DOCSLIB.ORG

First Record of Lytorhynchus Paradoxus (Günther, 1875)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

February, 2004] NOTES 123 Hamadryad Vol. 28, Nos. 1 & 2, pp. 123 – 126, 2004 Thailand, an illustrated checklist. Bushmaster Copyright 2004 Centre for Herpetology Publications, Wuerselen. 240 pp. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust CHOU, L. M. 1978. Some bionomic data on First record of Lytorhynchus the house geckos of Singapore. Malay. nat. J. 31: paradoxus (Günther, 1875) (Serpentes: 231-235. DE ROOIJ, N. 1915. The reptiles of the Colubridae) from the Republic of India, Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, with notes on its distribution Chelonia, Emydosaura. E.J. Brill, Leiden. 384 (with two text-figures) pp. GILL, B. J., D. BEJAKOVICH & A. H. In August 2003, two of the authors came across WHITAKER. 2001. Records of foreign reptiles an unusual looking colubrid snake in Ramgadh and amphibians accidentally imported to New (Sikkar district, Rajasthan, western India). The Zealand. New Zealand J. Zool. 28: 351-359. snake was found at night, photographed the next GROSSMANN, W. 1993. Ungewöhnlich morning and released immediately thereafter. hohe Populationsdichte bei Gekko monarchus The only scalation data recorded was the number (Duméril & Bibron, 1836). Sauria 15: 13-16. of midbody scale rows. No voucher specimen LEVER, C. 2003. Naturalized reptiles and was collected, but two photographic slides of the amphibians of the world. Oxford University snake- a dorsal view of the entire body (Fig. 1) Press, Oxford. xviii + [2] + 318 pp. and another in which the left lateral aspect of the LIM, K. K. P. & F. L. K. LIM. 1992. A guide head is visible, enabled us to identify the snake as to the amphibians & reptiles of Singapore. Sin- Lytorhynchus paradoxus. gapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. After consulting literature, especially com- MANTHEY, U. & W. GROSSMANN. 1997. prehensive checklists of Indian snakes by Amphibien & Reptilien Südostasiens. Natur und Whitaker (1978) and Das (1997, 2003), we find Tier – Verlag, Münster. 512 pp. this snake represents the first record of this genus Schäfer, C. & W. Grossmann. 1992. Reptilia: and species from within the political boundaries Sauria: Gekkonidae. Gekko monarchus of present day India. High resolution scans of the (Duméril & Bibron). Sauria 14, Suppl.: aforementioned images have been deposited at 243-246. the Centre for Herpetology, Madras Crocodile YOUMANS, T. M., R. ESCOBAR, III, J. L. Bank Trust, Mamallapuram 603 104, Tamil GRISMER, L. L. GRISMER & R. JOHNSON. Nadu, India. 2002. First report of the herpetofauna of Pulau Scalation, morphological details and colour Pemanggil, Johor, West Malaysia. Hamadryad pattern based on field observations as well as 27: 148-149. those gleaned from scanned images of the Indian specimen- Scales smooth, in 19 rows at midbody. Aaron M. Bauer, Department of Biology, Head slightly broader than neck; snout decliv- Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, ous; body mildly, but noticeably triangular in Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, U.S.A. cross section; tail short, tip pointed. Rostral Email: [email protected] rhomboidal; pointed in front, angular behind. William R. Branch, Bayworld, P.O. Box Eye large with vertically elliptical pupil; nostril - 13147, Humewood 6013, South Africa. narrow slit between two large scales; frontal ex- Email: [email protected]. panded anteriorly; touching upper preocular; prefrontals larger than internasals; preoculars 3; Received: 23 October 2003. loreal 1; postoculars 2. Pale brown above; Accepted: 28 November 2003. midline of back with a series of at least 40 ‘H’ or ‘X’- shaped dark brown marks connected by a white, ribbon-like stripe. Sides of body with smaller, less distinct brown spots which alternate 124 HAMADRYAD [Vol. 28, Nos.1&2, February, 2004] NOTES 125 with those on the mid-back. Back of head with dia– rostral shield narrowed and pointed, not large brown, elongate blotch; broad brown truncate, broader at its base than at its anterior streak from eye to angle of mouth; a similar col- most projection; prefrontals paired; ground col- oured mark below eye. Underside glossy white. our greyish brown with series of darker brown, We were unable to determine the number and not black, blotches, not cross bars. We were un- condition of the supralabials from the images able to determine the number of ventrals, with any certainty, as sand particles had adhered subcaudals and the condition of the anal (also to and obscured some of their margins. used by the aforementioned in their key to mem- The snake was identifiable as a member of the bers of this genus). Dorsal body pattern closely genus Lytorhynchus on the bases of its midbody resembles Leviton and Anderson’s depiction of a scale rows; awl-shaped head; uniquely shaped specimen from the California Academy of Sci- rostral scale; oblique, slit-like nostril and moder- ences– CAS 101412. However the dorsal aspect ately short tail. of the rostral scale of the Rajasthan snake is dis- Identification to species was made after com- tinctly unlike that