Darwin Reptile List – Species of the Greater Darwin Region & North-West Top End
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Scale Sensillae of the File Snake (Serpentes: Acrochordidae) and Some Other Aquatic and Burrowing Snakes
SCALE SENSILLAE OF THE FILE SNAKE (SERPENTES: ACROCHORDIDAE) AND SOME OTHER AQUATIC AND BURROWING SNAKES by DAVID POVEL and JEROEN VAN DER KOOIJ (Section Dynamic Morphology,Institute of Evolutionaryand Ecological Sciences, Leiden University,P.O. Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands) ABSTRACT The acrochordid snakes are aquatic, living in environmentswith often a poor visibility. It therefore was investigatedhow these animals detect their prey. Two earlier studies of their scales revealed a rather complex scale organ, composedof hairlike protrusions and plate-like structures. However, no satisfactory explanation was given for the structures found, e.g., an undefined sensilla or a gland. Skin samples from various sites of the body of Acrochordus granulatus and A. javanicus were studied. Scanning electron microscopic pictures revealed that each scale of the head contains up to seven sensillae, and each of the keeled scales of the rest of the body has one. Also a modified Allochrome staining procedure on tissue samples was performed to detect glycogen, which is known to occur in discoidal nerve endings of tactile sense organs of reptiles. Light microscopicslides revealedglycogen particles in a small pillow-shaped area just below the hairlike protrusions of an organ. Moreover, small nerves were recognized near the same location. No indications were found for the scale organs to have a glandular function. Because of the reported reactions of a snake when it is touched by a fish, these scale sensilla are proposed to be very sensitivemechanoreceptors. Comparisons were made with the scale organs of snakes from various habitats, viz. the seasnake Lapemis hardwicki, and burrowing snakes such as Xenopeltis unicolor and Cylindrophisrufus. -
(Squamata: Gekkota: Carphodactylidae) from the Pilbara Region of Western Australia
Zootaxa 3010: 20–30 (2011) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new species of Underwoodisaurus (Squamata: Gekkota: Carphodactylidae) from the Pilbara region of Western Australia PAUL DOUGHTY1,3 & PAUL M. OLIVER2 1Department of Terrestrial Vertebrates, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia 2Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5005, and Herpetology Section, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Ongoing surveys and systematic work focused on the Pilbara region in Western Australia have revealed the existence of numerous unrecognized species of reptiles. Here we describe Underwoodisaurus seorsus sp. nov., a new species similar to U. milii, but differing in its relatively plain dorsal and head patterns with only sparsely scattered pale tubercles, a much more gracile build, including longer snout, limbs and digits, smaller and more numerous fine scales on the dorsum, and the enlarged tubercles on the tail tending not to form transverse rows. The new species is known from few specimens and has only been encountered at mid elevations in the Hamersley Ranges, widely separated from the closest populations of U. milii in the northern Goldfields and Shark Bay in Western Australia. Given its rarity and small (potentially relictual) distribution this species may be of conservation concern. Key words: conservation, gecko, Underwoodisaurus milii, relictual distribution Introduction The Pilbara region of Western Australia supports one of the most diverse reptile faunas on the Australian continent (How & Cowan 2006; Powney et al. -
Snakes of the Siwalik Group (Miocene of Pakistan): Systematics and Relationship to Environmental Change
Palaeontologia Electronica http://palaeo-electronica.org SNAKES OF THE SIWALIK GROUP (MIOCENE OF PAKISTAN): SYSTEMATICS AND RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE Jason J. Head ABSTRACT The lower and middle Siwalik Group of the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan (Miocene, approximately 18 to 3.5 Ma) is a continuous fluvial sequence that preserves a dense fossil record of snakes. The record consists of approximately 1,500 vertebrae derived from surface-collection and screen-washing of bulk matrix. This record represents 12 identifiable taxa and morphotypes, including Python sp., Acrochordus dehmi, Ganso- phis potwarensis gen. et sp. nov., Bungarus sp., Chotaophis padhriensis, gen. et sp. nov., and Sivaophis downsi gen. et sp. nov. The record is dominated by Acrochordus dehmi, a fully-aquatic taxon, but diversity increases among terrestrial and semi-aquatic taxa beginning at approximately 10 Ma, roughly coeval with proxy data indicating the inception of the Asian monsoons and increasing seasonality on the Potwar Plateau. Taxonomic differences between the Siwalik Group and coeval European faunas indi- cate that South Asia was a distinct biogeographic theater from Europe by the middle Miocene. Differences between the Siwalik Group and extant snake faunas indicate sig- nificant environmental changes on the Plateau after the last fossil snake occurrences in the Siwalik section. Jason J. Head. Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA. [email protected] School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom. KEY WORDS: Snakes, faunal change, Siwalik Group, Miocene, Acrochordus. PE Article Number: 8.1.18A Copyright: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology May 2005 Submission: 3 August 2004. -
