DOCSLIB.ORG

Re-Examination of Hemidactylus Tenkatei Van Lidth De Jeude, 1895: Populations from Timor Provide Insight Into the Taxonomy of the H

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Re-Examination of Hemidactylus Tenkatei Van Lidth De Jeude, 1895: Populations from Timor Provide Insight Into the Taxonomy of the H Zootaxa 3887 (5): 583–599 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3887.5.5 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1EA381C9-4FEB-427B-98EA-CBAE8C4362F6 Re-examination of Hemidactylus tenkatei van Lidth de Jeude, 1895: Populations from Timor provide insight into the taxonomy of the H. brookii Gray, 1845 complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae) ANDREW KATHRINER1, MARK O’SHEA2 & HINRICH KAISER3,4 1Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA; present address: Depart- ment of Herpetology, Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10460, USA 2Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton. Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1LY, United Kingdom; and West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF, United Kingdom 3Department of Biology, Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, California 92395, USA; and Department of Verte- brate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA 4Corresponding author. E-mail [email protected] Abstract Recent herpetofaunal investigations in Timor-Leste revealed populations similar to Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845 in four of 13 districts. In order to properly identify these populations, we examined their relationships to other H. brookii- complex populations, notably those from nearby Roti Island, Indonesia (to which the name H. tenkatei van Lidth de Jeude, 1895 has been applied) and topotypic Bornean samples. We evaluated both meristic and mensural data from a set of spec- imens that included the type material of H. brookii and H. tenkatei, and we generated nuclear (RAG1) and mitochondrial (ND2) DNA sequence data for Timor-Leste specimens and a topotypical Bornean specimen presumed to represent H. brookii sensu stricto. Morphologically, Timorese geckos are clearly distinct from H. brookii and identical to H. tenkatei. Our molecular data show that the Bornean specimen thought to be H. brookii is genetically congruent with Timor-Leste specimens, and this specimen is therefore identified as H. tenkatei. Our data also reveal that the Burmese species H. sub- triedroides Annandale, 1905 is distinct from both H. tenkatei and H. brookii. While the current data do not allow us to determine with certainty whether H. tenkatei is the oldest available name for these widespread forms, it is the only name that can be reliably applied at this time. Key words: Hemidactylus tenkatei, H. brookii, H. subtriedroides, Timor-Leste, Borneo, Roti, taxonomy Introduction The genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 is one of the most species-rich clades of geckos with a trans-continental distribution (Kluge 1969). Currently represented by 127 species (Uetz 2014), these nocturnal geckos have adapted to a diverse array of habitat types including the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia, northern South America, the Caribbean, and Mediterranean Europe (Bauer et al. 2010b). Considering their adaptive plasticity, the majority of Hemidactylus species (approx. 94%) have relatively small distributions in Africa and Asia, while eight species, including H. brookii, H. frenatus Schlegel in Duméril and Bibron, 1836, H. garnotii Duméril and Bibron, 1836, H. mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818, H. persicus Anderson, 1872, H. platyurus (Schneider, 1792), H. parvimaculatus Deraniyagala, 1953, and H. turcicus Linnaeus, 1758, are present in both the New and Old Worlds, having spread throughout these regions through the agency of humans (Carranza & Arnold 2006). Of these, H. brookii has one of the widest distributions and perhaps the most convoluted taxonomic history. Herpetofaunal surveys in Timor-Leste, Asia’s newest country, revealed several brookii-like populations (Fig. 1A) in four of the country’s 13 districts (Kaiser et al. 2011; O'Shea et al. 2012; Sanchez et al. 2012). These were preliminarily identified as H. cf. tenkatei by O'Shea et al. (2012) and Sanchez et al. (2012), given their apparent similarity to H. tenkatei van Lidth de Jeude, 1895, a name coined to identify brookii-complex geckos from the nearby island of Roti. This name had fallen into disuse after being syonymized with H. brookii by de Rooij (1915), but two recent inquiries into the validity of H. tenkatei by Rösler and Glaw (2010) and Mahony (2011) led to the Accepted by L. Grismer: 30 Oct. 2014; published: 27 Nov. 2014 583 FIGURE 1. Specimens of Hemidactylus tenkatei in life. (A) An adult female from Lautém District, Timor-Leste (USNM 579443). Photograph by Mark O’Shea. (B) An adult male from Penang Island, Malaysia (LSUHC 6786), initially identified as H. brookii. Photograph by L. Lee Grismer. (C) An adult male from Sarawak, Borneo (ZRC 2.6167), initially identified as H. brookii. Photograph by Indraneil Das. Images were manipulated in order to show the geckos in similar aspect and similar size. 584 · Zootaxa 3887 (5) © 2014 Magnolia Press KATHRINER ET AL. resurrection of H. tenkatei from the synonymy of H. brookii. Rösler and Glaw (2010) considered H. tenkatei a morphologically distinct species, and Mahony (2011) placed H. subtriedroides Annandale, 1905 into its synonymy. However, during neither of these investigations did the authors examine the three syntypes of H. tenkatei (originally accessioned under the single lot number 4353 in the collection of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, The Netherlands). This omission, together with the uncertainty over the identity of populations in Timor-Leste, prompted us to conduct a detailed study of the situation using meristic and mensural characters, as well as a molecular approach. The Hemidactylus brookii complex. Initially described by John Edward Gray in 1845 from specimens ostensibly collected in Borneo and Australia, H. brookii has been considered a species complex distributed across the globe (Carranza & Arnold 2006). Following Gray’s initial description, Murray (1884a, b) described two brookii-like species from what is now Pakistan, H. gleadowi Murray, 1884 and H. kushmorensis Murray, 1884. The first revision of the genus was undertaken by Boulenger (1885), who synonymized multiple African species, including H. verruculatus (Cuvier, 1829), H. cyanodactylus Girard, 1858, H. affinis Steindachner, 1870, and H. guineensis Peters, 1868, with H. brookii, and who placed some specimens identified as H. maculatus Duméril and Bibron, 1836 from a geographically widespread area (India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China) into synoymy with H. gleadowi. Additionally, Boulenger (1890) synonymized H. murrayi Gleadow, 1887 and H. kushmorensis, with H. gleadowi. Boulenger (1898) subsequently synonymized H. gleadowi with H. brookii because he was unable to find definitive morphological characters delimiting H. gleadowi. Through Boulenger’s work, a group divided into at least six species at one time became subsumed under the name H. brookii. Further morphological analyses conducted during the last hundred years have produced multiple conclusions for the origin, dispersal, and differentiation of H. brookii, and they include the descriptions of H. tenkatei by van Lidth de Jeude (1895) and H. subtriedroides by Annandale (1905). Kluge (1969) examined populations on Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico and noticed that they differ considerably from their most similar presumptive ancestor from the west coast of Africa; he referred to these conspecifics as a unique subspecies, H. b. haitianus Meerwarth, 1901. These New World “brookii” have experienced their own complex history, but Carranza and Arnold (2006) and Weiss and Hedges (2007) demonstrated that they are members of a deeply divergent lineage of West African H. angulatus Hallowell, 1854. Hemidactylus tenkatei van Lidth de Jeude, 1895. Hemidactylus tenkatei was initially described in 1895 based on a type series consisting of two adults (Fig. 2) and one juvenile from “Rotti” (van Lidth de Jeude 1895). Twenty years later, de Rooij (1915) placed H. tenkatei in the synonymy of H. brookii, but without providing any rationale or comment regarding this change in taxonomy. Hemidactylus tenkatei remained in this synonymy for nearly a century, until Rösler and Glaw (2010) evaluated the morphological variation and taxonomy of H. brookii, H. angulatus, and phenotypically similar taxa based on the holdings of the Zoologische Staatssammlung in Munich, Germany, but without the benefit of an examination of the type specimens of either H. brookii or H. tenkatei. Specifically, Rösler and Glaw (2010) compared Nepalese specimens of what they considered to be H. b. brookii with a male and a female specimen of H. tenkatei from Kupang, West Timor. The morphological comparisons, particularly the differences in three scale characters, led these authors to preliminarily consider H. tenkatei as a valid species, pending further and more detailed examinations. They also stated that their Nepalese specimens were morphologically different from Bornean H. brookii, Borneo being the type locality of the species, ultimately leaving the taxonomic status of the Nepalese population unresolved. Mahony (2011) approached his evaluation of brookii-complex geckos by re-examining the type series of H. brookii and its Asian synonyms. This author provided a description of one “H. brookii” specimen (BMNH 1926.10.30.46) from West Timor, the closest part of Timor to Roti, and considered it indistinguishable from H. subtriedroides, a junior subjective
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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]
  • The Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Region (Nepal)
