Using a Portable Reader for Non-Invasive Detection of PIT-Tagged Skinks Under Coverboards
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SSAR OFFICERS (2011) HERPETOLOGICAL REVIEW President JOSEPH R. MENDELSON, III Zoo Atlanta THE QUARTERLY NEws-JourNAL OF THE e-mail: [email protected] SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES President-elect ROBERT D. ALDRIDGE Saint Louis University Editor Section Editors Herpetoculture ROBERT W. HANSEN Book Reviews BRAD LOCK e-mail: [email protected] 16333 Deer Path Lane AARON M. BAUER Zoo Atlanta, USA Clovis, California 93619-9735 USA Villanova University, USA e-mail: [email protected] Secretary e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] MARION R. PREEST WULF SCHLEIP The Claremont Colleges Associate Editors Current Research Meckenheim, Germany e-mail: [email protected] MICHAEL F. BENARD JOSHUA M. HALE e-mail: [email protected] Case Western Reserve University, USA Museum Victoria, Australia Treasurer e-mail: [email protected] Natural History Notes KIRSTEN E. NICHOLSON JESSE L. BRUNNER JAMES H. HARDING Central Michigan University Washington State University, USA BEN LOWE Michigan State University, USA e-mail: [email protected] University of Minnesota, USA e-mail: [email protected] FÉLIX B. Cruz e-mail: [email protected] INIBIOMA, Río Negro, Argentina CHARLES W. PAINTER Publications Secretary Conservation New Mexico Department of BRECK BARTHOLOMEW ROBERT E. ESPINOZA Priya Nanjappa Game and Fish, USA Salt Lake City, Utah California State University, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Northridge, USA USA e-mail: [email protected] JACKSON D. SHEDD Immediate Past President MICHAEL S. GRACE TNC Dye Creek Preserve, BRIAN CROTHER Florida Institute of Technology, USA Geographic Distribution California, USA Southeastern Louisiana University INDRANEIL DAS e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] KERRY GRIFFIS-KYLE Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia Texas Tech University, USA e-mail: [email protected] JOHN D. WILLSON Virginia Polytechnic and State Directors GUNTHER KÖHLER JERRY D. JOHNSON University, USA DAVID CUNDALL (2012) Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum The University of Texas at El Paso, USA e-mail: [email protected] Lehigh University, USA Senckenberg, Germany e-mail: [email protected] TIFFANY DOAN (2014) ' Copy Editors Central Connecticut University, USA PETER V. LINDEMAN ALAN M. RICHMOND RAUL DIAZ KEVIN de QUEIROZ (2012) Edinboro University, USA University of Massachusetts, USA University of Kansas Medical Center, Smithsonian Institution, USA e-mail: [email protected] USA PATRICK GREGORY (2012) DEANNA H. OLSON University of Victoria, CANADA USDA Forestry Science Lab, GUSTAVO J. SCROCCHI KYLE MILLER-HESED TRAVIS LaDUC (2014) Corvallis, Oregon, USA Fundación Miguel Lillo, Argentina University of Maryland, USA e-mail: [email protected] University of Texas at Austin,USA JODI Rowley DANIEL PORTIK ANN PATERSON (2012) Australian Museum, Australia Zoo View University of California, Berkeley, USA Williams Baptist College, USA JAMES B. MURPHY JENNIFER PRAMUK (2014) EMILY N. TAYLOR Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Elizabeth Timpe Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, USA California Polytechnic State University, USA University of Connecticut, USA CAROL SPENCER (2014) USA e-mail: [email protected] University of California, Berkeley, USA Trustee GEORGE R. PISANI University of Kansas, USA SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES SSAR EDITORS Journal of Herpetology www.ssarherps.org ERIN MUTHS, Co-Editor The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, the largest international herpetological society, is U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins a not-for-profit organization established to advance research, conservation, and education concerning amphibians and reptiles. Founded in 1958, SSAR is widely recognized today as having the most diverse GAD PERRY, Co-Editor society-sponsored program of services and publications for herpetologists. Membership is open to Texas Tech University anyone with an interest in herpetology—professionals and serious amateurs alike—who wish to join with us to advance the goals of the Society. Contributions to Herpetology KRAIG ADLER, Editor All members of the SSAR are entitled to vote by mail ballot for Society officers, which allows overseas Cornell University members to participate in determining the Society's activities; also, many international members attend the annual meetings and serve on editorial boards and committees. Facsimile Reprints in Herpetology AARON M. BAUER, Editor Villanova University All members and institutions receive the Society’s primary technical publication, the Journal of Herpetology, and its news- journal, Herpetological Review; both are published four times