DOCSLIB.ORG

South Asian Amphibia: a New Frontier for Taxonomists

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
South Asian Amphibia: a New Frontier for Taxonomists J. South Asian Nat. Hist., ISSN 1022-0828. May, 1999. Vol.4, No. 1, pp. 1-11. © Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, 95 Cotta Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. INVITED EDITORIAL / BOOK REVIEW South Asian Amphibia: a new frontier for taxonomists Alain Dubois* * Laboratoire des Reptiles et Amphibiens, Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, 25 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France. Books reviewed Dutta, Sushil K. 1997. Amphibians of India and Sri Lanka (Checklist and bibliography). Bhubaneswar, India, Odyssey Publishing House, [i- iii] + i-xiii + 1-342 + i-xxii. [Cited below as AISL]. Dutta, Sushil K. & Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum. 1996. The amphib­ ian fauna of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, 1-232. [Cited below as AFSL]. South Asia (here understood in a biogeographical were among the first published monographs deal­ sense, i.e. from Pakistan to Myanmar and from Ne­ ing with the amphibians of a tropical region of the pal to Sri Lanka) is a fascinating area for all evolu­ world. tionary biologists: at the meeting of several major However, after the important works of N. biogeographic zones, it harbours composite faunas Annandale and G. A. Boulenger at the beginning of and floras of various origins and affinities, that oc­ our century, which culminated in Boulenger's (1920) cupy a wealth of habitat types at all altitudes from still uneQualled review of Asian ranids, taxonomic sea level to snow level in the Himalayas. This tropi­ study of the amphibians of this region slowed down cal region has been an important "natural labora­ considerably. For about 50 years, most authors tory" where many variants of the "experience of evo­ merely copied Boulenger's taxonomy, which some lution" have developed under a variety of different of them seemed to consider the "final word". An in­ conditions, thus offering an infinity of possible sub­ teresting exception was Kirtisinghe's (1957) book on jects of interest for scientific research. the amphibians of Ceylon, which was based on origi­ Concerning the group of amphibians, this region nal observations and a personal knowledge of these was one of the first tropical areas of the world where animals both in the field and in collections (although taxonomic research was undertaken, mostly under he did not examine or refer to type material). Be­ the leadership of British zoologists. From the begin­ sides this, a few species were described in isolation, ning to the end of the 19th century, descriptive works but no comprehensive revision of a South Asian by various authors, including J. Anderson, R. H. amphibian group was published during this period. Beddome, E. Blyth, A.-M.-C. Dumeril & G. Bibron, In 1970-1973, A. Dubois and collaborators col­ T. C. Jerdon, R. P. Lesson, W. L. Sclater, F. Stoliczka lected more than 15,000 amphibian specimens in and W. Theobald, gave zoologists the first rough idea most parts of Nepal, probably one of the largest of the diversity of amphibian species in "British In­ amphibian collections from South Asia ever gath­ dia". This led to the writing of two books (Gunther, ered. Instead of using these data merely to write a 1864; Boulenger, 1890) presenting a complete survey checklist or a field guide to the amphibians of Ne­ of the then-available information in this field; these pal, I considered that this material should be used D ubois for the completion of revisions of groups taken one long "sleeping" subject is very promising, but here by one, as problems were evident in all the amphib­ some words of warning are in order. At the verge of ian taxa of Nepal (Dubois, 1974,1975a-b, 1976,1980, the 21th century, taxonomy can no longer be consid­ 1983,1984b, 1987a, in press). To be serious and mean­ ered a young science, and what was permissible at ingful, such revisions should not only take into ac­ the end of the 19th century is no longer so. It was count all available specimens from Nepal and the then usual to describe a "new species" without ex­ immediately neighbouring countries (India and Ti­ tensive comparison with related species, and in par­ bet), but should also include re-examination of the ticular without actual comparison with specimens status of all related taxa from South and South-East in other collections: evaluation of a specimen against Asia, including