    THE DISTRIBUTION OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS IN THE ANNAPURNA-DHAULAGIRI REGION (NEPAL) by LURLY M.R. NANHOE and PAUL E. OUBOTER L.M.R. Nanhoe & P.E. Ouboter: The distribution of reptiles and amphibians in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region (Nepal). Zool. Verh. Leiden 240, 12-viii-1987: 1-105, figs. 1-16, tables 1-5, app. I-II. — ISSN 0024-1652. Key words: reptiles; amphibians; keys; Annapurna region; Dhaulagiri region; Nepal; altitudinal distribution; zoogeography. The reptiles and amphibians of the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region in Nepal are keyed and described. Their distribution is recorded, based on both personal observations and literature data. The ecology of the species is discussed. The zoogeography and the altitudinal distribution are analysed. All in all 32 species-group taxa of reptiles and 21 species-group taxa of amphibians are treated. L.M.R. Nanhoe & P.E. Ouboter, c/o Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie Raamsteeg 2, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. CONTENTS Introduction 5 Study area 7 Climate and vegetation 9 Material and methods 12 Reptilia 13 Sauria 13 Gekkonidae 13 Hemidactylus brookii 14 Hemidactylus flaviviridis 14 Hemidactylus garnotii 15 Agamidae 15 Agama tuberculata 16 Calotes versicolor 18 Japalura major 19 Japalura tricarinata 20 Phrynocephalus theobaldi 22 Scincidae 24 Scincella capitanea 25 Scincella ladacensis ladacensis 26 3 4 ZOOLOGISCHE VERHANDELINGEN 240 (1987) Scincella ladacensis himalayana 27 2g Scincella sikimmensis ^ Sphenomorphus maculatus ^ Serpentes ^ Colubridae ^ Amphiesma platyceps ^
    [Show full text]
  • Tigerpaper 36-1.Pmd
    REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (RAP), BANGKOK January-March 2009 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Regional Quarterly Bulletin on Wildlife and National Parks Management Vol. XXXVI : No. 1 Featuring Vol. XXIII: No. 1 Contents Situation of large reptiles in Ayeyarwady Delta after the cyclone hit..................................................................…1 Translocation of rhino in Assam.......................................... 7 Feeding pattern and den ecology of Striped hyena................ 13 Mammalian diversity and management plan for Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary...........................................................18 Status of the Long-tailed goral in Thailand........................... 23 Reptilian diversity in and around the Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary, Gujarat......................................... 26 Order Testudines: first recorded instance in Sikkim............ 31 REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC TIGERPAPER is a quarterly news bulletin dedicated to the exchange of information World’s forestry leaders meet in Rome................................ 1 relating to wildlife and national parks Meeting of the Bureaux of the Regional Forestry management for the Commissions..................................................................... 2 Asia-Pacific Region. ISSN 1014 - 2789 Glimpses of developments in Asia-Pacific forestry.............… 2 Addressing fire management needs and actions in Southeast Asia..............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Relationships of Hemidactylus Geckos from the Gulf
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34 (2005) 480–485 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Phylogenetic relationships of Hemidactylus geckos from the Gulf of Guinea islands: patterns of natural colonizations and anthropogenic introductions estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences José Jesusa, Antonio Brehma, D. James Harrisb,¤ a Centre of Macaronesian Studies, University of Madeira, Penteada, 9000 Funchal, Portugal b Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO\UP), ICETA, Campus Agrario de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal Received 26 February 2004; revised 16 September 2004 Available online 1 January 2005 Abstract Mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and cytochrome b) sequences and nuclear sequences (C-mos and -Enolase) were analyzed within all known Hemidactylus species from all three volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea that have never been connected to the continent. These comprise both endemic and widespread species. Our aim was to determine if the widespread species was intro- duced anthropogenically, to determine the number of distinct genetic lineages within the islands, and to determine if the endemic forms constituted a monophyletic group. Our results suggest that a previously undescribed species on São Tomé is the sister taxon to Hemidactylus newtoni, endemic to Annobon. Genetic variation between populations of Hemidactylus greeWi from São Tomé and Principe is very high based on mtDNA sequences, but the forms cannot be distinguished using the nuclear DNA sequences. Hemi- dactylus mabouia appears to have been anthropogenically introduced to all three islands. The island endemics do not form a mono- phyletic group, suggesting multiple independent colonizations of the islands. 2004 Elsevier Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • DISTRIBUTION and LIFE HISTORY of TWO NON-INDIGENOUS GECKOS Hemidactylus Garnotii and H
    DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF TWO NON-INDIGENOUS GECKOS Hemidactylus garnotii AND H. mabouia IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA By GREGG STUART KLOWDEN A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2007 1 To Cathy Olson whose love, friendship, and patience made this possible. 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to thank the University of Florida Alumni Association, the University of Florida, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the Department of Wildlife Ecology for providing me with a Fellowship, tuition waiver, and Graduate Teaching Assistantship without which my Ph.D. would not have been possible. I would like to thank my committee, Drs. Michael Moulton, Alison Fox, Mark Hostetler, Max Nickerson, and Madan Oli, for their help, generosity, and patience. I am thankful to Dr. Moulton for offering me the opportunity to participate in the organization and teaching of his courses, guiding me through the many intricacies of running a large lecture course, and helping me to become a better teacher. In addition, as the chair of my supervisory committee, Dr. Moulton’s guidance over the years has been critical to my growth as a scientist, ecologist, and writer. His philosophical perspectives on ecology, wildlife conservation, and life are thoughtful, unique, and unmatched as are his humor, good nature, and kindness. His mentoring and friendship will undoubtedly be very influential as I continue to shape my career. I am very thankful to Dr. Hostetler for employing me as his Wildlife Extension Assistant.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural History of the Gecko Hemidactylus Prashadi: Demography, Spatial Partitioning, Diet, and Reproduction in a Human-Altered Habitat
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 16(2):325–336. Submitted: 11 April 2021; Accepted: 6 July 2021; Published: 31 August 2021. NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GECKO HEMIDACTYLUS PRASHADI: DEMOGRAPHY, SPATIAL PARTITIONING, DIET, AND REPRODUCTION IN A HUMAN-ALTERED HABITAT VIVEK PHILIP CYRIAC1,3,4 AND P. K. UMESH2 1Centre for Wildlife Studies, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Pookode, Wayanad - 673576, Kerala, India 2Pavuknandy House, Moolad Post Office, Balussery, Kozhikode - 673614, Kerala, India 3Current Address: Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560012, Karnataka, India 4Corresponding author, email: [email protected] Abstract.—Human-induced alterations have had a profound impact on the environment affecting several species. Many lizards, however, especially members of the gecko genus Hemidactylus, are cosmopolitan and are found living on buildings in urban areas. Nevertheless, how some reptiles colonize and thrive in human-altered habitats remain relatively less explored, partly due to the lack of adequate natural history on different species. Here, we study the natural history of Prashad’s Gecko (Hemidactylus prashadi), a poorly studied, large-bodied gecko, which is believed to have recently colonized houses in the study region. We report new populations of this species extending the range further south to Kerala, India. We also studied the demographic structure, spatial partitioning, diet, and reproduction of the lizard in a residential building in Kozhikode district, Kerala. We found the population in the building was dominated by adult females and juveniles, while adult males and sub-adults were few. Perch height and non-lethal injuries of individuals on the building suggest intense intraspecific competition and spatial partitioning between juveniles and adults.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematics, Biogeography, and Evolution of Hemidactylus Geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) Elucidated Using Mitochondrial DNA Sequences
    MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38 (2006) 531–545 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Systematics, biogeography, and evolution of Hemidactylus geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) elucidated using mitochondrial DNA sequences S. Carranza a,*, E.N. Arnold b a Departament de Biologia Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain b Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK Received 11 May 2005; revised 12 July 2005 Available online 9 September 2005 Abstract With more than 80 species inhabiting all warm continental land masses and hundreds of intervening continental and oceanic islands, Hemidactylus geckos are one of the most species-rich and widely distributed of all reptile genera. They consequently rep- resent an excellent model for biogeographic, ecological, and evolutionary studies. A molecular phylogeny for Hemidactylus is pre- sented here, based on 702 bp of mtDNA (303 bp cytochrome b and 399 bp 12S rRNA) from 166 individuals of 30 species of Hemidactylus plus Briba brasiliana, Cosymbotus platyurus, and several outgroups. The phylogeny indicates that Hemidactylus may have initially undergone rapid radiation, and long-distance dispersal is more extensive than in any other reptilian genus. In the last 15 My, African lineages have naturally crossed the Atlantic Ocean at least twice. They also colonized the Gulf of Guinea, Cape Verde and Socotra islands, again sometimes on more than one occasion. Many extensive range extensions have occurred much more recently, sometimes with devastating consequences for other geckos. These colonizations are likely to be largely anthropogen- ic, involving the ÔweedyÕ commensal species, H. brookii s. lat, H.
