National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol. 7: Genetic Diversity National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 TECHNICAL REPORT Volume 7: Genetic Diversity REPORT NUMBER: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6376 National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol. 7: Genetic Diversity CITATION FOR THIS REPORT: Tolley, K.A., da Silva, J.M. & Jansen van Vuuren, B. 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 7: Genetic Diversity. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6376 PREPARED BY: Tolley, K.A., da Silva, J.M., Jansen van Vuuren, B., Bishop, J., Dalton, D., du Plessis, M., Labuschagne, K., Kotze, A., Masehela, T., Mwale, M., Selier. J., Šmíd, J., Suleman, E., Visser, J., & von der Heyden, S. REVIEWER: Sean Hoban CONTACT PERSON: Krystal A. Tolley: [email protected] The NBA 2018 was undertaken primarily during 2015 to early 2019 and therefore the names and acronyms of government departments in existence during that period are used throughout the NBA reports. Please refer to www.gov.za to see that changes in government departments that occurred in mid-2019. 2 National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol. 7: Genetic Diversity This report forms part of a set of reports, datasets and supplementary materials that make up the South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018. Please see the website [http://nba.sanbi.org.za/] for full accessibility to all materials. SYNTHESIS REPORT For reference in scientific publications Skowno, A.L., Poole, C.J., Raimondo, D.C., Sink, K.J., Van Deventer, H., Van Niekerk, L., Harris, L.R., Smith-Adao, L.B., Tolley, K.A., Zengeya, T.A., Foden, W.B., Midgley, G.F. & Driver, A. 2019. National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: The status of South Africa’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Institute, an entity of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6362 For reference in non-scientific publications South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). 2019. National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: The status of South Africa’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Institute, an entity of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria. TECHNICAL REPORTS 1: Terrestrial Skowno, A.L., Raimondo, D.C., Poole, C.J., Fizzotti, B., Slingsby, J.A. (eds). 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 1: Terrestrial Realm. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6370 2: Inland Aquatic (Freshwater) Van Deventer, H., Smith-Adao, L., Collins, N.B., Grenfell, M., Grundling, A., Grundling, P-L., Impson, D., Job, N., Lötter, M., Ollis, D., Petersen, C., Scherman, P., Sieben, E., Snaddon, K., Tererai, F. & Van der Colff, D. 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: Technical Report. Volume 2: Inland Aquatic (Freshwater) Realm. CSIR report number CSIR/NRE/ECOS/IR/2019/0004/A. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6230 3: Estuarine Van Niekerk, L., Adams, J.B., Lamberth, S.J., MacKay, F., Taljaard, S., Turpie, J.K., Weerts S. & Raimondo, D.C., 2019 (eds). South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: Technical Report. Volume 3: Estuarine Realm. CSIR report number CSIR/SPLA/EM/EXP/2019/0062/A. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Report Number: SANBI/NAT/NBA2018/2019/Vol3/A. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6373 4: Marine Sink, K.J., Van der Bank, M.G., Majiedt, P.A., Harris, L., Atkinson, L., Kirkman, S. & Karenyi, N. (eds). 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 4: Marine Realm. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. South Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6372 5: Coast Harris, L.R., Sink, K.J., Skowno, A.L. & Van Niekerk, L. (eds). 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: Technical Report. Volume 5: Coast. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6374 6: Sub-Antarctic Territory Whitehead, T.O., Von der Meden, C., Skowno, A.L., Sink, K.J., Van der Merwe, S., Adams, R. & Holness, S. (eds). 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 6: Sub-Antarctic Territory. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6375 7: Genetics Tolley, K.A., da Silva, J.M. & Jansen van Vuuren, B. 2019. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 7: Genetic Diversity. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12143/6376 3 National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol. 7: Genetic Diversity ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the members of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Molecular Laboratory who contributed ideas and feedback. Graham Alexander (University of the Witwatersrand) who provided invaluable ideas and advice regarding the phylogenetic diversity mapping, and Bianca Fizzotti and Josh Weeber (SANBI) who provided vital assistance with GIS and figures. Working space was provided by The Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg. Samples for the reptile phylogeny were generously contributed by Luke Verburgt (Enviro-Insight), John Measey (Stellenbosch University), Werner Conradie (Bayworld) and Gary Nicolau. Thanks also to Graham Alexander, Mike Bates (National Museum), Werner Conradie, Retha Hofmeyr and Bryan Maritz (University of the Western Cape) and Luke Verburgt for vetting the original geographic distribution data used in the species distribution models. A number of people contributed to the planning for this assessment, including Jaco le Roux (Stellenbosch University), Jonathan Colville (SANBI), Albert Chakona (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity) and Angus McDonald (University of KwaZulu-Natal). We are grateful to Andrew Blackmore, Brent Coverdale, Craig Mulqueeny and Ian Rushworth from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Johan Kruger from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, and Lizanne Nel South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association for contributions to section 2.3. Reviewer of the terrestrial technical report: Sean Hoban, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, USA 4 National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Vol. 7: Genetic Diversity Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................... 