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Home , Chalarodon, Opluridae, Oplurus, Oplurus cuvieri, Oplurus cyclurus, Oplurus grandidieri

Studbook report 2003 cuvieri cuvieri Reptilia / /

Gerrit Hofstra Bosscheweg 36 5151 BD Drunen

1 Contents

Contents...... 2 Introduction...... 3 Madagascan iguanids...... 3 Subspecies...... 4 Activities 2003...... 5 Imports Births an Deaths...... 6 Perspectives...... 6 Keeping conditions...... 6

Enclosure...... 6 Climate...... 6 Food...... 7 Social behavior...... 7 Literature on the ...... 7 Cited literature...... 7

2 Introduction.

Madagascan iguanids

Madagascar has two genera of Iguanids the monotypic of and the genus Oplurus (6 species). This studbook deals with the genus Oplurus. Most Opluridae with the possible exception of O. fierensis, which is only known from a single location, are not threatened in the wild, however originating from Madagascar, with its ongoing habitat destruction, this status might soon change. The ESF studbook of the species is founded because of the small genetic base of the registered captive population and therefore the need for careful breeding to avoid unnecessary inbreeding. Even though imports do occur occasionally there are very little reports about breeding the species, there is no reason to expect a large captive population outside the studbook. The more reason to be careful with the registered population. For a proper identification of Madagascan iguanids see the key below.

Key to the Madagascan Iguanids (Glaw 1994)

1a Small species (up to 223 mm TL) generally living on sandy Chalarodon ground; a continuous dorsal crest is present madascariensis 1b Larger species (at least up to 250 mm TL) generally living on rocks Oplurus (2) or trees; dorsal crest absent or restricted to the neck 2a Tail with large and distinct spines; a small dorsal crest is present 3 on the neck; mainly arboreal 2b Tail without large spines; no dorsal crest; mainly living on rocks 4

3a Scales of the tail with spines which distinctly alternate in size; northern west coast 3b Scales of the tail with spines of similar size; south west 4a Dorsal scales coarsely granular, tail slightly depressed at its base; Oplurus four longitudinal dorsal series of large dark patches, more or less quadrimaculatus distinct 4b Dorsal scales finely granular, tail base and body strongly depressed 5 (distinct longitudinal folds along the flanks), no dark markings on the back 5a A distinct light dorsal stripe is present; scales of vertebral region hexagonal, larger than dorsilateral scales 5b No distinct dorsal stripe; scales of vertebral region similar to 6 dorsilateral scales. 6a Back brownish, with vermiculations; often with a dark patch on the flank behind the foreleg insertions 6b Back uniformly bluish gray; no dark patch on the flanks Oplurus fierinensis

3 Subspecies

O. cuvieri has two subspecies; the Madagascan population O.c.cuvieri and the population of the Comoren; O.cuvieri comorensis. Even though there are no subspecies described for Madagascar there is a distinct difference between the specimen from the northern and the southern part of the range, where the Jersey specimen represent the more bluish northern type. For the other Madagascan Iguanids there are no subspecies described.

Oplurus fierensis

Oplurus cuvieri (Juvenile)

Oplurus grandidieri

Oplurus cyclurus

Oplurus quadrimaculatus

4 Detail tail Oplurus cuvieri

Oplurus saxicola Copyright Photo’s Oplurus cuvieri, Oplurus cyclurus, Oplurus fierensis, Oplurus grandidieri and Peter Mudde; “Onder het palmblad” http://www.palmblad.nl/. Oplurus saxicola Moritz Grubenmann Tail details Gerrit Hofstra

Detail tail Oplurus cyclurus

Activities 2003.

In 2003 there where no publications or field research conducted by studbook participants

Planned activities 2004 The studbook keeper is currently working on a short publication on Opluridae that will be submitted to the magazine of the Dutch herpetological society Xenopus .

Studbook population The current studbook population is 37 of 2 different geographic varieties. If the animals originated from Krefeld are unrelated (as these most likely are animals originating from the wild, this is a fair assumption) the total number of bloodlines is 2 possibly 3 for the Jersey group and 6 (3.3) presumably wild caught animals from the other group. The three founder females have all died, one without any offspring, two with 2 offspring both. The situation with the males is unclear. 8 has a lot of offspring, this bloodline should be considered as fully incorporated. Male 1 has at least 2 offspring possibly 4. Male 7 could have 2 offspring, but could also have none at all. This means that the current basis of this studbook consists of 3, 3,4 or 4 bloodlines, depending on the correct sire for studbook number 16 and 17.

5 Imports Births an Deaths

In 2003 there were no imports, 5 births at location Rotterdam Zoo and 2 births at location Zwartepoorte. The animals at location Zwartepoorte died within 2 months. There were no further deaths reported.

