DOCSLIB.ORG

(Colubridae: Lycodon Boie, 1826) from Peninsular Malaysia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
(Colubridae: Lycodon Boie, 1826) from Peninsular Malaysia Zootaxa 3815 (1): 051–067 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3815.1.3 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FADC54BE-301E-40E7-9029-159082652822 A diminutive new species of cave-dwelling Wolf Snake (Colubridae: Lycodon Boie, 1826) from Peninsular Malaysia L. LEE GRISMER1, EVAN S.H. QUAH2, SHAHRUL ANUAR M.S2,3, MOHD ABDUL MUIN2, PERRY L. WOOD, JR4 & SITI AZIZAH MOHD NOR2 1Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, California 92515 USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia. E-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 3Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 4Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 150 East Bulldog Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84602 USA. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract A newly discovered, diminutive, cave-dwelling, lowland species of the colubrid snake genus Lycodon Boie is described from a limestone cave along the Thai-Malaysian border in the state of Perlis, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. Lycodon cavernicolus sp. nov. is most closely related to L. butleri Boulenger, an endemic, upland, forest-dwelling species from Peninsular Malaysia of the fasciatus group but is separated from L. butleri and all other species of the L. fasciatus group and the closely related L. ruhstrati group by having the combination of 245 (male) and 232 (female) ventral scales; 113 (male) and 92 (female) paired, subcaudal scales; a single precloacal plate; nine or 10 supralabials; 10 or 11 infralabials; a maximum total length of 508 mm (female); a relative tail length of 0.25–0.27; an immaculate venter in juveniles and dark- brown, posterior, ventral scale margins in adults; and dorsal and caudal bands in juveniles white. The discovery of L. cav- ernicolus sp. nov. adds to a rapidly growing list of newly discovered reptiles from karst regions and limestone forests of Peninsular Malaysia, underscoring the fact that these areas should be studied before they are quarried as they harbor a significant portion of the Peninsular Malaysia’s herpetological diversity. Key words: new species, Lycodon, karst, limestone, cave, conservation, endemic biodiversity, Peninsular Malaysia Introduction Karst formations are formed through the dissolution of layers of carbonate bedrock creating caves, sinkholes, and karst towers and compose some of Peninsular Malaysia’s most spectacular landscapes. Exposed karst surfaces are particularly subject to weathering and as such, karst towers and cliff faces are often marked by deep, corrugated surfaces resulting from years of erosion and fracturing. These erosive processes also create extensive networks of cave systems that permeate karst formations and create a unique microhabitat to which a number of organisms have become adapted (see Clements et al. 2006; Vermeulen & Whitten 1999). Despite the astonishing degree of floral endemism in karst habitats and their surrounding limestone forests (Kiew 1998) karst formation are generally not considered to harbor high numbers of endemic, terrestrial vertebrates (i.e. Alström et al. 2010; Jenkins et al. 2004; Woxvold et al. 2009) and as such, remain understudied by vertebrate systematists (see Grismer et al. 2014a). In contrast to this notion, however, our recent herpetological surveys of karst regions in Peninsular Malaysia have revealed 13 endemic, karst-adapted species of geckos (eight species of Cnemaspis—Grismer et al. 2008a,b, 2009; 2013; Wood et al. 2013 and five species of Cyrtodactylus—Grismer et al. 2012, 2014a,b,c) and a new species of limestone forest-adapted colubrid snake of the genus Dendrelaphis (Quah et al. in preparation). Remarkably, we have only explored approximately 2% of the known karst formations and associated limestone forests in Peninsular Malaysia (Price 2001) and anticipate that tens of additional new species will eventually be discovered as our explorations