DOCSLIB.ORG

Download Full Article 908.8KB .Pdf File

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download Full Article 908.8KB .Pdf File https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1976.37.03 30 June 1976 THE ENDEMIC AUSTRALIAN LIZARD GENUS MORETHIA (SCINCIDAE; LYGOSOMINAE) IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA By P. A. Rawlinson Zoology Department, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083 Abstract The taxonomy and status of the five southern Australian species of Morethia are discussed and lectotypes are nominated to stabilize the nomenclature. Details of the species distributions are provided and the ecology, reproduction, generic relationships and phylogeny of the species are briefly mentioned. Introduction he united a group of closely related 'able- pharine' and 'non-ablepharine' skink species Boulcnger (1887) carried out the first in Lerista. Subsequently Fuhn major revision of the family Scincidae in the the genus separated the Australian 'ablepharine' third volume of his Catalogue of Lizards in (1969) skinks into nine groups, one of which was the British Museum (Natural History). In the the genus Morethia Gray, 1845. Fuhn sep- Preface to this volume Dr A. Gunther stated: arated the genus Morethia on the basis of 'I feel confident that it will give a fresh skull morphology and in doing so successfully impluse to the systematic study of lizards, placed natural group of closely related and serve as the standard work for many a 1 species into one genus. Morethia is now re- years to come . Gunther's confidence was gen- cognized to be an endemic Australian genus erally well placed and Boulenger's Catalogues which is not clearly related to any non -Aus- became the standard reference works. How- tralian genus (Storr 1972) and even its ever, in some groups rather than give a fresh Australian relationships are unclear (Rawlin- impulse to systematic studies, Boulenger's son 1974). The genus presently consists of concepts caused a stagnation that lasted more six described species, two described subspec- than half a century. One such group was his ies and an undescribed 'race' (Storr 1972). large and clumsy genus Lygosoma with it's The Morethia species and subspecies (and eleven subgenera, and another was the genus therefore the genus) can be divided into two Ablepharus into which Boulenger placed all geographical and evolutionary groups: a skinks with an immoveable transparent lower 'northern' group centered in the arid and eyelid (the 'ablepharine' eye). These genera semi-arid tropical areas of Australia; and a were long recognized to be polyphyletic, but 'southern' group centered in the arid and it wasn't until Mittleman (1952) erected the semi-arid temperate areas of Australia. The subfamily Lygosominae and revised the in- 'northern' group consists of: M. taeniopleura cluded genera that a new stimulus was pro- taeniopleura (Peters 1874) found in N and vided. Mittleman included the species Boul- E Queensland, which reaches to 27 i° S but enger had placed in Ablepharus in the Lygos- is centered N of the Tropic of Capricorn ominae and broke up the genus. Since that 23i° S; M. taeniopleura ruficauda (Lucas time work on the higher taxa of Lygosomine and Frost 1895) found in N Northern Territ- skinks has made rapid progress and the ory and Western Australia, which reaches species Boulenger included in the genus Ab- N to S but is centered N of the Tropic of lepharus have been reclassified. 25i° ; taeniopleura exquisita Storr The Australian skinks which were included Capricorn M. in Western Australia, which in Boulenger's definition of the genus Able- 1972 found NW 25° pharus have been dealt with in two main reaches to S but is centered N of the Tropic undescribed race of papers. Greer (1967) convincingly demon- of Capricorn; and an strated the artificial nature of the 'ablepharine' M. taeniopleura recorded from the N of the eye taxonomically and phylogenetically when Northern Territory by Storr (1972). These 27 28 P. A. RAWLINSON 'northern' taxa are allopatric and appear to opportunity to correct the conflicts between be mutually exclusive (Storr 1972). Smyth's and Storr's papers is taken. Also, as The 'southern' group consists of the re- the author has examined and identified all maining five described species and it appears Morethia specimens in the Queensland Mus- to have radiated more widely than the 'north- eum (QM) Brisbane, the Australian Museum ern' group. Three of the five 'southern' spec- (AM) Sydney, and the National Museum of ies, M. adelaidensis, M. butleri and M. ob- Victoria (NMV) Melbourne, detailed lists of scura, although reasonably widely distributed these specimens are provided under the ap- are restricted to arid and semi-arid areas S propriate headings below to complement the of 271° S; the fourth species, M. lineoocel- data in Smyth and Storr. As there is no lata, is virtually restricted to the SW coast Morethia material in the Tasmanian Museum, of Western Australia but it extends above the Hobart, or the Queen Victoria Museum, Laun- Tropic of Capricorn to about 20i° S; the ceston, the data in Smyth's and Storr's papers fifth species, M, boulengeri, is