DOCSLIB.ORG

Temperature Regulation in the Sand Goanna Varanus Gouldii (Gray)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Temperature Regulation in the Sand Goanna Varanus Gouldii (Gray) TII4PF,RJ.T.IJRE RXGUIATTOi{ T[ trTE SAßTD GOAÀII\IA Varanuq_ egufdil ç eanY ) by Rj-chard Dennj-s Kjlrg B.Sc., 1l .Sc" (Univers.ity of British Colunbia) Departnent of Zoology University of Aclel¿,ide A thesis subnitted. to the University of Adelaide ín part ful-filment of the reqr:_lrements for the d.egreg of Doctor of Philosophy October 1,97t. ftr,,..'{t td /":!"'t' '", / ?'-1j C0IITEìI]S SUIT:ARY ACi:i, ¡,:, ¡¿ÐGEi l r-]' T S I GElMzuJ I=I'IRODUCTIOi[ 1 ]I FIEID STUD]ES 1" Introd.uction 5 2. Ficl-d tcchniqu_cs e" Capturc 9 b. l[arking 11 c. Tclcmetry ri.cr¡iccs - loc¿.tions 11 d. Burro¡,v d.imcnsions EJtd- conCitions 1 2 c. StonacÌi contcnts 1 3 f. BrccC-ing condition 1 4 s, = Ho¡rc rangc 1 + 1," lcrnpcratitrc nc¿:su:r:cilcnts 1 4 3. Gcncre,"l ccology a. Iurrow locations, dimcnslons ¿:.nd. microc l_iroi-t c 1B b. Scasonal a"cti";ity pattcrns 28 c. Food. 31 d. Brccd.ing concì.ition 33 e " Homc rarlgc 37 f . Density of popul¿:-bions 40 4 Thcrmal ccol-ogy ã. Ðaily activity pa-rttcrns 4 2 b. Thcrmal- rcgulation 5 B IT] IABOzuTCTìY STUDIES 1. Bchavlour a:rd. prcfcrrcd. tcnpcraturc e. l,latcrials and ¡rcthod.s 6B b. Echavi-our j_n grad.icnts 74 c. Prcfcrrcd tcmpcraturcs 77 . d.. Discussion B6 2. i{ead.-bcùy tenperature d.ifferences e. Liaterial-s and methods 91 b. Unrestra.ined. a:limals 94 c. Restrained. animals 96 d.. Iieat e;pplied. to l-imited parts of the animal-s 100 e. Diseussion 1C1 3. Na"sal teiaperi"tures a. I.rasal morpholo.'ry 108 b. lfethods of L'leasuring temperatures 109 c " Nasal temperattires 111 d.. Discusslon 11+ 4, Skin refl-ectivity 117 IV GENERAI ÐISCUSSfON 121 APPEITDIX BIBITOGRJ,PTIY SüMttl¿lRy Tire therraoregul-a tory beliavi_cur and aci:ivíty p:ttterns ol V.eoul_dii r.¡ere stu-díed in the l_e,r,-'ora,:oz.y and at tïrree f ield are:rs. Iiiini_auuri;ed 1:ele:iiet:r¡¡ devices ÞIere lu'líLlzed -to in.'tt:e f ielcl stud:,' l;ionii;¡r tl:e bc<1 ;r tem¡;eratures oi active, unrestrained. floan*åc and to de'ierm.ine tìteir- l_c:a.ij_cns and a.ctivit¡.,. cor:.aidenabie d i-f f erence-e exie -t iii ti.le environ- rnentaj- conditior:s cn the t1¡.ree stuciSr areâs, but ti:e eccrj-tic te,'ûljeratures of gÐar¡nas :ìs deÊerinined t3, telemetrJZ were similar on a11 areas durin¿1 Ll¡e cunînxer. hlean deep body'1;enrperatur:es at'bi:et tine of JreüÍ. ranf¡ed f rci'ir 3l ,i- 4c 36 .9goC. Ti:íe sin-iíl-ari-i;r -u¡¿" c1-¡le to tL::_e d ír'f ereu-¡ces in bel¡aviour of ì/. gould. l i ûn 1;h.ese c.reas. Botir dai]-y and seasonal act,Lvit¡ i-ra-ûterns ciffer.ed bet¡veen aninta]-e on äan¡laroo Ts]-anri and a"i i;he o.t her ct"Jdy sites. Goannas on tiie arid an,c se¡F.í-arid. areae spent iîeore iinre sirei'fering in tlleir'Durrc,,^rs Ëjien ciid those on äangaroo rs r and on bo,;ii e ôaíLy anr a seaocnal_ Las is . On Ií,angaroc ïsland, goeriìrrs elnergeõ f roin tireir burrov¡s ihroughoui tire yeer. , all-itcugi.r l;ileì r clcac¿l 1 te¡Ípeï.€,.iures generaJ-J-¡¡ rei?ia ineci l-ow riuring winter , wi: i1e V. gould ií j-n sr id ai:d serni-arid regions are inacti.ve curing'ül^e wínter froni ap.Ðroxj_¡ia.;ej.y l,larcl. ic Septc-rnber . 