Lizards Research Articles

Phenotypical variation and Distribution of the Snake-eyed Skink, Ablepharus bivittatus (Sauria: Scincidae), Iran

Phenotypical variation and Distribution of the Snake-eyed Skink, Ablepharus bivittatus (Sauria: Scincidae), Iran

First Insights into the Ultrastructure of Myosin and Actin Bands Using Transmission Electron Microscopy in Gyrodactylus (Monogenea).

This study aims to describe the ultrastructure of coiled musculature fibers component of Gyrodactylus gasterostei and its role in this parasite transmission. The present work employs transmission electron microscopy to analyze G. gasterostei musculature, revealing the presence of myosin and actin bands in the underlying epithelium, typical arrangement of the skeletal muscle. This study unravels for the first time the existence of a coil muscle component in which it seems to be responsible for the remarkable flexibility of the musculature of Gyrodactylus and the efficiency of its transmission method to reach a nearby fish host. The elasticity of the musculature described in this study may be comparable with the other specialized elastic musculature within the animal kingdom (i.e., lizards tongue). The clarification of the basic biology of these monogenean parasites and its musculature biochemical systems hold the promise of possible novel muscle targets for a new generation of antiparasitic drugs.

Morphological variation and sexual dimorphism in Liolaemus wiegmannii (Duméril & Bibron, 1837) (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from Uruguay

Intraspecific morphological variation is a relatively common pattern among lizards, where several selective factors have been suggested as responsible for this phenomenon. For instance, geographic variation could result from natural selection along with historical processes, whereas sexual dimorphism has usually been attributed to sexual selection, natural selection, and niche segregation. Liolaemus wiegmannii is a diurnal lizard distributed in the center, center-east and north-west of Argentina, as well as on the shores of south-west and south Uruguay. Information about morphological variation in this species is almost entirely limited to differences in mid-body scales between populations in the north and center of Argentina and some sex-based morphometric variation. Herein, we studied the geographic and sexual morphological variation of Liolaemus wiegmannii from Uruguay to test the hypothesis of morphological isolation by distance and morphological structuring by geographic barriers (rivers), as well as exploring the occurrence of sexual dimorphism in morphometry and lepidosis. Neither geographic distance nor rivers seem to play an important structuring role on the external morphology of Liolaemus wiegmannii in Uruguay. Multiple multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that most of the external morphological variation is probably due to sexual dimorphism. Natural and sexual selection acting on females and males, respectively, are the most plausible mechanisms underlying the dimorphism observed in this species.

Of Lizards and Language

Of Lizards and Language

Lizard computer

Lizard computer

Skeletal variation within the darwinii group of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae): new characters, identification of polymorphisms and new synapomorphies for subclades

A total of 55 skeletal characters (continuous and discrete) were analyzed for species of the L. darwinii group: L. albiceps , L. chacoensis , L. grosseorum , L. irregularis , L. koslowskyi , L. ornatus , L. quilmes , plus L. inacayali ( L . telsen group) and L. scapularis ( L . wiegmannii group). We report polymorphic intraspecific variation that was not previously taken into account and we describe 21 new characters that provide original information across the group. We detected several morphological synapomorphies for the darwinii group and subclades. Meckel’s cartilage enclosed by dentary outgrowth on lingual side of lower jaw (synapomorphy of the subgenus Liolaemus sensu stricto , and of the patagonicus group of Phymaturus ) occurs also within the L . darwinii group. The morphology of maxillary teeth with three conspicuous cusps can be a potential synapomorphy of the Eulaemus subgenus. As we show in the present study, the morphology of maxillary teeth can have an adaptive value. Characters that were studied in other groups of lizards were informative for Liolaemus.