Integrative and Comparative Biology Integrative and Comparative Biology, Pp
Integrative and Comparative Biology Integrative and Comparative Biology, pp. 1–17 doi:10.1093/icb/icz006 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology SYMPOSIUM 2019 April 28 on user Cities Twin - Minnesota of by University https://academic.oup.com/icb/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/icb/icz006/5381544 from Downloaded Evolution of the Gekkotan Adhesive System: Does Digit Anatomy Point to One or More Origins? Anthony P. Russell1,* and Tony Gamble†,‡,§ *Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4; †Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA; ‡Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55113, USA; §Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA From the symposium “The path less traveled: Reciprocal illumination of gecko adhesion by unifying material science, biomechanics, ecology, and evolution” presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3–7, 2019 at Tampa, Florida. 1E-mail: [email protected] Synopsis Recently-developed, molecularly-based phylogenies of geckos have provided the basis for reassessing the number of times adhesive toe-pads have arisen within the Gekkota. At present both a single origin and multiple origin hypotheses prevail, each of which has consequences that relate to explanations about digit form and evolutionary transitions underlying the enormous variation in adhesive toe pad structure among extant, limbed geckos (pygopods lack pertinent features). These competing hypotheses result from mapping the distribution of toe pads onto a phylo- genetic framework employing the simple binary expedient of whether such toe pads are present or absent. -
Forest Stewardship Workshop
Aquatic Invasives Workshop Presented by the: Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), East Central Florida CISMA & Florida Forest Stewardship Program May 13, 2016; 8:30 am – 2:30 pm ET UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Office Many exotic plants are invasive weeds that form expanding populations on our landscape and waterways, making management a challenge. Some exotic animals have also become a problem for resource managers. The rapid and effective dispersal characteristics of these invaders make them extremely difficult to eliminate. This workshop will describe some of the more common and troublesome aquatic invasive exotic species in central Florida, current methods being used to manage them and opportunities to partner and get assistance. Tentative Agenda: 8:30 am Sign-in, meet & greet (finish refreshments before entering meeting room) 8:50 Welcome & introduction, Sherry Williams, Seminole County Natural Lands Program 9:00 Aquatic herbicides and application techniques, Dr. Stephen Enloe, UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants 9:50 Mosquito biology and disease, Ed Northey, Volusia County Mosquito Control 10:15 Algae, Michael Shaner, SePRO 10:40 Networking break 11:00 Ludwigia plant complex, Kelli Gladding, SePRO 11:25 Introduced aquatic herpetofauna in Florida, Dr. Steve Johnson, UF/IFAS Dept. of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation 11:50 Lunch 1:00 pm Hands-on plant and animal ID round-robin, all staff 2:30 Evaluation, CEUs, adjourn Funding for this workshop is provided by the USDA Forest Service through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Forest Service, the Florida Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, Applied Aquatic Management, Inc., Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc., Dow Chemical, Earth Balance, Florida’s Aquatic Preserves, Modica & Associates, Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society, and SePro. -
Future Directions in the Research and Management of Marine Snakes
Charles Darwin University Future directions in the research and management of marine snakes Udyawer, Vinay; Barnes, Peter; Bonnet, Xavier; Brischoux, François; Crowe-Riddell, Jenna M.; D'Anastasi, Blanche; Fry, Bryan G.; Gillett, Amber; Goiran, Claire; Guinea, Michael L.; Heatwole, Harold; Heupel, Michelle R.; Hourston, Mathew; Kangas, Mervi; Kendrick, Alan; Koefoed, Inigo; Lillywhite, Harvey B.; Lobo, Aaron S.; Lukoschek, Vimoksalehi; McAuley, Rory; Nitschke, Charlotte; Rasmussen, Arne R.; Sanders, Kate L.; Sheehy, Coleman; Shine, Richard; Somaweera, Ruchira; Sweet, Samuel S.; Voris, Harold K. Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00399 Published: 06/11/2018 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Udyawer, V., Barnes, P., Bonnet, X., Brischoux, F., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., D'Anastasi, B., Fry, B. G., Gillett, A., Goiran, C., Guinea, M. L., Heatwole, H., Heupel, M. R., Hourston, M., Kangas, M., Kendrick, A., Koefoed, I., Lillywhite, H. B., Lobo, A. S., Lukoschek, V., ... Voris, H. K. (2018). Future directions in the research and management of marine snakes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1-16. [399]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00399 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. -
