Current state of reptiles of Western Podillia.

Abstract

The results of the research of the current state of reptiles in Western Podillia were presented. Morphometric traits were described; habitat, spread and number of 9 reptile species belonging to 2 lines and 5 families were studied. The regional extinction of Elaphe longissima , which was at the edge of the habitat, was identified. It has been established that the borders of habitats are in the territory of Western Podillia: for Natrix tessellata and Lacerta .viridis – the northern one, for Lacerta vivipara – the southern one.The survey of the found species was made. It was shown that Lacerta agilis appeared to be the most numerous species among reptiles, although its number decreased due to human transformed natural habitats.Such species as Emys orbicularis, Anguis fragilis, Lacerta viridis , Lacerta vivipara , Coronella austriaca and Vipera berus are in a dangerous situation. These species are found sporadically, and there are all reasons to consider them as those which have decreased their number considerably. Natrix natrix and Natrix tessellata are common species. The analysis of reptile occurrence within the region of research has shown that, as to their number, species gravitate to the east and south-east of the region, covering the areas along the left bank of the Dniester River (“Dnistrovskyi canyon”) in Western Podillia Prydnistrovia (administrative territories of Zalishchyky, Bucha, Borshchiv districts of Ternopil region). In Tovtry ridge, they mostly concentrate in the territories of Zbarazh, Pidvolochysk, Husiatyn districts of Ternopil region and Kamianets-Podilsk and Chemerov districts of Khmenlnytskyi region.It is worth mentioning that the area with the highest reptile occurrence coincides with that of reserve “Medobory” and to a lesser degree with the territory of NNP “Podilski Tovtry”. To a great extent the area of reptile concentration coincides with the territory of natural park “Dnistrovskyi canyon”, in particular, closer to the hills of the Dniester River on a tract Beramiany – Ustechko, Zalishchyky – Kasperivtsi (Obizhev and Kasperivskyi reserves) and the outskirts of Dzvenyhorod village, Borshchiv district. In general, the state of reptiles in the region tends to the reduction of the number and diversity of these representatives.