DOCSLIB.ORG

First Record of Amelanism of Vipera Berus Bosniensis BOETTGER, 1889, in Bulgaria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
First Record of Amelanism of Vipera Berus Bosniensis BOETTGER, 1889, in Bulgaria 180 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 26 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2014 SHORT NOTE females) analyzed in this previous study. KEY WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes: Reanalysis of the data set of MESquiTA et al. Dipsadidae, Philodryas nattereri , snakes, sexual di - morphis m, clutch, hatchlings, juveniles, Caatinga, (2011), com bined with the data used in this northeastern Brazil study, provide results consistent with those SuBMiTTED: January 31, 2013 found here solely for neonates and juveniles AuTHORS: Daniel Cunha PASSOS a, c (Corre - (ANCOVA slopes – F1,86 = 7.83; P < 0.01; sponding author < [email protected] > ); Figure 2). in this way, although the dimor - Paulo Cesar Mattos Dourado de MESquiTA b, c ; Amau - rício lopes Rocha BRANDãO c, d ; Diva Maria BORGES - phism is really more pronounced in adults c as showed by MESquiTA et al. (2011), it is NOJOSA a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e present even in hatchlings and immature life Evolução, instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara stages. Gomes, universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Our findings expand the conclusions Pavilhão Haroldo lisboa da Cunha, Sala 224, Rua São of MESquiTA et al. (2011) indicating that sex Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, 20.550-013, Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. differences in tail measurements develop at b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversi - early ontogenetic stages of P. nattereri , and dade Animal, universidade Federal de Santa Maria. support the hypothesis of FOWlER & Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97.105-900, Santa Maria – Rio SAlOMãO (1994) that this dimorphism is a Grande do Sul, Brasil. c Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da universidade plesiomorphic character in Philodryas . Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, universidade ACKNOWlEDGMENTS: The authors thank Federal do Ceará. Campus do Pici, Bloco 905, Avenida the donors of grants that supported this research. D. C. Humberto Monte, Pici, 60.455-760, Fortaleza – Ceará, PASSOS received a grant from Coordenação de Aperfei - Brasil. çoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES. d instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecno - logia do Ceará. Avenida Desembargador Armando de REFERENCES: AMARAl , A. (1936): Contri - buição ao conhecimento dos ophidios do Brasil. in Viii. Sales louzada, Monsenhor Edson Magalhães, 62.580- lista remissiva dos ophidios do Brasil. Memórias do 000, Acarau – Ceará, Brasil. instituto Butantan, São Paulo; 10: 87-162. DARWiN , C. (1871): The descent of man and selection in relation to sex. london (John Murray), pp. 688. FOWlER , i. & SAlOMãO , M. G. (1994): A study of sexual dimorphism in six species from the colubrid snake genus Philodryas .- The Snake, Nittagun; 26: 117-122. FOWlER , i. & SAlOMãO , M. G. (1995): A new technique First record of amelanism to distinguish immature and adult snakes between males and females in six species of the neotropical colubrid of Vipera berus bosniensis snakes Philodryas .- Studies on Neotropical Fauna and BOETTGER , 1889, in Bulgaria Environment, Abingdon, Oxon; 30: 149-157. FOWlER , i. R. & SAlOMãO , M. G. & JORDãO , R. S. (1998): A description of the female reproductive cycle in four it is well documented that the lack of species from the neotropical colubrid snake Philodryas (Colubridae, Xenodontinae).- The Snake, Nittagun; 28: dark pigment (amelanism, albinism in the 71-78. KiNG , R. B. (1989): Sexual dimorphism in tail wide sense) represents a genetically precon - length: sexual selection, natural selection, or morpho - ditioned fault in normal pigmentation, which logical constraint?