of Lytorhynchus paradoxus as paring scanned dorsal and lateral views of the depicted by Leviton and Anderson in figure 21 head with descriptions and figures in Günther (1970: 269) and Khan (2003: 111). Despite this (1875: 576), Boulenger (1890: 322-3), Smith glaring discrepancy, it compares well with fig- (1943: 189-192), Minton (1966: 130-1, plate ures and descriptions in other literature cited 29), Leviton and Anderson (1970: 255, 268-270) above as well as the holotype BMNH and Khan (2002: 111, 143). It should be noted 1946.1.14.75 (formerly BMNH 72.4.17.162) that though captioned correctly, Fig. 59 depict- and we are convinced that the abovementioned ing dorsal and ventral aspects of the head of L. snake from Ramgadh (Sikkar district, Rajasthan, maynardi has been placed under the description western India) is indeed Lytorhynchus of Lytorhynchus paradoxus Smith (1943: 191). paradoxus. Boulenger (1890: 322) provided dorsal and lat- Natural history notes.- The snake was found eral views of the head of L. paradoxus. Compari- lying straight on a sand dune (Fig. 2) at approxi- sons of the scanned images with the holotype mately 2130 h after a spell of rain. When first BMNH 1946.1.14.75 (formerly BMNH handled, it coiled up like a cylindrical spring with 72.4.17.162) revealed no notable differences in its head on the uppermost coil. This behaviour dorsal colour pattern or scalation of the head, was not repeated subsequently. Whilst photo- consistent with the identification as graphing the snake, it persistently burrowed into Lytorhynchus paradoxus. the sand with its snout. It made no attempt to bite We follow Smith (1943: 189-192) who used when handled. the shape and condition of the rostral scale to dis- Günther (1875), who first described this spe- tinguish between the three species of cies as Acontiophis paradoxa wrote, “A single Lytorhynchus that are known to occur in this re- specimen, twelve inches long (tail 1½ inches); is gion. The rostral scale of the snake from in the late Dr. Jerdon’s collection. It is rather Rajasthan is neither “truncate anteriorly- L. shrivelled and unfortunately no record as regards ridgewayi”; nor is it “anchor-shaped when the locality where it was found was placed on the viewed from above- L. maynardi”. The rostral is bottle. He obtained it probably within the Hima- undoubtedly, “pointed anteriorly, angular poste- layan region or in Khassya (= the Khasi Hills of riorly” and separates the internasals for between the modern Meghalaya State, north-eastern In- half to one-third of their length - key characters dia)”. This is incorrect as the snake is a desert for L. paradoxus. species. Boulenger (1890) recorded “Sind” (at The following key characters used by Leviton present a Province in Pakistan) as a locality and and Anderson (1970: 255, 270) to diagnose rightly commented that these were desert snakes, Lytorhynchus paradoxus are also evident in adapted for burrowing in the sand. Wall (1923) scans of the snake from Ramgadh, Rajasthan, In- recorded L. paradoxus from Sind, Punjab, 126 HAMADRYAD [Vol. 28, Nos.1&2, Multan (all in Pakistan). Smith (1943) gave the DAS, I. 1997. Checklist of the reptiles of India range of this species as “Sind (Zangipur); W. with English common names. Hamadryad 22: Punjab (Multan)”- based on four specimens. 32-45. These localities are also in Pakistan. He also ________. 2003. Growth of knowledge on cited “N. India” as the type locality for the reptiles of India, with an introduction to sys- Acontiophis paradoxa (= Lytorhynchus tematics, taxonomy and nomenclature. J. Bom- paradoxus) presumably condensing Günther bay nat. Hist. Soc. 100: 446-501. supposition that Jerdon’s specimen came from GÜNTHER, A. 1875. Second report on col- “within the Himalayan region or in Khassya”. lections of Indian reptiles obtained by the British Though Khan (2002) also cites the type locality Museum. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1875: 224-34, as “Northern India”, he goes on to write that this 4 pl. species is “restricted to Zangipur, northern KHAN, M. S. 2002. A guide to the snakes of Sindh, Pakistan”. Minton (1966) examined spec- Pakistan. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main. imens from Dadu or Hyderabad; Muzaffargar; 265 pp. Sanghar and Thar Parkar districts- all localities LEVITON, A. E. & S. C. ANDERSON. 1970. in Pakistan. The Bombay Natural History Soci- Review of the snakes of the genus Lytorhynchus ety has a single, undated specimen from Thar, Proc. California Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 37 (7): Parkar collected by E. Priestly. A typographical 249-274. error noticed by us was that Minton (1966: 131) MINTON, S. A. 1966. A contribution to the cites the type as Aconitophis paradoxus Günther, herpetology of West Pakistan. Bull. Amer. Mus. 1875. Khan (2002) also follows this spelling. Nat. Hist. 134(2): 27-184, pl. 9-36, maps 1-5. The actual citation is Acontiophis paradoxa- this SMITH, M. A. 1943. The fauna of British In- was followed by both Boulenger (1890: 323) and dia, Ceylon and Burma, including the whole of Smith (1943: 191).
Recommended publications
  • A Review of Southern Iraq Herpetofauna

