DOCSLIB.ORG

Opening a Box of Cryptic Taxa the First Review of the North African Desert Lizards in the Trapelus Mutabilis Merrem, 1820 Compl

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Opening a Box of Cryptic Taxa the First Review of the North African Desert Lizards in the Trapelus Mutabilis Merrem, 1820 Compl Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 884–912. With 12 figures Opening a box of cryptic taxa – the first review of the North African desert lizards in the Trapelus mutabilis Merrem, 1820 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) with descriptions of new taxazoj_726 884..912 PHILIPP WAGNER1,2*, JANE MELVILLE3, THOMAS M. WILMS4 and ANDREAS SCHMITZ5 1Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany 2Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA 3Department of Sciences, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia 4Zoologischer Garten Frankfurt, Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1, 60316 Frankfurt am Main, Germany 5Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology, Muséum d’histoire naturelle, C.P. 6434, 1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland Received 26 May 2010; revised 14 November 2010; 10 December 2010; accepted for publication 15 December 2010 We present a review of the morphology and current taxonomy of North African Trapelus species. The Saharo- Sindian agamid genus contains 15 species, of which five occur in northern Africa. The taxonomy of this complex group continues to provide difficulties for taxonomists because of a lack of consistent morphologically diagnostic characters and relatively high intraspecific morphological variation. In particular, the widespread species Trapelus mutabilis, which occurs from Egypt in the east to Mauritania in the west, has been identified as a species complex and probably represents an artificial grouping of unrelated taxa. This taxonomic uncertainty is exacerbated because a type specimen for T. mutabilis was never designated. In our taxonomic review, we designate a neotype for T. mutabilis, allowing a review of the northern African species, the description of two new taxa, and the compilation of a comprehensive identification key. We present a multivariate analysis of morphology within T. mutabilis and, in addition, we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis incorporating a ~500-bp region of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and a relaxed molecular clock analysis to estimate the ages of clades within Trapelus. Our results demonstrate that these lineages have a deep and complex biogeographical history. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 884–912. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00726.x ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Africa – Morocco – neotype – Trapelus mutabilis ssp. nov.–Trapelus sp. nov. INTRODUCTION This genus currently consists of 15 species that are characterized by short, thick heads, deeply sunken The genus Trapelus Cuvier, 1817 in the agamid sub- tympana, and a few spiny scales above the ear family Agaminae was resurrected by Moody (1980). opening. The genus Trapelus has a broad distribution across northern Africa into the Middle East and Asia. As a whole this genus has caused considerable *Corresponding author. Current address: Department of difficulties for taxonomists, with numerous species Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA. E-mail: complexes having been identified (e.g. Trapelus rud- [email protected] eratus: Rastegar-Pouyani, 2000; Trapelus agilis: 884 © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 884–912 REVIEW OF TRAPELUS FROM NORTHERN AFRICA 885 Figure 1. Figures of Geoffroy’s ‘Changeant d’Egypte’ mentioned in the description of Agama mutabilis Merrem, 1820. Rastegar-Pouyani, 2005). There remain many unre- 1971) additionally have to be regarded as synonyms solved taxonomic and distributional problems, which of T. pallidus (Reuss, 1834). is particularly apparent in the northern African Recent work on T. mutabilis clearly demonstrates species, for which relatively little taxonomic work has that it is a species complex (Wagner & Böhme, 2007). been undertaken. However, it still remains to be determined whether Five species in the genus occur in Africa: Trapelus synonyms represent valid species or if there are mutabilis (Merrem, 1820): northern Africa; Trapelus unrecognized taxa. A significant impediment to the pallidus (Reuss, 1834): Egypt, Republic of Djibouti resolution of this species complex is that a type speci- (Ineich, 2001), Jordan; Trapelus savignii (Duméril & men of Agama mutabilis Merrem, 1820 was never Bibron, 1837): eastern Egypt; and Trapelus tournev- designated, despite