DOCSLIB.ORG

Leapfrogging Into New Territory: How Mascarene Ridged Frogs Diversified Across Africa and Madagascar to Maintain Their Ecological Niche

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Leapfrogging Into New Territory: How Mascarene Ridged Frogs Diversified Across Africa and Madagascar to Maintain Their Ecological Niche Leapfrogging into new territory how Mascarene ridged frogs diversified across Africa and Madagascar to maintain their ecological niche Zimkus, Breda M.; Lawson, Lucinda P.; Barej, Michael F.; Barratt, Christopher D.; Channing, Alan; Dash, Katrina M.; Dehling, J. Maximilian; Du Preez, Louis; Gehring, Philip-Sebastian; Greenbaum, Eli; Gvoždík, Václav; Harvey, James; Kielgast, Jos; Kusamba, Chifundera; Nagy, Zoltán T.; Pabijan, Maciej; Penner, Johannes; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Vences, Miguel; Lötters, Stefan Published in: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.018 Publication date: 2017 Document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Document license: CC BY-NC-ND Citation for published version (APA): Zimkus, B. M., Lawson, L. P., Barej, M. F., Barratt, C. D., Channing, A., Dash, K. M., ... Lötters, S. (2017). Leapfrogging into new territory: how Mascarene ridged frogs diversified across Africa and Madagascar to maintain their ecological niche. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 106, 254-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.018 Download date: 08. apr.. 2020 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 106 (2017) 254–269 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Leapfrogging into new territory: How Mascarene ridged frogs diversified across Africa and Madagascar to maintain their ecological niche ⇑ Breda M. Zimkus a, , Lucinda P. Lawson b, Michael F. Barej c, Christopher D. Barratt d, Alan Channing e, Katrina M. Dash f,g, J. Maximilian Dehling h, Louis Du Preez i,j, Philip-Sebastian Gehring k, Eli Greenbaum f, Václav Gvozˇdík l,m, James Harvey n, Jos Kielgast o, Chifundera Kusamba p, Zoltán T. Nagy c,q, Maciej Pabijan r, Johannes Penner c,s, Mark-Oliver Rödel c, Miguel Vences t, Stefan Lötters u a Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA b Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 820F Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA c Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany d University of Basel, Biogeography Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Klingelbergstrasse 27, Basel 4056, Switzerland e University of the Western Cape, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa f Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA g Department of Biology, Tidewater Community College, 120 Campus Dr., Portsmouth, VA 23701, USA h Institute of Integrated Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstraße 1, 56070 Koblenz, Germany i African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa j South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Somerset Street, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa k Fakultät für Biologie Universität Bielefeld, Abt. Biologiedidaktik, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany l Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic m National Museum, Department of Zoology, 19300 Prague, Czech Republic n Harvey Ecological, 35 Carbis Road, Pietermaritzburg 3201, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa o Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark p Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, Département de Biologie, Lwiro, The Democratic Republic of the Congo q Joint Experimental Molecular Unit, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium r Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland s Wildlife Ecology & Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany t Division of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße. 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany u Trier University, Department of Biogeography, 54286 Trier, Germany article info abstract Article history: The Mascarene ridged frog, Ptychadena mascareniensis, is a species complex that includes numerous lin- Received 2 June 2016 eages occurring mostly in humid savannas and open forests of mainland Africa, Madagascar, the Revised 15 September 2016 Seychelles, and the Mascarene Islands. Sampling across this broad distribution presents an opportunity Accepted 18 September 2016 to examine the genetic differentiation within this complex and to investigate how the evolution of bio- Available online 21 September 2016 climatic niches may have shaped current biogeographic patterns. Using model-based phylogenetic meth- ods and molecular-clock dating, we constructed a time-calibrated molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for Keywords: the group based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome b (cytb) genes and the nuclear RAG1 gene Amphibia from 173 individuals. Haplotype networks were reconstructed and species boundaries were investigated Historical biogeography