At the edge of extinction: a first herpetological assessment of the proposed Serra do Pingano Rainforest National Park in Uíge Province, northern Angola.

Zoosystematics and Evolution 96(1): 237-262.

Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.96.51997

Abstract:

We systematically assess the herpetofaunal diversity of the Serra do Pingano Forest Ecosystem (SPFE) and additional localities throughout the northern Angolan province of Uíge during four independent Rapid Assessment (RA) field campaigns held between 2013 and 2019. These assessments represent the first systematic surveys of amphibians and reptiles from the province, and thus we provide the first province-wide species list. We collected data on the status and current threats to amphibians and reptiles in the proposed Serra do Pingano Rainforest National Park and were able to document 33 species of reptiles from Uíge province. Of the 33 species recorded from the province, 10 species are exclusively found in the SPFE. Amphibian surveys yielded 47 amphibian species from the province. These include 14 new country records and additional records that may represent undescribed species. This raises the amphibian count for Angola to at least 133 species, which includes 18 species exclusively found within the SPFE. Species-richness estimators indicate that more species should be detected if survey efforts are intensified. The species composition in the SPFE is unique and consists of a high proportion of forest specialists with restricted ranges and species found nowhere else in the country. This emphasizes today’s paramount importance of the SPFE, which is threatened by increasing agricultural encroachment and uncontrolled timber extraction and charcoal production. These principal factors need to be controlled and/or abandoned in already impacted areas. Conservation strategies should particularly consider the strict protection of remaining intact forests and both lentic and lotic aquatic systems. They are not only crucial for safeguarding a significant number of species that depend on these habitats for reproduction; they also provide key ecosystem services to the local population. Angola, and Uíge province in particular, is at a crossroads concerning decisions and trade-offs among utilization, conservation, and preservation of its forests and, thus, substantial parts of the country’s biodiversity. The establishment of a National Protected Area in the Serra do Pingano Ecosystem is therefore a necessary and urgently needed first step towards protecting Angola’s national biodiversity heritage.

ernst-biblio

Erfahrungen bei der Haltung und Nachzucht der madagassischen Flachrücken-Spinnenschildkröte Pyxis planicauda (GRANDIDIER, 1867).

Testudo 20(1): 7-24.

Volltext

Schlussfolgerung:

Durch den erhöhten Feuchtigkeitsbedarf stellen die Schildkröten hohe Anforderungen an Hygiene und Pflege. Die Flachrücken-Spinnenschildkröte eignet sich für Schildkrötenhalter, die sich bewusst sind, dass die Haltung auch einen technischen Aufwand benötigt.

mislin-biblio

Toward a tree-of-life for the boas and pythons: multilocus species-level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling.

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 71: 201–213. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.011.

Abstract:

Snakes in the families Boidae and Pythonidae constitute some of the most spectacular reptiles and comprise an enormous diversity of morphology, behavior, and ecology. While many species of boas and pythons are familiar, taxonomy and evolutionary relationships within these families remain contentious and fluid. A major effort in evolutionary and conservation biology is to assemble a comprehensive Tree-of-Life, or a macro-scale phylogenetic hypothesis, for all known life on Earth. No previously published study has produced a species-level molecular phylogeny for more than 61% of boa species or 65% of python species. Using both novel and previously published sequence data, we have produced a species-level phylogeny for 84.5% of boid species and 82.5% of pythonid species, contextualized within a larger phylogeny of henophidian snakes. We obtained new sequence data for three boid, one pythonid, and two tropidophiid taxa which have never previously been included in a molecular study, in addition to generating novel sequences for seven genes across an additional 12 taxa. We compiled an 11-gene dataset for 127 taxa, consisting of the mitochondrial genes CYTB, 12S, and 16S, and the nuclear genes bdnf, bmp2, c-mos, gpr35, rag1, ntf3, odc, and slc30a1, totaling up to 7561 base pairs per taxon. We analyzed this dataset using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference and recovered a well-supported phylogeny for these species. We found significant evidence of discordance between taxonomy and evolutionary relationships in the genera Tropidophis, Morelia, Liasis, and Leiopython, and we found support for elevating two previously suggested boid species. We suggest a revised taxonomy for the boas (13 genera, 58 species) and pythons (8 genera, 40 species), review relationships between our study and the many other molecular phylogenetic studies of henophidian snakes, and present a taxonomic database and alignment which may be easily used and built upon by other researchers.

reynolds-biblio

Systematics of Pythons of the Morelia amethistina Complex (Serpentes: Boidae) with the Description of three new Species.

Herpetological Monographs. 14: 139–185. doi:10.2307/1467047.

Description:

The scrub pythons (Morelia amethistina complex) are revised based on museum specimens and new material recently collected in eastern Indonesia. Morelia kinghorni (formerly M. amethistina kinghorni) and M. amethistina (formerly M. amethistina amethistina) are recognized as species, and three new species are described. The phylogenetic relationships of scrub pythons are resolved using morphological and molecular characters Scrub pythons are most closely related to Morelia boeleni and have undergone both ancient divergences and a relatively recent radiation. The distribution of scrub pythons corresponds well with areas of endemism recognized in earlier studies of other taxa. Their distribution and evolution appears to have been shaped by combined effects of dispersal and vicariance. Scrub python populations exhibit interesting color and pattern polymorphism and ontogenetic change, and these characteristics vary among populations.

harvey-biblio

A new species of Gonyosoma Wagler, 1828 (Serpentes, Colubridae), previously confused with G. prasinum (Blyth, 1854).

