Reproductive activity of the South Caucasian viper (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa Dwigubsky, 1832) in the period of egg laying

The article discusses some aspects of the reproductive ecology of the South Caucasian viper (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa Dwigubsky, 1832) during the laying period, including the length of the laying period, the adaptive behavior of females during the laying period, biotopic migration of females, the number and metric indices of eggs, the level of development of embryos in eggs, indirect participation of small mammals in the reproductive activity of egg-laying reptiles. It is shown that the migration of females mainly into biotopes, in which small mammals live abundantly, is also associated with the presence of underground shelters in these biotopes suitable for laying eggs. In these shelters the natural incubation of eggs lasts 50-60 days. The article notes the adaptive behavior of females during the period of egg laying, a decrease in their physical activity, and a complete cessation of feeding during this period. These features are evaluated as an adaptation of the maternal organism that has arisen in the reproductive evolution of freshwater eggs