DOCSLIB.ORG

Terrapin Tales

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Terrapin Tales Terrapin tales 5GD /DVRKDSSDQ NE SGD . HC Ö" SK@ M SHB 5T QSKD å 5NQSNHRD 4 NB HDSX Terrapin tales march 2003 Dedicated to the conservation and care of turtles and tortoises Article REPRINT* E ntamoeba invadens: The tortoises, which are highly susceptible to fatal infection6. C helonian Connection W hile the incidence of E. invadens-associated amoebiasis is relatively small, it has been documented in a number of By Sandy Barnett, MATTS President species of turtles and tortoises, including species generally Like many MATTS members, I keep a variety of reptiles considered to be relatively resistant (see table right). a t my house–snakes, lizards, and turtles. All my turtles are It appears that tortoises, as a group, are prone to more “ boxies” (Terrapene carolina carolina), although I occasion- serious illness by E. invadens infection than other chelo- a lly foster other species on a short-term basis. During a nians7. However, some species of the genera Geochelone r ecent conversation with a fellow MATTS member, I and Testudo are reported to be natural carriers that do not mentioned that I am always careful to tend my snakes and normally develop active infections.2 l izards before dealing with any chelonians in my house, 6 a nd I always take care of tortoises before turtles. W hen Box turtles (Terrapene spp.) and semi-aquatic and aquatic asked why, I said it was out of concern for possible turtles (Chelodina, Chelydra, Chrysemys, Cuora, Emydura, Po- docnemis, Pseudemys and Trionyx)2 are also reported to be transmission of Entamoeba invadens (an amoebic proto- zoan) from my turtles to more susceptible animals. (I carriers and do not normally develop active infections. Resistance may be highest in purely aquatic turtles7. don’t know that my boxies are carrying Entamoeba, but I want to play it safe.) Although there may be differences in species susceptibil- M y friend asked where he could read more about this ity, all chelonians are probably vulnerable if they are suf- organism and the illness (amoebiasis) that it causes. I ficiently immune-compromised or underdeveloped (as in the case of very young, very old, and debilitated animals) didn’t have any material on hand to loan him but said I would look into it. That was the inspiration for this arti- and if presented with a sufficiently high load of the para- site. Prime candidates for active infections would be cle. In the following paragraphs, I describe the life history of E. invadens, the symptoms and pathology of E. invadens newly imported, wild-caught animals that normally serve as carriers for E. invadens. These animals are often se- infections in chelonians, and procedures for diagnosing, verely immune suppressed (and ill) due to the atrocious treating, and preventing such infections. way in which they are handled, transported and held be- W ho is affected? fore sale. E. invadens is considered the most significant pathogenic Life History (disease-causing) amoebic protozoan of captive lizards and snakes worldwide1,2,3. Most sources suggest that E. E. invadens has a direct life cycle (there is no intermediate host). An animal is infected by ingesting cyst-laden feces, invadens is usually nonpathogenic to crocodilians4, turtles and some tortoises2,5, and lives in the gut of these animals or material contaminated by such feces (e.g. bedding, 2 without harming them (a living arrangement called food). W hen a susceptible animal ingests cysts, they de- “ commensal symbiosis”). A notable exception is the giant velop into motile trophozoites in the lumen (cavity) of the animal’s small intestine. After multiplying, the tro- *with minor modifications by the author. (Contact: www.matts-turtles.org) MARCH 2003 1 Terrapin tales phozoites pass into the colon where they mature. Many Species of chelonians in which E. invadens invade the mucosa (wall) of the gastrointestinal tract a associated amoebiasis has been reported where they may or may not initiate pathology; others are p assed in the stool, while still others are transformed into Common Name Scientific Name Gulf coast box turtle Terrapene carolina cysts before being passed in the stool. • major The excreted cysts are ready to infect yet another animal when ingested. Any trophozoites that are passed rapidly • Three-toed box turtle T. c. triungulis d esiccate once outside the body, most likely rendering • Malayan box turtle Cuora amboinensis them non-infective. • Yellow-margined box C. flavomarginata turtle Survival data on E. invadens cysts in the environment are not available. However, such information has been re- • Indochinese box turtle C. galbinifrons p orted for E. histolytica, a closely related protozoan. The • Serrate box turtle C. serrata infective cyst stage of E. histolytica can survive in the envi- Heosemys grandis ronment for more than 14 days at a temperature of 8°C • Giant Asian pond turtle (46.4°F), up to eight days at 28-34ºC (82.4-93.2ºF) and 1- • Spiny turtle H. spinosa 11 2 days at 37°C (98.6°F) . It is possible that E. invadens is • Malayan flat-shelled turtle