the long history of taxonomic illei (Lataste, 1880): Algeria and Tunisia. The recently research. The original description of the species (‘C. A. described Trapelus schmitzi Wagner & Böhme, 2007, squamis minimis laeuibus [sic!], Habitat in Aegypto’) a member of the T. mutabilis complex, is so far only [Merrem, 1820] is inadequate to differentiate between known from its type locality and a record further west the different cryptic taxa and it appears that no types in Algeria (Wagner, Wilms & Schmitz, 2008). One of were designated. Blasius Merrem published several these species, T. mutabilis, is a widespread taxon, herpetological publications, such as the work ‘Versuch occurring across northern Africa from the western eines Systems der Amphibien – Tentamen Systematis Sahara (Geniez et al., 2004) through Mauritania Amphibiorum’ (Merrem, 1820), where he not only (Padial, 2006), Mali (Joger & Lambert, 1996), split firstly the amphibians from the reptiles and Morocco (Pasteur & Bons, 1960; Schleich, Kästle & covered all known species but also ‘described’ several Kabisch, 1996), Algeria (Doumergue, 1901), Tunisia new taxa (e.g. Bitis arietans and Hypnale hypnale). In (Joger, 2003), Libya (Schleich et al., 1996), and the the description of A. mutabilis, Merrem (1820) refer- Sudan (Geniez et al., 2004) to Egypt (Baha el Din, enced figures in Geoffroy de Saint-Hilaire [see Fig. 1; 2006). The taxonomic complexity of T. mutabilis is published originally in Geoffroy de Saint-Hilaire demonstrated by numerous synonyms (Agama (1809: plate 5, figs 3, 4)] and a description with inermis Reuss, 1834; Agama gularis Reuss, 1834; subspecific classification given by Cuvier (1817), but Agama latastii Boulenger, 1855; Agama leucostigma both of these earlier authors failed to name the Reuss, 1834; Agama aspera Werner, 1893). Several species in accordance to the Linnaean system. There- other taxa (Agama deserti Lichtenstein, 1823; Agama fore, Merrem (1820), who used a German and Latin loricata Reuss, 1834; Agama nigrofasciata Reuss, name for the species within a generic key, is the 1833; Agama leucostygma Reuss, 1834; Trapelus author of A. mutabilis [confirmed by Geoffroy de aegyptius Cuvier, 1829; Agama pallida haasi Werner, Saint-Hilaire, 1827: 128 (footnote)]. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 884–912 886 P. WAGNER ET AL. differs significantly from other African Trapelus species in morphology, body size, and colour pattern. We address the taxonomic status of these specimens along with all the available types in the T. mutabilis complex in the current study. In addition, the taxonomic status of T. pallidus has caused much debate. Wermuth (1967) and Schleich et al. (1996) referred to the taxon as a synonym of T. mutabilis, whereas Moody (1980), Ineich (2001), Disi et al. (2001), and Baha el Din (2006) recognized it as a valid species. Two subspecies are currently recog- nized within T. pallidus, including T. pallidus palli- dus and T. pallidus agnetae (for the latter see species account). We further investigate the taxonomic status of T. pallidus using molecular data. In full, our review of the North African species of the genus Trapelus incorporates the designation of a neotype for T. mutabilis, a morphological comparison of all available type specimens across the species, and the compilation of an identification key. We also include multivariate morphological analysis on speci- Figure 2. The distribution of Trapelus mutabilis and mens within the T. mutabilis complex and a molecu- Trapelus sp. nov. along the first two morphological prin- lar phylogenetic analysis of ~500-bp region of the cipal components axes. mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene across seven lineages of Trapelus. We then discuss the biogeo- graphical and evolutionary implications of the Merrem (1820) used an illustration, rather than a updated taxonomy of North African Trapelus. specimen, for the description (Fig. 1) and provided names in two languages [‘schillernde’ (= iridescent) in MATERIAL AND METHODS German and ‘mutabilis’ (= variable) in Latin] as this TAXONOMIC REVIEW research was a review rather than a species descrip- tion. In addition, a thorough investigation of the Approximately 100 museum specimens, housed pre- collections of the Muséum Nationale d’Histoire dominately at the ZFMK collection (see Appendix 1), Naturelle, Paris, and the University of Marburg were examined and compared with the available type failed to uncover a type specimen of T. mutabilis, material of the relevant species. Measurements and designated by Merrem or Geoffroy de Saint-Hilaire. scale counts were recorded according to Grandison Baha el Din (2006) mentioned that the holotype is (1968) and Moody & Böhme (1984). Where type speci- part of the BMNH collection but a search there also mens were lacking, the original description and addi- failed to uncover a holotype (Colin McCarthy, pers. tional literature were used to compare the different comm.). Thus, we designate a neotype of Agama taxa. The synonymy used follows Wermuth (1967) mutabilis Merrem, 1820 which is in accordance with and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Review of Southern Iraq Herpetofauna