continue. Accepted by Z. Nagy: 21 May 2014; published: 12 Jun. 2014 51 Our surveys of the karst systems associated with the Banjaran Nakawan mountain range separating Peninsular Malaysia from southern Thailand resulted in the discovery of a new species of karst-adapted Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis biocellata Grismer, Chan, Nasir & Sumontha) and Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus astrum Grismer, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Muin, Sumontha, Norhayati, Bauer, Wangkulangkul, Grismer & Pauwels). Continuing our surveys in this mountain range, we discovered two individuals of a small species of lowland snake from the karstic cave Gua Wang Burma in the Perlis State Park, Perlis (Fig. 1). We determined that these individuals belonged to the genus Lycodon because they have dorsoventrally flattened heads; vertically elliptical pupils; large nostrils; strongly arched upper maxillary bones whose anterior sections angle inwards; curved, enlarged, anterior maxillary teeth followed by a diastema; 17 anterior and mid-body and 15 posterior rows of dorsal scales bearing eight weakly keeled, medial rows; and rounded, weakly notched, ventral scales (Lanza 1999). We added these specimens to the molecular phylogenetic data set of Siler et al. (2013) and determined they were conspecific and most closely related to L. butleri Boulenger, an upland species endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. However, these specimens differ from L. butleri and all other species of Lycodon in having a unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters. We therefore consider it a new species and describe it below. FIGURE 1. Distribution of Lycodon cavernicolus sp. nov. and L. butleri in Peninsular Malaysia. Stars designate type localities. 52 · Zootaxa 3815 (1) © 2014 Magnolia Press GRISMER ET AL. Material and methods Morphological analysis. Morphological and color pattern data were taken from two specimens from Gua Wang Burma cave, Perlis and 12 specimens of Lycodon butleri from throughout its range. Data evaluated from species of the ruhstrati group were acquired from Vogel et al. (2009). Data presented for species of the fasciatus group were obtained from Zhang et al. (2011). Scale counts and scale nomenclature follow Vogel et al. (2009). All body measurements were made to the nearest millimeter. The number of ventral scales was counted according to Dowling (1951). Half ventrals were not counted, except if they were present on both sides (i.e. divided ventrals). The terminal scute (precloacal plate) was not included in the number of ventrals. The dorsal scale row counts are given at one head length behind the head, at midbody (i.e., at the level of the ventral scale corresponding to a one- half of the total number of ventrals), and at one head length before the vent. We considered sublabials as those scales that had more than one-half their length below a supralabial. The values for paired head characters are listed in Tables 2 and 3 in left/right order. The light-colored bands on the body (dorsal bands) and tail (caudal bands) were counted on one side. Indiscernible or incomplete bands were counted as a single band and bands that were partly fused were counted as two. The collar (i.e. the band on the back of the head) was not counted as a band and bands covering the precloacal plate were added to the dorsal band count. Ventral or belly pattern was considered either banded, spotted, banded anteriorly and spotted posteriorly, immaculate, or with dark-brown posterior edges on the ventral scales. Character abbreviations are SVL–Snout-vent length (mm), TaL–tail length (mm), TL–total length (mm), Rel–TL relative tail length TaL/TL, ASR–dorsal scale rows at neck, MSR–dorsal scale rows at midbody, PSR–dorsal scale rows before vent, Keel–number of keeled dorsal scale rows, VEN–number ventral plates, PreVEN–number of preventrals, VEN not–ventrals notched or not, VEN keel–ventrals keeled or not, SC–number of subcaudal scales, ANA–anal plate single or divided, Lor–number of loreal scales, Lo touch–loreal scale entering the orbit, SL–number of