Notochelys platynota equally sensitive. It has been found that E. invadens sur- Geoemyda spengleri v ives but will not multiply at a temperatures of 12.5°C • Black-breasted leaf turtle (54.5°F)12. • Sulawesi forest turtle Heosemys (Geoemyda) yuwonoi Symptoms • Black marsh turtle Siebenrockiella C linical signs can vary widely and often are the same crassicollis vague signs seen with many other chelonian illnesses. In • Mata mata Chelus fimbriatus some cases, symptoms, if present at all, may be limited to • African mud turtle Pelusios subniger mild weight loss (or failure to grow at a normal rate) and Loggerhead musk turtle Sternotherus minor. p oor appetite right up to the time of death9.. • minor b The most common signs are diarrhea (possibly accompa- • Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta nied by blood and excessive mucus) and irregular appe- Chelonia mydas b tite. Other clinical signs include vomiting, listlessness, • Green sea turtle w eakness, low weight and signs of dehydration (e.g. • Gopher tortoise Gopherus polymerus sunken eyes, thick oral mucus). If the lungs are infected (a • Travancore tortoise Indotestudo forsteni condition generally associated with more chronic infec- Bell‘s hinge-back tortoise Kinixys belliana t ions), labored breathing, mouth/nasal discharge and • wheezing may be noted. • Serrated hinge-back K. erosa tortoise Mild symptoms may continue with little change for • Home‘s hinge-back K. homeana months, or progress rapidly towards death. Unfortu- tortoise nately, in some cases no clinical signs are obvious until a • Impressed tortoise Manouria impressa • Red-footed tortoise Geochelone carbonaria Table Notes • Yellow-footed tortoise G. denticulata a This table is compiled from cases brought to a small number of vet- • Indian star tortoise G. elegans erinarians2,7,8,9,10, and should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive list • Leopard tortoise G. pardalis of species in which amoebiasis has occurred. • West African spurred G. sulcatta b This infection was only possible because the animal was maintained tortoise in freshwater. E. invadens cannot survive in saltwater where the species • Elongated tortoise Graptemys nigrinoda naturally occurs2 2 MARCH 2003 Terrapin tales evaluation, to check for internal parasites. d ay or so before death, eliminating any opportunity for t reatment7,9. Unfortunately, a standard fecal exam may not give reli- able results with regard to E. invadens. Such screening T here have been no studies published on the duration of rarely detects E. invadens unless there is a very large num- i llness in chelonians experimentally inoculated with E. ber of trophozoites present and the sample is very fresh invadens. However, deaths have been reported to occur in (trophozoites breakdown rapidly once excreted from the experimental infections in snakes as early as 13 days and body, thereby evading detection, and identification based 2 up to 77 days after inoculation . The length of the illness solely upon the cyst stage is difficult)7. a nd time to death is undoubtedly dependent upon a n umber of factors, including the size and possibly the It may be possible to obtain a stool fixative (e.g., polyvi- s train of the infectious dose, the health status of the ani- nyl alcohol) from your vet that prevents the breakdown of the trophozoites. However, even if a stool sample is mal at the time of inoculation, the level of maturity of the animal’s immune system, and probably the species of very fresh or properly preserved, it is often a case of luck a nimal involved. that an animal is shedding the organism at the time that the stool sample is collected since shedding is often in- termittent. Even animals with severe cases of amoebiasis “Unfortunately, in some cases no may have repeated negative fecal screenings9. clinical signs are obvious until a day A more accurate means of diagnosing an active E. in- or so before death, eliminating any vadens infection involves a cloacal flush in which fluid is opportunity for treatment.” gently flushed into the cloaca via a catheter-tipped sy- 13 ringe, and then suctioned back out . The sample is then centrifuged to separate the solids from the liquid, and the P athology retrieved material is examined under a microscope or cul- tured for identification. E. invadens most commonly affects the host’s gastrointes- t inal tract, especially the colon, invading the intestinal If you follow this route, you should insist that the flush m ucosa and destroying cells. The extent of damage is sample be cultured. In an extensive study13, it was deter- v ariable, but may result in intestinal inflammation, ero- mined that microscopic examination of in vitro cultures is E. invadens sion and often ulceration and perforation.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Conservation Biology of Tortoises
