Reptiles and Amphibians of the Verde Valley
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Semen Collection and Evaluation in Micrurus Corallinus
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 15(3):620–625. Submitted: 22 May 2020; Accepted: 12 November 2020; Published: 16 December 2020. SEMEN COLLECTION AND EVALUATION IN MICRURUS CORALLINUS RAFAELA ZANI COETI1,2,4, KALENA BARROS DA SILVA3, GIUSEPPE PUORTO3, SILVIA REGINA TAVAGLIA-CARDOSO3, AND SELMA MARIA DE ALMEIDA-SANTOS1,2 1Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto Butantan, 1500 Avenida Vital Brasil, São Paulo 05503–900, Brazil 2Programa de Pós Graduação em Anatomia dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres, Universidade de São Paulo, 87 Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo 05508–270, Brazil 3Museu Biológico, Instituto Butantan, 1500 Avenida Vital Brasil, São Paulo 05503–900, Brazil 4Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—The Painted Coral Snake Micrurus corallinus is one of the Brazilian species kept in captivity to obtain venom for antivenom production. Difficulties in establishing a sizeable breeding colony make it necessary to find alternatives that increase the reproductive efficiency of captive individuals. Here, we tested a semen collection protocol and characterize the seminal parameters of captive M. corallinus. We collected semen during the mating season of the species (spring-summer) and were successful at every first attempt. Spermatozoa of M. corallinus are elongated and filiform, and the midpiece is the longest part. Sperm motility and progressive motility reached values of 80% and 3.6%, respectively, during the reproductive period of this species. Our results will allow further studies to improve husbandry, reproductive rates, and conservation of captive M. corallinus. Key Words.—reproduction; reproductive biotechniques; reptiles; sperm parameters INTRODUCTION and capture rates of individual M. corallinus in the wild (Roze 1996) are worrisome and also make it difficult to Reproductive biotechniques have been useful in establish a breeding colony with a substantial number implementing conservation projects for endangered of animals. -
Extreme Miniaturization of a New Amniote Vertebrate and Insights Into the Evolution of Genital Size in Chameleons
www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Extreme miniaturization of a new amniote vertebrate and insights into the evolution of genital size in chameleons Frank Glaw1*, Jörn Köhler2, Oliver Hawlitschek3, Fanomezana M. Ratsoavina4, Andolalao Rakotoarison4, Mark D. Scherz5 & Miguel Vences6 Evolutionary reduction of adult body size (miniaturization) has profound consequences for organismal biology and is an important subject of evolutionary research. Based on two individuals we describe a new, extremely miniaturized chameleon, which may be the world’s smallest reptile species. The male holotype of Brookesia nana sp. nov. has a snout–vent length of 13.5 mm (total length 21.6 mm) and has large, apparently fully developed hemipenes, making it apparently the smallest mature male amniote ever recorded. The female paratype measures 19.2 mm snout–vent length (total length 28.9 mm) and a micro-CT scan revealed developing eggs in the body cavity, likewise indicating sexual maturity. The new chameleon is only known from a degraded montane rainforest in northern Madagascar and might be threatened by extinction. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place it as sister to B. karchei, the largest species in the clade of miniaturized Brookesia species, for which we resurrect Evoluticauda Angel, 1942 as subgenus name. The genetic divergence of B. nana sp. nov. is rather strong (9.9‒14.9% to all other Evoluticauda species in the 16S rRNA gene). A comparative study of genital length in Malagasy chameleons revealed a tendency for the smallest chameleons to have the relatively largest hemipenes, which might be a consequence of a reversed sexual size dimorphism with males substantially smaller than females in the smallest species. -
Other Contributions