- Biological Journal of the linnean is recessively inherited ( KABiSCH 1990). in Society, london; 38: 133-154. MESquiTA , P. C. M. D & BORGES -N OJOSA , D. M., PASSOS , D. C. & BEZERRA , C. H. the narrow sense of total albinism, the phe - (2011): Ecology of Philodryas nattereri in the Brazilian nomenon is characterized by complete lack semi-arid region.- Herpetological Journal, london; 21: of pigment. Partial albinism (manifesting 193-198. RiVAS , J. A. & BuRGHARDT , M. (2001): itself as flavism and leucism) is being deter - understanding sexual size dimorphism in snakes: wear - ing the snake’s shoes.- Animal Behaviour, Oxford; 62: mined by different combinations of muta - F1-F6. SHiNE , R. (1994): Sexual size dimorphism in tions, responsible for suppressing the for - snakes revisited.- Copeia, Washington; 1994: 326-346. mation of the pigments melanin, purin, SHiNE , R. & OlSSON , M. M. & MOORE , i. T. & pteridin and flavines. Different expressions lEMASTER , M. P. & MASON , R. T. (1999): Why do male snakes have longer tails than females?- Proceedings of of the phenomenon are observed among all the Royal Society of london, london; 266: 2147-2151. vertebrate classes, including humans ( BECH- ViTT , l. J. (1980): Ecological observations on sympatric TEl 1978, 1991; OBST et al. 1984; SCHiE- Philo dryas (Colubridae) in northeast Brazil.- Papéis MENZ 1985; SCHMiDT 1989; THOMAS et al. Avulsos de Zoologia, São Paulo; 34: 87-98. ViTT , l. J. ARO ilSON iKO & VANGilDER , l. D. (1983): Ecology of a snake com - 2002; C 2005; N et al. 2005; N - munity in northeastern Brazil.- Amphibia–Reptilia, lOV et al. 2006; VAN GROuW 2006, 2011; leiden; 4: 273-296. KREiNER 2007; lóPEZ & GHiRARDi 2011). SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 26 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2014 SHORT NOTE 181 Excluding the common breeding prac - from this Balkan taxon in its natural envi - tice among herpetoculturists of selection ronment. towards abnormal color morphs ( KABiSCH The amelanistic individual was ob - 1990; BECHTEl 1995), present data indicates served by the author on June 17, 2011, at that, in the natural environment, albinos, 12:18 h local time at the ridge plateau of flavistic, and leucistic forms of reptiles are Vitosha Mountain in the “Turf Reserve” extremely rare. The most likely reasons are “Torfeno Branishte”, Bulgaria. The area is the increased predatory pressure on such an extensive ridge terrace situated above the conspicuous individuals, as well as the cor - tree line, at an altitude between 1750-1850 relation of albinism in its different manifes - m a.s.l. it is one of the largest natural de - tations with numerous malformations and posits of peat in Bulgaria, reaching depths anomalies, greatly reducing the chances for up to two meters. The vegetation is repre - survival of such individuals ( MøllER & sented by alpine and boreal ericoid commu - MOuS SEAu 2001; CARO 2005). A review of nities and temporary marshes with floating, albinism, flavism, and leucism among Euro - moving peat, and subarctic shrubs of Salix pean Viperidae, covering the period 1900- spp., with extensive areas covered by 2007, demonstrates the rarity of their occur - Siberian Juniper Juniperus sibirica (DiMiT- rence or the animals’ survival in the wild; ROV & GuSEV 2008; RuSAKOVA 2008; KA- only 24 individuals from four species entered BiSCH & GuSSEV 2008; GANEVA & TZONEV the literature or were located at important 2008). Smaller and larger rocky outcrops of museum collections in Europe ( KRECSáK monzonite are dispersed throughout the 2008). in finding the highest number of such plateau. This and another place at Vitosha anomalies in the boreal species Vipera berus Mountain are the only Bulgarian study sites (l iNNAEuS , 1768) (16 individuals), KREC- from where high numbers of over 80 vipers SáK (2008) hypothesized a tendency to - have been collected or observed in the years wards increased rates of amelanistic speci - 2010 to 2012. mens in northern range areas. The author of it was not possible to capture or pho - the present note considers this an incom - tograph the individual, which was only plete analysis as it lacks a review of the lit - briefly seen. The viper was of small size erature and museum collections from exten - (estimated length 30-35 cm) with bright yel - sive areas within the eastern and southeast - low-orange body color. A zigzag dorsal line, ern distribution of V. berus and does not fac - typical of normal colored individuals of the tor the species’ range areas. species, was not discernible. Most records The present note reports flavism from of amelanistic Adders refer to newborns or V. berus bosniensis BOETTGER , 1889, in Bul - juveniles due to the low survival rate of garia, where the occurrence of the Balkan albino forms ( HAlVARSSON 2011). Newborn Adder is restricted to various fragmented V. berus bosniensis in Bulgaria were 140- habitats at medium to high-elevation moun - 194 mm in length, with births occurring tain areas. The following Bulgarian materi - between beginning of August and beginning als were screened for amelanistic speci - of October ( BESHKOV & NANEV 2002; mens: 183 individuals from personal obser - STOJANOV et al. 2011). Therefore, the date vations and data provided by colleagues; 74 of observation and the snake’s length ex - individuals from 37 localities, deposited in clude the possibility of a newborn individ - the scientific collections of the National Mu - ual and suggest rather an age of two to three seum of Natural History - Sofia (Bulgarian summers ( SCHiEMENZ 1985; V ölKl & Academy of Science); seven individuals THiESMEiER 2002; NilSON et al. 2005). it is from the scientific collection of the Region - thus remarkable that this individual sur - al Natural History Mu seum - Plovdiv; 11 in - vived in the wild for that long of a period. dividuals, described in herpetological publi - The author speculates that in this particular cations of the fauna of Bulgaria ( KOVACHEV case the following reasons aided its sur - 1894, 1903, 1905; BOZHKOV 1958; MüllER vival: (i) Relatively low pressure comes 1939). The above materials which include from natural predators in the region, which field records of the past 20 years constitute could include Short-toed Eagle, harriers, the only pertinent information available kestrels, Common Raven, feral hogs, foxes 182 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 26 (3/4) Wien, 30. Jänner 2014 SHORT NOTE and potentially packs of feral dogs common (2): 97-102. KREiNER , G. (2007): Schlangen Europas. for the area; some bird species represent Alle Arten westlich des Kaukasus; Frankfurt am Main (Edition Chimaira), pp. 317. lóPEZ , J. A. & GHiRARDi , potential predators during their migratory R.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2015/0086513 A1 Savkovic Et Al
    US 20150.086513A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2015/0086513 A1 Savkovic et al. (43) Pub. Date: Mar. 26, 2015 (54) METHOD FOR DERIVING MELANOCYTES (30) Foreign Application Priority Data FROM THE HAIR FOLLCLE OUTER ROOT SHEATH AND PREPARATION FOR A. 36. 3. E. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E.6 GRAFTNG l9. U. 414 ) . Publication Classification (71) Applicant: UNIVERSITAT LEIPZIG, Leipzig (DE) (51) Int. Cl. A6L27/38 (2006.01) (72) Inventors: Vuk Savkovic, Leipzig (DE); Christina CI2N5/071 (2006.01) Dieckmann, Leipzig (DE); (52) U.S. Cl. Jan-Christoph Simon, Leipzig (DE); CPC ......... A61L 27/3834 (2013.01); A61L 27/3895 Michaela Schulz-Siegmund, Leipzig (2013.01); C12N5/0626 (2013.01); C12N (DE); Michael Hacker, Leipzig (DE) 2506/03 (2013.01) USPC .......................................... 424/93.7:435/366 (57) ABSTRACT (73) Assignee: NIVERSITAT LEIPZIG, Leipzig The present invention relates to the field of biology and medi (DE) cine, and more specifically, to the field of stem-cell biology, involving producing or generating melanocytes from stem (21) Appl. No.: 14/354,545 cells and precursors derived from human hair root. Addition (22) PCT Filed: Oct. 29, 2012 ally, the present invention relates to the materials and method e a? 19 for producing autografts, homografts or allografts compris (86). PCT No.: PCT/EP2012/07 1418 ing melanocytes in general, as well as the materials and meth ods for producing autografts, homografts and allografts com S371 (c)(1), prising melanocytes for the treatment of diseases related to (2) Date: Apr. 25, 2014 depigmentation of the skin and for the treatment of Scars.
