DOCSLIB.ORG

Regional Management Plan for the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Compiled by Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds III

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Regional Management Plan for the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Compiled by Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds III United Nations Regional Environment Programme Management Plan for the West Indian Caribbean Manatee Environment Programme (Trichechus manatus) Regional Coordinating Unit Prepared in collaboration with: CEP Technical Report 48 Note: This document was commissioned by UNEP–Caribbean Environment Programme from Drs. Ester Quintana- Rizzo and John Reynolds III, under the Marine Mammal Action Plan for the Wider Caribbean Region developed in keeping with the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Articles 11 and 21, which call for the establishment, publication, and dissemination of general guidelines and criteria for the management and recovery of endangered and threatened species of regional concern in the form of regional management plans. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Environment Programme. © 2010 UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme 14-20 Port Royal Street Kingston, Jamaica This document may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form of educational or non-proper services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this document as a source. No use of this document may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. For bibliography purposes, this document may be cited as: UNEP: Regional Management Plan for the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) compiled by Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds III. CEP Technical Report No. 48. UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, Kingston, Jamaica. 2010 Caribbean Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme REGIONAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE (Trichechus manatus) Compiled by: Dr. Ester Quintana-Rizzo Dr. John E. Reynolds III Manatee (Trichechus manatus) © Manatee P r o g r a m m e , Mote Marine Laboratory Prepared in collaboration with: CEP Technical Report 48 2010 ii PREFACE The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) is one of several Regional Seas Programmes administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The CEP is based in Kingston, Jamaica, and forms the programmatic framework for the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean (Cartagena Convention) adopted in 1983 by governments of the Wider Caribbean Region. The Cartagena Convention is the only comprehensive environmental umbrella treaty for the region, promoting regional cooperation to protect the economic and environmental sustainability of the region through improved management of coastal and marine resources. To achieve its objectives, the Convention has established three Protocols for environmental management: the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), and the Protocol Concerning Land-Based Sources and Activities of Marine Pollution (LBS). The purpose of the SPAW Protocol is to protect rare and fragile ecosystems and habitats, thereby protecting the endangered and threatened species residing therein. This Protocol was adopted in 1990 and, in 1991, the participating governments adopted three Annexes to the SPAW Protocol listing species of flora and fauna of regional concern requiring protection under the Protocol. The SPAW Protocol became international law in 2000. This document was prepared following Articles 11 and 21 of the SPAW Protocol, which call for the development of general guidelines and criteria for the management and recovery of endangered and threatened species of regional concern. This document also updates UNEP-CEP Technical Report Number 35 published in 1995 and entitled “Regional Management Plan for the West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus,” to promote more effective research and conservation. The marine mammal fauna of the Wider Caribbean Region is diverse and adds significant ecological, aesthetic and economic value to Caribbean countries and territories. Success in managing and conserving marine mammals in this region ultimately will depend largely on the commitment of participating countries to build their internal capacities and to work cooperatively by establishing conservation priorities, standards and strategies for marine mammal conservation and education. Since 1995 governments participating in the SPAW Protocol have considered conservation of the Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) as a regional priority. The subspecies is found in waters of nearly 20 countries or territories, but its distribution is patchy, abundance is very low in most countries, and adverse impacts of humans are or may be considerable. This report is based on in-depth consultation with scientists and managers from the various States and Territories of the Wider Caribbean Region; including both Parties and non-Parties of the SPAW Protocol. All comments and recommendations were considered in preparation of the final document, which was submitted for approval and on 8 September 2008, endorsed by the SPAW Parties at their Fifth Conference of the Parties in Antigua. Based on the wide range of opinions considered, this report recommends both traditional measures for manatee conservation (e.g., improved education and awareness; enforcement) and novel ones (e.g., re- iii introduction into historic habitat) that have proven effective for conserving other endangered species and, if based on sound scientific guidance, may prove useful for manatees. Not all scientific experts (including the authors) necessarily agree with every recommendation or its relative priority. This report does not reflect full scientific consensus, as the issues involved are too complex. Rather, it presents a synthesis of issues and approaches that Parties of the SPAW Protocol should consider and, if deemed appropriate, implement. The UNEP-CEP thanks everyone who contributed in any way to the development of this document. In particular, UNEP-CEP thanks the Government of France for providing funding through the SPAW Regional Activity Centre in Guadeloupe, and Drs. Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds, of Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, Florida) for their dedication to this effort and technical expertise. We hope that it will facilitate more effective conservation of manatees in the Wider Caribbean. Dr. John Reynolds III Nelson Andrade Colmenares Center Director Coordinator Mote Marine Laboratory UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................... xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................... xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... xiii 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Review of Taxonomy and General Biology ................