Other Contributions NATURE NOTES Amphibia: Caudata Ambystoma ordinarium. Predation by a Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis). The Michoacán Stream Salamander (Ambystoma ordinarium) is a facultatively paedomorphic ambystomatid species. Paedomorphic adults and larvae are found in montane streams, while metamorphic adults are terrestrial, remaining near natal streams (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). Streams inhabited by this species are immersed in pine, pine-oak, and fir for- ests in the central part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Luna-Vega et al., 2007). All known localities where A. ordinarium has been recorded are situated between the vicinity of Lake Patzcuaro in the north-central portion of the state of Michoacan and Tianguistenco in the western part of the state of México (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). This species is considered Endangered by the IUCN (IUCN, 2015), is protected by the government of Mexico, under the category Pr (special protection) (AmphibiaWeb; accessed 1April 2016), and Wilson et al. (2013) scored it at the upper end of the medium vulnerability level. Data available on the life history and biology of A. ordinarium is restricted to the species description (Taylor, 1940), distribution (Shaffer, 1984; Anderson and Worthington, 1971), diet composition (Alvarado-Díaz et al., 2002), phylogeny (Weisrock et al., 2006) and the effect of habitat quality on diet diversity (Ruiz-Martínez et al., 2014). We did not find predation records on this species in the literature, and in this note we present information on a predation attack on an adult neotenic A. ordinarium by a Thamnophis cyrtopsis. On 13 July 2010 at 1300 h, while conducting an ecological study of A. -
Y Coralillos Falsos (Serpentes: Colubridae) De Veracruz, México
Acta Zoológica ActaMexicana Zool. (n.s.)Mex. 22(3):(n.s.) 22(3)11-22 (2006) CORALILLOS VERDADEROS (SERPENTES: ELAPIDAE) Y CORALILLOS FALSOS (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE) DE VERACRUZ, MÉXICO Miguel A. DE LA TORRE-LORANCA1,3,4, Gustavo AGUIRRE-LEÓN1 y Marco A. LÓPEZ-LUNA2,4 1Instituto de Ecología, A. C., Departamento de Biodiversidad y Ecología Animal, Km. 2.5 Carr. Antigua a Coatepec No. 351, Cong. El Haya, C. P. 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, MÉXICO. [email protected] 2Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Km. 0.5 Carretera Villahermosa-Cárdenas entronque a Bosques de Saloya, Villahermosa, Tabasco MÉXICO. [email protected] 3Dirección actual: Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Zongolica. Km 4 Carretera a la Compañia s/n, Tepetitlanapa, CP 95005 Zongolica, Veracruz, MÉXICO [email protected] 4Centro de Investigaciones Herpetológicas de Veracruz A. C. RESUMEN En el Estado de Veracruz se distribuyen cinco especies de coralillos verdaderos del género Micrurus y 14 especies de coralillos falsos de diferentes géneros de colúbridos, lo que hace más probables los encuentros con coralillos falsos. Sin embargo, la identificación por patrones de color entre coralillos verdaderos y falsos no es confiable, a causa de la variación del color inter e intraespecífica y a las semejanzas de coloración entre varias especies de estas dos familias de serpientes. Palabras clave: Colubridae, Elapidae, Micrurus, mimetismo, patrón de coloración, Veracruz ABSTRACT Five species of coral snakes genus Micrurus, and 14 species of mimic false coral snakes of different colubrid genera ocurr in Veracruz, making encounters with false coral snakes more likely. However, positive identification by color pattern between coral snakes and their mimics is not reliable because of inter and intraspecific color variation and similarities in coloration between several species of these two snake families. -
Pituophis Catenifer
COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer Pacific Northwestern Gophersnake – P.c. catenifer Great Basin Gophersnake – P.C. deserticola Bullsnake – P.C. sayi in Canada EXTIRPATED - Pacific Northwestern Gophersnake – P.c. catenifer THREATENED - Great Basin Gophersnake – P.c. deserticola DATA DEFICIENT - Bullsnake – P.c. sayi 2002 COSEWIC COSEPAC COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF COMITÉ SUR LA SITUATION DES ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN ESPÈCES EN PÉRIL CANADA AU CANADA COSEWIC status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of wildlife species suspected of being at risk. This report may be cited as follows: Please note: Persons wishing to cite data in the report should refer to the report (and cite the author(s)); persons wishing to cite the COSEWIC status will refer to the assessment (and cite COSEWIC). A production note will be provided if additional information on the status report history is required. COSEWIC 2002. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 33 pp. Waye, H., and C. Shewchuk. 2002. COSEWIC status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada in COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Gophersnake Pituophis catenifer in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 1-33 pp. For additional copies contact: COSEWIC Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: (819) 997-4991 / (819) 953-3215 Fax: (819) 994-3684 E-mail: COSEWIC/[email protected] http://www.cosewic.gc.ca Ếgalement disponible en français sous le titre Évaluation et Rapport du COSEPAC sur la situation de la couleuvre à nez mince (Pituophis catenifer) au Canada Cover illustration: Gophersnake — Illustration by Sarah Ingwersen, Aurora, Ontario. -
