DOCSLIB.ORG

313 Book Reviews Harding, Keith R., Welch, Kenneth R. G.: Venomous

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
313 Book Reviews Harding, Keith R., Welch, Kenneth R. G.: Venomous Book Reviews 313 Harding, Keith R., Welch, Kenneth R. G.: Venomous Snakes of the World. A Checklist. - Toxicon, Suppl. 1 ( 1980), X + 188 pp. Pergamon Press (Oxford, N ew York, Toronto, Syd- ney, Paris, Frankfurt). ISBN 0-08-025495-0. 20 years have passed since the last checklist of the world's venomous snakes appeared (K LEMMER1963). Since then, the best publication on the subject was a USNavy handbook (M I NTON,D OWLRUSSELL, ING& 1970)-yet it didnot give exact taxonomical information. Now HARDING & WELCHtook over thhemerito- rious and responsible task to compile the puzzle of recent regional publications into an up-to-date checklist. The reviewer thinksthat a particularlyhigh standard should be required of such a compiling work,due to the medical-toxicologicalimportance of the venomous snakes. "Standard works" like this one are commonlyused by medical practitioners, toxicologistsand antivenom producers as sole taxonomicalba- sis of their work (The book under discussion was already used as such by MEBS& KORNALIK,1982). However,a critical reading reveals strange things already in the foreword:The authors of this "simple and cooncise guide to present nomenclature and distribution" frankly admit that they did not even read their predecessor,KLEMMER'S checklist! The revieweris sorry to admit that this first negativeimpression was not disproved during the further reading of the work. The book consists of two parts. In part I the speciesand subspeciesof the Elapids, Hydrophiids,Vipe- rids and Crotalids, as well as the potentially dangerous Colubrids, are listed. The bibliographicaldata of the original descrription, the typelocality andthe distribution are indicatedfor eachsnake. Synonyms are not given; thus decreasingthe value considerably.Part II contains species lists of everysingle land in the world- a very valuable work,had it been carried out carefully.Checking the data onthe venomoussnakes of Africanorth of the equator and of the Near and Middle East, the taxonomy and distribution of which the reviewer believes to know to a sufficient degree - the followingshortcomings were noted': 1. The taxoonomicstate ofknowledge is-at least concerningthe non-anglophoneliterature- of the year 1969.More recently described species and subspecies are lacking,such as 6'chis carinatus astolae MER- TENS,1970, E.'leucogaster ROMAN, 1972, Viperaursinii anatolica EISELT BARAN,1970, Bilis parviocula B6HME,1977. Few long-knowntaxa were also overlooked,e. g. Vipera ursinii ebneriK NOEPFFLER& SOCHU- REK,1955. 2. Apart from the poorly revised primary literature, it seems that a number of important regional check- lists were also omitted. The most important are: ARNOLD& GALLAGHER1977(Oman), CORKILL 1932 CORKILL&COCHRANE 1965 and CASPERETTI1973 (Arabian Peninsula), MERTENS1969 (Paklst8n), PAPENFUSS1969 (Niger,Mali, Upper Volta),PERRET 1961 (Cameroun), Roux-EsTEVE1965 (Central Afri- can Republic). 3. As a consequence, the regional lists of H. & W. lack many species mentioned in the literature: Turkey: Viperaammodytes transcaucasiana; Iran: N. naja oxiana, Viperaraddei, Agkistrodonintermedius caucasicus (only mentioned in part 1); Afghanistan: Agkistrodonspp.; Pakistan: N. naja oxiana, as well as no less than six species of sea-snakes; Oman: C. cerastes,Atractaspis microlepidotaandersoni, Naja haje arabica, Bitis arietans, Echis colorarus, Pseudocerastespersicus; United Arab Emirates: C. cerastesgasperettii, though the type locality of this subspecies is Abu Dhabi! This wide-rangingdesert snake is equally left out of the lists of Yemenand South Yemen, but it is cited from Lebanon, where it certainly does not occur (see below); Saudi-Arabia:Atractaspis microlepidotaandersonii; Iraq :all sea snakes; Sudan: C. cerastes; Central AfricanRepublic: Boulengerina annulata, Atractaspisirregulari.s, A. reticulata,Causus lichtensteini, Atheris squamiger,Bitis nasicornis; Cameroun: Naja nigricollis,Bitis gabonica; Upper Volta:Naja (mossambica)katiensis, Atractaspis dahomeyensis, A. microlepidota,Echis spp. ( though the type locality of Echis orellatus is in Upper Volta'); Ghana: Naja haje; Senegal: Dendroaspispolylepis; etc. 1 Only facts known from the literature till 1978are incorporated in this review. 314 The opisthoglyphcolubrids Thelotornis kirtlandi andDispholidus typus areparticularly neglected: They were "forgotten" in many African countries. 