Assessment of honeybee enemies (pests and predators) in Bale zone, Southeastern Ethiopia

Among all constraints of beekeeping, natural bee enemies are known to cause great damage on the life and the product of honeybees through causing absconding and migration. A study was conducted in Bale from July, 2010- June, 2012 in six districts with the objective of assessing the effect of natural bee enemies on the life of honeybees and their products. From each district 3 Rural Kebeles (RK’s) and 10 beekeepers from each RK’s were purposively selected and a total of 180 beekeepers were participated. The selected beekeepers were interviewed using pre-tested structured questionnaires and single-visit-multiple formal survey method to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and descriptive analysis method. The majority (96.86%) of the respondents in the study area were followed traditional production system, but only few beekeepers were started transitional (0.88) and modern (2.26) beekeeping production system. In the study area honeybees’ enemies, agro-chemicals, lack of knowledge to manage bees and bee products, lack of bee colonies and bees poisoning from plants identified as major beekeeping constraints. Respondents were asked to identify major honeybee pests and predators. Based on the result of this study, the existence of pests and predators were a major challenge to the honeybees and beekeepers in the study area. In all surveyed area the beekeepers were reported that the presence of Honey badger, spider, bee-eating birds, bee lice, Beetles, wasps, Death Head hawks moth Mice and lizards in order of their decreasing importance. Traditionally, the beekeepers were used their own control mechanisms of protecting these pests and predators like application of ash under the stand of the hive, hanging hives by rope on long trees, cleaning around the apiary site, using dog for large predators like honey badger, fencing their apiary site and mechanical like killing of the predators and pests etc. About 72.6% of the respondents reported that honey production trend in the area were decreasing and 25.1% and 2.2 was said increasing and unchanged trend of production system respectively. Despite the challenges of beekeeping, it is realized that there is potential of beekeeping in Bale, though the production system is traditional and there is an opportunity of improving the situation since there are plenty of beekeeping resources.

Contribución al conocimiento de los nemátodos que parasitan a los reptiles de México. II. Sobre una nueva fisalóptera parásita de iguánidos ( Sceloporus torquatus torquatus Wiegmann, 1828)

A new Physalapteran, Skrjabinopfera (Didelphysoma) scelopori , a parasite of the iguanid lizard Scetoporus torquatus torquatus Wieg., 1828 is described. The new species differs from the other known species in the position of the cervical papillae and of the excretory pare; by the number and general arrangement of the caudal papillae and of the cuticular plates on the ventral surface of the caudal pouch; in the shape of the latter; and in the length of the spicules.

Phylogeographic history of Patagonian lizards of theLiolaemus elongatuscomplex (Iguania: Liolaemini) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Fil: Medina, Cintia Debora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagonico. Instituto Patagonico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales; 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.

Walkway on coastal dunes negatively affects mobility of the spiny–footed lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus

espanolLos sistemas dunares son los ecosistemas mas degradados de toda la costa europea y la actividad humana ha causado una profunda transformacion en la costa mediterranea de Espana. En Torredembarra (Tarragona, Espana) habita una poblacion de lagartija colirroja Acanthodactylus erythrurus en algunas de las dunas naturales y parches de vegetacion que aun existen, donde la fauna silvestre coexiste con unas intensas actividades turisticas. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer si las pasarelas instaladas sobre las dunas estaban afectando a la movilidad de la lagartija colirroja. Se comparo la movilidad de lagartijas marcadas entre dos zonas con habitat similar, pero una con pasarelas y otra sin. Se observo que las pasarelas acortaron las distancias entre reavistamientos consecutivos y que afectaban mas a los juveniles de lagartija colirroja que a los adultos. Llegamos a la conclusion de que la pasarela puede estar afectando a las interacciones sociales naturales de la especie. EnglishDune systems are the most degraded ecosystems of the entire European coast, and human activity on the Mediterranean coast of Spain has caused dramatic transformation. In Torredembarra (Tarragona, Spain), a population of spiny–footed lizards Acanthodactylus erythrurus inhabits the few remaining natural dunes and vegetation patches where wildlife coexists with intensive tourism activities. Our aim was to know whether walkways installed across the dunes were affecting the mobility of the spiny–footed lizard. We compared the mobility of marked lizards in two areas with a similar habitat, one with and one without a walkway. We found that the walkway reduced the distances between consecutive resightings, affecting juveniles more than adults. We conclude that the walkway may affect social interactions in the species.

