DOCSLIB.ORG

The Curious, First Record of Cannibalism in Ameiva Ameiva Linnaeus, 1758

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Curious, First Record of Cannibalism in Ameiva Ameiva Linnaeus, 1758 Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 465-468 (2021) (published online on 01 March 2021) The curious, first record of cannibalism in Ameiva ameiva Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata: Teiidae) in northeastern Brazil Katharina Nino1,*, Samuel Ribeiro2, and Ednilza Santos3 Ameiva ameiva is a large-bodied teiid lizard, broadly (Sales et al., 2011a; Pincheira-Donoso, 2012), and distributed in South America, ranging from Panama and also for the teiid lizards Cnemidophorus ocellifer in the Caribbean Islands to Argentina (Silva et al., 2003). the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga (Sales et al., 2010), In Brazil, A. ameiva can be found in a wide diversity and Ameiva festiva in Central America (Abarca and of ecosystems, including Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Knapp, 2010). Although A. ameiva can be considered an Forest, the humid enclaves known as Brejos-de-Altitude, opportunistic predator lizard (Vitt and Colli, 1994), the and Amazonia, as well as in urban areas (Vitt and Colli, behaviour of cannibalism has not yet been reported. In 1994; Ribeiro et al., 2012). It has terrestrial habits this paper, we describe such a cannibalistic event. with fossorial tendencies because these lizards build The observations occurred near a forest boundary area underground burrows (Silva and Araújo, 2008). They called State Park Dois Irmãos (8.0027°S, 34.9427°W; are active foragers, consuming a large variety of foods WGS 84; Fig. 1), a conservation unit of the Atlantic Forest (Silva et al., 2003). in the municipality of Recife, Pernambuco, northeastern The diet of A. ameiva is composed mainly of Brazil. The cannibalism event was observed using the arthropods (Silva et al., 2003; Sales et al., 2011b), but focal method (Del-Claro, 2004). Images of the event this species has been reported to casually consume other were deposited in the herpetological collections of the types of foods, including plant structures (leaves), the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (LIAR/ frogs Scinax cuspidatus (Silva et al., 2003), S. x-signatus UFRPE 130–33). The predatory individual was not caught (Sales et al., 2011b), and Leptodactylus cf. fuscus (Silva and its size, as well as that of its prey, was estimated et al., 2013), the lizards Tropidurus torquatus, Mabuya through comparison with other objects in the field. agilis (Silva et al., 2003; Siqueira and Rocha, 2008), On 30 December 2015 at 10:43 h, we observed a Vanzosaura rubricauda, eggs of Tropidurus sp. (Sales et cannibalism event in which an adult of A. ameiva al., 2011b) and T. hispidus (Nino et al., 2016), and a dead (approximately 140 mm SVL) preyed upon a conspecific bat (Moraes and Santos, 2012). juvenile (approximately 42 mm SVL; Fig. 2). The event Cannibalism has previously been recorded in some was recorded at the time the adult attacked the juvenile by species of Brazilian lizards, including Hemidactylus its neck and violently shook it. The predator left the dead agrius (Andrade, 2014), H. mabouia, Liolaemus juvenile prey on the ground and moved away, resuming its lutzae, Mabuya frenata, M. nigropunctata, Trachylepis foraging activity, returning about 40 min later. At 11:22 h, atlantica, Tropidurus hygomi, T. montanus, T. oreadicus, the predatory individual grabbed the dead juvenile again, T. torquatus (Siqueira and Rocha, 2008), T. hispidus moved about 40 cm with the prey in its mouth, and then swallowed the prey head-first. The swallowing procedure lasted about 32 s. After feeding on the juvenile, the adult lizard returned to foraging activity, flicking its tongue and 1 Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Campus Etterbeek, Boulevard de la exploring the soil and fallen leaves. Plaine 2, 1050 Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. In lizard cannibalism, there seems to be a general trend 2 Laboratório de Biologia e Ecologia de Animais Silvestres, Instituto de Formação de Educadores, Universidade Federal of adults feeding on juveniles (e.g., Polis and Myers, do Cariri, Campus Brejo Santo, Ceará 63260-000, Brazil. 