widely distii- and the present paper represents a complete buted across S Australia and it extends just listing of the 'southern' Morethia specimens above the Tropic of Capricorn to about 22i° held in the Australian state museums. S in S Queensland. Of the 'southern' taxa, Genus Morethia Gray, 1845 M. boulengeri and M. butleri are allopatric and appear to be mutually exclusive as do Morethia Gray, J. E., 1845, Catalogue of lizards: 65. TYPE SPECIES; Morethia anomalus Gray, 1845, M. lineoocellaia and M. obscura; butleri M. Ibid.: 65 — Ahlepharus lineoocellatus Dumeril, and M. adelaidensis are largely allopatric but and Bibron, 1839, Erpetologie Generate 5: 817. overlap in Western Australia; SE and M. Remarks; Smyth (1972) incorrectly listed adelaidensis, M. boulengeri and M. obscura Ablepharus lineoocellatus Dumeril and Bibron overlap widely across S Australia. Thus it 1839 as the type species of the genus. Storr can be seen that the Tropic of Capricorn (1972) listed Morethia anomalus Gray 1845 forms a boundary between the 'northern' and as the type species by monotypy and in the 'southern' groups of Morethia and it is the same paper designated M . anomalus as a jun- five 'southern' species as defined above which ior subjective synonym of A. lineoocellatus. are dealt with in detail in this paper. Diagnosis: Small skinks (snout-vent length 17- Two recent local revisions of the genus 56 mm); an 'ablepharine' eye i.e. lower eyelid Morethia included the five 'southern' species. an immoveable transparent disc fused to the The first revision, published by Smyth (August eye surface; Frontoparietals and interparietal 31, 1972) was of the South Australian species fused into a single large shield; parietals con- but it also included all specimens of Morethia tact along midline; supranasal and postnasal in the South Australian Museum. Storr pub- scales present but may be fused to each other lished the second revision (November 3, 1972), or to nasal scale; frontonasal in broad contact which was of the Western Australian species with the rostral; frontal much larger than the but it also included all specimens of Morethia prefrontals; prefrontals rarely in contact; four in the Western Australian Museum. Unfor- supraoculars, second the largest, first and sec- tunately Symth's and Storr's papers contain ond contact the frontal, second third and fourth some conflicting interpretations and neither contact the frontoparietal-interparietal shield; author examined the types of Morethia lineo- one pair of nuchal scales; seven (occasionally ocellaia (Dumeril and Bibron 1839) which eight) upper labial scales, the fifth largest was the first of the Morethia species described and completely subocular; eight to ten preanal and hence the most important taxonomically. scales, central four slightly enlarged; limbs The present paper deals with the 'southern' pentadactyl; digits not elongate, 14-27 lamellae Morethia species in Queensland, New South under the fourth toe; body scales smooth, Wales and Victoria, and as the author has moderately large, 24-34 rows at midbody; examined all relevant type specimens, the external ear opening obvious. , THE ENDEMIC AUSTRALIAN LIZARD 29 In the descriptions of Morethia species and — Storr, 1972, /. R. Soc. W. Aust. 55: 73-79. Flgs ls 2 ' specimens below, scalation details consistent " with the generic description above are not Lectotype: Smyth (1972): ZMB 4733, Zoo- repeated, logisches Museum der Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin. Locality: Adelaide. Collector: KEY TO THE SOUTHERN AUSTRALIAN Schomhun* No other data SPECIES OF MORETHIA 2>cnomDurgk. JNo otntr data. scnp lor e< m 1 Subdigital lamellae acutely keeled, uni- /' ,, . D , Lu f + / , u c . °. , . a Remarks: The lectotype, selected by Smyth in cannate to tricannate; five srx '/ i ' or sup- ln71 +u , it / i .. .,- . * 1971, was the largest of three syntypes under 9 " ••'' ' this catalogue the paralectotypes c i. a- u i i 11 xi & number and r Subdigital lamellae smooth or obtuselv , u u 4*kkt* , . r .... „ have now been togiven new numbers, ZMB keeled; six supracihanes 3. ~ , , - , . , ' .^^ n ... .. n t-,. \ A , , r 42872-73, data as for lectotype. supracilianes, , 2. Five the third, fourth c +u nn7^ , c A^nn\ u fu * ' . and Storr both coni- ,J t i j SmythJ (1972) (1972) fifth largest, . and subequal, and pen- A , c +u « mented on Petersn / /107 ^ use of the name~ j i t, J (1874) t t th l ' i j- -x i 1 ii • Ablepharus (Morethia) anomalus adelaidensis subdigital • lamellae unicarmate or a -<.u a a n +~ > a *~~ a~ . " . , , . and neither considered Peters description ade- tncarinate M. adelaidensis . TT c ., . , , „ . , . .,, . .- ~ ^ ., - quate. However, Smyth considered Peters use Six.supracilianes, the first the largest Qf ^ mm& constituted a valid indication of and the remainder forming a deereas- a d ^^ ^ namfi tQ hi aM ^ ing series, junctions of supracilianes , cQrdi sekcted Qne of pet£rs three with supraocular linear or slightly frQm ^ BerM MmQum as k s curved, supracilianes do not pene rate ho did no[ ^.^ pete use Qf flie between supraoculars; subdigital lam- name constituted a vaIid indication of a specie s ellae unicarmate ...