    Vol. 3 (1): 61-71, 2019 A Review of Southern Iraq Herpetofauna Nadir A. Salman Mazaya University College, Dhi Qar, Iraq *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract: The present review discussed the species diversity of herpetofauna in southern Iraq due to their scientific and national interests. The review includes a historical record for the herpetofaunal studies in Iraq since the earlier investigations of the 1920s and 1950s along with the more recent taxonomic trials in the following years. It appeared that, little is known about Iraqi herpetofauna, and no comprehensive checklist has been done for these species. So far, 96 species of reptiles and amphibians have been recorded from Iraq, but only a relatively small proportion of them occur in the southern marshes. The marshes act as key habitat for globally endangered species and as a potential for as yet unexplored amphibian and reptile diversity. Despite the lack of precise localities, the tree frog Hyla savignyi, the marsh frog Pelophylax ridibunda and the green toad Bufo viridis are found in the marshes. Common reptiles in the marshes include the Caspian terrapin (Clemmys caspia), the soft-shell turtle (Trionyx euphraticus), the Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus), geckos of the genus Hemidactylus, two species of skinks (Trachylepis aurata and Mabuya vittata) and a variety of snakes of the genus Coluber, the spotted sand boa (Eryx jaculus), tessellated water snake (Natrix tessellata) and Gray's desert racer (Coluber ventromaculatus). More recently, a new record for the keeled gecko, Cyrtopodion scabrum and the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) was reported. The IUCN Red List includes six terrestrial and six aquatic amphibian species.
    [Show full text]
  • Predation of an Adult of Agama Impalearis by Falco Tinnunculusin
    42 Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. (2016) 27(1) Fathinia, B. & Rastegar-Pouyani, N. 2010. On the species of Viperidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Pseudocerastes (Ophidia: Viperidae) in Iran. Russian Jour- Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 19, 94–104. nal of Herpetology, 17: 275–279. Leviton, A.E., Anderson, S.C., Adler, K. & Minton, S.A. Fathinia, B., Anderson, S.C., Rastegar-Pouyani, N., Jahani, H. 1992. Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Repti- & Mohamadi, H. 2009. Notes on the natural history of les. Contributions to Herpetology, No. 8, Society for the Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (Squamata: Viperidae). Rus- Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Oxford, Ohio, USA. sian Journal of Herpetology, 16: 134–138. Martínez-Freiría, F. 2009. Biogeografía y ecología de las víboras ibéricas Fathinia, B., Rastegar-Pouyani, N., Rastegar-Pouyani, E., Too- (V. aspis, V. latastei y V. seoanei) en una zona de contacto en el norte deh-Dehghan, F. & Rajabizadeh, M. 2014. Molecular sys- peninsular. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Salamanca. Salamanca tematics of the genus Pseudocerastes (Ophidia: Viperidae) Neill, W.T. 1960. The caudal lure of various juvenile snakes. Quar- based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Turkish terly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences, 23:173–200. Journal of Zoology, 38: doi:10.3906/zoo-1308-25. Nilson, G., Andren, C., Ioannidis, Y. & Dimaki, M. 1999. Gholamifard, A. & Esmaeili, H.R. 2010. First record and Ecology and conservation of the Milos viper, Macrovipera range extension of Field’s horned viper, Pseudocerastes schweizeri (Werner, 1935). Amphibia-Reptilia, 20: 355-375. fieldi Schmidt, 1930 (Squamata: Viperidae), from Fars Tsairi, H.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Relationships and Subgeneric Taxonomy of ToadHeaded Agamas Phrynocephalus (Reptilia, Squamata, Agamidae) As Determined by Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing E
