Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 47-49 (2015) (published online on 10 March 2015)

Additions to the urban herpetofauna of Toliara, southwest Madagascar

Charlie Gardner1,*, Xavier Vincke2 and Louise Jasper3

The loss or modification of natural habitats is the Jasper, 2009), in which nine reptile and four amphibian greatest direct driver of extinction (MEA, 2005), so it species were recorded. Here we complement that is important to understand the effects of habitat change publication with additional records of seven further on species if we are to accurately estimate extinction reptile species (comprising one gecko, three skinks risk. Species which are tolerant of extreme habitat and three snakes) from within Toliara city, recorded modification may survive well outside of protected area during the period 2009 to 2014. All observations were networks and therefore face lower risk of extinction. opportunistic and occurred in the houses and gardens of Such species are less dependent on conservation action three residences within the city. The following species – such as the management of protected areas – for their were observed: survival than habitat specialists, and should therefore assume lower importance in conservation prioritisation Geckolepis cf. typica Grandidier, 1867 (Gekkonidae). (Gardner, 2009). However, little is known about the We recorded this species once, under loose plaster on degradation tolerance of many Malagasy reptiles and a brick wall surrounding a well-vegetated garden. The amphibians because most herpetological inventory taxonomy of the genus is complex and contains several work has been carried out in protected areas and other undescribed species (Lemme et al., 2013), though all high biodiversity forest sites, where habitats are largely records from the region surrounding Toliara have been intact (D’Cruze et al., 2009). referred to G. typica (Köhler et al., 2009). Urban environments may be important habitats for many species (Farinha-Marques et al., 2011; Blaustein, Voeltzkowia fierinensis (Grandidier, 1869) (Scincidae) 2013), and are of particular interest because they represent (Fig. 1A). We observed this species six times at the an extreme form of habitat modification. Despite this, same residence, three times in the garden during the day nothing is known about the urban herpetofauna of (underneath thick leaf litter, in loose sand, and under Madagascar apart from a single anecdotal study from an upturned bucket) and three times inside the house the southwestern city of Toliara (23°21.0 S, 043°40.8 (each time following heavy rain that waterlogged the E), capital of Atsimo Andrefana region. (Gardner and soil). One specimen was found inside a shower and had almost certainly entered via the drain, suggesting some climbing ability. All observed specimens lacked forelimbs but possessed rudimentary hindlimbs with two distinguishable toes; in addition, all specimens

1 Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of were characterised by dark markings approximately Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, corresponding to scale borders, thus distinguishing them Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK, and WWF Madagascar from the undescribed form Voeltzkowia sp. “pallida” and Western Indian Ocean Programme Office, BP 738, which is also known from the Toliara area (Glaw and Antananarivo 101, Madagascar Vences, 2007). 2 WWF Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Programme Office, BP 738, Antananarivo. Now at Blue Ventures Trachylepis gravenhorstii (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) Conservation, Villa Bella Fiharena lot 259 AA1, Rue Gambeta, Toliara 601, Madagascar (Scincidae). We have observed this species in two 3 BP 639, Toliara 601, Madagascar large, well-vegetated gardens in the outskirts of the city. * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] Specimens in Toliara are very large, as large as we have 48 Charlie Gardner et al.

Figure 1. Reptile species recorded within the city of Toliara, southwest Madagascar: A – Voeltzkowia fierinensis; B – Trachylepis gravenhorstii; C – Mimophis mahfalensis; D – Dromicodryas bernieri; E – Madagascarophis meridionalis (yellow morph); F – Madagascarophis meridionalis (brown morph). Image A by Louise Jasper, Images B-F by Xavier Vincke.

observed anywhere else in Madagascar (Fig. 1B). Great cyclones which caused extensive flooding and unrecognised diversity exists within this species (Lima waterlogging of the soil. et al., 2013). Mimophis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867) Amphiglossus ornaticeps (Boulenger, 1896) (Psammophiidae) (Fig. 1C). Observed in two gardens, (Scincidae). We have observed this fossorial species but only once at a residence where we lived for over twice inside homes, on both occasions following six years. Additions to the urban herpetofauna of Toliara, southwest Madagascar 49

Dromicodryas bernieri (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, Lima, A., Harris, D.J., Rocha, S., Miralles, A., Glaw, F., Vences, M. 1854) (Lamprophiidae) (Fig. 1D). Observed once in a (2013): Phylogenetic relationships of Trachylepis skink species well-vegetated garden in the outskirts of the city. from Madagascar and the Seychelles (Squamata: Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 67: 615-620. MEA (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment) (2005): Ecosystems and Madagascarophis cf. meridionalis Domergue, Human Well-Being: Biodiversity Synthesis. World Resources 1987 (Lamprophiidae). We have observed two colour Institute, Washington DC. morphs of this snake inside a well-vegetated garden; Nagy, Z.T., Glaw, F., Andreone, F., Wink, M., Vences, M. one predominantly yellow (Fig. 1E) and one dark brown (2007): Species boundaries in Malagasy snakes of the genus (Fig. 1F). We did not perform scale counts but the only Madagascarophis (Serpentes: Colubridae sensu lato) assessed possible confusion species, M. colubrinus, has not been by nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 7: 241-251. reliably recorded from southwestern Madagascar (F. Glaw, pers. comm.; Nagy et al., 2007).

These records, when combined with the nine reptile and four amphibian species previously recorded (Gardner and Jasper, 2009) and an additional lizard, Chalarodon madagascariensis, recorded in hotel gardens by Glaw and Vences (2007), bring the total known herpetofauna of Toliara city to 21 species (17 reptiles and four amphibians).

Acknowledgements. We thank Miguel Vences for comments which helped improve an earlier version of this manuscript.

References

Blaustein, R. (2013): Urban biodiversity gains new converts. BioScience 63: 72-77. D’Cruze, N., Henson, D., Olsson, A., Emmett, D. (2009): The importance of herpetological survey work in conserving Malagasy biodiversity: Are we doing enough? Herpetological Review 40: 19-25. Farinha-Marques, P., Lameiras, J.M., Fernandes, C., Silva, S., Guilherme, F. (2011): Urban biodiversity: A review of current concepts and contributions to multidisciplinary approaches. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Sciences 24: 247- 271. Gardner, C.J. (2009): A review of the impacts of anthropogenic habitat change on terrestrial biodiversity in Madagascar: Implications for the design and management of new protected areas. Malagasy Nature 2: 2-29. Gardner, C., Jasper, L. (2009): The urban herpetofauna of Toliara, southwest Madagascar. Herpetology Notes 2: 239-242. Glaw, F., Vences, M. (2007): A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, 3rd Edition. Köln, Vences and Glaw Verlags GbR. Köhler, G., Diethert, H.-H., Nussbaum, R.A., Raxworthy, C.J. (2009): A revision of the fish scale geckos, genus Geckolepis Grandidier (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Madagascar. Herpetologica 65: 419-435. Lemme, I., Erbacher, M., Kaffenberger, N., Vences, M., Köhler, G. (2013): Molecules and morphology suggest cryptic species diversity and an overall complex taxonomy of fish scale geckos, genus Geckolepis. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 13: 87- 95. Accepted by Miguel Vences