Specimens Of Reptiles Research Articles

Identification ofArcanobacterium pyogenesisolated by post mortem examinations of a bearded dragon and a gecko by phenotypic and genotypic properties

The present study was designed to identify phenotypically and genotypically two Arcanobacterium (A.) pyogenes strains isolated by post mortem examinations of a bearded dragon and a gecko. The A. pyogenes strains showed the typical biochemical properties and displayed CAMP-like synergistic hemolytic activities with various indicator strains. The species identity could be confirmed genotypically by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and, as novel target gene, by sequencing of the beta subunit of RNA polymerase encoding gene rpoB, of both strains and of reference strains representing nine species of the genus Arcanobacterium. The species identity of the two A. pyogenes strains could additionally be confirmed by PCR mediated amplification of species specific parts of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region, the pyolysin encoding gene plo and by amplification of the collagen-binding protein encoding gene cbpA. All these molecular targets might help to improve the future identification and further characterization of A. pyogenes which, as demonstrated in the present study, could also be isolated from reptile specimens.

The terrestrial herpetofauna of Torres and Banks Groups (northern Vanuatu), with report of a new species for Vanuatu

A recent herpetological field trip to the Torres Group, an island group located at the northernmost border of Vanuatu, about 150 km from the southernmost Solomon Islands, allowed the collection of about 300 reptile specimens. Among these, Lepidodactylus guppyi is a new species record for Vanuatu. I also provide many new species records for the Torres Group, including two recently introduced species. The terrestrial herpetofauna of the islands of the Torres Group is reviewed for the first time and compared (1) to that of the Solomon Islands and particularly the southern Solomon island groups (Santa Cruz Group) bordering the Torres Group in the north, (2) to the remainder of Vanuatu and particularly Espiritu Santo Island which I recently surveyed, and (3) to a neighbouring group of islands in northern Vanuatu, the Banks Group. The Banks and Torres Groups share the same herpetofauna and their affinities are much stronger to the remainder of Vanuatu than to the southern Solomon Islands, thus suggesting their similar paleopositions during Melanesian arc movements.

Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, no. 138, 2008. Type Specimens of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Helminth parasites of reptiles (Reptilia) in Romania

Necropsy of 82 specimens of reptiles (snakes, lizards, and turtles) was performed between 2002 and 2006 to determine the helminth fauna. We examined 7 species of reptiles: Natrix natrix (n=25), Natrix tessellata (n=20), Vipera berus (n=5), Coluber caspius (n=12), Anguis fragilis (n=2), Lacerta agilis (n=10), and Emys orbicularis (n=8). Overall prevalence of helminthic infections in Romanian reptiles was 81.71%. In snakes, the most prevalent group of helminths was trematodes. The helminth species, their prevalence, intensity, and abundance are shown in Table 1. In two reptile species, all individuals were infected with helminths (N. natrix and E. orbicularis). The lowest prevalence of helminthic infection was in C. caspius. Three digenean trematodes, namely, Leptophallus nigrovenosus, Metaleptophallus gracillimus, and Spirhapalum polesianum, and three nematodes, Entomelas entomelas, Strongyloides mirzai, and Hexametra quadricornis, are new records for Romania. N. natrix has a new host record for infection with nematode genus Eustrongylides.

Extraction of nuclear DNA from bone of skeletonized and fluid‐preserved museum specimens

Obtaining DNA sequences, particularly nuclear DNA, from museum specimens is challenging. We sequenced nuclear DNA from small bone fragments of skeletonized and fluid‐fixed museum specimens of squamate reptiles by using a forensic protocol developed for isolating DNA from human bones. The method yielded high quality nuclear DNA sequences from bones taken from 11 of 21 (52.4%) skeletonized or desiccated specimens, the oldest of which dated back to 1938, and 1 of 9 (11.1%) fluid‐preserved specimens, which was collected in 1957.

Catálogo de los Reptiles procedentes de la Comunidad de Madrid (España) que se conservan en el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

A complete catalogue of reptiles found in Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) is provided in this paper. The catalogue is taxonomically indexed and listed in alphabetical order including all basic data. It includes all information available in card files and old collection books of the MNCN. We have confirmed which reptiles in the current collection appear as being collected in Madrid, in old records, catalogue books and collection cards in the collection of amphibians and reptiles of the MNCN. The information of these old databases has been verified and mistakes corrected. As a consequence of this revision, the existence of 2237 specimens of reptiles originating in the above-indicated area and exisincluded in 1039 computer records, has been confirmed as of 30 November 2005. Among the oldest specimens included in the collection are some collected by the founding father of Spanish herpetology (Eduardo Bosca y Casanoves) or by a member of the Pacific Scientific Commission (Francisco de P. Martinez y Saez) and deposited in the MNCN more than 140 years ago. These specimens and their data are preserved at the MNCN as part of our common National Heritage, for future generations of researchers as witnesses of the past and present biodiversity. Distribution areas for several species have been extended.