9irnilarities exist in the breeding cycl-es and f ood habits of goanirac on the rnecic anC ariC areas. ovariar eggc reacir ti:.eir rnaximui'n sJ-ze Lrt roeraaf-e v.gouldii f ro:ii Octoi:er to Decein'cer in bcth areao , e.n¿u eggc ar. e f ou-¡-:d in tae cviducËs d.urirr.g l{ovenber sncl Deceinber.. Sand goannaG åre ollúortunistic predatorc v¡jrich feect 1:rirne.rily on reptiles aad J_arge inver.';ebratee, btlt will- utLLLze other f ood l.rhicþ is ].oca1ly av:ri]-ab].e. In tire laboratory, tiie prer_"erreci tern¡leraturec of ani:nal-s frorn al-1 tTiree subspeciee were i¡etween TLj ,Ozc ae .l8oC ía tire::ma-1 ¿radients. Their behaviour in the gradieri-ss wes similar, and was aigi:1y vatiable beiween and witiriî individ-,¡a]-s. i{ead-body tenrperature differenceo Tvere deterrnined in both active aird restrained Li_zarcis and the iriiportance of trpantingttor gular flu€tering in nair.,taín- ing ã stat¡le bea¡i'iernge"ature dr.rring ¡leríocis of eievaterj ambíent ternpcraturee .wes assessed. Intra-cranial_ 'i;em¡-'erature r{as maintaineci at apprr.:li:..1:i.eJ-y g8. Go õ9.O'C l'oi'¡.reriods of ¡nore ti¡.an one i-.o-.rr b:¡ üì:,ie r.leanc when ¿rnin.-als vrere placed in teìïilerature cabinets aì: 42oC, ;vhi1e cloacal ternilerature nra:.cL:ed vaLuee s1i¿;htl-y al.¡ove air ter.:peratul" e. Temperatures of inspireõ ârrc expired ai¡ were measured in three species of this gellus and it r^ras found tl;;'a'c expired air temperatureo 'r'rere rower than body ternp- eraËr.1res by ae much as11-{-ìoc. Thíe is of iin¡:,ort.ance bo-!h in regulatirrg heat ilux and, ¡rro-uably;iacre iinportantLy, in conserving trater in these speciee. Tlre *eilectivity of tire dorsaL skin of the three eubspecies was rneasured, and that f ror,.l -Ehe a¡id zoîe subspecíes i:ad the iríghest reflectivi.ty whil-e samples f rom gcannas f rorn Kangaroo rel-anc had the lowest ref lectance values. There was so;îre variation in ref lectance va].ues oro individua-te witili.n each sr:bs¡lecies. jiåQiyiS,lL+-aJ This thesis contains no nateri-a} r¡¡hich has beeir. acce*,ted for' aíry otl¡er d.egree or d-iplcna at arÌy ',iniversit¡r, and., to tlie best of i.,ry knor¡lledge coiitains no nateri-a.l- l.revi-ousiji i;¡¡i¡¿en or published 'b"' anot6er person c.:cet)t vrirere d.uc reference is ;iad.e in tÌre text of tlie thesis. åci-*qË-iUll. 'lli,å I tha¡k Professor FI.G. A:.Ldrcvr'aÍt,ia for acting as my supervieor d_uriil3 this study, ::itd for naking helpful criilci=,,rs of thc nai:.uscript. Dr. ii.rg"B" Sm¡,th al-so trcindly read- and. offercd. surgcstions on thc rlaniiscript. iiuch gratitud e is ,-i;;c to Erian Green v¡ho su,rgestcd- the possibility of such a stud_y, provid.ed consi,lerabl-c a-osista.:rce in both thc ficld a.nd. the laborato;:¡r d.u-ring tirc initi¿.1- -.art of thc ii'o_rli, al_l_or,-;ed_ me acceFis to nis nnpubl-isl:led, ficì-d notcs, anc. :rad.e mej.r.y uscful su,".g;cstlons during thc course cf this study. I[ai:; othr:r pecplc have aidcd me in a nu_nber of 'r',Iaj'/s, with advice a"äd assi.t¡¿ncc du-rlnq ficl-c trips and laboratory worlc, a"nd. I tnank thcrn a.1f . In particular r acknowledgc thc h-eli: of Tíichaci Brayshcr, lieil Brcwcr, Jlctcr cairncy, lcs Dohcrty, Robcrt lTcnzcl-l-, Ða1.: R.oberts, lony iì.o'r;inson and- R.obcrt .sharr¿:r1. i{y -pccia''l ilranks go to Broiiw;,n Tioilour?,ð,r Bcv Joncs, anrL cspecially to Earbara Fcd.l-cr, whcsc hclp d.u.rj-n,1J i;hc prcpa.ratlon of this thcsis cn¿.'l,.ledr its comi:1¡tion. I a"n gratcful for tl.',-: suppcrt ';viiich rl.;as provi,lcd -bhc for t-his urork by Alistral_ian li'oof Xoa::,J_, in th.: _iornr of a Scrrior Post-gra-d*:.tc Schol_a::ship, and b1' thc Zoolog;,- Dcpartnoüt of ti'ic 'JnivcrsitS' oí Âdol-¡ ídc. Ï. General Introductioir DaiJ-y and seascnal fluctuations in tire eíviron- mentaJ- temperatures wliiil: occ.