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Common Names........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Classification and Taxonomy ................................................................................................... 1 1.1.3. Geographic Range and Distribution.......................................................................................... 2 1.1.4. Biology...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.5. Life History............................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.6. Social Structure......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.7. Mating Patterns ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.8. Foraging Behaviour .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.9. Thermoregulation and Movement............................................................................................. 8 1.1.10. Communication..................................................................................................................... 10 1.2. General Status in the Region ...................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. Species Population
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Population Viability Analysis of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris), 1976–1991
    Population Viability Analysis of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), 1976–1991 MIRIAM MARMONTEL,*† STEPHEN R. HUMPHREY,‡ AND THOMAS J. O’SHEA§i *Department of Wildlife and Range Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.A. ‡College of Natural Resources and Environment, Box 118100, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, U.S.A. §National Biological Service, Sirenia Project, 412 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601, U.S.A. Abstract: Recent development of age-determination techniques for Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus lati- rostris) has permitted derivation of age-specific data on reproduction and survival of a sample of 1212 car- casses obtained throughout Florida from 1976–1991. Population viability analysis using these data projects a slightly negative growth rate (20.003) and an unacceptably low probability of persistence (0.44) over 1000 years. The main factors affecting population projections were adult survival and fecundity. A 10% increase in adult mortality would drive the population to extinction over a 1000-year time scale, whereas a 10% decrease in adult mortality would allow slow population growth. A 10% decrease in reproduction would also result in extinction. We conclude that management must focus on retaining and improving the conditions under which manatee demography operates. The major identified agent of mortality is boat-manatee collisions, and rapidly increasing numbers of humans and registered boats portend an increase in manatee mortality. Zon- ing of manatee-occupied waters for reductions in boating activity and speed is essential to safeguard the manatee population. If boating regulations being implemented by the state of Florida in each of 13 key coastal counties are completed, enforced, and effective, manatees and human recreation could coexist indefi- nitely.
    [Show full text]
  • Belize—A Last Stronghold for Manatees in the Caribbean
    Belize—a last stronghold for manatees in the Caribbean Thomas J. O'Shea and Charles A. 'Lex' Salisbury Belize is a small country but it offers a safe haven for the largest number of manatees in the Caribbean. The authors' survey in 1989 revealed that there has been no apparent decline since the last study in 1977. However, there is no evidence for population growth either and as the Belize economy develops threats from fisheries, human pressure and declining habitat quality will increase. Recommendations are made to ensure that Belize safeguards its manatee populations. Introduction extensive (Figure 1): straight-line distance from the Rio Hondo at the northern border The West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus with Mexico to the Rio Sarstoon at the is listed as endangered by the US Fish and Guatemala boundary is about 290 km. Wildlife Service and as vulnerable to extinc- However, studies reported 10-20 years ago tion by the International Union for suggested that manatee populations may have Conservation of Nature and Natural been high in Belize relative to other Resources (IUCN) (Thornback and Jenkins, Caribbean-bordering countries (Charnock- 1982). A long-lived, slowly reproducing, her- Wilson, 1968, 1970; Charnock-Wilson et al, bivorous marine mammal, the West Indian 1974; Bengtson and Magor, 1979). Despite manatee inhabits coastal waters and slow- Belize's possible importance for manatees, moving rivers of the tropical and subtropical additional status surveys have not been western Atlantic. This species first became attempted there since 1977 (Bengtson and known in Europe from records made in the Magor, 1979). We made aerial counts of mana- Caribbean on the voyages of Christopher tees over selected areas in May 1989, and dis- Columbus (Baughman, 1946).
    [Show full text]
  • Digest 2.2.Qxd
    Volume 2, Number 2 2003 A G R A S E N T L T A S W E A I G N D D P O L I C Y http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/SGLC Volume 2, Number 2 Sea Grant Law Digest 2003 Page 2 THE SEA GRANT LAW AND POLICY DIGEST is a bi-annual publication indexing the law review and other articles in the fields of ocean and coastal law and policy published within the previous six months. Its goal is to inform the Sea Grant community of recent research and facilitate access to those articles. The staff of the Digest can be reached at: the Sea Grant Law Center, Kinard Hall, Wing E - Room 256, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848, phone: (662) 915-7775, or via e-mail at [email protected] . Editor: Stephanie Showalter, J.D., M.S.E.L. Publication Design: Waurene Roberson This work is funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce under Grant Number NA16RG2258, the Sea Grant Law Center, Mississippi Law Research Institute, and University of Mississippi Law Center. Valuable research assistance is provided by the University of Oregon Ocean and Coastal Law Center. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies. Graphics by @ Nova Development Corp., and NOAA. The University of Mississippi complies with all applicable laws regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all its activities and programs and does not discriminate against anyone pro- tected by law because of age, creed, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, handicap, veteran or other status.