supralabials, SL/Eye–numbers of the supralabials entering orbit, Larg SL–largest supralabial, IL–number of infralabials, IL-tot–total number of infralabials, IL/1st child–number of infralabials in contact with the anterior chin shield, PreOc–number of preoculars, PostOc–number of postoculars. Museum abbreviations are BM–The Natural History Museum, London, UK; BNHS: Bombay Natural History; ZMB–Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin; LSUHC–La Sierra University Herpetological Collection, La Sierra University, Riverside, California, USA. USMHC–Universiti Sains Malaysia Herpetological Collection Molecular analysis. Sequence data from a 1,110 base pair fragment of the cytochrome b gene (cyt b) was obtained from six specimens of Lycodon butleri and the two specimens from the Gua Wang Burma which in total comprised the ingroup. Outgroup samples included 43 specimens from Siler et al. (2013) comprising 18 species. An additional outgroup sequence was obtained for L. albofuscus (USMHC 1457). New sequences used in this study are deposited in GeneBank (Table 1). Genomic DNA was isolated from liver tissue stored in 95% ethanol and extracted using the animal tissue protocol provided by the iNtRON Biotechnology G-spinTM total DNA Extraction Kit (Korea). Cyt b was amplified using a double-stranded Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) under the following conditions:1.0 µl genomic DNA (10–30 µg of DNA), 0.5 µl light strand primer (5μM) HI4910 5’–GACCTGTGATMTGAAAAACCAYC–3’ (Burbrink et al. 2000), 0.5 µl heavy strand primer (5μM) THRSN2 5’–CTTTGGTTTACAAGAACAATGCT–3’ (Burbrink et al. 2000), 2.5 µl of iNtRON MgCl2-free PCR Buffer, 2.5 µl of iNtRON 15 mM MgCl2, 0.2 µl iNtRON Taq DNA Polymerase, 0.5 µl dNTP Mix 10 mM each dNTP, and 17.3 µl nuclease free water. PCR reactions were completed using a G-Storm GS482 Thermal Cycler with the following reaction conditions: initial denaturation at 94°C for 2 min, second denaturation at 94°C for 35 s, annealing at 50°C for 35 s followed by an extension cycle at 72°C for 95 s +4 s per cycle for 32 cycles.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Genus Lycodon)
    Zoologica Scripta Multilocus phylogeny reveals unexpected diversification patterns in Asian wolf snakes (genus Lycodon) CAMERON D. SILER,CARL H. OLIVEROS,ANSSI SANTANEN &RAFE M. BROWN Submitted: 6 September 2012 Siler, C. D., Oliveros, C. H., Santanen, A., Brown, R. M. (2013). Multilocus phylogeny Accepted: 8 December 2012 reveals unexpected diversification patterns in Asian wolf snakes (genus Lycodon). —Zoologica doi:10.1111/zsc.12007 Scripta, 42, 262–277. The diverse group of Asian wolf snakes of the genus Lycodon represents one of many poorly understood radiations of advanced snakes in the superfamily Colubroidea. Outside of three species having previously been represented in higher-level phylogenetic analyses, nothing is known of the relationships among species in this unique, moderately diverse, group. The genus occurs widely from central to Southeast Asia, and contains both widespread species to forms that are endemic to small islands. One-third of the diversity is found in the Philippine archipelago. Both morphological similarity and highly variable diagnostic characters have contributed to confusion over species-level diversity. Additionally, the placement of the genus among genera in the subfamily Colubrinae remains uncertain, although previous studies have supported a close relationship with the genus Dinodon. In this study, we provide the first estimate of phylogenetic relationships within the genus Lycodon using a new multi- locus data set. We provide statistical tests of monophyly based on biogeographic, morpho- logical and taxonomic hypotheses. With few exceptions, we are able to reject many of these hypotheses, indicating a need for taxonomic revisions and a reconsideration of the group's biogeography. Mapping of color patterns on our preferred phylogenetic tree suggests that banded and blotched types have evolved on multiple occasions in the history of the genus, whereas the solid-color (and possibly speckled) morphotype color patterns evolved only once.
