Corallus Caninus) Follows Some Time After Brown Treesnakes (Boiga Irregularis) Have Caused the Elimination of the Cessation of Breeding Activity
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Extreme Miniaturization of a New Amniote Vertebrate and Insights Into the Evolution of Genital Size in Chameleons
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Extreme miniaturization of a new amniote vertebrate and insights into the evolution of genital size in chameleons Frank Glaw1*, Jörn Köhler2, Oliver Hawlitschek3, Fanomezana M. Ratsoavina4, Andolalao Rakotoarison4, Mark D. Scherz5 & Miguel Vences6 Evolutionary reduction of adult body size (miniaturization) has profound consequences for organismal biology and is an important subject of evolutionary research. Based on two individuals we describe a new, extremely miniaturized chameleon, which may be the world’s smallest reptile species. The male holotype of Brookesia nana sp. nov. has a snout–vent length of 13.5 mm (total length 21.6 mm) and has large, apparently fully developed hemipenes, making it apparently the smallest mature male amniote ever recorded. The female paratype measures 19.2 mm snout–vent length (total length 28.9 mm) and a micro-CT scan revealed developing eggs in the body cavity, likewise indicating sexual maturity. The new chameleon is only known from a degraded montane rainforest in northern Madagascar and might be threatened by extinction. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place it as sister to B. karchei, the largest species in the clade of miniaturized Brookesia species, for which we resurrect Evoluticauda Angel, 1942 as subgenus name. The genetic divergence of B. nana sp. nov. is rather strong (9.9‒14.9% to all other Evoluticauda species in the 16S rRNA gene). A comparative study of genital length in Malagasy chameleons revealed a tendency for the smallest chameleons to have the relatively largest hemipenes, which might be a consequence of a reversed sexual size dimorphism with males substantially smaller than females in the smallest species. -
July – September
reat ec k ibr ary GG NN LLJuly/August/September 2013 Volume 30 Number 4 www.greatnecklibrary.org Bronx & Brooklyn Retrospective A Walk Through the Bronx of Yesteryear “Brooklyn” with Marty Adler with Steve Samtur Monday, August 12 at 2 pm Tuesday, July 9 at 2 pm This is a 90-minute nostalgic Marty Adler will speak about the retrospective of your Bronx of the Borough of Brooklyn – its history, 1940s, 50s, and 60s presented by etymology of the street names, of Steve Samtur. This fun walk down course the Golden Age of Baseball memory lane includes close to 500 (photographs, anecdotes, insights never-before-seen photos of your including three of the New York Bronx the way it was. We will teams) – and the forces that made it share our memories of the Bronx one of the nations’ outstanding locales. including the Grand Concourse, Marty Adler is considered a base - Art Deco, Bronx Delis (East and ball expert by the National Baseball West), Freedomland, Fordham Hall of Fame and Museum in Road, Movie Theatres including Cooperstown, New York, and is the Loew’s Paradise, Parkchester, included as such in its registry. Yankee Stadium, parks, Win a Door Prize shopping, schools, transportation and so much more. Steve Samtur publishes the “Back to THE BRONX” magazine. Ogden Ave Trolley - circa 1948 Lantern Theatre presents Coming to America: Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron Stories from the Shtetl with Joe Dobkins & Nick Mervoch pe rformed by Eunice Bernard Tuesday, July 23 at 2 pm Tuesday, August 6 at 2 pm This comedy, written by Jeff Baron and performed “Coming to America” features stories of the by Joe Dobkins and Nick Mervoch, follows the immigrant experience in America. -
Sphaerodactylus Samanensis, Cochran, 1932) with Comments on Its Morphological Variation and Conservation Status
New distributional records of the Samana least gecko (Sphaerodactylus samanensis, Cochran, 1932) with comments on its morphological variation and conservation status Germán Chávez1,2, Miguel A. Landestoy T3, Gail S. Ross4 and Joaquín A. Ugarte-Núñez5 1 Instituto Peruano de Herpetología, Lima, Perú 2 División de Herpetología, CORBIDI, Lima, Perú 3 Escuela de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 4 Independent Researcher, Elko, NV, USA 5 Knight Piésold Consulting, Lima, Peru ABSTRACT We report here five new localities across the distribution of the lizard Sphaerodactylus samanensis, extending its current geographic range to the west, in the Cordillera Central of Hispaniola. We also report phenotypic variation in the color pattern and scutellation on throat and pelvic regions of males from both eastern and western populations, which is described below. Furthermore, based on these new data, we confirm that the species is not fitting in its current IUCN category, and in consequence propose updating its conservation status. Subjects Biodiversity, Biogeography, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Zoology Submitted 