    [Show full text]
  • Aberrant Colourations in Wild Snakes: Case Study in Neotropical Taxa and a Review of Terminology
    SALAMANDRA 57(1): 124–138 Claudio Borteiro et al. SALAMANDRA 15 February 2021 ISSN 0036–3375 German Journal of Herpetology Aberrant colourations in wild snakes: case study in Neotropical taxa and a review of terminology Claudio Borteiro1, Arthur Diesel Abegg2,3, Fabrício Hirouki Oda4, Darío Cardozo5, Francisco Kolenc1, Ignacio Etchandy6, Irasema Bisaiz6, Carlos Prigioni1 & Diego Baldo5 1) Sección Herpetología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Miguelete 1825, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay 2) Instituto Butantan, Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, Butantã, CEP 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil 3) Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Travessa 14, Rua do Matão, 321, Cidade Universitária, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 4) Universidade Regional do Cariri, Departamento de Química Biológica, Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioprospecção Molecular, Rua Coronel Antônio Luiz 1161, Pimenta, Crato, Ceará 63105-000, CE, Brazil 5) Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Felix de Azara 1552, CP 3300, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina 6) Alternatus Uruguay, Ruta 37, km 1.4, Piriápolis, Uruguay Corresponding author: Claudio Borteiro, e-mail: [email protected] Manuscript received: 2 April 2020 Accepted: 18 August 2020 by Arne Schulze Abstract. The criteria used by previous authors to define colour aberrancies of snakes, particularly albinism, are varied and terms have widely been used ambiguously. The aim of this work was to review genetically based aberrant colour morphs of wild Neotropical snakes and associated terminology. We compiled a total of 115 cases of conspicuous defective expressions of pigmentations in snakes, including melanin (black/brown colour), xanthins (yellow), and erythrins (red), which in- volved 47 species of Aniliidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, and Viperidae.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Impacts on Geyser Basins
    volume 17 • number 1 • 2009 Human Impacts on Geyser Basins The “Crystal” Salamanders of Yellowstone Presence of White-tailed Jackrabbits Nature Notes: Wolves and Tigers Geyser Basins with no Documented Impacts Valley of Geysers, Umnak (Russia) Island Geyser Basins Impacted by Energy Development Geyser Basins Impacted by Tourism Iceland Iceland Beowawe, ~61 ~27 Nevada ~30 0 Yellowstone ~220 Steamboat Springs, Nevada ~21 0 ~55 El Tatio, Chile North Island, New Zealand North Island, New Zealand Geysers existing in 1950 Geyser basins with documented negative effects of tourism Geysers remaining after geothermal energy development Impacts to geyser basins from human activities. At least half of the major geyser basins of the world have been altered by geothermal energy development or tourism. Courtesy of Steingisser, 2008. Yellowstone in a Global Context N THIS ISSUE of Yellowstone Science, Alethea Steingis- claimed they had been extirpated from the park. As they have ser and Andrew Marcus in “Human Impacts on Geyser since the park’s establishment, jackrabbits continue to persist IBasins” document the global distribution of geysers, their in the park in a small range characterized by arid, lower eleva- destruction at the hands of humans, and the tremendous tion sagebrush-grassland habitats. With so many species in the importance of Yellowstone National Park in preserving these world on the edge of survival, the confirmation of the jackrab- rare and ephemeral features. We hope this article will promote bit’s persistence is welcome. further documentation, research, and protection efforts for The Nature Note continues to consider Yellowstone with geyser basins around the world. Documentation of their exis- a broader perspective.
    [Show full text]
  • An Albino Mutant of the Japanese Rat Snake (Elaphe Climacophora) Carries a Nonsense Mutation in the Tyrosinase Gene
    Genes Genet. Syst. (2018) 93, p. 163–167Albino mutation in the Japanese rat snake 163 An albino mutant of the Japanese rat snake (Elaphe climacophora) carries a nonsense mutation in the tyrosinase gene Shuzo Iwanishi1, Shohei Zaitsu1, Hiroki Shibata2 and Eiji Nitasaka3* 1Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan 2Division of Genomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan 3Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan (Received 16 April 2018, accepted 19 May 2018; J-STAGE Advance published date: 30 August 2018) The Japanese rat snake (Elaphe climacophora) is a common species in Japan and is widely distributed across the Japanese islands. An albino mutant of the Japanese rat snake (“pet trade” albino) has been bred and traded by hobbyists for around two decades because of its remarkable light-yellowish coloration with red eyes, attributable to a lack of melanin. Another albino Japanese rat snake mutant found in a natural population of the Japanese rat snake at high frequency in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture is known as “Iwakuni no Shirohebi”. It has been conserved by the government as a natural monument. The Iwakuni albino also lacks melanin, having light-yellowish body coloration and red eyes. Albino mutants of several organisms have been studied, and mutation of the tyrosinase gene (TYR) is responsible for this phenotype. By determining the sequence of the TYR coding region of the pet trade albino, we identified a nonsense mutation in the second exon.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2020
