Zoologičeskij žurnal
"Zoologicheskiy zhurnal" is Russia's oldest scientific periodical covering all problems of zoology. In the field of theoretical zoology, the journal pays special attention to the laws of evolution and phylogeny of animals, the problem of species and speciation, taxonomy, individual development of animals, evolutionary and functional morphology, embryology, histology, cytology, bionics, problems of ecology, biocenology and biological productivity of terrestrial and aquatic fauna, questions of zoogeography, origin and development of faunas. Among practical issues, the journal broadly covers the scientific foundations of fishing, hunting, pest control of cultivated and wild plants, human parasites and economically useful animals. The journal publishes works on the problems of fauna reconstruction and the protection of the animal world, as well as on the use of animals to determine water quality and to purify water.
In a special section, articles on methods of zoological research are printed. The journal covers the activities of Russian and foreign zoological institutions, their problems and achievements, and also publishes reports on conferences, expeditions, etc. The bibliography section publishes reviews of the most significant books published in Russia and abroad on various problems of zoology.
The journal is intended for specialists working in the field of theoretical and applied zoology, including medical and veterinary parasitology, plant protection, as well as for teachers, postgraduates.
At the moment, the journal is published mainly in Russian, and some articles in English.
Media registration certificate: ПИ № ФС 77 – 80756 от 07.04.2021
Current Issue
Open Access
Access granted
Subscription Access
Vol 104, No 5 (2025)
ARTICLES
Structural features of the byssal apparatus and byssal groove of the foot in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Bivalvia, Mytilidae) from the Zhitkova bay, Sea of Japan
Abstract
Morphological structures of the byssal apparatus, byssal threads and byssal groove of the foot of the commercial Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Sea of Japan are studied. The byssal apparatus is shown to consist of a root, a stem and the byssal threads, these being of ellipsoid shape in cross-section. Each byssal thread consists of a corrugated, wide proximal part located immediately behind a cuff and is ⅓ of its length, and a relatively elastic, narrow distal part (⅔ of thread length) ending with an oval attachment disk at the distal end. In the composition of each byssal thread in its different parts are contained the byssal prepolymerized collagens – P, D, NG, which have the different in nature block copolymer structure. The surface of byssal threads is tuberous all along. On the surface of the attachment disk, two reinforcing cords are present. The edges of the attachment disks are semitransparent. The byssal groove of the foot is more primitive in structure than in the other species of mytilids studied. It is noteworthy that a distal fossa is absent at the distal end of the byssal groove of the foot. The above features of the morphological structure of the byssus and attachment disks in M. galloprovincialis are explained by structural differences of the secretory organ.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):3-17
3-17
Karyotype of the Black Sea scallop (Flexopecten glaber ponticus, Bivalvia, Pectinidae)
Abstract
Morphometric characteristics of the chromosomes, both meiotic and mitotic, in the eggs and embryos of the Black Sea scallop, Flexopecten glaber ponticus (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1889) were studied using the aceto-orcein staining method. Both metaphase I and metaphase II of the meiosis were established to show 14 bivalents in each. The scallop karyotype consists of 28 chromosomes: two pairs of large subtelocentric (pairs 1–2), three pairs of submetacentric (pairs 3–5) and nine pairs of metacentric chromosomes (pairs 6–14). The average length of homologous chromosomes varied from 1.87 to 5.30 µm. The total length of the haploid set of chromosomes was 44.90 µm. The results obtained allow for chromosome pairs of the Black Sea scallop to be identified, contributing to the construction of an idiogram suitable for a comparison with the karyotype of the Mediterranean scallop, F. glaber.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):18-26
18-26
Faunistic and taxonomic data on oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) from the Amhara region, Ethiopia
Abstract
The present study is based on the oribatid mite material collected from the Amhara Region, сentral Ethiopia. A list of 40 species belonging to 28 genera and 19 families is presented. One new species – Suctobelbella (Suctobelbella) shewaensis Ermilov sp. n. (Suctobelbidae) – is described from litter under Juniperus procera trees. An identification key to the known species of the subgenus from the Afrotropical Region is given.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):27-34
27-34
Two new species of the bristletail genus PETROBIELLUS SILVESTRI, 1943 (MICROCORYPHIA, MACHILIDAE, PETROBIELLINAE) from the Russian Far East
Abstract
