DOCSLIB.ORG

Project Kobokara 2011 – Final Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Project Kobokara 2011 – Final Report UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH MADAGASCAR EXPEDITION PROJECT KOBOKARA 2011 – FINAL REPORT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH EXPEDITION TO THE COMMUNITY OF KOBOKARA IN THE IFOTAKA-NORTH PROTECTED AREA EXPEDITION TEAM MEMBERS: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH MARK SCHERZ – TEAM LEADER, SCIENCE COORDINATOR, HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH MATTHEW MAY – ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER, MEDICAL OFFICER, RADIATED TORTOISE RESEARCH JUSTINE TAYLOR – ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH NATALIE JANE SMITH – ORAL TESTIMONIES AND NGO IMPACTS CENTRE ECOLOGIQUE DE LIBANONA HERMAN ANICET TSIAFA – HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH MORULLA TAPIET DANVI – BOTANICAL RESEARCH MIANDANARIVO RAKOTOMALAZA – RADIATED TORTOISE RESEARCH 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Kobokara was a multidisciplinary, student-run expedition to the community of Kobokara, in southern Madagascar, between July and September 2011. This expedition was a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the Centre Ecologique de Libanona (CEL). Ecological research focused on an assessment of the status of a Utility Forest, investigating reptile and plant diversity, and how they are influenced by anthropogenic disturbance. Additionally, a study was conducted on the status of a critically endangered tortoise species. Anthropological studies were conducted in the village of Kobokara and other surrounding villages. Four short documentaries were produced, highlighting key aspects of the area. HERPETOFAUNAL SURVEYS – Surveys performed at various levels of disturbance within the forest, utilizing time-constrained and opportunistic searches, in addition to pitfall trapping. We recorded a total of 22 species of reptiles, including a potentially new species of snake. 100% of recorded species are endemic to Madagascar. We conclude that disturbance may be causing a shift in herpetofaunal species composition. We stress the need for further research in the area, particularly during the wet season. TORTOISE SURVEY – A survey of the status of the radiated tortoise, Astrochelys radiata, within the forest. We found a total of 35 individuals in an area of 3.29 km2, and therefore put a conservative estimate of 55 tortoises over the total forest area of 5.19 km2. We observed a 1.83:1 ratio of males to females amongst adult tortoises. We highlight the need for studies on the mode and specifics of sex determination in A. radiata. We emphasise the need for additional tortoise studies, particularly in the unstudied area of Conservation Zone forest to the north of the Ikonda River, and review tortoise conservation efforts in rural southern Madagascar. BOTANICAL SURVEY – A survey of the plant diversity in the forest, and how it is affected by anthropogenic disturbance. We recorded 66 species, approximately 95% of which are endemic to Madagascar, representing over half of the known species from the Mandrare River Valley. We observed a shift in botanical species composition related to disturbance. We propose a scheme of active replanting, cactus culls, and rotating usage zonation be implemented to mitigate further loss of forest integrity. DISTURBANCE SURVEY – A survey to assess the overall disturbance levels within the study forest. We found there to be a persistent, low level of disturbance within the forest, increasing with proximity to its edges. We judge livestock grazing and selective deforestation to be the most detrimental practices. We propose a rotating scheme of usage and protection, coupled with active re-forestation and cactus culls, in order to maximise the longevity of this forest. ORAL TESTIMONIES AND NGO IMPACTS – Four documentaries were produced from footage shot in the field entitled “A day in Kobokara”, “Madagascar’s Biodiversity and Local Resource Use Patterns”, “Project Kobokara”, and “NGOs in Kobokara”. These will be made available on our website, www.projectkobokara.wordpress.com. ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH – An assessment of Kobokara’s potential for tourism. We present the pros and cons of Kobokara as a potential tourism destination. We conclude that ecotourism should be encouraged only if it is not detrimental to the wellbeing and lifestyle of the local people, and should therefore be approached with caution. 2 2 PUBLISHING Mark Scherz, Matthew May, Justine Taylor, Natalie Jane Smith, Herman Anicet Tsiafa, Morulla Tapiet Danvi, Miandanarivo Rakotomalaza For blogs and other articles, see our website: http://www.projectkobokara.compaktclub.com/ 2.1 Contact For further information and inquiries, please contact the expedition leader: MARK SCHERZ E-mail: [email protected] 13 2f1 Moncrieff Terrace Edinburgh, EH9 1NA United Kingdom Eigenweg 11, Ettingen, BL, CH-4107 Switzerland 2.2 Institutions The University of Edinburgh Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH8 9YL, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Centre Ecologique de Libanona BP 42, Fort Dauphin 614, Madagascar 3 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 2 2 Publishing ..................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Contact .................................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Institutions .......................................................................................................................................... 3 3 Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ 4 4 List of Tables and Figures ........................................................................................................ 7 4.1 Tables .................................................................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Figures ................................................................................................................................................... 7 5 Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................. 8 6 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 9 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 10 7.1 The Expedition ................................................................................................................................ 