    [Show full text]
  • West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Habitat Characterization Using Side-Scan Sonar
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2017 West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Habitat Characterization Using Side-Scan Sonar Mindy J. McLarty Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation McLarty, Mindy J., "West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) Habitat Characterization Using Side-Scan Sonar" (2017). Master's Theses. 98. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/98 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT WEST INDIAN MANATEE (TRICHECHUS MANATUS) HABITAT CHARACTERIZATION USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR by Mindy J. McLarty Chair: Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University School of Arts and Sciences Title: WEST INDIAN MANATEE (TRICHECHUS MANATUS) HABITAT CHARACTERIZATION USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR Name of researcher: Mindy J. McLarty Name and degree of faculty chair: Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Ph.D. Date completed: April 2017 In this study, the reliability of low cost side-scan sonar to accurately identify soft substrates such as grass and mud was tested. Benthic substrates can be hard to classify from the surface, necessitating an alternative survey approach. A total area of 11.5 km2 was surveyed with the sonar in a large, brackish mangrove lagoon system. Individual points were ground-truthed for comparison with the sonar recordings to provide a measure of accuracy.
    [Show full text]
  • Sirenian Feeding Apparatus: Functional Morphology of Feeding Involving Perioral Bristles and Associated Structures
    THE SIRENIAN FEEDING APPARATUS: FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF FEEDING INVOLVING PERIORAL BRISTLES AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES By CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS MARSHALL A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNrVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REOUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 1997 DEDICATION to us simply as I dedicate this work to the memory of J. Rooker (known "Rooker") and to sirenian conservation. Rooker was a subject involved in the study during the 1993 sampling year at Lowry Park Zoological Gardens. Rooker died during the red tide event in May of 1996; approximately 140 other manatees also died. During his rehabilitation at Lowry Park Zoo, Rooker provided much information regarding the mechanism of manatee feeding and use of the perioral bristles. The "mortality incident" involving the red tide event in southwest Florida during the summer of 1996 should serve as a reminder that the Florida manatee population and the status of all sirenians is precarious. Although some estimates suggest that the Florida manatee population may be stable, annual mortality numbers as well as habitat degradation continue to increase. Sirenian conservation and research efforts must continue. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Research involving Florida manatees required that I work with several different government agencies and private parks. The staff of the Sirenia Project, U.S. Geological Service, Biological Resources Division - Florida Caribbean Science Center has been most helpful in conducting the behavioral aspect of this research and allowed this work to occur under their permit (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Permit number PRT-791721). Numerous conversations regarding manatee biology with Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Giant Sea Mammal That Went Extinct in Less Than Three Decades
    The Giant Sea Mammal That Went Extinct in Less Than Three Decades The quick disappearance of the 30-foot animal helped to usher in the modern science of human-caused extinctions. JACOB MIKANOWSKI, THE ATLANTIC 4/19/17 HTTPS://WWW.THEATLANTIC.COM/SCIENCE/ARCHIVE/2017/04/PLEIST OSEACOW/522831/ The Pleistocene, the geologic era immediately preceding our own, was an age of giants. North America was home to mastodons and saber-tooth cats; mammoths and wooly rhinos roamed Eurasia; giant lizards and bear-sized wombats strode across the Australian outback. Most of these giants died at the by the end of the last Ice Age, some 14,000 years ago. Whether this wave of extinctions was caused by climate change, overhunting by humans, or some combination of both remains a subject of intense debate among scientists. Complicating the picture, though, is the fact that a few Pleistocene giants survived the Quaternary extinction event and nearly made it intact to the present. Most of these survivor species found refuge on islands. Giant sloths were still living on Cuba 6,000 years ago, long after their relatives on the mainland had died out. The last wooly mammoths died out just 4,000 years ago. They lived in a small herd on Wrangel Island north of the Bering Strait between the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas. Two-thousand years ago, gorilla-sized lemurs were still living on Madagascar. A thousand years ago, 12-foot-tall moa birds were still foraging in the forests of New Zealand. Unlike the other long-lived megafauna, Steller’s sea cows, one of the last of the Pleistocene survivors to die out, found their refuge in a remote scrape of the ocean instead of on land.