    ISSN 00124966, Doklady Biological Sciences, 2014, Vol. 455, pp. 119–124. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014. Original Russian Text © E.N. Solovyeva, N.A. Poyarkov, E.A. Dunayev, R.A. Nazarov, V.S. Lebedev, A.A. Bannikova, 2014, published in Doklady Akademii Nauk, 2014, Vol. 455, No. 4, pp. 484–489. GENERAL BIOLOGY Phylogenetic Relationships and Subgeneric Taxonomy of ToadHeaded Agamas Phrynocephalus (Reptilia, Squamata, Agamidae) as Determined by Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing E. N. Solovyeva, N. A. Poyarkov, E. A. Dunayev, R. A. Nazarov, V. S. Lebedev, and A. A. Bannikova Presented by Academician Yu.Yu. Dgebuadze October 25, 2013 Received October 30, 2013 DOI: 10.1134/S0012496614020148 Toadheaded agamas (Phrynocephalus) is an essen Trapelus, and Stellagama) were used in molecular tial element of arid biotopes throughout the vast area genetic analysis. In total, 69 sequences from the Gen spanning the countries of Middle East and Central Bank were studied, 28 of which served as outgroups (the Asia. They constitute one of the most diverse genera of members of Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Iguanidae, the agama family (Agamidae), variously estimated to and Lacertidae). comprise 26 to 40 species [1]. The subgeneric Phryno The fragment sequences of the following four cephalus taxonomy is poorly studied: recent taxo mitochondrial DNA genes were used in phylogenetic nomic revision have been conducted without analysis analysis: the genes of subunit I of cytochrome c oxi of the entire genus diversity [1]; therefore, its phyloge dase (COI), of subunits II and IV of NADHdehydro netic position within Agamidae family remains genase (ND2 and ND4), and of cytochrome b (cyt b).
    [Show full text]
  • Studies on African Agama III. Resurrection of Agama Agama Turuensis Loveridge, 1932 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Synonymy and Elevation to Species Rank
    Th e status of Agama agama turuensis SALAMANDRA 44 1 35-42 Rheinbach, 20 February 2008 ISSN 0036-3375 Studies on African Agama III. Resurrection of Agama agama turuensis Loveridge, 1932 (Squamata: Agamidae) from synonymy and elevation to species rank Philipp Wagner, Patrick Krause & Wolfgang Böhme Abstract. New material of Agama agama Linnaeus, 758 from Mount Hanang, Tanzania is indistingu- ishable from the type material of Agama agama turuensis Loveridge, 932, a taxon which is so far con- sidered to be a synonym of Agama lionotus elgonis Lönnberg, 922. Our comparative morphological study demonstrates turuensis is most similar to Agama mwanzae Loveridge, 923 and Agama kaimosae Loveridge, 935, and distinct from both A. agama and A. lionotus Boulenger, 896. Agama turuensis can likewise neither be assigned to A. mwanzae nor A. kaimosae but has to be rather considered as a dis- tinct species. Key words. Squamata, Agamidae, Agama turuensis, new status, Africa, Tanzania, Mount Hanang, taxo- nomy. Introduction and subdivided the genus Agama into the fol- lowing six genera: Agama, Stellio, Trapelus, Th e genus Agama is endemic to Africa and Pseudotrapelus, Brachysaura and Xenagama. its species are very widespread in the savan- Later, Joger (99) identifi ed both Laudakia nah regions of Africa. Currently, 34 species and Phrynocephalus as sister taxa of Agama. are recognized but the genus in general, and At present the genus can be divided into especially the Agama agama species complex three diff erent species groups: the Agama and the clade including the East African are agama group which includes the West Af- in need of a thorough taxonomic revision.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Amphibians and Reptiles from the Neogene Locality of Maramena (Greece), the Most Diverse European Herpetofauna at the Miocene/Pliocene Transition Boundary
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org Fossil amphibians and reptiles from the Neogene locality of Maramena (Greece), the most diverse European herpetofauna at the Miocene/Pliocene transition boundary Georgios L. Georgalis, Andrea Villa, Martin Ivanov, Davit Vasilyan, and Massimo Delfino ABSTRACT We herein describe the fossil amphibians and reptiles from the Neogene (latest Miocene or earliest Pliocene; MN 13/14) locality of Maramena, in northern Greece. The herpetofauna is shown to be extremely diverse, comprising at least 30 different taxa. Amphibians include at least six urodelan (Cryptobranchidae indet., Salamandrina sp., Lissotriton sp. [Lissotriton vulgaris group], Lissotriton sp., Ommatotriton sp., and Sala- mandra sp.), and three anuran taxa (Latonia sp., Hyla sp., and Pelophylax sp.). Rep- tiles are much more speciose, being represented by two turtle (the geoemydid Mauremys aristotelica and a probable indeterminate testudinid), at least nine lizard (Agaminae indet., Lacertidae indet., ?Lacertidae indet., aff. Palaeocordylus sp., ?Scin- cidae indet., Anguis sp., five morphotypes of Ophisaurus, Pseudopus sp., and at least one species of Varanus), and 10 snake