    A Review of Southern Iraq Herpetofauna

    Vol. 3 (1): 61-71, 2019 A Review of Southern Iraq Herpetofauna Nadir A. Salman Mazaya University College, Dhi Qar, Iraq *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract: The present review discussed the species diversity of herpetofauna in southern Iraq due to their scientific and national interests. The review includes a historical record for the herpetofaunal studies in Iraq since the earlier investigations of the 1920s and 1950s along with the more recent taxonomic trials in the following years. It appeared that, little is known about Iraqi herpetofauna, and no comprehensive checklist has been done for these species. So far, 96 species of reptiles and amphibians have been recorded from Iraq, but only a relatively small proportion of them occur in the southern marshes. The marshes act as key habitat for globally endangered species and as a potential for as yet unexplored amphibian and reptile diversity. Despite the lack of precise localities, the tree frog Hyla savignyi, the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibunda and the green toad Bufo viridis are found in the marshes. Common reptiles in the marshes include the Caspian terrapin (Clemmys caspia), the soft-shell turtle (Trionyx euphraticus), the Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus), geckos of the genus Hemidactylus, two species of skinks (Trachylepis aurata and Mabuya vittata) and a variety of snakes of the genus Coluber, the spotted sand boa (Eryx jaculus), tessellated water snake (Natrix tessellata) and Gray's desert racer (Coluber ventromaculatus). More recently, a new record for the keeled gecko, Cyrtopodion scabrum and the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) was reported. The IUCN Red List includes six terrestrial and six aquatic amphibian species.
  • Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan

    Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan

    Pakistan J. Zool., pp 1-4, 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20181111091150 Short Communication Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan Saeed Ahmed Essote1, Asim Iqbal1, Muhammad Kamran Taj2*, Asmatullah Kakar1, Imran Taj2, Shahab-ud-Din Kakar1 and Imran Ali 3,4* 1Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan, Quetta 2Center for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology and Biotechnology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 3Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta 4 Plant Biomass Utilization Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Article Information Thailand. Received 11 November 2018 Revised 11 October 2020 Accepted 10 December 2020 ABSTRACT Available online 28 April 2021 Authors’ Contribution The current study was conducted in Zhob, Quetta, Sibi, Kalat, Naseer Abad and Makran Divisions of SAE carried the research with the Balochistan Province. A total of 619 snake specimens representing 6 families, 20 genera and 37 species help of other authors and wrote were collected. The family wise representation among collected specimens has been Boidae (4.6%), the manuscript. AI, MKT and IT Leptotyphlopidae (7.5%), Typhlopidae (10.3%), Elapidae (11.7%), Viperidae (13.4%) and Colubridae helped in the experimental work. AK (52.5%). The percentage of family Boidae, Typhlopidae, Elapidae and Leptotyphlopidae were high in and SDK classified the species and Sibi Division while family Viperidae and Colubridae were dominant in Quetta Division. The family proofread the article. IA helped in arranging contents of the article. Colubridae has been the most dominant in the Province, having ten genera viz., Boiga (6.8%) Coluber (10.1%), Eirenis (2.5%), Lycodon (3.5%), Lytorhynchus (6.1%), Oligodon (4.7%), Natrix (1.7%), (7.5%), Key words Ptyas (2.9 %) Spalerosophis (6.3%) and Psammophis.
  • A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India