Ecosystem remodelling among vertebrates at the Permian–Triassic boundary in Russia

The mass extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary, 251 million years (Myr) ago, is accepted as the most profound loss of life on record. Global data compilations indicate a loss of 50% of families or more, both in the sea and on land, and these figures scale to a loss of 80-96% of species, based on rarefaction analyses. This level of loss is confirmed by local and regional-scale studies of marine sections, but the terrestrial record has been harder to analyse in such close detail. Here we document the nature of the event in Russia in a comprehensive survey of 675 specimens of amphibians and reptiles from 289 localities spanning 13 successive geological time zones in the South Urals basin. These changes in diversity and turnover cannot be explained simply by sampling effects. There was a profound loss of genera and families, and simplification of ecosystems, with the loss of small fish-eaters and insect-eaters, medium and large herbivores and large carnivores. Faunal dynamics also changed, from high rates of turnover through the Late Permian period to greater stability at low diversity through the Early Triassic period. Even after 15 Myr of ecosystem rebuilding, some guilds were apparently still absent-small fish-eaters, small insect-eaters, large herbivores and top carnivores.

New reptile material from the Lower Triassic of Madagascar: implications for the Permian–Triassic extinction event

Recently discovered reptile specimens from the "Eotriassic" deposits of Madagascar (Lower Triassic) are reported, adding valuable information to our knowledge of Malagasy faunas and providing additional data on tetrapod survivorship across the Permian–Triassic (P–T) boundary. Four specimens are attributable to the terrestrial procolophonoid Barasaurus besairiei Piveteau 1955, whereas the remainder are referable to the aquatic younginiform family Tangasauridae, including some individuals identifiable as Hovasaurus boulei Piveteau 1926. These specimens represent the geologically youngest tangasaurid and Barasaurus specimens to be described from Madagascar and suggest that these small reptiles passed unaffected through the end Permian mass extinction event, when ~78% of amniote families disappeared.

A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: Types currently, previously and purportedly present

A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: Types currently, previously and purportedly present

Rediscovery and Taxonomic Status of Hyla splendens Schmidt, 1857 (Anura: Hylidae)

and western South America (Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia). In addition to his extensive plant collections, his shipments to Europe contained preserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles, which were reported by Schmidt (1857, 1858). Several of Warszewicz's specimens were designated as types of new taxa. As noted by Savage (1970), locality data for some specimens seem to be incorrect, in that some species recorded from Chiriqui and Veraguas, Panama, have never been found subsequently in Central America. Thus, Savage (1969) associated Schmidt's name Bufo veraguensis, purportedly from Veraguas, Panama, with a population on the Andean slopes of southern Peru formerly known as Bufo ockendeni Boulenger. In 1968, one of us (WED) examined the holotype of Hyla splendens described by Schmidt, purportedly from western Panama. Duellman (1970) stated that the frog was not a member of the Central American herpetofauna and considered it to be a member of the Andean assem-

