Amphibians Research Articles

Two new types of noose for capturing herps

th July; Revised on 2010, 27 th October; Accepted on 2010, 15 th November. Abstract. We present two new types of noose for capturing herps, which allow adapt- ing the size of the loop to the size of prey rapidly. We use a plastic ring to make the loop: the thread moves perfectly without any impediment or friction, and remains in good conditions for a longer time. The plastic ring can be made during fieldwork. Both new types of noose increase capture effectiveness, as it is possible to noose dif - ferent types of preys with a simple and rapid adaptation of the loop. We have tested this methodology in different species of lacertids, some snakes under rocks, and also some amphibians.

First report of freshwater leech Helobdella stagnalis (Rhyncobdellida: Glossiphoniidae) as a parasite of an anuran amphibian

th May; revised on: 2010, 31 th August; accepted on: 2010, 25 th October. Abstract. The authors describe the first case of parasitism on anuran amphibian, Rana temporaria, by the freshwater leech Helobdella stagnalis, in a mountainous area of northwestern Italy. The presence of skin abrasions and haemorrhages attributable to leech attack discards the hypothesis of a simple phoretic relationship between leech and frog.

The early Pleistocene small vertebrate succession from the Orce region (Guadix-Baza Basin, SE Spain) and its bearing on the first human occupation of Europe

The very complete small vertebrate succession from the Guadix-Baza Basin enables tracing of the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic evolution of this basin, in relation with the first human dispersal into Western Europe. This analysis includes data from the amphibian, squamate, insectivore, rodent and lagomorph associations. The several analyzed localities have been assembled into six reference levels, which range from the late Pliocene to the early middle Pleistocene. The late Pliocene level of Galera 2 records quite mild conditions. These mild conditions are maintained at the beginning of the Pleistocene, although a trend to drier and, perhaps, colder environmental conditions are already observed at the level of Barranco Conejos, reaching a maximum at the level of Venta Micena. A clear amelioration of the climatic and environmental conditions is recorded at the level of Barranco León D, with mean annual temperatures more than 4 °C above the present conditions in the area and mean annual precipitation more than 400 mm over. Coinciding with this climatic change, the first evidence of early human occupation appears abruptly, in the form of thousands of lithic artefacts corresponding to Mode 1 from the sites of Barranco León D and Fuente Nueva 3. The favourable climatic conditions persisted in the following level of Huéscar 1, also with Mode 1 lithic artefacts. This is also the case for the early middle Pleistocene level of Cúllar Baza, although the environment changed to drier conditions, dominated by Mediterranean woodland. Therefore, according to the small vertebrate record in the Guadix-Baza Basin, it seems that the early human occupation of this part of Western Europe was strongly influenced by the climatic and environmental conditions, and that this occupation only took place when the condition were favourable, with high levels of temperature and humidity.

Identification and expression patterns ofkif3az during the zebrafish embryonic development

I am reporting the identdficiation, expression patterns, and possible biological functions of zebrafishkif3a (kif3az) encoding 116 aminoacids. Kif3az contains various domains, such asthe kinesin motor domain, catalytic domain, KISc domain, and two coiled coil domain. Phylogenic analysis shows that kif3az shares high homology with the amphibian andmammalian homologues, suggesting that it is anevolutionary well conserved gene playing an essential biological role. Spatiotemporal expression studiesofkif3az found that itwas expressed maternally and zygotically.kif3az transcripts were evenly distributedin the blastomeres at 2-cellstage. Its ubiquitous expression throughouttheblastomerescontinuedtill40% epiboly. However,kif3az transcripts became restricted to the shield area,the structure corresponding toSpemann’s organizer of Xenopus embryos. At 80% epiboly stage, its transcripts were present in the distal forerunner cells.kif3az transcripts were found in Kupffer’s vesicle of the embryos at tailbud and 6 somite stages. At 13 somite stage,kif3az transcripts were present in the telencephalon,diencephalon, trigeminal placode, and somites. Such expression pattern was intensified in the telencephalon, diencephalons, hind brain, pronephric ducts, optic vesicles, and spinal cord neurons in the 23 somite stage embryos, and last till 24 hpf. I discussed possible functions of Kif3az in the vertebrate embryonic development.