úr in the ternperâte areas, and particularly in the ten'iperate deserts in wiiíc?t r,;"enyr apecieo of rept il-ee occ-úr, are wide . As both ex-irer,'ree of temperature are oftea in exúess of the J-iinits which a?e J-etha1 to ectotherr¡i j-c verteb¡ates, it is obvious that iernperate zoee reg)-üiies rnust regulate their bocl¡r temperatures withj-n a rnuch more natrow range than that of the environrnental- tei."peratures v¡hich they encounter. It has J-ong been lr-nown that the use oi burrows and other therrnaJ- ref r-rges is necessary f or the surviva i of reptiles in rnany areas, and that tlne activitSz palcterr,s oi these anirnale variec in response to seaso:nâL changes ín environmenta]- conditione. Lj-tt]-e .yrork was done on t jle thermoregulation of repti1.es, however, untíi tire stud;r of Cowles and Bogert (Í-944) initiated interest in the topic. They state¡J that rrthermal control through beliaviour i-s one of thå ouüstanding characterístics of des'u-r-ü reptil-esrr, a].tfiougìl they a]-so ccnsidered the plìJ-3io1ogica1 rneans used "oy reptiJ-es to 1-ower-their Ì-iod¡r temileraturee during tírnes of heat stress. Subsequent studies on reptilian therrnoregulation have genere. 11y concentrateC on either I_aborator¡r studies, oi an essential-ly physio1-oglcal naturer or on the observat;c¡: 2 of anirna]-s in t¡ie f,ie]-d and their responoes to ti¡e prevaili ng environnental co;róitions and tire determination of the diurnal and seasor-ra1 patterns cf activity of the anima]-s.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Life-Saving Lesson: Goannas Taught to Spurn the Taste of Toad
    www.ecosmagazine.com Published: 2 July 2014 Life-saving lesson: goannas taught to spurn the taste of toad Researchers are investigating whether goannas can be taught to avoid eating cane toads – in an approach similar to previous studies involving native marsupials – in the remote east Kimberley, close to the invasion front of cane toads. Credit: Thinkstock The study team comprises researchers from the University of Sydney and the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, and the Balanggarra Rangers with support from the Kimberley Land Council. Three of the five species of goannas found in the region are thought to be heavily impacted by toads. The team studied two of these species, the yellow spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes) and the sand goanna (Varanus gouldii), to learn more about their ecology. The goannas are regularly radio-tracked and offered small non-lethal cane toads. The team found goannas that previously ate the small toads tended not eat them in subsequent trials. This taste aversion training could prevent goannas from eating larger toads that could kill them when the main toad front arrives during the wet season later this year. Cane toads entered the Kimberley region from the Northern Territory in 2009 and are moving at around 50 kilometres per year. Earlier research has shown that the speed of their progress has increased as the species evolves. The invasion front is larger than previously thought, with faster, bigger toads evolving to have longer legs and moving up to eight months in front of the main pack. The research is partly supported by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program (NERP) The research is partly supported by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program (NERP) Northern Australia Hub.
