.l. A review and a comparison with the other uppermost localities in the other mountains in Bulgaria were also done. This record represents one of the highest record for the nominate subspecies, according to the available data.