    The Conservation Biology of Tortoises Edited by Ian R. Swingland and Michael W. Klemens IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) No. 5 IUCN—The World Conservation Union IUCN Species Survival Commission Role of the SSC 3. To cooperate with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is IUCN's primary source of the in developing and evaluating a data base on the status of and trade in wild scientific and technical information required for the maintenance of biological flora and fauna, and to provide policy guidance to WCMC. diversity through the conservation of endangered and vulnerable species of 4. To provide advice, information, and expertise to the Secretariat of the fauna and flora, whilst recommending and promoting measures for their con- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna servation, and for the management of other species of conservation concern. and Flora (CITES) and other international agreements affecting conser- Its objective is to mobilize action to prevent the extinction of species, sub- vation of species or biological diversity. species, and discrete populations of fauna and flora, thereby not only maintain- 5. To carry out specific tasks on behalf of the Union, including: ing biological diversity but improving the status of endangered and vulnerable species. • coordination of a programme of activities for the conservation of biological diversity within the framework of the IUCN Conserva- tion Programme. Objectives of the SSC • promotion of the maintenance of biological diversity by monitor- 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Influencing the Occurrence and Vulnerability of the Travancore Tortoise Indotestudo Travancorica in Protected Areas in South India
    Factors influencing the occurrence and vulnerability of the Travancore tortoise Indotestudo travancorica in protected areas in south India V. DEEPAK and K ARTHIKEYAN V ASUDEVAN Abstract Protected areas in developing tropical countries under pressure from high human population density are under pressure from local demand for resources, and (Cincotta et al., 2000), with enclaves inhabited by margin- therefore it is essential to monitor rare species and prevent alized communities that traditionally depend on forest overexploitation of resources. The Travancore tortoise resources for their livelihoods (Anand et al., 2010). Indotestudo travancorica is endemic to the Western Ghats The Travancore tortoise Indotestudo travancorica is in southern India, where it inhabits deciduous and evergreen endemic to the Western Ghats. It inhabits evergreen, semi- forests. We used multiple-season models to estimate site evergreen, moist deciduous and bamboo forests and rubber occupancy and detection probability for the tortoise in two and teak plantations (Deepaketal., 2011).The species occursin protected areas, and investigated factors influencing this. riparian patches and marshes and has a home range of 5.2–34 During 2006–2009 we surveyed 25 trails in four forest ha (Deepak et al., 2011). Its diet consists of grasses, herbs, fruits, types and estimated that the tortoise occupied 41–97%of crabs, insects and molluscs, with occasional scavenging on the habitat. Tortoise presence on the trails was confirmed by dead animals (Deepak & Vasudevan, 2012). It is categorized as sightings of 39 tortoises and 61 instances of indirect evidence Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and listed in Appendix II of of tortoises. There was considerable interannual variation CITES (Asian Turtle Trade Working Group, 2000).
    [Show full text]
  • Entamoeba Invadens
    R O UNDTAB LI Entamoeba invadens Entamoeba invadens is a very significant protozoan pathogen affecting several reptile taxons. Amoebiasis is often associated with disease in squamates, but can also cause significant morbidity and mortality in chelonians as well. This panel has extensive experience in chelonian medicine and will provide up-to-date information on diagnosing and treating chelonian species with amoebiasis. Barbara Bonner, DVM, MS The Turtle Hospital of New England 1 Grafton Road, Upton, MA 01568-1569, USA Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/jhms/article-pdf/11/3/17/2203726/1529-9651_11_3_17.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 Mary Denver, DVM Baltimore Zoo Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA Michael Gamer, DVM, DACVP Northwest Zoo Path 18210 Waverly, Snohomish, WA 98296, USA Charles Innis, VMD VC A Westboro Animal Hospital 155 Turnpike Road, Route 9, Westboro, MA 01581, USA Moderator: Robert Nathan, DVM 1). Which species of chelonians do you see with Entamoeba Geochelone elegans. We have seen clinical disease in mata invadens? matas, Chelus fimbriatus, and African mud turtles, Pelusios Bonner: I have seen Entamoeba and clinical signs of ill subniger. health that improved upon treatment in Gulf coast box turtle, Garner: Northwest ZooPath has cases of amoebiasis in all Terrapene Carolina major, three-toed box turtle, T. Carolina groups of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, chelonians, and triungulis, leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis, Travancore crocodilians. Since inception in 1994, we have accumulated tortoise, Indotestudo forsteni, Geoemyda yuwonoi, spiny tur­ 13 cases of amoebiasis in tortoises, and one case in a turtle.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Manouria Impressa from Laos