Bull Snake Class: Reptilia
Pituophis catenifer sayi Bull Snake Class: Reptilia. Order: Squamata. Family: Colubridae. Other names: Gopher Snake, Pine Snake Physical Description: Bull snakes are usually yellow in color, with brown, black or reddish colored blotching or saddle spots on the sides of the snake. There are dark spots placed between the blotches or saddle spots. Below this is a further row of smaller dark spots. The belly is light brown. Many variations in color have been found, including albinos and white variations. This snake has a small head and a large nose shield, which it uses to dig. They often exceed 6 feet in length, with specimens of up to 100 inches being recorded. Males are generally larger then females. The bull snake is a member of the family of harmless snakes, or Colubridae. This is the largest order of snakes, representing two-thirds of all known snake species. Members of this family are found on all continents except Antarctica, widespread from the Arctic Circle to the southern tips of South America and Africa. All but a handful of species are harmless snakes, not having venom or the ability to deliver toxic saliva through fangs. Most harmless snakes subdue their prey through constriction, striking and seizing small rodents, birds or amphibians and quickly wrapping their body around the prey causing suffocation. While other small species such as the common garter snake lack powers to constrict and feed on only small prey it can overpower. Diet in the Wild: Bull snakes eat small mammals, such as mice, rats, large bugs as well as ground nesting birds, lizards and the young of other snakes. -
A Review of the Cnemidophorus Lemniscatus Group in Central America (Squamata: Teiidae), with Comments on Other Species in the Group
TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited. Zootaxa 3722 (3): 301–316 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3722.3.1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E9BA052-EEA9-4262-8DDA-E1145B9FA996 A review of the Cnemidophorus lemniscatus group in Central America (Squamata: Teiidae), with comments on other species in the group JAMES R. MCCRANIE1,3 & S. BLAIR HEDGES2 110770 SW 164th Street, Miami, Florida 33157-2933, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-5301, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract We provide the results of a morphological and molecular study on the Honduran Bay Island and mainland populations of the Cnemidophorus lemniscatus complex for which we resurrect C. ruatanus comb. nov. as a full species. Morphological comparison of the Honduran populations to Cnemidophorus populations from Panama led to the conclusion that the Pan- amanian population represents an undescribed species named herein. In light of these new results, and considering past morphological studies of several South American populations of the C. lemniscatus group, we suggest that three other nominal forms of the group are best treated as valid species: C. espeuti (described as a full species, but subsequently treat- ed as a synonym of C. lemniscatus or a subspecies of C. -
Reptile and Amphibian List RUSS 2009 UPDATE
National CHistoricalhaco Culture Park National ParkNational Service Historical Park Chaco Culture U.S. DepartmentNational of Park the Interior Service U.S. Department of the Interior Reptiles and Amphibians MEXICAN SPADEFOOT TOAD (SPEA MULTIPLICATA) Best seen on summer nights after rains, the Mexican spadefoot toad is one of two spadefoot toads located in the canyon. Look for rock art in the park representing this amphibian. EASTERN COLLARED LIZARD (CROTAPHYTUS COLLARIS) These brightly colored (turquoise, yellow, and black) lizards are a favorite of many park visitors. Highly visible and very common in the park, watch for these creatures near Pueblo Alto and nearly all of the sites. EASTERN FENCE OR SAGEBRUSH LIZARD (SCELOPORUS GRACIOSUS) Found in all of the habitats in Chaco, the fence lizard is the most abundant lizard in the canyon. You can see them climbing on rocks, at the Chacoan buildings and around the Visitor Center. TIGER SALAMANDER (ABYSTOMA TIGRINUM) The tiger salamander occurs throughout the park environs, but is not commonly seen. Their larvae have been seen in pools of water in the Chaco Wash. WESTERN RATTLESNAKE (CROTALUS VIRIDIS) Chaco does host a population of rattlesnakes! PLATEAU STRIPED WHIPTAIL (CNEMIDOPHORUS VALOR) Don’t be too alarmed, the snakes tend to be rather Also very visible in the park, the whiptail can be shy. Watch for them in the summer months par- seen on many trails in the frontcountry and ticularly along trails and sunning themselves on backcountry. paved roads. Avoid hitting them! EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Amphibian and Reptile List Chaco Culture National Historical Park is home to a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles. -