6 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................................. 6 List of Boxes .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Glossary of terms ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 11 1. South Africa’s Biodiversity and the National Biodiversity Assessment ......................................... 12 1.1. South Africa’s biodiversity profile ..................................................................................................... 12 1.2. The importance of biodiversity ......................................................................................................... 16 1.3. Purpose and structure of the NBA ................................................................................................... 17 1.4. Assessing genetic diversity for the National Biodiversity Assessment ............................................ 18 1.5. References....................................................................................................................................... 19 2. Risks and impacts to genetic diversity, pressure and benefits ....................................................... 20 2.1. Benefits of genetic diversity ............................................................................................................. 20 2.2. Extrinsic Benefits ............................................................................................................................. 22 2.3. Risks ................................................................................................................................................ 34 2.4. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 51 2.5. References....................................................................................................................................... 51 3. Monitoring trends in genetic diversity for priority taxa in South Africa .......................................... 63 3.1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • 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]
  • Supplemental Information Biological Conservation No Safe Haven: Protection Levels Show Imperilled South African Reptiles Not
    Supplemental Information Biological Conservation No safe haven: protection levels show imperilled South African reptiles not sufficiently safe- guarded despite low average extinction risk Krystal A. Tolley, Joshua Weeber, Bryan Maritz, Luke Verburgt, Michael F. Bates, Werner Conradie, Margaretha D. Hofmeyr, Andrew A. Turner, Jessica M. da Silva, Graham J. Alexander Supplemental Figures S1-S3 Figure S1. Species richness of threatened and Near Threatened reptiles in South Africa. 1 Figure S2. Reptile species richness in South Africa (darker shades indicate higher richness), with the current protected area network indicated by the black outlines. 2 Figure S3. Reptile species richness in South Africa (darker shades indicate higher richness), with the current protected area network indicated by the grey shaded polygons and the protected area expansion network indicated by black polygon outlines. 3 Appendix S1. Protocol for Measuring Protection Level for South African Reptiles The following process was applied to measure the level of protection for each species, using the interpreted distributions for the species (see main text). We evaluated the effectiveness of South Africa’s protected area network in ensuring that minimum viable populations of reptiles are protected. We set a conservation target for protection of at least 10 fragments of protected habitat, each with areas greater than 10 km2 (1000 ha) for a total of 100 km2 for each species. The fragment size was considered to be the minimum area that would support viable populations, with the total area considered to be the total area needed to safeguard the species survival into the future. The interpreted distributions for each species were then intersected with South Africa’s protected area network (Government of South Africa, 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • Towards Understanding the Phylogenetic History of Hydrozoa: Hypothesis Testing with 18S Gene Sequence Data*
    SCI. MAR., 64 (Supl. 1): 5-22 SCIENTIA MARINA 2000 TRENDS IN HYDROZOAN BIOLOGY - IV. C.E. MILLS, F. BOERO, A. MIGOTTO and J.M. GILI (eds.) Towards understanding the phylogenetic history of Hydrozoa: Hypothesis testing with 18S gene sequence data* A. G. COLLINS Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA SUMMARY: Although systematic treatments of Hydrozoa have been notoriously difficult, a great deal of useful informa- tion on morphologies and life histories has steadily accumulated. From the assimilation of this information, numerous hypotheses of the phylogenetic relationships of the major groups of Hydrozoa have been offered. Here I evaluate these hypotheses using the complete sequence of the 18S gene for 35 hydrozoan species. New 18S sequences for 31 hydrozoans, 6 scyphozoans, one cubozoan, and one anthozoan are reported. Parsimony analyses of two datasets that include the new 18S sequences are used to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of a list of phylogenetic hypotheses that deal with Hydro- zoa. Alternative measures of tree optimality, minimum evolution and maximum likelihood, are used to evaluate the relia- bility of the parsimony analyses. Hydrozoa appears to be composed of two clades, herein called Trachylina and Hydroidolina. Trachylina consists of Limnomedusae, Narcomedusae, and Trachymedusae. Narcomedusae is not likely to be the basal group of Trachylina, but is instead derived directly from within Trachymedusae. This implies the secondary gain of a polyp stage. Hydroidolina consists of Capitata, Filifera, Hydridae, Leptomedusae, and Siphonophora. “Anthomedusae” may not form a monophyletic grouping. However, the relationships among the hydroidolinan groups are difficult to resolve with the present set of data.