5 August 2020 Keywords New localities, Geographic range, Phenotypic variation, IUCN category, Conservation Accepted 31 October 2020 status Published 11 January 2021 Corresponding author Joaquín A. INTRODUCTION Ugarte-Núñez, Lizards of the genus Sphaerodactylus (107 recognized species, Uetz, Freed & Hosek, 2020), [email protected], [email protected] have diversified remarkably on Caribbean islands, and occur in Central and Northern Academic editor South America and in the Pacific Island of Cocos (Hass, 1991; Henderson & Powell, 2009; Richard Schuster Hedges et al., 2019; Hedges, 2020). This is a clade of small geckos (geckolet) containing also Additional Information and one of the smallest amniote vertebrates in the world with a maximum snout-vent length of Declarations can be found on 18 mm (Hedges & Thomas, 2001). -
Reptiles and Amphibians of Otago
Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) presents Reptiles and Amphibians of Otago Otago is a large (31,251 km2) and lightly populated region of the southern South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, stretching from the eastern coastline west to the Southern Alps. The earliest humans, of East Polynesian origin, arrived about 700 years ago. The largest settlement today is the coastal city of Dunedin (pop. >127,000), which grew from a Scottish influx in the 1800s. The Otago Regional Council administers the region, and tribal authority (mana whenua) rests with the iwi of Ngāi Tahu. Climates in the Otago region (roughly 45°– leiopelmatid frogs survive elsewhere in 47°S) range from changeable, cool- New Zealand. Two species of introduced temperate conditions near the coast to frogs are present, but there are no the near-continental climates (baking hot crocodilians, salamanders, terrestrial summers, freezing winters) of the interior. snakes or turtles. Marine turtles (mainly The region provides varied habitats for leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea) herp species, including sand-dunes, visit the coastal waters of Otago but do grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, forests, not nest here. rock structures and scree slopes, some occupied to at least 1900 m above sea level. Today’s herpetofauna is dominated by lizards (solely geckos and skinks), including about 10 described species. A further 12 or more undescribed taxa are recognised Otago by tag names for conservation purposes, and we follow that approach here. All lizards in Otago are viviparous and long- lived, and remain vulnerable to ongoing habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals. -
Ecology of Scree Skinks (Oligosoma Waimatense) in O Tu Wharekai Wetland, Mid-Canterbury High Country, New Zealand
Lettink,New Zealand Monks: Journal Scree ofskink Ecology ecology (2019) 43(1): 3354 © 2018 New Zealand Ecological Society. RESEARCH Ecology of scree skinks (Oligosoma waimatense) in O Tu Wharekai Wetland, mid-Canterbury high country, New Zealand Marieke Lettink1* and Joanne M. Monks2 1Fauna Finders, 45 Park Terrace, Corsair Bay, Christchurch 8082 2Department of Conservation, Ōtepoti/Dunedin Office, PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9058 *Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected]) Published online: 17 October 2018 Abstract: Many of New Zealand’s 104 lizard taxa are restricted to the country’s main islands where they are vulnerable to a range of threats. Information on population trends and basic ecological data are lacking for most species, hampering conservation efforts. We monitored a population of scree skinks (Oligosoma waimatense; conservation status: Nationally Vulnerable) in an alluvial stream bed in O Tu Wharekai Wetland in the mid- Canterbury high country over 10 years (2008−2018) to understand aspects of the population’s ecology, and to clarify potential threats and options for management. Although there was no linear trend in scree skink capture numbers over this time, an 84% decline was observed following severe and unseasonal flooding in May 2009. Capture numbers recovered over c. 8.5 years in the absence of any species management. Skinks ranged in size from 60−114 mm (snout-to-vent length). Home range size estimates varied from 39.5 to 950 m2 (100% Minimum Convex Polygons) and their mean size was smaller than those reported for closely-related species. Photo-identification was not sufficiently accurate for long-term individual identification. -
Iguanidae: Hoplocercinae) from Southwestern Ecuador
