Herpetofauna Research Articles

Reliable proxies for glandular secretion production in lacertid lizards

The epidermal glands of lizards are considered an important source of semiochemicals involved in lizard communication. Many features of the lizard epidermal gland system vary among and within species (e.g. gland number, size, and shape), and some are believed to reflect the degree of intra- and interspecific variation in glandular secretion production, and by extension, the chemical signalling investment of lizards. Traditionally, herpetologists estimate secretion production based on the number of glands or the size of the glands, rather than quantifying the amount of secretion produced. Still, the reliability of these proxies for secretion production has never been validated. Here, I explored the relationship among secretion production (in mass), pore size (surface area, diameter), and gland number in three species of lacertid lizards ( Acanthodactylus boskianus , Timon lepidus , Holaspis guentheri ), and tested which proxies predicted secretion production variation best, and examined whether the same trend is true for all species. The findings of this study show that the total secretion production of lacertids is highly variable among and within species. Variation in secretion production among-species (but not within-species) could partly be explained by variation in body size. While both measures of pore size were positively related with secretion production, my tests revealed the model with only pore diameter as contributing variable explaining absolute secretion production variation (both within and across species) as the best one. Although gland number appeared a suboptimal estimate for secretion production in the three lacertids under study, only family-wide, multi-species comparative tests counting large within-species sample sizes can provide further insight on the matter.

Catálogo de los especímenes tipo de la Colección Herpetológica de la Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina

Fil: Scrocchi Manfrini, Gustavo Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico - Tucuman. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina

Hidden in the Heart of Borneo-shedding light on Some Mysteries of an Enigmatic Lizard: First Records of Habitat Use, Behavior, and Food Items of Lanthanotus borneensis Steindachner, 1878 in Its Natural Habitat

A short assessment of the behavior, habitat and habitat use of the sole member of its monotypic family, the Earless Monitor lizard Lanthanotus borneensis was undertaken for the first time. Field data of this important species were lacking for more than a century since its description in 1878. Nearly nothing is known about life history or even its natural habitat. The only previously known facts were taken from a few captive animals held in the early 60s and 70s of the last century. Metric data of size, weight, body temperature, and sex ratio of 19 individuals were examined. Natural food items were identified. The population structure of a subpopulation was estimated. A brief survey of the additional herpetofauna is given for the area.

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Type localities for species of amphibians and reptiles described from Costa Rica

The geographic type locality for all species, subspecies and varieties of amphibians and reptiles, originally described from Costa Rica, are listed alphabetically. Altitude, vegetation and notes on the locale, together with the taxa described from it are included. The list provides a framework for understanding the sources of old collections in the milieu of historical and economic development, and a basic bibliography of Costa Rican herpetology.

50 Years of theJournal of Herpetology

50 Years of theJournal of Herpetology

How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity.

Guidance is almost non-existent as to suitable levels of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians, or how to achieve satisfactory UV gradients using artificial lighting. The UV-Tool is a working document that seeks to address this problem, by considering the range of UV experienced by each species in the wild. The UV-Tool contains an editable and expanding database of the microhabitat requirements and basking behaviour of reptile and amphibian species, as derived from field studies, or inferred from observed behaviour in captivity. Since an animal’s UV-B exposure is determined by its behaviour within its native microhabitat, estimation of its natural range of daily UV-B exposure is then possible. The current version of the UV-Tool assigns 254 species to each of four ‘zones’ of UV-B exposure (Ferguson zones) based upon UV-index measurements. Once the likely UV requirement of any species of reptile or amphibian is ascertained, the next step is to plan safe but effective UV gradients within the captive environment. To do this requires knowledge of the UV spectrum and output of the lamps to be used. The UV-Tool therefore includes test reports and UV-index gradient maps for commercially available UV-B lighting products, and a guide to selection of appropriate lamps for use in vivaria and in larger zoo enclosures. There are reports on 24 different products in the current version of the UV-Tool. This document has been compiled by members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) Reptile and Amphibian Working Group (RAWG) with contributions from zookeepers and herpetologists from the UK and abroad. Further input is welcome and encouraged.

The Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

The Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

A new resource for China.

A new resource for China.

New Zealand herpetology: Tony Whitaker's legacy

New Zealand herpetology: Tony Whitaker's legacy

The Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

The Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

"Herpetology [Fourth edition]" by F. Harvey Pough et al. 2015. [book review

"Herpetology [Fourth edition]" by F. Harvey Pough et al. 2015. [book review

Jones–Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call For Applications

Jones–Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call For Applications

Jones–Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones–Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Species Richness of Montane Herpetofauna of Southern Eastern Ghats, India: A Historical Resume and a Descriptive Checklist

We examined the amphibian and squamate reptilian species richness of Southern Eastern Ghats based on a long term-field survey with nearly two years of field days. We surveyed high elevation slopes (>900 m a.s.l.) of four select hill ranges namely Jawadi, Shevaroys, Kolli, and Sirumalai hills which comprehensively represented full geographical and spatial coverage. We present a descriptive species-account with basic morphological data supported by voucher photographs. We summarize the history of herpetological explorations in this landscape and also comment on some of the major previous works in the region. Our study revealed the presence of 62 species in the montane zones, including 32 (51%) new records involving all the three target taxa (frogs, lizards and snakes) and all the four hill ranges that testify the poor knowledge on the region’s herpetofauna till date. Lastly, we remark on the unresolved taxonomic status of some species recorded in the present study. We recommend specimen-based revisionary works in the nearby Western Ghats, where such taxa are much more diverse, to enable taxonomic studies in this region.

Snakes of Italy: herpetological treatise on the biology and iconography of Italian ophidians

Snakes of Italy: herpetological treatise on the biology and iconography of Italian ophidians

Microgecko helenae helenae Nikolsky, 1907 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) Extends Its Range to the Southern Zagros Mountains, South of Iran

During herpetological field work on the dwarf geckos of the Zagros Mountains in Fars Province, ten specimens of Microgecko helenae helenae were collected from two new habitats in western and southwestern parts of this province in the southern Zagros Mountains. The new locality in the Varavi Mountain is the southernmost record for this gecko in Iran. All of the collected specimens have a uniform dorsal pattern with two dorsolateral series of white spots. As a unique morphological character, the regenerated portion of tail in specimens with autotomized tail is uniformly yellow. Detailed morphology of the new specimens was compared with those of previous studies. Distribution, habitat types and taxonomy of M. h. helenae in the Zagros Mountains are also discussed.

Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops; RIP William Beverly Scott 1917–2014

Canadian Herpetologist new issue; Upcoming Meetings and Workshops; RIP William Beverly Scott 1917–2014

SEH Grants in Herpetology for 2016

SEH Grants in Herpetology for 2016