Pan-African using three species-delimitation approaches: Bayesian generalized mixed Yule-coalescent model Phylogeny (bGMYC), the Poisson Tree Process model (PTP) and a cluster algorithm (SpeciesIdentifier). Estimates Ptychadena of similarity in bioclimatic niche were calculated from species-distribution models (MAXENT) and Species delimitation multivariate statistics (Principal Component Analysis, Discriminant Function Analysis). Ancestral-area Species distribution modeling reconstructions were performed on the phylogeny using probabilistic approaches implemented in BioGeoBEARS. We detected high levels of genetic differentiation yielding ten distinct lineages or operational taxonomic units, and Central Africa was found to be a diversity hotspot for these frogs. Most speciation events took place throughout the Miocene, including ‘‘out-of-Africa” overseas dispersal ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (B.M. Zimkus), [email protected] (L.P. Lawson), [email protected] (M.F. Barej), [email protected] (C.D. Barratt), [email protected] (A. Channing), [email protected], [email protected] (K.M. Dash), [email protected] (J.M. Dehling), [email protected] (L. Du Preez), [email protected] (P.-S. Gehring), [email protected] (E. Greenbaum), [email protected] (V. Gvozˇdík), [email protected] (J. Harvey), [email protected] (J. Kielgast), [email protected] (C. Kusamba), [email protected] (Z.T. Nagy), [email protected] (M. Pabijan), johannes. [email protected] (J. Penner), [email protected] (M.-O. Rödel), [email protected] (M. Vences), [email protected] (S. Lötters). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.09.018 1055-7903/Ó 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). B.M. Zimkus et al. / Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 106 (2017) 254–269 255 events to Madagascar in the East and to São Tomé in the West. Bioclimatic niche was remarkably well conserved, with most species tolerating similar temperature and rainfall conditions common to the Central African region. The P. mascareniensis complex provides insights into how bioclimatic niche shaped the current biogeographic patterns with niche conservatism being exhibited by the Central African radi- ation and niche divergence shaping populations in West Africa and Madagascar. Central Africa, including the Albertine Rift region, has been an important center of diversification for this species complex. Ó 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). 1. Introduction genus Phrynobatrachus (Zimkus et al., 2010). To date, no study has integrated biogeography and species distribution modeling to Reconstructing the spatial and temporal history of organisms is examine diversification of an amphibian clade with a Pan-African one of the primary goals of evolutionary biology, yet obtaining a distribution. clear picture of evolutionary history can be challenging given that The Ptychadena mascareniensis species complex is an ideal phylogenetics, species distributions, climatic history, and ecologi- model system to evaluate the processes of speciation, diversifica- cal processes, such as environmental tolerance and niche partition- tion, and bioclimatic niche evolution within a pan-continental ing, must be taken into consideration (Wiens, 2011; Wiens and radiation, as members of this complex are found across the entire Graham, 2005). New methods are emerging that integrate ecolog- sub-Saharan region and along the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan ical modeling, biogeographic reconstructions, and phylogenetic (Frost, 2016). In addition, this species complex is widely dis- analyses to allow a more complete understanding of the contribu- tributed across Madagascar and other islands within the Indian tions of geological and climatological phenomena, as well as eco- Ocean, so it presents a unique opportunity to investigate patterns logical dimensions (Ahmadzadeh et al., 2016; Blair et al., 2015; of diversification on contrasting ecological landscapes. The Chan et al., 2011; Dowell and Hekkala, 2016; Rato et al., 2015). P. mascareniensis complex includes: (1) P. mascareniensis sensu lato These methods also assist in the identification
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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]
  • Food Rate of Ptychadena Mascareniensis, P. Pumilio And