Reflectance of Sexually Dichromatic Uvblue Patches Varies During The
bs_bs_banner Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 556–569. With 3 figures Reflectance of sexually dichromatic UV-blue patches varies during the breeding season and between two subspecies of Gallotia galloti (Squamata: Lacertidae) MARTHA L. BOHÓRQUEZ-ALONSO and MIGUEL MOLINA-BORJA* Grupo de investigación ‘Etología y Ecología del Comportamiento’, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain Received 17 February 2014; revised 28 April 2014; accepted for publication 29 April 2014 Body coloration is sexually dimorphic in many vertebrate species, including lizards, in which males are often more conspicuous than females. A detailed analysis of the relative size of coloured patches and their reflectance, including the ultraviolet (UV) range, has rarely been performed. In the present work we quantified sexual dimorphism in body traits and surface area of all lateral patches from adult females and males of two subspecies of Gallotia galloti (G. g. galloti and G. g. eisentrauti). We also analysed the magnitude of sexual dichromatism in the UV-visible reflectance of such patches and the changes in patch size and brightness during the reproductive season (April–July). Males had significantly larger patch areas (relative to their snout-vent length) and higher brightness (mainly in the UV-blue range) than did females in both subspecies. The comparison of relative patch areas among months did not reach statistical significance. However, patch brightness significantly changed during the breeding season: that of the UV-blue (300–495 nm) range from lizards of the two subspecies was significantly larger in June than in April, while brightness in the 495–700 nm range in G. -
Draft Coronado Revised Plan
Coronado National United States Forest Department of Agriculture Forest Draft Land and Service Resource Management August 2011 Plan The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper – Month and Year Draft Land and Resource Management Plan Coronado National Forest Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Hidalgo County, New Mexico Responsible Official: Regional Forester Southwestern Region 333 Broadway Boulevard SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 842-3292 For more information contact: Forest Planner Coronado National Forest 300 West Congress, FB 42 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 388-8300 TTY 711 [email protected] ii Draft Land and Management Resource Plan Coronado National Forest Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Purpose of Land and Resource Management Plan ......................................... 1 Overview of the Coronado National Forest ..................................................... -
Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Chiricahua National Monument
In Cooperation with the University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Chiricahua National Monument Open-File Report 2008-1023 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Park Service This page left intentionally blank. In cooperation with the University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Chiricahua National Monument By Brian F. Powell, Cecilia A. Schmidt, William L. Halvorson, and Pamela Anning Open-File Report 2008-1023 U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center Sonoran Desert Research Station University of Arizona U.S. Department of the Interior School of Natural Resources U.S. Geological Survey 125 Biological Sciences East National Park Service Tucson, Arizona 85721 U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web:http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested Citation Powell, B.F., Schmidt, C.A., Halvorson, W.L., and Anning, Pamela, 2008, Vascular plant and vertebrate inventory of Chiricahua National Monument: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1023, 104 p. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1023/]. Cover photo: Chiricahua National Monument. Photograph by National Park Service. Note: This report supersedes Schmidt et al. (2005). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. -
Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science.