A GUIDE to the SNAKES OF' Tile NAIROBI DISTRICT. Judged By
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Note Sur Une Collection De Serpents Du Congo Avec Description D'une Espèce Nouvelle
.I ', * I L Note sur une collection de serpents du Congo avec description d'une espèce nouvelle Jean François WE'& Rolande ROUX-ESTEVE Trape, J. F. & Roux - Estève, R. 1990. Note sur une collection de serpents du Congo avec description d'une espèce nouvelle. J. Afr. Zool. 104 : 375-383. On a collection of snakesfrom the Congo, &th description of a neu, species.- Philothamnus , hughest nsp. is described from Gangahgolo, Congo. This new species ranges from Cameroun to Gabon, Central African Republic and North Zaïre; it was previously mistaken for Phoplogaster.Six species are recorded for the fmt time in the Congo : Rhino&ohlops caecus, Chamaelycus christyt, Chamaelycus parkeri, Philothamnus nitidus loveridgei, Aparallactus modestus ubang- and Paranaja multifadata anomala. Specimens of two rare species are described: Miodon fulvicollts and Bouletgerlna christyt. Philothamnus hughest n. sp. est décrit de Gangalingolo au Congo. Cette espèce était précédemment confondue avec P. hoplogaster. Son aire de répartition géographique s' étend du Cameroun au Gabon, B la RCA et au Nord du Zaïre. Si espèces sont rapportées pour la première fois du Congo: Rhinotyphlops caecus, Chamaelycuschristyf, Chamaelycusparkeri, Philothamnus nitidus loueridgel, Aparallactus modestus ubangensis et Paranaja multifasclata anomala. Des exemplaires de deux espèces rares sont décrits : Miodon .f2luicollis et Boulengerina christyt. Key words : Snakes, Africa, Congo, Philothamnus hughest. J. F. Tra e, ORSTOM, B.P.1386,Dakar, Sénégal. - R. Roux-Estève, Muséum National d'Histoire Natureg, 25 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France. INTRODUCI'ION MNHP 1987-1670: Dimonika (Ma- yombe), Q . Capturé le 1-6-1981. Nous présentons dans cette note une description des spécimens les plus Longueur totale: 340 mm, longueur remarquables d'une collection de 750 de la queue: 5 mm. -
Diversity of Hemipenes and Its Taxonomical Implication in the Genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae)
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487 doi: 10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Conference Abstract Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae) Vladislav Vergilov‡, Georgi Popgeorgiev‡§, Boyan Zlatkov ‡ National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria § Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Corresponding author: Vladislav Vergilov ([email protected]) Received: 27 Aug 2019 | Published: 28 Aug 2019 Citation: Vergilov V, Popgeorgiev G, Zlatkov B (2019) Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus(Squamata: Scincidae). ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487. https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Abstract The genus Ablepharus encompasses 10 species and 12 subspecies, distributed from Hungary to India. Most species and subspecies have been described from the Middle East and Central Asia, based on external morphology (pholidosis, body size and coloration). The present study is an attempt to demonstrate the hemipenial morphology throughout the genus. Some taxonomical questions arose during comparison of the hemipenes of several subspecies and species, showing the necessity of a revision of the genus. A dendrogram generated from distinctive hemipenial characters revealed rapid divergence of this structure in closely related taxa and discrepancy with the phylogenetic tree based on molecular data from previous studies. Keywords skink, morphology, hemipenis, relationships © Vergilov -
Freshwater Fishes
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE state oF BIODIVERSITY 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 2 Chapter 2 Methods 17 Chapter 3 Freshwater fishes 18 Chapter 4 Amphibians 36 Chapter 5 Reptiles 55 Chapter 6 Mammals 75 Chapter 7 Avifauna 89 Chapter 8 Flora & Vegetation 112 Chapter 9 Land and Protected Areas 139 Chapter 10 Status of River Health 159 Cover page photographs by Andrew Turner (CapeNature), Roger Bills (SAIAB) & Wicus Leeuwner. ISBN 978-0-620-39289-1 SCIENTIFIC SERVICES 2 Western Cape Province State of Biodiversity 2007 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Andrew Turner [email protected] 1 “We live at a historic moment, a time in which the world’s biological diversity is being rapidly destroyed. The present geological period has more species than any other, yet the current rate of extinction of species is greater now than at any time in the past. Ecosystems and communities are being degraded and destroyed, and species are being driven to extinction. The species that persist are losing genetic variation as the number of individuals in populations shrinks, unique populations and subspecies are destroyed, and remaining populations become increasingly isolated from one another. The cause of this loss of biological diversity at all levels is the range of human activity that alters and destroys natural habitats to suit human needs.” (Primack, 2002). CapeNature launched its State of Biodiversity Programme (SoBP) to assess and monitor the state of biodiversity in the Western Cape in 1999. This programme delivered its first report in 2002 and these reports are updated every five years. The current report (2007) reports on the changes to the state of vertebrate biodiversity and land under conservation usage. -
