Check-List of North American Batrachia

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Check-List of North American Batrachia ^— ^ z {/, — £ 00 ± LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN iNSTITUTlOr llinillSNI NVINOSHill^S S3 I HVd an, BRARIEs'^SMITHSONlAN^INSTITUTlON"'NOIiniliSNrNVINOSHillNs'^S3iavyai CD ' Z -• _j 2 _i llinillSNI NviNOSHims S3iav8an libraries Smithsonian institutio- r- ^ I- rr ^^ Z 03 30 NOIinillSNrNVINOSHimS I B R AR I Es'^SMITHSONIAN'iNSTITUTION S3 d VH 8 ... tn to t^ 2 v>. z , I ^ iiniiiSNi NviN0SHims'^S3idvaan libraries Smithsonian institutioi — ,r\ — tr\ "n braries Smithsonian institution NoiiniiiSNi NviNOSHims S3idV8ai '^ z ^ Z C ' — rn _ _ ^ to ± CO _ )linillSNI NVINOSHimS S3IHVMan libraries SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIOI '^ BRARIEs'^SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIinillSNI NVINOSHlllNs'^S 3 I « V d 8 — ~ - "^ CO ^ CO DiiniiiSNi NviNOSHims S3iav«an libraries Smithsonian institutici r- z I- ^ ^ Z CD .^ V ^ ^ y" /c^xff^ ^ O JJlfcr ^Ai\ J- J!/r A/Mr v-» •'SSSSStS 'sk -'- lsC< >^s\ O SS^is^v 'Sv i % </) ^. 2 * W Z </, 2 , _ lES SMITHSONIAN__ INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI_NIVINOSHllWS S3IMVdan_LIB, Oi I IT^'lI B I ES^SMITHS0NIAN"'|NSTITUTI0N NOII LSNI^'NVINOSHimS^SH dVH 8 RAR "" - r- ^ z r- 2 lES SMITHS0NIAN~INSTITUTI0N NOIiniliSNI~NVINOSHimS SBIMVyan LIB t/> ^ z, </) z ^^5"' ^. Z X LSNi NviN0SHims*^S3idvyan libraries Smithsonian institution noij «/> 5 eo = t/> ^^ z .J z _ _ . ^ B lES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI NVINOSHimS S3 I M Va 8 n_l-l z r- _^ 2 o z: /(^^^}>\ o '^°' iSNTNYINOSHimS S3 I aVH 8 n""LI B RAR I Es'^SMITHSONIAN-INSTITUTION,'w JES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIinillSNI NVINOSHilWS S3IHVyan_^'^ *A "• frt — */\ »• a: < NOIJ LSNI~'NVINOSHilWS S3 I W VH 8 ll'^LI B RAR I ES^SMITHSONIAN^INSTITUTION~ r- , Z r- 2 .lES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI NVINOSHimS S3ldVdan^LIB J *^ t/> ^ .^-TT^v. ^ * ^ 5 -^ '^. ^epavimeni of fhc ^nicrior; U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. BULLETIN UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. WASHINGTON: GOVEENMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1875. <^ ^61 C H E C K - L I S T ^- _^ North American B^vtrachia and Eeptilia; SYSTEMATIC LIST OF THE HIGHER GROUPS, / ESSAY ON GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. BASED ON THE SPECIMENS CONTAINED Df THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. By EDWARD D. COPE. WASHIJ^GTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1875. ADVERTISEMENT. This work is the first of a series of papers intended to illustrate the collections of Natural History and Ethnology belonging to the United States and constituting the National Museum, of which the Smithsonian Institution was placed in charge by the act of Congress of August 10, 184G. It has been prepared at the request of the Institution, and printed by authority of the honorable Secretary of the Interior. JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, Xovember, 1875. ATTENTION READER The paper in this volume is brittle or the inner margins are extremely narrow. We have bound or rebound the volume utilizing the best means possible. PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE TABLE OF C0NTP:NTS. Page. IXTKODCCTOEY RYMAUKS, 3 P.\r:T I. Arrangftment of the iamWina and hi'^hkT divisioTiis of Batra«bia and K«ptilia. [Adopted i>rovijsionally by tbe Srnithsr»Dian In-stitntion.].. 7 C7a«* Batracbia 7 Or<?