Summary Conservation Action Plans for Mongolian Reptiles and ...

Abundance
Once relatively abundant (particularly in the vicinity of Bayanzurkh), this species is currently
believed to be rare, existing in isolated populations and possibly undergoing population
declines in Mongolia (Munkhbayar, 1987; Munkhbayar and Terbish, 1997). Although there
is no data available to confi rm this, numbers sighted on expeditions continue to decline.
Abundance may be greatest along the Shished River of the Darkhad Depression in the Hövsgöl
Mountain Range, and lowest in Bayanzurkh and other parts of the Mongolian range (Obst,
1962; Kuzymin et al., 1986; Semenov and Munkhbayar, 1996). No population estimates for
the Mongolian population are available, but studies in Shaamar recorded the larval density
as 0.004-0.027 per litre and 18 individuals per 10m 2 in the morphogenesis stage (Borkin and
Kuzymin, 1988; Munkhbayar and Terbish, 1997).
Habitat and ecology
Fragmented into several subpopulations, distribution in Mongolia is associated with swampy
lowlands. There are several fragmented populations in coniferous forest (taiga) and forest
steppe habitats (Borkin and Kuzymin, 1988; Semenov and Munkhbayar, 1996). One case of
a high mountain population was recorded in the Hövsgol Lake area, at elevations of 2,200
metres on the southern slopes of Munkhsardig Mountain, however this is an unusual case
(Litvinov, 1981; Litvinov and Skuratov, 1986). Globally, suitable habitats include wet conifer,
mixed, deciduous forests in the taiga zone and riparian groves in tundra and forest steppe
(AmphibiaWeb, 2006). Specimens are often found under fallen rotten trees and branches, in
the Darkhad Depression of the Hovsgol Mountain Range. Studies in the Orkhon River basin
and Shaamar have found 70.4% (n=19) in burrows, 18.5 % (n=5) in fallen rotten trees and
11.1% (n=3) near the roots and shoots of plants. The distance between burrow and pool was
0.7-9.9m (n=27, 4.17±8.5), depth of burrow 7-39cm (n=19, 15.4±8.5), and size of fallen rotten
tree surface was 160-1000cm 2 (n=5, 659±390) (Khongorzul et al., 2006).
Salamandrella keyserlingii is a unique amphibian in its freeze-tolerance: adults are able to
survive freezing to -35 - -40 °C and can move at +0.5- +1.0 °C. The spawn can survive shortterm
freezing in the ice and frozen adults have been observed to revive after being found in
permafrost of 4-14 metres in depth (AmphibiaWeb, 2006).
Hibernation occurs between October and mid-April in Mongolia (Borkin et al., 1988). The
total duration of over-wintering increases northwards to about 75% of the year in the far north.
Hibernation occurs in groups in rotten trees, under logs, or in holes (AmphibiaWeb, 2006).
Eggs are laid at the end of April and the beginning of May. The egg sac is half moon shaped
and surrounded by a thin colourless cover (Munkhbayar, 1976). During the breeding season
the species is active during the day. A study by Munkhbayar (1976) found the average number
of eggs in a female ovisac to be 60. A study by Kuzmin (Kuzmin et al., 1986) observed two
females and found one of them to contain 150 eggs (94 of which were fully developed), and
another to contain 298 eggs. The average egg diameter was 2.5mm (n = 86). This study took
place in Tuul river of Bayanzurkh on 19 th May 1969. Litvinov and Skuratov (1986) observed
many egg sacs in alpine pools on Munkhsaridag mountain, west of Hövsgöl Lake on 10 th June
1981. Egg sac diameter was 1.5-2.0cm, and egg diameter was 5mm, containing a large, motile
embryo. All egg sacs were near the edge of the pool, in water 20-30cm deep. Suitable places
to breed were small pools with water up to 40cm deep (approximately 0.25m 2 ) (Hasumi and
Kanda, 1998).
Some studies of embryo development in this species have been conducted in Mongolia
(Kuzmin et al., 1986; Litvinov and Skuratov, 1986). The results of these studies have shown
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