    [Show full text]
  • AMB Despedida
    Dear Ambassador Robin S. Bernstein, Over your two and half years you have strengthened the bilateral relationship and made a profound impact on the Dominican people and relations between our countries. Just as the Dominican Republic will always be in your heart, the Dominican people will always have you in their hearts. As President Luis Abinader said during the ceremony to present you with the Orden al mérito de Duarte, Sánchez y Mella, “You love the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Republic loves you.” Please find in this book messages, letters, and notes from the Dominican people. The messages come from the general public, members of the Embassy’s social media community, Embassy contacts and Embassy staff. They represent the sentiment of people from different ages, from different provinces and from different walks of life on how they viewed your time in the country and your positive impact. We hope you will cherish these memories which represent the admiration you have gained from the Dominican people throughout your service as U.S. Ambassador. Como siempre y para siempre, Estamos Unidos. - U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Public Affairs Section 4 5 Visit to Fundación Pediátrica por un Mañana - Dec. 2018 7 8 9 10 11 Visit to Ciudad Santamaría - Dec. 2018 Visit to Ciudad Santamaría - Dec. 2018 13 14 15 "Baseball! ¡Béisbol!" mobile exhibit - Nov. 2019 17 18 19 20 21 Independence Day celebration - July 2019 23 24 25 26 27 Visit to Dream Project, Cabarete - Nov. 2018 29 30 31 32 Visit of Secretary of State Michael Pompeo - Aug. 2020 Laurence Martínez Muchas gracias por brindarnos tanta amabilidad Johaira Soto It was a true pleasure to meet you.
    [Show full text]
  • Antillean Manatee Trichechus Manatus Manatus Belize
    Antillean Manatee Trichechus manatus manatus Belize Compiler: Jamal Galves Contributors: Jamal Galves, Joel Verde, Celia Mahung Suggested citation: Galves, J, Belize National Manatee Working Group and Verde, J. A. 2020. A Survival Blueprint for the Antillean Mantees Trichechus manatus manatus of Belize. Results from the EDGE PhotoArk NatGeo Fellowship Project: Efforts to Safeguard the Antillean Manatees of Belize. EDGE of Existence Programme, Zoological Society of London. 1. STATUS REVIEW 1.1 Taxonomy: The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), is from the order of the sirenian of the Trichechidae family and is divided into two subspecies: the Florida manatee T. m. latirostris; and the Antillean manatee T. m. manatus (Hatt, 1934). Antillean Manatee Florida Manatee Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia Order: Sirenia Order: Sirenia Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordata Family: Trichechidae Family: Trichechidae Class: Mammalia Class: Mammalia Genus: Trichechus Genus: Trichechus Species: Trichechus manatus manatus Species: Trichechus manatus ssp. latirostris 1.2 Distribution and population status: Figure 1. Map of Antillean and Florida manatee distribution. Dark grey area shows the distribution of Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus. The distribution of the Florida manatee is displayed in diagonal lines, and the known subpopulations of Antillean manatee with the species genetic barriers is demarcated with dotted lines, according to Vianna et al., 2006. Map used from Castelblanco-Martínez et al 2012. The Antillean Manatee has a fragmented distribution that ranges from the southeast of Texas to as far as the northeast of Brazil, including the Greater Antilles (Lefebvre et al., 2001; Reynolds and Powell, 2002). This species can be found in coastal marine, brackish and freshwater systems, and is capable to alternate between these three environments (Lefebvre, 2001).
    [Show full text]
  • Atypicat Molecular Evolution of Afrotherian and Xenarthran B-Globin
    Atypicat molecular evolution of afrotherian and xenarthran B-globin cluster genes with insights into the B-globin cluster gene organization of stem eutherians. By ANGELA M. SLOAN A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Zoology University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada @ Angela M. Sloan, July 2005 TIIE I]MVERSITY OF' MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STT]DIES ***** - COPYRIGHTPERMISSION ] . Atypical molecular evolution of afrotherian and xenarthran fslobin cluster genes with insights into thefglobin cluster gene organization òf stem eutherians. BY Angela M. Sloan A ThesislPracticum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfill¡nent of the requirement of the degree of Master of Science Angela M. Sloan @ 2005 Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the fiIm, and to University Microfïlms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright ownér. ABSTRACT Our understanding of p-globin gene cluster evolutionlwithin eutherian mammals .is based solely upon data collected from species in the two most derived eutherian superorders, Laurasiatheria and Euarchontoglires. Ifence, nothing is known regarding_the gene composition and evolution of this cluster within afrotherian (elephants, sea cows, hyraxes, aardvarks, elephant shrews, tenrecs and golden moles) and xenarthran (sloths, anteaters and armadillos) mammals.