1985). Cannibalism can also be related to high population 3 Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, Departamento densities, food stress (Siqueira and Rocha, 2008; Cooper de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, et al., 2015) or it can merely occur due to opportunistic Campus de Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil. behaviour in the presence of smaller individuals (Siqueira * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] and Rocha, 2008; Pincheira-Donoso, 2012). Therefore, © 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. the predatory individual benefits from decreasing 466 Katharina Nino et al. Figure 1. Location of the Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos (black star), in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. population density and reduction of intraspecific feel that it is reasonable to presume that the predator competition for food and territory, as the consumption memorized that it had killed a conspecific to feed on of conspecific juveniles may prevent the development of it afterwards. More reports of predatory behaviour of future competitors (Cooper et al., 2015). lizards could help on the understanding of the scenario. In a study of intraspecific interactions and cannibalism This record of cannibalistic behaviour in A. ameiva in Podarcis gaigeae (Lacertidae), the authors reported provides evidence of the opportunistic nature of intraspecific aggression behaviour as approach, run, the species and contributes to the understanding of attack and capture (Cooper et al., 2015). Our observation these lizards’ natural history and their function in the began when the interaction had already started, and ecosystem. Future records of cannibalism in A. ameiva therefore we can only discuss the behaviour of attack are expected, and they may elucidate how intraspecific and capture, which agrees with already published data. predation can influence population dynamics and In terms of prey ingestion behaviour, some saurophagic recruitment in this species (Polis and Myers, 1985). lizards swallow their prey head-first (Germano and Williams, 1994; Kohlsdorf et al., 2004; Abarca and Acknowledgments. We thank the Universidade Federal Rural Knapp, 2010; Sales et al., 2010), and others tail-first de Pernambuco for financing the study by offering the Bolsa de (Moraes and Santos, 2012; Lyakurwa, 2018; Ribeiro Incentivo Acadêmico scholarship and the Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos for permission to access the study area. We thank the and Oliveira, 2018), which indicates that capture and Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e swallowing behaviour is not conservative but depends Tecnológico (BPI – FUNCAP: BP3-0139-00323.01.00/18; BP4- on the occasion or on the species. 00172-00223.01.01/20). Since the predator killed the prey first, eliminating a potential competitor without immediate ingestion, we can References argue that the dead juvenile became one more nutritional Abarca, J.G., Knapp, C.R. (2010): Natural history notes. Ameiva resource available in the environment and therefore the festiva (Central American Whiptail Lizard). Cannibalism. displayed cannibalism may not have been the purpose of Herpetological Review 41(4): 490. the behaviour. On the other hand, it has been considered Andrade, M.J.M. (2014): Ecologia e história natural de população that active foraging predators are more spatially skilful Hemidactylus agrius (Squamata: Gekkonidae) em área de than sit-and-wait foragers (Day et al., 1999). Thus, we Caatinga, com avaliação da distribuição das espécies nativas do First Record of Cannibalism in Ameiva ameiva 467 Figure 2. Cannibalistic interaction between an adult and a juvenile Ameiva ameiva at Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. (A) At 10:43 h the adult lunged at the juvenile, part of whose body is visible among the vegetation (red circle). (B) At 10:46 h, the juvenile is seen just after the attack, deceased. (C) Some time later, the adult is manipulating the juvenile by holding the anterior region of its body in its jaws. (D) The adult swallowed the juvenile at 11:22 h. Photos by Katharina Nino. gênero no nordeste do Brasil. Unpublished MSc thesis, Federal Pincheira-Donoso, D. (2012): Intraspecific predation in theLiolaemus University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. lizard radiation: a primer. Animal Biology 62: 277–287. Cooper, W.E., Jr., Dimopoulos, I., Pafilis, P. (2015): Sex, age, and Ribeiro, S.C., Roberto, I.J., Sales, D.L., Ávila, R.W., Almeida, population density affect aggressive behaviors in island lizards W.O. (2012): Amphibians and reptiles from Araripe Bioregion, promoting cannibalism. Ethology 121(3): 260–269. northeastern Brazil. Salamandra 48(3): 133–146. Day, L.B., Crews, D., Wilczinski, W. (1999): Spatial and reversal Ribeiro, P., Oliveira, R. (2018): Natural history notes. Trachylepis learning in congeneric lizards with different foraging strategies. atlantica (Noronha Skink). Cannibalism attempt. Herpetological Animal Behaviour 57(2): 393–407. Review 49(1): 122. Del-Claro, K. (2004): Comportamento Animal – Uma Introdução Rocha, C.F.D. (2008): Body size, female reproduction and sexual à Ecologia Comportamental. Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brasil, dimorphism in the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) in a restinga Livraria Conceito. of southeastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 25(2): Germano, D.J., Willams, D.F. (1994): Natural history notes. 370–372. Gambelia sila (Bluntnose Leopard Lizard). Cannibalism. Sales, R.F.D., Jorge, J.S., Ribeiro, L.B., Freire, E.M.X. (2011a): A Herpetological Review 25(1): 26–27. case of cannibalism in the territorial lizard Tropidurus hispidus Lappin, A.K., Swinney, E.J. (1999). Sexual dimorphism as it relates (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in northeast Brazil. Herpetology to natural history of leopard lizards (Crotaphytidae: Gambelia). Notes 4: 265–267. Copeia 1999(3): 619–660. Sales, R.F.D., Jorge, J.S., Ribeiro, L.B., Freire, E.M.X. (2011b): Moraes, B.L.C., Santos, E.M. (2012): Morcego (Phyllostomidae) Feeding ecology of Ameiva ameiva in a caatinga area of na alimentação do lagarto Ameiva ameiva (Sauria, Teiidae) no northeastern Brazil. Herpetological Journal 21(3): 199–207. Parque Estadual Dois Irmãos, Recife/PE. Revista Nordestina de Sales, R.F.D., Ribeiro, L.B., Freire, E.M.X.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Modeling and Partitioning the Nucleotide Evolutionary Process for Phylogenetic and Comparative Genomic Inference
    University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2007 Modeling And Partitioning The Nucleotide Evolutionary Process For Phylogenetic And Comparative Genomic Inference Todd Castoe University of Central Florida Part of the Biology Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Castoe, Todd, "Modeling And Partitioning The Nucleotide Evolutionary Process For Phylogenetic And Comparative Genomic Inference" (2007). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 3111. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/3111 MODELING AND PARTITIONING THE NUCLEOTIDE EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS FOR PHYLOGENETIC AND COMPARATIVE GENOMIC INFERENCE by TODD A. CASTOE B.S. SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1999 M.S. The University of Texas at Arlington, 2001 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomolecular Sciences in the Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2007 Major Professor: Christopher L. Parkinson © 2007 Todd A. Castoe ii ABSTRACT The transformation of genomic data into functionally relevant information about the composition of biological systems hinges critically on the field of computational genome biology, at the core of which lies comparative genomics. The aim of comparative genomics is to extract meaningful functional information from the differences and similarities observed across genomes of different organisms.
    [Show full text]
  • (2007) a Photographic Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians Of
    A Photographic Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Dominica, West Indies Kristen Alexander Texas A&M University Dominica Study Abroad 2007 Dr. James Woolley Dr. Robert Wharton Abstract: A photographic reference is provided to the 21 reptiles and 4 amphibians reported from the island of Dominica. Descriptions and distribution data are provided for each species observed during this study. For those species that were not captured, a brief description compiled from various sources is included. Introduction: The island of Dominica is located in the Lesser Antilles and is one of the largest Eastern Caribbean islands at 45 km long and 16 km at its widest point (Malhotra and Thorpe, 1999). It is very mountainous which results in extremely varied distribution of habitats on the island ranging from elfin forest in the highest elevations, to rainforest in the mountains, to dry forest near the coast. The greatest density of reptiles is known to occur in these dry coastal areas (Evans and James, 1997). Dominica is home to 4 amphibian species and 21 (previously 20) reptile species. Five of these are endemic to the Lesser Antilles and 4 are endemic to the island of Dominica itself (Evans and James, 1997). The addition of Anolis cristatellus to species lists of Dominica has made many guides and species lists outdated. Evans and James (1997) provides a brief description of many of the species and their habitats, but this booklet is inadequate for easy, accurate identification. Previous student projects have documented the reptiles and amphibians of Dominica (Quick, 2001), but there is no good source for students to refer to for identification of these species.