taxa (Scolecophidia indet., Periergophis micros gen. et sp. nov., Paraxenophis spanios gen. et sp. nov., Hierophis cf. hungaricus, another distinct “colubrine” morphotype, Natrix aff. rudabanyaensis, and another dis- tinct species of Natrix, Naja sp., cf. Micrurus sp., and a member of the “Oriental Vipers” complex). The autapomorphic features and bizarre vertebral morphology of Perier- gophis micros gen. et sp. nov. and Paraxenophis spanios gen. et sp. nov. render them readily distinguishable among fossil and extant snakes. Cryptobranchids, several of the amphibian genera, scincids, Anguis, Pseudopus, and Micrurus represent totally new fossil occurrences, not only for the Greek area, but for the whole southeastern Europe.
    [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]
  • An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(3):529–536. Herpetological Conservation and Biology Symposium at the 6th World Congress of Herpetology. AN OVERVIEW AND CHECKLIST OF THE NATIVE AND ALIEN HERPETOFAUNA OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1 1 2 PRITPAL S. SOORAE , MYYAS AL QUARQAZ , AND ANDREW S. GARDNER 1Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: [email protected] 2Natural Science and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 4783, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abstract.—This paper provides an updated checklist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) native and alien herpetofauna. The UAE, while largely a desert country with a hyper-arid climate, also has a range of more mesic habitats such as islands, mountains, and wadis. As such it has a diverse native herpetofauna of at least 72 species as follows: two amphibian species (Bufonidae), five marine turtle species (Cheloniidae [four] and Dermochelyidae [one]), 42 lizard species (Agamidae [six], Gekkonidae [19], Lacertidae [10], Scincidae [six], and Varanidae [one]), a single amphisbaenian, and 22 snake species (Leptotyphlopidae [one], Boidae [one], Colubridae [seven], Hydrophiidae [nine], and Viperidae [four]). Additionally, we recorded at least eight alien species, although only the Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyplops braminus) appears to have become naturalized. We also list legislation and international conventions pertinent to the herpetofauna. Key Words.— amphibians; checklist; invasive; reptiles; United Arab Emirates INTRODUCTION (Arnold 1984, 1986; Balletto et al. 1985; Gasperetti 1988; Leviton et al. 1992; Gasperetti et al. 1993; Egan The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of 2007).
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of the Iguanine Lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) As Determined by Osteological and Myological Characters David F
    Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series Volume 12 | Number 3 Article 1 1-1971 Evolution of the iguanine lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) as determined by osteological and myological characters David F. Avery Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State College, New Haven, Connecticut Wilmer W. Tanner Department of Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Avery, David F. and Tanner, Wilmer W. (1971) "Evolution of the iguanine lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) as determined by osteological and myological characters," Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series: Vol. 12 : No. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib/vol12/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. S-^' Brigham Young University f?!AR12j97d Science Bulletin \ EVOLUTION OF THE IGUANINE LIZARDS (SAURIA, IGUANIDAE) AS DETERMINED BY OSTEOLOGICAL AND MYOLOGICAL CHARACTERS by David F. Avery and Wilmer W. Tanner BIOLOGICAL SERIES — VOLUME Xil, NUMBER 3 JANUARY 1971 Brigham Young University Science Bulletin
    [Show full text]
  • Nyika and Vwaza Reptiles & Amphibians Checklist
    LIST OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF NYIKA NATIONAL PARK AND VWAZA MARSH WILDLIFE RESERVE This checklist of all reptile and amphibian species recorded from the Nyika National Park and immediate surrounds (both in Malawi and Zambia) and from the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve was compiled by Dr Donald Broadley of the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in November 2013. It is arranged in zoological order by scientific name; common names are given in brackets. The notes indicate where are the records are from. Endemic species (that is species only known from this area) are indicated by an E before the scientific name. Further details of names and the sources of the records are available on request