4. Only insufficient knowledge of the systematics and ecology of many species, resp. of the political boundaries of several countries could have led the authors to the following wrong reports: - from Israel C. erastesgasperettii (correct:C. c. cerastes),as well as Viperalebetina obtusa died out in Is- rael decades ago, according to MENDELSSOHN1963, who is cited by H. & W.), and V.bornmuelleri known from Mt. Hermon; this mountain has been occupied by Israel, yet it is lying on Syrian territory); - from Jordan V.bornmuelleri (which they do not record from Syria). - from Egypt H. & W. cite Naja nigricollisas well as N. mossambica pallida.Apparently they are unaware of the fact that both names refer to one and the same species of spitting cobras (B ROADLEY,1968) - The Echis carinatus-complex,which has an enormous medical importance, isdeaalt with very reckless- ly.While E.ocellatus is mentioned in part I as West African subspeciesofE. carinatus, it appearsin partII oonly in about half of thelists of the countries concerned, whereas for the other half theNorth African E. carinatus pyramidumis cited. For Upper Volta,however, no Echis is listedat all, though ROMAN(1973) who showedthat bothE. leucogasterand E.ocellatus occur inthat country, iscited in the bibliography.E. carina- tus is pretended to occur inTurkey. This is totally unjustifiedand, of course,not supported by the authors MERTENSand STEWARD,whom H. & W. quote as a referencefor theirTurkey list.E. c. pyramidumis wrong- ly indicated for Iran and Afghanistan (correct; E..c. sochureki)etc. - Two little countries experience a miraculous increase in their herpetofaunas through H. & W.: Leba- non and Kuwait.The former, which is situated entirely in the mediterranean climaticzone, receivesa long species list including desert snakes such as C. cerastes,C. vipera,Echis coloratus,Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi, Walterinnesiaaegyptis, and Atractaspis engaddensis.For the latter, Echis carinatus pyramidumand Pseudocerastes p.persicus arelisted among others. None of these records has any justification.As the only reference, H. &W. give in both cases the saaid USNavy handbook. Looking intothis, one findson p. 106a table of venomoussnake distribution, inwhich I sraeland Lebanon, as wellas Iraqand Kuwait,are combi- ned within a single column, respectively.However, inthe column "Israel& Lebanon", DOWELING, MINION & R USSELLunmistakably indicate that the distribution of the above-mentionedspecies isrestricted to the south of the region (i. e. Israel). Ignoringthis, H. & W. give the same species list for each Israel and Leba- non, separately. Uncritical and negligent assumptions of this kind may be responsible for many unjustified data in the book. The US Navyhandbook is quoted as the mainreference for many Africancountries. Thus countries for which snake lists have never been published, e. g. Benin, suddenly have a list ofa dozen species ofve- nomous snakes. Less records would have been much better than questionable ones. The apprehension seems justified that gross negligencesof the above-mentioned kinds are not only confined to the sample test checked in this review,but could be found throughout the book. It is realized with disappointment that the value of the book becomes very questionble by the fact that, in practice,no information can be adopted froom it without verificationin the original literature.Part II, in particular,is useless in its present form, as it contains a puzzle of provedand unproved or wrong information, whereas on the other hand important records are left out. Part I does not go substantially beyond KLEMMER'S checklist. A chance was given away. Literature cited ARNOLD,E. N., GALLAGHER,M. D. (1977):Reptiles and Amphibians from the mountain of northern Oman, with special reference to the Jebel Akhdar region. J. Oman Stud., Spec. Rep. 1: 59-80. BROADLEY,D. G. ( 1968):A reviewof the Africancobras of the genus Naja (Serpentes: Eelapidae).Arnol- dia (Salisbury) 29 (3): 1-15. CORKILL,N. L. (1932):The snakes of Iraq. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 35: 550-572. CORKILL, N.I., COCHRANE,J.A. (1965): The snakes of the ArabianPeninsula and Sokotra.J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 62 (3): 475-506. GASPERETTI,J. ( 1973):A preliminary sketch of the snakes of the Arabian Peninsula. J. Saudi Arab. Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 1-72. KLEMMER,K. (1963):Liste der rezenten G iftschlangen.Behringwerk-Mitt., Sonderband "Die Giftschlan- gen der Erde": 255-464. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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).