    A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India

    RESEARCH ARTICLE A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India Zeeshan A. Mirza1☯*, Raju Vyas2, Harshil Patel3☯, Jaydeep Maheta4, Rajesh V. Sanap1☯ 1 National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India, 2 505, Krishnadeep Towers, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodra 390002, Gujarat, India, 3 Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat-395007, Gujarat, India, 4 Shree cultural foundation, Ahmedabad 380004, Gujarat, India ☯ These authors contributed equally to this work. * [email protected] Abstract A distinctive early Miocene-divergent lineage of Old world racer snakes is described as a new genus and species based on three specimens collected from the western Indian state of Gujarat. Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. is a members of a clade of old world racers. The monotypic genus represents a distinct lineage among old world racers is recovered as a sister taxa to Lytorhynchus based on ~3047bp of combined nuclear (cmos) and mitochondrial molecular data (cytb, ND4, 12s, 16s). The snake is distinct morphologi- cally in having a unique dorsal scale reduction formula not reported from any known colubrid snake genus. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence for nuclear gene cmos between OPEN ACCESS Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. other members of the clade containing old Citation: Mirza ZA, Vyas R, Patel H, Maheta J, world racers and whip snake is 21–36%. Sanap RV (2016) A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India. PLoS ONE 11 (3): e0148380. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148380 Introduction Editor: Ulrich Joger, State Natural History Museum, GERMANY Colubrid snakes are one of the most speciose among serpents with ~1806 species distributed across the world [1–5].
  • Species Account

    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.
  • Reptile Rap Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network ISSN 2230-7079 No.18 | November 2016 Date of Publication: 30 November 2016

    Reptile Rap Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network ISSN 2230-7079 No.18 | November 2016 Date of Publication: 30 November 2016

    Reptile Rap Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network No.18 | November 2016 ISSN 2230-7079 Date of publication: 30 November 2016 www.zoosprint.org/Newsletters/ReptileRap.htm OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD REPTILE RAP #18, 30 November 2016 Contents A pilot-survey to assess the diversity and distribution of reptilian fauna in Taralu Village, abutting the Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka, India -- S. Aaranya Gayathri, M. Jayashankar & K. Avinash, Pp. 3–18 A comprehensive report on the Hook-nosed Sea Snake Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin, 1803) -- Hatkar Prachi & Chinnasamy Ramesh, Pp. 19–22 A sighting of the Sind Awl-headed Snake Lytorhynchus paradoxus (Günther, 1875) from western Rajasthan: Habitat preferences -- Kachhawa Yati, Kachhawa Dimple, Kumawat Kumar Rakesh, K.K. Sharma & Sharma Vivek, Pp. 23–24 Distribution of Treutler’s Gecko (Hemidactylus treutleri Mahony, 2009) in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, southern India - a general information -- B. Laxmi Narayana, G. Baburao & V. Vasudeva Rao, Pp. 25–28 On the occurrence of the Calamaria Reed Snake Liopeltis calamaria (Günther, 1858) (Squamata: Colubridae), in the Kalakadu Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India -- Surya Narayanan, Pp. 29–30 Note on record of body length of the Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus -- Raju Vyas, Pp. 31–32 Unusual feeding behavior of the Checkered Keelback Xenochrophis piscator on Jahangirnagar University Campus, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Noman Al Moktadir & Md. Kamrul Hasan, Pp. 32–33 Bifid tail inHemidactylus prashadi (Smith, 1935) -- Shivanand R. Yankanchi & Suresh M. Kumbar, Pp. 34–35 Some observations on the Malabar Pit Viper Trimeresurus malabaricus in central Western Ghats, India -- Uday Sagar, Pp. 36–39 First records of Oligodon taeniolatus and Bungarus sindnus walli from Nagpur District, Maharashtra, India -- Deshmukh, R.V., Sager A.
  • Checklist of Herpetofauna of Tasek Bera Ramsar Site, Pahang