Free-Living Amoebas and Cold-Blooded Animals

r: A total of 110 reptiles and 40 amphibians were examined for free-living amoebas. Eighty-two clones of amoebas were isolated by culture of gut contents-30 of them belonged to the genus Acanthamoeba and 3 to the genus Naegleria. Since 1940 the presence of free-living amoebas in the intestine of cold-blooded animals has been reported by several authors (Lobeck, 1940; Franke and Mackiewicz, 1982). In our case, some of the amoebas found in different reptiles and amphibians showed morphological differences from the well-known parasitic species. Therefore, vegetative forms of free-living amoebas were observed and isolation and identification were then attempted. Protozoa were obtained by culturing the gut contents of 150 specimens of reptiles and amphibians belonging to Gallotia galloti galloti Dumeril and Bibron, 1839 (lizard, 10 specimens), Tarentola delalandii Steindachner, 1891 (gecko, 50 specimens), Chalcides viridanus viridanus Steindachner, 1891 (seps, 50 specimens), and Rana perezi Hotz, 1974 (frog, 40 specimens). A nonnutrient agar supplied with a young culture of Enterobacter cloacae was used as culture medium. The plates were incubated at 25 C for 14 days. We observed the presence of live amoebas during this period. At the end of the 14 days, negative cultures were rejected and the positive ones were isolated as clones (Molet and Kremer, 1976). Amoebas were maintained by passages in the same medium. Identification was carried out according to Page (1976). The results of isolation are shown in Table I. The following strains were identified: In Gallotia galloti galloti: 1 Acanthamoeba triangularis, 5 Acanthamoeba spp. (polyphaga-quina-lugdunensis complex), 1 Echinamoeba exundans, 1 Platyamoeba placida. In Tarentola delalandii: 1 Acanthamoeba lenticulata, 1 Acanthamoeba triangularis, 3 Acanthamoeba spp. (polyphagaquina-lugdunensis complex), 2 Acanthamoeba spp., 1 Adelphamoeba galeacystis, 3 Filamoeba nolandi, 6 Hartmannella spp., 2 Naegleria gruberi. In Chalcides viridanus viridanus: 3 Acanthamoeba spp. (polyphaga-quina-lugdunensis complex), 11 Acanthamoeba spp., 2 Adelphamoeba galeacystis, 10 Filamoeba nolandi, 4 Hartmannella vermiformis, 2 Hartmannella spp., 1 Pessonella marginata, 4 Platyamoeba stenopodia, 3 Vahlkampfia enterica, 3 Vahlkampfia spp. In Rana perezi: 3 Acanthamoeba spp. (polyphaga-quina-lugdunensis complex), 3 Hartmannella vermiformis, 1 Naegleria sp., 1 Vahlkampfia avara, 4 Vahlkampfia enterica. It is necessary to consider whether the presence of amoebas in reptiles and amphibians is by chance or whether it is a true colonization. Observation of gut contents in this study revealed many vegetative forms of common intestinal ciliates (i.e., Balantidium and Nyctoterus), cysts of free-living ciliates (i.e., Colpoda), and vegetative forms and cysts of the same amoebas that were isolated. Fernandez-Galiano et al. (1986) believe that the presence of free-living ciliates is a chance finding supported by their very resistant cyst wall. However, vegetative forms of amoebas are actually found in the course of the digestive tract, thus we believe that this is a true colonization. Nevertheless, pathogenicity of amoebas for these cold-blooded animals did not seem to be important because they are not as pathogenic as Entamoeba invadens. With regard to the number of amoebas that have been isolated in this work, our results are similar to those of other investigators, except that our results yielded higher percentages. For example, Ciurea-Van Saanen (1980) found that only 21.4% of reptiles were positive. Also, in comparison to other studies, the culture medium used in the present study is more effective because it reduces growth of contaminants. Finally, the amoebas found in this study and those found by other investigators are very common. Hartmannella, Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, and Vahlkampfia (Frank and Bosch, 1972; Bosch, 1973). This content downloaded from 207.46.13.124 on Sun, 11 Sep 2016 06:01:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 884 THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 74, NO. 5, OCTOBER 1988 TABLE I. Prevalence of amoebic strains isolated from various hosts. % No. Positive No. specispeciisolated Species mens mens strains Gallotia galloti galloti 10 80 8 Tarentola delalandii 50 36 19 Chalcides viridanus viridanus 50 64 43 Rana perezi 40 20 12

Swimming capabilities of Mesozoic marine reptiles: implications for method of predation

Body shape and mode of swimming were major factors that affected the swimming capabilities of Mesozoic marine reptiles. By estimating the total drag and the amount of energy available through metabolism, the maximum sustained swimming speed was calculated for 115 marine reptile specimens. Calculated sustained swimming speeds range from 1.8 to 2.7 m/sec, but are probably too high by as much as a factor of two. Mesozoic marine reptiles were probably much slower than modern toothed whales. The diversification of fast, agile teleost fish in the Cretaceous may have therefore contributed to the decline of the marine reptiles.Long-bodied reptiles appear to have had slower sustained swimming speeds than deep-bodied forms of the same length. For a given length, ichthyosaurs were probably faster sustained swimmers than plesiosaurs, and plesiosaurs were probably faster sustained swimmers than crocodiles and mosasaurs. This suggests that the long-bodied forms probably used an ambush technique to capture prey, to maximize the range of possible prey and to minimize competition with the faster pursuit predators.

CING 14. Godalming Museum

Godalming Museum has a tiny collection, most of which is not identified beyond 'a fossil'. It includes some interesting Wealden reptile specimens and may well be part of a much older collection....

