No abstract

Haemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) are the most common and widespread reptilian blood parasites. Haemogregarina stepanowi was the first haemogregarine described from a reptile, the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis, and initial assessments indicated it was widespread across different pond turtle host species across much of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. However, recent molecular assessments have indicated the presence of multiple genetically distinct forms in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and extensive mixed infections which may be associated with a negative impact on the hosts. Here, we screened two native species, E. orbicularis and Mauremys rivulata, and the introduced Trachemys scripta from Serbia and North Macedonia for haemogregarines by amplifying and sequencing part of the 18S rRNA gene of these parasites, and used a standard DNA barcoding approach to identify leeches, the final host, attached to pond turtles. Our results again demonstrate the occurrence of considerable diversity of parasites in the analysed pond turtle species, and that T. scripta are likely infected by local haemogregarine parasites, and not those that are found in its native range. Leeches were identified as Placobdella costata, part of a lineage from Northern Europe. Mixed infections within pond turtles were again common. Current haemogregarine taxonomy does not reflect the genetic diversity identified, and a full taxonomic reassessment is needed.

records (79.8%), followed by V. berus with 145 records (18.8%), and V. ursinii with 11 records (1.4%). Results of the present study showed that in our country there are three areas crucially important for the diversity of vipers, with all three species present: Koritnik Mt. and Žljeb Mt. in Metohija, as well as Mokra Gora Mt. in south-western Serbia. We also found 25 10×10 km UTM squares with sympatry of two species of vipers. The designation of areas of special importance for vipers (e.g. Mokra Gora Mt., Dukat Mt., Besna kobila Mt., Kamena Gora Mt.) should be one of the priority actions for improvement of their conservation statuses in our country.

In this study, we present updated distribution data for all three brown frog species (Rana spp.) inhabiting Serbia. The data provided consists of newly UROŠEVIĆ, A. ET AL.: FROGS (RANA SPP.) IN SERBIA 228 collected field records and compiled data previously published in literature or via Internet. Of the three species found in Serbia, Rana dalmatina is the most widespread, present in all three altitudinal regions and all biogeographical regions. Rana graeca is confined to Mountain-valley altitudinal region in permanent fastflowing rivers or streams and it reaches its northern range boundaries in Serbia. Rana temporaria is the rarest of the three, with fragmented range restricted to the high mountains or few isolated lowland populations, and in the northeastern Serbia, it is vicariant with R. graeca in canyons and gorges of montane rivers. The presence of Rana arvalis in Serbia is mentioned in literature but was not confirmed during the subsequent field surveys, so we consider it only as a potential species for the Serbian batrachofauna. The brown frog faunal composition of Serbia is identical to that of Albania,

The ring-legged earwig Euborellia annulipes (Lucas, 1847) is recorded for the first time on the territory of Serbia. The species was found in the greenhouse of Jevremovac Botanical Garden in Belgrade and represents the second allochthonous invertebrate species registered in this greenhouse, after an exotic millipede. In total, 10 specimens of ring-legged earwig were found in the sections of the greenhouse where tropical and subtropical plants are cultivated. The first checklist of earwigs of Serbia was compiled and notes on autochthonous species are given.