    [Show full text]
  • Iguanid and Varanid CAMP 1992.Pdf
    CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR IGUANIDAE AND VARANIDAE WORKING DOCUMENT December 1994 Report from the workshop held 1-3 September 1992 Edited by Rick Hudson, Allison Alberts, Susie Ellis, Onnie Byers Compiled by the Workshop Participants A Collaborative Workshop AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION A Publication of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124 USA A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and the AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group. Cover Photo: Provided by Steve Reichling Hudson, R. A. Alberts, S. Ellis, 0. Byers. 1994. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for lguanidae and Varanidae. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Additional copies of this publication can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Send checks for US $35.00 (for printing and shipping costs) payable to CBSG; checks must be drawn on a US Banlc Funds may be wired to First Bank NA ABA No. 091000022, for credit to CBSG Account No. 1100 1210 1736. The work of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group is made possible by generous contributions from the following members of the CBSG Institutional Conservation Council Conservators ($10,000 and above) Australasian Species Management Program Gladys Porter Zoo Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Sponsors ($50-$249) Chicago Zoological
    [Show full text]
  • Varanus Macraei
    BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 13 Number 2 ISSN: 1936-296X On the Cover: Varanus macraei The Blue tree monitors, Varanus mac- raei depicted on the cover and inset of this issue were hatched on 14 No- vember 2019 at Bristol Zoo Gardens (BZG) and are the first of their spe- cies to hatch at a UK zoological in- stitution. Two live offspring from an original clutch of four eggs hatched after 151 days of incubation at a tem- perature of 30.5 °C. The juveniles will remain on dis- play at BZG until they are eventually transferred to other accredited Euro- pean Association of Zoos & Aquari- ums (EAZA) institutions as part of the zoo breeding programme. Text and photographs by Adam Davis. BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Editor Editorial Review ROBERT W. MENDYK BERND EIDENMÜLLER Department of Herpetology Frankfurt, DE Smithsonian National Zoological Park [email protected] 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008, US RUston W. Hartdegen [email protected] Department of Herpetology Dallas Zoo, US Department of Herpetology [email protected] Audubon Zoo 6500 Magazine Street TIM JESSOP New Orleans, LA 70118, US Department of Zoology [email protected] University of Melbourne, AU [email protected] Associate Editors DAVID S. KIRSHNER Sydney Zoo, AU DANIEL BENNETT [email protected] PO Box 42793 Larnaca 6503, CY JEFFREY M. LEMM [email protected] San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Zoological Society of San Diego, US MICHAEL Cota [email protected] Natural History Museum National Science Museum, Thailand LAURENCE PAUL Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang San Antonio, TX, US Pathum Thani 12120, TH [email protected] [email protected] SAMUEL S.
    [Show full text]
  • BIAWAK Quarterly Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry
    BIAWAK Quarterly Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 5 Number 3 ISSN: 1936-296X On the Cover: Varanus komodoensis The Varanus komodoensis depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by Jeremy Holden on Rinca Island in late July 2011 during the making of a film for National Geographic Channel on Homo floresiensis and Komodo dragons. Unlike the mainland Flores population, the dragons on Rinca, although still dangerous on occasion, are now accepting of humans and can be approached to within meters. The photograph on the cover and to the left shows one of the Komodo National Park rangers luring a dragon with a dead fish. A number of dragons visit the park head quarters, occasionally menacing kitchen staff and even attacking rangers - a notorious incident in 2009 saw a dragon climb in to the park ticket booth and bite a ranger on the arm as he struggled to escape through the window. These animals are often co-opted into appearing in TV documentaries, as was the case with the dragon in these photographs. Jeremy Holden is a 45-year-old photographer, naturalist and explorer. For the past 25 years he has been traveling the world in search of wild places and mysterious creatures. In 1994 he began working with the British conservation organization Fauna & Flora International to help document and preserve some of Southeast Asia’s most threatened ecosystems. During his field research he developed camera trapping techniques which he has used all over Asia to document rare and cryptic animals, especially those in tropical rainforests.