    International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2016; 4(6): 01-04 ISSN: 2347-5129 (ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62 (GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549 Food rate of Ptychadena mascareniensis, P. pumilio and IJFAS 2016; 4(6): 01-04 © 2016 IJFAS Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, three Anura of degraded www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 01-09-2016 areas of Banco National Park, Côte d’Ivoire Accepted: 02-10-2016 Blayda Tohé Blayda Tohé and Germain Gourène Nangui Abrogoua University Laboratory of Environment and Aquatic Biology, UFR-SGE, 02 Abstract BP 801, Abidjan 02 Côte d’Ivoire Food rhythms of Ptychadena mascareniensis, P. pumilio and Hoplobatrachus occipitalis were studied in Banco National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) during the dry and rainy seasons. The food intake of the species of Germain Gourène Ptychadena genus takes place in the morning from 6h to 12h and in the evening between 18h and 24h Nangui Abrogoua University with peaks located at 12h and 24 h respectively. Hoplobatrachus occipitalis feeds on 3h to 9h and from Laboratory of Environment and 15h to 21h with peaks located at 9h and 21h. Most of the food bolus in both species of Ptychadena genus Aquatic Biology, UFR-SGE, 02 corresponding to the peaks is composed of Insects. Hoplobatrachus occipitalis is mainly feeds on BP 801, Abidjan 02 Côte d’Ivoire amphibians at 9h and molluscs at 21h. Keywords: Banco national park, feeding rhythm, Ptychadena mascareniensis, P. pumilio, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Côte d’Ivoire 1. Introduction The frogs are a very important source of food in Africa [1]. This resource, as animal protein, is a power supply base of rural communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Project Name
    SYRAH RESOURCES GRAPHITE PROJECT, CABO DELGADO, MOZAMBIQUE TERRESTRIAL FAUNAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Prepared by: Prepared for: Syrah Resources Limited Coastal and Environmental Services Mozambique, Limitada 356 Collins Street Rua da Frente de Libertação de Melbourne Moçambique, Nº 324 3000 Maputo- Moçambique Australia Tel: (+258) 21 243500 • Fax: (+258) 21 243550 Website: www.cesnet.co.za December 2013 Syrah Final Faunal Impact Assessment – December 2013 AUTHOR Bill Branch, Terrestrial Vertebrate Faunal Consultant Bill Branch obtained B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees at Southampton University, UK. He was employed for 31 years as the herpetologist at the Port Elizabeth Museum, and now retired holds the honorary post of Curator Emeritus. He has published over 260 scientific articles, as well as numerous popular articles and books. The latter include the Red Data Book for endangered South African reptiles and amphibians (1988), and co-editing its most recent upgrade – the Atlas and Red Data Book of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (2013). He has also published guides to the reptiles of both Southern and Eastern Africa. He has chaired the IUCN SSC African Reptile Group. He has served as an Honorary Research Professor at the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), and has recently been appointed as a Research Associate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth. His research concentrates on the taxonomy, biogeography and conservation of African reptiles, and he has described over 30 new species and many other higher taxa. He has extensive field work experience, having worked in over 16 African countries, including Gabon, Ivory Coast, DRC, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Angola and Tanzania.
    [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]
  • Systematics of the Genus Ptychadena Boulenger
    University of Texas at El Paso DigitalCommons@UTEP Open Access Theses & Dissertations 2010-01-01 Systematics of the genus Ptychadena Boulenger, 1917 (Anura: Ptychadenidae) from Democratic Republic of the Congo Katrina Marie Weber 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, Evolution Commons, and the Genetics Commons Recommended Citation Weber, Katrina Marie, "Systematics of the genus Ptychadena Boulenger, 1917 (Anura: Ptychadenidae) from Democratic Republic of the Congo" (2010). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 2612. https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/open_etd/2612 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 GENUS PTYCHADENA BOULENGER, 1917 (ANURA: PTYCHADENIDAE) FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO KATRINA M. WEBER Department of Biological Sciences APPROVED: Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D., Chair Max Shpak, Ph.D. Jasper Konter, Ph.D. Patricia D. Witherspoon, Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate School Copyright © by Katrina M. Weber 2010 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my mother and father, my continual support system, who showed me how to learn for the sake of learning. I have become the person I am today because of you. Also to Shawn T. Dash, I may not have always been appreciative of your assistance but this never would have gotten done without your help. SYSTEMATICS OF THE GENUS PTYCHADENA BOULENGER, 1917 (ANURA: PTYCHADENIDAE) FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO by KATRINA M.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet of Two Sympatric Rocket Frogs (Amphibia, Anura, Ptychadenidae: Ptychadena) in the Disturbed Parts of a West African Rainforest
    IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 2 Issue 10, October 2015. www.ijiset.com ISSN 2348 – 7968 Diet of Two Sympatric Rocket Frogs (Amphibia, Anura, Ptychadenidae: Ptychadena) in the Disturbed Parts of a West African Rainforest Blayda Tohé1,*, N’Goran Germain Kouamé2, N’Guessan Emmanuel Assemian2 & Germain Gourène1 1Nangui Abrogoua University, Laboratoire d’Environnement et de Biologie Aquatique, UFR-SGE, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d´Ivoire; 2Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, UFR-Environment, Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, Daloa, BP 150, Côte d´Ivoire; *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract ‒ We studied the diet of two syntopic rocket frogs, Ptychadena mascareniensis and P. pumilio, in Banco National Park, south-eastern Ivory Coast. We determined the prey of juveniles, males and females of both species in order to understand the potential avoidance of food competition. Insects dominated (>77.9%) the general diet of both species. We determined insect prey items down to the level of the order. At this level the diet of both species were mostly represented by coleopterans, hymenopterans and orthopterans. However, whereas P. mascareniensis preyed mainly on orthopterans (36%, grasshoppers and crickets), the diet of P. pumilio was dominated by coleopterans (42%, beetles and lightning bugs). We could observe a seasonal change in the diet of P. mascareniensis, but not in P. pumilio. Juveniles of both species mainly fed on small beetles and ants, while adults consumed various prey up to larger prey item (e.g. amphibians). However, the large overlap in prey can be taken as a hint that competition for food does not play a major role between these two frogs.
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibia: Ptychadenidae)
    NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 7 (2): 322-324 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2011 Article No.: 111207 www.herp-or.uv.ro/nwjz Rediscovered after ninety years: the Ethiopian high altitude dwarf species Ptychadena nana (Amphibia: Ptychadenidae) Wolfgang BÖHME & Dennis RÖDDER Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] Received: 12. January 2011 / Accepted: 28. April 2011 / Available online: 08.June 2011 Abstract. Herein we provide data on the rediscovery of Ptychadena nana from the Arussi Mountains in Ethio- pia. Furthermore, we discuss its taxonomic relationships to P. cf. nana from the Bale Mountains, which most likely represents a distinct species based on morphological differences. This is further supported by the fact that both mountain systems are separated by low altitudes. Key words: Amphibia, Ptychadenidae: P. nana, P. sp. (n?), Ethiopia: Arussi Mts., Bale Mts. Ptychadena nana Perret, 1980, the smallest of all de- The female frog (Fig. 1) was detected in material scribed Ptychadena species, is with certainty housed at the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum known only from a series of 21 little frogs col- Alexander Koenig (ZFMK), Bonn, where it is cata- lected in 1921 at Didda, Arussi Mountains, Ethio- logued as ZFMK 90143. Its label states that it was pia, at an altitude between 2000 and 3000 m a.s.l. found at 3800 m a.s.l. in the Begoji (or Bekoji) Mts. (Perret 1980, Largen 2001, Largen and Spawls which are also belonging to the Arussi Mountain 2010). In his 2001 paper, Largen still casted some system. The air distance to the known range of P.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminth Parasites and Prey Composition in the Stomach of Ptychadena Species from Obazuwa Wetland in Edo State, Nigeria
    A. A. Imasuen & E. E. Enabulele African Scientist Vol. 17, No. 3, September 30, 2016 1595-6881/2016 $10.00 + 0.00 Printed in Nigeria © 2016 Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology http://www.niseb.org/afs AFS 2016044/17306 Helminth parasites and Prey composition in the stomach of Ptychadena species from Obazuwa Wetland in Edo State, Nigeria A.A. Imasuen* and E.E. Enabulele Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154 Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author: [email protected] (Received July 14, 2016) (Accepted in revised form August 19, 2016) ABSTRACT : This investigation was aimed at determining the helminth parasites and prey items in the stomach of Ptychadena sp. from Obazuwa wetland in Edo State Nigeria. Four Ptychadena sp. (P. longirostris, P. bibroni, P. oxyrhynchus and P. mascareniensis) were collected using the visual/acoustic encounter survey methods. The stomach contents of the frogs examined revealed a total of 127 identifiable items comprising of 108 arthropods, 16 nematodes and 3 cestodes. The arthropods recorded belonged to 9 taxa and percentage frequency of occurrence was: Araneae 5%, Blattaria 10%, Coleoptera 10%, Diptera 17.5%, Hymenoptera 47.5%, Lepidoptera 2.5%, Mollusca 15%, Myriapoda 7.5% and Orthoptera 7.5%. The Hymenoptera recorded in the four Ptychadena sp. only accounted for 23 (18.1%) of the total identifiable prey items. Most of the recorded helminths were recovered from the stomach of P. oxyrhynchus consisited of (cestodes and nematodes from 2 and 7 specimens, respectively while only nematodes were recovered from single specimens of P.