    The Central Okanagan Naturalists' Club November 2020 www.okanagannature.org Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club Monthly Meetings, second Tuesday of the month, Unfortunately, this is not a normal year. In-person regular second-Tuesday meetings remain suspended. CONC Members are now meeting via Zoom. Know Nature and Join us on 10 November 2020: at 7:00 pm. via Zoom for the following presentation: Keep it Worth Knowing Ice age mammals from the Yukon permafrost: Speaker: Grant Zazula Fossil mammals from the last ice age have been recovered from permafrost in the Yukon since the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Scientists continue to study these fossils and employ cutting edge techniques such as radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analyses and ancient genetics to learn how these animals lived and evolved in Canada's north during the ice age. Fossils from the Yukon provide unprecedented details on the life and loss of many iconic species, Index such as woolly mammoths and giant beavers, and help us understand how Club Information. 2 current ecosystems may respond to climate change. Birding report. 3 Zoom. 3 Juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher 4 “Leucistic” Mallard Drake. 4 Future Meetings. 5 Pam’s Blog. 6 Rattlesnake Project. 6 2020-2021 Photo Contest. 7 Photo (courtesy of Grant Zazula) Grant Zazula completed his PhD in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University in 2006. Since then he has overseen the Yukon Government Palaeontology Program where he manages fossil collections, conducts research and communicates scientific results to the wider public through the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre. www.beringia.com 1 Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club.
    [Show full text]
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Md) School of Pharmacy
    Development, safety and efficacy evaluation of actinic damage retarding nano-pharmaceutical treatments in oculocutaneous albinism. J. M Chifamba (R931614G) B. App Chem (Hons), M Phil (Upgraded to D.Phil.), Dip QA, Dip SPC, Dip Pkg Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (MD) Main Supervisor: Prof C. C Maponga 1 Associate Supervisor: Dr A Dube (Nano-technologist) 2 Associate Supervisor: Dr D. I Mutangadura (Specialist dermatologist) 3, 4 1School of Pharmacy, CHS, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe 2School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa 3Fellow of the American academy of dermatology 4Fellow of the International academy of dermatology SCHOOL OF PHARMACY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES © Harare, September 2015 i This work is dedicated to the everlasting memory of my dearly departed father, his scholarship, mentorship and principles shall always be my beacon. Esau Jeniel Mapundu Chifamba (15/03/1934-08/06/2015) ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Art is I, science is we”, Claude Bernard 1813-1878 Any work of this size and scope inevitably draws on the expertise and direction from others. I therefore wish to proffer my utmost gratitude to the following individuals and institutions for their infallible inputs and support. My profound appreciation goes to Prof C C Maponga and Dr A. Dube for crafting, steering and nurturing my interests and research pursuits in nano-pharmaceuticals. Indeed, I have found this discipline to be most intellectually fulfilling. I wish to further acknowledge the mentorship, validation and insight into dermato-pharmacokinetics from the specialist dermatologist Dr D I Mutangadura. Many thanks go to Prof M Gundidza for the contacts, guidance and refereeing in research methodologies, scientific writing and analytical work.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol
    PROFESSOR’S CORNER Learning to Discern Color Aberration in Birds By Christy Carello Professor of Biology at The Metropolitan State University of Denver Melanin, the pigment that results in the black coloration of the flight feathers in this American White Pelican, also results in stronger feathers. Photo by Peter Burke. 148 Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol. 55 No.3 Colorado Birds | Summer 2021 | Vol. 55 No.3 149 THE PROFESSOR’S CORNER IS A NEW COLORADO BIRDS FEATURE THAT WILL EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF ORNITHOLOGICAL TOPICS FROM HISTORY AND CLASSIFICATION TO PHYSIOLOGY, REPRODUCTION, MIGRATION BEHAVIOR AND BEYOND. AS THE TITLE SUGGESTS, ARTICLES WILL BE AUTHORED BY ORNI- THOLOGISTS, BIOLOGISTS AND OTHER ACADEMICS. Did I just see an albino bird? Probably not. Whenever humans, melanin results in our skin and hair color. we see an all white or partially white bird, “albino” In birds, tiny melanin granules are deposited in is often the first word that comes to mind. In feathers from the feather follicles, resulting in a fact, albinism is an extreme and somewhat rare range of colors from dark black to reddish-brown condition caused by a genetic mutation that or even a pale yellow appearance. Have you ever completely restricts melanin throughout a bird’s wondered why so many mostly white birds, such body. Many birders have learned to substitute the as the American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull and word “leucistic” for “albino,” which is certainly a Swallow-tailed Kite, have black wing feathers? This step in the right direction, however, there are many is due to melanin.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstracts 02/2021
