[Specific features of the melanophore system in different color morphs of larvae of the common toad (Bufo bufo L.)].

In a natural pond among usual black larvae of the common toad (Bufo bufo L.), a few unusual individuals of red-olive coloring were found out. In both morphs we investigated the melanophores of skin using different methods. The ESR-spectrometric analysis has shown the absence of distinctions between morphs by the amount of melanin. Analysis of total preparations of skin has shown the presence of various kinds of melanophore cells both in the derma and in the epidermis. Among typical melanophores, essentially differing cells appeared (atypical cells). In black morph tadpoles, the number of all kinds of melanophores is significantly greater than in red-olive morphs. It is shown that dark coloring is connected with a considerable number of atypical cells in the epidermis imposed on a dense layer of typical dermal melanophores with dispersed melanin.

[The correlation of the ecological niches of the common (Rana temporaria L.) and of the moor (Rana arvalis Nilss.) frogs (Anura, Amphibia)]. / Sootnoshenie ékologicheskikh nish travianoi (Rana temporaria L.) i ostromordoi (Rana arvalis Nilss.) liagushek (Anura, Amphibia).

During 25 years ecology and population dynamic of two brown frog species (Rana temporaria and R. arvalis) were studied in Moscow region, Solovki island and South Ural. We compared life cycles characteristics, namely biotope preferences, diet, migration, enemies, hibernation places using own and available literature data. Then we analyse how these parameters are changed among the species area and ecological niches were compared. We found that these two species do not compete in any stage of life cycle. Ecological niches are very closed and differences are determined generally by abiotic factors. So, R. temporaria prefers more wet biotope and more sensitive to acidity (low pH value). Differences in spawning time do not associate with interference in spawning places. We conclude that interspecific competition did not take place neither in the past nor in present and the reason of differences in ecological niches are determined by separate ways of evolutionary development of these species.