DOCSLIB.ORG

Systematics of the Snake-Eyed Skinks, Cryptoblepharus Wiegmann (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) – an Australian-Based Review

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Supplement 3 (2007): 2–98 Systematics of the snake-eyed skinks, Cryptoblepharus Wiegmann (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) – an Australian-based review PAUL HORNER Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory GPO Box 4646, Darwin NT 0801, AUSTRALIA [email protected] ABSTRACT Morphologically conservative, Cryptoblepharus was once treated as a single polytypic species comprising many geo- graphical subspecies and was considered the world’s most broadly distributed lizard. Concentrating on taxa from the Australian region, the study investigates morphological characteristics of the two lineages and operational taxonomic units genetically identified by Horner and Adams (2007). Morphological variation of the genetically identified populations was investigated by multivariate analyses of 21 meristic and 12 mensural variables, and resulted in the identification of 25 Australian taxa. Using comparable analyses, species extralimital to Australia were also investigated, resulting in the recognition of 13 taxa from the southwest Indian Ocean region and 24 from the Indo-Pacific region. Overall, Crypto- blepharus was determined to comprise 62 taxa, consisting of 48 monotypic and six polytypic species. Existing types were able to be assigned to 43 taxa and 9 are described as new. Accounts of each taxon are supplied, although those of taxa extralimital to Australia are based on small sample sizes and are less detailed. Dichotomous keys to the identification of taxa from each geographic region are provided. An hypothesis for the biogeography of the genus suggests that it originated in South-east Asia and achieved its present distribution by a combination of rafting and human mediated transport. KEYWORDS: Reptilia, Scincidae, Cryptoblepharus, new species, Australia, Indo-Pacific, South-west Indian Ocean, taxonomy, mor- phology. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. 23 MATERIAL AND METHODS. 27 RESULTS OF MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES. .33 SYSTEMATICS . .48 Genus Cryptoblepharus Wiegmann, 834. 48 Australian Region Taxa. .52 Key to Australian Cryptoblepharus taxa. 52 Cryptoblepharus adamsi sp. nov. .54 Cryptoblepharus australis (Sternfeld, 98) . .57 Cryptoblepharus buchananii (Gray, 838) . 60 Cryptoblepharus cygnatus sp. nov. .64 Cryptoblepharus daedalos sp. nov. .68 Cryptoblepharus exochus sp. nov. .7 Cryptoblepharus fuhni Covacevich and Ingram, 978. .74 Cryptoblepharus gurrmul sp. nov. 76 Cryptoblepharus juno sp. nov. .79 Cryptoblepharus litoralis (Mertens, 958) . 82 Cryptoblepharus litoralis horneri Wells and Wellington, 985 . .83 Cryptoblepharus litoralis litoralis (Mertens, 958) . .85 Cryptoblepharus litoralis vicinus ssp. nov. .87 Cryptoblepharus megastictus Storr, 976. .88 Cryptoblepharus mertensi sp. nov. 90 Cryptoblepharus metallicus (Boulenger, 887). .93 Cryptoblepharus ochrus sp. nov. .97 Cryptoblepharus pannosus sp. nov. 00 Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus (Cocteau, 836) . .04 Cryptoblepharus pulcher (Sternfeld, 98). .08 Cryptoblepharus pulcher clarus (Storr, 96). 110 Cryptoblepharus pulcher pulcher (Sternfeld, 98). .111 2 P. Horner Cryptoblepharus ruber Börner and Schüttler, 98 . 114 Cryptoblepharus tytthos sp. nov. .118 Cryptoblepharus ustulatus sp. nov. .2 Cryptoblepharus virgatus (Garman, 90). .24 Cryptoblepharus wulbu sp. nov. .27 Cryptoblepharus zoticus sp. nov.. .29 South-west Indian Ocean Region Taxa . .32 Key to South-west Indian Ocean Cryptoblepharus taxa. .32 Cryptoblepharus africanus (Sternfeld, 98) . .33 Cryptoblepharus ahli Mertens, 928 . .33 Cryptoblepharus aldabrae (Sternfeld, 98). .34 Cryptoblepharus ater (Boettger, 93). 35 Cryptoblepharus bitaeniatus (Boettger, 93) . 35 Cryptoblepharus boutonii (Desjardin, 83). .36 Cryptoblepharus caudatus (Sternfeld, 98). .36 Cryptoblepharus cognatus (Boettger, 88). 37 Cryptoblepharus gloriosus (Stejneger, 893). .38 Cryptoblepharus gloriosus gloriosus (Stejneger, 893). .38 Cryptoblepharus gloriosus mayottensis Mertens, 928. .39 Cryptoblepharus gloriosus mohelicus Mertens, 928. 39 Cryptoblepharus quinquetaeniatus (Günther, 874) . .40 Cryptoblepharus voeltzkowi (Sternfeld, 98) . 40 Indo-Pacific Region Taxa. 4 Key to Indo-PacificCryptoblepharus taxa. .4 Cryptoblepharus baliensis Barbour, 911. 43 Cryptoblepharus baliensis baliensis Barbour, 911 . .43 Cryptoblepharus baliensis sumbawanus Mertens, 928 . 44 Cryptoblepharus burdeni Dunn, 927. .44 Cryptoblepharus cursor Barbour, 911 . .45 Cryptoblepharus cursor cursor Barbour, 911. .45 Cryptoblepharus cursor larsonae ssp. nov. 46 Cryptoblepharus egeriae (Boulenger, 889) . .47 Cryptoblepharus eximius Girard, 857. 48 Cryptoblepharus furvus sp. nov. .48 Cryptoblepharus intermedius (de Jong, 926). .50 Cryptoblepharus keiensis (Roux, 90). .5 Cryptoblepharus leschenault (Cocteau, 832). .52 Cryptoblepharus nigropunctatus (Hallowell, 860). 