    [Show full text]
  • Experience of Snakebite Envenomation by a Desert Viper in Qatar
    Hindawi Journal of Toxicology Volume 2020, Article ID 8810741, 5 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8810741 Review Article Experience of Snakebite Envenomation by a Desert Viper in Qatar Amr Elmoheen ,1 Waleed Awad Salem ,1 Mahmoud Haddad ,1 Khalid Bashir ,1 and Stephen H. Thomas1,2,3 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar 2Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar 3Barts and "e London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK Correspondence should be addressed to Amr Elmoheen; [email protected] Received 8 June 2020; Revised 8 September 2020; Accepted 28 September 2020; Published 12 October 2020 Academic Editor: Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim Copyright © 2020 Amr Elmoheen et al. &is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Crotaline and elapid snakebites are reported all over the world as well as in the Middle East and other countries around this region. However, data regarding snakebites and their treatment in Qatar are limited. &is review paper is going to investigate the presentation and treatment of snakebite in Qatar. A good assessment helps to decide on the management of the snakebites envenomation. Antivenom and conservative management are the mainstays of treatment for crotaline snakebite. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been suggested to do early diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue problems, such as edema and compartment syndrome, after a snakebite. &e supporting data are not sufficient regarding the efficiency of POCUS in diagnosing the extent and severity of tissue involvement and its ultimate effect on the outcome.
    [Show full text]
  • (Cerastes) VENOM
    Received: June 20, 2005 J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis. Accepted: October 27, 2005 V.12, n.3, p.400-417, 2006. Abstract published online: December 14, 2005 Original paper. Full paper published online: August 31, 2006 ISSN 1678-9199. PHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RAT PAW EDEMA INDUCED BY Cerastes gasperettii (cerastes) VENOM AL-ASMARI A. K. (1), ABDO N. M. (1) (1) Research Center, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ABSTRACT: Inflammatory response induced by the venom of the Arabian sand viper Cerastes gasperettii was studied by measuring rat hind-paw edema. Cerastes gasperettii venom (CgV, 3.75-240 µg/paw), heated for 30s at 97°C, caused a marked dose and time-dependent edema in rat paw. Response was maximal 2h after venom administration and ceased within 24h. Heated CgV was routinely used in our experiments at the dose of 120 µg/paw. Among all the drugs and antivenoms tested, cyproheptadine and 5-nitroindazole were the most effective in inhibiting edema formation. Aprotinin, mepyramine, dexamethasone, diclofenac, dipyridamole, Nω- nitro-L-arginine, quinacrine, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid showed statistically (p<0.001) significant inhibitory effect, but with variations in their inhibition degree. Equine polyspecific and rabbit monospecific antivenoms significantly (p<0.001) reduced edema when locally administered (subplantar) but were ineffective when intravenously injected. We can conclude that the principal inflammatory mediators were serotonin, histamine, adenosine transport factors, phosphodiesterase (PDE), cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), in addition to other prostaglandins and cytokines. KEY WORDS: inflammatory mediators, Cerastes gasperettii venom, edema, antagonist, antivenom. CORRESPONDENCE TO: ABDULRAHMAN KHAZIM AL-ASMARI. P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the United States National Museum
    A REVIEW OF THE SPARID^ AND RELATED FAMILIES OF PERCH-LIKE FISHES FOUND IN THE WATERS OF JAPAN. By David Starr Jordan and William Francis Thompson, Of Stanford University, California. In the present paper is given a review of the species of fishes belonging to those percomorphoiis famihes alUed to the Sparoid fishes, or fishes related to the tai or porgy of the waters of Japan, which have not been hitherto discussed in these pages by the senior author and his associates. The families of Kuldiidse, Priacanthidse, Theraponidse, Banjosidae, Hsemulidae, Sparidse, Kyphosidse, and Ery- thrichthyidse are thus included. The paper is based on material collected in Japan in 1900 by Pro- fessors Jordan and Snyder and now divided between the United States National Museum and the museum of Stanford University. Most of the cuts are from drawings by Mr. Sekko Shimada. The families here named are adopted provisionally only. The dis- tinctions between Sparidse, Haemulidse, Lutianidae, and their relatives are of doubtful value, while at present no definite boundaries can be assigned to the Serranidse. L Family KUHLIID.