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lake Pinaroo Ramsar Site
    Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site Disclaimer The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) has compiled the Ecological character description: Lake Pinaroo Ramsar site in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. DECC does not accept responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by third parties. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. Readers should seek appropriate advice about the suitability of the information to their needs. © State of New South Wales and Department of Environment and Climate Change DECC is pleased to allow the reproduction of material from this publication on the condition that the source, publisher and authorship are appropriately acknowledged. Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street, Sydney PO Box A290, Sydney South 1232 Phone: 131555 (NSW only – publications and information requests) (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au DECC 2008/275 ISBN 978 1 74122 839 7 June 2008 Printed on environmentally sustainable paper Cover photos Inset upper: Lake Pinaroo in flood, 1976 (DECC) Aerial: Lake Pinaroo in flood, March 1976 (DECC) Inset lower left: Blue-billed duck (R. Kingsford) Inset lower middle: Red-necked avocet (C. Herbert) Inset lower right: Red-capped plover (C. Herbert) Summary An ecological character description has been defined as ‘the combination of the ecosystem components, processes, benefits and services that characterise a wetland at a given point in time’.
    [Show full text]
  • Tapa Multe 11
    ISSN 0327-9375 COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF SUPRAOCULAR LEPIDOSIS IN SQUAMATA (REPTILIA) AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH AN EVOLUTIONARY TAXONOMY ESTUDIOS COMPARATIVOS DE LA LEPIDOSIS SUPRA-OCULAR EN SQUAMATA (REPTILIA) Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA TAXONOMÍA EVOLUCIONARIA JOSÉ M. CEI † las subfamilias Leiosaurinae y RESUMEN Enyaliinae. Siempre en Iguania Observaciones morfológicas Pleurodonta se evidencian ejemplos previas sobre un gran número de como los inconfundibles patrones de especies permiten establecer una escamas supraoculares de correspondencia entre la Opluridae, Leucocephalidae, peculiaridad de los patrones Polychrotidae, Tropiduridae. A nivel sistemáticos de las escamas específico la interdependencia en supraoculares de Squamata y la Iguanidae de los géneros Iguana, posición evolutiva de cada taxón Cercosaura, Brachylophus, considerado en los cladogramas Conolophus, puede llevar a propuestos por Estes et al. (1988). postular pretéritos acontecimientos Aparte del significado biológico paleogeográficos. También amerita general de estos hallazgos, incluso énfasis la llamativa separación, para discutidas orientaciones según este criterio morfológico, en- taxonómicas, la lepidosis tre Iguania y Scleroglossa, la supraocular llega a refrendar una uniforme lepidosis de centenares de decisión sistemática con su Gekkota, o la excepcional fisonomía evidencia. Así, en Iguania, la familia de Autarchoglossa, en sus ramas tan Leiosauridae, propuesta por Frost individualizadas de Scincomorpha et al. (2001), aparece sostenida (Lacertoidea; Teiioidea; hasta en
    [Show full text]
  • NORTH WEST Freight Transport Strategy
    NORTH WEST Freight Transport Strategy Department of Infrastructure NORTH WEST FREIGHT TRANSPORT STRATEGY Final Report May 2002 This report has been prepared by the Department of Infrastructure, VicRoads, Mildura Rural City Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council and the North West Municipalities Association to guide planning and development of the freight transport network in the north-west of Victoria. The State Government acknowledges the participation and support of the Councils of the north-west in preparing the strategy and the many stakeholders and individuals who contributed comments and ideas. Department of Infrastructure Strategic Planning Division Level 23, 80 Collins St Melbourne VIC 3000 www.doi.vic.gov.au Final Report North West Freight Transport Strategy Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... i 1. Strategy Outline. ...........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Strategy Outcomes.................................................................................................................1 1.3 Planning Horizon.....................................................................................................................1 1.4 Other Investigations ................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • <I>Morethia</I> (Lacertilia: Scincidae)