10 7.2 Madagascar ....................................................................................................................................... 10 7.2.1 Geological and Natural History ............................................................................................................ 10 7.2.2 Climate ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 7.2.3 Humans .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 7.3 Conservation .................................................................................................................................... 12 7.3.1 Threats to Madagascar’s Biodiversity .............................................................................................. 12 7.3.2 Protecting Madagascar’s Forests ........................................................................................................ 14 7.4 Southern Madagascar .................................................................................................................... 16 7.4.1 The Spiny Forest ........................................................................................................................................ 16 7.4.2 The Herpetofauna of Southern Madagascar .................................................................................. 16 7.4.3 The Radiated Tortoise ............................................................................................................................. 17 7.5 Maps .................................................................................................................................................... 18 8 Study Area ................................................................................................................................... 20 8.1.1 Kobokara ....................................................................................................................................................... 20 9 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................................ 22 10 The Team .................................................................................................................................. 23 10.1 University of Edinburgh ............................................................................................................. 23 10.2 Centre Ecologique de Libanona ............................................................................................... 25 10.3 Other ................................................................................................................................................. 25 10.4 Local Staff .......................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Custom Trip
    MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Custom Trip October 20—November 6, 2016 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos taken during this trip by Ken Behrens Annotated bird list by Jerry Connolly TOUR SUMMARY Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with the opening of a satellite office in the country several years ago, we further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This custom trip followed an itinerary similar to that of our main set-departure tour. Although this trip had a definite bird bias, it was really a general natural history tour. We took our time in observing and photographing whatever we could find, from lemurs to chameleons to bizarre invertebrates. Madagascar is rich in wonderful birds, and we enjoyed these to the fullest. But its mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects are just as wondrous and accessible, and a trip that ignored them would be sorely missing out. We also took time to enjoy the cultural riches of Madagascar, the small villages full of smiling children, the zebu carts which seem straight out of the Middle Ages, and the ingeniously engineered rice paddies. If you want to come to Madagascar and see it all… come with Tropical Birding! Madagascar is well known to pose some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, but we enjoyed perfectly smooth sailing on this tour. We stayed in the most comfortable hotels available at each stop on the itinerary, including some that have just recently opened, and savored some remarkably good food, which many people rank as the best Madagascar Custom Tour October 20-November 6, 2016 they have ever had on any birding tour.
    [Show full text]
  • A Morphological and Molecular Study of Hydrodynastes Gigas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), a Widespread Species from South America
    A morphological and molecular study of Hydrodynastes gigas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), a widespread species from South America Priscila S. Carvalho1,2, Hussam Zaher3, Nelson J. da Silva Jr4 and Diego J. Santana1 1 Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil 2 Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio preto, São Paulo, Brazil 3 Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 4 Escola de Ciências Médicas, Farmacêuticas e Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. Studies with integrative approaches (based on different lines of evidence) are fundamental for understanding the diversity of organisms. Different data sources can improve the understanding of the taxonomy and evolution of snakes. We used this integrative approach to verify the taxonomic status of Hydrodynastes gigas (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854), given its wide distribution throughout South America, including the validity of the recently described Hydrodynastes melanogigas Franco, Fernandes & Bentim, 2007. Methods. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of Bayesian Inference with mtDNA 16S and Cytb, and nuDNA Cmos and NT3 concatenated (1,902 bp). In addition, we performed traditional morphometric analyses, meristic, hemipenis morphology and coloration pattern of H. gigas and H. melanogigas. Results. According to molecular and morphological characters, H. gigas is widely Submitted 19 May 2020 distributed throughout South America. We found no evidence to support that H. Accepted 9 September 2020 gigas and H. melanogigas species are distinct lineages, therefore, H. melanogigas is a Published 25 November 2020 junior synonym of H.
