Herpetofauna Research Articles

Carl Hiaasen and Herpetological Crimes (review of Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen)

Carl Hiaasen and Herpetological Crimes (review of Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen)

Contributions to the knowledge of parasitic nematodes of amphibians from the Dry Chaco ecoregion of Argentina

In the Argentinean Gran Chaco, numerous investigations have dealt with the diversity of vertebrates, including herps. As for the parasitofauna of these organisms, some groups, such as amphibians, have been more studied; however, from a biogeographic perspective, most of these studies were carried out in a different area, the Humid Chaco. The goal of this work is to present the nematofauna found in six species of amphibians, namely Rhinella diptycha , Chacophrys pierottii , Ceratophrys cranwelli , Scinax nasicus , Leptodactylus bufonius , and Odontophrynus lavillai , collected in different locations within the Dry Chaco, in the department of Matacos, Formosa, Argentina. In a total of 34 amphibians analyzed, we found 1,526 nematode parasites (total prevalence: 61.7%; total mean intensity: 72.6±90.3; total mean abundance: 46.2±79.7), belonging to 9 taxa: adults of Rhabdias sp., Oswaldocruzia sp., O. subauricularis , Schulzia travassossi , Aplectana hylambatis , Cosmocerca podicipinus , Oxyascaris caudacutus , Schrankiana formosula , and larvae of Physaloptera sp. These nematodes were collected from the lungs, small intestine, large intestine, gastric mucosa, and gallbladder of hosts. This work is the first record of helminths from C. pierottii and O. lavillai and the first record of nematodes from Ce. cranwelli throughout its geographical range. The species Oswaldocruzia subauricularis (Molineidae) and Schrankiana formosula (Atractidae) are recorded for the first time in Argentinean amphibians. Thus, we expand the knowledge of the biological diversity of helminth parasites of amphibians; this information, integrated into future and more comprehensive studies, will allow us to understand the factors that influence the patterns of host and geographic distribution, in an area with such extreme characteristics as the Dry Chaco.

Call for Symposium Proposals for the 2021 Herpetologists' League Meeting

Call for Symposium Proposals for the 2021 Herpetologists' League Meeting

Herpetofauna of the Environmental Protection Area Delta do Parnaíba, Northeastern Brazil

Recent studies on Brazilian coastal zones and restinga environments revealed a high richness ofamphibian and reptile species. However, there is still a lack of information about herpetofaunadiversity in coastal zones of Northeastern Brazil. This study provides a checklist of amphibiansand reptiles inhabiting the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) Delta do Parnaiba, NortheasternBrazil, suggesting conservation actions. To elaborate the checklist, we searched in sevenelectronic databases and check the following scientific collections: Zoological collection ofUniversidade Federal do Piaui (UFPI) and Herpetological collection of Universidade Regionaldo Cariri (URCA). In addition, we sampled 16 areas along the EPA Delta do Parnaiba close tothe river branches and temporary ponds that compose the Parnaiba River Delta (December 2015to April 2017) to fill gaps of information about herpetofauna in some regions from the EPA. Werecorded 86 species (34 amphibians and 52 reptiles), including four anurans, one crocodilian,14 snakes, 12 lizards and two amphisbaenians reported for the first time for the EPA Delta doParnaiba. In addition, we added the first record of the snake Oxybelis fulgidus in Piaui state. TheEPA Delta do Parnaiba shows high herpetofaunal richness; thus, we suggest that conservationactions should be taken to preserve the restingas environments in the Parnaiba River Delta andits high diversity of amphibians and reptiles.