    A NEW SPECIES OF MORETHIA (LACERTILlA: SCINCIDAE) FROM NORTHERN AUSTRALIA, WITH COMMENTS ON THE BIOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GENUS ALLEN E. GREER The Australian Museum, Sydney ABSTRACT Morethia is a genus of Iygosomine skinks endemic to Australia. This paper provides a description of a new species of Morethia from northern Australia, a diagonsis of the genus, and a discussion of its intra and intergeneric relationships. It also includes a key to the eight currently recognized species of Morethia and notes on their colour pattern, reproduction, behaviour, habitat and distribution. A NEW SPECIES OF MORETHIA In his revision of the Western Australian species of the endemic Australian genus Morethia, Storr (1972) noted that the form ruficauda was "replaced by an undescribed race" in the far north of the Northern Territory. A few years later while reviewing the genus, I "rediscovered" this undescribed form and interpreted it as a distinct species. Dr Storr has graciously allowed me to describe this species, and in appreciation of his original contribution to the taxonomy of the genus (Storr 1972), I take pleasure in naming it Marethia starri New Species Figs 1, 2 (top), and 9 HOLOTYPE: Northern Territory Museum R 1815 - 4.5 km. S. of Noonamah, Northern Territory (12°40' 5., 131°04' E.). Collected by Messrs G. F. Gow and R. W. Wells on 10 November 1975. PARATYPES: Unless speCifically mentioned otherwise, all localities are in the extreme northern part of the Northern Territory. Australian Museum: R 12384 - Yirrkala; R 17411 - Port Keats Mission; R 37225- Koongarra, Mt. Brockman Range; R 41960 - Maningrida Settlement; R 71991- Yirrkala; R 72862 - appox.
    [Show full text]
  • Mildura Rural City Council
    ELECTORAL STRUCTURE OF MILDURA RURAL CITY COUNCIL LindsayLindsay PointPoint LocalityLocality YeltaYelta LocalityLocality MerbeinMerbein WestWestMerbein LocalityLocality WarganWargan LocalityLocality LocalityLocality BirdwoodtonBirdwoodton LocalityLocality Mildura NedsNeds CornerCorner LocalityLocality MerbeinMerbein SouthSouth CabaritaCabarita NicholsNichols PointPoint LocalityLocality LocalityLocality LocalityLocality LocalityLocality IrympleIrymple SStttuurrrttt HHiiigghhwwaayy SStttuurrrttt HHiiigghhwwaayy CullulleraineCullulleraine KoorlongKoorlong LocalityLocality RedRed CliffsCliffs CardrossCardross RedRed CliffsCliffs LocalityLocality RedRed Cliffs-Cliffs- MeringurMeringur RdRd Meringur Werrimull MerrineeMerrinee LocalityLocality IraakIraakIraak LocalityLocality CarwarpCarwarp LocalityLocality Nangiloc ColignanColignan Mildura Rural City Council Councillors: 9 CalderCalder HighwayHighway HattahHattah LocalityLocality Hattah Murray-SunsetMurray-Sunset LocalityLocality KulwinKulwin LocalityLocality Ouyen Walpeup MittyackMittyack LocalityLocality TutyeTutye LocalityLocality Underbool MalleeMallee HighwayHighway Underbool LingaLinga PanityaPanitya LocalityLocality LocalityLocality TorritaTorrita CowangieCowangie LocalityLocality SunraysiaSunraysia HwyHwy BoinkaBoinka LocalityLocality Murrayville TempyTempy LocalityLocality PatchewollockPatchewollock LocalityLocality LocalityLocality 0 10 20 kilometres BigBig DesertDesert LocalityLocality Legend Locality Boundary Map Symbols Freeway Main Road Collector Road Road Unsealed Road River/Creek
    [Show full text]
  • An Environmental Profile of the Loddon Mallee Region
    An Environmental Profile of the Loddon Mallee Region View from Mount Alexander looking East, May 1998. Interim Report March 1999 Loddon Mallee Regional Planning Branch CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY …………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2. INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Part A Major Physical Features of the Region 3. GEOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………………… 5 3.1 GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 3.1.1 Location ………………………………………………………………………………………... 5 3.1.2 Diversity of Landscape ……………………………………………………………………….…. 5 3.1.3 History of Non-Indigenous Settlement ……………………………………………………………. 5 3.2 TOPOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 3.2.1 Major Landforms ………………………………………………………………………..………. 6 3.2.1.1 Southern Mountainous Area …………………………………………………………….…………..…. 