VERTEBRATES DETECTED BY P. C. PALLAS IN THE MODERN TERRITORY OF SAMARA REGION 

Gorelov Roman Andreevich, Research engineer, laboratory of herpetology and toxinology, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the Russian Academy of Science (10 Komzina street, Togliatti, Russia), E-mail: gorelov.roman@mail.ru 

597/599+001.891.32(470.43) 

DOI

10.21685/2307-9150-2018-4-3 

Background. The purpose of the work is to clarify the species composition of wild vertebrates of Samara region, noted here by P. S. Pallas 250 years ago, and compare the list with the current regional fauna.
Materials and methods. The names of vertebrates of the region used at the present time, which were reported by Pallas in the first part of “Journey through different provinces of the Russian Empire”, are specified.
Results. It was possible to identify the names of most species. Pallas in Samara region described three new species of vertebrate animals: Rana vespertina (modern name Pelobates vespertinus), Coluber melanis (form Vipera berus), Mustela sarmarica (younger synonym Vormela peregusna).
Conclusions. Almost all species of vertebrate animals, noted by Pallas, have survived in the modern fauna of the region, but have reduced their numbers. Caspiomyzon wagneri and Ursus arctos disappeared from the fauna of the region. 

Key words

Peter Simon Pallas, fauna, cyclostomes, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, Middle Volga 

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