    [Show full text]
  • Herp. Bulletin 101.Qxd
    Mountain wolf snake ( Lycodon r . ruhstrati ) predation on an exotic lizard, Anolis sagrei , in Chiayi County, Taiwan GERRUT NORVAL 1, SHAO-CHANG HUANG 2 and JEAN-JAY MAO 3 1 Applied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Nature Conservation, UNISA, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710, Republic of South Africa . Email: [email protected] [author for correspondence] 2 Department of Life Science, Tunghai University. No. 181, Sec. 3, Taichung-Kan Road, Taichung, 407- 04, Taiwan, R.O.C . 3 Department of Natural Resources, National I-Lan University, No. 1, Shen-Lung Rd., Sec. 1, I-Lan City 260, Taiwan, R.O.C . ABSTRACT – The Mountain wolf snake ( Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati ) is a common snake species at low elevations all over Taiwan. Still, it appears to be poorly studied in Taiwan and adjacent areas since little has been reported about this species. On 26 th August 2002 ten L. r. ruhstrati eggs were obtained from an adult female, one of two that were caught a day before, and eight of the eggs hatched successfully on 14 th October 2002. While in captivity all the adults preyed upon Anolis sagrei , which were given to them as prey, while two neonates accepted A. sagrei hatchlings offered to them as food. On February 18 th , 2006, a DOR Mountain wolf snake, with an A. sagrei in its stomach, was found on a tarred road in Santzepu, Sheishan District, Chiayi County. This appears to be the first report from Taiwan of the Mountain wolf snake ( L. r. ruhstrati ) preying on the exotic introduced lizard A.
    [Show full text]
  • New Country Records of Reptiles from Laos
    Biodiversity Data Journal 1: e1015 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.1.e1015 Taxonomic paper New country records of reptiles from Laos Vinh Quang Luu†,‡, Truong Quang Nguyen§,|, Thomas Calame¶, Tuoi Thi Hoang#, Sisomphone Southichack††, Michael Bonkowski|, Thomas Ziegler‡,| † Department of Wildlife, Faculty of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Vietnam Forestry University, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam ‡ AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, D-50735 Cologne, Germany § Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam | Zoological Institute, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany ¶ WWF Greater Mekong, House No. 39, Unit 05, Ban Saylom, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic # Biodiversity Center, Faculty of Natural Resource and Environmental Management, Vietnam Forestry University, Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam †† Hin Nam No National Protected Area, Boualapha District, Khammouane Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic Corresponding author: Vinh Quang Luu ([email protected]) Academic editor: Johannes Penner Received: 27 Oct 2013 | Accepted: 04 Dec 2013 | Published: 10 Dec 2013 Citation: Luu V, Nguyen T, Calame T, Hoang T, Southichack S, Bonkowski M, Ziegler T (2013) New country records of reptiles from Laos. Biodiversity Data Journal 1: e1015. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.1.e1015 Abstract Four species of reptiles, of which one is represented by one of its subspecies, are recorded for the first time from Laos: Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis, Lycodon futsingensis, and L. ruhstrati, as L. ruhstrati abditus, from limestone forests in Khammouane Province and Cyrtodactylus pseudoquadrivirgatus from hill evergreen forest in Salavan Province. These discoveries of lizards and snakes bring the total species number of reptiles to 189 in Laos.
    [Show full text]
  • P. 1 AC27 Inf. 7 (English Only / Únicamente En Inglés / Seulement
    AC27 Inf. 7 (English only / únicamente en inglés / seulement en anglais) CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ____________ Twenty-seventh meeting of the Animals Committee Veracruz (Mexico), 28 April – 3 May 2014 Species trade and conservation IUCN RED LIST ASSESSMENTS OF ASIAN SNAKE SPECIES [DECISION 16.104] 1. The attached information document has been submitted by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of * Nature) . It related to agenda item 19. * The geographical designations employed in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CITES Secretariat or the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for the contents of the document rests exclusively with its author. AC27 Inf. 7 – p. 1 Global Species Programme Tel. +44 (0) 1223 277 966 219c Huntingdon Road Fax +44 (0) 1223 277 845 Cambridge CB3 ODL www.iucn.org United Kingdom IUCN Red List assessments of Asian snake species [Decision 16.104] 1. Introduction 2 2. Summary of published IUCN Red List assessments 3 a. Threats 3 b. Use and Trade 5 c. Overlap between international trade and intentional use being a threat 7 3. Further details on species for which international trade is a potential concern 8 a. Species accounts of threatened and Near Threatened species 8 i. Euprepiophis perlacea – Sichuan Rat Snake 9 ii. Orthriophis moellendorfi – Moellendorff's Trinket Snake 9 iii. Bungarus slowinskii – Red River Krait 10 iv. Laticauda semifasciata – Chinese Sea Snake 10 v.
