Amphibians and reptiles are apt subjects 

 for the numerous research projects in the fields 

 of physiology, biochemistry and cytology, pai — 

 ticularly in the fine work of B. P. Ushakov and 

 his colleagues on the thermostability of the cells 

 and proteins of amphibians and lizards. 



In prospect for Soviet herpetology is a 

 broad field of activity in the area of each of 

 the aforementioned categories. In the Far East 

 and the southern regions of Central Asia we can 

 still anticipate the discovery of new species of 

 native fauna. On the agenda in the field of 

 taxonomy have been placed the study of intra- 

 specific and population variability of a growing 

 number of varieties and the formation of objec- 

 tive phylogenetic systems. A complete review and 

 many "hard jobs" are ahead involving the taxono- 

 metric relationships of groups, i.e., the round- 

 head and Eremias among the lizards. A broadening 

 of ecological research is needed, especially 

 work in the field of population ecology with the 

 application of morphological, physiological, bio- 

 chemical and other modern methods. Also necessary 

 is the study of the biocoenotic role of amphi- 

 bians and reptiles, and an examination of the 

 ecological and physiological differences of 

 closely related species living in the same bio- 

 type. Much interesting and primarily new matei — 

 ial is expected as well from morpho-ecolog ical 

 research. The use of amphibians and reptiles as 

 biological models during research in the field 

 of bionics is also anticipated. For many 

 reasons both classes of animal are also espe- 

 cially well suited for the study of variety- 

 generation and questions of species. 



Our national herpetology has published 

 a series of monographs^ recognized even at home 

 for their broad scope. The "Guide to Reptiles 

 and Amphibians" of P. V. Terent'yev and S. A. 

 Chernov, the third edition of which (1949) 

 was translated into English, is a compre- 

 hensive summary of the data on classification, 

 distribution and the mode of life in the am- 

 phibians and reptiles of the USSR. The mono- 

 graph of P. V. Terent'yev, "The Frog (l956)" 

 has become a reference book for Soviet herpe- 

 tology. His "Herpetology (1961)" was the 

 first textbook of world herpetology. 



In the last two decades alone in our 

 country four doctoral and fifteen master's 

 dissertations on herpetolog ical themes have 

 been successfully defended. Corresponding 

 subjects are ever more in evidence in the sci- 

 entific zoological institutes and the depart- 

 ments of the Institutes of Higher Learning 

 (VUZ). 



In 1964 in Leningrad the First, and in 

 I966 the Second All-Union Herpetolog ical 

 Conferences were convened, gathering together 

 many participants from the various ends of the 

 Earth. The conferences determined and then 

 discussed the course of further development of 

 herpetolog ical research in our country. 



