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Epicrates Maurus (Rainbow Boa Or Velvet Mapepire)
UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour Epicrates maurus (Rainbow Boa or Velvet Mapepire) Family: Boidae (Boas and Pythons) Order: Squamata (Lizards and Snakes) Class: Reptilia (Reptiles) Fig. 1. Rainbow boa, Epicrates maurus. [http://squamates.blogspot.com/2010/10/declines-in-snake-and-lizard.html, Downloaded 10 November, 2011] . TRAITS. The rainbow boa, also known as the velvet mapepire, is a snake that grows to a maximum length of 4 feet in males and 4.5 to 5 feet in females. The life span of this species of snake is an average of 20 years if held in captivity and 10 years in the wild. Their name, rainbow boa, originated from their appearance because of an iridescent shine emanating from microscopic ridges on their scales that refract light to produce all the colours of the rainbow. These boas are generally brownish red in colour associated with dark marking during their juvenile life, however this coloration becomes subdued as they get older (Underwood 2009). These snakes are mainly nocturnal and also terrestrial, they have a small head with a narrow neck and a thick body (Boos 2001). Boas are considered primitive snakes and this is supported by the presence of two vestigal, hind limbs which appers as spurs on either side of the cloaca (Conrad 2009). ECOLOGY. Rainbow boas occupy a variety of habitats in Trinidad and Tobago, they can be found in dry tropical forest, rainforest clearings or even close to human settlements such as agricultural communities. Like all boas, they are excellent swimmers, however they restrain from being in contact with water as much as possible. -
Integrative and Comparative Biology Integrative and Comparative Biology, Pp
Integrative and Comparative Biology Integrative and Comparative Biology, pp. 1–17 doi:10.1093/icb/icz006 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology SYMPOSIUM 2019 April 28 on user Cities Twin - Minnesota of by University https://academic.oup.com/icb/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/icb/icz006/5381544 from Downloaded Evolution of the Gekkotan Adhesive System: Does Digit Anatomy Point to One or More Origins? Anthony P. Russell1,* and Tony Gamble†,‡,§ *Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4; †Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA; ‡Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55113, USA; §Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA From the symposium “The path less traveled: Reciprocal illumination of gecko adhesion by unifying material science, biomechanics, ecology, and evolution” presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3–7, 2019 at Tampa, Florida. 1E-mail: [email protected] Synopsis Recently-developed, molecularly-based phylogenies of geckos have provided the basis for reassessing the number of times adhesive toe-pads have arisen within the Gekkota. At present both a single origin and multiple origin hypotheses prevail, each of which has consequences that relate to explanations about digit form and evolutionary transitions underlying the enormous variation in adhesive toe pad structure among extant, limbed geckos (pygopods lack pertinent features). These competing hypotheses result from mapping the distribution of toe pads onto a phylo- genetic framework employing the simple binary expedient of whether such toe pads are present or absent. -
Assessment of Cophylogenetic Patterns Between the Nematode Genus Parapharyngodon Spp
Assessment of cophylogenetic patterns between the nematode genus Parapharyngodon spp. and their reptile hosts in the Canary Islands Amanda Melissa Vieira de Sousa MSc in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto 2015 Orientador Dr. David James Harris, Researcher, CIBIO Coorientador Dr. Ana Perera Leg, Researcher, CIBIO Todas as correções determinadas pelo júri, e só essas, foram efetuadas. O Presidente do Júri, Porto, ______/______/_________ FCUP 1 Assessment of cophylogenetic patterns between the nematode genus Parapharyngodon spp. and their reptile hosts in the Canary Islands Acknowledgments First I would like to thank my supervisor James Harris for giving me the opportunity to accomplish this amazing goal in life. For all the knowledge that you passed on to me, for being always there to help, guide me and clear all my doubts, and for allowing me to go on field work to one of the most marvellous places on Earth. Thank you James for giving the amazing opportunity of being my supervisor. I would like to thank Ana Perera, my co-supervisor, for all the knowledge and help that you gave me. For always being ready to sacrifice your own time to help me and for always pushing me forward. Ana, I could never thank you enough everything you did for me during this last year. Thank you for being one of the most incredible persons that I had the joy to meet. To Fátima Jorge, because without you I wouldn’t have accomplished ANY of this. Thank you for all the hours, the emails, the help and the knowledge you gave me. -
DIET and ASPECTS of FAIRY PRIONS BREEDING at SOUTH GEORGIA by P.A