    [Show full text]
  • REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE AMEIVA CORVINA Ameiva Corvina
    REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE AMEIVACORVINA Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Shew, J.J., E.J. Censky, and R. Powell. 2002. Ameiva corvina. Ameiva corvina Cope Sombrero Island Ameiva Ameiva corvina Cope 186 1:3 12. Type locality, "island of Som- brero." Lectotype (designated by Censky and Paulson 1992), Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) 9 116, an adult male, collected by J.B. Hansen, date of collection not known (examined by EJC). See Remarks. CONTENT. No subspecies are recognized. DEFINITION. Ameiva corvina is a moderately sized mem- ber of the genus Ameiva (maximum SVL of males = 133 rnm, of females = 87 mm;Censky and Paulson 1992). Granular scales around the body number 139-156 (r = 147.7 f 2.4, N = 16), ventral scales 32-37 (7 = 34.1 + 0.3, N = 16), fourth toe subdigital lamellae 34-41 (F = 38.1 + 0.5, N = IS), fifteenth caudal verticil 29-38 (r = 33.3 0.6, N = 17), and femoral I I I + MAP. The arrow indicates Sombrero Island, the type locality and en- pores (both legs) 5M3(r = 57.3 0.8, N = 16)(Censky and + tire range of An~eivacorvina. Paulson 1992). See Remarks. Dorsal and lateral coloration is very dark brown to slate black and usually patternless (one individual, MCZ 6141, has a trace of a pattern with faded spots on the posterior third of the dor- sum and some balck blotches on the side of the neck). Brown color often is more distinct on the heads of males. The venter is very dark blue-gray.
    [Show full text]
  • Predation on Ameiva Ameiva (Squamata: Teiidae) by Ardea Alba (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon
    Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 1073-1075 (2021) (published online on 10 August 2021) Predation on Ameiva ameiva (Squamata: Teiidae) by Ardea alba (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon Raul A. Pommer-Barbosa1,*, Alisson M. Albino2, Jessica F.T. Reis3, and Saara N. Fialho4 Lizards and frogs are eaten by a wide range of wetlands, being found mainly in lakes, wetlands, predators and are a food source for many bird species flooded areas, rivers, dams, mangroves, swamps, in neotropical forests (Poulin et al., 2001). However, and the shallow waters of salt lakes. It is a species predation events are poorly observed in nature and of diurnal feeding habits, but its activity peak occurs hardly documented (e.g., Malkmus, 2000; Aguiar and either at dawn or dusk. This characteristic changes Di-Bernardo, 2004; Silva et al., 2021). Such records in coastal environments, where its feeding habit is are certainly very rare for the teiid lizard Ameiva linked to the tides (McCrimmon et al., 2020). Its diet ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758) (Maffei et al., 2007). is varied and may include amphibians, snakes, insects, Found in most parts of Brazil, A. ameiva is commonly fish, aquatic larvae, mollusks, small crustaceans, small known as Amazon Racerunner or Giant Ameiva, and birds, small mammals, and lizards (Martínez-Vilalta, it has one of the widest geographical distributions 1992; Miranda and Collazo, 1997; Figueroa and among neotropical lizards. It occurs in open areas all Corales Stappung, 2003; Kushlan and Hancock 2005). over South America, the Galapagos Islands (Vanzolini We here report a predation event on the Ameiva ameiva et al., 1980), Panama, and several Caribbean islands by Ardea alba in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon.