Evolutionary Systematics. 5 2021, 129–139 | DOI 10.3897/evolsyst.5.66574.

Volltext

Abstract:

A new species of the genus Gonyosoma Wagler is described from Yunnan Province, China. The new species closely resembles G. prasinum (Blyth), but it is differentiated from the latter species by the following characters: precloacal plate divided, iris blue and inside of mouth greyish-white in life. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence data, the new species is recovered as the sister species to G. prasinum by Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses. The uncorrected pairwise distance between the new species and other species of the genus Gonyosoma ranged from 11.78% to 17.07% calculated using the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence. This discovery increases the number of Gonyosoma species to seven.

liu-biblio

On the distribution of Gonyosoma prasinum (Blyth, 1854) and Gonyosoma coeruleum Liu, Hou, Ye Htet Lwin, Wang & Rao, 2021, with a note on the status of Gonyosoma gramineum Günther, 1864 (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae).

Zootaxa 5154 (2): 175-197 · June 2022. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5154.

Volltext

Abstract:

Based on 85 examined specimens, photographs of living specimens and illustrations published in the literature, we refine
the distribution ranges of both Gonyosoma prasinum (Blyth, 1854) and of the recently described species Gonyosoma
coeruleum Liu, Hou, Ye Htet Lwin, Wang & Rao, 2021, which was not clearly addressed in its original description. We
also redescribe the syntypes of Coluber prasinus Blyth, 1854 and the holotype of Gonyosoma gramineum Günther, 1864,
we discuss the status of this latter taxon, and we describe the hemipenial morphology of G. coeruleum.

david-biblio

Beobachtungen zur Herpetofauna Jordaniens. Ein Reisebericht.

ÖGH-Aktuell 31, Dezember 2012: 6-17.

Inhalt:

Es wird über eine Sammelreise vom 03-17.052011 nach Jordanien berichtet, auf der 25 Reptilien- und eine Amphibienart gefunden wurden.

scholz-biblio

A molecular phylogeny of the Australian monitor lizards (Squamata:Varanidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Australian Journal of Zoology. 54: 253–269.

Volltext: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248902243_A_molecular_phylogeny_of_the_Australian_monitor_lizards_Squamata_Varanidae_inferred_from_mitochondrial_DNA_sequences

Abstract:

To date no complete phylogeny of all of the currently recognised Indo-Australian varanid species and subspecies has been published. This paper presents a comprehensive mitochondrial gene phylogeny of these lizards. A portion of the mitochondrial genome comprising part of the ND4 gene and three adjacent tRNA genes (hereafter referred to as ND4) was analysed alone and, for a subset of the taxa, combined with previously published mitochondrial data. Similar tree topologies were produced by both datasets although combining the data helped resolve some of the unresolved or weakly supported nodes in the ND4 analyses. The monophyly of the Indo-Australian group was strongly supported in all analyses. This group comprised three major lineages: the gouldii group, the Odatria group and the varius group. Mitochondrial ND4 nucleotide sequences were successfully amplified from all of the Indo-Australian monitor species and subspecies currently recognised and, as such, is the first comprehensive phylogenetic study of the Australian monitor lizards published. Analysis of the tempo of diversification and evolution of preferred habitat use identified six episodes of increased net speciation rate, with two closely adjacent episodes showing the highest rates of diversification and correlating with the appearance of all preferred habitat types. The comprehensive molecular phylogenetic framework will also be useful for the identification of varanid species and traded products derived from monitors and, as such, has important applications for wildlife management and conservation.

fitch-biblio

Husbandry Guidelines for PERENTIE.

71 Seiten. Australasian Association of Zoo Keepring

Volltext: https://aszk.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Reptiles.-Perentie-2010RR.pdf

Introduction:

The Perentie is classed as dangerous and can cause serious harm or death. Two trained
keepers must be present at all times when entering this exhibit. National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) list the Perentie as a Class 2 species (Species code number Z2267), indicating that the species is either rare, difficult to keep and/or potentially dangerous venomous species may be kept only under a Class 2 licence. All applicants for a Class 2 licence must be over the age of 18 years with at least 2 years experience keeping reptiles.

NB: Bei dem Dokument handelt es sich um einen  nicht fertiggestellten Entwurf.

rymann-biblio

Über die Nachzucht des australischen Riesenwarans Varanus giganteus (Gray, 1845) (Sauria: Varanidae)

Salamandra 23 (2/3): 90-96.

Zusammenfassung:

Beobachtungen bei der erstmals beschriebenen Nachzucht von Varanus giganteus werden mitgeteilt. Aus einem Gelege von 11 Eiern, von denen eines bei der Bergung des Geleges zerstört wurde, schlüpften 6 Jungtiere, ein Tier verstarb unmittelbar nach dem Schlupf. Beim Schlupf wiesen die Jungtiere eine durchschnittliche Gesamtänge von 375,3 mm und ein Durchschnittsgewicht von 40 g auf; die Zeitigungsdauer betrug durchschnittlich 231,5 Tage bei 30-32°C in Sphagnum un d85 % relativer Luftfeuchte.

bredl-biblio