6 3.2.1.2 Hill Country …………………………………………………………………………………….…….………. 6 3.2.1.3 Riverine ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………. 6 3.2.1.4 Plains …………………………………………………………………………………………….….……….. 6 3.2.1.5 Mallee …………………………………………………………………………………………….….………. 7 3.3 GEOLOGY …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 3.3.1 Major Geological Features …………………………………………………………….………… 8 3.3.2 Earthquakes …………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 4. CLIMATE ……………………………………………………………………………… 11 4.1 RAINFALL …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….. 11 4.2 TEMPERATURE ……………………………………………………………………………….………. 12 4.2.1 Average Maximum and Minimum Temperatures …………………………………………….………… 12 4.2.1 Temperature Anomalies ………………………………………………………………….……… 13 4.2.3 Global Influences on Weather…………………………………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Bibliography and Scientific Name Index to Amphibians
    lb BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SCIENTIFIC NAME INDEX TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES IN THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON BULLETIN 1-8, 1918-1988 AND PROCEEDINGS 1-100, 1882-1987 fi pp ERNEST A. LINER Houma, Louisiana SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE NO. 92 1992 SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in the biology of amphibians and reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. Single copies are distributed free to interested individuals. Libraries, herpetological associations, and research laboratories are invited to exchange their publications with the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles. We wish to encourage individuals to share their bibliographies, translations, etc. with other herpetologists through the SHIS series. If you have such items please contact George Zug for instructions on preparation and submission. Contributors receive 50 free copies. Please address all requests for copies and inquiries to George Zug, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20560 USA. Please include a self-addressed mailing label with requests. INTRODUCTION The present alphabetical listing by author (s) covers all papers bearing on herpetology that have appeared in Volume 1-100, 1882-1987, of the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington and the four numbers of the Bulletin series concerning reference to amphibians and reptiles. From Volume 1 through 82 (in part) , the articles were issued as separates with only the volume number, page numbers and year printed on each. Articles in Volume 82 (in part) through 89 were issued with volume number, article number, page numbers and year.
    [Show full text]
  • The Herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and Lower Cuando River Catchments of South-Eastern Angola
    Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 10(2) [Special Section]: 6–36 (e126). The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola 1,2,*Werner Conradie, 2Roger Bills, and 1,3William R. Branch 1Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, SOUTH AFRICA 2South African Institute for Aquatic Bio- diversity, P/Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, SOUTH AFRICA 3Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P O Box 77000, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, SOUTH AFRICA Abstract.—Angola’s herpetofauna has been neglected for many years, but recent surveys have revealed unknown diversity and a consequent increase in the number of species recorded for the country. Most historical Angola surveys focused on the north-eastern and south-western parts of the country, with the south-east, now comprising the Kuando-Kubango Province, neglected. To address this gap a series of rapid biodiversity surveys of the upper Cubango-Okavango basin were conducted from 2012‒2015. This report presents the results of these surveys, together with a herpetological checklist of current and historical records for the Angolan drainage of the Cubango, Cuito, and Cuando Rivers. In summary 111 species are known from the region, comprising 38 snakes, 32 lizards, five chelonians, a single crocodile and 34 amphibians. The Cubango is the most western catchment and has the greatest herpetofaunal diversity (54 species). This is a reflection of both its easier access, and thus greatest number of historical records, and also the greater habitat and topographical diversity associated with the rocky headwaters.