DIET AND ASPECTS OF FAIRY PRIONS BREEDING AT SOUTH GEORGIA By P.A. PRINCE AND P.G. COPESTAKE ABSTRACT A subantarctic population of the Fairy Prion (Pachyprzla turtur) was studied at South Georgia in 1982-83. Full measurements of breeding birds are given, together with details of breeding habitat, the timing of the main breeding cycle events, and chick growth (weight and wing, culmen and tarsus length). Regurgitated food samples showed the diet to be mainly Crustacea (96% by weight), fish and squid comprising the rest. Of crustaceans, Antarctic krill made up 38% of items and 80% by weight. Copepods (four species, mostly Rhincalanus gigas) made up 39% of items but only 4% by weight; amphipods [three species, principally Themisto gaudichaudii made up 22% of items and 16% by weight. Diet and frequency of chick feeding are compared with those of Antarctic Prions and Blue Petrels at the same site; Fairy Prions are essentially intermediate. INTRODUCTION The Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) is one of six members of a genus confined to the temperate and subantarctic regions of the Southern Hemisphere. With the Fulmar Prion (P. crassirostris), it forms the subgenus Pseudoprion. Its main area of breeding distribution is between the Antarctic Polar Front and the Subtropical Convergence. It is widespread in the New Zealand region, from the north of the North Island south to the Antipodes Islands and Macquarie Island, where only about 40 pairs survive (Brothers 1984). Although widespread in the Indian Ocean at the Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, in the South Atlantic Ocean it is known to breed only on Beauchene Island (Falkland Islands) (Strange 1968, Smith & Prince 1985) and South Georgia (Prince & Croxall 1983). -
Exploring the Host Specificity and Diversity of Haemogregarines in the Canary Islands Beatriz Tomé1,2*, Ana Pereira1,2, Fátima Jorge3, Miguel A
Tomé et al. Parasites & Vectors (2018) 11:190 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2760-5 RESEARCH Open Access Along for the ride or missing it altogether: exploring the host specificity and diversity of haemogregarines in the Canary Islands Beatriz Tomé1,2*, Ana Pereira1,2, Fátima Jorge3, Miguel A. Carretero1, D. James Harris1 and Ana Perera1 Abstract Background: Host-parasite relationships are expected to be strongly shaped by host specificity, a crucial factor in parasite adaptability and diversification. Because whole host communities have to be considered to assess host specificity, oceanic islands are ideal study systems given their simplified biotic assemblages. Previous studies on insular parasites suggest host range broadening during colonization. Here, we investigate the association between one parasite group (haemogregarines) and multiple sympatric hosts (of three lizard genera: Gallotia, Chalcides and Tarentola) in the Canary Islands. Given haemogregarine characteristics and insular conditions, we hypothesized low host specificity and/or occurrence of host-switching events. Methods: A total of 825 samples were collected from the three host taxa inhabiting the seven main islands of the Canarian Archipelago, including locations where the different lizards occurred in sympatry. Blood slides were screened to assess prevalence and parasitaemia, while parasite genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were inferred from 18S rRNA gene sequences. Results: Infection levels and diversity of haplotypes varied geographically and across host groups. Infections were found in all species of Gallotia across the seven islands, in Tarentola from Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma, and in Chalcides from Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro. Gallotia lizards presented the highest parasite prevalence, parasitaemia and diversity (seven haplotypes), while the other two host groups (Chalcides and Tarentola) harbored one haplotype each, with low prevalence and parasitaemia levels, and very restricted geographical ranges. -
The Taxonomy of the Procellariiformes Has Been Proposed from Various Approaches
山 階 鳥 研 報(J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol.),22:114-23,1990 Genetic Divergence and Relationships in Fifteen Species of Procellariiformes Nagahisa Kuroda*, Ryozo Kakizawa* and Masayoshi Watada** Abstract The genetic analysis of 23 protein loci in 15 species of Procellariiformes was made The genetic distancesbetween the specieswas calculatedand a dendrogram was formulated of the group. The separation of Hydrobatidae from all other taxa including Diomedeidae agrees with other precedent works. The resultsof the present study support the basic Procellariidclassification system. However, two points stillneed further study. The firstpoint is that Fulmarus diverged earlier from the Procellariidsthan did the Diomedeidae. The second point is the position of Puffinuspacificus which appears more closely related to the Pterodroma petrels than to other Puffinus species. These points are discussed. Introduction The taxonomy of the Procellariiformes has been proposed from various approaches. The earliest study by Forbes (1882) was made by appendicular myology. Godman (1906) and Loomis (1918) studied this group from a morphological point of view. The taxonomy of the Procellariiformes by functional osteology and appendicular myology was studied by Kuroda (1954, 1983) and Klemm (1969), The results of the various studies agreed in proposing four families of Procellariiformes: Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Hydrobatidae, and Pelecanoididae. They also pointed out that the Procellariidae was a heterogenous group among them. Timmermann (1958) found the parallel evolution of mallophaga and their hosts in Procellariiformes. Recently, electrophoretical studies have been made on the Procellariiformes. Harper (1978) found different patterns of the electromorph among the families. Bar- rowclough et al. (1981) studied genetic differentiation among 12 species of Procellari- iformes at 16 loci, and discussed the genetic distances among the taxa but with no consideration of their phylogenetic relationships. -
Two New Species of the Genus Bavayia (Reptilia: Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from New Caledonia, Southwest Pacific!