Volume 48(20):227-235, 2008 A new species of ENYALIOIDES (Iguanidae: Hoplocercinae) from southwestern Ecuador Omar Torres-Carvajal1,2 Ana Almendáriz3 Jorge Valencia4 Mario Yánez-Muñoz5 Juan P. Reyes5 ABStract We describe a new species of Enyalioides from lowland cloud forests in southwestern Ecuador. This represents the third species in the genus known to occur west of the Andes in South America; the other two species are E. heterolepis and E. oshaughnessyi. Among other characters, the new species can be distinguished from other members in the genus by having small, keeled, paravertebrals; a series of skin folds on the lateral aspects of body and neck; size-homogeneous scales on body and limbs; distinct caudal segments; and an extensive dark patch on the gular region of adult males. Morphological similarity suggests that the new species, which we call E. touzeti, is closely related to E. oshaughnessyi. Keywords: Ecuador, Enyalioides, Hoplocercinae, Iguania, new species. INtroDUctioN Panama and southeastern Brazil, on both sides of the Andes, with most species occurring in Colombia, Ec- The neotropical iguanian lizard clade Hoplocer- uador, and Peru (Table 1). cidae (Frost & Etheridge, 1989; Frost et al., 2001), Despite the small size of this clade and its phylo- also known as Hoplocercinae (Macey et al., 1997; genetic importance as a possible basal lineage within Schulte et al., 2003), includes 11 species in three Iguania (Etheridge & de Queiroz, 1988; Schulte et al., genera (Enyalioides, Hoplocercus, and Morunasaurus). 1998, 2003), many questions remain to be answered. Hoplocercines are known from the lowlands between First, the phylogenetic relationships among its species 1. -
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. -
On the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal
Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 631-637 (2020) (published online on 05 August 2020) An update to species distribution records of geckos (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal Ashwini V. Mohan1,2,* The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are rifted arc-raft of 2004, and human-mediated transport can introduce continental islands (Ali, 2018). Andaman and Nicobar additional species to these islands (Chandramouli, 2015). Islands together form the largest archipelago in the In this study, I provide an update for the occurrence Bay of Bengal and a high proportion of terrestrial and distribution of species in the family Gekkonidae herpetofauna on these islands are endemic (Das, 1999). (geckos) on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Although often lumped together, the Andamans and Nicobars are distinct from each other in their floral Materials and Methods and faunal species communities and are geographically Teams consisted of between 2–4 members and we separated by the 10° Channel. Several studies have conducted opportunistic visual encounter surveys in shed light on distribution, density and taxonomic accessible forested and human-modified areas, both aspects of terrestrial herpetofauna on these islands during daylight hours and post-sunset. These surveys (e.g., Das, 1999; Chandramouli, 2016; Harikrishnan were carried out specifically for geckos between and Vasudevan, 2018), assessed genetic diversity November 2016 and May 2017, this period overlapped across island populations (Mohan et al., 2018), studied with the north-east monsoon and summer seasons in the impacts of introduced species on herpetofauna these islands. A total of 16 islands in the Andaman and and biodiversity (e.g., Mohanty et al., 2016a, 2019), Nicobar archipelagos (Fig. -
Read Razorcake Issue #27 As A
t’s never been easy. On average, I put sixty to seventy hours a Yesterday, some of us had helped our friend Chris move, and before we week into Razorcake. Basically, our crew does something that’s moved his stereo, we played the Rhythm Chicken’s new 7”. In the paus- IInot supposed to happen. Our budget is tiny. We operate out of a es between furious Chicken overtures, a guy yelled, “Hooray!” We had small apartment with half of the front room and a bedroom converted adopted our battle call. into a full-time office. We all work our asses off. In the past ten years, That evening, a couple bottles of whiskey later, after great sets by I’ve learned how to fix computers, how to set up networks, how to trou- Giant Haystacks and the Abi Yoyos, after one of our crew projectile bleshoot software. Not because I want to, but because we don’t have the vomited with deft precision and another crewmember suffered a poten- money to hire anybody to do it for us. The stinky underbelly of DIY is tially broken collarbone, This Is My Fist! took to the six-inch stage at finding out that you’ve got to master mundane and difficult things when The Poison Apple in L.A. We yelled and danced so much that stiff peo- you least want to. ple with sourpusses on their faces slunk to the back. We incited under- Co-founder Sean Carswell and I went on a weeklong tour with our aged hipster dancing. -
Animal Information Natural Treasures Reptiles (Non-Snakes)