^. Body oblong, strongly compressed; scales large, cihated. Lateral line complete, the tubes straight and occupying the half or more of the exposed surface of the scale. Mouth rather large, protractile; maxillary exposed, without supplemental bone; teeth in jaws in villi- form bands; teeth on vomer, palatines, entopterygoids, and ecto- pterygoids; tongue smooth; head partly naked; preorbital and pre- opercle denticulate; opercle with 2 spines. Gill membranes separate; 6 branchiostegals; pseudobranchise large; gill-rakers long and slender. Dorsal fms connected at the base, with X, 9 to 13 rays, the spinous portion longer than the soft.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Subgenus: Naja, Afronaja, Boulengerina and Uraeus)
    Toxins 2019, 11, 116; doi: 10.3390/toxins11020116 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins S1 of S2 Supplementary Materials: Distribution of Secretory Phospholipases A2 in the Venoms of Afro-Asian Cobras (Subgenus: Naja, Afronaja, Boulengerina and Uraeus) Choo Hock Tan, Kin Ying Wong, Nget Hong Tan, Tzu Shan Ng and Kae Yi Tan Figure 1. Time-dependent pH changes in acidimetric assay for the venoms of four subgenera of cobra. (A) Naja, (B) Afronaja, (C) Boulengerina, and (D) Uraeus. Hydrolysis of phospholipids by phospholipase A2 released fatty acids that reduced the suspension pH time-dependently. Toxins 2019, 11, 116; doi: 10.3390/toxins11020116 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins S2 of S2 Figure S2. Time-dependent absorbance changes in colorimetric assay for the venoms of four subgenera of cobra. (A) Naja, (B) Afronaja, (C) Boulengerina, and (D) Uraeus. Changes in absorbance were due to the hydrolysis of the synthetic chromogenic substrate (NOBA), corresponding to the enzymatic activity of phospholipases A2 in the venoms. Toxins 2019, 11, 116; doi: 10.3390/toxins11020116 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins S3 of S2 Table S1. Relative abundances of snake venom phospholipase A2 of 12 cobra species (Genus: Naja). Relative Subgenus Cobra Source Abundance of Method of Protein Identification References of Naja Species PLA2 (%) Bottom up proteomic: RP-HPLC, in-gel digestion, MALDI TOF/TOF and nano-ESI-LCMS/MS Naja naja Latoxan (Pakistan) 14.24 [1] Abundance calculation: gel densitometry x peak area under curve of chromatographic fraction Bottom up proteomic: RP-HPLC, in-gel
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mediterranean Basin
    Chapter 9 Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mediterranean Basin Kerim Çiçek and Oğzukan Cumhuriyet Kerim Çiçek and Oğzukan Cumhuriyet Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70357 Abstract The Mediterranean basin is one of the most geologically, biologically, and culturally complex region and the only case of a large sea surrounded by three continents. The chapter is focused on a diversity of Mediterranean amphibians and reptiles, discussing major threats to the species and its conservation status. There are 117 amphibians, of which 80 (68%) are endemic and 398 reptiles, of which 216 (54%) are endemic distributed throughout the Basin. While the species diversity increases in the north and west for amphibians, the reptile diversity increases from north to south and from west to east direction. Amphibians are almost twice as threatened (29%) as reptiles (14%). Habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive/alien species, unsustainable use, and persecution are major threats to the species. The important conservation actions should be directed to sustainable management measures and legal protection of endangered species and their habitats, all for the future of Mediterranean biodiversity. Keywords: amphibians, conservation, Mediterranean basin, reptiles, threatened species 1. Introduction The Mediterranean basin is one of the most geologically, biologically, and culturally complex region and the only case of a large sea surrounded by Europe, Asia and Africa. The Basin was shaped by the collision of the northward-moving African-Arabian continental plate with the Eurasian continental plate which occurred on a wide range of scales and time in the course of the past 250 mya [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Substrate Thermal Properties Influence Ventral Brightness Evolution In
