DOCSLIB.ORG

Systematics of the African River Frog Genus Amietia (Anura

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Systematics of the African River Frog Genus Amietia (Anura University of Texas at El Paso DigitalCommons@UTEP Open Access Theses & Dissertations 2015-01-01 Systematics Of The African River Frog Genus Amietia (anura: Pyxicephalidae) From Eastern Democratic Republic Of The onC go Thornton Robert Larson University of Texas at El Paso, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Developmental Biology Commons, and the Evolution Commons Recommended Citation Larson, Thornton Robert, "Systematics Of The African River Frog Genus Amietia (anura: Pyxicephalidae) From Eastern Democratic Republic Of The onC go" (2015). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 1085. https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd/1085 This is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UTEP. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UTEP. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SYSTEMATICS OF THE AFRICAN RIVER FROG GENUS AMIETIA (ANURA: PYXICEPHALIDAE) FROM EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO THORNTON LARSON Department of Biological Sciences APPROVED: Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D., Chair Jerry D. Johnson, Ph.D. Shizue Mito, Ph.D. Charles Amber, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate School Copyright © by Thornton R. Larson 2015 SYSTEMATICS OF THE AFRICAN RIVER FROG GENUS AMIETIA (ANURA: PYXICEPHALIDAE) FROM EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO by THORNTON R. LARSON, B.S. THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at El Paso in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Biological Sciences THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO May 2015 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like thank my family for their support through the whole graduate process and encouraging me to have a fascination with nature and the outdoors. Thanks especially to my parents, for putting up with the many frogs and muddy clothes, allowing me to pursue my interest in reptiles and amphibians. I am grateful to my Uncle Mark for exposing me to many of my first experiences with reptiles and amphibians. I thank my siblings for the adventures in various degrees of suburban wilderness that brought more than one scrape and bruise. Great appreciation is due to my grandparents for the immense support provided through the years of work. I would like to thank my graduate committee, Dr. Eli Greenbaum, Dr. Jerry Johnson and Dr. Shizue Mito. Special thanks to my thesis advisor Dr. Eli Greenbaum for allowing me into his lab at the last minute, and his excellent guidance which produced a fantastic project. I also thank other faculty members including, Dr. Craig Tweedie and Dr. Carl Lieb for their helpful opinions and advice on future directions. I thank Jens V. Vindum (California Academy of Sciences) and Alan Resetar (Field Museum of Natural History) for access to specimens. I thank former undergraduate student Delilah Castro for her initial work on Amietia, which provided the basic foundation for the project. DNA samples were sequenced by Ana Betancourt at the UTEP Border Biomedical Research Center Genomic Analysis Core Facility for services and facilities provided, supported by grants from the National Center for Q4 Research Resources (5G12RR008124-12) and the National Institute Q5 on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8G12MD007592-12) from the National Institutes of Health. I am also thankful to lab members, both past and present, for all of their patience and support. Thanks to Frank Portillo and Chris Anderson for helping me get started in the research process. Thanks to Fernie Medina, Nancy Conkey, Danny Hughes, Adan Lara, Samantha Stewart and Waleeja Rashid for all the added help and support that comes with working together in a lab. iv ABSTRACT The African river frog genus Amietia is found near rivers and other lentic water sources throughout central, eastern and southern Africa. Because the genus includes multiple morphologically conservative species, taxonomic studies of river frogs have been limited. We sampled 49 individuals of Amietia from multiple localities in and near the Albertine Rift (AR) of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. We utilized single-gene (16S) and concatenated (12S, 16S, cytochrome b and RAG1) gene-tree analyses and coalescent species-tree analyses to construct phylogenetic trees. Two divergence dating approaches were used in BEAST, including secondary calibration points with 12S, 16S and RAG1 and a molecular clock with the 12S, 16S and cyt b gene. All analyses recovered Amietia as monophyletic with strong support, and revealed several well-supported cryptic lineages, which is consistent with other recent phylogeography studies of AR amphibians. Dating estimates were similar, and Amietia diversification is consistent with global cooling and aridification events in the Miocene and Pliocene, respectively. Our results suggest additional taxonomic work is needed to describe multiple new species of AR Amietia, which have limited geographic distributions that are likely to be of conservation concern. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Natural history ............................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Taxonomy and systematics......................................................................................... 4 1.4 Study site .................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Research objectives .................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS ....................................................................... 9 2.1 Specimen acquisition and taxon sampling ................................................................. 9 2.2 Laboratory protocols ................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Sequencing alignment and phylogenetic analysis .................................................... 10 2.4 Species trees and species delimitation ..................................................................... 11 2.5 Divergence dating .................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS ........................................................................................................ 15 3.1 Gene-tree analyses.................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Species tree and species delimitation ....................................................................... 20 3.3 Divergence dating .................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 26 4.1 Biogeography of Albertine Rift Amietia .................................................................. 26 4.2 Species limits and taxonomy .................................................................................... 28 vi 4.3 Conservation concerns ............................................................................................. 31 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................................................... 33 APPENDIX I ........................................................................................................................... 49 VITA ....................................................................................................................................... 53 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1.1. Primers used for sequencing mitochondrial and nuclear genes .......................... 9 Table 3.3.1. Calibrated time estimates for most relevant splits within Ranoidea from BEAST analyses. Calibration points are provided in the methods. ..................................................... 22 Table 3.3.2. Molecular-clock estimates for most relevant splits within Ranoidea from BEAST analyses. Molecular clock rates are provided in the methods. ............................................... 23 viii LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1.4.1 Elevation map for the Albertine Rift showing sampling localities for Amietia in this study. Colored shapes correspond to localities of clades within the phylogenies of Figs. 3.1.1.–3.1.2. ...................................................................................................................... 7 Fig. 3.1.1 Maximum-likelihood phylogeny with
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Strongylopus Hymenopus (Boulenger, 1920) (Anura: Pyxicephalidae)
    A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF AMIETIA VERTEBRALIS (HEWITT, 1927) AND STRONGYLOPUS HYMENOPUS (BOULENGER, 1920) (ANURA: PYXICEPHALIDAE) Jeanne Berkeljon A dissertation submitted in partial fuIJilment of the requirementsfor the degree of Master of Environmental Science North- West University (Potchefitroom campus) Supervisor: Prof Louis du Preez (North-West University) Co-supervisor: Dr Michael Cunningham (University of the Free State) November 2007 Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the fieedom of the mountaineer... Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares drop ofSlike autumn leaves. John Muir (1838 - 1914) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VIII 1.1 Background 1 1.2 A review of the literature 3 1.2.2 Taxonomic history of the Aquatic River Frog, Amietia vertebralis 3 1.2.3 Taxonomic history of the Berg Stream Frog, 7 Strongylopus hymenopus 7 1.3 Research aims and objectives 9 2.1 Study area 2.1.1 Lesotho and the Drakensberg Mountains 2.2 Species Description 2.2.1 Description of the Aquatic River Frog, Amietia vertebralis 2.2.2 Description of the Berg Stream Frog, Strongylopus hymenopus 2.3 Species Distribution 2.3.1 Distribution of Amietia vertebralis 2.3.2 Distribution of Strongylopus hymenopus 2.4 Conservation status 2.5 General Methods 2.5.1 Fieldwork 2.5.2 Morphometrics 2.5.3 Molecular analysis CHAPTER3 : MORPHOMETRICASSESSMENT OF AMETIA VERTEBRALIS AND STRONGYLOPUSHYMENOPUS 33 3.1 Abstract
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibians in Zootaxa: 20 Years Documenting the Global Diversity of Frogs, Salamanders, and Caecilians