52 Cryptoblepharus novaeguineae Mertens, 928 . .53 Cryptoblepharus novocaledonicus Mertens, 928 . .54 Cryptoblepharus novohebridicus Mertens, 928. .55 Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus (Wiegmann, 834). .55 Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus paschalis Garman, 908 . 56 Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus poecilopleurus (Wiegmann, 834) . 56 Cryptoblepharus renschi Mertens, 928. .57 Cryptoblepharus richardsi sp. nov.. .57 Cryptoblepharus rutilus (Peters, 879). 60 Cryptoblepharus schlegelianus Mertens, 928. 60 Cryptoblepharus xenikos sp. nov. 6 Cryptoblepharus yulensis sp. nov.. 63 Cryptoblepharus sp. .65 DISCUSSION. .65 CONCLUSION . .69 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. .69 REFERENCES . .70 Appendix . Results for Discriminant Function Analyses. .77 Appendix 2. Results for taxon comparisons by ANOVA. .79 Appendix 3. Comparative regional summary of morphological characters . 83 Appendix 4. Non-type material examined . .95 22 Systematics of the snake-eyed skinks INTRODUCTION are based on colour pattern and geographic distribution (29 are allopatric, insular species), with the few traditional In a companion paper Horner and Adams (2007) in- scalation characteristics mentioned being attributable to vestigated the genetic status of Australian populations of virtually any member of the genus. Literature relevant to the scincid genus Cryptoblepharus, ultimately recognising Cryptoblepharus is limited, and that available is mostly that species diversity in that region was greatly understated. restricted to aspects of taxonomy and biogeography, with This paper follows and complements Horner and Adams’s knowledge of reproduction, ecology and evolutionary his- (2007) work, investigating the morphological characteristics tory markedly lacking. of genetically identified and other presumptive taxa from Seven species of Cryptoblepharus are currently recog- Australia and other regions, assessing their taxonomic status nised as Australian taxa (Cogger 2000; Cogger et al. 983a; and describing or re-describing all known species. Stanger et al. 998; Ehmann 992; Greer 989; Wilson Cryptoblepharus is the most geographically widespread and Knowles 988; Wilson and Swan 2003): C. carnabyi taxon in the family Scincidae, the most species-rich, mor- Storr, 976; C. egeriae (Boulenger, 889); C. fuhni Co- phologically diverse and geographically widespread lizard vacevich and Ingram, 978; C. litoralis (Mertens, 958); group. Achieving greatest diversity in the Australian/New C. megastictus Storr, 976; C. plagiocephalus (Cocteau, Guinea and South-east Asian regions (Greer 970), Scin- 836) and C. virgatus (Garman, 90). All but one are cidae is found in most tropical and temperate regions of mainland species, with C. egeriae restricted to the Australian the world and comprises about 200 species in 27 genera Territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. As cur- (Uetz et al. 2000). rently recognised, C. fuhni, C. litoralis and C. megastictus Exhibiting a marked degree of morphological conser- have limited distributions in northern Australia, C. virgatus vatism, Cryptoblepharus are small (<55 mm snout-vent occupies much of eastern and far southern Australia, and length), heliotropic, arboreal or saxicoline skinks that C. carnabyi and C. plagiocephalus have broad continental range through three broad, geographic regions, the Ethio- distributions. pian-Malagasy (south-west Indian Ocean), Indo-Pacific Of Cryptoblepharus extralimital to Australia, Mertens and Australian. Historically Cryptoblepharus has been (93) recognised 4 taxa from the south-west Indian Ocean treated as monotypic, with the various forms considered to region: C. boutonii africanus (Sternfeld, 98); C. b. ahli be geographical races of a single species (Mertens 93), Mertens, 928a; C. b. aldabrae (Sternfeld, 98); C. b. ater a concept now considered oversimplified (Auffenberg (Boettger, 93); C. b. bitaeniatus (Boettger, 93); C. b. 1980) and many subspecies have been elevated to specific boutoni (Desjardin, 83); C. b. caudatus (Sternfeld, 98); status (e.g. Brygoo 986; Storr 976; Zug 99). Although C. b. cognatus (Boettger, 88); C. b. degrijsi Mertens, acknowledged as problematic (Dunn 927; Storr 976; 928a; C. b. gloriosus (Stejneger, 893); C. b. mayottensis Haacke 977; Crombie and Steadman 986) there has been Mertens, 928a; C. b. mohelicus Mertens, 928a; C. b. no recent attempt to systematically revise Cryptoblepha- quinquetaeniatus (Günther, 874), and C. b. voeltzkowi rus taxonomy. That 76 years has elapsed since Mertens’s (Sternfeld, 98). Geographical distribution of these is cen- monographic work on the genus is perhaps related to a tred on the Mozambique Channel, with two taxa occurring universal perception that the group is taxonomically com- on the
Recommended publications
  • Diversity of Hemipenes and Its Taxonomical Implication in the Genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae)