Herpetological Notes. No.5
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS Kinghorn, J. Roy, 1955. Herpetological notes. No. 5. Records of the Australian Museum 23(5): 283–286, plate xiv. [1 September 1955]. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.23.1955.638 ISSN 0067-1975 Published by the Australian Museum, Sydney naturenature cultureculture discover discover AustralianAustralian Museum Museum science science is is freely freely accessible accessible online online at at www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/www.australianmuseum.net.au/publications/ 66 CollegeCollege Street,Street, SydneySydney NSWNSW 2010,2010, AustraliaAustralia HERPETOLOGICAL NOTES No. 5. By J. R. KINGHORN. (Plate xiv; two Text-figures.) 1. TAXONOMIC OHANGES IN THE GENUS RHYNOHOELAPS. Recent investigation shows that Rhynchoelaps bertholdi belongs to an entirely different genus of snakes from other species generally placed in the same genus. R. b61,tholdi has what may be described as typical elapine type head scalation, whilst other members of the group have a shovel-shaped snout, with a more or less oblique arrangement of head shields, naturally conforming to the disposition of the bones of the skull. Only one member of the shovel-snouted group has a more or less normal type arrangement of shields, but it is quite distinct from bertholdi. This species is fasciolata, originally named Rhinelaps fasciolatus Gunther, but in this the nasal is widely separated from the preocular: J an, in Rev. et ];Jag. Zool., p. 5UI, Dec. 1858, first mentioned E. bertholdi with Rhynchoelap8 proposed as a subgenus, but there was no description. In the same magazine, 1859, 2, ii, p. 123 he uses the name Simoselaps, genotype E. bertholdi and gave a fairly full description; so it would appear that Simoselaps should be used; but bec,wse of common usage I propose a~ present to refer it to Rhynchoelaps bertholdi. -
A Further Break-Up of the Australian Gecko Genus
Australasian Journal of Herpetology 3 Australasian Journal of Herpetology 34:3-35. ISSN 1836-5698 (Print) Published 20 July 2017. ISSN 1836-5779 (Online) A further break-up of the Australian gecko genus Oedura Gray, 1842 sensu lato as currently recognized, from four to seven genera, with two new subgenera defined, description of fourteen new species, four new subspecies and formalising of one tribe and five subtribes. RAYMOND T. HOSER 488 Park Road, Park Orchards, Victoria, 3134, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9812 3322 Fax: 9812 3355 E-mail: snakeman (at) snakeman.com.au Received 15 January 2017, Accepted 20 May 2017, Published 20 July 2017. ABSTRACT The genus Oedura Gray, 1842 sensu lato has been the subject of numerous taxonomic reviews in recent years. These have resulted in division of the genus into deeply divergent, but distantly related groups at the genus level as well as numerous new species being formally named. In light of the preceding and including results of molecular studies indicating significant divergence between species groups within Oedura as recognized in 2012 and 2016, the genus as recognized prior to 2012 is further divided to become seven (from four in 2016). These all have known divergences well in excess of 15 MYA, making genus-level subdivision inevitable. Divergent subgenera with divergences in the order of 13-15 MYA are also formally named for the first time. Within this new generic arrangement, fourteen new species are formally described for the first time in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Ride et al. 1999) on the basis of obvious morphological differences from similar species, which they have been treated as until now and also based on the known genetic divergences ascertained from earlier cited literature, all of which are measured in the millions of years (2.5 MYA or more). -
Ngangkan Culture Camp and Biodiversity Survey
Ngangkan Culture Camp and Biodiversity Survey June 2013 Where and Why? Our camp was on Ngangkan in Ngolkwarre country, in the Warddeken IPA on the western Arnhem Plateau, Northern Territory. The elders chose Ngangkan for the families to camp because it is a peaceful place, away from town, with lots of bush tucker; a place to bring back memories to share and a place for kids to learn about cultural knowledge. Warddeken Indigenous Protected Area is funded to look after the country and its animals. Every year, the Warddeken rangers do surveys to look for animals and to build up a picture of what is happening with the animals over time. Surveys have been done at Ngangkan since 2012 and the same sites are visited each year to see if the animal numbers are changing. It is planned to use Ngangkan as a long term monitoring site to keep a check on animal numbers in Warddeken IPA. 2 Who was there? • Rangers and Traditional Owners of the Warddeken IPA from the Manmoyi and Kamarrkawarn ranger bases, with their families and lots of kids as it was the school holidays • Scientists Alys Stevens and Terry Mahney from Flora and Fauna Division (NT Govt) • Manmoyi Outstation school teacher – Dan McLaren • Volunteer Doctor – Gabby Hall • Georgia Vallance – Warddeken Coordinator 3 3 What we did Cultural activities Cultural activities included; gathering (bushtucker, cultural materials like pandanas, digging sticks), knowledge sharing in evenings, corroboree with singing and dancing, traditional cooking, making music with traditional instruments and knowledge sharing everyday as part of life. Berribob taught the boys and young men how to make shovel spears, spear throwers and make fire in preparation for a fire drive to hunt kangaroo. -