    [Show full text]
  • (GISD) 2021. Species Profile Norops Sagrei. Available From
    FULL ACCOUNT FOR: Norops sagrei Norops sagrei System: Terrestrial Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Polychrotidae Common name Bahamian brown anole (English), Cuban brown anole (English), brown anole (English) Synonym Anolis sagrei , (Cocteau in Dum?ril and Bibron, 1837) Similar species Anolis carolinensis Summary Norops sagrei (brown anole) can be identified by its extensible throat fan that is often coloured yellow or reddish-orange and has a white line down the centre of its back. Norops sagrei is a habitat generalist that prefers the open vegetation of disturbed sites. It is a ground dweller but will venture several feet up into trees and shrubs. Norops sagrei compete with Anolis carolinensis and other introduced congeners. Norops sagre also prey on the hatchlings of Anolis carolinensis. view this species on IUCN Red List Species Description Norops sagrei (brown anole) is a “trunk ground ecomorph” sensu (Williams, 1983). It is described as having an extensible throat fan that can be yellow to red-orange. This species can be between 13 and 21.3cm. It also has enlarged toe pads and a short snout (Campbell, 2002). Brown anoles can erect a dorsonuchal crest when exposed to certain stimuli. The tail may have a crest-like ridge, but this is highly variable between individuals and should not be confused with the dorsonuchal crest. Also, the tail is laterally compressed. Females have a light line down the middle of their backs, but males do not. They tend to have a lighter mid-dorsal stripe that is distinct and often boldly patterned in females and often indistinct in males.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecography ECOG-04374 Chen, C., Qu, Y., Zhou, X
    Ecography ECOG-04374 Chen, C., Qu, Y., Zhou, X. and Wang, Y. 2019. Human overexploitation and extinction risk correlates of Chinese snakes. – Ecography doi: 10.1111/ecog.04374 Supplementary material 1 Human overexploitation and extinction risk correlates of Chinese snakes 2 3 Supporting information 4 Appendix 1. Properties of the datasets used, hypotheses and justification 5 Table A1. Extinction risk and predictor variables of Chinese snakes 6 Table A2. Hypotheses on the relationship between extinction risk and intrinsic and extrinsic factors 7 Table A3. Main sources for assessing elevational range and human exploitation index 8 Table A4. The correlation matrices of predictor variables for each snake group 9 Table a5. The full AICc models for Chinese snakes 10 Table a6. The interactions between geographic range size and other important variables 11 Appendix 2. Patterns of extinction risk using the IUCN Red List criteria 12 Appendix 3. Distribution of extinction risk among snake genera 13 Appendix 4. Correlates of extinction risk when species classified under range-based criteria were excluded 14 15 16 17 Appendix 1. Properties of the datasets used, hypotheses and justification 18 Table A1. Extinction risk (based on China Biodiversity Red List), intrinsic traits and extrinsic factors of Chinese snakes. Abbreviations: China, 19 China Biodiversity Red List; RangeC, species assessed under range-based criteria; IUCN, IUCN Red List; BL, Body length; BR, Body ratio; 20 AP, Activity period; MH, Microhabitat; RM, Reproductive mode; HS, Habitat