<?r Annra 7 Stegoc«phaH 10 GymDox>hidia 11 Urodela 11 Proteida 12 Tracbystomata -.1 12 CZa** Eeptilja 12 Ortfer Omitbosauria 12 Dinosanria 13 Croco<lilia 14 Sanrox»tferygia 14 Anoniodontia L5 Icbthyopterygia 15 Bbyncbocexibalia 15 Testndinata 16 , Lacertilia 17 Pytbonomorjjba Ophidia Part IL Check-lLst of the sjiecies of Batracbia and Heptilia of the Xearctic or North American realm 24 Class Batracbia 24 Order Tracbystomata 24 Proteida 24 Cadncibrancbiata 25 Annra 29 Bafoniformia 29 FJrmisternia 30 Arcifftra 30 Eanifonnia 32 Clasm 'ReitiWa, 33 Ord«rOphidia 33 Solenog] \-j»ba 33 Proteroglypha 34 Asinea 34 Scolecophidia 44 : II TABLE OF CONTENTS. Pa-re. P.via II. Check-list of the species of Batruchia and Reptilia, «S:c. —Continued : Cla«8 Reptila—Continued Order Lacertilia 44 Opheosauri 14 Pleurodonta 44 Typhlopbthahni 44 Leptoglo.ssa 44 l)il)loglof<sa 4r) Igiiauia 47 Nyctisaura '^0 Testudinata 50 Athecie oO Cryptodira 51 Crocodilia 54 I'.vitT III, On geographical distribution of the Vertebrata of the Kegnuni Nearc- ticuni, with especial reference to thcBatrachia and Reptilia 55 I. —The faunal regions of the earth 55 II.—Number of species 58 III.—Relations to other realni;- 61 lA'^. —The regions 67 Austroriparian iiS Eastern 70 Central 71 Pacific 7J Sonoran 7:> Lower Californian 74 V.—The Anslroripariau region 76 VI.—Tlie Eastern region 82 VII.—The Central region 88 VIII.—The Pacific region 89 IX.—The Sonoran regiou 90 X.—The Lower Californian region '.'^ XI.—Relation of distribution to physical causes IK? Pvirr IV. Bibliography <J7 A. —Works on the classification of Butrachia and Reptilia t>7 H. —Works treatingof the geographical distribution of North American Batincliia and Reptilia 100 ALril.MlETIC.VL INDEX 101 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The present contribution to North American Herpetology is a prodro- nms of a general work on that subject, undertaken some years ago at the request of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. The mate- rial which has been accumuhiting in the museum of that Institution has offered great advantages for the investigation of the questions of anatomical structure, variations of specific characters, and geographical distribution. It is believed that these subjects are much elucidated by the study of the Batrachia and Reptilia, since these animals are especially susceptible to physical influences; since, also, they are unable, like birds, and generally not disposed, as are mammals, to make extended migra- tious, their habitats express neai^ly the simjilest relations of life to its surroundings. In prosecuting these investigations, it has become necessary to adapt the nomenclature to the results obtained by study of many specimens as to the variation of species. It is a common observation that the better a species of animal is represented in our collections, the wider do we discover its range of variation to be, and the greater the number of supposed distinct species does it become necessary to reduce to the rauk of varieties. The definition of a species being simply a number of indi- viduals, certain of whose physical peculiarities belong to them alone, and are at the same time exhibited by all of them, it is evident that, since it is impossible, in the present state of our knowledge, to ijredicate what those "certain peculiarities" shall be, the only test of specific defi- nition is the constancy of those characters. Hence it is that the most diverse forms of one species may differ more from each other than two recognized species. In the investigation of North American cold-blooded Vertebrata, I have observed that many species are represented by well- marked geographical varieties, which, following the example of some oruithologists, I have called subspecies. Many of these have been here- tofore regarded as species. In illustration of these remarks, certain species of the genus Ophibohis may be selected. The most northern and the most southern forms of the genus, the 0. trianf/ulitm and 0. coccineus^ have always been regarded as distinct species; and so niinierous are their difterential characters, in col- oration, size, and sfjuaniation, that this view would seem to rest on a sat- isfactory IbiindatioM. I lind, however, that individuals exist which rep- resent every stage of development of each character which distinguishes them, although eel tain typesaypearto be moreabundant than