Cobra Risk Assessment
Invasive animal risk assessment Biosecurity Queensland Agriculture Fisheries and Department of Cobra (all species) Steve Csurhes and Paul Fisher First published 2010 Updated 2016 Pest animal risk assessment © State of Queensland, 2016. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0/au/deed.en" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Photo: Image from Wikimedia Commons (this image is reproduced under the terms of a GNU Free Documentation License) Invasive animal risk assessment: Cobra 2 Contents Summary 4 Introduction 5 Identity and taxonomy 5 Taxonomy 3 Description 5 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 Predators and diseases 6 Origin and distribution 7 Status in Australia and Queensland 8 Preferred habitat 9 History as a pest elsewhere 9 Uses 9 Pest potential in Queensland 10 Climate match 10 Habitat suitability 10 Broad natural geographic range 11 Generalist diet 11 Venom production 11 Disease 11 Numerical risk analysis 11 References 12 Attachment 1 13 Invasive animal risk assessment: Cobra 3 Summary The common name ‘cobra’ applies to 30 species in 7 genera within the family Elapidae, all of which can produce a hood when threatened. All cobra species are venomous. As a group, cobras have an extensive distribution over large parts of Africa, Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia. -
The Herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and Lower Cuando River Catchments of South-Eastern Angola
Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 10(2) [Special Section]: 6–36 (e126). The herpetofauna of the Cubango, Cuito, and lower Cuando river catchments of south-eastern Angola 1,2,*Werner Conradie, 2Roger Bills, and 1,3William R. Branch 1Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013, SOUTH AFRICA 2South African Institute for Aquatic Bio- diversity, P/Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, SOUTH AFRICA 3Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P O Box 77000, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, SOUTH AFRICA Abstract.—Angola’s herpetofauna has been neglected for many years, but recent surveys have revealed unknown diversity and a consequent increase in the number of species recorded for the country. Most historical Angola surveys focused on the north-eastern and south-western parts of the country, with the south-east, now comprising the Kuando-Kubango Province, neglected. To address this gap a series of rapid biodiversity surveys of the upper Cubango-Okavango basin were conducted from 2012‒2015. This report presents the results of these surveys, together with a herpetological checklist of current and historical records for the Angolan drainage of the Cubango, Cuito, and Cuando Rivers. In summary 111 species are known from the region, comprising 38 snakes, 32 lizards, five chelonians, a single crocodile and 34 amphibians. The Cubango is the most western catchment and has the greatest herpetofaunal diversity (54 species). This is a reflection of both its easier access, and thus greatest number of historical records, and also the greater habitat and topographical diversity associated with the rocky headwaters. -
An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(3):529–536. Herpetological Conservation and Biology Symposium at the 6th World Congress of Herpetology. AN OVERVIEW AND CHECKLIST OF THE NATIVE AND ALIEN HERPETOFAUNA OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1 1 2 PRITPAL S. SOORAE , MYYAS AL QUARQAZ , AND ANDREW S. GARDNER 1Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: [email protected] 2Natural Science and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 4783, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abstract.