Late Cretaceous reptiles (Families Elasmosauridae and Pliosauridae) from the Mangahouanga Stream, North Island, New Zealand

Abstract Incomplete reptile specimens from rocks of Piripauan-Haumurian age (Campanian-Maastrichtian), that represent the first records of elasmosaurs and pliosaurs from the North Island of New Zealand, are described. Present among the remains is the first elasmosaur cranial material (both adult and juvenile) known from New Zealand. This has been described as a new genus and species of elasmosaur, Tuarangisaurus keyesi. The first North Island record of Mauisaurus haasti is also described. Many specimens, only identifiable to Family, are described as they provide the first record of certain skeletal elements from New Zealand and good comparative material for future studies. The pliosaur remains, identifiable to Family only, provide better preserved material than has so far been known from the New Zealand fossil record.

Benjamin F. Mudge: The First Kansas Geologist

Benjamin Franklin Mudge (1817-79), originally from Massachusetts, was appointed State Geologist and Director of the First Geological Survey of Kansas in 1864. After failing to be reappointed in 1865 he became Professor of Natural Science at Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, whose president, Joseph Denison, was an old friend and fellow Methodist. Mudge taught courses in all areas of science and spent his summers geologizing in western Kansas. An avid collector, he sent fossil specimens to Edward Cope, O. C. Marsh, and others. In the summer of 1872 he discovered a Cretaceous bird, Ichthyornis dispar, described by Marsh at Yale as the first fossil bird known to have teeth. In 1873 the KSAC regents replaced Denison by John Anderson, who dismissed Mudge and two others in February 1874 after they complained to members of the legislature about misuse of college funds and tried unsuccessfully to defeat legislative confirmation of some of the regents. Mudge then was employed by Marsh to collect fossil vertebrates (1874-77). Assisted by Samuel Williston and other former students, he sent to Marsh a large number of specimens of marine reptiles, pterodactyls, and birds from the Cretaceous beds of western Kansas. In 1877 he was sent to Colorado, where he supervised the quarrying of dinosaur bones at Cañon City. Strongly religious and a staunch opponent of slavery and alcohol, Mudge was regarded highly as a teacher and collector. He published in 1875 a description of the geology of Kansas which contained the first geological map of the State. He also was cofounder and first president of the Kansas Academy of Science.

Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the San Diego Natural History Museum

Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the San Diego Natural History Museum

New County Records of Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas

New County Records of Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas

Type specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the Australian Museum

Type specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the Australian Museum

Organochlorine insecticide residues in amphibians and reptiles from iowa and lizards from the Southwestern United States

Ecosystems are generally contaminated with low levels of organochlorine insecticide residues. Numerous reports of residues in biota include relatively little data for amphibians and reptiles. To help fill this void, specimens of amphibians and reptiles were collected from 2 agricultural areas of Iowa, and lizards were collected from nonagricultural areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Iowa specimens came from a region with past use of organochlorine insecticides, particularly DDT as a general purpose insecticide and aldrin and heptachlor for control of soil-insect pests. CULLEY and APPLEGATE (1967) estimated insecticide concentrations in 3 species of lizards (checkered whiptail, Cnemidophorus tessellatus; western whiptail, ~. tigris; and little striped whiptail, ~. inornatus) collected from agricultural and desert areas in the vicinity of Presidio, TX. Residue data, presented as a composite for all 3 species of lizards and as mean concentrations of ~,~'-DDE (ppm) in 5 or 6 samples, were: 0.i to 7 (tail muscle), 0.3 to 3.8 (brain tissue), 0.i to 3.8 (liver), 5.4 to 46 (coelem fat bodies), and 0. i to 7.7 (stomach contents). There seemed to be little difference in concentrations between samples from various sites in cotton fields or

Further Notes on Nebraska Reptiles

Distributional and natural history data for 115 specimens of reptiles collected in Nebraska in 1976 are presented. The second known record ot ArlDona elegans trom the state in included. The systematic status ot Lampropeltis trlangulum In southwestern Nebraska is discussed. Trans. Kansas Acad. Scl., vol. 80 (1-2), 1977. Since my previous report on Nebraska reptiles (1976), I have had the opportunity to make additional herpetological collections in Nebraska incidental to my ecological work on Kinosternon flavescens. All specimens except Kinosternon have been deposited in the University of Nebraska State Museum, with the field numbers here listed. Only those reptilian specimens providing significant locality and/or natural history data are reported here. All were collected in 1976. Snout-vent lengths are abbreviated SV. The field assistance of Diderot Gicca and Peter Meylan is acknowledged.