Anji salamander (Hynobius amjiensis) is a rare species endemic to China, living in peat moss swamp at an altitude of 1,300 meters on Longwang Mountain in Anji County, Zhejiang Province. Anji salamander larvae live in natural puddles in the swamp, and the adults spend most of their time in the humus under the peat moss, only briefly visiting the puddles during the breeding period to spawn and then disappear back into the swamp. Therefore, the life history of Anji salamander is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the developmental characteristics, behaviors and life habits of Anji salamander embryos from fertilized eggs to subadults. Following previous studies on the development of small salamanders and amphibians, we divided Anji salamander development into six stages, including embryonic development, balance bar, limb development, pre-metamorphosis, metamorphosis, and subadult development, with 34 developmental nodes. The period before the shedding of the balance bar was a relatively sensitive period. The metamorphosis period, especially the late metamorphosis period, was the most sensitive period from larvae to subadults, during which the small salamanders undergo complex physiological and biochemical changes such as relatively long fasting time, respiratory changes, and transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. These data fill in some of the gaps in the life history of Anji salamander from fertilized eggs to subadults, and are valuable for its conservation and future endeavor on artificial breeding.

Some animals successfully inhabit anthropogenic environments but are often exposed to negative impacts such as habitat destruction, disturbance and pollution. Lizards frequently occupy stone walls, abandoned buildings and cultural monuments, including fortresses, where crevices provide important sites for hiding, thermoregulation, and hibernation. However, urbanisation and restoration activities can negatively affect animal populations by restricting movement and dispersal and by reducing reproductive success, growth, and survival, potentially leading to population declines or local extinctions. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of cultural monument restoration on Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) populations by analysing body condition index and population structure. The study was conducted at Kalemegdan Fortress, located in the urban centre of Belgrade, Serbia. This three-year-long research showed that at the locality Kalemegdan 1, fortress restoration caused local population extinction due to habitat destruction and the killing of lizards, with no evidence of lizards migrating to the neighbouring locality - Kalemegdan 2. Interestingly, lizards from Kalemegdan 1 consistently exhibited a higher body condition index than those from Kalemegdan 2, suggesting more favourable hibernation conditions at the former locality. However, body condition index values at Kalemegdan 1 showed a declining trend over the study period, likely as a consequence of restoration activities. Overall, the results indicate that restoration of historic fortresses can result in habitat loss and population declines in urban lizards. Given that urban populations are often small and fragmented, the absence of appropriate mitigation measures during restoration may increase the risk of local extinction.

We report the first confirmed occurrence of Anatololacerta pelasgiana on Chalki Island (Dodecanese, Greece). The species was detected exclusively in and around the main settlement and port, within an area of ~0.9 km², consistent with an established population likely originating from recent human-mediated introduction. To infer source affinity, we sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome b from two individuals and compared the data with published Aegean and adjacent Anatolian datasets. The Chalki specimens share a widespread haplotype previously recorded on Rhodes, Kastellorizo and Athens (Greece), as well as in southwestern Turkey. These results suggest repeated, transport-mediated introductions from Rhodes as a recurrent driver of secondary colonization in the southeastern Aegean, and underscore local trade links as key pathways for small-island translocations, potentially relevant to other reptiles in the region.

Salamandra atra aurorae is a rare and elusive subspecies endemic to a small area of the southeastern Italian Prealps, typically inhabiting mature mixed forests between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l. Its detection is challenging due to cryptic behavior and dependence on favorable weather. Since its first record in Trentino in 2008, no new localities had been reported. In summer 2025, following a citizen report, field surveys confirmed a new occurrence in the Sella Valley, extending the known range of S. a. aurorae in Trentino. Two individuals were found at 1825 m and 1395 m a.s.l.. The uppermost site, on a north-facing rocky scree, represents an atypical habitat, while the lowest site is a typical forest habitat. Climatic niche analysis showed that these sites lie at the edge of the previously known climatic range, suggesting broader ecological tolerance. The detection of a gravid female at the forest site indicates the presence of a reproductive population, excluding animals in simple dispersal. The substantial topographical barriers from known sites suggest possible long-term isolation or the existence of ecological corridors. This discovery has important conservation implications, as the detected individuals might be genetically distinct, warranting further genetic and phylogeographic studies. These findings highlight the need for targeted surveys and updated management strategies to protect this vulnerable taxon.

Phasmahyla cruzi is an endemic treefrog species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest for which basic natural history information is still lacking. In this study, we monitored two populations over a 12-month period in Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, to investigate the species’ ecology, home range, and reproductive patterns. We used non-invasive photographic identification combined with minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis to estimate home ranges. Based on the monthly sampling, we assessed the influence of abiotic factors (temperature and humidity) on activity patterns. We recorded 1,054 adult, 2,142 tadpole, and 22 egg clutch encounters. Males vocalized from September to April and showed territorial behaviour. Reproduction occurred through axillary amplexus, with oviposition on folded leaves suspended over streams. Mean P. cruzi estimated home range was 460 m2, with individuals in higher elevations using significantly larger areas. A positive relationship was found between humidity and both individual abundance and clutch frequency. This study presents the first detailed data on habitat use, reproduction, and spatial ecology of P. cruzi, providing essential information for conservation efforts targeting this poorly known species endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest.