the interme- diate ones. 0. trianijuhim is li species of larger size, with two temporal plates, a row of large dorsal spots, and other smaller ones on the sides, on a grayish ground ; with a chevron, and often other marks on the top of the head, and a band posterior to the eye. 0. cocci>ieu.s is a small snake with a small loreal plate and one temi)oral shield ; color red, with pairs of black rings extending round the body, and no markings on the head excepting that the anterior ring of the anterior pair crosses the posterior edge of the occi]>ital shields, forming a half collar. The transition is accom- plished thus : The lateral borders of the dorsal spots of 0. iriangulum break up, and the lateral spots become attached to their anterior and posterior dark borders. The chevron of the top of the head first breaks into spots, and then its posterior portions unite with each other. The borders of the old dorsal spots continue to the abdomen, where the remaining lateral portions finally meet on the middle line, forming a black line. This breaks up and disappears, leaving the annuli open; and these are then completed in many specimens. The general colors become more brilliant and the size smaller. The head is more dei)re.ssed ; in immediate relation to this form, the loreal i)late is reduced in size, and the two temporal shields of 0. irianguhim are reduced to one. I'^very form of combination of these characters can be found, which represent six species of the books (in North America), viz: 0. iriangulum, 0. doli- atu.s, 0. aiinuhttus, 0. gcutilis^ 0. aDiovruSjUud 0. coccineus. The oldest name is the 0. doUatus, Linn. Another series of specimens resemble very closely those of the subspecies eoccineus ; in fact, are identical with them in color. The loreal shield is, however, extinguished, and the rows of scales are i educed by one on each side. These specimens simply carry one degree further the modifications already described. Yet, on account of the constancy of these characters, I am compelled to regard these indiviiluals not only as a distinct s[)ecies, but, on account of the absence of the loreal plate, as belonging to another genus. This is the Cahima- ria chtpsoidea of Ilolbrook; the Osceola claijsoidea of Baird and Girard. It affords an illustration of the principle, which I have elsewhere insisted on, '• that adjacent species of allied genera may be more alike than remote species of identical generic characters," which indicates that generic char- acters originate independently of the specific* The classification of the present list is illustrated by the above remarks.
Recommended publications
  • Laurence Bergreen D D Rio De La Plata Rio De La Plata Cape of Good Hope,Cape of Good Hope, O O N N I I C C Mocha Is
    90˚ 105˚90˚ 120˚105˚ 135˚ 120˚150˚ 135˚ 165˚150˚ 180˚ 165˚165˚ 180˚ 150˚165˚ 135˚150˚ 120˚135˚ 120˚ 90˚ 75˚ 90˚ 60˚75˚ 45˚ 60˚30˚ 45˚ 15˚ 30˚0˚ 15˚ 15˚ 0˚30˚ 15˚ 45˚ 30˚60˚ 45˚ 60˚ 75˚ 75˚ 75˚ 75˚ 70˚ 70˚FranFrancis Drciaks Dre’sake’s 70˚ 70˚ CircumCircnaumviganativiongation of thofe Wotherl Wod rld ARCTIC CIRCLE ARCTIC CIRCLE Nov. 15No77v.–S 15ep77t.–S 15ep80t. 1580 60˚ 60˚ 60˚ 60˚ ENGLAND ENGLAND NORTH NORTH EUROPE EUROPE Plymouth, Sept. Plymouth,26, 1580 Sept. 26, 1580 Nov. 15, 1577 Nov. 15, 1577 45˚ 45˚ Terceira, Azores Terceira, Azores 45˚ 45˚ ASIA ASIA Sept. 11, 1580 Sept. 11, 1580 New Albion New Albion AMERICA AMERICAA A June–July 1579 June–July 1579 t l t l a n a n t t i c i c Mogador Is. MoCapegador Cantin Is. Cape Cantin 30˚ 30˚ O O 30˚ 30˚ c c e e a a n n Cape Barbas Cape Barbas In Search of a CapeKingdom Verde IslandsCape Verde Islands 15˚ 15˚ Philippines Philippines 15˚ 15˚ ? ? PANAMA PANAMA AFRICA AFRICA Guatulco Guatulco SIERRA SIERRA Mindanao Mindanao Equator crossed Equator crossed LEONE LEONE Palau, Sept. 30, Pa1579lau, Sept. 30, 1579 P a c P a c i f i i f i Caño Is. Caño Is. FrAncisFeb. 20, 1578 Fe b.DrAke, 20, 1578 elizAbeth i, AnD the c c March 16, 1579 March 16, 1579 0˚ 0˚ Ternate Ternate O O EQUATOR 0˚ EQUATOR 0˚ c e c e Sumatra Sumatra a a Fernando de NoronhFernaando de Noronha n n Paita Paita Perilous birth oF the british emPire Java Java PERU SOPEUTRUH SOUTH March 26, 1580 March 26, 1580 Lima, El Callao Lima, El CallaoAMERICA AMERICA n n 15˚ 15˚ 15˚ 15˚ a a e e Henderson Is.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Microvertebrate Assemblage from the Mussentuchit
