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Taxonomy and distribution of the large serotines (Eptesicus serotinus sensu lato, Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera) in Mongolia
Gorban A.A., Lebedev V.S., Bannikova A.A., Yuzefovich A.P., Undrakhbayar E., Kruskop S.V.
P. 01-08
The large serotine bats, previously classified as Eptesicus serotinus, are now commonly considered to represent two species: the west Palaearctic E. serotinus s. str. and the east Palaearctic E. pachyomus. Their combined range extends from western Europe and the Middle East to Korea and Indochina, but the geographical limits of the two species remain unclear. This is particularly true for Central Asia, where the large serotines are rare bats. Until recently, only four serotine localities were reported from Mongolia, and there was no consensus in the literature on the exact species identification of these specimens. In this study, we analyzed large serotines from Mongolia. Based on the mitochondrial ND1 and CytB gene sequence analysis, the specimens were identified as belonging to E. serotinus, contradicting the view that the Mongolian serotines represent E. pachyomus. The latter species report is likely a consequence of misconceptions regarding the northern margins of the E. pachyomus range. It is here suggested that the distribution range of the two species in Central Asia is determined by the extends of arid and moderately humid habitats, respectively, which borders significantly southwards of Mongolia.Скачать PDF
| “One ticket to the Baltic, please”: Documenting the first occurrence of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Kaliningrad
Malyavina M.S., Khizhkin E.A., Shapkin O.A., Viskontene A.
P. 09-15
Data on the first record of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) in February 2026 in Fort 1 Stein, Kaliningrad, are presented. Possible routes of the species’ arrival in the north-western part of Russia, the physiological condition of the bat during hibernation in an atypical area, and the ectoparasites infesting this individual are discussed.Скачать PDF
| A synopsis of East Asian moles of the genus Mogera (Lipotyphla: Talpidae) with emphasis on Vietnamese populations
Abramov A.V., Dinh T.D., Bui T.H.
P. 16-23
This paper presents a synoptic revision of the genus Mogera (Lipotyphla: Talpidae), based on morphological and genetic data. A total of ten species are recognized, which are represented by two lineages: the northern, or “Japanese”, lineage and the southern, or “Chinese”, lineage. Both lineages contain continental and insular species. The Japanese lineage includes the continental species M. robusta and the insular species M. wogura, M. tokudae, M. imaizumii, and M. etigo, while the Chinese lineage includes the continental species M. latouchei and the insular species M. hainana, M. kanoana, M. insularis, and M. uchidai. Information on morphology, genetic data, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy is provided for each species. The distribution of M. latouchei in Vietnam was analysed based on available information and museum specimens.Скачать PDF
| The first detection of a putative hybrid between Miller’s and Eurasian water shrews (Neomys milleri and N. fodiens)
Ermakov O.A., Kremneva M.Yu., Lukonina S.A., Lukiyanov S.V., Lobachev E.A., Bystrakova N.V., Lissovsky A.A.
P. 24-31
We report the discovery of a water shrew specimen displaying intermediate morphological characteristics between Neomys milleri and N. fodiens, found in the Ulyanovsk region (53.8359° N, 48.4986° E). This locality is considerably distant (360–420 km) from the known range of N. milleri. We describe the capture location and external characteristics of the animal and present an analysis of its mitochondrial cytb gene and three nuclear introns (TRAIP, CSF2 and GDAP1). Although the specimen’s mtDNA was initially identified as N. milleri, analysis of the nuclear introns revealed mixed inheritance: two were specific to N. milleri and one to N. fodiens. This combination of characteristics suggests a hybrid origin resulting from recurrent crossbreeding.Скачать PDF
| Craniometry of mountain voles of the genus Alticola (Rodentia: Arvicolinae): Orthogonal decomposition of multivariate variability into intra- and interspecific components
Kovaleva V.Y., Efimov V.M., Moroldoev I.V., Litvinov Y.N.
P. 32-43
In the analysis of quantitative traits within a genus, distinguishing between intra- and interspecific variability is crucial. This study aimed to separate and compare these two components of diversity in the skull morphology of mountain voles. Using Fisher’s method, we performed an orthogonal decomposition of a craniometric data matrix from 12 species and subspecies of the genus Alticola (311 specimens, 15 traits). We created two statistically independent matrices: one representing interspecific variation (differences between species’ weighted centroids) and another representing pooled intraspecific variation (the combined within-group variability). The total variance of the original data was partitioned entirely between these two new matrices. The interspecific component accounted for 44.32% of the total variance, while the intraspecific component accounted for the remaining 55.68%. For each matrix, we computed principal components, which were interpreted as structural-functional modules. The analysis revealed that the first principal component in all cases represented general size-age variability, while the second and third components captured shape variation in the skull and mandible. However, the overall modular structure differed significantly between the interspecific and intraspecific levels. The main finding was that the integration of traits from the facial and cerebral parts of the skull, and mandible was only observed in the interspecific matrix. This suggests that the phenotypic patterns driving divergence between species are distinct from the patterns of variation within species. We propose that this difference may be due to differing rates and mechanisms of epigenetic and genetic restructuring of the phenotype operating at these separate evolutionary levels.Скачать PDF
| The Mongolian gerbil phenomenon: Can the generally accepted conceptual models explain the evolution of sociality, helping and cooperation in this species?
Gromov V.S.