Indochina and China, which makes written descriptions was then believed to be suffi­ such a project formidable. In particular, owing to the cient to decide if the same or a different taxon was long lack of communication between batrachologists involved. Nowadays, any serious alpha-taxonomic in China and in other countries, "parallel" work must rely not only upon the study of descrip­ taxonomies have tended to develop north and south tions and other bibliographic data, but also of of the southern border of China. Such a situation is voucher specimens of related species, particularly of Quite unsatisfactory, as it does not allow taxonomic, type-specimens of all concerned nominal species. phylogenetic and biogeographic generalizations to The taxonomy of the amphibian fauna of the Ori­ be made: recent opening of scientific communication ental Region, and particularly of South Asia, is still with Chinese zoologists will allow the homogeniza­ very unsatisfactory, especially when compared with tion of the taxonomy of amphibians in all of Eastern that of most other regions of the world. Many spe- Asia, but this will still require time, since travel, loans cies-groups or even genera of this region have not and examination of specimens will be necessary to been the subject of recent revisions, and the solve many doubts and problems. Because of these nomenclatural status of many names, including very difficulties, up to now only the revision of the "common" ones, for which no types are identified Himalayan ranids now referred to the genera and no recent descriptions available, is unclear: in Chaparana and Paa could be completed (Dubois, such circumstances, adding further new names to 1975a, 1976, 1979,1980,1992; Dubois & Khan, 1980; the already existing ones, without proper compari­ Dubois & Matsui, 1983), and work on the other sons, will only complicate further the work of fu­ groups is still in progress. Despite this, progress in ture serious workers, who will have to take all these our knowledge of the Nepalese fauna has been enor­ new names into account in their revisions, to look at mous: while Swan & Leviton's (1962) checklist re­ their type-specimens and to deal with the resulting ported about 16 amphibian species in this country, nomenclatural problems. A further problem is posed Dubois's (in press) checklist, submitted for publica­ by authors not preserving type-specimens in a way tion in 1997, mentioned 42 species and subspecies, that will ensure their long-term survival, i.e. in com­ to which, according to Anders et al. (1998), petent institutions as defined by the Code (Anony­ Rhacophorus (Polypedates) taeniatus Boulenger, 1906 mous, 1985: Recommendations 72.D and 72.G, Arti­ should be added: this represents an increase by 169 cle 75.d.6), and publishing their descriptions in jour­ % over 35 years (43 against 16), including 11 species nals which do not practice a high Quality of peer re­ first described after 1962 (26 % of the total fauna). view, or too often, no peer review at all. Editors of An important finding of this research is that, for 43 zoological journals would perform a much appreci­ valid names, this checklist reports about 50 syno­ ated service to the scientific community if they refuse nyms (54 % of the total number of 93 names consid­ to publish such isolated descriptions of so-called ered altogether), so that it is clear that even in a "new species" in the absence of comprehensive di­ poorly-explored country with a little-studied fauna, agnosis against all available possible subjective syno­ systematic and nomenclatural work must be carried nyms through the examination of type-specimens: out carefully if one wishes to build up a serious and in most cases, descriptions of new species is war­ useful taxonomy. ranted only in groups which have been subject to However, the finding that Boulenger's taxonomy recent revision. Rather than publish such papers, edi­ was not the "final" one, even for the ranids, had tors should encourage the authors to carry out com­ important conseQuences, as it seems to have "freed" prehensive nomenclatural and taxonomic revisions, some taxonomists from the dreadful respect they had to examine and describe old type-specimens, to des­ shown for this taxonomy for more than half a cen­ ignate and describe neotypes when necessary, and tury: this resulted in the recent description of a to review critically the species-group taxa: only when number of "new species" of Indian frogs by several this is done will it be meaningful to describe new authors in various journals. This reborn interest in a species. 