Pacific Science (1998), vol. 52, no. 4: 342-355 © 1998 by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved Two New Species of the Genus Bavayia (Reptilia: Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from New Caledonia, Southwest Pacific! AARON M. BAUER, 2 ANTHONY H. WHITAKER,3 AND Ross A. SADLIER4 ABSTRACT: Two new species ofthe diplodactylid gecko Bavayia are described from restricted areas within the main island ofNew Caledonia. Both species are characterized by small size, a single row of preanal pores, and distinctive dorsal color patterns. One species is known only from the endangered sclerophyll forest of the drier west coast of New Caledonia, where it was collected in the largest remaining patch of such habitat on the Pindai" Peninsula. The second species occupies the maquis and adjacent midelevation humid forest habitats in the vicinity of Me Adeo in south-central New Caledonia. Although relation ships within the genus Bavayia remain unknown, the two new species appear to be closely related to one another. BAVAYIA IS ONE OF THREE genera of carpho tion of the main island. The two most wide dactyline geckos that are endemic to the New spread species, B. cyclura and B. sauvagii, are Caledonian region. Seven species are cur both probably composites of several mor rently recognized in the genus (Bauer 1990). phologically similar, cryptic sibling species. Three of these, B. crassicollis Roux, B. cy Recent field investigations on the New Cale clura (Giinther), and B. sauvagii (Boulenger), donian mainland have revealed the presence are relatively widely distributed, with popula of two additional species of Bavayia. Both tions on the Isle of Pines (Bauer and Sadlier are small, distinctively patterned, and appar 1994) and the Loyalty Islands (Sadlier and ently restricted in distribution. -
Epicrates Inornatus)Ina Hurricane Impacted Forest1
BIOTROPICA 36(4): 555±571 2004 Spatial Ecology of Puerto Rican Boas (Epicrates inornatus)ina Hurricane Impacted Forest1 Joseph M. Wunderle Jr. 2, Javier E. Mercado International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721, U.S.A. Bernard Parresol Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 200 Weaver Blvd., P.O. Box 2680, Asheville, North Carolina 28802, U.S.A. and Esteban Terranova International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Spatial ecology of Puerto Rican boas (Epicrates inornatus, Boidae) was studied with radiotelemetry in a subtropical wet forest recovering from a major hurricane (7±9 yr previous) when Hurricane Georges struck. Different boas were studied during three periods relative to Hurricane Georges: before only; before and after; and after only. Mean daily movement per month increased throughout the three periods, indicating that the boas moved more after the storm than before. Radio-tagged boas also became more visible to observers after the hurricane. Throughout the three periods, the sexes differed in movements, with males moving greater distances per move and moving more frequently than females. Males showed a bimodal peak of movement during April and June in contrast to the females' July peak. Sexes did not differ in annual home range size, which had a median value of 8.5 ha (range 5 2.0±105.5 ha, N 5 18) for 95 percent adaptive kernal. Females spent more time on or below ground than did males, which were mostly arboreal. -
A New Locality for Correlophus Ciliatus and Rhacodactylus Leachianus (Sauria: Diplodactylidae) from Néhoué River, Northern New Caledonia
Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 553-555 (2015) (published online on 06 December 2015) A new locality for Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus leachianus (Sauria: Diplodactylidae) from Néhoué River, northern New Caledonia Mickaël Sanchez1, Jean-Jérôme Cassan2 and Thomas Duval3,* Giant geckos from New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean) We observed seven native gecko species: Bavayia are charismatic nocturnal lizards. This paraphyletic (aff.) cyclura (n=1), Bavayia (aff.) exsuccida (n=1), group is represented by three genera, Rhacodactylus, Correlophus ciliatus (n=1), Dierrogekko nehoueensis Correlophus and Mniarogekko, all endemic to Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier and Whitaker, 2006 (n=1), New Caledonia (Bauer et al., 2012). Rhacodactylus Eurydactylodes agricolae Henkel and Böhme, 2001 leachianus (Cuvier, 1829) is largely distributed on the (n=1), Mniarogekko jalu Bauer, Whitaker, Sadlier and Grande Terre including the Île des Pins and its satellite Jackman, 2012 (n=1) and Rhacodactylus leachianus islands, whereas Correlophus ciliatus Guichenot, 1866 (n=1). Also, the alien Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril is mostly known in the southern part of the Grande and Bibron, 1836 (n=3) has been sighted. The occurrence Terre, the Île des Pins and its satellite islands (Bauer of C. ciliatus and R. leachianus (Fig. 2 and 3) represent et al., 2012). Here, we report a new locality for both new records for this site. Both gecko species were species in the north-western part of Grande Terre, along observed close to the ground, at a height of less than the Néhoué River (Fig. 1). 1.5 m. The Néhoué River is characterized by gallery forests It is the first time that R. leachianus is recorded in the growing on deep alluvial soils. -