    [Show full text]
  • Patterns of Species Richness, Endemism and Environmental Gradients of African Reptiles
    Journal of Biogeography (J. Biogeogr.) (2016) ORIGINAL Patterns of species richness, endemism ARTICLE and environmental gradients of African reptiles Amir Lewin1*, Anat Feldman1, Aaron M. Bauer2, Jonathan Belmaker1, Donald G. Broadley3†, Laurent Chirio4, Yuval Itescu1, Matthew LeBreton5, Erez Maza1, Danny Meirte6, Zoltan T. Nagy7, Maria Novosolov1, Uri Roll8, 1 9 1 1 Oliver Tallowin , Jean-Francßois Trape , Enav Vidan and Shai Meiri 1Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, ABSTRACT 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel, 2Department of Aim To map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles (and included groups: Biology, Villanova University, Villanova PA 3 amphisbaenians, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles) in Africa, quantify the 19085, USA, Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, PO Box 240, Bulawayo, overlap in species richness of reptiles (and included groups) with the other ter- Zimbabwe, 4Museum National d’Histoire restrial vertebrate classes, investigate the environmental correlates underlying Naturelle, Department Systematique et these patterns, and evaluate the role of range size on richness patterns. Evolution (Reptiles), ISYEB (Institut Location Africa. Systematique, Evolution, Biodiversite, UMR 7205 CNRS/EPHE/MNHN), Paris, France, Methods We assembled a data set of distributions of all African reptile spe- 5Mosaic, (Environment, Health, Data, cies. We tested the spatial congruence of reptile richness with that of amphib- Technology), BP 35322 Yaounde, Cameroon, ians, birds and mammals. We further tested the relative importance of 6Department of African Biology, Royal temperature, precipitation, elevation range and net primary productivity for Museum for Central Africa, 3080 Tervuren, species richness over two spatial scales (ecoregions and 1° grids). We arranged Belgium, 7Royal Belgian Institute of Natural reptile and vertebrate groups into range-size quartiles in order to evaluate the Sciences, OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, role of range size in producing richness patterns.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Use and Food Habits of a Gecko Population in a West African Suburban Area
    European Journal of Ecology, 6.1, 2020, pp. 1-12 HABITAT USE AND FOOD HABITS OF A GECKO POPULATION IN A WEST AFRICAN SUBURBAN AREA NioKing Amadi1, Golden Chizi Gladstone1, Chimela Wala2, Leonardo Vignoli3, Adaobi Patricia Ugbomeh 2, Daniele Dendi1,4,5, Luca Luiselli1,4,5 1Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080 Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080 Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 3Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy 4Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, I-00144 Rome, Italy 5Department of Zoology, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo Abstract. 1. The spatial and trophic ecology of Afrotropical gecko populations are poorly known. Here, we report ecological observations on Brook’s House Gecko (Hemidactylus angulatus), a widespread gekkonid species, in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology campus, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2. A total of 488 gecko individuals were recorded during the present study, in two surveyed habitat types: (i) plan- tation trees (PTH) and (ii) buildings (BDH). In PTH, they were observed in 13 out of 15 species of trees present in the study area, with their (log) frequency of sightings being positively correlated to the (log) frequency of surveyed trees per species. 3. The geckos used substantially the non-native ornamental trees of the PTH habitat. Pinus ponderosa and Elaeis guineensis were significantly preferred by geckos over all the other tree species.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    Phyllomedusa 17(2):169–180, 2018 © 2018 Universidade de São Paulo - ESALQ ISSN 1519-1397 (print) / ISSN 2316-9079 (online) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v17i2p169-180 A new cryptic species of ground-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern India Zeeshan A. Mirza National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India. E-mail: [email protected]. Abstract A new cryptic species of ground-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern India. Recently collected specimens of a gecko resembling Hemidactylus reticulatus from northern Karnataka State in southwestern India led me to investigate variation in the species with regards to its morphology and molecular divergence. Results based on existing museum material, combined with molecular data for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene support the presence of cryptic species within the broadly distributed H. reticulatus complex. Here, I describe a new species of Hemidactylus from northern Karnataka as the frst contribution in resolving the species complex. The integration of molecular and morphological data supports the distinctness of the new species described herein. Keywords: cytochrome b, phylogeny, species complex, taxonomy. Resumo Uma nova espécie críptica de Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) terrestre do sul da Índia. Espécimes recentemente coletados de uma lagartixa semelhante a Hemidactylus reticulatus do norte do estado de Karnataka, no sudoeste da Índia, levou-me a investigar a variação na espécie relacionada à morfologia e divergência molecular. Os resultados baseados no material existente em museus, combinados com dados moleculares para o gene do citocromo b mitocondrial suportam a presença de espécies crípticas dentro do complexo H.