    Checklist of Herpetofauna of Tasek Bera Ramsar Site, Pahang

    Journal of Wildlife and Parks, 34 (2019): In press CHECKLIST OF HERPETOFAUNA OF TASEK BERA RAMSAR SITE, PAHANG *Badmanathan Munisamy, Khairul Nizam Kamaruddin, Amri Izaffi Zamahsasri, Hartini Ithnin & Mohd Firdaus Razali Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Peninsular Malaysia, KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. *Corresponding author email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tasek Bera Ramsar Site (TBRS) in Pahang is the largest freshwater wetland in Peninsular Malaysia and is protected under the Ramsar Convention. There are varieties of ecosystem around this wetland which support the biodiversity of flora and fauna including herpetofauna. A survey of herpetofauna in TBRS was conducted between 7th and 14th May 2014 to review the species richness in this natural wetland area. Throughout the survey, amphibians and reptiles were actively searched along the lake site, interpretive trails and nearby forests. The captured individuals were photographed and morphology measurements were taken for species identification. A total of 34 individuals comprising of 17 species were caught. Out of these 17 species, five species were amphibians from four families (Bufonidae=1; Ranidae = 2; Rhacophoridae= 1; Dicroglossidae=1), five species were snakes from three families (Colubridae=3; Elapidae=1; Viperidae=1 ) and seven species of lizards from three families (Agamidae=1; Gekkonidae=5; Varanidae=1). The ratio number of individual of amphibians to reptiles captured was almost equal (16:18). The highest captured individuals were from Family Gekkonidae. Hylarana erythraea and Gekko monarchus were the most captured species with six individuals each. These survey findings will be helpful in the management and conservation plan of wildlife, specifically herpetofauna of TBRS.
  • New Records of the Awl-Headed Snake (Lytorhynchus Diadema) from Northeastern Morocco

    New Records of the Awl-Headed Snake (Lytorhynchus Diadema) from Northeastern Morocco

    Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 295-297 (2014) (published online on 26 May 2014) New records of the Awl-headed Snake (Lytorhynchus diadema) from northeastern Morocco Daniel Jablonski1, Daniel Frynta2 and Gabriel Martínez del Mármol Marín3* Lytorhynchus Peters, 1862 is a genus of non- sand banks of inland deserts, often near rocky outcrops. venomous snakes distributed from the Atlantic coast It can also be found in coastal dunes as well as on high of North Africa eastward to the western Indian frontier grassy plateaus up to about 2000 m a.s.l. (Bons and (Sindaco et al., 2013). Six species are currently Geniez, 1996; Schleich et al., 1996). Currently, it is a recognized in this Saharo-Sindian genus: Lytorhynchus monotypic species with an unclear subspecific taxonomy diadema (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854), L. (Sindaco et al., 2013) and lacks a taxonomic assessment kennedyi Schmidt, 1939, L. gasperetti Leviton, 1977, from both molecular and morphological characters. L. ridgewayi Boulenger, 1887, L. maynardi Alcock and Morocco and Western Sahara forms the northwestern Finn, 1897 and L. paradoxus (Günther, 1875) (Leviton borders of the total distribution range of L. diadema. and Anderson, 1970). The phylogenetic relationships Known distribution points in Morocco are scattered within Lytorhynchus based on DNA sequences are randomly and divided into three areas and two not known, however L. diadema is apparently closely environmental-climatic zones (cf. Bons and Geniez, related to Macroprotodon and the Old World whip 1996; Geniez et al., 2004; Fig. 1D): a southern area near snakes (Pyron et al., 2011). the border with Western Sahara (Tarfaya region), a middle Lytorhynchus diadema is the most widely distributed area between the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas Mountains species of the genus with a range from the Atlantic coast near the Oued Ziz Valley (both desert climate), and a in western and northwestern Africa to the southwestern northern area with a single isolated record of Leviton Iranian provinces Khuzestan and Bushehr.
  • Genetic Diversity Among Eight Egyptian Snakes (Squamata-Serpents: Colubridae) Using RAPD-PCR

    Genetic Diversity Among Eight Egyptian Snakes (Squamata-Serpents: Colubridae) Using RAPD-PCR