Report on Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia
Report on Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia Submitted in accordance with Foreign Assistance Act Sections 118/119 February 20, 2004 Prepared for USAID/Indonesia Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 3-5 Jakarta 10110 Indonesia Prepared by Steve Rhee, M.E.Sc. Darrell Kitchener, Ph.D. Tim Brown, Ph.D. Reed Merrill, M.Sc. Russ Dilts, Ph.D. Stacey Tighe, Ph.D. Table of Contents Table of Contents............................................................................................................................. i List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures............................................................................................................................... vii Acronyms....................................................................................................................................... ix Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... xvii 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................1- 1 2. Legislative and Institutional Structure Affecting Biological Resources...............................2 - 1 2.1 Government of Indonesia................................................................................................2 - 2 2.1.1 Legislative Basis for Protection and Management of Biodiversity and -
The Rise and Fall of Bulwer's Petrel
A paper from the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee The rise and fall of Bulwer’s Petrel Andrew H. J. Harrop ABSTRACT This short paper examines two recent reviews of records of Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii in Britain by BOURC. Four records were assessed, including three specimen records from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and a modern-day sighting from Cumbria. None was found acceptable, and the reasons are discussed here. ulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii was By the time The Handbook was published, seven named after Rev. James Bulwer, an records were listed for Britain, all in England Bamateur Norfolk collector, naturalist and (Witherby et al. 1940), and these were repeated conchologist, who first collected it in Madeira, in Bannerman’s The Birds of the British Isles probably in 1825 during a short expedition to (1959). Of these seven, four (all from Sussex, Deserta Grande (Mearns & Mearns 1988). It between 1904 and 1914) were subsequently was first described by Sir William Jardine and rejected as ‘Hastings Rarities’ (Nicholson & Fer- Prideaux John Selby, in Illustrations of guson-Lees 1962; see plate 380) and a fifth, said Ornithology in 1828 (Jardine & Selby 1828). The to have been picked up at Beachy Head, Sussex, species has had a turbulent history as a British by an unnamed person on 3rd February 1903, bird. This paper provides a brief summary of escaped this fate only because it occurred records in the British ornithological literature, outside the area used to define ‘Hastings’ presents the results of two BOURC reviews, and records (Bourne 1967). -
A Classification of the Rallidae
A CLASSIFICATION OF THE RALLIDAE STARRY L. OLSON HE family Rallidae, containing over 150 living or recently extinct species T and having one of the widest distributions of any family of terrestrial vertebrates, has, in proportion to its size and interest, received less study than perhaps any other major group of birds. The only two attempts at a classifi- cation of all of the recent rallid genera are those of Sharpe (1894) and Peters (1934). Although each of these lists has some merit, neither is satisfactory in reflecting relationships between the genera and both often separate closely related groups. In the past, no attempt has been made to identify the more primitive members of the Rallidae or to illuminate evolutionary trends in the family. Lists almost invariably begin with the genus Rdus which is actually one of the most specialized genera of the family and does not represent an ancestral or primitive stock. One of the difficulties of rallid taxonomy arises from the relative homo- geneity of the family, rails for the most part being rather generalized birds with few groups having morphological modifications that clearly define them. As a consequence, particularly well-marked genera have been elevated to subfamily rank on the basis of characters that in more diverse families would not be considered as significant. Another weakness of former classifications of the family arose from what Mayr (194933) referred to as the “instability of the morphology of rails.” This “instability of morphology,” while seeming to belie what I have just said about homogeneity, refers only to the characteristics associated with flightlessness-a condition that appears with great regularity in island rails and which has evolved many times.