    [Show full text]
  • Keys to Tadpoles and Frogs
    Keys to tadpoles and frogs Extracted from: Du Preez, L.H. & Carruthers, V.C. (2009) Complete guide to Frogs of Southern Africa. Random House Struik, Cape Town. FIELD KEY TO THE GENERA OF ADULT FROGS The first part of this field key deals with adult frogs (as opposed to tadpoles), and enables identification to the generic level only, except in those instances where the genus contains only one species, which is then named. KEY TO FROG GENERA a. Hard claws on b. No hard claws on the toes 1 3 toes of each foot Platannas Xenopus pp.328–337 ...................... 2 2 a. Pupil vertically b. Pupil circular elongated in bright light or horizontally elongated in bright light ................. 3 ................ 10 3 a. Adhesive terminal b. No adhesive terminal discs on fingers discs on fingers or toes or toes (may be no wider than the toe in some instances) ..................... 4 ................... 7 4 a. Terminal discs on b. Terminal discs fingers spatulate on fingers, not (squared off at the tip) squared off at the tip .................. 5 ................. 6 5 a. Known from the b. Known from the extreme north Western Cape of the Eastern and western Cape, KwaZulu- part of the Natal and Eastern Cape Mpumalanga Natal Cascade Frog Ghost Frogs Hadromophryne natalensis Heleophryne pp.196–199 pp.200–213 6 a. Red or pinkish coloration in the groin b. No red or pinkish coloration in the groin Red-legged Kassina Kassina maculata pp.274–275 ................... 7 7 a. Tympanum b. Tympanum clearly visible concealed Leaf-folding Tree Frogs Frogs Leptopelis Afrixalus pp.88–101 pp.222–235 8 a.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 29 Amphibians of Egypt: a Troubled Resource Adel A
    Basic and Applied Herpetology 27 (2013): 107-117 Chapter 29 Amphibians of Egypt: a troubled resource Adel A. Ibrahim Department of Environmental Sciences, Suez University, Suez, Egypt. *Correspondence: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science at Suez, Suez University, 43527 Suez, Egypt. Telephone: +20 1204800096, Email: [email protected] Received: 10 January 2013; received in revised form: 16 December 2013; accepted: 6 January 2014. Amphibians in Egypt are represented by only nine species. Some species (Amietophrynus regularis, Bufotes boulengeri, Ptychadena mascareniensis, and Pelophylax bedriagae) are well-known and common. Distributions of Duttaphrynus dod- soni and Hyla savignyi are limited, Amietophrynus kassasii is common and restricted while Ptychadena schillukorum appears uncommon and localized. Egyptian amphibians are, in part, poorly studied; some are threatened, others have declined or disappeared at various localities. Over-harvesting, habitat destruction, predation, overuse of pesticides, and road-kills are main causes of population decline. In 2010 the Egyptian government issued a resolution prohibiting exportation of Pelophylax bedriagae taken from natural habitats for three years – at least – to allow rehabilitation of populations; the local CITES committee had previously issued a similar declaration in 2009. Limitation of quantities of Amietophrynus regu- laris used for dissection in Egyptian universities and scientific agencies was also requested by the Secretary of the Egyptian Environment. These decrees and declarations seem to have been successful during the past few years. Key words: Amphibia; conservation; Egypt; population decline. Los anfibios de Egipto: un recurso en problemas. Los anfibios en Egipto están representados únicamente por nueve especies. Algunas especies (Amietophrynus regularis, Bufotes boulengeri, Ptychadena mascareniensis y Pelophylax bedria- gae) son bien conocidas y comunes.