    ABSTRACTS 02/2021 Dear DGHT members, in 2020 we started to summarize some of the main articles of our elaphe journal in English, for our non-German speaking members. These summaries have been compiled by Beate Pfau & Axel Kwet. Social Distancing in Greece. In- Triturus macedonicus Photo: H. Werning troduction to this special ela- this elaphe). The last locations of this round trip were lake Prespa and the Pindos mountains. The narrative is full of phe on herping in Greece herp observation hints, and of beautiful and interesting photographs, and before planning an own family trip to by Heiko Werning Greece the article should be read completely. The special topic of this elaphe is inviting herpers to come to Greece. It is quite convenient to come over from Italy by car ferry, and Greece is perfect for combining family vacations on the beach, sightseeing in the ancient sites of Searching for vipers across Olympia and Delphi, or mountain hiking with herpetological mainland Greece in the sum- interests. mer with the Corona virus The summer vacation took six weeks, beginning early in July, and it started from the port of Igoumenitsa south­ by Thomas Bamann, Ines Aust & Dominik Hauser The authors had been in Greece already in 2019 for searching reptiles and amphibians, and they wanted to come again in 2020 to find those species which they had not found at that excur­ sion. Travelling was restricted in 2020, due to the Corona virus pandemia, but they managed to book flights to Pre­ veza, a smaller air­ Testudo graeca ibera from Evros Delta port at the western Photo: T.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction Generally White Patches of Fur (But No Red Eyes)
    Adrià López Baucells, Maria Mas, Xavier Puig-Montserrat, Carles Flaquer Barbastella 6 (1) Open Access ISSN: 1576-9720 SECEMU www.secemu.org Hypopigmentation in vespertilionid bats: the first record of a leucistic soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus Adrià López Baucells1*, Maria Mas1, Xavier Puig-Montserrat1,2 & Carles Flaquer1 1 Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences, Bat Research Group, Av. Francesc Macià 51, 08402 Granollers, Catalonia. 2 Galanthus Association. Carretera de Juià, 46 - 17460 Celrà, Catalonia * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14709/BarbJ.6.1.2013.09 Spanish title: Hipopigmentación en vespertilionidos: primera cita de murciélago de Cabrera (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) leucístico Abstract: Albinism and leucism are commonly confused in the literature. Despite the fact that these congenial disorders affect only a small proportion of bat populations, they seem to be widely spread since reports of affected bats are found from over the world. In this communication we report for the first time a leucistic Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach 1825). It was captured in the Ebro Delta Natural Park (Iberian Peninsula) in a biological field station near a wetland with rice paddies, where over 100 bat boxes are deployed to monitor bat populations. The individual had whitish fur over the whole of its body (dorsal and ventral parts); nevertheless its eyes and wing membranes had normal pigmentation. Although an albino P. pygmeaus has been reported from Spain, this represents the first report of leucism in this species. Keywords: albinism, Catalunya, chromatic aberration, leucism, pigmentation. Introduction generally white patches of fur (but no red eyes). It is important to note that not all leucistic specimens are Albinism and leucism should not be confused caused by genetic mutations (Acevedo et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Observation of Albinistic and Leucistic Black Mangabeys (Lophocebus Aterrimus) Within the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo
    African Primates 7 (1): 50-54 (2010) Observation of Albinistic and Leucistic Black Mangabeys (Lophocebus aterrimus) within the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo Timothy M. Eppley, Jena R. Hickey & Nathan P. Nibbelink Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA Abstract: Despite the fact that the black mangabey, Lophocebus aterrimus, is a large-bodied primate widespread throughout the southern portion of the Congo basin, remarkably little is known in regards to the occurrence rate of pelage color aberrations and their impact on survival rates. While conducting primate surveys within the newly protected Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve in the central Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we opportunistically observed one albinistic and two leucistic L. aterrimus among black colored conspecifics and affiliative polyspecifics. No individual was entirely white in color morphology; rather, one was cream colored whereas two others retained some black hair patches on sections of their bodies. Although these phenomena may appear anomalous, they have been shown to occur with some frequency within museum specimens and were documented once in a community in the wild. We discuss the potential negative effects of this color deficiency on the survival of individuals displaying this physically distinctive pelage morphology. Key words: black mangabey, albinism, leucism, Congo, Lomako, Lophocebus Résumé: Malgré le fait que le mangabey noir, Lophocebus aterrimus, est un primat d’une grand taille qui est répandu dans tous la partie sud du bassin du Congo, remarquablement peu est connu quant au taux d’occurrence des aberrations de la couleur du pelage et leurs impact sur les taux de survivance.