Serra do Navio, Guiana Shield lowland area, Brazil: a region with high diversity of Squamata

The Guiana Region is the area bordered by the Orinoco and Negro rivers to the west, by the Amazonas River to the south and by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east. This area is a biogeographic unit known as the Guiana Shield, with a variety of landscapes. Located in the extreme north of Brazil, in the Guiana Shield lowlands, the state of Amapa presents great diversity of habitats. In this study we provide composition and diversity data of the Squamata from Serra do Navio (SN) region, in the northeastern part of the state of Amapa, Brazil, a lowland area of the Guiana Shield. The species list was based on data obtained from herpetological collections and collection expeditions carried out at 10 sites in the municipalities of Pedra Branca do Amapari and Serra do Navio. We consider literature data from 14 sites and SN data to compare the composition of herpetofauna between the lowland and highland areas in the Brazilian Amazon. We recorded 95 species, including 57 snakes, 36 lizards, and two species of amphisbaenians. Atractus aboiporu, A. trefauti, and Erythrolamprus rochai were described from the data collected in this study. The Squamata community of SN consists mainly of diurnal lizards and nocturnal snakes, with terrestrial and cryptozoic habits, present in pristine and altered environments. The most abundant species of lizard and snake were Loxopholis guianense and Atractus latifrons, respectively. The SN region has 17 exclusive Squamata species, with a fauna similar to the Tumucumaque Mountains and northern Para sites, geographically closer regions with similar altitudes.

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Survey of vertebrate diversity in Narthamalai reserve forest, Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, India

The present survey documented the vertebrate diversity of Narthamalai, a reserve forest located in the Kulathur taluk of Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, an area with suitable habitat availability for faunal species. The herpeto, avian and mammalian fauna were surveyed by direct observation at nine sampling stations. The present survey recorded a total of 43 different species of which 11 were amphibians/reptiles, 22 avian and 10 mammals. Amongst the total number of individuals (1136) recorded in the present survey, 301 were herpeto, 674 were avian and 161 were mammals. With respect to the herpeto fauna, the relative dominance, relative density, relative frequency, Simpson’s index of dominance, community dominance index and species diversity index were 25.58%, 26.50%, 0.26%, 0.26, 1.18% and 0.009 respectively. In the case of avian fauna, it was 51.16%, 59.33%, 0.31%, 0.59, 1.48% and 0.019 respectively. For mammalian fauna, it was 23.26%, 14.17%, 0.42%, 0.14, 1.20% and 0.008 respectively. Evaluating and recording biological diversity intent to develop a strategic framework for predicting the behavior of key variables in order to improve controlling, increase management options and provide an early warning of system modification. Accomplishment of monitoring for biodiversity depends on various factors such as using an appropriate taxon. Therefore, it is essential that biodiversity rich regions and reserve forests managed in ways that allow protection and conservation of biodiversity as much as possible.

Herpetological Journal 2020 and beyond – Issue 30(1)

Herpetological Journal 2020 and beyond – Issue 30(1)

Maxwell Knight - Memorial to a herpetologist, naturalist, conservationist and much more

Maxwell Knight - Memorial to a herpetologist, naturalist, conservationist and much more

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Women and Science: a portrait of herpetology in the state of Piauí.

Women and Science: a portrait of herpetology in the state of Piauí.

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Jones-Lovich Grant in Southwestern Herpetology Call for Applications

Uzungwa Scarp Nature Forest Reserve: a unique hotspot for reptiles in Tanzania

While knowledge of African vertebrate biodiversity has increased dramatically in recent years, the field of herpetology which encompasses many threatened and endemic species, has lagged behind, and many areas have not been adequately explored. Intensive field work was conducted during the rainy season from December 2017 to April 2018 to assess reptile occurrence mostly in previously unexplored areas of the Uzungwa Scarp Nature Forest Reserve (USNFR) which is part of the Udzungwa Mountain ranges in the Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), and adjacent agricultural areas. Bucket pitfall traps, funnel traps, night transects and opportunistic search methods were used to sample reptiles across four zones: in lowland, submontane and montane forests of the USNFR, and in neighboring farmlands. Forty-five reptile species across 14 families were recorded, mostly concentrated on the lowland and submontane forests. The number of endemic and threatened species in the USNFR reaches 20 and 14 respectively, and most are found in the submontane forest. Nineteen species were new records for the USNFR, five of them representing range extensions. Reptile species richness, abundance and diversity differed significantly across the four zones, except between montane and farmland zones and between lowland and submontane. However, farmland zone was discordant from other zones in terms of species composition. This study adds to the importance of the EAM not only in harbouring large numbers of species but also as an important hotspot for endemic and threatened reptiles. It also calls for proper land-use practices in farms adjacent to protected areas for sustainable conservation of biodiversity.

