Amphibians and reptiles of South Ossetia

• Main Authors: Boris S. Tuniyev, Konstantin Yu. Lotiev, Sako B. Tuniyev, Vladimir N. Gabaev, Artem A. Kidov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fund for Support and Development of Protected Areas 2017-05-01
• Series: Nature Conservation Research: Zapovednaâ Nauka
• Subjects: amphibians; conservation of rare species; fauna; reptiles; Republic of South Ossetia
• Online Access: http://ncr-journal.bear-land.org/article/46
• ISSN: 2500-008X; 2500-008X

For the first time we have summarised the results of the study of batraho- and herpetofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia. We present an Annotated List of species as authentically living in the region, as well as ever mentioned for it in literature, field notebooks, museum collections and our own expeditions in South Ossetia. The batrachofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia counts nine species and the herpetofauna 19 species. It provides a complete inventory of all finds (65 localities). A number of confirmed species have been assigned for the first time in scientific literature for the territory of South Ossetia: Emys orbicularis, Darevskia mixta, Natrix megalocephala, Hierophis schmidti, Pelias dinniki, P. kaznakovi. We detected the morphological specificity of the South Ossetia' populations of Darevskia praticola, D. brauneri and D. caucasica. The Assessment of conservation status has been evaluated for all forms of amphibians and reptiles in the region. According to its results, five amphibian species and ten reptile species are recommended for inclusion into the Red Data Book of the Republic of South Ossetia. The central problem of environmental activities in the Region is the lack of a network of different rank protected areas covering all natural zones and altitudinal belts. The South Ossetian State Nature Reserve is the single protected area of South Ossetia, which provides protection only for three endangered species of amphibians and three species of reptiles.