—This paper provides an updated checklist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) native and alien herpetofauna. The UAE, while largely a desert country with a hyper-arid climate, also has a range of more mesic habitats such as islands, mountains, and wadis. As such it has a diverse native herpetofauna of at least 72 species as follows: two amphibian species (Bufonidae), five marine turtle species (Cheloniidae [four] and Dermochelyidae [one]), 42 lizard species (Agamidae [six], Gekkonidae [19], Lacertidae [10], Scincidae [six], and Varanidae [one]), a single amphisbaenian, and 22 snake species (Leptotyphlopidae [one], Boidae [one], Colubridae [seven], Hydrophiidae [nine], and Viperidae [four]). Additionally, we recorded at least eight alien species, although only the Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyplops braminus) appears to have become naturalized. We also list legislation and international conventions pertinent to the herpetofauna. Key Words.— amphibians; checklist; invasive; reptiles; United Arab Emirates INTRODUCTION (Arnold 1984, 1986; Balletto et al. 1985; Gasperetti 1988; Leviton et al. 1992; Gasperetti et al. 1993; Egan The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of 2007). -
Nyika and Vwaza Reptiles & Amphibians Checklist
LIST OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF NYIKA NATIONAL PARK AND VWAZA MARSH WILDLIFE RESERVE This checklist of all reptile and amphibian species recorded from the Nyika National Park and immediate surrounds (both in Malawi and Zambia) and from the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve was compiled by Dr Donald Broadley of the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in November 2013. It is arranged in zoological order by scientific name; common names are given in brackets. The notes indicate where are the records are from. Endemic species (that is species only known from this area) are indicated by an E before the scientific name. Further details of names and the sources of the records are available on request from the Nyika Vwaza Trust Secretariat. REPTILES TORTOISES & TERRAPINS Family Pelomedusidae Pelusios rhodesianus (Variable Hinged Terrapin) Vwaza LIZARDS Family Agamidae Acanthocercus branchi (Branch's Tree Agama) Nyika Agama kirkii kirkii (Kirk's Rock Agama) Vwaza Agama armata (Eastern Spiny Agama) Nyika Family Chamaeleonidae Rhampholeon nchisiensis (Nchisi Pygmy Chameleon) Nyika Chamaeleo dilepis (Common Flap-necked Chameleon) Nyika(Nchenachena), Vwaza Trioceros goetzei nyikae (Nyika Whistling Chameleon) Nyika(Nchenachena) Trioceros incornutus (Ukinga Hornless Chameleon) Nyika Family Gekkonidae Lygodactylus angularis (Angle-throated Dwarf Gecko) Nyika Lygodactylus capensis (Cape Dwarf Gecko) Nyika(Nchenachena), Vwaza Hemidactylus mabouia (Tropical House Gecko) Nyika Family Scincidae Trachylepis varia (Variable Skink) Nyika, -
Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica. -
Ancestral Reconstruction of Diet and Fang Condition in the Lamprophiidae: Implications for the Evolution of Venom Systems in Snakes
Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 55, No. 1, 1–10, 2021 Copyright 2021 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Ancestral Reconstruction of Diet and Fang Condition in the Lamprophiidae: Implications for the Evolution of Venom Systems in Snakes 1,2 1 1 HIRAL NAIK, MIMMIE M. KGADITSE, AND GRAHAM J. ALEXANDER 1School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. PO Wits, 2050, Gauteng, South Africa ABSTRACT.—The Colubroidea includes all venomous and some nonvenomous snakes, many of which have extraordinary dental morphology and functional capabilities. It has been proposed that the ancestral condition of the Colubroidea is venomous with tubular fangs. The venom system includes the production of venomous secretions by labial glands in the mouth and usually includes fangs for effective delivery of venom. Despite significant research on the evolution of the venom system in snakes, limited research exists on the driving forces for different fang and dental morphology at a broader phylogenetic scale. We assessed the patterns of fang and dental condition in the Lamprophiidae, a speciose family of advanced snakes within the Colubroidea, and we related fang and dental condition to diet. The Lamprophiidae is the only snake family that includes front-fanged, rear-fanged, and fangless species. We produced an ancestral reconstruction for the family and investigated the pattern of diet and fangs within the clade. We concluded that the ancestral lamprophiid was most likely rear-fanged and that the shift in dental morphology was associated with changes in diet. This pattern indicates that fang loss, and probably venom loss, has occurred multiple times within the Lamprophiidae. -
Biogeography of the Reptiles of the Central African Republic