    UNEP-WCMC technical report Review of Manouria impressa from Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Version edited for public release) 2 Review of Manouria impressa from Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prepared for The European Commission, Directorate General Environment, Directorate E - Global & Regional Challenges, LIFE ENV.E.2. – Global Sustainability, Trade & Multilateral Agreements , Brussels, Belgium Published January 201 4 Copyright European Commission 2014 Citation UNEP-WCMC. 2014. Review of Manouria impressa from Lao People’s Democratic Republic . UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre has been in operat ion for over 30 years, combining scientific research with policy advice and the development of decision tools. We are able to provide objective, scientifically rigorous products and services to help decision - makers recognize the value of biodiversity and a pply this knowledge to all that they do. To do this, we collate and verify data on biodiversity and ecosystem services that we analyze and interpret in comprehensive assessments, making the results available in appropriate forms for national and internatio nal level decision -makers and businesses. To ensure that our work is both sustainable and equitable we seek to build the capacity of partners where needed, so that they can provide the same services at national and regional scales. The contents of this re port do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, contributory organisations or editors. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, the European Commission or con tributory organisations, editors or publishers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasitic Diseases 5Th Edition
    This is an excerpt from Parasitic Diseases 5th Edition Visit www.parasiticdiseases.org for order information Fifth Edition Parasitic Diseases Despommier Gwadz Hotez Knirsch Apple Trees Productions L.L.C. NY 8 The Protozoa . Entamoeba histolytica (Schaudinn 1903) Introduction Entamoeba histolytica is transmitted from person to person via the fecal-oral route, taking up residence in the wall of the large intestine. It is one of the lead- ing causes of diarrheal disease throughout the world. Protracted infection can progress from watery diarrhea to dysentery (bloody diarrhea) that may prove fatal if left untreated. In addition, E. histolytica can spread to extra-intestinal sites causing serious disease wherever it locates. E. histolytica lives as a trophozoite in the tis- sues of the host and as a resistant cyst in the outside environment. Sanitation programs designed to limit exposure to food and water-borne diarrheal disease Figure .. Cyst of E. histolytica. Two nuclei agents are effective in limiting infection with E. histolyti- (arrows) and a smooth-ended chromatoidal bar can ca. Some animals (non-human primates and domestic be seen. 15 µm. dogs) can become infected with E. histolytica, but none serve as important reservoirs for human infection. Historical Information Entamoeba dispar is a morphologically identical, non-pathogenic amoeba, and is often misidentified as Losch, in 1875,6 described clinical features of infec- E. histolytica during microscopic examination of fecal tion with E. histolytica and reproduced some aspects of samples.1 Monoclonal antibodies are commercially the disease in experimentally infected dogs. Quincke available that identify only E. histolytica, distinguishing and Roos, in 1893,7 distinguished E.
    [Show full text]
  • Stress-Responsive Entamoeba Topoisomerase II: A
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/679118; this version posted July 11, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 1 Stress-responsive Entamoeba topoisomerase II: a 2 potential anti-amoebic target 3 4 Sneha Susan Varghese, Sudip Kumar Ghosh* 5 Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West 6 Bengal, India 721 302. 7 * Corresponding author 8 Email: [email protected] (SKG) 9 10 Author contributions 11 SSV and SKG: designed research, SSV: performed experiments, SSV and SKG: wrote the paper. 12 13 Conflict of Interest 14 The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest 15 16 Key Words: Entamoeba; protozoan parasite; topoisomerase; antiamoebic; drug-target; 17 Entamoeba invadens. 18 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/679118; this version posted July 11, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 19 Abstract 20 Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes, involved in all DNA processes across the biological 21 world. These enzymes are also targets for various anticancer and antimicrobial agents. The 22 causative organism of amoebiasis, Entamoeba histolytica (Eh), has seven unexplored genes 23 annotated as putative topoisomerases. One of the seven topoisomerases in this parasite was found 24 to be highly up-regulated during heat shock and oxidative stress. The bioinformatic analysis 25 shows that it is a eukaryotic type IIA topoisomerase. Its ortholog was also highly up-regulated 26 during the late hours of encystation in E.