    [Show full text]
  • Dwarfs on the Move: Spatial Ecology of the World's Smallest Viper, Bitis Schneideri Author(S) :Bryan Maritz and Graham J
    Dwarfs on the Move: Spatial Ecology of the World's Smallest Viper, Bitis schneideri Author(s) :Bryan Maritz and Graham J. Alexander Source: Copeia, 2012(1):115-120. 2012. Published By: The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/CH-11-048 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1643/CH-11-048 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Copeia 2012, No. 1, 115–120 Dwarfs on the Move: Spatial Ecology of the World’s Smallest Viper, Bitis schneideri Bryan Maritz1 and Graham J. Alexander1 Namaqua Dwarf Adders (Bitis schneideri) are small viperids that inhabit sandy coastal habitats within the Succulent Karoo Biome in southern Africa. Their ecology, and the faunal ecology within the region in general, is poorly documented, hampering effective conservation planning for this biodiversity hotspot.
    [Show full text]
  • CORE Arrigoni Et Al Millepora.Docx Click Here To
    An integrated morpho-molecular approach to delineate species boundaries of Millepora from the Red Sea Item Type Article Authors Arrigoni, Roberto; Maggioni, Davide; Montano, Simone; Hoeksema, Bert W.; Seveso, Davide; Shlesinger, Tom; Terraneo, Tullia Isotta; Tietbohl, Matthew; Berumen, Michael L. Citation Arrigoni R, Maggioni D, Montano S, Hoeksema BW, Seveso D, et al. (2018) An integrated morpho-molecular approach to delineate species boundaries of Millepora from the Red Sea. Coral Reefs. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-01739-8. Eprint version Post-print DOI 10.1007/s00338-018-01739-8 Publisher Springer Nature Journal Coral Reefs Rights Archived with thanks to Coral Reefs Download date 05/10/2021 19:48:14 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10754/629424 Manuscript Click here to access/download;Manuscript;CORE Arrigoni et al Millepora.docx Click here to view linked References 1 2 3 4 1 An integrated morpho-molecular approach to delineate species boundaries of Millepora from the Red Sea 5 6 2 7 8 3 Roberto Arrigoni1, Davide Maggioni2,3, Simone Montano2,3, Bert W. Hoeksema4, Davide Seveso2,3, Tom Shlesinger5, 9 10 4 Tullia Isotta Terraneo1,6, Matthew D. Tietbohl1, Michael L. Berumen1 11 12 5 13 14 6 Corresponding author: Roberto Arrigoni, [email protected] 15 16 7 1Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah 17 18 8 University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia 19 20 9 2Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio (DISAT), Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza 21 22 10 della Scienza 1, Milano 20126, Italy 23 24 11 3Marine Research and High Education (MaRHE) Center, Faafu Magoodhoo 12030, Republic of the Maldives 25 26 12 4Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrestrial Biodiversity Compliance Report for The
    TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY COMPLIANCE REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED DE AAR 2 SOUTH WEF ON-SITE SUBSTATION, BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) AND ANCILLARY INFRASTRUCTURE, NEAR DE AAR IN THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE. For Mulilo De Aar 2 South (Pty) Ltd July 2020 Prepared By: Arcus Consultancy Services South Africa (Pty) Limited Office 607 Cube Workspace Icon Building Cnr Long Street and Hans Strijdom Avenue Cape Town 8001 T +27 (0) 21 412 1529 l E [email protected] W www.arcusconsulting.co.za Registered in South Africa No. 2015/416206/07 Terrestrial Biodiversity Compliance Report De Aar 2 South WEF Substation TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Scope of Study ................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Assumptions and Limitations ......................................................................... 4 2 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Desk-top Study ............................................................................................... 4 2.2 Site Visit ......................................................................................................... 5 3 RESULTS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................ 5 3.1 Vegetation