    Life Science Journal, 2012;9(1) http://www.lifesciencesite.com Genetic Diversity among Eight Egyptian Snakes (Squamata-Serpents: Colubridae) Using RAPD-PCR Nadia H. M. Sayed Zoology Dept., College for Women for Science, Arts and Education, Ain Shams University, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. [email protected] Abstract: Genetic variations between 8 Egyptian snake species, Psammophis sibilans sibilans, Psammophis Sudanensis, Psammophis Schokari Schokari, Psammophis Schokari aegyptiacus, Spalerosophis diadema, Lytorhynchus diadema, , Coluber rhodorhachis, Coluber nummifer were conducted using RAPD-PCR. Animals were captured from several locality of Egypt (Abu Rawash-Giza, Sinai and Faiyum). Obtained results revealed a total of 59 bands which were amplified by the five primers OPB-01, OPB-13, OPB-14, OPB-20 and OPE-05 with an average 11.8 bands per primer at molecular weights ranged from 3000-250 bp. The polymorphic loci between both species were 54 with percentage 91.5 %. The mean band frequency was 47% ranging from 39% to 62% per primer .The similarity matrix value between the 8 Snakes species was ranged from 0.35 (35%) to 0.71 (71%) with an average of 60%. The genetic distance between the 8 colubrid species was ranged from 0.29 (29%) to 0.65 (65%) with an average of 40 %. Dendrogram showed that, the 8 snake species are separated from each other into two clusters .The first cluster contain 4 species of the genus Psammophis. The second cluster includes the 4 species of the genera, Spalerosophis; Coluber and Lytorhynchus. Psammophis sibilans is sister to Psammophis Sudanensis with high genetic similarity (71%) and Psammophis Schokari Schokari is sister to Psammophis Schokari aegyptiacus with high genetic similarity (70%).
  • Opportunistic Feeding by House-Dwelling Geckos: Does This Make Them More Successful Invaders?

    Opportunistic Feeding by House-Dwelling Geckos: Does This Make Them More Successful Invaders?

    The Herpetological Bulletin 149, 2019: 38-40 SHORT COMMUNICATION https://doi.org/10.33256/hb149.3840 Opportunistic feeding by house-dwelling geckos: does this make them more successful invaders? ROBBIE WETERINGS1* & PREEYAPORN WETERINGS1 1 Cat Drop Foundation, Drachten, Netherlands *Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] Abstract - Various species of ‘house’ gecko are found in and around buildings, where they can be observed feeding opportunistically on the insects attracted to artificial lights. Most of the species are considered strict insectivores. Nevertheless, there have been several recently published observations of ‘house’ geckos feeding on non-insect food. In order to assess how common this behaviour is among geckos worldwide, we offered an online questionnaire to ecologists and herpetologists. Of the 74 observations received, most reported Hemidactylus frenatus, H. platyurus and Gehyra mutilata feeding on rice, bread, fruits, vegetables, dog food or chocolate cream, taken from tables, plates, and garbage bins. This opportunistic feeding behaviour is much more common than previously thought and is perpetrated by species considered to be highly invasive, possibly contributing to their success as invaders. INTRODUCTION 2. What did the gecko consume? a. Insects or other invertebrates everal gecko species (e.g. Hemidactylus frenatus and b. Fruit or vegetables SGehyra mutilata) are often found in and around houses. c. Rice These, so-called ‘house’ geckos, are very well adapted to d. Bread urban life and are often observed feeding opportunistically e. Eggs on insects attracted to artificial lights at night (Tkaczenko f. Unsure et al., 2014). This provides them an easily accessible food g. Other... source in locations generally lacking predators.
  • Annotated Checklist of Reptilian Fauna of Basrah, South of Iraq