Observations upon the Morphology and Genesis of Supernumerary Phalanges, with especial reference to those of the Amphibia

Observations upon the Morphology and Genesis of Supernumerary Phalanges, with especial reference to those of the Amphibia

A comparative study of contractility of the heart ventricle in some ectothermic vertebrates

The purpose of this study was to analyze contractility of the heart ventricle in selected reptilian and amphibian species having the same ventricular excitation pattern. Systolic time intervals and indices of contractility of the heart ventricle were measured in anaesthetized frogs, snakes, and tortoises by use of polycardiography. The electromechanical delay was significantly shorter in tortoises compared with the other two species. The isovolumetric contraction time in frogs was approximately twofold longer than in reptiles. The pre-ejection period was the longest in frogs and the shortest in tortoises, whereas snakes were intermediate. The ejection time was slightly longer in tortoises compared with the other two species. The greatest isovolumetric contraction index and the smallest myocardial tension index corresponded to the frog and tortoise heart ventricle, respectively. The intrasystolic index in tortoises was significantly greater than in frogs, whereas quite similar to that in snakes. The frog ventricle had lower contractility compared with the reptilian one. Although ventricular contractility tended to be lower in snakes compared with tortoises, this difference was not statistically significant. Possible causes for these differences are discussed. We suppose a large variety in ventricular contractility among amphibian and reptilian species having the same ventricular activation pattern. This variety may be conditioned by heart anatomy, intracardiac shunting, lifestyles, and habitats. It can only be hypothesized that on the average, ventricular contractility is higher in reptiles compared with amphibians and in chelonians compared with snakes.

Conservation: Amphibian additions

Conservation: Amphibian additions

Osteological variation in Geocrinia laevis, Geocrinia victoriana, and their hybrid populations (Amphibia, Anura, Myobatrachinae)

The Australian frog species Geocrinia laevis and G. victoriana are similar in external morphology, but have distinct calls. In contact areas of their ranges, they form narrow hybrid zones. Osteological investigations did not reveal any qualitative character allowing reliable species identification. Clear differences were found in skull proportions, but ranges of variation of the two species overlap. Head proportions show a gradual transition across the contact zones. Morphological aberrations did not occur in increased frequencies in the centre of a hybrid zone. High incidence of bilateral symmetry and localized occurrence of rare basipodial patterns indicate that these anomalies are not manifestations of developmental instability, but may have a specific genetic basis. Zusammenfassung Osteologische Variation bei Geocrinia laevis, Geocrinia victoriana, und ibren Hybridpopulationen (Amphibia, Anura, Myobatrachinae) Die australischen Froscharten Geocrinia laevis und G. victorianaahneln sich in ihrer auseren Morphologie, unterscheiden sich aber durch ihre Rufe. In Kontaktbereichen ihrer Areale bilden sie schmale Hybridzonen. Osteologische Untersuchungen erbrachten kein Merkmal, das sich zur einwandfreien Artbestimmung eignen konnte. Deutliche Unterschiede waren bei den Schadelproportionen zu erkennen, doch die Variationsbereiche der zwei Arten uberlappen einander. In der Kopfmorphologie zeigt sich der Ubergang durch die Kontaktzonen als eher flacher Merk-malsgradient. Morphologiscne Aberrationen treten im Zentrum einer Hybridzone nicht in er-hohter Haufigkeit auf. Etliche Falle bilateralsymmetrischen und lokal gehauften Vorkommens seltener Variationsmuster in Hand- und Fuswurzeln lassen es wahrscheinlich erscheinen, das diese Anomalien nicht ein Ergebnis geringer Entwicklungsstabilitat sind, sondern eine spezifi-sche genetische Basis haben.

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians presents the 2008 Year of the Frog Commemorative Poster

Amphibians and reptiles of Georgia

Amphibians and reptiles of Georgia

Rorippa behcetii(Brassicaceae), a New Species from Turkey

Rorippa behcetii A. Ilcim sp. nova (Brassicaceae) from Turkey is described and illustrated. It is compared with the closely similar R. amphibia and R. austriaca.