    [Show full text]
  • Thermal Biology of an Iguanian Lizard, Oplurus Cuvieri Cuvieri, in a Tropical Dry Forest of Madagascar
    Current Herpetology 23 (2): 53-62, December 2004 (c)2004 by The Herpetological Society of Japan Thermal Biology of an Iguanian Lizard, Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri, in a Tropical Dry Forest of Madagascar HERILALA J. A. R. RANDRIAMAHAZO1,2 AND AKIRA MORI1* Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606- 8502, JAPAN 2 Present address: WCS Madagascar , BP 8500, Antananarivo 101, MADAGASCAR Abstract: Thermal characteristics of an Iguanian lizard, Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri, were examined in a tropical dry forest of northwestern Madagascar. This lizard is an arboreal, strictly diurnal sit-and-wait predator feeding mostly on insects. A field study was conducted from mid-September 1997 to mid- January 1998 and from late-September to mid-November 1998. Ambient air temperature significantly affected body temperature, but sex, snout-vent length, month, perching height, and posture of perching lizards did not show significant effects on body temperature. Effects of time and interaction between ambient temperature and time were significant in the first half of 1997 (dry season) and 1998, but not in the latter half of 1997. Overall body temperature was significantly correlated with ambient temperature, and slopes between them did not significantly deviate from one. However, slopes varied with time of day, and significant correlation between ambient and body temper- atures diminished in the midday period. Body temperature was significantly higher than corresponding ambient temperature. In the rainy season, when ambient temperature decreases, the lizards seemed to regulate its body temper- ature to some extent by selecting hotter microhabitat (the ground). Collec- tively, although the study site is a relatively open, deciduous forest, where direct solar radiation for thermoregulation by basking is available, O.
    [Show full text]
  • Iguanid and Varanid CAMP 1992.Pdf
    CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR IGUANIDAE AND VARANIDAE WORKING DOCUMENT December 1994 Report from the workshop held 1-3 September 1992 Edited by Rick Hudson, Allison Alberts, Susie Ellis, Onnie Byers Compiled by the Workshop Participants A Collaborative Workshop AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION A Publication of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124 USA A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and the AZA Lizard Taxon Advisory Group. Cover Photo: Provided by Steve Reichling Hudson, R. A. Alberts, S. Ellis, 0. Byers. 1994. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for lguanidae and Varanidae. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Additional copies of this publication can be ordered through the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Send checks for US $35.00 (for printing and shipping costs) payable to CBSG; checks must be drawn on a US Banlc Funds may be wired to First Bank NA ABA No. 091000022, for credit to CBSG Account No. 1100 1210 1736. The work of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group is made possible by generous contributions from the following members of the CBSG Institutional Conservation Council Conservators ($10,000 and above) Australasian Species Management Program Gladys Porter Zoo Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Sponsors ($50-$249) Chicago Zoological
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of the Iguanine Lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) As Determined by Osteological and Myological Characters David F
    Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series Volume 12 | Number 3 Article 1 1-1971 Evolution of the iguanine lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) as determined by osteological and myological characters David F. Avery Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State College, New Haven, Connecticut Wilmer W. Tanner Department of Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Avery, David F. and Tanner, Wilmer W. (1971) "Evolution of the iguanine lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) as determined by osteological and myological characters," Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series: Vol. 12 : No. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byuscib/vol12/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. S-^' Brigham Young University f?!AR12j97d Science Bulletin \ EVOLUTION OF THE IGUANINE LIZARDS (SAURIA, IGUANIDAE) AS DETERMINED BY OSTEOLOGICAL AND MYOLOGICAL CHARACTERS by David F. Avery and Wilmer W. Tanner BIOLOGICAL SERIES — VOLUME Xil, NUMBER 3 JANUARY 1971 Brigham Young University Science Bulletin
    [Show full text]
  • Madagascar Comprehensive II 2019 6Th October to 26Th October 2019 (21 Days)
    Madagascar Comprehensive II 2019 6th October to 26th October 2019 (21 Days) Trip Report Long-tailed Ground Roller by Greg de Klerk Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Greg de Klerk Trip Report – RBL Madagascar – Comprehensive II 2019 2 Tour Summary The tour began with a birding session at Tsimbazaza Zoo followed by a wonderful visit to Lake Alorobia in the sprawling capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. With a lack of suitable habitat within the city, the zoo and Lake Alorobia provided a haven for an array of species, and we managed to add some wonderful species to our lists including White-faced Whistling Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Meller's Duck, Red- billed Teal, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Malagasy Pond Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Black Heron, Dimorphic Egret, Yellow-billed Kite, Common Moorhen, Malagasy Coucal, Malagasy Kingfisher, Olive Bee-eater, Madagascan Hoopoe, Malagasy Kestrel, Malagasy Bulbul, Mascarene Martin, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Malagasy White- eye, Madagascan Stonechat, Souimanga Malagasy Kingfisher by Greg de Klerk Sunbird, Red Fody, Madagascan Mannikin, and Madagascan Wagtail before settling for a good welcome dinner at our well-appointed guest house where we had the opportunity to meet and greet our fellow participants before retiring for the night. An early departure from Tana the following morning saw us make slow progress on the road out of the capital through swathes of rice paddies which played host to a few wetland species such as Hamerkop, Dimorphic Egret and Great Egret. A long drive followed as we navigated the winding National road linking the capital to the nearest seaport, making headway on our journey to Andasibe while also adding Malagasy Palm Swift, Brown-throated Martin and Chabert Vanga.