    [Show full text]
  • An Annotated Type Catalogue of Varanid Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) in the Collection of the Western Australian Museum Ryan J
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 33 187–194 (2018) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.33(2).2018.187-194 An annotated type catalogue of varanid lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Varanidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum Ryan J. Ellis Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT – There are currently 30 recognised species, with 13 subspecies, of varanid lizards (Varanidae: Varanus) occurring in Australia, with 24 known to occur in Western Australia, including fve endemic species and one subspecies. Of the 37 Australian varanid species or subspecies, type material for 12 are, or have formerly been, housed in the collection of the Western Australian Museum, including 11 holotypes, one neotype and 67 paratypes. Of the 67 paratypes held in the WAM collection, fve belonging to V. panoptes rubidus and V. glauerti have not been located and are presumed lost. An annotated catalogue is provided for all varanid type material currently and previously maintained in the herpetological collection of the Western Australian Museum. KEYWORDS: type specimens, goanna, monitor lizard, holotype, neotype, paratype, nomenclature INTRODUCTION WAM collection; it was subsequently gifted to the The varanid lizards (family Varanidae) are British Museum (Natural History), now the Natural represented by a single genus (Varanus) distributed History Museum, London. Only five currently across Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia recognised Australian varanids were described in and Australia (Pianka et al. 2004), comprising the early 20th century (1901–1950), while the late approximately 80 species, of which 30 (~37.5%) and 20th century (1951–2000) saw a substantial increase 13 subspecies occur in Australia (Uetz et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 78 Part 4
    JournalJournal of ofthe the Royal Royal Society Society of ofWestern Western Australia, Australia, 78(4), 78:107-114, December 1995 1995 Foraging patterns and behaviours, body postures and movement speed for goannas, Varanus gouldii (Reptilia: Varanidae), in a semi-urban environment G G Thompson Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027 Manuscript received July 1995; accepted February 1996 Abstract Two Gould’s goannas (Varanus gouldii) were intensively observed in the semi-urban environ- ment of Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia. After emerging and basking to increase their body temperature, they spent most of their time out of their burrows foraging, primarily in leaves between grave covers, and under trees and shrubs. Mean speed of movement between specific foraging sites was 27.6 m min-1, whereas the overall mean speed while active was only 2.6 m min-1 because of their slower speeds while foraging. A number of specific body postures were observed, including; vigilance, walking, erect, and tail swipes. Specific feeding and avoidance behaviours were also recorded, along with the influence that two species of birds had on their selection of foraging sites. Introduction Methods Our knowledge of foraging habits, patterns, home Study Site range and activity area size, posture, and behaviour for Karrakatta Cemetery (115° 47' E, 31° 55' S) is located large goannas has been extended since the early work of within the Perth metropolitan area, approximately 4 km Cowles (1930) with V. niloticus, and Green & King (1978) west-south-west of the city centre. It has 53 ha allotted with V. rosenbergi. Recent comprehensive studies include to burial plots and another 53 ha to roads, ornamental those by Auffenberg (1981a,b; 1988; 1994) for V.
    [Show full text]
  • Pest Risk Assessment
    PEST RISK ASSESSMENT Lace Monitor Varanus varius Photo: Quartl (2009). Image from Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.) September 2011 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Resource Management and Conservation Division Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2011 Information in this publication may be reproduced provided that any extracts are acknowledged. This publication should be cited as: DPIPWE (2011) Pest Risk Assessment: Lace Monitor (Varanus varius). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Hobart, Tasmania. About this Pest Risk Assessment: This pest risk assessment is developed in accordance with the Policy and Procedures for the Import, Movement and Keeping of Vertebrate Wildlife in Tasmania (DPIPWE 2011). The policy and procedures set out conditions and restrictions for the importation of controlled animals pursuant to s32 of the Nature Conservation Act 2002. This pest risk assessment is prepared by DPIPWE for use within the Department. For more information about this Pest Risk Assessment, please contact: Wildlife Management Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Address: GPO Box 44, Hobart, TAS. 7001, Australia. Phone: 1300 386 550 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au Disclaimer The information provided in this pest risk assessment is provided in good faith. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information in this pest risk assessment and/or reliance on its availability at any time. Pest Risk Assessment: Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) 2/18 1.