1 Animal Information Natural Treasures Reptiles (Non-Snakes) Table of Contents Red-footed Tortoise…………….………………………………………………………..2 Argentine Black and white Tegu.………………….………………………..……..4 Madagascar Giant Day Gecko.……………………………………….……..………5 Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko……………………………………………………………6 Panther Chameleon………………………………………………………………………8 Prehensile-tailed Skink………………………………………….……………………..10 Chuckwalla………………………………………………………….……………………….12 Crevice Spiny Lizard……………………………………………………………………..14 Gila Monster……………………………………………..………………………………...15 Dwarf Caiman………….…………………………………………………………………..17 Spotted Turtle……………………………………………………………………………..19 Mexican Beaded Lizard………………………………………………………………..21 Collared Lizard………………………………………………………………………....…23 Red-footed Tortoise Geocheloidis carbonaria 2 John Ball Zoo Habitat – Depending on whether they can be found either in the Natural Treasures Building or outside in the children’s zoo area across from the Budgie Aviary. Individual Animals: 1 Male, 1 Female Male – Morty (Smooth shell) o Age unknown . Records date back to 1985 o Arrived October 11, 2007 o Weight: 8.5lbs Female - Ethel o Age unknown o Arrived June 02, 2011 o Weight: 9.5-10lbs Life Expectancy Insufficient data Statistics Carapace Length – 1.6 feet for males, females tend to be smaller Diet – Frugivore – an animal that mainly eats fruit Wild – Fruit during the wet season and flowers during the dry season o Some soil and fungi Zoo – Salad mix (greens, fruits, veggies) hard boiled eggs, and fish o Fed twice a week Predators Other than humans, there is no information available concerning predators. Habitat Tropical, terrestrial Rainforests and savanna areas. It prefers heavily forested, humid habitats but avoids muddy areas due to low burrowing capacity of these habitats. Region Throughout the South American mainland and North of Argentina. Red-footed Tortoise 3 Geocheloidis carbonaria Reproduction – Polygynous (having more than one female as a mate at a time). -
Species Boundaries, Biogeography, and Intra-Archipelago Genetic Variation Within the Emoia Samoensis Species Group in the Vanuatu Archipelago and Oceania" (2008)
Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2008 Species boundaries, biogeography, and intra- archipelago genetic variation within the Emoia samoensis species group in the Vanuatu Archipelago and Oceania Alison Madeline Hamilton Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Recommended Citation Hamilton, Alison Madeline, "Species boundaries, biogeography, and intra-archipelago genetic variation within the Emoia samoensis species group in the Vanuatu Archipelago and Oceania" (2008). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 3940. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/3940 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. SPECIES BOUNDARIES, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND INTRA-ARCHIPELAGO GENETIC VARIATION WITHIN THE EMOIA SAMOENSIS SPECIES GROUP IN THE VANUATU ARCHIPELAGO AND OCEANIA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Biological Sciences by Alison M. Hamilton B.A., Simon’s Rock College of Bard, 1993 M.S., University of Florida, 2000 December 2008 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my graduate advisor, Dr. Christopher C. Austin, for sharing his enthusiasm for reptile diversity in Oceania with me, and for encouraging me to pursue research in Vanuatu. His knowledge of the logistics of conducting research in the Pacific has been invaluable to me during this process. -
Us Caribbean Regional Coral Reef Fisheries Management Workshop
Caribbean Regional Workshop on Coral Reef Fisheries Management: Collaboration on Successful Management, Enforcement and Education Methods st September 30 - October 1 , 2002 Caribe Hilton Hotel San Juan, Puerto Rico Workshop Objective: The regional workshop allowed island resource managers, fisheries educators and enforcement personnel in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to identify successful coral reef fishery management approaches. The workshop provided the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force with recommendations by local, regional and national stakeholders, to develop more effective and appropriate regional planning for coral reef fisheries conservation and sustainable use. The recommended priorities will assist Federal agencies to provide more directed grant and technical assistance to the U.S. Caribbean. Background: Coral reefs and associated habitats provide important commercial, recreational and subsistence fishery resources in the United States and around the world. Fishing also plays a central social and cultural role in many island communities. However, these fishery resources and the ecosystems that support them are under increasing threat from overfishing, recreational use, and developmental impacts. This workshop, held in conjunction with the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting, brought together island resource managers, fisheries educators and enforcement personnel to compare methods that have been successful, including regulations that have worked, effective enforcement, and education to reach people who can really effect change. These efforts were supported by Federal fishery managers and scientists, Puerto Rico Sea Grant, and drew on the experience of researchers working in the islands and Florida. The workshop helped develop approaches for effective fishery management strategies in the U.S. Caribbean and recommended priority actions to the U.S.