The castaway: characteristic islet features affect the ecology of the most isolated European lizard

The ecological importance of islet endemics are in the front line of conservation efforts and thus the good knowledge of their biology is required. Podarcis levendis is a lacertid lizard, endemic to two rocky islets in the Cretan Sea, Greece, that was raised to specific level in 2008 and since then no data on its biology are available. Here we present the first ecological information on the species, focusing on population density, tail autotomy and feeding preferences. We recorded regenerated and damaged tails in the field and estimated population density with the transect method. We also dissected museum specimens and analyzed their stomach content. Regenerated tails were common and reached a considerable 71%. The latter finding could be attributed to the intense intraspecific competition due to high population density but also to the seasonal predation pressure by migratory birds. The diet of P. levendis coincides with that of other insular congenerics, including high percentages of plant material.

Sources of calcium for the agamid lizard Psammophilus blanfordanus during embryonic development

We determined the sources of calcium for the developing embryo and the parallel changes in eggshell structure in the Indian agamid lizard Psammophilus blanfordanus . The developing eggs were opened at 0 (freshly laid), 10, 20, 30, 35, 38, and 40 days of incubation and at hatching (day 41) and subjected to chemical and structural analyses. The oval and flexible-shelled eggs had undergone significant changes in size (40% increase in length, 68% increase in breadth and 315% increase in weight) from laying to hatching. The fresh eggshell contained 2.76 mg (12.51%) calcium whereas the hatched eggshell had only 1.02 mg (7.20%), or a 63% reduction from its original content. The yolk + fluids fraction provides only 0.47 mg to the 1.76 mg of calcium in the hatchling, the rest being resorbed from the eggshell during development. The fresh eggshell (62 µm thick) had a rough granular structure in its calcareous layer with near uniform rectangular/polygonal fields made up of globules of varying sizes. The membrane layer had a multilayered mat of interwoven, irregularly oriented and bifurcated, fibres of uneven thickness. The spherical globules were absent at several places in the hatched eggshell as a result of eggshell calcium utilisation by the developing embryo. Hence, like that of most reptiles, the eggshell of Psammophilus blanfordanus also acts as a secondary source of calcium for the developing embryo. The embryo utilizes the eggshell calcium towards the end of development.

New record of Agamid Lizard Trapelus agilis (Olivier, 1804)(Squamata: Agamidae) from Gujarat, India

We report sightings of the agamid lizard Trapelus agilis (Olivier, 1804) commonly known as the Brilliant Ground Agama, from the state of Gujarat in India. Trapelus agilis is known to be present in the state of Rajasthan from India, but its presence in Gujarat had not been confirmed due to absence of substantial records beside one old record from 1880s. We report sightings of T. agilis on two separate occasions in the years 2014 and 2015 from the region of Banni grasslands in Kachchh district of Gujarat. The observations and the nature of the habitat are described in detail. These recent sightings prompt for a systematic survey of T. agilis in the Kachchh landscape in India.

Injured Salvator merianae (Teiidae) regenerates six tails in central Argentina

Lizards have the ability of regenerate many tissues like nerve cells, part of the mandible, parts of the limb, and most of them can regenerate the tail. Tail autotomy followed by tail regeneration is a strategy widely used in lizards to escape from predators. In some cases tail breaks but it does not detaches completely from the body, leading to a regenerated tail with multiple tips. Here we report the finding of a young individual of Salvator merianae from central Argentina which regenerated six tails after being injured.

