Arthur Tiutenko

• Name — Arthur Tiutenko • Born — 25 October 1969 • Birthplace — Kharkiv, USSR • Fields — Herpetology, zoology • Workplaces — Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg • Known for — Research on amphibians and reptiles of sub-Saharan Africa

Tiutenko is an assistant professor at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. His academic background includes studies in biology, computer science and linguistics. Tiutenko has participated in zoological expeditions to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Africa since the 1980s. His work focuses on the amphibian and reptile fauna of sub-Saharan Africa.

Tiutenko was a member of a zoological expedition to the Harenna Forest in Ethiopia with a team of European scientists. The expedition aimed to investigate the biodiversity of the forest, including its birds, snakes and insects, and to assess the condition of its ecosystem. During the Harenna Forest expedition, the researchers surveyed the area by observing and collecting insects and frogs, identifying specimens, taking photographs, and recording the calls of birds and amphibians. Tiutenko described the inventory of species as important because habitats and biodiversity in the region were disappearing rapidly. Tiutenko said that the Harenna Forest expedition was his fourth expedition to the area and that he had encountered new species during each expedition. Among the species studied was the Ethiopian dwarf puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus minutus), a small frog less than two centimetres long, whose ecological requirements were investigated in connection with potential conservation measures.

In 2022, Tiutenko was part of a research team that surveyed wildlife on Serra da Neve, a mountain in southwestern Angola. The research resulted in the identification of the snake-eyed skink species Panaspis ericae, subsequently described as a new species. The research team consisted of Mariana Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Arthur Tiutenko, Aaron Bauer and Luis Ceríaco. The researchers initially identified the lizards found on Serra da Neve as a known species, but subsequent examination showed that they represented a cryptic new species, Panaspis ericae, also known as Erica's snake-eyed skink. The species was distinguished by its scale pattern and eyes, while DNA analysis showed at least five percent genetic divergence from related skinks. The research team also discovered another new species of skink, the Serra da Neve snake-eyed skink.

Tiutenko is credited with authorship of numerous zoological taxon names. • Illustration — Ethiopian Forest Snake (Bofa erlangeri) • Illustration — Leptopelis diffidens, Ethiopia • Illustration — Leptopelis montanus, Ethiopia • Bofa • Elaiophis • Acontias mukwando • Dasypeltis albigularis • Erythrolamprus aenigma • Gloydius rickmersi • Holaspis ngalangi • Leptopelis diffidens • Leptopelis montanus • Panaspis ericae • Panaspis mundavambo • Phrynomantis newtoni • Rhoptropus nivimontanus • Trachylepis attenboroughi • Trachylepis bouri • Trachylepis hilariae • Trachylepis ovahelelo • Trachylepis suzanae • Trachylepis vunongue • Trachylepis wilsoni