Perspectives

Keeping results for healthy well-adapted or hand-reared specimen are very good, with the oldest animal in the population estimated at 30 years, but at least 26 years of age (expected to be at least 2 years at the transfer to Rotterdam). Breeding results are fair to good (the population is increasing) but breeding is mainly at one facility (Rotterdam Zoo) and for the last few years with only one reproducing couple. The number of bloodlines available is very poor and serious inbreeding is already a fact at the location Zwartepoorte. A genetic advice about a recoupling of animals has been send to Hofstra, Zwartepoorte and Rotterdam Zoo

Even though breeding results are fair the number of bloodlines seems insufficient for a long-term survival of the studbook. Introduction of the Jersey animals, even though they are from a different geographical region, could temporary release the inbreeding stress on the population. This option should be discussed with the studbook participants.

Infant mortality at location Zwartepoorte is high, much higher than at location Rotterdam Zoo. There could be a lot of reasons for this one being the species being extremely intolerant to inbreeding.

Keeping conditions

Enclosure

Opluridae are active diurnal . Even captive bred animals stay very shy and skittish So a large terrarium fit with plenty of hiding places seems essential for their well-being. I keep Oplurus c. cuvieri in dry terrariums sized 1,1x 80 x 60 (LBH) 1 pair per tank. Since this is an arboreal species a higher tank might be beneficial but seems not to be essential. The tank is structured with large logs and thick vertical branches that they seem to prefer. They need a rather hot space to bask.

Climate quarter of the island and Pyxis from the extreme southwest this combination seems Three keepers (Hofstra, Rotterdam and to work out fine even though the temperature Zwartepoorte) combine Oplurus cuvieri in the south is a few degree’s below that in cuvieri with the small Madagascan tortoise the north. Pyxis arachnoides. Despite the fact that O. Basically the climate consists of a “wet” cuvieri originates from the northwestern summer (regular spraying of the tank but

6 overall moisture low, temperatures 30-34 degree, and a dry winter (no spraying, Tulear, Madagascar* drinking water is however available) neerslag T. max. T. min. temperatures around 20 degree. Keepers 50 100 Hofstra and Rotterdam Zoo have adapted the 90 animals to the northern hemisphere as in the graph.. 40 80

70 m C 30 60 °

m e r on tu

50 i a t r a t e p pi i

m 20 40 c e e T r

30 P

10 20

10

0 - l

r i v c n n g p kt u b p e j o e a u u e o j j e mrt a n f d m a s Pyxis a. arachnoides, Oplurus c. cuvieri

Food Oplurus are mainly insectivores but greens are occasionally eaten. Healthy they are eager feeders taking a large variety of insects like super worms (Zorophobas morio) crickets (Acheta domesticus), roaches (Blabtica dubia) and grasshoppers (Locusta migratoria). They seem to prefer larger insects to small ones, but this could also be the individual preference of my animals.

Social behavior At the location Zwartepoorte 4 males have successfully been kept in the same enclosure for a reasonable time, at a certain moment however territorial fights did occur leading to the death of one male. Since then males are separated. At the location Hofstra combining to young males resulted in the death of the smaller male. I therefore should strongly advice to keep the species in pairs. Small breeding groups formed of one male and several females also are possible.

Literature on the species.

Cited literature

Glaw F, Vences M A fieldguide to the amphibians and of Madagascar Moos Druck Leverkusen 1994