    [Show full text]
  • A Description of Parasites from Mountain Wolf Snakes, Lycodon Ruhstrati Ruhstrati (Serpentes: Colubridae), from Two Localities in Western Taiwan
    Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, December 2012. Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 130 -133 AJCB: SC0003 ISSN 2278-7666 ©TCRP 2012 A description of parasites from Mountain Wolf Snakes, Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati (Serpentes: Colubridae), from two localities in western Taiwan Gerrut Norval1*, Stephen R. Goldberg 2, Charles R. Bursey 3, Simon Dieckmann 4, and Jean-Jay Mao5 1Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710, Republic of South Africa. 2 Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608, U.S.A. 3 Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, U.S.A. 4 430, Huacheng 5th St., Yian Township, Hualien County, 973, Taiwan, R.O.C. 5 Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Ilan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Shen-Lung Rd., Yilan, 260, Taiwan, R.O.C. (Accepted October 30, 2012) Based on the results of a recent revision of the species searched for parasites under a dissecting microscope. For Lycodon ruhstrati (Fischer, 1886) by Vogel et al. study, parasites were placed in a drop of lactophenol on a (2009), it was found that Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati glass slide, allowed to clear, and identified from these (Fischer, 1886) can be regarded as an endemic subspe- temporary preparations. We used the terminology of cies, restricted to Taiwan and that the mainland popula- Bush et al. (1997) to describe the prevalence and mean tions in China and northern Vietnam consisted of the intensity of the parasites. revalidated species Lycodon futsingensis (Pope, 1928) The parasites found, and their numbers, are and the newly described subspecies Lycodon ruhstrati listed in table 2.
    [Show full text]
  • 0Dead43da3467c10f27457baed
    1. 実施概要 目的 次世代を担う青少年が海外の未知の自然環境に触れることで、自然科学分野での視野を広げ ると共に、現地の人との交流により、国際的な感覚を体験させる次世代育成・国際交流事業を 実施する。本事業実施により、未来ある若者の将来の指針づくりに役立ててもらうと共に、花 の万博の理念である “自然と人間との共生” を国際的に普及させることを狙いとする。 企画、主催団体 ・企画、主管 公益財団法人国際花と緑の博覧会記念協会 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館 台北市立動物園 ・旅行主催 株式会社ＪＴＢ 対象 高等学校１年生～３年生までの生徒 参加人員 日本人高校生２０名 台湾人高校生２０名 実施期間 令和元年８月２日（金）～令和元年８月８日（木）６泊７日 主な内容 ・選考会 令和元年６月９日（日） ・事前学習会 令和元年７月７日（日） ・ツアー実施 令和元年８月２日（金）～ 令和元年８月８日（木） ・事後学習会 令和元年８月２５日（日） スタッフ 秋山 弘之 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館 自然・環境評価研究部 主任研究員 太田 英利 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館 自然・環境評価研究部 研究部長 池田 忠広 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館 自然・環境評価研究部 主任研究員 布野 隆之 兵庫県立人と自然の博物館 自然・環境マネジメント研究部 研究員 久保田 信也 公益財団法人国際花と緑の博覧会記念協会 企画事業部 部長 佐々木 洋平 公益財団法人国際花と緑の博覧会記念協会 企画事業部 第二課長代理 眞田 有規 公益財団法人国際花と緑の博覧会記念協会 企画事業部 第二課課員 丸山 夏季 看護師 1 2. 