    [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]
  • MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Set Departure
    MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Set Departure November 3—28, 2013 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos taken during this trip. All photos by Ken Behrens unless noted otherwise. TOUR SUMMARY Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with last year’s opening of a satellite office in the country, we have further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This was another highly successful set-departure tour to this special island. It included both the Northwestern Endemics Pre-Trip at the start and the Helmet Vanga extension to the Masoala Peninsula at the end. Although Madagascar poses some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, we had no problems on this tour, not even a single delayed flight! The birding was great, with 196 species recorded, including almost all of the island’s endemic birds. As usual, the highlight was seeing all five of the incredible ground-rollers, from the roadrunner-like Long-tailed of the spiny forest to the wonderful rainforest-dwelling Scaly. There was a strong cast of vangas, including Helmet, Bernier’s, and Sickle-billed. In fact, we saw every member of the family save the mysterious Red-tailed Newtonia which is only regularly seen in the far south. As normal, the couas were also a favorite. From the shy and beautiful Red-breasted of Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 the eastern rainforest to the huge Giant Coua of the dry western forest, we were looking for and at couas virtually every day! The bizarre mesites form a Malagasy endemic family, and we had superb extended views of all three members of the family.
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Comparative Studies of Supraocular Lepidosis in Squamata
    Multequina ISSN: 0327-9375 [email protected] Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Argentina Cei, José M. Comparative studies of supraocular lepidosis in squamata (reptilia) and its relationships with an evolutionary taxonomy Multequina, núm. 16, 2007, pp. 1-52 Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Mendoza, Argentina Disponible en: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=42801601 Cómo citar el artículo Número completo Sistema de Información Científica Más información del artículo Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina, el Caribe, España y Portugal Página de la revista en redalyc.org Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto ISSN 0327-9375 COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF SUPRAOCULAR LEPIDOSIS IN SQUAMATA (REPTILIA) AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH AN EVOLUTIONARY TAXONOMY ESTUDIOS COMPARATIVOS DE LA LEPIDOSIS SUPRA-OCULAR EN SQUAMATA (REPTILIA) Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA TAXONOMÍA EVOLUCIONARIA JOSÉ M. CEI † las subfamilias Leiosaurinae y RESUMEN Enyaliinae. Siempre en Iguania Observaciones morfológicas Pleurodonta se evidencian ejemplos previas sobre un gran número de como los inconfundibles patrones de especies permiten establecer una escamas supraoculares de correspondencia entre la Opluridae, Leucocephalidae, peculiaridad de los patrones Polychrotidae, Tropiduridae. A nivel sistemáticos de las escamas específico la interdependencia en supraoculares de Squamata y la Iguanidae de los géneros Iguana, posición evolutiva de cada taxón Cercosaura, Brachylophus,
    [Show full text]
  • Ancestral Reconstruction of Diet and Fang Condition in the Lamprophiidae: Implications for the Evolution of Venom Systems in Snakes
    Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 55, No. 1, 1–10, 2021 Copyright 2021 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Ancestral Reconstruction of Diet and Fang Condition in the Lamprophiidae: Implications for the Evolution of Venom Systems in Snakes 1,2 1 1 HIRAL NAIK, MIMMIE M. KGADITSE, AND GRAHAM J. ALEXANDER 1School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. PO Wits, 2050, Gauteng, South Africa ABSTRACT.—The Colubroidea includes all venomous and some nonvenomous snakes, many of which have extraordinary dental morphology and functional capabilities. It has been proposed that the ancestral condition of the Colubroidea is venomous with tubular fangs. The venom system includes the production of venomous secretions by labial glands in the mouth and usually includes fangs for effective delivery of venom. Despite significant research on the evolution of the venom system in snakes, limited research exists on the driving forces for different fang and dental morphology at a broader phylogenetic scale. We assessed the patterns of fang and dental condition in the Lamprophiidae, a speciose family of advanced snakes within the Colubroidea, and we related fang and dental condition to diet. The Lamprophiidae is the only snake family that includes front-fanged, rear-fanged, and fangless species. We produced an ancestral reconstruction for the family and investigated the pattern of diet and fangs within the clade. We concluded that the ancestral lamprophiid was most likely rear-fanged and that the shift in dental morphology was associated with changes in diet. This pattern indicates that fang loss, and probably venom loss, has occurred multiple times within the Lamprophiidae.