7 Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri

Location: ROTTERDAM

ID Location Date Local ID Event House name Sex Hatch Sire Dam

1 WILD ~01-01-85 Wild Caught Male ~01-01-85 WILD WILD LAURENS ~01-01-85 924096 Transfer ROTTERDAM 12-04-90 701758 Transfer ROTTERDAM 05-01-93 701758 Transfer 2 WILD ~01-01-85 Wild Caught Longtail Female ~01-01-85 WILD WILD LAURENS ~01-01-85 924096 Transfer ROTTERDAM 12-04-90 701759 Transfer ROTTERDAM 05-01-93 701759 Transfer ROTTERDAM 01-07-97 701759 Death 3 WILD ~01-01-85 Wild Caught Short tail Female ~01-01-85 WILD WILD LAURENS ~01-01-85 924096 Transfer ROTTERDAM 12-04-90 701760 Transfer ROTTERDAM 05-01-93 701760 Transfer ROTTERDAM 27-06-98 701760 Death 4 LAURENS ~01-01-90 930436 Hatch/Birth Female ~01-01-93 UNK UNK ROTTERDAM 10-06-93 702865 Transfer ROTTERDAM 01-07-93 702865 Death 7 KREFELD ~01-01-85 unk Hatch/Birth Complete tail Male ~01-01-85 UNK UNK ROTTERDAM ~17-12-94 703170 Transfer 8 KREFELD ~01-01-85 unk Hatch/Birth Puntje Male ~01-01-85 UNK UNK ROTTERDAM ~17-12-94 703171 Transfer 16 ROTTERDAM 14-12-95 703472 Hatch/Birth 95-01 Female 14-12-95 UNK 3 ROTTERDAM 14-12-95 703472 Transfer 17 ROTTERDAM 15-12-95 703473 Hatch/Birth 95-02 Female 15-12-95 UNK 3 ROTTERDAM 15-12-95 703473 Transfer 20 ROTTERDAM 28-09-99 704873 Hatch/Birth 99-01 Female 28-09-99 8 16 ROTTERDAM 28-09-99 704873 Transfer 21 ROTTERDAM 28-09-99 704284 Hatch/Birth 99-02 Female 28-09-99 8 16 ROTTERDAM 28-09-99 704284 Transfer 26 ROTTERDAM 18-08-03 704965 Hatch/Birth 03-01 Unknown 18-08-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 18-08-03 704965 Transfer 27 ROTTERDAM 19-08-03 704968 Hatch/Birth 03-02 Unknown 19-08-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 19-08-03 704968 Transfer 28 ROTTERDAM 01-10-03 704985 Hatch/Birth 03-03 Unknown 01-10-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 01-10-03 704985 Transfer 29 ROTTERDAM 01-10-03 704986 Hatch/Birth 03-04 Unknown 01-10-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 01-10-03 704986 Transfer 30 ROTTERDAM 04-10-03 704996 Hatch/Birth 03-05 Unknown 04-10-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 04-10-03 704996 Transfer 31 ROTTERDAM 04-10-03 704997 Hatch/Birth 03-06 Unknown 04-10-03 8 16 ROTTERDAM 04-10-03 704997 Transfer Location: ZWARTEPOO

ID Location Date Local ID Event House name Sex Hatch Sire Dam

5 ROTTERDAM 16-09-93 703000 Hatch/Birth 93-01 Male 06-09-93 1 2 ZWARTEPOO 01-04-96 HZ0392 Transfer 6 ROTTERDAM 18-02-94 703065 Hatch/Birth 94-01 Female 18-02-94 1 2 ZWARTEPOO 01-04-96 HZ0393 Transfer 11 JERSEY 03-11-94 R667A Hatch/Birth Male 03-11-94 9 10 ROTTERDAM 22-08-95 704414 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 23-08-95 HZ0372 Transfer 12 JERSEY 05-11-94 R667B Hatch/Birth Male 05-11-94 9 10 ROTTERDAM 22-08-95 703415 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 23-08-95 HZ0373 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 31-05-01 HZ0373 Death 13 JERSEY 06-11-94 R667C Hatch/Birth Male 06-11-94 9 10 ROTTERDAM 22-08-95 703416 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 23-08-95 HZ0374 Transfer 14 JERSEY 06-11-94 R667D Hatch/Birth Male 06-11-94 9 10 ROTTERDAM 22-08-95 703417 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 23-08-95 HZ0375 Transfer 15 JERSEY 06-11-94 R667E Hatch/Birth Female 06-11-94 9 10 ROTTERDAM 22-08-95 703418 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 23-08-95 HZ0376 Transfer 32 JERSEY 12-09-95 R722 Hatch/Birth Female 12-09-95 UNK UNK ZWARTEPOO 18-02-99 HZ0621 Transfer 33 ZWARTEPOO 05-07-98 HZ0569 Hatch/Birth Female 05-07-98 5 6 ZWARTEPOO 05-07-98 HZ0569 Transfer 35 ZWARTEPOO 29-10-00 Hatch/Birth Unknown 29-10-00 UNK 32 ZWARTEPOO 29-10-00 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 07-11-00 Death 36 ZWARTEPOO 02-11-00 Hatch/Birth Unknown 02-11-00 UNK 32 ZWARTEPOO 02-11-00 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 20-11-00 N??? Death 37 ZWARTEPOO 31-10-03 HZ0935 Hatch/Birth Unknown 31-10-03 14 32 ZWARTEPOO 31-10-03 HZ0935 Transfer ZWARTEPOO 20-11-03 N??? Death

Location: HOFSTRA

ID Location Date Local ID Event House name Sex Hatch Sire Dam

22 ROTTERDAM 28-11-99 704285 Hatch/Birth 99-03 Male 28-09-99 8 16 HOFSTRA 01-03-00 Transfer 23 ROTTERDAM 28-11-99 704286 Hatch/Birth 99-04 Female 28-09-99 8 16 HOFSTRA 01-03-00 Transfer 24 ROTTERDAM 20-08-02 704785 Hatch/Birth 02-01 Unknown 20-08-02 8 16 HOFSTRA 09-08-03 Transfer 34 ZWARTEPOO 06-07-98 HZ670 Hatch/Birth Male 06-07-98 5 6 HOFSTRA 01-03-00 Transfer HOFSTRA 12-03-04 C??? Death