    [Show full text]
  • Eukaryotic Checkpoints Are Absent in the Cell Division Cycle of Entamoeba Histolytica
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you COREby provided by Publications of the IAS Fellows Eukaryotic checkpoints are absent in the cell division cycle of Entamoeba histolytica SULAGNA BANERJEE, SUCHISMITA DAS and ANURADHA LOHIA* Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, P1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata 700 054, India *Corresponding author (Fax, 91-33-3343886; Email, [email protected]) Fidelity in transmission of genetic characters is ensured by the faithful duplication of the genome, followed by equal segregation of the genetic material in the progeny. Thus, alternation of DNA duplication (S-phase) and chromosome segregation during the M-phase are hallmarks of most well studied eukaryotes. Several rounds of genome reduplication before chromosome segregation upsets this cycle and leads to polyploidy. Polyploidy is often witnessed in cells prior to differentiation, in embryonic cells or in diseases such as cancer. Studies on the protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica suggest that in its proliferative phase, this organism may accumulate polyploid cells. It has also been shown that although this organism contains sequence homologs of genes which are known to control the cell cycle of most eukaryotes, these genes may be structurally altered and their equiva- lent function yet to be demonstrated in amoeba. The available information suggests that surveillance mecha- nisms or ‘checkpoints’ which are known to regulate the eukaryotic cell cycle may be absent or altered in E. histolytica. [Banerjee S, Das S and Lohia A 2002 Eukaryotic checkpoints are absent in the cell division cycle of Entamoeba histolytica; J. Biosci. (Suppl. 3) 27 567–572] 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Watch a Tale of Two Turtles
    FEATURE ARTICLE Nature Watch A Tale of Two Turtles V Deepak Turtles are one of the oldest groups of reptiles in the world and India has a large and diverse assemblage of extant turtles. While the North and Northeast parts of India are higher in turtle diversity, peninsular India has all the three endemic turtles. The Cane turtle and the Travancore tortoise are two endemic forest dwelling turtles. Until recently, very little was known about the ecology of these two turtles. I spent five years V Deepak is a postdoctoral during my PhD studying their behaviour and ecology in the fellow at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc. Western Ghats. In this article, I share general information on He is interested in ecology, evolution of turtles and some of my findings on the behaviour systematics and biogeogra- and ecology of these two endemic turtles of India. phy of amphibians and reptiles in India. His Introduction current research focuses on systematics and Turtles have existed on Earth since the rise of Dinosaurs. The phylogeography of fan- oldest known turtle fossil with a complete shell is of the throated lizards (Sitana) in the Indian subcontinent. Proganochelys species dating from the late Triassic (220 Ma). He uses morphological and The shell of a turtle is a unique and successful body plan which molecular data to has enabled them to survive over 200 million years despite understand evolutionary fluctuating climates and diverse forms of vertebrate predators. relationships and distribution patterns of 1 Many living tortoises are slow growing and attain sexual matu- different groups of rity quite late.