    A new microvertebrate assemblage from the Mussentuchit Member, Cedar Mountain Formation: insights into the paleobiodiversity and paleobiogeography of early Late Cretaceous ecosystems in western North America Haviv M. Avrahami1,2,3, Terry A. Gates1, Andrew B. Heckert3, Peter J. Makovicky4 and Lindsay E. Zanno1,2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA 2 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA 3 Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA 4 Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA ABSTRACT The vertebrate fauna of the Late Cretaceous Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation has been studied for nearly three decades, yet the fossil-rich unit continues to produce new information about life in western North America approximately 97 million years ago. Here we report on the composition of the Cliffs of Insanity (COI) microvertebrate locality, a newly sampled site containing perhaps one of the densest concentrations of microvertebrate fossils yet discovered in the Mussentuchit Member. The COI locality preserves osteichthyan, lissamphibian, testudinatan, mesoeucrocodylian, dinosaurian, metatherian, and trace fossil remains and is among the most taxonomically rich microvertebrate localities in the Mussentuchit Submitted 30 May 2018 fi fi Accepted 8 October 2018 Member. To better re ne taxonomic identi cations of isolated theropod dinosaur Published 16 November 2018 teeth, we used quantitative analyses of taxonomically comprehensive databases of Corresponding authors theropod tooth measurements, adding new data on theropod tooth morphodiversity in Haviv M. Avrahami, this poorly understood interval. We further provide the first descriptions of [email protected] tyrannosauroid premaxillary teeth and document the earliest North American record of Lindsay E.
    [Show full text]
  • Article the Last European Varanid: Demise and Extinction of Monitor Lizards (Squamata, Varanidae) from Europe
    Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e1301946 (7 pages) Ó by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1301946 ARTICLE THE LAST EUROPEAN VARANID: DEMISE AND EXTINCTION OF MONITOR LIZARDS (SQUAMATA, VARANIDAE) FROM EUROPE GEORGIOS L. GEORGALIS,*,1,2 ANDREA VILLA,2 and MASSIMO DELFINO2,3 1Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland, [email protected]; 2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy, massimo.delfi[email protected]; [email protected]; 3Institut Catala de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, Carrer de les Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Spain ABSTRACT—Remains of a varanid lizard from the middle Pleistocene of the Tourkobounia 5 locality near Athens, Greece are described. The new material comprises cranial elements only (one maxilla, one dentary, and one tooth) and is attributed to Varanus, the genus to which all European Neogene varanid occurrences have been assigned. Previously, the youngest undisputed varanid from Europe had been recovered from upper Pliocene sediments. The new Greek fossils therefore constitute the youngest records of this clade from the continent. Despite being fragmentary, this new material enhances our understanding of the cranial anatomy of the last European monitor lizards and is clearly not referable to the extant Varanus griseus or Varanus niloticus, the only species that could be taken into consideration on a present-day geographic basis. However, these fossils could represent a survivor of the monitor lizards of Asian origin that inhabited Europe during the Neogene.