Aquatic species such as fish and turtles consume sponges and plants, which are sources of biogenic silica. Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera, and species in the class Demospongiae produce siliceous spicules, while plants form phytoliths. Some turtle species adjust their diet according to ontogenetic stage, with most being predominantly omnivorous and predators of silicified organisms. Studies on the ingestion of biogenic silica by turtles remain scarce in freshwater environments. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of biogenic silica bodies in the stomachs of the species Phrynops geoffroanus. Specimens were captured in Iguaçu National Park (PNI), Paraná, a vital remnant of the Atlantic Forest. Individuals underwent biometric measurements, photographic documentation, and euthanasia using Thiopental (93 mg/kg), following strict ethical protocols. Biological material was sent to the State University of Maringá, where stomachs were extracted. Stomach contents were processed at the Laboratory of Paleoenvironmental Studies (LEPAFE) at the State University of Paraná (UNESPAR), treated with HNO₃ on a heating plate, and the resulting material was mounted on slides for analysis. Three specimens of Phrynops geoffroanus at different ontogenetic stages were examined. Stomach analysis revealed the presence of biogenic silica, including phytoliths, diatom frustules, and sponge spicules, with the highest concentration found in young individuals and the lowest in juveniles. The predominant phytolith types suggest interactions with grasses and Podostemaceae. Gemmuloscleres of Oncosclera navicella were identified in young and adult individuals, confirming predation on freshwater sponges. This study highlights the trophic ecology of Phrynops geoffroanus and its interaction with silicified organisms.

We analysed sexual dimorphism, various aspects of feeding ecology, and reproductive traits of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) population inhabiting the marshy-swamp ecosystem of Bardača. Through a capture-mark-recapture study, between 2011 and 2014, the first long-term investigations of this snake species were commenced in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 172 adult individuals (96 ♀ : 76 ♂) have been captured and marked. Females reached larger overall body dimensions than males (maximum snout-vent length, SVL, was 994 mm and 640 mm, respectively) and had longer jaws than males of the same body length. On the other hand, tails were relatively longer in males compared to females (22.3% and 19.3% of total body length). Diet analysis revealed yearly differences in qualitative composition of prey, which confirmed intra-population plasticity in the grass snake’s diet. We also found differences in the direction of prey swallowing depending on the prey type (frog or fish): anurans were significantly more often swallowed tail-first, and fish head-first. Also, we found intersexual differences in prey type: females consumed more diverse prey and ate green frogs (Pelophylax sp.) significantly more often. Females reach adulthood at SVL of 62.6 cm and males at SVL of 48.5 cm. Clutch sizes ranged between eight and 28 eggs, and the correlation between female body size and clutch size was positive.

The Vulnerable Micrurus sangilensis common known as the Santander coral snake distributes in dry and montane forests, ecosystems under severe anthropogenic pressure in northeastern Colombia. Its already fragmented habitat may exacerbate risks in vegetation structure due to climate change. We assessed whether the current distribution of the snake may be altered under different scenarios with climate change in the 2040-2060 years; aiming to recognize conservation priority areas. With ecological niche modeling we calculated current and obtained values of stability in the distribution range of the species for the most conservative emission scenarios of socio-economic pathways (SSP) 126, and 245; and the expected greater emissions 585 within five different global circulation models. We also escalated an index of vulnerability to land use change to 2050 in the remaining areas for the species, detecting prioritizing conservation zones. Our findings reveal a nearly 25% consistency of loss in the three SSP scenarios, while gaining stability varies between different GCMs. Over 37% of remaining suitable areas were categorized as highly vulnerable to land-use change, especially at elevations between 900 and 2000 m. We emphasize the need to integrate M. sangilensis habitats into Colombia’s protected area network, restore degraded ecosystems, and establish ecological corridors to mitigate fragmentation. While the most vulnerable to changing areas appear to be the ones with critical requirements for conservation; we call attention to aim conservation efforts in the low and middle vulnerable to change regions, those with lower likelihood to be modified in the near future.

The dataset contains original occurrence and environmental data for all known potentially suitable amphibian breeding sites within the Vallinfreda municipal area. Monitoring activities were conducted from February to August 2025 and covered 45 localities. Amphibian presence or absence was confirmed after repeated visits to each site across different seasons. This approach enabled the observation of individuals at various developmental stages, facilitating species identification without handling any animals. For each locality, the potential breeding site was confirmed when at least one amphibian species was observed at any developmental stage.Environmental data were collected as the relative percentage of land use composition (streets, urban areas, grazing land, shrubs, farming lands, mixed forests, reforestation, rushes and reeds) within a 100 m radius of each site. The percentage of sun exposure, and, when applicable, water body volume were also included. The project was fully funded by the Vallinfreda Pro Loco as part of a broader citizen science initiative aimed at promoting environmental education, scientific awareness, and the conservation of local biodiversity.

The upper Guinean rainforest biome is a poorly studied, yet hyper-biodiverse region facing severe fragmentation due to ongoing habitat transformation. We conducted a herpetological baseline survey in the Dugbe region during 2021 using passive trapping and active searching. Our survey resulted in 1140 herpetofauna observations, representing 72 taxa (39 amphibians and 33 reptiles), with active searching yielding 50% of the total diversity. Nearly half (47.2%) of the documented species are West African endemics. Rarefaction/extrapolation sampling curves indicated incomplete overall sampling of herpetofauna diversity, though amphibian sampling completeness was high. Reptile diversity metrics revealed significant sampling deficiencies, largely explained by the high proportion of singleton observations (60.6% of reptile records). When compared to the IUCN predictive distribution maps, our survey documented 58.5% of the 123 species predicted for the region, with moderate overall Jaccard similarity (47.73%). Taxonomic groups showed varied patterns of congruence: amphibians displayed relatively high Jaccard similarity (55.18%), while reptiles showed lower similarity (40.26%). Notably, our survey documented substantially higher herpetofauna species richness than benchmark surveys from nearby areas, particularly for reptiles (33 species compared to 14 and 5 species in Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area and Grebo National Forest surveys, respectively). Three amphibian species could not be identified to species level using morphological characteristics alone, highlighting the need for further taxonomic research on West African herpetofauna.