    [Show full text]
  • Captive Wildlife Regulations, 2021, W-13.12 Reg 5
    1 CAPTIVE WILDLIFE, 2021 W-13.12 REG 5 The Captive Wildlife Regulations, 2021 being Chapter W-13.12 Reg 5 (effective June 1, 2021). NOTE: This consolidation is not official. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the original statutes and regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the original statutes and regulations, errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation. 2 W-13.12 REG 5 CAPTIVE WILDLIFE, 2021 Table of Contents PART 1 PART 5 Preliminary Matters Zoo Licences and Travelling Zoo Licences 1 Title 38 Definition for Part 2 Definitions and interpretation 39 CAZA standards 3 Application 40 Requirements – zoo licence or travelling zoo licence PART 2 41 Breeding and release Designations, Prohibitions and Licences PART 6 4 Captive wildlife – designations Wildlife Rehabilitation Licences 5 Prohibition – holding unlisted species in captivity 42 Definitions for Part 6 Prohibition – holding restricted species in captivity 43 Standards for wildlife rehabilitation 7 Captive wildlife licences 44 No property acquired in wildlife held for 8 Licence not required rehabilitation 9 Application for captive wildlife licence 45 Requirements – wildlife rehabilitation licence 10 Renewal 46 Restrictions – wildlife not to be rehabilitated 11 Issuance or renewal of licence on terms and conditions 47 Wildlife rehabilitation practices 12 Licence or renewal term PART 7 Scientific Research Licences 13 Amendment, suspension,
    [Show full text]
  • A New Rupicolous Species of Gecko of the Genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 from the Satpura Hills, Central India
    Ofcial journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 11(1) [General Section]: 51–71 (e137). urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B35CE81E-66F5-48C7-9049-E5C3598E4E5A A new rupicolous species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 from the Satpura Hills, Central India 1,3Zeeshan A. Mirza and 2David Raju 1G-18, 4th A-Cross Rd, Canara Bank Layout, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560097, INDIA 2Singinawa Jungle Lodge, Tehsil Baihar, Balaghat, Kohka 481111, Madhya Pradesh, INDIA Abstract.—We here describe a new species of rupicolous gecko from the Satpura Hills of central India. The new species is a member of the Hemidactylus brookii complex, and can be distinguished based on the following suite of characters: moderate sized species (SVL 54.3–74.2 mm); anterior postmental width equal to frst infralabial; posterior postmental width equal to second infralabial, posterior postmental not in contact with frst infralabial; enlarged, keeled, tubercles, fairly regularly arranged in 15–16 longitudinal rows on dorsum; two angular series of seven precloacal femoral pores separated by diastema of eight non-pored scales; non-pored scales equal to size of pored scales; scales bordering anterior edge of pored scales half the size of pored scales; fve lamellae on digit I and seven on digit IV of manus as well as pes; lamellae on digit IV and V of pes absent on basal 25% of the digit; legs long and slender; ventral aspect of tail with broad caudal scales covering ~80% of tail; two subconical post cloacal spurs, anterior spur slightly larger than posterior spur.
    [Show full text]