    [Show full text]
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Justi
    Phelsuma ISSN 1026-5023 Volume 11 (Supplement A) 2003 The biodiversity of the granitic islands of Seychelles Indian Ocean Biodiversity Assessment 2000-2005 Biodiversity assessment celebrating the centenary of the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean Justin Gerlach The Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles PO Box 207, Victoria, Mahé, SEYCHELLES University Museum of Zoology Cambridge Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, U.K. [jstgerlach @aol.com] 1. Introduction In 1905 the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition visited the islands of the western Indian Ocean, followed by a second expedition in 1908-9 concentrating on the Seychelles islands. These expeditions were organised and led by Prof. John Stanley Gardiner to complete the earlier work of the ‘Challenger’ expeditions which had surveyed the physical geography, hydrology, fauna and flora of island groups in all oceans except the Indian (Gardiner 1907). Gardiner’s intentions were to investi- gate the biological relationships between the islands of the Seychelles, Mascarenes and Chagos groups and to locate evidence for former land connections between the islands. The results of the expedition still form the basis of all discussion of the region’s biogeography. Gardiner and the expedition’s entomologist H. Scott dem- onstrated that the granitic Seychelles islands formed a distinct faunal unit, with close associations with Madagascar and India. The coralline Seychelles islands and the Mascarenes also shared links with the granitic Seychelles, probably resulting from dispersal across the sunken banks at times of lower sea-levels 15,000 years ago. In contrast the Chagos and Cargados show typically low-diversity mid-oce- anic Indo-Pacific assemblages (Gardiner 1936).
    [Show full text]
  • Feeding Habits of Two Sympatric Rocket Frogs (Genus
    & Herpeto gy lo lo gy o : h C Konan et al., Entomol Ornithol Herpetol 2016, 5:2 it u n r r r e O n , t DOI: 10.4172/2161-0983.1000176 y R g Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: e o l s o e a m r o c t h n E ISSN: 2161-0983 Current Research ResearchResearch Article Article OpenOpen Access Access Feeding Habits of Two Sympatric Rocket Frogs (Genus Ptychadena) in a Forest Remnant of Southern-Central Ivory Coast, West Africa Jean Christophe Béhibro Yao N’Gatta Konan1, N’Goran Germain Kouamé2*, Akoua Michèle Kouamé1, Abouo Béatrice Adepo-Gourène1 and Mark-Oliver Rödel3 1Nangui Abrogoua University, Pôle de Recherche en Pêche et Aquaculture, UFR-SN, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d´Ivoire 2Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, UFR-Environment, Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, Daloa, BP 150, Côte d´Ivoire 3Museum of Natural Science, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany Abstract The decline of tropical amphibian species calls for studies on their biology and ecology, in order to understand their role in the respective ecosystems. We studied the diet of Ptychadena oxyrhynchus and P. longirostris, two rocket frogs co-occurring along dirt roads with puddles in the Azagny National Park, southern-central Ivory Coast. Stomach contents of 62 individuals of P. oxyrhynchus and 75 specimens of P. longirostris were obtained using the stomach-flushing method. The diet of both species was essentially characterized by various terrestrial invertebrates (predominantly insects) and both species can be considered opportunistic feeders. The presence of tadpoles in the stomach of a female P.
    [Show full text]