    [Show full text]
  • Viewed 100,000 of the Images for Content Before Uploading Them to Gigadb to Ensure Image Quality, Presence of Animals, Date and Temperature Stamp, and Data Integrity
    Noble et al. GigaScience (2016) 5:40 DOI 10.1186/s13742-016-0145-2 DATA NOTE Open Access A picture is worth a thousand data points: an imagery dataset of paired shrub-open microsites within the Carrizo Plain National Monument Taylor J. Noble1*, Christopher J. Lortie1, Michael Westphal2 and H. Scott Butterfield3 Abstract Background: Carrizo Plain National Monument (San Joaquin Desert, California, USA) is home to many threatened and endangered species including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila). Vegetation is dominated by annual grasses, and shrubs such as Mormon tea (Ephedra californica), which is of relevance to our target species, the federally listed blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and likely also provides key ecosystem services. We used relatively nonintrusive camera traps, or trail cameras, to capture interactions between animals and these shrubs using a paired shrub-open deployment. Cameras were placed within the shrub understory and in open microhabitats at ground level to estimate animal activity and determine species presence. Findings: Twenty cameras were deployed from April 1st, 2015 to July 5th, 2015 at paired shrub-open microsites at three locations. Over 425,000 pictures were taken during this time, of which 0.4 % detected mammals, birds, insects, and reptiles including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard. Trigger rate was very high on the medium sensitivity camera setting in this desert ecosystem, and rates did not differ between microsites. Conclusions: Camera traps are an effective, less invasive survey method for collecting data on the presence or absence of desert animals in shrub and open microhabitats. A more extensive array of cameras within an arid region would thus be an effective tool to estimate the presence of desert animals and potentially detect habitat use patterns.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminths from Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Goiás State, Brazil Author(S): Robson W
    Helminths from Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Goiás State, Brazil Author(s): Robson W. Ávila, Manoela W. Cardoso, Fabrício H. Oda, and Reinaldo J. da Silva Source: Comparative Parasitology, 78(1):120-128. 2011. Published By: The Helminthological Society of Washington DOI: 10.1654/4472.1 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1654/4472.1 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is an electronic aggregator of bioscience research content, and the online home to over 160 journals and books published by not-for-profit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Comp. Parasitol. 78(1), 2011, pp. 120–128 Helminths from Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) at the Cerrado of Goia´s State, Brazil 1,4 2 3 1 ROBSON W. A´ VILA, MANOELA W. CARDOSO, FABRI´CIO H. ODA, AND REINALDO J. DA SILVA 1 Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biocieˆncias, UNESP, Distrito de Rubia˜o Jr., CEP 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, 2 Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, CEP 20940- 040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and 3 Universidade Federal de Goia´s–UFG, Laborato´rio de Comportamento Animal, Instituto de Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas, Campus Samambaia, Conjunto Itatiaia, CEP 74000-970.
    [Show full text]
  • Anfibios Y Reptiles 1 Keiner Meza-Tilvez1,2, Adolfo Mulet-Paso1,2 & Ronald Zambrano-Cantillo1 1Universidad De Cartagena & 2Fauna Silvestre Fundación
