Laboratory of Herpetology

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The subject matter of the Laboratory of herpetology has traditionally been associated with the study of biodiversity of modern and fossil amphibians and reptiles of Eurasia, and of all aspects of their biology, using state-of-the-art methods and approaches in cooperation with specialists from leading herpetological and ornithological centers, and also with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

In 2010–2020, important results were obtained in a field of taxonomic diversity, role of cryptic diversity in its structure, based on an integrated approach with the use of state-of-the-art methodology. More than 250 papers were published on biomorphological diversity, taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, paleontology, population ecology, speciation patterns, including clone reproduction, polyploidization, and also on cryptic speciation of temperate-zone and tropical amphibians and reptiles. Ten monographs, guidebooks, and keys intended for a wide circle of zoologists, conservationists, teachers and students, and also nature lovers were published. More than 30 species and genera of fossil and extant amphibians and reptiles were described. The results obtained during this period are important for conservation. They are used in global database on reptiles and amphibians of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in expert estimations of biodiversity of the fauna of Russian Federation and northwestern Russia, in international Red Lists, Red Data book of the Russian Federation, and regional Red Data books.

Laboratory Structure

15 employees (10 researchers, 3 collection keepers, 1 research assistant, 1 research intern).

Natalia B. Ananjeva (Head of Laboratory, Principal Researcher, Doctor of Biological Sciences)

Olga S. Bezman-Moseyko (Senior Collection Keeper)

Leo (Lev) J. Borkin (Leading Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Eugeny A. Golynsky (Senior Collection Keeper)

Igor G. Danilov (Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Igor V. Doronin (Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Marina A. Doronina (Junior Researcher)

Larissa K. Iogansen (Senior Collection Keeper)

Larissa A. Kupriyanova (Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Daniel A. Melnikov (Junior Researcher)

Konstantin D. Milto (Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Ekaterina M. Obraztsova (Research Assistant)

Nikolai L. Orlov (Leading Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Elena V. Syromyatnikova (Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences)

Sofiia D. Shvets (Research Intern)

Topic of State Assignment

“Phylogeny, morphology, ecology and systematics of terrestrial vertebrates”
PI: Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Biological Sciences N.B. Ananjeva
No. 122031100282-2

Laboratory collections

The history of herpetological collections is traced since the foundation of the Kunstkammer (Chamber of Curiosities) by Peter the Great. At present, the volume of the herpetological collection exceeds 150000 specimens.

Main publications of the Laboratory staff

Tuniyev B.S., Orlov N.L., Ananjeva N.B., Aghasyan A.L. 2019. Snakes of the Caucasus: taxonomic diversity, distribution, conservation. Moscow: KMK Scientific Press Ltd. 276 p.

Danilov I.G., Syromyatnikova E.V., Sukhanov V.B. 2017. Subclass Testudinata. In: Lopatin A.V., Zelenkov N.V. (Eds.) Fossil vertebrates of Russia and adjacent countries. Fossil Reptiles and Birds. Part 4. Moscow: GEOS: 27–395. [Russian]

Ananjeva N.B., Doronin I.V. 2015. Ilya Sergeevich Darevsky: portrait of herpetologist. Photoalbum. St. Petersburg: Zoological Institute RAS. 103 p. [Russian]

Orlov N.L., Ryabov S.A., Ananjeva N.B., Evsyunin A.A. 2010. Asian arboreal frogs of the genus Theloderma Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae: Rhacophorinae). St. Petersburg: Zoological Institute RAS. 52 p. [Russian]

Litvinchuk S.N., Borkin L. 2009. Evolution, systematics and sistribution of crested newts (Triturus cristatus complex) in Russia and Adjacent Countries. St. Petersburg: Evropeisky Dom. 592 p. [Russian]

Tuniyev B.S., Orlov N.L., Ananjeva N.B., Aghasyan A.L. 2009. Snakes of the Caucasus: taxonomic diversity, distribution, conservation. Moscow: KMK Scientific Press Ltd. 223 p. [Russian]

Orlov N.L., Ananjeva N.B. 2007. Amphibians of South-East Asia. St. Petersburg: SPSU. 270 p. [Russian]

Ananjeva N., Orlov N., Khalikov R., Darevsky I., Ryabov I., Barabanov A. 2006. An Atlas of the Reptiles of North Eurasia. Taxonomic Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status. Sofia: Pensoft Publishers. 250 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica 47).