台湾の生物相 台湾島の形成 台湾本島は、５００万年以上前の造山運動で初めて海面から突出したと考えられている。そ の後、氷河期・間氷期それぞれにおける海水面の低下・上昇などにより、ユーラシア大陸の東 岸と何度も離合を繰り返してきた。現在の台湾本島も、最終氷期に大陸の東岸と一体化してい たものが、１万年あまり前に始まった気候の温暖化傾向にともなう台湾海峡の形成により、大 陸から隔絶されたのである。このような複雑な形成史が、同じく複雑な地形や黒潮、季節風の 影響の地域差とともに、その面積からは考えられないほどの環境や環境履歴の多様性を台湾に もたらしてきた。現在、この島に見られる驚くほど多様で、固有種率の高い生物相は、その結 果にほかならない。 地形 台湾（中華民国）政府が実効支配する領域は、台湾本島とその東岸沖の蘭嶼、緑島、亀山島、 南西岸近くの小琉球、台湾海峡の中央に位置する澎湖諸島、大陸に隣接する金門、馬祖、北岸 沖の彭佳嶼、綿花嶼、そして大きく南に離れた東沙諸島から構成されており、面積は合わせて ２ 3万6千 km あまり（日本の 10 分の 1 弱、九州とほぼ同じ）である。台湾本島のうち西部は 比較的広い平野で、対照的に中央から東側には急峻な山脈（中央山脈、玉山山脈、雪山山脈、 阿里山山脈、海岸山脈など）が連なり、それらと東海岸との間は、西部に比べてずっと狭い平 地となっている。このような地形のため、耕作可能地は島の約 30% にすぎない。台湾の最高峰 は玉山山脈の玉山（海抜 3,952 m、ちなみに富士山は 3,776 m）であるが、他にも標高 3,000 m を超える高山が多数連なっている。 気候 台湾の低地部は、北部が亜熱帯、南部は熱帯に属している。そのため、北部は夏季を除けば 比較的気温が低いのに対し、南部は冬季を除けば気温が摂氏 30 度を超えることが多い。おおよ そ５～９月が夏季とされ、この間、低地は特に蒸し暑く、北部でも日中の気温は 30 度を越え ることが多い。特に７～８月は
    [Show full text]
  • Internal Parasites of Lizards from Taiwan
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9(3):484−494. Submitted: 7 April 2014; Accepted: 22 August 2014; Published: 31 December 2014. INTERNAL PARASITES OF LIZARDS FROM TAIWAN GERRUT NORVAL1,5, STEPHEN R. GOLDBERG2, CHARLES R. BURSEY3, JEAN-JAY MAO4, AND KERRY SLATER1 1Applied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710, Republic of South Africa 2Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608, USA 3Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, USA 4Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Ilan University. No. 1, Sec. 1, Shen-Lung Rd., Ilan 260, Taiwan, Republic of China 5Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—We examined specimens of Anolis sagrei, Eutropis longicaudata, Eutropis multifasciata, Japalura polygonata xanthostoma, Japalura swinhonis, Plestiodon elegans, and Sphenomorphus indicus that we collected opportunistically from Taiwan for endoparasites. We recorded parasites in 52 of the 91 lizards examined, and the infected individuals harbored one to three species of parasites. We identified the parasites as Cyrtosomum penneri, Kiricephalus pattoni, Mesocoelium sociale, Meteterakis govindi, Oochoristica chinensis, Oswaldocruzia japalurae, Parapharyngodon maplestonei, Pseudabbreviata yambarensis, Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis, or Strongyluris calotis. We also recorded an unidentifiable acanthocephalan infective juvenile (cystacanth) and an unidentifiable larva of a cestode (sparganum). Key Words.—Anolis sagrei; Eutropis longicaudata; Eutropis multifasciata; Japalura polygonata xanthostoma; Japalura swinhonis; Plestiodon elegans; Sphenomorphus indicus INTRODUCTION its success in establishing new populations and/or competing with native species. From an anthropogenic perspective, parasites are Parasites also may be introduced into new localities viewed with disdain, disgust, and/or condemnation along with invasive species.