    Diversity of Hemipenes and Its Taxonomical Implication in the Genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae)

    ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487 doi: 10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Conference Abstract Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae) Vladislav Vergilov‡, Georgi Popgeorgiev‡§, Boyan Zlatkov ‡ National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria § Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Corresponding author: Vladislav Vergilov ([email protected]) Received: 27 Aug 2019 | Published: 28 Aug 2019 Citation: Vergilov V, Popgeorgiev G, Zlatkov B (2019) Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus(Squamata: Scincidae). ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487. https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Abstract The genus Ablepharus encompasses 10 species and 12 subspecies, distributed from Hungary to India. Most species and subspecies have been described from the Middle East and Central Asia, based on external morphology (pholidosis, body size and coloration). The present study is an attempt to demonstrate the hemipenial morphology throughout the genus. Some taxonomical questions arose during comparison of the hemipenes of several subspecies and species, showing the necessity of a revision of the genus. A dendrogram generated from distinctive hemipenial characters revealed rapid divergence of this structure in closely related taxa and discrepancy with the phylogenetic tree based on molecular data from previous studies. Keywords skink, morphology, hemipenis, relationships © Vergilov
  • Unsustainable Food Systems Threaten Wild Crop and Dolphin Species

    Unsustainable Food Systems Threaten Wild Crop and Dolphin Species

    INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Embargoed until: 07:00 GMT (16:00 JST) 5 December 2017 Elaine Paterson, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, m +41 792760185, email [email protected] [In Japan] Cheryl-Samantha MacSharry, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Download photographs here Download summary statistics here Unsustainable food systems threaten wild crop and dolphin species Tokyo, Japan, 5 December 2017 (IUCN) – Species of wild rice, wheat and yam are threatened by overly intensive agricultural production and urban expansion, whilst poor fishing practices have caused steep declines in the Irrawaddy Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Today’s Red List update also reveals that a drying climate is pushing the Ringtail Possum to the brink of extinction. Three reptile species found only on an Australian island – the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink, the Blue- tailed Skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and the Lister’s Gecko – have gone extinct, according to the update. But in New Zealand, conservation efforts have improved the situation for two species of Kiwi. “Healthy, species-rich ecosystems are fundamental to our ability to feed the world’s growing population and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 – to end hunger by 2030,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Wild crop species, for example, maintain genetic diversity of agricultural crops
  • Conserviing Fiordland's Biodiversity 1987-2015 Part 3