P. 44-54
The present article provides a compilation of the published data on the life history traits of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) related to sociality, helping and other cooperative behaviors. The evolution of sociality in rodents means the transition from solitary living to a family-group lifestyle. The Mongolian gerbil is a highly social and cooperative breeding species with the complicated social organization and biparental care. The most common social units of this species are extended family groups. Members of the family groups act cooperatively defending and marking their territories, maintaining nests, hoarding food, and raising young. Thus, the Mongolian gerbil is a species with high cooperative abilities. The generally accepted conceptual models relevant to the evolution of sociality among rodents do not explain the evolution of sociality in the Mongolian gerbil. Predation pressure and spatial distribution of food resources cannot be considered selective forces promoting the formation of family groups. Alloparental care, or helping, is not reproductive altruism in the Mongolian gerbil, and it seems unlikely that this behavior evolved merely due to kin selection under ‘Hamilton’s rule’. Cooperation is an immanent attribute of a family-group lifestyle. Complex forms of cooperation, in turn, contribute to the evolution of sociality. This evolutionary process can be thought of as some kind of ‘stimulation of similar with the similar’: pair bonding stimulates cooperation which in turn contributes to the formation of extended family groups typical of this species.Скачать PDF
| Reintroduction of the Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758) in Central Mongolia: First practical experiences
Lkhagvasuren A., Baláž I., Samiya R., Amgalan B., Tulis F., Jagj G., Sainjargal M., Lkhagvasuren D.
P. 55-65
The Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758), a small and elusive forest ungulate of northern Asia, has experienced significant population declines in Mongolia driven by habitat degradation, unsustainable pine nut harvesting, and intensive poaching. To support population recovery, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), implemented a conservation translocation program over three winter field seasons from 2020 to 2025. Fifteen individuals were captured in the Khan-undur Mountains, an area with stable musk deer occurrence, using coordinated drive-net techniques and transported approximately 130 km to the Bukhun Shar Mountains in the Khangai region.
At the release site, the animals were housed in semi-natural acclimatization enclosures designed to simulate natural forest habitat. Individuals received supplemental hay, lichens, and water and were monitored daily throughout winter to evaluate health, behavior, and adaptation prior to soft release in early spring. All capture, transport, and holding procedures were completed without mortality, demonstrating the feasibility, safety, and welfare compatibility of these methods under field conditions.
This initiative represents the first formally documented reintroduction of M. moschiferus in Central Mongolia. The experience gained provides practical guidance for future conservation translocations of small forest ungulates in continental climates. The integrated protocol drive-net capture, same-day short-distance transport, and soft release following prolonged acclimatization offers a realistic framework for similar efforts. Overall, the results underscore the importance of careful source-site selection, pre-release acclimatization, and structured post-release monitoring to improve long-term conservation outcomes for the Siberian musk deer.Скачать PDF
| Large-bodied wolverines Gulo gulo berelechii from the Late Pleistocene of north-eastern Yakutia, Russia
Sotnikova M.V., Klimovsky A.I., Polyanskaya V.V., Sizov A.V.
P. 66-82
New material of Pleistocene wolverines (Gulo gulo) from north-eastern Yakutia is described, comprising eight complete crania from the Indigirka River basin (Badyarikha, Ogorokha and Tirekhteekh) and New Siberia Island, together with associated fragments. AMS radiocarbon dates obtained at ETH Zürich (c. 24–45 cal ka BP) place these specimens in the Late Pleistocene (MIS 3–MIS 2). Their large size, strongly developed cranial crests and prominent muscle attachment areas indicate that all crania except DSMF GG/Og1 are probably male. Fused nasals, extensive suture obliteration and advanced dental wear indicate that the Indigirka sample comprises adult individuals. Craniometric analysis (cranial length, mastoid and interorbital breadths and additional measurements) shows that the Yakutian specimens consistently exceed the size range of extant Eurasian wolverines and are comparable to the Late Pleistocene form Gulo gulo berelechii from the Berelekh mammoth-fauna locality (Yakutia). We discuss the distinctive taxonomic status of the Yakutian wolverines and their role in the Late Pleistocene biodiversity of Western Beringia, as well as possible ecological drivers of their large body size, which may have been linked to climatic phases and trophic resource structure.Скачать PDF
| Conservation of the Gusinsky mammoth skeleton: A case study
Petrova E.A., Grigoriev A.A., Dedov D.V., Tikhonov A.N.
P. 83-93
In 2019, the skeleton of a woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach, 1799) was recovered from alluvial deposits on the Gusinaya River, Taymyr Peninsula, Russia. This find is of considerable significance for two reasons. First, the skeleton is almost complete and belonged to a relatively young individual, estimated to be 30–40 years old. Second, it is one of the few known M. primigenius skeletons dating from the terminal Late Pleistocene, with an age of 13 100–12 690 cal BP. The bones were severely weathered and consequently mechanically weak, friable and highly vulnerable once excavated. This paper describes a conservation process specifically designed to stabilise the bones while preserving them in a condition as close as possible to their original state, without reconstructing losses, fractures or other natural alterations. This approach ensures that the bones remain available for a wide range of current and future investigations, including morphological, morphometric, palaeogenomic, isotopic, radiocarbon and taphonomic studies, without obscuring natural post-mortem damage or the original state of the bones and epiphyses at the time of death.Скачать PDF
| First 3D digital osteological archive of the woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius from the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Gamzik D.D., Prikhlenko J.A.
P. 94-103
This paper presents the first 3D digital archive of the limb long bones of Mammuthus primigenius from the paleontological collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ZIN; Saint Petersburg, Russia). A total of 189 isolated bones from 14 localities and 84 bones from nine articulated M. primigenius skeletons were digitised. The digital collection additionally includes nine bones of Elephas maximus from the ZIN collection. Scanning was performed using a portable optical 3D scanner (EinScan Pro 2X), followed by processing in EXScan Pro software. For subsequent geometric morphometric analyses, a scheme of 120 three-dimensional semi-landmarks for the tibia is proposed, taking the preservation of the palaeontological material into account. Landmark placement was performed in 3D Slicer.Скачать PDF
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