African Journal of Herpetology, 2006 55(1): 23-59. ©Herpetological Association of Africa Original article Biogeography of the Reptiles of the Central African Republic LAURENT CHIRIO AND IVAN INEICH Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Département de Systématique et Evolution (Reptiles) – USM 602, Case Postale 30, 25, rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France This work is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Jens B. Rasmussen, Curator of Reptiles at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen, Denmark Abstract.—A large number of reptiles from the Central African Republic (CAR) were collected during recent surveys conducted over six years (October 1990 to June 1996) and deposited at the Paris Natural History Museum (MNHN). This large collection of 4873 specimens comprises 86 terrapins and tortois- es, five crocodiles, 1814 lizards, 38 amphisbaenids and 2930 snakes, totalling 183 species from 78 local- ities within the CAR. A total of 62 taxa were recorded for the first time in the CAR, the occurrence of numerous others was confirmed, and the known distribution of several taxa is greatly extended. Based on this material and an additional six species known to occur in, or immediately adjacent to, the coun- try from other sources, we present a biogeographical analysis of the 189 species of reptiles in the CAR. Key words.—Central African Republic, reptile fauna, biogeography, distribution. he majority of African countries have been improved; known distributions of many species Tthe subject of several reptile studies (see are greatly expanded and distributions of some for example LeBreton 1999 for Cameroon). species are questioned in light of our results. -
Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, with Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin
Bonner zoologische Beiträge Band 52 (2003) Heft 3/4 Seiten 193–214 Bonn, November 2004 Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, With Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin Aaron M. BAUER Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA Abstract. The earliest herpetological records made by Germans in southern Africa were casual observations of common species around Cape Town made by employees of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during the mid- to late Seven- teenth Century. Most of these records were merely brief descriptions or lists of common names, but detailed illustrations of many reptiles were executed by two German illustrators in the employ of the VOC, Heinrich CLAUDIUS and Johannes SCHUMACHER. CLAUDIUS, who accompanied Simon VAN DER STEL to Namaqualand in 1685, left an especially impor- tant body of herpetological illustrations which are here listed and identified to species. One of the last Germans to work for the Dutch in South Africa was Martin Hinrich Carl LICHTENSTEIN who served as a physician and tutor to the last Dutch governor of the Cape from 1802 to 1806. Although he did not collect any herpetological specimens himself, LICHTENSTEIN, who became the director of the Zoological Museum in Berlin in 1813, influenced many subsequent workers to undertake employment and/or expeditions in southern Africa. Among the early collectors were Karl BERGIUS and Ludwig KREBS. Both collected material that is still extant in the Berlin collection today, including a small number of reptile types. Because of LICHTENSTEIN’S emphasis on specimens as items for sale to other museums rather than as subjects for study, many species first collected by KREBS were only described much later on the basis of material ob- tained by other, mostly British, collectors. -
Snakes of Durban
SNakes of durban Brown House Snake Herald Snake Non - venomous Boaedon capensis Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia Often found near human habitation where they Also referred to as the Red-lipped herald. hunt rodents, lizards and small birds. This nocturnal (active at night) snake feeds They are active at night and often collected mainlyly on frogs and is one of the more common for the pet trade. snakes found around human dwellings. SPOTTED BUSH Snake Eastern Natal Green Snake Southern Brown Egg eater Philothamnus semivariegatus Philothamnus natalensis natalensis Dasypeltis inornata Probably the most commonly found snake in This green snake is often confused with the This snake has heavily keeled body scales and urban areas. They are very good climbers, Green mamba. This diurnal species, (active during is nocturnal (active at night) . Although harmless, often seen hunting geckos and lizards the day) actively hunts frogs and geckos. they put up an impressive aggression display, in the rafters of homes. Max length 1.1 metres. with striking and open mouth gaping. Can reach This diurnal species (active during the day) over 1 metre in length and when they are that big is often confused with the Green mamba. they can eat chicken eggs. Habitat includes Max length 1.1 metres. grasslands, coastal forests and it frequents suburban gardens where they are known to enter aviaries in search of eggs. night adder Causus rhombeatus A common snake often found near ponds and dams because they feed exclusively on amphibians. They have a cytotoxic venom and bite symptoms will include pain and swelling. Max length 1 metre.