    Fauna del Jardín Botánico “Guillermo Piñeres” de Cartagena, Turbaco, COLOMBIA Anfibios y Reptiles 1 Keiner Meza-Tilvez1,2, Adolfo Mulet-Paso1,2 & Ronald Zambrano-Cantillo1 1 2 Universidad de Cartagena & Fauna Silvestre Fundación Fotos: Adolfo Mulet Paso (AMP) – Hugo Claessen (HC) – Jairo H. Maldonado (JHM) – Jesús Torres Meza (JTM) – José Luis Pérez-González (JPG) – Jose Luna (JL) – Keiner Meza-Tilvez (KMT) – Luis Alberto Rueda Solano (LRS) – Mauricio Rivera Correa (MRC) – Juan Salvador Mendoza (JSM). © Jardín Botánico de Cartagena “Guillermo Piñeres” [[email protected]] Macho = (M), Hembra = (H) y Juvenil = (Juv.) [fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org] [1097] versión 1 12/2018 1 Rhinella horribilis 2 Rhinella humboldti 3 Dendrobates truncatus 4 Boana pugnax BUFONIDAE (foto KMT) BUFONIDAE (foto KMT) DENDROBATIDAE (foto KMT) HYLIDAE (foto KMT) 5 Boana xerophylla 6 Dendropsophus microcephalus 7 Scarthyla vigilans 8 Scinax rostratus HYLIDAE (foto LRS) HYLIDAE (foto KMT) HYLIDAE (foto KMT) HYLIDAE (foto KMT) 9 Scinax ruber 10 Trachycephalus typhonius 11 Engystomops pustulosus 12 Leptodactylus fragilis HYLIDAE (foto KMT) HYLIDAE (foto KMT) LEPTODACTYLIDAE (foto KMT) LEPTODACTYLIDAE (foto LRS) 13 Leptodactylus insularum 14 Pleurodema brachyops 15 Elachistocleis pearsei 16 Agalychnis callidryas LEPTODACTYLIDAE (foto AMP) LEPTODACTYLIDAE (foto KMT) MICROHYLIDAE (foto MRC) PHYLLOMEDUSIDAE (foto HC) 17 Phyllomedusa venusta 18 Basiliscus basiliscus (M) 19 Basiliscus basiliscus (Juv.) 20 Anolis auratus PHYLLOMEDUSIDAE (foto AMP) CORYTOPHANIDAE (foto KMT) CORYTOPHANIDAE (foto AMP) DACTYLOIDAE (foto AMP) Fauna del Jardín Botánico “Guillermo Piñeres” de Cartagena, Turbaco, COLOMBIA Anfibios y Reptiles 2 Keiner Meza-Tilvez1,2, Adolfo Mulet-Paso1,2 & Ronald Zambrano-Cantillo1 1 2 Universidad de Cartagena & Fauna Silvestre Fundación Fotos: Adolfo Mulet Paso (AMP) – Hugo Claessen (HC) – Jairo H.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Computing Environment for Modeling Species Distribution
    EXPLORATORY RESEARCH RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE Botany, ecology, zoology, plant and animal genetics. In these and other sub-areas of Biological Sciences, Brazilian scientists contributed with results recognized worldwide. FAPESP,São Paulo Research Foundation, is one of the main Brazilian agencies for the promotion of research.The foundation supports the training of human resources and the consolidation and expansion of research in the state of São Paulo. Thematic Projects are research projects that aim at world class results, usually gathering multidisciplinary teams around a major theme. Because of their exploratory nature, the projects can have a duration of up to five years. SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITIES IN SÃO PAULO,BRAZIL Brazil is one of the four main emerging nations. More than ten thousand doctorate level scientists are formed yearly and the country ranks 13th in the number of scientific papers published. The State of São Paulo, with 40 million people and 34% of Brazil’s GNP responds for 52% of the science created in Brazil.The state hosts important universities like the University of São Paulo (USP) and the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), the growing São Paulo State University (UNESP), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Federal University of ABC (ABC is a metropolitan region in São Paulo), Federal University of São Carlos, the Aeronautics Technology Institute (ITA) and the National Space Research Institute (INPE). Universities in the state of São Paulo have strong graduate programs: the University of São Paulo forms two thousand doctorates every year, the State University of Campinas forms eight hundred and the University of the State of São Paulo six hundred.