Ananjeva N., Orlov N., Khalikov R., Darevsky I., Ryabov I., Barabanov A. 2004. An Atlas of the Reptiles of North Eurasia. Taxonomic Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status. St. Petersburg: Zoological Institute RAS. 232 p. [Russian]

Gumprecht A., Tillack F., Orlov N.L., Captain A., Ryabow S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. Berlin: Geitje Books. 368 p.

Kalyabina-Hauf S.A., Ananjeva N.B. 2004. Phylogeography and intraspecies structure of wide distributed sand lizard, Lacerta agilis L. 1758 (Lacertidae, Sauria, Reptilia) (case study of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. St. Petersburg: Zoological Institute RAS. 108 p. (Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 302). [Russian]

Ananjeva N.B., Borkin L.Ya., Darevsky I.S., Orlov N.L. 1998. Amphibia and reptilia. Encyclopedia of the nature of Russia (Field guide of amphibians and reptiles of Russia and adjacent countries). Moscow: ABF. 574 p. [Russian]

Ananjeva N.B., Munkhbayar Kh.,Orlov N.L., Orlova V.F., Semenov D.V., Terbish Kh. 1997. Amphibians and reptiles of Mongolia. Reptiles of Mongolia. Moscow: KMK Scientific Press Ltd. 416 p. [Russian]

Laboratory staff participate in the following grants

RSF No. 22-24-00079. “Systematics and distribution of lizards in the Greater Caucasus: new approaches to solving old problems” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 20-04-00222_a. “Key morphological transformations of the skull in evolution of turtles” (PI I.G. Danilov).

RFBR No. 19-14-50038_Expansion. “Autotomy and regeneration in squamate reptiles (Squamata, Reptilia): strategies of defensive behavior and morphology (using microcomputed tomography)” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 19-54-54003_a. “A region of high species richness: Herpetological exploration in high mountain of the frontier corridor between Vietnam and China” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 19-04-00119_a. “Integrative study of the biodiversity of snakes (Ophidia, Squamata, Reptilia) of East Asia from the positions of morphological, molecular-genetic and biogeographical data” (PI N.L. Orlov).

RFBR No. 19-54-53010_GFEN_a. “The study of taxonomic diversity and comparative biogeography from three genera of Asian rhacophorid frogs: Rhacophorus, Kurixalus and Polypedates (Rhacophoridae, Anura, Amphibia)” (PI N.L. Orlov).

RFBR No. 19-04-00514_a. “Herpetofauna of the Late Cenozoic in Black Sea Region: biodiversity and evolution” (PI E.V. Syromyatnikova).

RFBR No. 18-04-00040_a. “Analysis of ecogeographic trends and biodiversity structure in taxonomically problematic genera of Asian temporate and tropical reptiles” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 18-04-20049. “Project of the organization of the International Congress “Current State and Prospects for the Study and Conservation of Biodiversity of Amphibians and Reptiles of Eurasia”” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 17-04-20583. “The project of organizing the All-Russian Scientific Conference with international participation “Anniversary Report Session of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences” on the 185th anniversary of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 17-54-61015. “Herpetological diversity, its conservation and evolutionary history in protected areas of Egypt across the Red Sea Rift” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 17-54-540002_Vietnam. “Structure and patterns of faunogenesis in the mountain of northern and central Vietnam (Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and Truong Son Mountain Range) as a center of biodiversity of continental Oriental reptiles and amphibians” (PI N.L. Orlov).

RFBR No. 15-29-02457_ofi_m. “The collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences as an important tool and informational basis of fundamental biological researсh” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 15-04-20632. “The project of organizing the International Congress “Actual problems of the study and conservation of biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles of Eurasia””. (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 15-04-01730_a. “Study of taxonomic and evolutionary relationships in the genealogically related complexes of Palearctic reptiles: morphological and molecular analysis” (PI N.B. Ananjeva).

RFBR No. 15-04-02029_a. “Phylogeny and speciation of amphibians of East Asia (families Bombinatoridae, Megophryidae, Bufonidae, Hylidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Ranidae and Rhacophoridae) in light of morphological and molecular genetic data” (PI N.L. Orlov).