    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01524-w OPEN Substrate thermal properties influence ventral brightness evolution in ectotherms ✉ Jonathan Goldenberg 1 , Liliana D’Alba 1, Karen Bisschop 2,3, Bram Vanthournout1 & Matthew D. Shawkey 1 1234567890():,; The thermal environment can affect the evolution of morpho-behavioral adaptations of ectotherms. Heat is transferred from substrates to organisms by conduction and reflected radiation. Because brightness influences the degree of heat absorption, substrates could affect the evolution of integumentary optical properties. Here, we show that vipers (Squa- mata:Viperidae) inhabiting hot, highly radiative and superficially conductive substrates have evolved bright ventra for efficient heat transfer. We analyzed the brightness of 4161 publicly available images from 126 species, and we found that substrate type, alongside latitude and body mass, strongly influences ventral brightness. Substrate type also significantly affects dorsal brightness, but this is associated with different selective forces: activity-pattern and altitude. Ancestral estimation analysis suggests that the ancestral ventral condition was likely moderately bright and, following divergence events, some species convergently increased their brightness. Vipers diversified during the Miocene and the enhancement of ventral brightness may have facilitated the exploitation of arid grounds. We provide evidence that integument brightness can impact the behavioral ecology of ectotherms. 1 Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures group, Department
    [Show full text]
  • BOULENGERINA ANNULATA STORMSI (Storm’S Water We Thank Toby Veall, Tabatha Bruce, Don Broadley, and Harry Cobra)
    condition of the cobra, indicated by opaque eyes, may have made it less alert and more vulnerable to aerial predation. Though the damage inflicted in this case was clearly sufficient to kill the cobra, there was no evidence of feeding on the corpse. The specimen was preserved in ethanol and left with Kalambo Lodge, Zambia. BOULENGERINA ANNULATA STORMSI (Storm’s Water We thank Toby Veall, Tabatha Bruce, Don Broadley, and Harry Cobra). ATTEMPTED PREDATION. Boulengerina annulata is Greene for assistance and thank YAP Films and Animal Planet for a stout-bodied piscivorous cobra found in and near the waters of funding “O’Shea’s Big Adventure Series 4: Water Cobra.” the Congo Basin (Spawls et al. 2002. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, London, England. 543 pp.). Submitted by MARK O’SHEA, School of Applied Sciences, Boulengerina a. stormsi is restricted to Lake Tanganyika. University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, On the morning of 17 June 2003, we found a recently-killed England (e-mail: [email protected]); and PETER adult female B. a. stormsi (1175 mm SVL; 1440 mm TL) floating B. MCINTYRE, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853- a few meters from the Kasaba Lodge jetty (08°35'N, 30°30'E), Kasaba Bay, Lake Tanganyika, Zambia. There were a total of 16 2701, USA (e-mail: [email protected]) punctures clustered in four main areas of trauma, two of which completely severed the spine. The first trauma area was 37–64 mm posterior of the snout, and featured a 9 mm entry wound at the rear of the head.
    [Show full text]
  • The Terrestrial Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians of the Uae – Species List and Status Report
    THE TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE UAE – SPECIES LIST AND STATUS REPORT January 2005 TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH & WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY P.O. Box 45553 Abu Dhabi DOCUMENT ISSUE SHEET Project Number: 03-31-0001 Project Title: Abu Dhabi Baseline Survey Name Signature Date Drew, C.R. Al Dhaheri, S.S. Prepared by: Barcelo, I. Tourenq, C. Submitted by: Drew, C.R. Approved by: Newby, J. Authorized for Issue by: Issue Status: Final Recommended Circulation: Internal and external File Reference Number: 03-31-0001/WSM/TP007 Drew, C.R.// Al Dhaheri, S.S.// Barcelo, I.// Tourenq, C.//Al Team Members Hemeri, A.A. DOCUMENT REVISION SHEET Revision No. Date Affected Date of By pages Change V2.1 30/11/03 All 29/11/03 CRD020 V2.2 18/9/04 6 18/9/04 CRD020 V2.3 24/10/04 4 & 5 24/10/04 CRD020 V2.4 24/11/04 4, 7, 14 27/11/04 CRD020 V2.5 08/01/05 1,4,11,15,16 08/01/05 CJT207 Table of Contents Table of Contents ________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Part 1 The Mammals of The UAE____________________________________________________________________ 4 1. Carnivores (Order Carnivora) ______________________________________________________________ 5 a. Cats (Family Felidae)___________________________________________________________________ 5 b. Dogs (Family Canidae) __________________________________________________________________ 5 c. Hyaenas (Family Hyaenidae) _____________________________________________________________ 5 d. Weasels (Family Mustelidae) _____________________________________________________________
    [Show full text]