2 ]. South Asian Nat. Hist. S o uth A sian A m phibia Actually, and although this is not understood by describes a specimen of Amolops as a new species of some taxonomists (and has led to some serious mis­ Rana or, more "precisely", of Rana (Sylvirana), a understandings on the nature of zoological nomen­ young Bufo as a new species of Ansonia, or, even clature: see e.g. De Queiroz & Gauthier, 1994), allo­ worse, a specimen of Paa as a new species of Scutiger cation of zoological names to taxa is not at all based (none of these examples is imaginary), one will find on definitions, diagnoses or descriptions, but on the many distinctive characters that will purportedly allocation to the taxa of name-bearing type specimens justify the creation of a new nominal species! As the or onomatophores, which constitute an objective, ma­ Code (Anonymous, 1985: Article 13) only reQuires, terial connection between the real world of animal for the nomenclatural availability of a name, that it populations and the world of language (for more be "accompanied by a description or definition", but details, see Dubois & Ohler, 1997).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cfreptiles & Amphibians
    WWW.IRCF.ORG TABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES &IRCF AMPHIBIANS REPTILES • VOL &15, AMPHIBIANS NO 4 • DEC 2008 • 189 27(2):288–292 • AUG 2020 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE ARTICLES . Chasing BullsnakesAmphibians (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin: of the Melghat, On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer 190 . The Shared History of TreeboasMaharashtra, (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: India A Hypothetical Excursion ............................................................................................................................Robert W. Henderson 198 RESEARCH ARTICLES Hayat A. Qureshi and Gajanan A. Wagh . Biodiversity Research Laboratory,The Texas Horned Department Lizard in of Central Zoology, and ShriWestern Shivaji Texas Science ....................... College, Emily Amravati, Henry, Jason Maharashtra–444603, Brewer, Krista Mougey, India and Gad (gaj [email protected]) 204 . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida .............................................Brian J. Camposano,Photographs Kenneth L. Krysko, by the Kevin authors. M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael Granatosky 212 CONSERVATION ALERT . World’s Mammals in Crisis ............................................................................................................................................................. 220 . More Than Mammals .....................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Froglog95 New Version Draft1.Indd
    March 2011 Vol. 95 FrogLogwww.amphibians.org News from the herpetological community The new face of the ASG “Lost” Frogs Red List The global search Updating South comes to an end. Africas Red Where next? Lists. Page 1 FrogLog Vol. 95 | March 2011 | 1 2 | FrogLog Vol. 95 | March 2011 CONTENTS The Sierra Caral of Guatemala a refuge for endemic amphibians page 5 The Search for “Lost” Frogs page 12 Recent diversifi cation in old habitats: Molecules and morphology in the endangered frog, Craugastor uno page 17 Updating the IUCN Red List status of South African amphibians 6 Amphibians on the IUCN Red List: Developments and changes since the Global Amphibian Assessment 7 The forced closure of conservation work on Seychelles Sooglossidae 8 Alien amphibians challenge Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis 9 Is there a decline of amphibian richness in Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary? 10 High prevalence of the amphibian chytrid pathogen in Gabon 11 Breeding-site selection by red-belly toads, Melanophryniscus stelzneri (Anura: Bufonidae), in Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina 11 Upcoming meetings 20 | Recent Publications 20 | Internships & Jobs 23 Funding Opportunities 22 | Author Instructions 24 | Current Authors 25 FrogLog Vol. 95 | March 2011 | 3 FrogLog Editorial elcome to the new-look FrogLog. It has been a busy few months Wfor the ASG! We have redesigned the look and feel of FrogLog ASG & EDITORIAL COMMITTEE along with our other media tools to better serve the needs of the ASG community. We hope that FrogLog will become a regular addition to James P. Collins your reading and a platform for sharing research, conservation stories, events, and opportunities.