Inductive effect of rat ascites hepatoma on the amphibian competent ectoderm.

Inductive effect of rat ascites hepatoma on the amphibian competent ectoderm.

Contribution to the herpetology of southern Libya

The herpetofauna of southwestern Libya has been surveyed during 2005- 2006. Overall, two amphibian and 18 reptile species were found; of these, 16 reptile species are reported for the first time for Morzoq Province and one lizard, Tarentola mauritanica, for Sabha Province.

An estimate of local population of Nyctibatrachus aliciae at two habitat gradients of forest in Western Ghats

Alice’s Wrinkled Frog (Nyctibatrachus aliciae) is an endemic anuran amphibian of the Western Ghats. The population estimation of this species in native forest and adjoining secondary forest has revealed distinct differences in size. The population size in native forest (n = 554) was large compared to secondary forest (n = 234). The two forest habitats are characterised by air temperature, humidity, light intensity and canopy cover differences. Manmade activity and habitat variables likely influenced the reduction of population size in secondary forest.

Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Hypsiboas beckeri: filling gap and description of its advertisement call

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The playa environments of the Lodève Permian basin (Languedoc-France).

The Lodeve Permian synrift sequence is represented by thick stacked climate-controled playa cycles which have been constrained by structural, sedimentological, geochemical and paleontological processes. The present paper merges the different results in order to better constrain the dynamics and palaeoecologycal evolution of the playa system from Late Cisuralian to Early Lopingian time. In this depositional environment, thining upwards sheet-flood sequences represent flooding events; they are relayed by ephemeral ponding, suspension settling and limited carbonate precipitation accompanied by large amounts of shallow to subaerial sedimentary structures (current and wind ripples, desiccation cracks, rain drops, etc.). The aridity of the climate contrasts with the surprising abundance of the fauna encountered into carbonate-rich silty-clay playa-lake deposits. Ephemeral pools are colonized by numerous shellfish: Choncostraca, Triopsids, and Insects, which led to intense burrowing of the overbank deposits (Scoyenia facies). Tetrapods are common and dominated by several types of reptiles after footprints: Pelycosauria, Parareptilia and Lepidosauria in the Rabejac Fm, and Mammalian reptiles (Therapsida) on the top of the fluvial deposits of the Salagou Fm near La Lieude farm. In addition, elements of a weighty herbivorous Pelycosaurian and a small amphibian Tupilakosaurid, only described in the Triassic before, have been also found in the Upper part of the Permian series of this sector.

Description of a New Species and New Records of Rhacophorus Genus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) with the Review of Amphibians and Reptiles Diversity of Ghu Yang Sin National Park (Dac Lac Province, Vietnam)

A new species of rhacophorid frog of the genus Rhacophorus Kuhl et van Hasselt, 1822 is described on the basis of the morphological study of the material collected in central Vietnam (Krong Bong and Lak Districts, Chu Yang Sin National Park). List of Vietnamese species of Rhacophorus and identification keys for these species are provided. List of species of amphibians and reptiles recorded in Chu Yang Sin National Park is presented for the first time.

ON DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF Neurergus kaiseri (CAUDATA: SALAMANDRIDAE)

Newts of the genus Neurergus in south-western Iran are amongst the least known amphibian taxa in the country. Since 1975, few scientific record have reported for Neurergus kaiseri . Morphological characteristics and habitat preferences of Neurergus kaiseri have been described from Taleh Zang stream in southern Zagros Mountains, Iran, in an area not previously known as a habitat for this newt. In the stream, where the newt was found channel substrate, channel width, adjacent riparian plant community type, and land use practice were determined. Visual estimates were made of percent channel substrate composition showed that this newt more often (45%) occupies aquatic microenvironments with substrate of pebbles and fine texture. Various factors threatening this species including lack of suitable highland streams, presence of a cyprinid fish ( Barbus sp.) which is known to prey upon eggs and larvae of the amphibians and also illegal collecting and trade are discussed.