    [Show full text]
  • BOA2.1 Caecilian Biology and Natural History.Key
    The Biology of Amphibians @ Agnes Scott College Mark Mandica Executive Director The Amphibian Foundation [email protected] 678 379 TOAD (8623) 2.1: Introduction to Caecilians Microcaecilia dermatophaga Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia There are more than 20 synapomorphies (shared characters) uniting the group Lissamphibia Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Integumen is Glandular Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Glandular Skin, with 2 main types of glands. Mucous Glands Aid in cutaneous respiration, reproduction, thermoregulation and defense. Granular Glands Secrete toxic and/or noxious compounds and aid in defense Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Pedicellate Teeth crown (dentine, with enamel covering) gum line suture (fibrous connective tissue, where tooth can break off) basal element (dentine) Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Sacral Vertebrae Sacral Vertebrae Connects pelvic girdle to The spine. Amphibians have no more than one sacral vertebrae (caecilians have none) Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Amphicoelus Vertebrae Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Opercular apparatus Unique to amphibians and Operculum part of the sound conducting mechanism Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia Fat Bodies Surrounding Gonads Fat Bodies Insulate gonads Evolution of Amphibians † † † † Actinopterygian Coelacanth, Tetrapodomorpha †Amniota *Gerobatrachus (Ray-fin Fishes) Lungfish (stem-tetrapods) (Reptiles, Mammals)Lepospondyls † (’frogomander’) Eocaecilia GymnophionaKaraurus Caudata Triadobatrachus Anura (including Apoda Urodela Prosalirus †) Salientia Batrachia Lissamphibia
    [Show full text]
  • Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
    MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science.
    [Show full text]
  • New Albion P1
    State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date Page 2 of 30 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) Site of New Albion P1. Other Identifier: ____ *P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County Marin and (P2c, P2e, and P2b or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad Date T ; R ; of of Sec ; B.M. c. Address 1 Drakes Beach Road City Inverness Zip 94937 d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) Zone , mE/ mN e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, decimal degrees, etc., as appropriate) Site bounded by 38.036° North latitude, -122.590° West longitude, 38.030° North ° latitude, and -122.945 West longitude. *P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) Site of Francis Drake’s 1579 encampment called “New Albion” by Drake. Includes sites of Drake’s fort, the careening of the Golden Hind, the abandonment of Tello’s bark, and the meetings with the Coast Miwok peoples. Includes Drake’s Cove as drawn in the Hondius Broadside map (ca. 1595-1596) which retains very high integrity. P5a. Photograph or Drawing (Photograph required for buildings, structures, and objects.) Portus Novae Albionis *P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) AH16-Other Historic Archaeological Site DPR 523A (9/2013) *Required information State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date Page 3 of 30 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) Site of New Albion P1.
    [Show full text]
  • A New European Albian Turtle That Extends the Known Stratigraphic Range of the Pleurosternidae (Paracryptodira)
    Cretaceous Research 55 (2015) 74e83 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Cretaceous Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/CretRes A new European Albian turtle that extends the known stratigraphic range of the Pleurosternidae (Paracryptodira) * A. Perez-García a, b, , E. Espílez c, L. Mampel c, L. Alcala c a Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ci^encias da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), Edificio C6, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal b Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda del Rey, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain c Fundacion Conjunto Paleontologico de Teruel-Dinopolis (Museo Aragones de Paleontología), Avda. Sagunto s/n, E-44002 Teruel, Spain article info abstract Article history: Postcranial material corresponding to three specimens of freshwater turtles, from the lower Albian Received 23 December 2014 (upper Lower Cretaceous) of Arino~ (Teruel Province, Spain), is analysed in this paper. This study allows us Accepted in revised form 18 February 2015 to identify the presence of Pleurosternidae (Paracryptodira) outside its known stratigraphic range, from Available online Kimmeridgian to Barremian, and extends its distribution to the Albian. The species from Arino~ represents a new taxon, Toremys cassiopeia gen. et sp. nov., which is the only pleurosternid described so far in post- Keywords: Berriasian levels. Toremys cassiopeia is closely related to other taxa from Europe, to which the Cretaceous Pleurosternidae pleurosternids are restricted. Knowledge about the European freshwater turtle faunas distributed be- Toremys cassiopeia, gen. et sp. nov. fi Lower Cretaceous tween the Barremian and the uppermost Cretaceous is very limited. The new nding provides relevant Albian data on these poorly understood faunas.