per year. Members also receive pre-publication discounts on Herpetological Circulars other Society publications, which are advertised in Herpetological Review. JOHN J. MORIARTY, Editor Shoreview, Minnesota To join SSAR or to renew your membership, please visit the secure online ZenScientist website via this link: Catalogue of American Amphibians http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/membership.php and Reptiles ANDREW H. PRICE, Editor Future Annual Meetings Texas Natural History Collections 2011 — Minneapolis, Minnesota, 6–11 July (with ASIH, HL) 2012 — Vancouver, British Columbia, 8–14 August (with World Congress of Herpetology) Herpetological Conservation JOSEPH C. MITCHELL, Editor 2013 — Albuquerque, New Mexico, dates to be determined Mitchell Ecological Research Services 129 ABOUT OUR CoVER: ABRONIA FROSTI he arboreal alligator lizards of the genus Abronia comprise a group of 28 species, ranging from TTamaulipas and Guerrero, Mexico southward to southern Honduras. The group is character- ized by high levels of endemism, with many species confined to cloud forest uplands and in some cases known only from their type localities. Small natural ranges combined with rampant defor- estation and profoundly inadequate protection measures offer a bleak prognosis for the future— as grimly recounted by Campbell and Frost (1993. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, No. 216, 121 pp.; available online: http://hdl.handle.net/2246/823). Given the precarious status of many of these forested ecosystems, a number of species of Abronia are seriously imperiled. In a recent assessment of the conservation status of Guatemalan herpetofauna, all 10 species of Abronia occurring in that country were considered highly vulner- able (Acevedo et al. 2010. In L. D. Wilson, J. H. Townsend and J. J. Johnson [eds.], Conservation of Mesoamerican Amphibians and Reptiles, pp. 406–434. Eagle Mountain Publishing, Eagle Mountain, Utah). Two species—A. campbelli and A. frosti, both Guatemalan endemics—have been considered extinct based on near-complete destruction of habitat at their only known localities (Acevedo et al. 2010, op. cit; Campbell and Mendelson 1998. Mesoamericana 3:21–23). Recently, however, a small population of A. campbelli was rediscovered near the type locality in Guatemala (Ariano- Sánchez and Torres-Almazán 2010. Herpetological Review 41:290–292), offering hope that this species can be saved. The remaining habitat had been reduced to about 400 epiphyte-laden oak trees, an essential habitat element for these lizards. On the heels of that exciting news comes another report in this issue of HR of the discovery of a single sub-adult A. frosti near the type locality, a species not seen since 1996 despite considerable search effort. Daniel Ariano-Sánchez and colleagues (see pages 196–198) detail this important find, describe what remains of the habitat, and offer critical steps to assure this species’ survival. Our cover image, depicting a sub-adult female Abronia frosti, was recorded by Thomas Schrei. He used a Canon 40D digi- tal camera and Sigma 180mm f3.5 APO Macro DG lens, mounted on a Manfrotto tripod. The image was shot at f16, ISO 400, with ½ second exposure. Considering that this specimen is the only known living individual of its species, special care was taken to avoid stressing the animal. After many failed attempts in which the lizard persisted in moving, it was allowed to climb the inflorescence of a bromeliad CIO where it finally came to rest. The image was shot in studio against a velvet black background N ICE using natural light, with some fill light reflected from white cardboard. Schrei is a student and V conservationist living in Guatemala City, in his final year toward a degree in biology at the UGO VILLA UGO H Universidade del Valle de Guatemala. He works for the local NGO Zootropic as the coordinator Y B O of the Natural Reserve for the Conservation of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma hor- T HO ridum charlesbogerti) and associated captive breeding program. P SSAR BUSINESS Annual Report (2011) Laboratory Research.—Beck A. Wehrle, California State Uni- Grants-in-Herpetology Committee versity-Northridge, “Why Do Lizards Lounge? The role of sociality in exchanging microbial communities among An award in the amount of $500 was made to each of the hatchling Iguana iguana.” following individuals: Travel.—Denita M. Weeks, California State University-North- ridge, “Fundamental Niche Modeling and Implications Conservation.—Anne G. Stengle, University of Massachu- of Global Climate Change for the World’s Southernmost setts, “Genetic Connectivity Within a Metapopulation of Gecko.” Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus).” International.—Kerry L. Holcomb, Central Washington Uni- Education.—Michelle Lester, Central Washington Univer- versity, “Body