    Conserviing Fiordland's Biodiversity 1987-2015 Part 3

    Ecosystem response to pest control Flora and plant communities • Recognition and documentation of the flora, vegetation and wider ecological values of the Since 1987, considerable effort – both planned and Fiordland / Te Anau Basin area. opportunistic – has gone into surveying threatened • Identification of national strongholds for heart-leaved flora (plant species) and vegetation in general (plant kōhūhū, the shrub Melicytus flexuosus, the tree daisy communities) in Fiordland. This region is not only Olearia lineata and small-leaved coprosma in Back floristically significant nationally, but is also an important Valley. stronghold for several threatened species. • Recognition that the lakeshore turfs found around 11 Around 1000 vascular plant taxa are thought to occur Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau are among the in Fiordland, which makes the region much richer, most significant plant habitats in Fiordland (these ecologically, than previously understood. The Fiord communities are a national stronghold for several Ecological Region contains 11 species classified (under plant species). the New Zealand Threat Classification System) as • Protection of the Dale bog pine area as Dale Threatened, 96 as At Risk, 2 as Vagrant and 5 as Data Conservation Area. Deficient – and several of these have their national stronghold within Fiordland. Nationally important • Retirement of the Mavora Lakes and Eglinton Valley populations of some species classified as Naturally from grazing. Uncommon also occur. Fiordland is also known to be an • Working with community groups to restore and important region for endemism, with 24 taxa endemic manage important ecological values (notably to Fiordland, 11 near-endemic and a further 13 restricted Pomona Island Charitable Trust, Te Puka-Hereka/ to southern New Zealand.
  • Ecosystem Profile Madagascar and Indian

    Ecosystem Profile Madagascar and Indian

    ECOSYSTEM PROFILE MADAGASCAR AND INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS FINAL VERSION DECEMBER 2014 This version of the Ecosystem Profile, based on the draft approved by the Donor Council of CEPF was finalized in December 2014 to include clearer maps and correct minor errors in Chapter 12 and Annexes Page i Prepared by: Conservation International - Madagascar Under the supervision of: Pierre Carret (CEPF) With technical support from: Moore Center for Science and Oceans - Conservation International Missouri Botanical Garden And support from the Regional Advisory Committee Léon Rajaobelina, Conservation International - Madagascar Richard Hughes, WWF – Western Indian Ocean Edmond Roger, Université d‘Antananarivo, Département de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales Christopher Holmes, WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society Steve Goodman, Vahatra Will Turner, Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International Ali Mohamed Soilihi, Point focal du FEM, Comores Xavier Luc Duval, Point focal du FEM, Maurice Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Point focal du FEM, Seychelles Edmée Ralalaharisoa, Point focal du FEM, Madagascar Vikash Tatayah, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles Andry Ralamboson Andriamanga, Alliance Voahary Gasy Idaroussi Hamadi, CNDD- Comores Luc Gigord - Conservatoire botanique du Mascarin, Réunion Claude-Anne Gauthier, Muséum National d‘Histoire Naturelle, Paris Jean-Paul Gaudechoux, Commission de l‘Océan Indien Drafted by the Ecosystem Profiling Team: Pierre Carret (CEPF) Harison Rabarison, Nirhy Rabibisoa, Setra Andriamanaitra,
  • &lt;I&gt;ANOLIS&lt;/I&gt; LIZARDS in the FOOD WEBS of STRUCTURALLY

    <I>ANOLIS</I> LIZARDS in the FOOD WEBS of STRUCTURALLY

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2016 ASSESSING THE FUNCTIONAL SIMILARITY OF NATIVE AND INVASIVE ANOLIS LIZARDS IN THE FOOD WEBS OF STRUCTURALLY-SIMPLE HABITATS IN FLORIDA Nathan W. Turnbough University of Tennessee, Knoxville, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Turnbough, Nathan W., "ASSESSING THE FUNCTIONAL SIMILARITY OF NATIVE AND INVASIVE ANOLIS LIZARDS IN THE FOOD WEBS OF STRUCTURALLY-SIMPLE HABITATS IN FLORIDA. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2016. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/4174 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Nathan W. Turnbough entitled "ASSESSING THE FUNCTIONAL SIMILARITY OF NATIVE AND INVASIVE ANOLIS LIZARDS IN THE FOOD WEBS OF STRUCTURALLY-SIMPLE HABITATS IN FLORIDA." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

  • The Herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a First Report 19 Doi: 10.3897/Zookeys.109.1439 Research Article Launched to Accelerate Biodiversity Research