    Zootaxa 4979 (1): 057–069 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Review ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2021 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4979.1.9 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:972DCE44-4345-42E8-A3BC-9B8FD7F61E88 Amphibians in Zootaxa: 20 years documenting the global diversity of frogs, salamanders, and caecilians MAURICIO RIVERA-CORREA1*+, DIEGO BALDO2*+, FLORENCIA VERA CANDIOTI3, VICTOR GOYANNES DILL ORRICO4, DAVID C. BLACKBURN5, SANTIAGO CASTROVIEJO-FISHER6, KIN ONN CHAN7, PRISCILLA GAMBALE8, DAVID J. GOWER9, EVAN S.H. QUAH10, JODI J. L. ROWLEY11, EVAN TWOMEY12 & MIGUEL VENCES13 1Grupo Herpetológico de Antioquia - GHA and Semillero de Investigación en Biodiversidad - BIO, Universidad de Antioquia, Antioquia, Colombia [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5033-5480 2Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2382-0872 3Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - Fundación Miguel Lillo, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina [email protected]; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-9951 4Laboratório de Herpetologia Tropical, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Rodovia Jorge Amado Km 16 45662-900 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4560-4006 5Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 1659 Museum Road, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1810-9886 6Laboratório de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Patterns of Ranavirus Detections
    NOTE Global patterns of ranavirus detections Jesse L. Brunnera*, Deanna H. Olsonb, Matthew J. Grayc, Debra L. Millerd, and Amanda L.J. Duffuse aSchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA; bUSDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR 97331-8550, USA; cDepartment of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996-4563, USA; dCollege of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996-4563, USA; eDepartment of Natural Sciences, Gordon State College, Barnesville, GA 30204, USA *[email protected] Abstract Ranaviruses are emerging pathogens of poikilothermic vertebrates. In 2015 the Global Ranavirus Reporting System (GRRS) was established as a centralized, open access, online database for reports of the presence (and absence) of ranavirus around the globe. The GRRS has multiple data layers (e.g., location, date, host(s) species, and methods of detection) of use to those studying the epidemiol- ogy, ecology, and evolution of this group of viruses. Here we summarize the temporal, spatial, diag- nostic, and host-taxonomic patterns of ranavirus reports in the GRRS. The number, distribution, and host diversity of ranavirus reports have increased dramatically since the mid 1990s, presumably in response to increased interest in ranaviruses and the conservation of their hosts, and also the availability of molecular diagnostics. Yet there are clear geographic and taxonomic biases among the OPEN ACCESS reports. We encourage ranavirus researchers to add their studies to the portal because such collation can provide collaborative opportunities and unique insights to our developing knowledge of this For personal use only.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Character Assessment, Genus Level Boundaries, and Phylogenetic Analyses of the Family Rhacophoridae: a Review and Present Day Status
    Contemporary Herpetology ISSN 1094-2246 2000 Number 2 7 April 2000 CHARACTER ASSESSMENT, GENUS LEVEL BOUNDARIES, AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES OF THE FAMILY RHACOPHORIDAE: A REVIEW AND PRESENT DAY STATUS Jeffery A. Wilkinson ([email protected]) and Robert C. Drewes ([email protected]) Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California 94118 Abstract. The first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the family Rhacophoridae was conducted by Liem (1970) scoring 81 species for 36 morphological characters. Channing (1989), in a reanalysis of Liem’s study, produced a phylogenetic hypothesis different from that of Liem. We compared the two studies and produced a third phylogenetic hypothesis based on the same characters. We also present the synapomorphic characters from Liem that define the major clades and each genus within the family. Finally, we summarize intergeneric relationships within the family as hypothesized by other studies, and the family’s current status as it relates to other ranoid families. The family Rhacophoridae is comprised of over 200 species of Asian and African tree frogs that have been categorized into 10 genera and two subfamilies (Buergerinae and Rhacophorinae; Duellman, 1993). Buergerinae is a monotypic category that accommodates the relatively small genus Buergeria. The remaining genera, Aglyptodactylus, Boophis, Chirixalus, Chiromantis, Nyctixalus, Philautus, Polyp edates, Rhacophorus, and Theloderma, comprise Rhacophorinae (Channing, 1989). The family is part of the neobatrachian clade Ranoidea, which also includes the families Ranidae, Hyperoliidae, Dendrobatidae, Arthroleptidae, the genus Hemisus, and possibly the family Microhylidae. The Ranoidea clade is distinguished from other neobatrachians by the synapomorphic characters of completely fused epicoracoid cartilages, the medial end of the coracoid being wider than the lateral end, and the insertion of the semitendinosus tendon being dorsal to the m.
