DEGRADATION OF THE TURAN HERPETOFAUNAL COMPLEX IN THE TEREK SAND MASSIF (EASTERN CISCAUCASIA) 

Lotiev Konstantin Yur'evich, Candidate of biological sciences, leading researcher, Kislovodsk Sector of the Scientific Department, Sochi National Park (17 Zapadnaya street, Kislovodsk, Russia), E-mail: k_lotiev@mail.ru
Batkhiev Aslanbek Magometovich, Candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, leading researcher, department of biological and medical research, the Academy of Sciences of the Chechen Republic (13 M. Esenbaeva avenue, Grozny, Russia), E-mail: aslanbek60@mail.ru 

598.11;591.525 (470.6) 

DOI

10.21685/2307-9150-2019-2-12 

Background. Reptiles of the Turan herpetofaunal complex (THC) are a well-isolated zoogeographical group of reptiles of the Terek sandy massif (TSM). The work presents the population assessment, problems and prospects for conservation.
Materials and methods. The study of reptiles of Terek Sands covered 36 years, from 1982 till 2018. Observations and populations assessment were performed in a number of localities at the West, North-West, South-East, East and Central part of the TSM. The total length of the accounting routes was about 1200 km.
Results. For 5 species of reptiles – “Turanians” their disappearance in one or more habitats is stated. At the South-Eastern part of TSM to the West of lake Boudary we’ve tracked their extinction by date. The only region where “Turanian” reptiles, including obligate psammophiles, are still common is the Central parts of the Terek sand massif. But the extinction of desert and semi-desert biota still also takes place here. The main reason is the overgrowth of Sands associated with a climate change and sheep population reduction in the TSM.
Conclusions. A rapid decline at both areas of distribution and habitat has been revealed for all the recent species of the Turanian herpetofaunal complex in the region of the Terek Sand Massif. The said natural trend unfavorable for the psammophilous reptiles requires adoption of several measures for their conservation. 

Key words

Turan herpetofaunas complex, Eastern Ciscaucasia, Terek sand massif, reduction of habitats 

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