Discovery of two new species of Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from Patagonia, Argentina, and occurrence of melanism in the patagonicus group

Comprehensive studies recently published on the evolution and systematics of Phymaturus (morphological and molecular ones, respectively) revealed not only a historical pattern and subclades within the traditional palluma and patagonicus groups but also a still not fully understood unsuspected diversity. Several populations in northern and southern Argentina may represent independent lineages that deserve formal description. Two of these populations were studied in the present contribution and are easily distinguished from all the other species in the genus. One of these populations is from Rio Negro province and belongs to the patagonicus group; it exhibits a particular dorsal colouration pattern and several individuals are melanic, a characteristic never reported before for the genus, with the exception of P. tenebrosus . A careful examination of melanic individuals revealed the same dorsal pattern as that of non-melanic ones, although it is hidden. We also report the discovery of melanic individuals of two other species that are probably closely related: P. ceii and P. sitesi . The melanism found in the patagonicus group differs from the head melanism of males in certain species of the palluma group because in the former group melanism is not ruled by sexual dimorphism and involves the whole animal. The other population studied in this contribution belongs to the palluma group and is described as a new species because its colour pattern and scalation differ from those of all the other members of the palluma group. Finally, we discuss the position of these new lizard species in the context of the available phylogenetic hypothesis and the occurrence and evolution of melanism in the patagonicus group.

Placentation in the Viviparous Lizard Trachylepis vittata from Lebanon

Placentation was investigated in the viviparous lizard Trachylepis vittata in two populations from distinct locations in Lebanon: an isolated coastal population from Tripoli Palm Island — and a continental high altitude population from Mount Sannine. No differences in the formation of extraembryonic membranes were found between the two locations. Histological examination showed a type I chorioallantoic placenta and an omphaloplacenta. Viviparity does not limit the altitudinal distribution of T. vittata and is not accompanied by a highly specialized placental structure.

New Data on Habitats and Distribution of the Caucasian Agama, Paralaudakia caucasia (Eichwald, 1831) in Dagestan

The new data on the distribution and habitats of the Caucasian agama in Dagestan are described and analyzed in this report. In 2004 – 2014 36 new localities were recorded during multiple visits in all parts of the mountainous Dagestan and all previously reported 14 records were confirmed. The Caucasian agama refers to a group of mountain petrophilous lizards; its habitats in Dagestan as well within the whole vast distribution range are associated with the arid foothills and mountainous landscapes. Approximate area of the regional area was calculated using Arc Gis 10. We provide a description of typical habitats in every region of Dagestan: in the Lowland part and in three physiographic regions of mountain Dagestan: Extramountain (foothill), Intramountain and Alpine (highmountain) regions characterized by diversity and mosaic of landscapes.

New lizards under threat

New lizards under threat

Two new species of Japalura (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Hengduan Mountain Range, China.

Until recently, the agamid species, Japalura flaviceps, was recognized to have the widest geographic distribution among members of the genus occurring in China, from eastern Tibet to Shaanxi Province. However, recent studies restricted the distribution of J. flaviceps to the Dadu River valley only in northwestern Sichuan Province, suggesting that records of J. flaviceps outside the Dadu River valley likely represent undescribed diversity. During two herpetofaunal surveys in 2013 and 2015, eight and 12 specimens of lizards of the genus Japalura were collected from the upper Nujiang (=Salween) Valley in eastern Tibet, China, and upper Lancang (=Mekong) Valley in northwestern Yunnan, China, respectively. These specimens display a unique suite of diagnostic morphological characters. Our robust comparisons of phenotype reveal that these populations can be distinguished readily from J. flaviceps and all other recognized congeners. Herein, we describe the two Japalura lineages as new species, Japalura laeviventris sp. nov. and Japalura iadina sp. nov.. In addition, we provide updated conservation assessments for the new species as well as imperiled congeners according to the IUCN criteria for classification, discuss the importance of color patterns in the diagnosis and description of species in the genus Japalura, and discuss directions for future taxonomic studies of the group.