    [Show full text]
  • Exotic and Endemic Vertebrates of Nepal
    Exotic and Endemic Vertebrates of Nepal Poems by Ann Mayer ILLUSTRATIONS BY Ann Mayer and Bimal Shahi An e-book produced for the children of Nepal who have such an amazing variety of natural resources to preserve for future generations. COPYRIGHT ANN M.MAYER 2017 3 Welcome to Nepal Since I promised you not long ago Another visit to Nepal, I’m here with you just one more time To accompany you with words that rhyme. We’ll meet thirteen animals called vertebrates: (Another new word for you to learn). These creatures have a backbone or spine Which divides their body at the midline. o Nepal is the only country without a rectangular flag It looks like two pennants, one on top of the other TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF 5 Welcome to Nepal Exotic and CONTENTS ENDEMIC VERTEBRATES SCIENTIFIC NAME Endemic 9 Marsh Crocodile. “Mugger” R Crocodylus palestris 11 Maskey’s Burrowing Frog A Sphaerotheca maskeyi Vertebrates 13 Nepalese Field Mouse M Apodemus gurkha 15 Spiny Babbler B Turdiodesni palensis of Nepal EXOTIC VERTEBRATES 17 Blue Throated Barbet B Megalaima asiática Poems by Ann Mayer 19 Crab Eating Mongoose M Herpestes urva 21 Sloth Bear M Melsursus ursinus 23 Elongated Tortoise R Indotestudo elongata ILLUSTRATIONS BY 25 Himalayan Tahr M Hermitargus jemlahicus Ann Mayer and Bimal Shahi 27 Hoopoe B Upupa epops 29 Indus Valley Bullfrog A Hoplobatrachus tigerinus VERTEBRATES 31 Nepal Gray Langur M Semnopithecus schistacens INCLUDED 33 Crimson Sunbird B Aethopyga siparaja Amphibians = A Birds =B Reptiles = R Mammals = M 34 Farewell to Nepal Marsh Crocodile or “Mugger” (Crocodylus palustris) The mugger is a huge beast— As many as 48 eggs may hatch You hope you’ll never meet.
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibian Community Structure Along Elevation Gradients in Eastern Nepal Himalaya Janak R
    Khatiwada et al. BMC Ecol (2019) 19:19 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-019-0234-z BMC Ecology RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Amphibian community structure along elevation gradients in eastern Nepal Himalaya Janak R. Khatiwada1,2, Tian Zhao1* , Youhua Chen1, Bin Wang1, Feng Xie1, David C. Cannatella3 and Jianping Jiang1 Abstract Background: Species richness and composition pattern of amphibians along elevation gradients in eastern Nepal Himalaya are rarely investigated. This is a frst ever study in the Himalayan elevation gradient, the world’s highest mountain range and are highly sensitive to the efects of recent global changes. The aim of the present study was to assess amphibian community structure along elevation gradients and identify the potential drivers that regulate community structures. Amphibian assemblages were sampled within 3 months in both 2014 and 2015 (from May to July) using nocturnal time constrained and acoustic aids visual encounter surveys. In total, 79 transects between 78 and 4200 m asl were sampled within 2 years feld work. A combination of polynomial regression, generalized linear models, hierarchical partitioning and canonical correspondence analysis were used to determine the efects of eleva- tion and environmental variables on species richness, abundance, and composition of amphibian communities. Results: Species richness and abundance declined linearly with increasing elevation, which did not support the Mid- Domain Model. Among all the environmental variables, elevation, surface area and humidity were the best predictors of species richness, abundance and composition of amphibians. The majority of amphibian species had narrow eleva- tion ranges. There was no signifcant correlation between species range size and elevation gradients.
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 25 No. 1 March, 2000 H a M a D R Y a D V O L 25
    NO.1 25 M M A A H D A H O V D A Y C R R L 0 0 0 2 VOL. 25NO.1 MARCH, 2000 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% HAMADRYAD Vol. 25. No. 1. March 2000 Date of issue: 31 March 2000 ISSN 0972-205X Contents A. E. GREER & D. G. BROADLEY. Six characters of systematic importance in the scincid lizard genus Mabuya .............................. 1–12 U. MANTHEY & W. DENZER. Description of a new genus, Hypsicalotes gen. nov. (Sauria: Agamidae) from Mt. Kinabalu, North Borneo, with remarks on the generic identity of Gonocephalus schultzewestrumi Urban, 1999 ................13–20 K. VASUDEVAN & S. K. DUTTA. A new species of Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India .................21–28 O. S. G. PAUWELS, V. WALLACH, O.-A. LAOHAWAT, C. CHIMSUNCHART, P. DAVID & M. J. COX. Ethnozoology of the “ngoo-how-pak-pet” (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) in southern peninsular Thailand ................29–37 S. K. DUTTA & P. RAY. Microhyla sholigari, a new species of microhylid frog (Anura: Microhylidae) from Karnataka, India ....................38–44 Notes R. VYAS. Notes on distribution and breeding ecology of Geckoella collegalensis (Beddome, 1870) ..................................... 45–46 A. M. BAUER. On the identity of Lacerta tjitja Ljungh 1804, a gecko from Java .....46–49 M. F. AHMED & S. K. DUTTA. First record of Polypedates taeniatus (Boulenger, 1906) from Assam, north-eastern India ...................49–50 N. M. ISHWAR. Melanobatrachus indicus Beddome, 1878, resighted at the Anaimalai Hills, southern India .............................