    Annotated Checklist of Reptilian Fauna of Basrah, South of Iraq

    Saman R. Afrasiab et al. Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2018.15.1.0077 July, (2018) 15 (1): 77-92 ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF REPTILIAN FAUNA OF BASRAH, SOUTH OF IRAQ Saman R. Afrasiab* Azhar A. Al-Moussawi and Hind D. Hadi Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received Date: 03 January 2018 Accepted Date: 02 April 2018 ABSTRACT Basrah province is situated at the extreme south of Iraq, it has an interesting reptile fauna (Squamata and Serpentes) and represents a land bridge between three different zoogeographical regions ( Oriental, Palaearctic and Ethiopian). This situation gave Basrah province a topographic specific opportunity for raising its own faunal diversity including reptiles; in this study Basrah province was divided into four main zones: the cities and orchards, marshes and wetlands (sabkha), the true dessert, the seashore and Shat Al-Arab. Forty nine reptile species were recorded including snakes, sea and fresh water turtles, and Lizards; brief notes and descriptions for the rare and important species were provided and supported by Plates. Key words: Basrah, Squamata, Serpentes, Turtles, Zoogeography. INTRODUCTION There are some previous lists for Iraqi herpetofauna (Boulenger, 1920 a, b) and for snakes Corkill (1932), Khalaf (1959), Mahdi and Georg (1969) and Habeeb and Rastegar-Pouyani (2016); most of them depended on references, there is no specific collection list for Basrah province except that of Afrasiab and Ali (1989a) for west Basrah. The Basrah province is a very important area from the geographical point of view because it is a triple bridge connecting three different zoogeographical regions, at south east the oriental penetration, at south west the Arabian and Ethiopian penetration and from north the dominant Palaearctic region.
  • Diversity Assessment with the Addition of New Locality Reports of Sindh

    Diversity Assessment with the Addition of New Locality Reports of Sindh

    Rakesh Kumawat et al., IJSRR 2019, 8(1), 1954-1969 Research article Available online www.ijsrr.org ISSN: 2279–0543 International Journal of Scientific Research and Reviews Diversity Assessment with the Addition of New Locality Record of Sindh Awl Headed Snake and Ecological Assemblage from Bikaner District of Thar Desert, Rajasthan Rakesh Kumawat* and Ashok Purohit1 * Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, New Campus, Jodhpur, India,342001 1Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, New Campus, Jodhpur, India,342001 ABSTRACT: Systematic diversity assessment of different snakes from Bikaner district of the Thar Desert, located at Northern western, India have reported the species inventory of this area, A total of 15 species of snakes belonging to 6 families were recorded. Among these families, Colubridae dominated the list with 7 species, Elapidae with 3 species, Boidae 2 species and Lamprophiidae, Typhlopidae and Viperidae represent only single species each. Four poisonous, four mildly poisonous and seven non-poisonous snakes were recorded. The study conducted during the spring and summer season of September 2015 to September 2018. The study area comprises various habitats such as grassland, stabilized sand dunes, Barren sand dunes, and IGNP canal area, agriculture area and human habitation sustains significant biodiversity. Lytorhynchus paradoxus recorded the first time from the Bikaner district of Thar Desert. Species richness also evaluated from the data set as, Black-headed Royal Snake (n = 51) shows maximum species richness (19%) and Sindh krait (n = 1) shows minimum species richness (0.3%). Habitat preference by the snake species shows maximum occurrence in of stabilized sand dunes (24%) and a minimum of Human habitation (10 %).
  • Spatial Partitioning Among Geckos at Lambir Hills National Park

    Spatial Partitioning Among Geckos at Lambir Hills National Park

    One gecko, Two geckos, not few geckos - but many geckos! Spatial partitioning among geckos at Lambir Hills National Park Ruchira Somaweera1, Wayne Hsu2 & Mona Octavia3 1 Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. 2 Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, USA. 3 Department of Zoology, University of Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Four species of sympatric geckos occur in the Lambir Hills National Park headquarters premises. We investigated whether this distribution was facilitated by spatial partitioning among the species. Of the 212 individuals observed in five buildings, there was no significant difference in the distance geckos forage around artificial lights (p = 0.0541). Three of the four species have similar surface preferences. Gekko smithii tends to occur farthest from light sources, and G. monarchus appears restricted to wall surfaces; thus, our results suggest spatial partitioning occurs in multiple ways. INTRODUCTION A mega-hotspot for reptiles, the island of Borneo harbors 289 species of reptiles, of which 29 species are geckos (Gekkonidae) (Das 2006). Over 15 gecko species have been recorded from Lambir Hills National Park (LHNP). Many species have overlapping ranges around the LHNP headquarter premises, attracted to and possibly supported by the abundance of insects around artificial lights at night. Thus, the diverse gecko community provides an opportunity to study inter-specific and intra- specific coexistence and spatial partitioning. The social behavior and spatial partitioning of animals are not only of intrinsic interest, but may also be relevant to our understanding of population dynamics and habitat selection (Stephens & Sutherland 1999). Studies on the social behavior of reptiles have lagged behind those of birds and mammals, reinforcing the traditional view that reptilian social systems are simpler than those of endothermic vertebrates.