from the Nyika Vwaza Trust Secretariat. REPTILES TORTOISES & TERRAPINS Family Pelomedusidae Pelusios rhodesianus (Variable Hinged Terrapin) Vwaza LIZARDS Family Agamidae Acanthocercus branchi (Branch's Tree Agama) Nyika Agama kirkii kirkii (Kirk's Rock Agama) Vwaza Agama armata (Eastern Spiny Agama) Nyika Family Chamaeleonidae Rhampholeon nchisiensis (Nchisi Pygmy Chameleon) Nyika Chamaeleo dilepis (Common Flap-necked Chameleon) Nyika(Nchenachena), Vwaza Trioceros goetzei nyikae (Nyika Whistling Chameleon) Nyika(Nchenachena) Trioceros incornutus (Ukinga Hornless Chameleon) Nyika Family Gekkonidae Lygodactylus angularis (Angle-throated Dwarf Gecko) Nyika Lygodactylus capensis (Cape Dwarf Gecko) Nyika(Nchenachena), Vwaza Hemidactylus mabouia (Tropical House Gecko) Nyika Family Scincidae Trachylepis varia (Variable Skink) Nyika,
    [Show full text]
  • Morphology, Locomotor Performance and Habitat Use In
    applyparastyle “fig//caption/p[1]” parastyle “FigCapt” Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2020, XX, 1–12. With 4 figures. Morphology, locomotor performance and habitat use in Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/biolinnean/blaa024/5802286 by guest on 15 March 2020 southern African agamids W. C. TAN1,2,3,*, , B. VANHOOYDONCK4, J. MEASEY3, and A. HERREL1,4, 1UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Département Adaptations du Vivant, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris Cedex 5, France 2Université de Poitiers – UFR Sciences Fondamentales et Appliquées, Laboratoire EBI Ecologie & Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Poitiers, France 3Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa 4Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium Received 11 December 2019; revised 10 February 2020; accepted for publication 10 February 2020 Understanding the relationships between form and function can help us to understand the evolution of phenotypic diversity in different ecological contexts. Locomotor traits are ecologically relevant as they reflect the ability of an organism to escape from predators, to catch prey or to defend territories. As such, locomotion provides a good model to investigate how environmental constraints may influence an organism’s performance. Here, we investigate the ecomorphological relationships between limb morphology, locomotor performance (sprint speed and endurance) and habitat use in six southern African agamid species. The investigated agamid species showed differences in hind limb and toe lengths. Both of these traits were further correlated with endurance capacity. This association was supported by stepwise multiple regression analyses.
    [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]
  • Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, with Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin
    Bonner zoologische Beiträge Band 52 (2003) Heft 3/4 Seiten 193–214 Bonn, November 2004 Early German Herpetological Observations and Explorations in Southern Africa, With Special Reference to the Zoological Museum of Berlin Aaron M. BAUER Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA Abstract. The earliest herpetological records made by Germans in southern Africa were casual observations of common species around Cape Town made by employees of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during the mid- to late Seven- teenth Century. Most of these records were merely brief descriptions or lists of common names, but detailed illustrations of many reptiles were executed by two German illustrators in the employ of the VOC, Heinrich CLAUDIUS and Johannes SCHUMACHER. CLAUDIUS, who accompanied Simon VAN DER STEL to Namaqualand in 1685, left an especially impor- tant body of herpetological illustrations which are here listed and identified to species. One of the last Germans to work for the Dutch in South Africa was Martin Hinrich Carl LICHTENSTEIN who served as a physician and tutor to the last Dutch governor of the Cape from 1802 to 1806. Although he did not collect any herpetological specimens himself, LICHTENSTEIN, who became the director of the Zoological Museum in Berlin in 1813, influenced many subsequent workers to undertake employment and/or expeditions in southern Africa. Among the early collectors were Karl BERGIUS and Ludwig KREBS. Both collected material that is still extant in the Berlin collection today, including a small number of reptile types. Because of LICHTENSTEIN’S emphasis on specimens as items for sale to other museums rather than as subjects for study, many species first collected by KREBS were only described much later on the basis of material ob- tained by other, mostly British, collectors.
    [Show full text]