    [Show full text]
  • Venom On-A-Chip: a Fast and Efficient Method for Comparative Venomics
    toxins Article Venom On-a-Chip: A Fast and Efficient Method for Comparative Venomics Giulia Zancolli 1,*, Libia Sanz 2, Juan J. Calvete 2 and Wolfgang Wüster 1,* 1 Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Lab, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK 2 Venomics and Structural Proteomics Laboratory, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaume Roig 11, Valencia 46010, Spain; [email protected] (L.S.); [email protected] (J.J.C.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (G.Z.); [email protected] (W.W.) Academic Editor: Kevin Arbuckle Received: 20 April 2017; Accepted: 24 May 2017; Published: 28 May 2017 Abstract: Venom research has attracted an increasing interest in disparate fields, from drug development and pharmacology, to evolutionary biology and ecology, and rational antivenom production. Advances in “-omics” technologies have allowed the characterization of an increasing number of animal venoms, but the methodology currently available is suboptimal for large-scale comparisons of venom profiles. Here, we describe a fast, reproducible and semi-automated protocol for investigating snake venom variability, especially at the intraspecific level, using the Agilent Bioanalyzer on-chip technology. Our protocol generated a phenotype matrix which can be used for robust statistical analysis and correlations of venom variation with ecological correlates, or other extrinsic factors. We also demonstrate the ease and utility of combining on-chip technology with previously fractionated venoms for detection of specific individual toxin proteins. Our study describes a novel strategy for rapid venom discrimination and analysis of compositional variation at multiple taxonomic levels, allowing researchers to tackle evolutionary questions and unveiling the drivers of the incredible biodiversity of venoms.
    [Show full text]
  • Origin of Tropical American Burrowing Reptiles by Transatlantic Rafting
    Biol. Lett. in conjunction with head movements to widen their doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0531 burrows (Gans 1978). Published online Amphisbaenians (approx. 165 species) provide an Phylogeny ideal subject for biogeographic analysis because they are limbless (small front limbs are present in three species) and fossorial, presumably limiting dispersal, Origin of tropical American yet they are widely distributed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (Kearney 2003). Three of the five burrowing reptiles by extant families have restricted geographical ranges and contain only a single genus: the Rhineuridae (genus transatlantic rafting Rhineura, one species, Florida); the Bipedidae (genus Nicolas Vidal1,2,*, Anna Azvolinsky2, Bipes, three species, Baja California and mainland Corinne Cruaud3 and S. Blair Hedges2 Mexico); and the Blanidae (genus Blanus, four species, Mediterranean region; Kearney & Stuart 2004). 1De´partement Syste´matique et Evolution, UMR 7138, Syste´matique, Evolution, Adaptation, Case Postale 26, Muse´um National d’Histoire Species in the Trogonophidae (four genera and six Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France species) are sand specialists found in the Middle East, 2Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State North Africa and the island of Socotra, while the University, University Park, PA 16802-5301, USA largest and most diverse family, the Amphisbaenidae 3Centre national de se´quenc¸age, Genoscope, 2 rue Gaston-Cre´mieux, CP5706, 91057 Evry Cedex, France (approx. 150 species), is found on both sides of the *Author and address for correspondence: De´partment Syste´matique et Atlantic, in sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Evolution, UMR 7138, Syste´matique, Evolution, Adoptation, Case the Caribbean (Kearney & Stuart 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • Xenosaurus Tzacualtipantecus. the Zacualtipán Knob-Scaled Lizard Is Endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Eastern Mexico
    Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus. The Zacualtipán knob-scaled lizard is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of eastern Mexico. This medium-large lizard (female holotype measures 188 mm in total length) is known only from the vicinity of the type locality in eastern Hidalgo, at an elevation of 1,900 m in pine-oak forest, and a nearby locality at 2,000 m in northern Veracruz (Woolrich- Piña and Smith 2012). Xenosaurus tzacualtipantecus is thought to belong to the northern clade of the genus, which also contains X. newmanorum and X. platyceps (Bhullar 2011). As with its congeners, X. tzacualtipantecus is an inhabitant of crevices in limestone rocks. This species consumes beetles and lepidopteran larvae and gives birth to living young. The habitat of this lizard in the vicinity of the type locality is being deforested, and people in nearby towns have created an open garbage dump in this area. We determined its EVS as 17, in the middle of the high vulnerability category (see text for explanation), and its status by the IUCN and SEMAR- NAT presently are undetermined. This newly described endemic species is one of nine known species in the monogeneric family Xenosauridae, which is endemic to northern Mesoamerica (Mexico from Tamaulipas to Chiapas and into the montane portions of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala). All but one of these nine species is endemic to Mexico. Photo by Christian Berriozabal-Islas. Amphib. Reptile Conserv. | http://redlist-ARC.org 01 June 2013 | Volume 7 | Number 1 | e61 Copyright: © 2013 Wilson et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Com- mons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted use for non-com- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 7(1): 1–47.