    [Show full text]
  • Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist Reptiles
    Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist ow if there are so many lizards then they should make tasty N meals for someone. Many of the lizard-eaters come from their Reptiles own kind, especially the snake-like legless lizards and the snakes themselves. The former are completely harmless to people but the latter should be left alone and assumed to be venomous. Even so it odern reptiles are at the most diverse in the tropics and the is quite safe to watch a snake from a distance but some like the Md rylands of the world. The Australian arid zone has some of the Mulga Snake can be curious and this could get a little most diverse reptile communities found anywhere. In and around a disconcerting! single tussock of spinifex in the western deserts you could find 18 species of lizards. Fowlers Gap does not have any spinifex but even he most common lizards that you will encounter are the large so you do not have to go far to see reptiles in the warmer weather. Tand ubiquitous Shingleback and Central Bearded Dragon. The diversity here is as astonishing as anywhere. Imagine finding six They both have a tendency to use roads for passage, warming up or species of geckos ranging from 50-85 mm long, all within the same for display. So please slow your vehicle down and then take evasive genus. Or think about a similar diversity of striped skinks from 45-75 action to spare them from becoming a road casualty. The mm long! How do all these lizards make a living in such a dry and Shingleback is often seen alone but actually is monogamous and seemingly unproductive landscape? pairs for life.
    [Show full text]
  • Testing the Relevance of Binary, Mosaic and Continuous Landscape Conceptualisations to Reptiles in Regenerating Dryland Landscapes
    Testing the relevance of binary, mosaic and continuous landscape conceptualisations to reptiles in regenerating dryland landscapes Melissa J. Bruton1, Martine Maron1,2, Noam Levin1,3, Clive A. McAlpine1,2 1The University of Queensland, Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, St Lucia, Australia 4067 2The University of Queensland, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, St. Lucia, Australia 4067 3Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Geography, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel, 91905 Corresponding author: [email protected] Ph: (+61) 409 875 780 The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10980-015-0157-9 Abstract: Context: Fauna distributions are assessed using discrete (binary and mosaic) or continuous conceptualisations of the landscape. The value of the information derived from these analyses depends on the relevance of the landscape representation (or model) used to the landscape and fauna of interest. Discrete representations dominate analyses of landscape context in disturbed and regenerating landscapes; however within-patch variation suggests that continuous representations may help explain the distribution of fauna in such landscapes. Objectives: We tested the relevance of binary, mosaic, and continuous conceptualisations of landscape context to reptiles in regenerating dryland landscapes. Methods: For each of thirteen reptile groups, we compared the fit of models consisting of one landscape composition and one landscape heterogeneity variable for each of six landscape representations (2 x binary, 2 x mosaic, and 2 x continuous), at three buffer distances. We used Akaike weights to assess the relative support for each model. Maps were created from Landsat satellite images.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
    [Show full text]
  • Herpetofauna of the Southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia
    DOI: 10.18195/issn.0313-122x.61.2000.335-360 Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 61: 335-360 (2000). Herpetofauna of the southern Camarvon Basin, Western Australia 2 2 2 N.L. McKenziet, J.K. Rolfet, K.P. Aplin , M.A. Cowan and L.A. Smith 1 Department of Conservation and Land Management, p.a. Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6065, Australia 2 Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth, Western Australia 6000, Australia Abstract - We sampled the frog and reptile species on 63 quadrats chosen to represent the geographical extent and diversity of terrestrial environments in a 75 000 km2 study area in the Carnarvon Basin. Twelve frog and 17 gecko, 10 pygopodid, 16 dragon, 58 skink, four goanna and 16 snake species were recorded, an average of 16.3 species per quadrat. Patterns in species composition were related to biogeographical, ecological and local evolutionary processes. Four species assemblages were distinguished, each relating to gradients in a different set of precipitation plus soil plus topographic attributes. In these terms, Poisson error models with logarithmic links fitted the relationships. Virtually identical patterns emerged when we re-analysed the data using an ecological taxonomy that was based on functional morphology. If evolutionary processes are to be protected along with the ecological and biogeographical processes, the reserve system will need to sample the geographical range of the various rainfall, soil and topographic gradients identified by the analyses. INTRODUCTION patterns in the study area was carried out by This study explores patterns in the composition of Kendrick (1991), for his dissertation on the reptilian and amphibian communities in non- biogeography, ecology and systematic aquatic environments of the southern Carnarvon relationships of the skink genus Lerista.
    [Show full text]