    [Show full text]
  • ZOO VIEW Tales of Monitor Lizard Tails and Other Perspectives
    178 ZOO VIEW Herpetological Review, 2019, 50(1), 178–201. © 2019 by Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Tales of Monitor Lizard Tails and Other Perspectives SINCE I—ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO—GOT MY FIRST LIVING NILE MONITOR OTHER AS THE ROLL OVER AND OVER ON THE GROUND. THE VICTOR THEN AND BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH HIS LIFE HABITS IN THE TERRARIUM, THE COURTS THE FEMALE, FIRST FLICKING HIS TONGUE ALL OVER HER AND THEN, MONITOR LIZARDS HAVE FASCINATED ME ALL THE TIME, THESE ‘PROUDEST, IF SHE CONCURS, CLIMBING ON TOP OF HER AND MATING BY CURLING THE BEST-PROPORTIONED, MIGHTIEST, AND MOST INTELLIGENT’ LIZARDS AS BASE OF HIS TAIL BENEATH HERS AND INSERTING ONE OF HIS TWO HEMIPENES [FRANZ] WERNER STRIKINGLY CALLED THEM. INTO HER CLOACA. (MALE VARANIDS HAVE A UNIQUE CARTILAGINOUS, —ROBERT MERTENS (1942) SOMETIMES BONY, SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN EACH HEMIPENES, CALLED A HEMIBACULUM). MODERN COMPARATIVE METHODS ALLOW THE EXAMINATION OF —ERIC R. PIANKA AND LAURIE J. VITT (2003) THE PROBABLE COURSE OF EVOLUTION IN A LINEAGE OF LIZARDS (FAMILY VARANIDAE, GENUS VARANUS). WITHIN THIS GENUS, BODY MASS VARIES MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING DIVERSITY OF VARANIDS, AS WELL AS BY NEARLY A FULL FIVE ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE. THE FOSSIL RECORD AND CLADE DIVERSITY OF ALL OTHER EXTANT LIZARDS, WILL DEPEND INCREASINGLY PRESENT GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION SUGGEST THAT VARANIDS AROSE ON OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE AND SHARE BELEAGUERED SPACESHIP OVER 65 MILLION YR AGO IN LAURASIA AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISPERSED EARTH. CURRENT AND EXPANDING LEVELS OF HUMAN POPULATIONS ARE TO AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA. TWO MAJOR LINEAGES HAVE UNDERGONE UNSUSTAINABLE AND ARE DIRECT AND INDIRECT CAUSES OF HABITAT LOSS.
    [Show full text]
  • BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry
    BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 10 Number 2 ISSN: 1936-296X On the Cover: Varanus salvator bivittatus The hand-drawn anatomical illustrations appearing on the cover and inset of this issue originate from Grace B. Watkinson’s 1906 work entitled “The cranial nerves of Varanus bivittatus.” With 17 figures, this monograph repre- sents one of the earliest investigations on the nervous system of varanid lizards, and features what may be the first published illustration of the varanid brain (Varanus salvator bivittatus). Figures courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History Library. Watkinson, G.B. 1906. The cranial nerves of Varanus bivittatus. Gegenbaurs Morphologisches Jahrbuch 35: 450- 472 + 17 figures. BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Editor Editorial Review ROBERT W. MENDYK MICHAEL J. BALSAI Department of Herpetology Department of Biology, Temple University Smithsonian National Zoological Park Philadelphia, PA 19122, US 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW [email protected] Washington, DC 20008, US [email protected] BERND EIDENMÜLLER Griesheimer Ufer 53 Department of Herpetology 65933 Frankfurt, DE Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens [email protected] 370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32218 MICHAEL FOST [email protected] Department of Math and Statistics Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303, US Associate Editors [email protected] DANIEL BENNETT RUSTON W. HARTDEGEN PO Box 42793 Department of Herpetology, Dallas Zoo Larnaca 6503, CY 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway [email protected] Dallas, Texas 75203, US [email protected] MICHAEL COTA Natural History Museum HANS-GEORG HORN National Science Museum, Thailand Monitor Lizards Research Station Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang Hasslinghauser Str.
