Results of the Comparative Analysis of the Biological and Ecological Characteristics of Ophisops elegans (Menetries, 1832), Lacerta strigata (Eichwald, 1831) and Tenuidactylus caspius (Eichwald, 1831) (Reptilia, Sauria), Distributed in the Territory

At high temperatures, the transfer of pigment from melanophore cells in the skin of lizards to the living cells of the epidermis weakens, leading to excessive accumulation of keratin in the dorsal skin and a decrease in pigmentation. It was established that the histological structure of lizard skin differs across body regions, mainly in the organization and thickness of the epidermal layer. Living epidermal cells may be two-, three-, or multilayered. In individuals of the same species, age, and population, the skin structure in identical body regions is consistent. In lizards inhabiting hot and arid regions, epidermal shedding occurs in small fragments. Prolonged exposure to stable temperature results in parasite activation, which negatively affects the health of the animals. For maintaining viability during periods of activity outside their shelters, fluctuations in ambient temperature are essential.