The small East Asian genus Petrobiellus Silvestri, 1943 has so far included three species: P. takunagae Silvestri, 1943 (Japan), P. sachalinensis Kaplin, 2020 (Sakhalin), and P. kusakini Kaplin, 1980 (Simushir Island, Kuril Islands). Two new species are added herewith: P. nematocerus sp. n. (Furugelm Island, Sea of Japan) and P. leleji sp. n. (Atlasov Island, Kuril Islands). Among them, the former new species seems to be particularly similar to P. sachalinensis, vs the latter new species which seems most similar to P. takunagae, the type species of the genus. Petrobiellus nematocerus sp. n. differs from P. sachalinensis in the color of the scales on the dorsal side of the body; the length ratio of the antennae to the body; the color of the paired ocelli and the distance between them relative to the total width of the compound eyes; the number of dentate setae on the dorsal side of the apical and pre-apical articles of the maxillary palps; the number of needle-shaped supporting setae on the 2nd article of the tarsi and tibiae; and the size of the apical angle of the abdominal sternites. Petrobiellus leleji sp. n. and P. takunagae differ in the distance between the paired ocelli relative to the total width of the eyes; the width to length ratio of the paired ocellus; the lengths of the last and penultimate articles of the maxillary palps, abdominal sternites and coxites, as well as the apical angle of the abdominal sternites and the number of articles in the parameres of the male.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):35-47
35-47
Two new species of the genus Thinodromus kraatz, 1857 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae) from Brunei and the Philippines
Abstract
Two new species of rove beetles are described: Thinodromus (s. str.) temburongensis sp. n. from Brunei, Borneo and Thinodromus (s. str.) davaoensis sp. n. from Mindanao, Philippines. Based on the structure of the abdominal tergites, both new species belong to the “Apocellagria” group. At present, this group includes 13 species, 4 of which live in Tropical Africa, and 9 are known from the Oriental Biogeographic Region. No “Apocellagria” have so far been known from Borneo and the Philippines.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):48-52
48-52
Organization of juvenile roach, RUTILUS RUTILUS (CYPRINIDAE) of different ages: exploratory behavior in a plus maze
Abstract
The results of research on spontaneous alternation and changing patterns in the exploratory behavior of roach are presented. Larvae and 1‑month old and 4‑month old roach juveniles use two behavioral model in a plus maze. They move around the perimeter of the maze and perform shuttle movement between any two arms. 4‑month old juveniles use moving around the perimeter of the maze more often than the other age groups studied. Тhe proportion of shuttle movements does not depend on age. The level of spontaneous alternation in 1‑month old juveniles is significantly lower than the random level. Larvae and 4‑month old juveniles show a random level of spontaneous alternation. This depends on the pattern behavior that fish prefer to use. In general, as the fish grow older, the exploratory behavior of the roach seems to become more effective.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):53-60
53-60
Remote tracking of the spatio-temporal distribution of western taiga bean geese (Anser fabalis fabalis, Anseriformes, Aves) in Russia for improving the conservation strategy
Abstract
The Western Taiga Bean Goose subpopulation wintering in Europe has been shown to decline in the recent decades. At the same time, the population dynamics of most migratory birds largely depend on the quality of migratory stopover sites necessary to replenish energetic reserves. The migration ecology of the Western Taiga Bean Goose has been insufficiently well studied, being known: only in general terms, but the timing of migration, the places of many key stopovers in Russia have not described. Neither information on their conservation status nor the intensity and duration of their use by birds are available. Without this knowledge, no effective protection of any migrating population is possible to organize. We analyzed the dynamics and phenology of migrations, as well as the conservation status of stopover and pre-migration sites of the Western Taiga Bean Goose nesting in the forest zone of Western and Central Siberia and wintering in northern Germany and Poland, based on GPS-tracking. We used data from 45 completed spring migrations from 25 tagged birds and 36 completed autumn migrations from 20 birds over the period of 2019–2023. Only 15.3% stopovers are covered by the existing network of protected areas, where the geese spend only 19.2% time. The results of the study can be used to develop an effective strategy for the conservation during the period of migration. We propose a hunting ban and/or the creation of protected areas within the main key stopover sites.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):61-73
61-73
Dynamics of the relative abundance of wooly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach, 1799) in northwestern Chukotka at the end of the late Pleistocene
Abstract
An analysis of radiocarbon dating series of Late Pleistocene woolly mammoth remains, Mammuthus primigenius, from northwestern Chukotka and the Wrangel Island is given. A mixture of Bayesian and frequentist methods was used to present the datasets of radiocarbon dating and to estimate the dynamics of the relative abundance of woolly mammoths. The series of dates from northwestern Chukotka was compared to the similar series from the New Siberian Islands, the Taimyr Peninsula, and the North Slope of Alaska.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):74-89