    [Show full text]
  • Varanus Doreanus) in Australia
    BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 11 Number 1 ISSN: 1936-296X On the Cover: Varanus douarrha The individuals depicted on the cover and inset of this issue represent a recently redescribed species of monitor lizard, Varanus douarrha (Lesson, 1830), which origi- nates from New Ireland, in the Bismark Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Although originally discovered and described by René Lesson in 1830, the holotype was lost on its way to France when the ship it was traveling on became shipwrecked at the Cape of Good Hope. Since then, without a holotype for comparitive studies, it has been assumed that the monitors on New Ireland repre- sented V. indicus or V. finschi. Recent field investiga- tions by Valter Weijola in New Ireland and the Bismark Archipelago and phylogenetic analyses of recently col- lected specimens have reaffirmed Lesson’s original clas- sification of this animal as a distinct species. The V. douarrha depicted here were photographed by Valter Weijola on 17 July and 9 August 2012 near Fis- soa on the northern coast of New Ireland. Both individu- als were found basking in coconut groves close to the beach. Reference: Weijola, V., F. Kraus, V. Vahtera, C. Lindqvist & S.C. Donnellan. 2017. Reinstatement of Varanus douarrha Lesson, 1830 as a valid species with comments on the zoogeography of monitor lizards (Squamata: Varanidae) in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Australian Journal of Zoology 64(6): 434–451. BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Editor Editorial Review ROBERT W. MENDYK BERND EIDENMÜLLER Department of Herpetology Frankfurt, DE Smithsonian National Zoological Park [email protected] 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008, US RUSTON W.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 from the Lateritic Plateaus of the Goa Parts of the Western Ghats
    Rec. zool. Surv. India: Vol. 117(4)/ 301-314, 2017 ISSN (Online) : (Applied for) DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v117/i4/2017/121293 ISSN (Print) : 0375-1511 A new species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 from the lateritic plateaus of the Goa parts of the Western Ghats K. P. Dinesh1,3*, Nirmal U. Kulkarni2, Priyanka Swamy3 and P. Deepak4 1Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre (WRC), Pune – 411044, Maharashtra, India; [email protected] 2Mhadei Research Centre, C/o Hiru Naik Building, Dhuler Mapusa – 403507, Goa, India 3Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012, Karnataka, India 4Mount Carmel College, Autonomous; No. 58, Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru – 560052, Karnataka, India Abstract Fejervarya Based on a combination of field explorations, morphological characters and molecular studies, a large sized Fejervarya nilagiricaspecies new to science is described using an integrated taxonomic approach. Here, the newFejervarya species is diagnosed on the basis of distinctness in morphology, genetic distance and geography. The new species is assignable to the morphological group. In addition, taxonomic problems among the congeners of in the Western Ghats are discussed. Finally, we describe the pattern of species representations of different morphological group in the Goa landscape. Keywords: Fejervarya , Goa, Goemchi, Lateritic, New Species, Plateau, Taxonomy, Western Ghats Introduction Fejervarya modesta, Fejervarya murthii, Fejervarya mysorensis, Fejervarya parambikulamana and Fejervarya The anuran family Dicroglossidae Anderson, 1871 is sauriceps where most of these species are known from represented by 201 species globally (Frost, 2017) and original descriptions or from type localities only. Of the in India by 67 species within 11 genera (Dinesh et al., rest which have clear taxon identity, Fejervarya caperata, 2017).