    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 109: 19–86 (2011) The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report 19 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.109.1439 RESEARCH ARTICLE www.zookeys.org Launched to accelerate biodiversity research The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report Hinrich Kaiser1, Venancio Lopes Carvalho2, Jester Ceballos1, Paul Freed3, Scott Heacox1, Barbara Lester3, Stephen J. Richards4, Colin R. Trainor5, Caitlin Sanchez1, Mark O’Shea6 1 Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and The Foundation for Post-Conflict Development, 245 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10167, USA 2 Universidade National Timor-Lorosa’e, Faculdade de Ciencias da Educaçao, Departamentu da Biologia, Avenida Cidade de Lisboa, Liceu Dr. Francisco Machado, Dili, Timor-Leste 3 14149 S. Butte Creek Road, Scotts Mills, Oregon 97375, USA 4 Conservation International, PO Box 1024, Atherton, Queensland 4883, Australia; and Herpetology Department, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia 5 School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia 6 West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF, United Kingdom; and Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Vic- toria 3010, Australia Corresponding author: Hinrich Kaiser ([email protected]) Academic editor: Franco Andreone | Received 4 November 2010 | Accepted 8 April 2011 | Published 20 June 2011 Citation: Kaiser H, Carvalho VL, Ceballos J, Freed P, Heacox S, Lester B, Richards SJ, Trainor CR, Sanchez C, O’Shea M (2011) The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report. ZooKeys 109: 19–86.
  • Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa

    Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa

    Husbandry Manual for The Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua rugosa GRAY, 1825 Reptilia:Scincidae Compiler: Andrew Titmuss Date of Preparation: 2007 University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury © Andrew Titmuss 2007 1 A Husbandry Manual template has been developed to standardise information on captive management needs in a concise, accessible and usable form. Currently there is no Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard. As these lizards are commonly kept in zoological and private collections in Australia and internationally, a Husbandry Manual could be widely used. This Husbandry Manual is set out as per the husbandry manual template designed by Stephen Jackson and Graeme Phipps. The template is a document that was created to maintain husbandry manual uniformity and thus its effectiveness and ease of use. It is intended as a working document. It is designed to be used by any institution, as well as private collections, holding this species. Although these lizards are easy to keep in captivity they do have some special requirements. The aim of the Husbandry Manual is to summarise and consolidate information regarding OHS, natural history, captive management and ethical husbandry techniques and conservation from a variety of sources. It should provide information on appropriate husbandry with scope for improved health and welfare and captive breeding if required. The University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus, is planning on keeping Shingleback Lizards amongst other species in their reptile unit. This manual can be used by the University of
  • A New Record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops Exocoeti (Reptilia: Squamata: Typhlopidae)

    A New Record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops Exocoeti (Reptilia: Squamata: Typhlopidae)

    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 27 156–160 (2012) A new record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops exocoeti (Reptilia: Squamata: Typhlopidae). Dion J. Maple1, Rachel Barr, Michael J. Smith 1 Christmas Island National Park, Christmas Island, Western Australia, Indian Ocean, 6798, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT – The endemic Christmas Island Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops exocoeti is a species rarely collected since initial faunal collections were conducted on Christmas Island in 1887. Twenty-three years after the last record in 1986, an individual was collected on 31 July 2009. Here we catalogue historical collection records of this animal. We also describe the habitat and conditions in which the recent collection occurred and provide a brief morphological description of the animal including a diagnostic feature that may assist in future identifi cations. This account provides the fi rst accurate spatial record and detailed description of habitat utilised by this species. KEYWORDS: Indian Ocean, Yellow Crazy Ant, recovery plan INTRODUCTION ‘fairly common’ and could be found under the trunks Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean of fallen trees. In 1975 a specimen collected from (10°25'S, 105°40'E), approximately 360 km south of the Stewart Hill, located in the central west of the island western head of Java, Indonesia (Geoscience Australia in a mine lease known as Field 22, was deposited in 2011). This geographically remote, rugged and thickly the Australian Museum (Cogger and Sadlier 1981). A vegetated island is the exposed summit of a large specimen was caught by N. Dunlop in 1984 while pit mountain.
  • Unconventional Gas Production