    [Show full text]
  • Herp. Bulletin 100.Qxd
    Opportunities and hazards affecting endemic skink Schoener, T. W. (1968) The Anolis lizards of Vitt, L. J. & Pianka, E. R. (2005). Deep history Bimini: resource partitioning in a complex impacts pr esent day ecology and biodiversity. fauna. Ecology 49, 704–726. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci . 102, 7877–7881. Schoener, T. W. & Toft, C. A. (1983). Spider Whiting, A. S. Sites-Jr, J. W. Pellegrino, K. C. M. populations: Extraordinarily high densities on & Rodrigues, M. T. (2005). Comparing islands without top predators. Science 219, alignment methods for inferring the history of 1353–1355. the new world lizard genus Mabuya (Squamata: Silva-Jr, J. M. Péres-Jr., A. K. & Sazima, I. (2005). Scincidae). Molec. Phylogen. Evol . 38, Euprepis atlanticus (Noronha skink). Predation. 719–730. Herpetol. Rev . 36, 62–63. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES TRITURUS ALPESTRIS (Alpine newt): To record coloration after metamorphosis, all HYPOMELANISM. Various colour aberrations larvae were transported to the laboratory and then have been described in many species of caudate placed in an aquarium at 17°C. The aquarium was amphibians including Triturus newts (Dyrkacz, filled with soft water (conductivity 100 µS/cm) up 1981; Bechtel, 1995; Grossenbacher & to 5 cm, and equipped with a clump of Java moss Thiesmeier, 2003; Thiesmeier & Grossenbacher, and a piece of Styrofoam. Larvae were fed with 2004). Although the terminology is sometimes live Tubifex worms every second day. Under these confusing, the most frequently reported colour conditions all typically pigmented larvae aberrations are albinism – absence of melanin metamorphosed within one week. However, the including eyes, hypomelanism or partial albinism aberrant individual remained at the climax stage – partial absence of melanin, and leucism – without any sign of metamorphosis (i.e., tail fin lacking of all integumentary pigments except of and gill reduction) for two months after capture, eyes (Bechtel, 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • FOOD HABITS of the LIZARD Ameiva Ameiva (LINNAEUS, 1758) (SAURIA: TEIIDAE) in a TROPOPHIC FOREST of SUCRE STATE, VENEZUELA
    Acta Biol. Venez.Vol. 28 (2): 53-59. Junio-Diciembre, 2008 FOOD HABITS OF THE LIZARD Ameiva ameiva (LINNAEUS, 1758) (SAURIA: TEIIDAE) IN A TROPOPHIC FOREST OF SUCRE STATE, VENEZUELA. HÁBITOS ALIMENTARIOS DEL LAGARTO Ameiva ameiva (LINNAEUS, 1758) (SAURIA: TEIIDAE) EN UN BOSQUE TROPÓFILO DEL ESTADO SUCRE, VENEZUELA. Luis Alejandro González S. 1-2, Jenniffer Velásquez2, Hernán Ferrer3, James García1, Francia Cala1 and José Peñuela1 1- Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Ecología Animal, Universidad de Oriente, Cumaná, Venezuela. ([email protected]); 2. Posgrado de Zoología, Instituto de Zoología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela ([email protected]); 3. Gerencia de Investigación y Desarrollo, Jardín Botánico de Caracas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela ([email protected]). ABSTRACT Food habits among sexes of Ameiva ameiva were evaluated by the frequency of occurrence, trophic dominance, and diet similarity methods during periods of rain and drought in a tropophic forest in La Llanada Vieja, Sucre State, Venezuela. 431 prey items were identified in 20 stomachs analyzed. Diet for both periods showed a high frequency for Coleoptera, plant material, Isoptera, Nematoda, Araneae, and reptilian rests. Males and females showed differences in diet during the climatic periods analyzed. Females showed higher stomach volumes values than males. Results suggest the species is mainly insectivorous. RESUMEN Se evaluaron los hábitos alimentarios de Ameiva ameiva, mediante el método de frecuencia de aparición, dominancia trófica y similitud de la dieta entre sexos, abarcando los periodos de lluvia y sequía. La captura se realizó en un bosque tropófilo de los alrededores de la Llanada Vieja, estado Sucre, Venezuela.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
    [Show full text]
  • Mckittrick Elementary School Relocation
    Reconnaissance Level Biological Evaluation For APN 497-010-94 Section 20, T30S, R27E, MDB&M Bakersfield, California October 2019 Prepared for: The Nicholson Group 2101 San Gabriel Avenue Clovis, California 93611 Prepared by: _________________________________ Steven P. Pruett, Senior Biologist McCormick Biological, Inc. P.O. Box 80983 Bakersfield, California 93380 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Purpose and Background ................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Project Site and Surrounding Area Descriptions............................................................... 5 1.3.2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ......................................................................................... 6 1.3.3 California Fish and Game Code (C.F.G.C. § 1580 et seq.) ....................................... 6 2.0 METHODS .............................................................................................................................. 12 3.0 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 14 3.1 General Conditions .......................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Special-status
    [Show full text]