    [Show full text]
  • United States National Museum
    SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM Bulletin 156 ABORIGINAL INDIAN POTTERY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BY HERBERT W. KRIEGER Curator of Ethnology, United States National Museum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1931 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. Price, 75 cents ADVERTISEMENT The scientific publications of the National Museum include two series, known, respectively, as Proceedings and Bulletins. The Proceedings^ begun in 1878, are intended primarily as a me- dium for the publication of original papers, based on the collections of the National Museum, that set forth newly acquired facts in biology, anthropology, and geology, with descriptions of new forms and revisions of limited groups. Copies of each paper, in pamphlet form, are distributed as published to libraries and scientific organiza- tions and to specialists and others interested in the different subjects. The dates at which these separate papers are published are recorded in the table of contents of each of the volumes. The Bulletins^ the first of which was issued in 1875, consist of a series of separate publications comprising monographs of large zoological groups and other general sj^stematic treatises (occasion- ally in several volumes), faunal works, reports of expeditions, cata- logues of type-specimens, special collections, and other material of a similar nature. The majority of the volumes are octavo in size, but a quarto size has been adopted in a few instances in which large plates were regarded as indispensable. In the Bulletin series appear volumes under the heading Gontrihutions from the United States National Hei'haHum^ in octavo form, published by the National Museum since 1902, which contain papers relating to the botanical collections of the Museum.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Mammals from the Miocene of Panama
    Journal of South American Earth Sciences 30 (2010) 167e175 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of South American Earth Sciences journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jsames Marine mammals from the Miocene of Panama Mark D. Uhen a,*, Anthony G. Coates b, Carlos A. Jaramillo b, Camilo Montes b, Catalina Pimiento b,c, Aldo Rincon b, Nikki Strong b, Jorge Velez-Juarbe d a George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA b Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama c Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA d Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Anatomy, Howard University, WA 20059, USA article info abstract Article history: Panama has produced an abundance of Neogene marine fossils both invertebrate (mollusks, corals, Received 1 May 2009 microfossils etc.) and vertebrate (fish, land mammals etc.), but marine mammals have not been previ- Accepted 21 August 2010 ously reported. Here we describe a cetacean thoracic vertebra from the late Miocene Tobabe Formation, a partial cetacean rib from the late Miocene Gatun Formation, and a sirenian caudal vertebra and rib Keywords: fragments from the early Miocene Culebra Formation. These finds suggest that Central America may yet Panama provide additional fossil marine mammal specimens that will help us to understand the evolution, and Neogene particularly the biogeography of these groups. Miocene Ó Pliocene 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Cetacea Sirenia 1. Introduction archipelago, Panama (Fig. 1A). The Tobabe Formation is the basal unit of the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene (w7.2ew3.5 Ma) Bocas del Central America includes an abundance of marine sedimentary Toro Group, an approximately 600 m thick succession of volcani- rock units that have produced many fossil marine invertebrates clastic marine sediments (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciestm
    Species 2014 Annual ReportSpecies the Species of 2014 Survival Commission and the Global Species Programme Species ISSUE 56 2014 Annual Report of the Species Survival Commission and the Global Species Programme • 2014 Spotlight on High-level Interventions IUCN SSC • IUCN Red List at 50 • Specialist Group Reports Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis), Endangered. © Martin Harvey Muhammad Yazid Muhammad © Amazing Species: Bleeding Toad The Bleeding Toad, Leptophryne cruentata, is listed as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is endemic to West Java, Indonesia, specifically around Mount Gede, Mount Pangaro and south of Sukabumi. The Bleeding Toad’s scientific name, cruentata, is from the Latin word meaning “bleeding” because of the frog’s overall reddish-purple appearance and blood-red and yellow marbling on its back. Geographical range The population declined drastically after the eruption of Mount Galunggung in 1987. It is Knowledge believed that other declining factors may be habitat alteration, loss, and fragmentation. Experts Although the lethal chytrid fungus, responsible for devastating declines (and possible Get Involved extinctions) in amphibian populations globally, has not been recorded in this area, the sudden decline in a creekside population is reminiscent of declines in similar amphibian species due to the presence of this pathogen. Only one individual Bleeding Toad was sighted from 1990 to 2003. Part of the range of Bleeding Toad is located in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. Future conservation actions should include population surveys and possible captive breeding plans. The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
    [Show full text]