    [Show full text]
  • Aberrant Plumages in Grebes Podicipedidae
    André Konter Aberrant plumages in grebes Podicipedidae An analysis of albinism, leucism, brown and other aberrations in all grebe species worldwide Aberrant plumages in grebes Podicipedidae in grebes plumages Aberrant Ferrantia André Konter Travaux scientifiques du Musée national d'histoire naturelle Luxembourg www.mnhn.lu 72 2015 Ferrantia 72 2015 2015 72 Ferrantia est une revue publiée à intervalles non réguliers par le Musée national d’histoire naturelle à Luxembourg. Elle fait suite, avec la même tomaison, aux TRAVAUX SCIENTIFIQUES DU MUSÉE NATIONAL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE DE LUXEMBOURG parus entre 1981 et 1999. Comité de rédaction: Eric Buttini Guy Colling Edmée Engel Thierry Helminger Mise en page: Romain Bei Design: Thierry Helminger Prix du volume: 15 € Rédaction: Échange: Musée national d’histoire naturelle Exchange MNHN Rédaction Ferrantia c/o Musée national d’histoire naturelle 25, rue Münster 25, rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg L-2160 Luxembourg Tél +352 46 22 33 - 1 Tél +352 46 22 33 - 1 Fax +352 46 38 48 Fax +352 46 38 48 Internet: http://www.mnhn.lu/ferrantia/ Internet: http://www.mnhn.lu/ferrantia/exchange email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Page de couverture: 1. Great Crested Grebe, Lake IJssel, Netherlands, April 2002 (PCRcr200303303), photo A. Konter. 2. Red-necked Grebe, Tunkwa Lake, British Columbia, Canada, 2006 (PGRho200501022), photo K. T. Karlson. 3. Great Crested Grebe, Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, Netherlands, August 2006 (PCRcr200602012), photo C. van Rijswik. Citation: André Konter 2015. - Aberrant plumages in grebes Podicipedidae - An analysis of albinism, leucism, brown and other aberrations in all grebe species worldwide. Ferrantia 72, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, 206 p.
    [Show full text]
  • The Adder (Vipera Berus) in Southern Altay Mountains
    The adder (Vipera berus) in Southern Altay Mountains: population characteristics, distribution, morphology and phylogenetic position Shaopeng Cui1,2, Xiao Luo1,2, Daiqiang Chen1,2, Jizhou Sun3, Hongjun Chu4,5, Chunwang Li1,2 and Zhigang Jiang1,2 1 Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 3 Kanas National Nature Reserve, Buerjin, Urumqi, China 4 College of Resources and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China 5 Altay Management Station, Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Altay, China ABSTRACT As the most widely distributed snake in Eurasia, the adder (Vipera berus) has been extensively investigated in Europe but poorly understood in Asia. The Southern Altay Mountains represent the adder's southern distribution limit in Central Asia, whereas its population status has never been assessed. We conducted, for the first time, field surveys for the adder at two areas of Southern Altay Mountains using a combination of line transects and random searches. We also described the morphological characteristics of the collected specimens and conducted analyses of external morphology and molecular phylogeny. The results showed that the adder distributed in both survey sites and we recorded a total of 34 sightings. In Kanas river valley, the estimated encounter rate over a total of 137 km transects was 0.15 ± 0.05 sightings/km. The occurrence of melanism was only 17%. The small size was typical for the adders in Southern Altay Mountains in contrast to other geographic populations of the nominate subspecies. A phylogenetic tree obtained by Bayesian Inference based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial Submitted 21 April 2016 cytochrome b (1,023 bp) grouped them within the Northern clade of the species but Accepted 18 July 2016 failed to separate them from the subspecies V.
    [Show full text]