Ljiljana Tomović

Activity patterns of the sand viper (Vipera ammodytes) from the central Balkans

Activity patterns of the sand viper, Vipera ammodytes from the central Balkans (Serbia, Montenegro and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) were analysed. The total sample ( n = 118) was divided into adult males and females, and depending on the part of the day, habitat type, exposition, and behaviour in two separate seasons (spring and summer). Simple correspondence analysis showed that in spring, males and females were associated with different expositions, while in summer, they displayed different behaviours. Multivariate correspondence analysis showed that in spring males were found more often while basking during the midday in the open forests at south-western exposition. In summer, females were found more often while basking or hiding in the morning in rocky terrains at eastern and southern expositions. The results point out that seasonal variation and intergender differences in behaviour and microhabitat use may occur in sand vipers, as was previously observed in other viper species.

New records of fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina (Linnaeus, 1761)) and common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768)) in Serbia

DANKO JOVIĆ, RASTKO AJTIĆ, LJILJANA TOMOVIĆ 1 Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Vožda Karađorđa 14, 18000 Niš, Serbia, e-mail: dankojovic@gmail.com 2 Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Dr Ivana Ribara 91, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia, e-mail: rastko.ajtic@zzps.rs 3 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, e-mail: lili@bio.bg.ac.rs