    [Show full text]
  • Bioseries12-Amphibians-Taita-English
    0c m 12 Symbol key 3456 habitat pond puddle river stream 78 underground day / night day 9101112131415161718 night altitude high low vegetation types shamba forest plantation prelim pages ENGLISH.indd ii 2009/10/22 02:03:47 PM SANBI Biodiversity Series Amphibians of the Taita Hills by G.J. Measey, P.K. Malonza and V. Muchai 2009 prelim pages ENGLISH.indd Sec1:i 2009/10/27 07:51:49 AM SANBI Biodiversity Series The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) was established on 1 September 2004 through the signing into force of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) No. 10 of 2004 by President Thabo Mbeki. The Act expands the mandate of the former National Botanical Institute to include responsibilities relating to the full diversity of South Africa’s fauna and ora, and builds on the internationally respected programmes in conservation, research, education and visitor services developed by the National Botanical Institute and its predecessors over the past century. The vision of SANBI: Biodiversity richness for all South Africans. SANBI’s mission is to champion the exploration, conservation, sustainable use, appreciation and enjoyment of South Africa’s exceptionally rich biodiversity for all people. SANBI Biodiversity Series publishes occasional reports on projects, technologies, workshops, symposia and other activities initiated by or executed in partnership with SANBI. Technical editor: Gerrit Germishuizen Design & layout: Elizma Fouché Cover design: Elizma Fouché How to cite this publication MEASEY, G.J., MALONZA, P.K. & MUCHAI, V. 2009. Amphibians of the Taita Hills / Am bia wa milima ya Taita. SANBI Biodiversity Series 12. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
    [Show full text]
  • Aspects of the Ecology and Conservation of Frogs in Urban Habitats of South Africa
    Frogs about town: Aspects of the ecology and conservation of frogs in urban habitats of South Africa DJD Kruger 20428405 Thesis submitted for the degree Philosophiae Doctor in Zoology at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Supervisor: Prof LH du Preez Co-supervisor: Prof C Weldon September 2014 i In loving memory of my grandmother, Kitty Lombaard (1934/07/09 – 2012/05/18), who has made an invaluable difference in all aspects of my life. ii Acknowledgements A project with a time scale and magnitude this large leaves one indebted by numerous people that contributed to the end result of this study. I would like to thank the following people for their invaluable contributions over the past three years, in no particular order: To my supervisor, Prof. Louis du Preez I am indebted, not only for the help, guidance and support he has provided throughout this study, but also for his mentorship and example he set in all aspects of life. I also appreciate the help of my co-supervisor, Prof. Ché Weldon, for the numerous contributions, constructive comments and hours spent on proofreading. I owe thanks to all contributors for proofreading and language editing and thereby correcting my “boerseun” English grammar but also providing me with professional guidance. Prof. Louis du Preez, Prof. Ché Weldon, Dr. Andrew Hamer, Dr. Kirsten Parris, Prof. John Malone and Dr. Jeanne Tarrant are all dearly thanked for invaluable comments on earlier drafts of parts/the entirety of this thesis. For statistical contributions I am especially also grateful to Dr. Andrew Hamer for help with Bayesian analysis and to the North-West Statistical Services consultant, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for Northern Mozambique Inselbergs
    African Journal of Herpetology ISSN: 2156-4574 (Print) 2153-3660 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ther20 New species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique inselbergs Werner Conradie, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, Harith M. Farooq, Simon P. Loader, Michele Menegon & Krystal A. Tolley To cite this article: Werner Conradie, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva, Harith M. Farooq, Simon P. Loader, Michele Menegon & Krystal A. Tolley (2018): New species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique inselbergs, African Journal of Herpetology, DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714 View supplementary material Published online: 22 Feb 2018. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ther20 AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714 New species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique inselbergs Werner Conradie a,b, Gabriela B. Bittencourt-Silva c, Harith M. Farooq d,e,f, Simon P. Loader g, Michele Menegon h and Krystal A. Tolley i,j aPort Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), Marine Drive, Humewood 6013, South Africa; bSchool of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George 6530, South Africa; cDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel
    [Show full text]
  • Partial Report of Activities Carried out in the Masako Forest Reserve
    PARTIAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN THE MASAKO FOREST RESERVE PROJECT ID: 27590-1 By Franck Masudi Muenye Mali May 2019 The project is funded by the Rufford Foundation “Amphibian diversity and environmental education for local people and capacity building for decision makers for the survival of Masako Forest Reserve in the DRC” PROJECT ID: 27590-1 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 3 2. FIELD METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Investigation ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.2. Amphibian inventory .................................................................................................................... 4 3. PRELIMINARY RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 5 3.1. Views and proposals collected from the local community on the destruction of the Masako forest reserve ...................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.1. Summary of responses to questions submitted to the local community ....................... 5 3.1.2. Immediate consequences observed following the destruction of the Masako reserve . 5 3.2. List of direct consequences
    [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]
  • Using Spatially Explicit Call Data of Anhydrophryne Ngongoniensis to Guide Conservation Actions
    Using spatially explicit call data of Anhydrophryne ngongoniensis to guide conservation actions M Trenor orcid.org/0000-0002-0682-2262 Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters degree in Zoology at the North-West University Supervisor: Prof C Weldon Co-supervisor: Dr J Tarrant Graduation May 2018 25747339 Abstract It’s been barely 25 years since the Mistbelt Chirping Frog (Anhydrophryne ngongoniensis) was discovered. This secretive amphibian occurs only in the so-called mistbelt grasslands and montane forest patches of south-central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is restricted to an area of occupancy of just 12 square kilometers. This species’ habitat is severely fragmented due to afforestation and agriculture and only two of the remaining populations are formally protected. The species occurs mostly on fragmented grassland patches on forestry land, and any conservation strategies should include the management practices for the landowners. Updated density estimates and insight into habitat utilization are needed to proceed with conservation strategy for the species. Like many other frogs, this species is cryptic in its behaviour, making mark-recapture surveys prohibitively challenging. Audio transects have been used previously, but are dependent on surveyor’s’ experience, hindering standardization. Using automated recorders, in a spatially explicit array with GPS synchronization, one can confidently estimate the density of calling males and reveal the estimated locations of calling males, thus providing insight into their occupancy. We surveyed nine historic sites and detected the species at five of the sites in either isolated grassland patches or indigenous Afromontane forest. We successfully employed the spatially explicit catch recapture (SECR) method at three of the sites using Wildlife Acoustics™ Song Meters with extended microphones in an array.
    [Show full text]
  • The Head of Xenopus Laevls. by Nellie F
    The Head of Xenopus laevls. By Nellie F. Paterson, D.Se., Ph.D., Department of Zoology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. With Plates 9 to 16. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 161 LATERAL LINE SENSORY ORGANS 163 MUSCULATURE 165 BLOOD-VESSELS ......... 172 THE CHONDROCRANIUM ........ 175 1. Metamorphosis ........ 183 2. Olfactory Eegion 188 3. Nasal Cavities 191 4. Auditory Eegion ........ 193 THE HYOBRANCHIAL SKELETON ....... 196 THE CRANIAL NERVES 198 Ganglion Pro-oticum ........ 199 Nervus Trigeminus ........ 200 1. Ramus Mandibularis 200 2. Ramus Ophthalmicus Profundus 203 NERVUS FACIALIS 209 1. Truncus Supra-orbitalis 210 2. Ramus Hyomandibularis . • - .211 3. Ramus Palatinus ........ 214 NERVI GLOSSOFHARYNGEtTS AND VAGUS . - .216 1. Nervus Glossopharyngeus . • • • .217 2. Nervus Vagus 220 SUMMARY OF COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF NERVES . 226 SUMMARY 227 REFERENCES 228 INTRODUCTION. THE Aglossa, comprising only the genera Xenopus, Pipa, Propipa, Hymenochirus, and Pseudohymeno- chirus, are characterized among other things by the absence of a tongue and by a pectoral girdle that exhibits considerable deviation from that of typical Anura Phaneroglossa. NO. 322 M 162 NELLIE F. PATBESON The Aglossa are usually classified as the lowest of the A n u r a, but as Gadow in his account of the Amphibia in the ' Cambridge Natural History' (1909) indicates, their characteristic features are not necessarily primitive ones. A tongue is lacking in the majority of truly aquatic forms, and in the Aglossa the shoulder girdle and other parts of the body are doubtless specialized in response to their particular habits. It is therefore not surprising to find that the Aglossa present some striking morphological similarities with the aquatic Urodela on the one hand, and with certain genera of the Phaneroglossa on the other, but it is very doubtful if these resemblances are of any conse- quence.
    [Show full text]