    [Show full text]
  • Trade in Live Reptiles, Its Impact on Wild Populations, and the Role of the European Market
    BIOC-06813; No of Pages 17 Biological Conservation xxx (2016) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bioc Review Trade in live reptiles, its impact on wild populations, and the role of the European market Mark Auliya a,⁎,SandraAltherrb, Daniel Ariano-Sanchez c, Ernst H. Baard d,CarlBrownd,RafeM.Browne, Juan-Carlos Cantu f,GabrieleGentileg, Paul Gildenhuys d, Evert Henningheim h, Jürgen Hintzmann i, Kahoru Kanari j, Milivoje Krvavac k, Marieke Lettink l, Jörg Lippert m, Luca Luiselli n,o, Göran Nilson p, Truong Quang Nguyen q, Vincent Nijman r, James F. Parham s, Stesha A. Pasachnik t,MiguelPedronou, Anna Rauhaus v,DannyRuedaCórdovaw, Maria-Elena Sanchez x,UlrichScheppy, Mona van Schingen z,v, Norbert Schneeweiss aa, Gabriel H. Segniagbeto ab, Ruchira Somaweera ac, Emerson Y. Sy ad,OguzTürkozanae, Sabine Vinke af, Thomas Vinke af,RajuVyasag, Stuart Williamson ah,1,ThomasZieglerai,aj a Department Conservation Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Conservation (UFZ), Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany b Pro Wildlife, Kidlerstrasse 2, 81371 Munich, Germany c Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle de, Guatemala d Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, South Africa e Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA f Bosques de Cerezos 112, C.P. 11700 México D.F., Mexico g Dipartimento di Biologia, Universitá Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy h Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    [Show full text]
  • Species Account
    REPTILIA Order OPHIDIA (Snakes) I. Family COLUBRIDAE Ahaetulla prasina Green Vine Snake This snake was found in Renah Kayu Embun and Napal Licin survey sites at elevation 1400 meters asl and 300 meters asl respectively. Usually it can be seen in degraded habitat including plantation, secondary growth and house compounds, to primary rain forest (Inger and Stuebing, 2005; Kurniati, 2003). It occurs from lowlands up to mountain forests over 1500 meters asl (Kurniati et al., 2001; Kurniati, 2003). It is common species at low elevation (Inger and Stuebing, 2005), but become rare at high elevation such as Renah Kayu Embun survey site. This species is known from South-east Asia, East Indies (Sulawesi and The Lesser Sunda) (Stuebing and Inger, 1999: de Lang and Vogel, 2005). Figure 91. A. prasina (Photograph by H. Kurniati). Amphiesma sp This undescribed snake was found in Muara Labuh survey site at elevation 800 meters asl. It was a nocturnal snake that inhabited strong moving stream bank. The morphology of this snake is similar to A. kerinciense (David and Das, 2003). Possibly, it is a new species, but future study is needed. Figure 92. Amphiesma sp from Muara Labuh (Photograph by H. Kurniati). Aplopeltura boa Blunt-headed Tree Snake This snake was found in Upper Rupit River and Tapan survey sites at elevation 150 meters asl and 550 meters asl respectively. It inhabited lowland primary rain forest. It occurs at elevation between sea level to 1200 meters asl (Kurniati, 2003), but it is confined to be lowland. In Tapan survey site, it was rarely observed.
    [Show full text]