74-89
Long-term depression and recovery of a local population of the common vole (Microtus arvalis, Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the southeast of the Tver region
Abstract
Recovery of a local population of the Common vole (Microtus arvalis arvalis) after a nine-year absence from the area of a research station near the village of Bakanovo, Staritsky District, Tver Region, Russia is described. The species identity before the depression and after the restoration was established based on karyotype studies. The absence of the species from 2011 to 2019 was confirmed by data from long-term (>10 days) annual capture-mark-recapture sessions: with a maximum interval between the captures of resident voles (m + 3SD) of 2.8 + 3.0 days, the animals could be detected with 99% probability within six days. Additional surveys of the territory showed the absence of this species from the immediate (about 1 km) vicinity as well. The population restoration began in areas whence no voles had previously been found as residents; in all cases, adult females were among the first immigrants. Apparently, we observed both local extinction and subsequent recolonization of the territory. A quantitative predominance of females was observed in the population as a whole, both before and after the depression. During the recolonization, a higher proportion of adults, including females, was revealed compared to that in the local population before the extinction of common voles.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):90-99
90-99
Dynamics of the body temperature and locomotor activity of the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus, Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the warm season of the year
Abstract
To study seasonal thermoregulatory adaptations in small mammals of temperate latitudes, implantable loggers were used that continuously record the body temperature and activity of animals. The data obtained with loggers were recorded in five individuals of the Northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus) remaining in their natural habitat throughout the warm season of the year (May–October). The average and minimum body temperatures in the summer months were significantly higher than those in spring and autumn. The locomotor activity showed similar dynamics. The acrophase of the daily rhythms of body temperature in all months occurred in the morning, the activity in the evening. The circadian rhythms of both indexes had the maximum power in summer and faded in autumn and spring. A comparison of the data obtained with the results of similar observations performed in the cold season of the year (October–April) made it possible to trace a full seasonal cycle of body temperature dynamics and locomotor activity and to confirm the absence of deep hypothermia bouts in the Northern mole vole.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):100-108
100-108
Methods of Zoological Investigations
Usage of the waterfowl ring-recovery data for the calculation of the sustainable hunting bag size
Abstract
This article is the third one in the publication set where we proof the methods of usage bird ring-recovery data for definition of the population parameters of separate species, demographic statuses of their populations and calculation of the rational harvest rates in the huntable bird species. For the enlarging of usage of the ring-recovery data for the rational (sustainable) use of the waterfowl resources, we propose new method of calculation of the hunting bag size. As huntable objects it is possible to use those species only which do not included into different level of Red Data Books and those ones where the species’ demographic status allows hunting. The proposed calculation way includes data on annual mortality rate of different waterfowl species and age cohorts, obtained from ring-recovery data together with the information on the total species’ numbers taken from surveys and expert assessments. In addition, ring-recovery data allow calculation waterfowl hunting bag size for separate regions of Russia for the birds that winter in Europe and breed in the northern parts of European Russia and Western Siberia. Proposed method directed to make the hunting bag calculation be more rational instead of normally used arbitrary and generally intuitive approach to this very important problem.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):109-121
109-121
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
First case of an anomalous horn in a female east siberian moose (Alces americanus pfizenmayeri, Cervidae) in Yakutia
Abstract
This report is the first to provide information on the discovery of a female moose with an anomalous antler. The female moose with an anomalous single horn was captured in Yakutia on the Lena-Vilyuyskiy interfluve in the upper reaches of the Namana River (left tributary of the Lena) on 29 September 2024. The age of the female corresponds to a two-year old individual. An anomalous horn about 15 cm long in the female was formed on the right side of the head from the apophyses of the frontal bones. The horn is covered with thin velvety skin with short wool and it looks like the growing horns (antlers) of young moose in the phase of their spring-summer development. However, unlike young antlers with a non-horned soft structure, this anomalous antler was ossified.
Zoologičeskij žurnal. 2025;104(5):122-124
122-124