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
    [Show full text]
  • Os Répteis De Angola: História, Diversidade, Endemismo E Hotspots
    CAPÍTULO 13 OS RÉPTEIS DE ANGOLA: HISTÓRIA, DIVERSIDADE, ENDEMISMO E HOTSPOTS William R. Branch1,2, Pedro Vaz Pinto3,4, Ninda Baptista1,4,5 e Werner Conradie1,6,7 Resumo O estado actual do conhecimento sobre a diversidade dos répteis de Angola é aqui tratada no contexto da história da investigação herpe‑ tológica no país. A diversidade de répteis é comparada com a diversidade conhecida em regiões adjacentes de modo a permitir esclarecer questões taxonómicas e padrões biogeográficos. No final do século xix, mais de 67% dos répteis angolanos encontravam‑se descritos. Os estudos estag‑ naram durante o século seguinte, mas aumentaram na última década. Actualmente, são conhecidos pelo menos 278 répteis, mas foram feitas numerosas novas descobertas durante levantamentos recentes e muitas espécies novas aguardam descrição. Embora a diversidade dos lagartos e das cobras seja praticamente idêntica, a maioria das novas descobertas verifica‑se nos lagartos, particularmente nas osgas e lacertídeos. Destacam‑ ‑se aqui os répteis angolanos mal conhecidos e outros de regiões adjacentes que possam ocorrer no país. A maioria dos répteis endémicos angolanos é constituída por lagartos e encontra ‑se associada à escarpa e à região árida do Sudoeste. Está em curso a identificação de hotspots de diversidade de 1 National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Wild Bird Trust, South Africa 2 Research Associate, Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa 3 Fundação Kissama, Rua 60, Casa 560, Lar do Patriota, Luanda, Angola 4 CIBIO ‑InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485 ‑661 Vairão, Portugal 5 ISCED, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla, Rua Sarmento Rodrigues s/n, Lubango, Angola 6 School of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George 6530, South Africa 7 Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • A Taxonomic Framework for Typhlopid Snakes from the Caribbean and Other Regions (Reptilia, Squamata)
    caribbean herpetology article A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata) S. Blair Hedges1,*, Angela B. Marion1, Kelly M. Lipp1,2, Julie Marin3,4, and Nicolas Vidal3 1Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-5301, USA. 2Current address: School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. 3Département Systématique et Evolution, UMR 7138, C.P. 26, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris cedex 05, France. 4Current address: Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-5301 USA. *Corresponding author ([email protected]) Article registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47191405-862B-4FB6-8A28-29AB7E25FBDD Edited by: Robert W. Henderson. Date of publication: 17 January 2014. Citation: Hedges SB, Marion AB, Lipp KM, Marin J, Vidal N. 2014. A taxonomic framework for typhlopid snakes from the Caribbean and other regions (Reptilia, Squamata). Caribbean Herpetology 49:1–61. Abstract The evolutionary history and taxonomy of worm-like snakes (scolecophidians) continues to be refined as new molec- ular data are gathered and analyzed. Here we present additional evidence on the phylogeny of these snakes, from morphological data and 489 new DNA sequences, and propose a new taxonomic framework for the family Typhlopi- dae. Of 257 named species of typhlopid snakes, 92 are now placed in molecular phylogenies along with 60 addition- al species yet to be described. Afrotyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa and contains three genera: Afrotyphlops, Letheobia, and Rhinotyphlops. Asiatyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed in Asia, Australasia, and islands of the western and southern Pacific, and includes ten genera:Acutotyphlops, Anilios, Asiatyphlops gen.