    [Show full text]
  • Help Save the Heath Goanna Report Sightings • Report Any Sightings of Alive Or Dead Goannas to We Need to Know Where Goannas Are in Order to Help Them
    Help save the Heath Goanna Goannas are our last remaining large, native, terrestrial predator in southern SA and they need our help! Photo: Byron Manning Photo: Byron About goannas Also known as Monitor Lizards or Varanids, there are 28 species of goanna in Australia. Three large goanna species occur in south-eastern South Australia; the Heath Goanna, Sand Goanna and Lace Monitor. The Heath Goanna and Sand Goanna are similar in size and patterning and can be easily confused. The Lace Monitor is larger, easier to distinguish from the other species and has a more restricted distribution in South Australia. Goannas are predominately terrestrial predators that are generally active during the day. They feed on carrion, small birds and mammals, insects, spiders, small reptiles and eggs. Conservation status The Heath Goanna, also known as Rosenberg’s Goanna, is classified as Vulnerable in South Australia. They are Regionally, it is classified as Endangered disappearing in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Northern There are possibly and Yorke, Eyre Peninsula, less than 100 Murray-Darling Basin and South East regions. individuals left in each of the NRM regions in which they occur! The Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) was once common in many higher rainfall, cooler areas across southern Australia but is declining. It now occurs in mostly small, isolated populations in Photo: Kristin Abley WA, SA, VIC and NSW. Why is the Heath Goanna Endangered? • Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation through land clearance and grazing has reduced the amount of suitable habitat available to the Heath Goanna. They need large areas of native vegetation to find enough food and maintain sustainable populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Perentie (Varanus Giganteus)
    Husbandry Guidelines for PERENTIE Varanus giganteus, Gray 1945 Reptilia: Varanidae Compiler: Rebecca Ryman Date of Preparation: Feb 2009 Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Course Name and Number: Captive animals RUV Lecturer: Graeme Phipps, Jackie Salkeld, Brad Walker DISCLAIMER 2 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS The occupational Health and safety Act (OH&S), 2000 is in place to help provide a safe and healthy working environment that protects people at work from injury, illness and death in the workplace. This Act is enforced by Work safe Australia. All employers and employees should be familiar with OH&S legislation and be aware of their individual responsibilities. For further information on the OH&S Act refer to www.legislation.gov.au The Perentie is classed as dangerous and can cause serious harm or death. Two trained keepers must be present at all times when entering this exhibit. (Pers. Comm. Mostyn, J, SWW 2009) First Aid equipment necessary (Contents of First Aid Kits/ trauma, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 1989) Adhesive plastic dressing strips, sterile, packets of 50 Adhesive dressing tape, 2.5 cm x 5 cm Bags, plastic, for amputated parts: Small Medium Large Dressing, non-adherent, sterile 7.5cm x 7.5cm Eye pads, sterile Gauze bandages 5cm 10cm Gloves, disposable, single Rescue blanket, silver space Safety pins, packets Scissors, blunt/short nosed, minimum length 12.5 cm Splinter forceps, stainless steel Sterile eyewash solution, 10 ml single use ampoules or sachets Swabs, pre-packed, antiseptic, packs of 10 Triangular bandages, minimum 90 cm Wound dressings, sterile, non-medicated, large First-aid pamphlets (as issued by the St.
    [Show full text]
  • 4-1-7-Spot-On-Using-Camera-Traps-To
    Moore, H.A., Champney, J.L., Dunlop, J.A., Valentine, L.E., Nimmo, D.G. (2020) Spot on: using camera traps to individually monitor one of the world’s largest lizards. Wildlife Research, Vol. 47, Iss. 4, 326-337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/WR19159 1 2 3 Spot on: Using camera traps to 4 individually monitor one of the world’s 5 largest lizards 6 7 Harry A. Moorea*, Jacob L. Champneyb, Judy A. Dunlopc, Leonie E. Valentined, Dale G. Nimmoa 8 9 Manuscript published: 10 Moore, H., Champney, J., Dunlop, J., Valentine, L., and Nimmo, D. (2020). Spot on: Using camera 11 traps to individually monitor one of the world’s largest lizards. Wildlife research 47, 326-337. 12 13 14 15 a School of Environmental Science, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, 16 Albury, NSW, Australia 17 b University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Qld, Australia 18 c Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, 19 Perth, WA, Australia 20 d School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia 21 Corresponding author: Harry A. Moore 22 Email: [email protected] 23 Phone: +61 421 682 090 24 Article type: Research paper 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 ABSTRACT 33 34 Context 35 Estimating animal abundance often relies on being able to identify individuals, but this can be 36 challenging, especially when applied to large animals which are difficult to trap and handle. Camera 37 traps have provided a non-invasive alternative by using natural markings to individually identify 38 animals within image data.
    [Show full text]