    Unconventional Gas Production

    Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production A study of shale gas in Australia. FINAL REPORT PROJECT AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE ACADEMY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING SECURING EXPERT AUSTRALIA’S WORKING FUTURE GROUP – PROJECT 6 A three-year research Professor Peter Cook CBE, FTSE (Chair) program funded by the Dr Vaughan Beck FTSE (Deputy Chair) Australian Research Professor David Brereton Council and conducted Professor Robert Clark AO, FAA, FRSN Dr Brian Fisher AO, PSM, FASSA by the four Learned Professor Sandra Kentish Academies through Mr John Toomey FTSE the Australian Council Dr John Williams FTSE of Learned Academies for PMSEIC, through AUTHORS the Office of the Chief Professor Peter Cook CBE, FTSE Scientist. Securing Dr Vaughan Beck FTSE Australia’s Future delivers Professor David Brereton research-based evidence Professor Robert Clark AO, FAA, FRSN and findings to support Dr Brian Fisher AO, PSM, FASSA policy development in Professor Sandra Kentish areas of importance to Mr John Toomey FTSE Australia’s future. Dr John Williams FTSE © Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) ISBN 978 0 9875798 1 2 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of it may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the publisher. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction rights should be directed to the publisher. DATE OF PUBLICATION May 2013 PUBLISHER Australian Council of Learned Academies Level 1, 1 Bowen Crescent Melbourne Victoria 3004 Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 98640923 www.acola.org.au SUGGESTED CITATION Cook, P, Beck, V, Brereton, D, Clark, R, Fisher, B, Kentish, S, Toomey, J and Williams, J (2013).
  • Special Issue3.7 MB

    Special Issue3.7 MB

    Volume Eleven Conservation Science 2016 Western Australia Review and synthesis of knowledge of insular ecology, with emphasis on the islands of Western Australia IAN ABBOTT and ALLAN WILLS i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 2 METHODS 17 Data sources 17 Personal knowledge 17 Assumptions 17 Nomenclatural conventions 17 PRELIMINARY 18 Concepts and definitions 18 Island nomenclature 18 Scope 20 INSULAR FEATURES AND THE ISLAND SYNDROME 20 Physical description 20 Biological description 23 Reduced species richness 23 Occurrence of endemic species or subspecies 23 Occurrence of unique ecosystems 27 Species characteristic of WA islands 27 Hyperabundance 30 Habitat changes 31 Behavioural changes 32 Morphological changes 33 Changes in niches 35 Genetic changes 35 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 36 Degree of exposure to wave action and salt spray 36 Normal exposure 36 Extreme exposure and tidal surge 40 Substrate 41 Topographic variation 42 Maximum elevation 43 Climate 44 Number and extent of vegetation and other types of habitat present 45 Degree of isolation from the nearest source area 49 History: Time since separation (or formation) 52 Planar area 54 Presence of breeding seals, seabirds, and turtles 59 Presence of Indigenous people 60 Activities of Europeans 63 Sampling completeness and comparability 81 Ecological interactions 83 Coups de foudres 94 LINKAGES BETWEEN THE 15 FACTORS 94 ii THE TRANSITION FROM MAINLAND TO ISLAND: KNOWNS; KNOWN UNKNOWNS; AND UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS 96 SPECIES TURNOVER 99 Landbird species 100 Seabird species 108 Waterbird
  • An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates

    An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates

    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(3):529–536. Herpetological Conservation and Biology Symposium at the 6th World Congress of Herpetology. AN OVERVIEW AND CHECKLIST OF THE NATIVE AND ALIEN HERPETOFAUNA OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1 1 2 PRITPAL S. SOORAE , MYYAS AL QUARQAZ , AND ANDREW S. GARDNER 1Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: [email protected] 2Natural Science and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 4783, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abstract.—This paper provides an updated checklist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) native and alien herpetofauna. The UAE, while largely a desert country with a hyper-arid climate, also has a range of more mesic habitats such as islands, mountains, and wadis. As such it has a diverse native herpetofauna of at least 72 species as follows: two amphibian species (Bufonidae), five marine turtle species (Cheloniidae [four] and Dermochelyidae [one]), 42 lizard species (Agamidae [six], Gekkonidae [19], Lacertidae [10], Scincidae [six], and Varanidae [one]), a single amphisbaenian, and 22 snake species (Leptotyphlopidae [one], Boidae [one], Colubridae [seven], Hydrophiidae [nine], and Viperidae [four]). Additionally, we recorded at least eight alien species, although only the Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyplops braminus) appears to have become naturalized. We also list legislation and international conventions pertinent to the herpetofauna. Key Words.— amphibians; checklist; invasive; reptiles; United Arab Emirates INTRODUCTION (Arnold 1984, 1986; Balletto et al. 1985; Gasperetti 1988; Leviton et al. 1992; Gasperetti et al. 1993; Egan The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of 2007).
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database

    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.