O. G. Dely szerk.: Vertebrata Hungarica 21. (Budapest, 1982)
Alekperov, A. M.: The present state of rare and threatened species and subspecies of herpetofauna in Azerbaidzhan 19-24. o.
Lacerta parva Boulenger, 1887 This species of Asia Minor is one of the rarest lizards of Azerbaidzhan. At first, In 1916, two individuals were found only. There is no information of its recent occurrence in this republic. The ecology of this lizard in Azerbaidzhan has not been studied as yet. In Soviet Armenia it inhabits mountain steppe regions with xerophytous vegetation at 900-1000 m above sea level and also enters the cultivated zone. In Armenia females lay eggs twice in a season: from the end of June to the beginning of July for the first time and at the beginning of August for the sec raid time. One brood consists of 2-5 eggs with a size of 13-18 mm. Ablepharus bivittatus (Ménétriès, 1832) This species is rare in the Azerbaidzhan Republic and occurs In Lenkoran district and Zuvand as well as on Azerbaidzhan areas of Small Caucasus (Kelbadzhari and Latshin districts). This lizard inhabits first of all mountain regions up to 2200 m above sea level. Its characteristic habitats are stony slopes overgrown with astragals and other xerophytous plants, rarely edges of forest plantations. This lizard species has a diurnal mode of life: it moves during the warm and sunny hours of the day. At the end of June and at the beginning of July the females lay 3-5 eggs each. The reduction of population size of this species is caused by the grazing of domestic animals and in some years by high floods. It would be necessary to prevent the pasturing of domestic animals on some hill-sides (Pirtshaia Mlshni, Latshinsk district) with an area of 4-5 hectares each (DZHAFAROVA 197.9). Elaphe hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) This is a rare species, too, and it occurs in the Little Caucasus and in the south-east of the Azerbaidzhan Republic. It inhabits forest regions of mountains and hills and eventually the lowland forests as well. It resides in thinned woods and forest edges, orchards in thickets among rocks and on river-banks . Its reproductive biology has not been studied satisfactorily as yet. The decrease of its population size Is the result of deforestation activity and hunting by man. It is necessary to protect this snake species in the woodlands of Bitshenak In Nakhitshevan ASSR, near Gilintshli (Kelbadzhar district), and Mishni (Latshinsk district), on Karabakh plateau, etc. Elaphe longisslma (Laurent!, 1768) The Aesculapian Snake has limited distribution in Azerbaidzhan. It occurs in the forest region of the South-East (Lenkoran district) only, Co a route of 10 km in length one may find 2-3 specimens of it near the village Talish (DROZDOV 1966). This snake specieg has been entered into the Red Book of USSR and Is under protection In Natural Conservancy Areas of Kizil-Agatsh and Girkan (ALEKPEROV 1978, BANNIKOV et al. 1977). Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus satunini (Nikolsky, 1899) This species may be found very rarely and lives In South Nakhitshevan ASSR only. It inhabits stony semi-deserts on dry slopes with thinned xerophytous vegetation. Particular conservation measures have not been elaborated as yet. It will be necessary to protect the semi-desert virgin areas of Artemisi a in the Ordubada district. Psammophis lineolatum Brandt, 1838 This very rare species was recently discovered to occur in Azerbaidzhan. It was found near the village Kiarim-Kula Diza (Dzhulfa district, Nakhitshevan ASSR). It Inhabits heaps of big rocks and stones. Persecution of this animal has to be strictly forbidden. One area of 10-15 hectares with virgin soil near Kiarim-Kula must be taken under natural conservancy (ALEKPEROV 1978).