    [Show full text]
  • TCF Summary Activity Report 2002–2018
    Turtle Conservation Fund • Summary Activity Report 2002–2018 Turtle Conservation Fund A Partnership Coalition of Leading Turtle Conservation Organizations and Individuals Summary Activity Report 2002–2018 1 Turtle Conservation Fund • Summary Activity Report 2002–2018 Recommended Citation: Turtle Conservation Fund [Rhodin, A.G.J., Quinn, H.R., Goode, E.V., Hudson, R., Mittermeier, R.A., and van Dijk, P.P.]. 2019. Turtle Conservation Fund: A Partnership Coalition of Leading Turtle Conservation Organi- zations and Individuals—Summary Activity Report 2002–2018. Lunenburg, MA and Ojai, CA: Chelonian Research Foundation and Turtle Conservancy, 54 pp. Front Cover Photo: Radiated Tortoise, Astrochelys radiata, Cap Sainte Marie Special Reserve, southern Madagascar. Photo by Anders G.J. Rhodin. Back Cover Photo: Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle, Rafetus swinhoei, Dong Mo Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Timothy E.M. McCormack. Printed by Inkspot Press, Bennington, VT 05201 USA. Hardcopy available from Chelonian Research Foundation, 564 Chittenden Dr., Arlington, VT 05250 USA. Downloadable pdf copy available at www.turtleconservationfund.org 2 Turtle Conservation Fund • Summary Activity Report 2002–2018 Turtle Conservation Fund A Partnership Coalition of Leading Turtle Conservation Organizations and Individuals Summary Activity Report 2002–2018 by Anders G.J. Rhodin, Hugh R. Quinn, Eric V. Goode, Rick Hudson, Russell A. Mittermeier, and Peter Paul van Dijk Strategic Action Planning and Funding Support for Conservation of Threatened Tortoises and Freshwater
    [Show full text]
  • Download Preprint
    Nonchalant neighbors: Space use and overlap of the critically endangered Elongated Tortoise Matthew Ward1†, Benjamin Michael Marshall1, Cameron Wesley Hodges1, Ysabella Montano1, Taksin Artchawakom2, Surachit Waengsothorn3, Colin Thomas Strine1* 1 Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand 2 Population and Community Development Association, Bangkok, Thailand 3 Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand * [email protected] † [email protected] Received: ; Revised: (optional); Accepted: . 1 Abstract To prevent population extirpations we need to understand species’ requirements, especially for critically endangered species inhabiting biodiversity hotspots. Studying animal movement provides insights into such requirements and gauges protected area effectiveness. Southeast Asian protected areas are becoming isolated; thus, we must ensure existing areas can sustain populations. We used multi-year radio-telemetry with the critically endangered Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) to assess: movements, space- use, and conspecific overlap in a small protected area –Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand. Movements were weakly seasonal, increasing in hot and wet seasons compared to the dry season. Individuals annual space-use varied (4.24–55.57 ha), while frequently overlapping with conspecifics. Conspecific comparisons revealed males (n = 5) moved similarly to females (n = 12) but used larger areas. Explorations of temporal avoidance versus attraction reveal more instances of conspecific attraction than avoidance (20:8). Avoidance/attraction behavior appeared disconnected from carapace length or mass; therefore, that conspecific interaction patterns may potentially be a result of resources (mates or food) rather than competition (i.e., no apparent evidence of smaller individuals avoiding larger individuals). Female-female attraction suggests an absence of resource exclusion tactics at the temporal resolution of our data.
    [Show full text]
  • Manuria Emys Phayrei, the Burmese Brown Tortoise – English
    REPTILIA 43 descendant of an extinct European Manouria species of southern Thailand through Malaysia to Sumatra, and the Tertiary. A fossil specimen found in the Üetliberg Borneo. However, attempts by herpetologists to find region (near Zurich, Switzerland), and now at the the species in the wild have been mostly unsuccessful. Zoological Museum in Zurich, is Although it has sometimes been larger but otherwise morphologi- possible to gain limited access to cally almost identical to M. emys. the region, an actual expedition is The Tertiary is a period of mod- almost impossible for political ern geological time characterized and military reasons. Also, the by the formation of the large fold dense vegetation in the distribu- mountains and the sunken area of tion area does not exactly permit the Mediterranean basin. pleasure-hiking. Manouria emys inhabits ever- Description green tropical rainforest and Manouria emys phayrei grows mixed deciduous transitional for- larger than Manouria emys emys, est. Temperatures during the and there are clear morphological coldest months average about differences between the two sub- 18°C (64°F). Climate studies of species. The shells differ in gen- Bhamo (northeastern Upper eral form, apparent from the rear Burma) can serve as an indica- view, and in M. e. phayrei, the tion of appropriate environmen- pectoral scutes meet along the tal conditions for the species. plastral midline, whereas in M. e. This information is important for emys they do not (see Figure 1). Distribution of Manouria emys according to Iverson setting up a terrarium. Manouria emys phayrei is the largest Asian tortoise. It grows to 60 centimeters in cara- Captive housing pace length and weighs up to 37 kilograms.
    [Show full text]
  • Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan 4Th Edition December 2015
    Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan 4th Edition December 2015 Editor Chelonian TAG Steering Committee 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Mission ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Steering Committee Structure ........................................................................................................... 3 Officers, Steering Committee Members, and Advisors ..................................................................... 4 Taxonomic Scope ............................................................................................................................. 6 Space Analysis Space .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Current and Potential Holding Table Results ............................................................................. 8 Species Selection Process Process ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Decision Tree ........................................................................................................................... 13 Decision Tree Results .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]