    [Show full text]
  • Zootaxa, Small-Sized Dicroglossids from India, with The
    Zootaxa 2209: 43–56 (2009) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2009 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) Small-sized dicroglossids from India, with the description of a new species from West Bengal, India ANNEMARIE OHLER1, KAUSHIK DEUTI2, STÉPHANE GROSJEAN1, SUBHADIP PAUL3, ANAND KUMAR AYYASWAMY4, M. FIROZ AHMED5, & SUSHIL K. DUTTA6 1Reptiles et Amphibiens, DSE, MNHN, CNRS, 25 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France. E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected] 2Zoological Survey of India, Amphibia Section, Spirit Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India. E-mail: [email protected] 3 Birpara Village, Jalpaiguri District, P.O. Alipurduar 736 121, West Bengal, India 4Zoological Survey of India, P.O. Hyderguda, Ring Road, Hyderabad 500 038, India. E-mail: [email protected] 5Division of Herpetology, Aaranyak, 50 Samanwoy Path, Survey, Beltola, Guwahati 781028, Assam, India. E-mail: [email protected] 6Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada 757 003, Orissa, India. E-mail: [email protected] 7Corresponding author. E-mail : [email protected] Abstract A new small-sized species of dicroglossid frog from West Bengal is described as Minervarya chilapata sp. nov. and compared to Minervarya sahyadris. It differs from all Fejervarya species by its smaller size, by the presence of a distinct white band on upper lip and by the presence of a rictal gland. The new species is separable from its congener in showing a more pointed snout, smaller tympanum and more developed webbing. Its advertisement call is described and compared to that of M. sahyadris. Generic allocation is discussed.
    [Show full text]
  • From Western India
    OPEN ACCESS The Journal of Threatened Taxa fs dedfcated to bufldfng evfdence for conservafon globally by publfshfng peer-revfewed arfcles onlfne every month at a reasonably rapfd rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org . All arfcles publfshed fn JoTT are regfstered under Creafve Commons Atrfbufon 4.0 Internafonal Lfcense unless otherwfse menfoned. JoTT allows unrestrfcted use of arfcles fn any medfum, reproducfon, and dfstrfbufon by provfdfng adequate credft to the authors and the source of publfcafon. Journal of Threatened Taxa Bufldfng evfdence for conservafon globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Onlfne) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Prfnt) Artfcle Sphaerotheca pashchfma , a new specfes of burrowfng frog (Anura: Dfcroglossfdae) from western Indfa Anand Padhye, Neelesh Dahanukar, Shaurf Sulakhe, Nfkhfl Dandekar, Sunfl Lfmaye & Kfrf Jamdade 26 June 2017 | Vol. 9| No. 6 | Pp. 10286–10296 10.11609/jot. 2877 .9. 6.10286-10296 For Focus, Scope, Afms, Polfcfes and Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/About_JoTT For Arfcle Submfssfon Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/Submfssfon_Gufdelfnes For Polfcfes agafnst Scfenffc Mfsconduct vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/JoTT_Polfcy_agafnst_Scfenffc_Mfsconduct For reprfnts contact <[email protected]> Publfsher/Host Partner Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2017 | 9(6): 10286–10296 Article Sphaerotheca pashchima, a new species of burrowing frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from western India ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) Anand Padhye 1, Neelesh Dahanukar 2, Shauri Sulakhe 3, Nikhil Dandekar 4, Sunil Limaye 5 & ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Kirti Jamdade 6 OPEN ACCESS 1 Department of Zoology, Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India 1,3,4 Institute of Natural History Education and Research (INHER), C26/9 Ketan Heights, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India 2 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), G1 Block, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • 3Systematics and Diversity of Extant Amphibians
    Systematics and Diversity of 3 Extant Amphibians he three extant lissamphibian lineages (hereafter amples of classic systematics papers. We present widely referred to by the more common term amphibians) used common names of groups in addition to scientifi c Tare descendants of a common ancestor that lived names, noting also that herpetologists colloquially refer during (or soon after) the Late Carboniferous. Since the to most clades by their scientifi c name (e.g., ranids, am- three lineages diverged, each has evolved unique fea- bystomatids, typhlonectids). tures that defi ne the group; however, salamanders, frogs, A total of 7,303 species of amphibians are recognized and caecelians also share many traits that are evidence and new species—primarily tropical frogs and salaman- of their common ancestry. Two of the most defi nitive of ders—continue to be described. Frogs are far more di- these traits are: verse than salamanders and caecelians combined; more than 6,400 (~88%) of extant amphibian species are frogs, 1. Nearly all amphibians have complex life histories. almost 25% of which have been described in the past Most species undergo metamorphosis from an 15 years. Salamanders comprise more than 660 species, aquatic larva to a terrestrial adult, and even spe- and there are 200 species of caecilians. Amphibian diver- cies that lay terrestrial eggs require moist nest sity is not evenly distributed within families. For example, sites to prevent desiccation. Thus, regardless of more than 65% of extant salamanders are in the family the habitat of the adult, all species of amphibians Plethodontidae, and more than 50% of all frogs are in just are fundamentally tied to water.