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

Comparative neuroendocrinology: A call for more study of reptiles!

Comparative neuroendocrinology: A call for more study of reptiles!

Electric circuit theory applied to alien invasions: a connectivity model predicting the Balkan frog expansion in Northern Italy

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and alien herpetofauna already caused conservation problems in Italy and in the world. Pelophylax kurtmuelleri (Gayda, 1940) is a water frog native to Southern Balkans, that was introduced in NW Italy (Liguria) in 1941, from where it has spread to Piedmont, Lombardy and recently to Emilia Romagna. Surprisingly, during its expansion, the Balkan frog seemed not to be able to cross the Po River (with a single exception). So, we investigated the reasons for such directional limitation of range expansion, focusing on the potential role of the Po River. Combining ecological niche and connectivity models, we adopted a two-step process in order to assess: (i) if the habitat suitability differs between the two sides of the Po Plain; (ii) if the Po River could act as a barrier in terms of dispersal. Results showed that the northern side of the plain seems less suitable than the southern one, even if many suitable patches occur along the main left tributaries of the Po River and in the hilly part of the plain. The Po River behaves like a barrier for the Balkan frog, but the only known point on the north bank of the river indicates that it may be able to only slow the dispersal and not to completely stop it. So, the most probable interpretation for the absence of the Balkan frog from the Northern Po Plain, is the combination of habitat suitability and connectivity issues: the former makes less probable that new viable populations can establish in the North, the latter decreases the northwards flux of the frogs. Given these findings, the Balkan frog seems able to spread in the whole Northern Italy and the colonization of the northern Po plain could happen shortly.

Snail-snacking snakes

Herpetology![Figure][1] Sibon nebulatus , one of a tribe of diverse South and Central American snakes PHOTO: SIBONS PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Dipsadini are snakes that consume snails by sucking them out of their shells. They constitute a diverse tribe of more than 70 recognized species

Errata: The Herpetofauna of the Serra do Urubu mountain range: a key biodiversity area for conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

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A Coconut-Eating Monitor Lizard? On An Unusual Case Of Frugivory In The Melanistic Sulawesi Water Monitor (Varanus Togianus)

During field work on Selayar Island off the coast of southwest Sulawesi, an adult male specimen of the melanistic Sulawesi water monitor (V. togianus) was found dead on a road south of the village of Benteng (6°7’10.73’’ S, 120°27’59.88’’ E) on 6 June 2006. The specimen had a snout-vent-length of 56.5 cm with the tail measuring 79.3 cm. Its head exhibited clear evidence from a lethal accident with a vehicle, while the remaining body showed no injuries. The specimen was collected to be examined in detail. In order to preserve and deposit it at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB Lac. 5951, field number K208), the venter was opened to remove all stomach contents and prey items. Surprisingly, no prey remains were recovered from the digestive tract, but instead an unidentifiable mass comprised of countless small pieces of a whitish hard substance. After flushing and cleaning, closer examination revealed that these were small pieces of coconut flesh and had filled out the body cavity of the lizard. Although the stomach contents of other voucher specimens of water monitor lizards collected from different localities on Sulawesi have not been investigated, some specimens disgorged the remains of scorpions, chicken, and sea turtle eggs when handled for examination. The coconut pieces of the Selayar specimen, however, represent the only case of frugivorous remains recorded. The Herpetological Bulletin Vol. 139. 2017. P: 41-42