    [Show full text]
  • ZOO REPORT PROFI Breeding of Madagascan Iguanian Lizard
    december 2006 Breeding Pair of Madagascan iguanian lizards of Madagascan information we learn that Madagascan iguanian and lizards significantly reduce both movement iguanian lizard lizards live in a sympatric way with other kinds of and food intake. geckos and besides usual insect they eat various The basic component of food of iguanas Presence of iguanas (Iguanidae), a typical fruits and leaves. Oplurus cuvieri living in human care are crickets American animal, inside the immense area of aga- Iguana Oplurus cuvieri usually grows to length Gryllus assimilis and Gryllus bimaculatus. In mas (Agamidae) on Madagascar and Comoros is of 25–29 cm, exceptionally up to 38 cm – in Zoo Brno they get, though irregularly, also larvae one of the greatest geographical peculiarities. In such size 23 cm falls on tail. Together with iguana of darkling beetles (Zophobas morio), larvae of the island isolation, Madagascan iguanian lizards Oplurus quadrimaculatus, which grows to length Goliath beetle (Pachnoda marginata) and smaller formed their own subfamily, Oplurinae, which fur- of up to 39 cm, Oplurus cuvieri belongs to the imagos of locusts (Locusta migratoria). The most ther divides into two tribes. The first one is a mono- biggest members of its tribe. It differs from related popular food of our Madagascan iguanas are all typic tribe Chalarodon and the second Oplurus. tribe Oplurus cyclurus by ordering of tail articles. development stages of cockroach (Nauphoeta Six kinds of tribe Oplurus can be found in almost Oplurus cuvieri has got an articulate tale and be- cinerea) and also – but only sporadically offered – whole the Madagascar and Comoros Islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Phylogeny and Geographic Variation of Malagasy Iguanas (Oplurus and Chalarodon)
    Amphibia-Reptilia 29 (2008): 319-327 Molecular phylogeny and geographic variation of Malagasy iguanas (Oplurus and Chalarodon) Tobias Münchenberg1, Katharina C. Wollenberg1, Frank Glaw2, Miguel Vences1,∗ Abstract. The iguanid subfamily Oplurinae consists of seven species of small to medium-sized, arboreal, sand-dwelling or rock-dwelling lizards endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros, belonging to the genera Oplurus and Chalarodon.We here present the first complete molecular species-level phylogeny for Oplurinae based on DNA sequences (865 bp) of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and the nuclear c-mos gene. Our study is based on 52 specimens sampled from different populations in Madagascar and includes the geographically isolated population from Grande Comore, hitherto considered as subspecies Oplurus cuvieri comorensis or even as a separate species O. comorensis. Our results confirm that, within the genus Oplurus, the largely arboreal O. cuvieri and O. cyclurus form the sister clade to the remaining, more rock-dwelling species. Within the latter lineage, Oplurus quadrimaculatus is placed most basal, O. fierinensis and O. grandidieri are closely related sister species with high support, and O. saxicola is sister to the fierinensis/grandidieri lineage. Within the arboreal Oplurus, the Comoran sample shows no genetic differentiation relative to O. cuvieri populations from the North West and Sambirano regions of Madagascar, indicating that this population should not be considered as a separate species. In the monotypic genus Chalarodon, we discovered deep genetic divergences among populations of C. madagascariensis indicating the presence of a previously unrecognized cryptic species and the need for taxonomic revision. Introduction by their larger and more distinctly spiny scales encircling the tail.
    [Show full text]