    [Show full text]
  • 306 Natural History Notes
    306 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES Sistemática Urbana e Forense, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazô- SPEA BOMBIFRONS (Plains Spadefoot). LEUCISM. On visits in nia – Campus II, Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69080-97, Manaus, Amazonas, Bra- July and August 2014, July 2017, and June 2018, we detected leu- zil (e-mail: [email protected]). cistic Spea bombifrons tadpoles among normal-pigmented indi- viduals (see Fig. 1) in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Leucistic SCINAX AURATUS. PREDATION. Anurans are often predated by individuals were entirely white to mostly white on the ventral vertebrates and invertebrates at all stages of their life cycle (Du- and dorsal surfaces, with some individuals exhibiting a marbling ellman and Trueb 1986. Biology of Amphibians. McGraw-Hill, pattern of the dark and light pigments; all had normal, dark- New York, New York. 670 pp.; Wells 2007. The Ecology and Behav- colored eyes. On 19 June 2018 (Fig. 1), most of the individuals ior of Amphibians. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. were between Gosner Stages 26–36 with various stages of hind 1148 pp.). Among the invertebrates, spiders are efficient predators limb development. Although leucistic S. bombifrons have been (Menin et al. 2005. Phyllomedusa 4:39–47; Pombal Jr. 2007. Rev. detected multiple times since 2014, leucistic individuals were Bras. Zool. 24:841–843), with predation documented in the Hyli- not observed every year. For example, a recent visit in June 2019 dae by spiders in the families Ctenidae (Abarca et al. 2018. Herpe- did not detect any leucistic S. bombifrons among the dozens of tol. Rev. 49:726–727), Lycosidae (Villanova et al.
    [Show full text]
  • OCCAS ONAL PAPER No. 291 RECORDS of the ZOOLOGICAL
    OCCAS ONAL PAPER No. 291 RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Bibliographical notes on the Amphibians of North East India NIBEDITA SEN ROSAMMA MATHEW ZOOLOGICAL ,SURVEY OF INDIA OCCASIONAL PAPER No. 291 RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA Bibliographical notes on the Amphibians of North East India NmEDITA SEN ROSAMMA MATHEW Zoological Survey of India, Eastern Regional Station, Shillong-793003 Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata ~~ Zoological Survey of India Kolkata CITATION Sen, Nibedita, Mathew, Rosamma, 2008. Bibliographical notes on the Amphibians of north east India. Rec. zool. Sur-v. India, Occ. Paper No., 291 : ] -58. Published : December, 2008 ISBN : 978-81-817 I -204-2 © Govl. of India, 2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. • This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of without the publisher's consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which, it is published. • The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this page. Any revised price indicated 'by a rubber stamp or by a sticker or by any other means is incorrect and should be unacceptable. PRICE Indian Rs. 125.00 Foreign $ 8 £ 6 Published at the Publication Division, by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, 234/4 A.J.C. Bose Road, 2nd MSO Building, Nizam Palace (13th tloor), Kolkata 700 020 and printed at Krishna Prfnting Works, Kolkata - 700 006.
    [Show full text]