    [Show full text]
  • Reptiles and Amphibians of the Goegap Nature Reserve
    their time underground in burrows. These amphibians often leave their burrows after heavy rains that are seldom. Reptiles And Amphibians Of The There are reptiles included in this report, which don’t occur here in Goegap but at the Augrabies Falls NP. So you can find here also the Nile monitor and the flat liz- Goegap Nature Reserve ard. Measuring reptiles By Tanja Mahnkopf In tortoises and terrapins the length is measured at the shell. Straight along the mid- line of the carapace. The SV-Length is the length of head and body (Snout to Vent). In lizards it easier to look for this length because their tail may be a regenerated one Introduction and these are often shorter than the original one. The length that is mentioned for the The reptiles are an ancient class on earth. The earliest reptile fossils are about 315 species in this report is the average to the maximum length. For the snakes I tried to million years old. During the aeons of time they evolved a great diversity of extinct give the total length because it is often impossible to say where the tail begins and and living reptiles. The dinosaurs and their relatives dominated the earth 150 million the body ends without holding the snake. But there was not for every snake a total years ago. Our living reptiles are remnants of that period or from a period after the length available. dinosaurs were extinct. Except of the chameleons (there are only two) you can find all reptiles in the appen- Obviously it looks like reptiles are not as successful as mammals.
    [Show full text]
  • Animals Traded for Traditional Medicine at the Faraday Market in South Africa: Species Diversity and Conservation Implications M
    Journal of Zoology Journal of Zoology. Print ISSN 0952-8369 Animals traded for traditional medicine at the Faraday market in South Africa: species diversity and conservation implications M. J. Whiting1,2, V. L. Williams1 & T. J. HibbittsÃ,1 1 School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia Keywords Abstract biodiversity; threatened species; ethnozoology; mammal; bird; reptile. In South Africa, animals and plants are commonly used as traditional medicine for both the healing of ailments and for symbolic purposes such as improving Correspondence relationships and attaining good fortune. The aim of this study was twofold: to Department of Biological Sciences, quantify the species richness and diversity of traded animal species and to assess Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, the trade in species of conservation concern. We surveyed the Faraday traditional Australia. medicine market in Johannesburg and conducted 45 interviews of 32 traders Email: [email protected] during 23 visits. We identified 147 vertebrate species representing about 9% of the total number of vertebrate species in South Africa and about 63% of the total ÃCurrent address: Department of Wildlife number of documented species (excluding domestic animals) traded in all South and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A & M African traditional medicine markets. The vertebrates included 60 mammal University, College Station, TX 77843-2258, species, 33 reptile species, 53 bird species and one amphibian species. Overall, USA. species diversity in the Faraday market was moderately high and highest for mammals and birds, respectively. Evenness values indicated that relatively few Editor: Andrew Kitchener species were dominant.
    [Show full text]
  • Annexure I Fauna & Flora Assessment.Pdf
    Fauna and Flora Baseline Study for the De Wittekrans Project Mpumalanga, South Africa Prepared for GCS (Pty) Ltd. By Resource Management Services (REMS) P.O. Box 2228, Highlands North, 2037, South Africa [email protected] www.remans.co.za December 2008 I REMS December 2008 Fauna and Flora Assessment De Wittekrans Executive Summary Mashala Resources (Pty) Ltd is planning to develop a coal mine south of the town of Hendrina in the Mpumalanga province on a series of farms collectively known as the De Wittekrans project. In compliance with current legislation, they have embarked on the process to acquire environmental authorisation from the relevant authorities for their proposed mining activities. GCS (Pty) Ltd. commissioned Resource Management Services (REMS) to conduct a Faunal and Floral Assessment of the area to identify the potential direct and indirect impacts of future mining, to recommend management measures to minimise or prevent these impacts on these ecosystems and to highlight potential areas of conservation importance. This is the wet season survey which was done in the November 2008. The study area is located within the highveld grasslands of the Msukaligwa Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga Province on the farms Tweefontein 203 IS (RE of Portion 1); De Wittekrans 218 IS (RE of Portion 1 and Portion 2, Portions 7, 11, 10 and 5); Groblershoek 191 IS; Groblershoop 192 IS; and Israel 207 IS. Within this region, precipitation occurs mainly in the summer months of October to March with the peak of the rainy season occurring from November to January.
    [Show full text]