Pirra Jungku Project Species Guide
The Pirra Jungku Project is a collaboration between the Karajarri Rangers, Environs Kimberley Pirra Jungku Project and the Threatened Species Recovery Hub with funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and the species guide Western Australian Government’s NRM Program. Reptiles * Asterix means the animal can be tricky to ID. Take a good photo, or bring it back to camp for checking, but do this as a last resort. Don’t bring back any snakes, in case they are poisonous. Dragons Upright posture (stick their heads up), have small, rough scales, each leg has 5 clawed fingers/toes. MATT FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA CC BY 2.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS JESSSARAH MILLER LEGGE Slater’s ring-tailed dragon Central military dragon (Ctenophorus slaterii) (Ctenophorus isolepis) Rocky country. Reddish colour with black Sandy country. Very fast on ground. spots on back and dark rings on the tail. Reddish colour with white spots and stripes. JESSCHRISTOPHER MILLER WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ARTHUR CHAPMAN NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE Pindan dragon Horner’s dragon Northern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora pindan) (Lophognathus horneri) (Diporiphora vescus) Thin, slender body. Two long white stripes Ta-ta lizard. White stripe from lip to back legs. Lives in spinifex. Plain colour, sometimes down back that cross over black and orange Tiny white spot in ear. with orange tail, and long white and grey tiger stripes.* stripes down body.* CHRISTOPHERSARAH LEGGE WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Dwarf bearded dragon (Pogona minor) Grey with flat body with spiny edges. Has small spines on either side of the jaw and on the back of the head. -
The Nature of Northern Australia
THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects 1 (Inside cover) Lotus Flowers, Blue Lagoon, Lakefield National Park, Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 2 Northern Quoll. Photo by Lochman Transparencies 3 Sammy Walker, elder of Tirralintji, Kimberley. Photo by Sarah Legge 2 3 4 Recreational fisherman with 4 barramundi, Gulf Country. Photo by Larissa Cordner 5 Tourists in Zebidee Springs, Kimberley. Photo by Barry Traill 5 6 Dr Tommy George, Laura, 6 7 Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Kerry Trapnell 7 Cattle mustering, Mornington Station, Kimberley. Photo by Alex Dudley ii THE NATURE OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Natural values, ecological processes and future prospects AUTHORS John Woinarski, Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Barry Traill PROJECT COORDINATED BY Larelle McMillan & Barry Traill iii Published by ANU E Press Design by Oblong + Sons Pty Ltd The Australian National University 07 3254 2586 Canberra ACT 0200, Australia www.oblong.net.au Email: [email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au Printed by Printpoint using an environmentally Online version available at: http://epress. friendly waterless printing process, anu.edu.au/nature_na_citation.html eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and saving precious water supplies. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry This book has been printed on ecoStar 300gsm and 9Lives 80 Silk 115gsm The nature of Northern Australia: paper using soy-based inks. it’s natural values, ecological processes and future prospects. EcoStar is an environmentally responsible 100% recycled paper made from 100% ISBN 9781921313301 (pbk.) post-consumer waste that is FSC (Forest ISBN 9781921313318 (online) Stewardship Council) CoC (Chain of Custody) certified and bleached chlorine free (PCF). -
An Investigation of the Evolution of Australian Elapid Snake Venoms
toxins Article Rapid Radiations and the Race to Redundancy: An Investigation of the Evolution of Australian Elapid Snake Venoms Timothy N. W. Jackson 1, Ivan Koludarov 1, Syed A. Ali 1,2, James Dobson 1, Christina N. Zdenek 1, Daniel Dashevsky 1, Bianca op den Brouw 1, Paul P. Masci 3, Amanda Nouwens 4, Peter Josh 4, Jonathan Goldenberg 1, Vittoria Cipriani 1, Chris Hay 1, Iwan Hendrikx 1, Nathan Dunstan 5, Luke Allen 5 and Bryan G. Fry 1,* 1 Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; [email protected] (T.N.W.J.); [email protected] (I.K.); [email protected] (S.A.A.); [email protected] (J.D.); [email protected] (C.N.Z.); [email protected] (D.D.); [email protected] (B.o.d.B.); [email protected] (J.G.); [email protected] (V.C.); [email protected] (C.H.); [email protected] (I.H.) 2 HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan 3 Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; [email protected] 4 School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; [email protected] (A.N.); [email protected] (P.J.) 5 Venom Supplies, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, Australia; [email protected] (N.D.); [email protected] (L.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +61-4-0019-3182 Academic Editor: Nicholas R.