    [Show full text]
  • (Colubridae: Lycodon Boie, 1826) from Peninsular Malaysia
    Zootaxa 3815 (1): 051–067 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3815.1.3 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FADC54BE-301E-40E7-9029-159082652822 A diminutive new species of cave-dwelling Wolf Snake (Colubridae: Lycodon Boie, 1826) from Peninsular Malaysia L. LEE GRISMER1, EVAN S.H. QUAH2, SHAHRUL ANUAR M.S2,3, MOHD ABDUL MUIN2, PERRY L. WOOD, JR4 & SITI AZIZAH MOHD NOR2 1Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, California 92515 USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia. E-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 3Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 4Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, 150 East Bulldog Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84602 USA. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract A newly discovered, diminutive, cave-dwelling, lowland species of the colubrid snake genus Lycodon Boie is described from a limestone cave along the Thai-Malaysian border in the state of Perlis, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. Lycodon cavernicolus sp. nov. is most closely related to L. butleri Boulenger, an endemic, upland, forest-dwelling species from Peninsular Malaysia of the fasciatus group but is separated from L. butleri and all other species of the L. fasciatus group and the closely related L. ruhstrati group by having the combination of 245 (male) and 232 (female) ventral scales; 113 (male) and 92 (female) paired, subcaudal scales; a single precloacal plate; nine or 10 supralabials; 10 or 11 infralabials; a maximum total length of 508 mm (female); a relative tail length of 0.25–0.27; an immaculate venter in juveniles and dark- brown, posterior, ventral scale margins in adults; and dorsal and caudal bands in juveniles white.
    [Show full text]
  • Multilocus Phylogeny of Lycodon and the Taxonomic Revision of Oligodon Multizonatum
    Asian Herpetological Research 2014, 5(1): 26–37 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00026 Multilocus Phylogeny of Lycodon and the Taxonomic Revision of Oligodon multizonatum Juan LEI1, 2, 4, Xiaoyu SUN1, Ke JIANG3, Gernot VOGEL5, David T. BOOTH4 and Li DING1* 1 Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China 2 College of Life and Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China 3 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan Province, China 4 School of Biological Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia 5 Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology, Im Sand 3, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany Abstract Classification of the Asian snake genera Lycodon and Oligodon has proven challenging. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis to estimate the phylogenetic relationships in the genus of Lycodon and clarify the taxonomic status of Oligodon multizonatum using mitochondrial (cyt b, ND4) and nuclear (c-mos) genes. Phylogenetic trees estimated using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference indicated that O. multizonatum is actually a species of Lycodon. Comparing morphological data from O. multizonatum and its closest relatives also supported this conclusion. Our results imply that a thorough review of the evolutionary relationships in the genus of Lycodon is strong suggested. Keywords %D\HVLDQLQIHUHQFH&KLQDFODVVL¿FDWLRQFPRVF\Wb, Lycodon, maximum likelihood, ND4, Oligodon 1. Introduction area, and no study constructed a phylogenetic tree. Green et al. (2010) produced an updated checklist and The genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 is widespread key to the entire genus together with a phylogentic tree.
    [Show full text]
  • (Serpentes, Colubridae) from Northern Vietnam
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 875: 1–29 (2019) A new Lycodon from northern Vietnam 1 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.875.35933 RESEARCH ARTICLE http://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from northern Vietnam Helen Y. Janssen1,2, Cuong T. Pham3, Hanh Thi Ngo4, Minh Duc Le5,6,7, Truong Q. Nguyen3,8, Thomas Ziegler1,2 1 AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, D-50735 Cologne, Germany 2 Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany 3 Institute of Ecology and Biologi- cal Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam 4 Faculty of Biology, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Ha- noi, Vietnam 5 Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam 6 Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Hanoi National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam7 Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024, USA 8 Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam Corresponding author: Truong Q. Nguyen ([email protected]); Thomas Ziegler ([email protected]) Academic editor: Robert Jadin | Received 5 May 2019 | Accepted 25 July 2019 | Published 10 September 2019 http://zoobank.org/F54D525B-03CD-4640-A750-1EEE13D71B06 Citation: Janssen HY, Pham CT, Ngo HT, Le MD, Nguyen TQ, Ziegler T (2019) A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from northern Vietnam.
    [Show full text]