Dusted off - The African Amietophrynus superciliaris-species complex of giant toads.

Zootaxa 2772: 1–32 (2011). www.mapress.com/zootaxa

Abstract:

Amietophrynus superciliaris is known to occur in rain forests from West Africa to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. We herein present morphological and molecular data indicating the existence of three distinct taxa. The name A. superciliaris superciliaris is restricted to toads from the western Lower Guinean Forest (eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon). We resurrect A. s. chevalieri for the Upper Guinean forest (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivo-ry Coast, Ghana) and describe a new species occurring in the eastern part of the Lower Guinean Forest (eastern Demo-cratic Republic of Congo). Amietophrynus channingi sp. nov. from eastern Lower Guinean Forest differs from both other taxa by its brownish lateral coloration (reddish-purple in the other taxa). The new species differs morphologically from western Lower Guinean A. s. superciliaris by a less pointed eyelid process, a dark coloured posterior abdominal region and a dark coloured vertebral line (both absent in A. s. superciliaris), the shape of the parotid glands (bulged and rounded at the posterior tip in the new species, slender drop shaped and pointed at the posterior tip in A. s. superciliaris), and ju-venile interorbital markings (V-shaped in the new species, usually interrupted and broken in A. s. superciliaris). Amietophrynus channingi sp. nov. differs from the Upper Guinean A. s. chevalieri by the presence of an eyelid process (absent in A. s. chevalieri), presence of a dark vertebral line and a pair of dark spots on the posterior part of the back (both absent in A. s. chevalieri). The Upper Guinean A. s. chevalieri differs from western Lower Guinean A. s. superciliaris by the absence of an eyelid process, a dark coloured posterior abdominal region (absent in A. s. superciliaris) and lacking a pair of dark spots in the posterior part of the back (present in A. s. superciliaris). The new species differs from both other taxa by 2.2–2.8% in the investigated 16S rRNA gene. West African and western Central African populations differ by only 0.9–1.1% in 16S rRNA, lacking any intra-taxon variation within each clade, and are cautiously regarded as subspecies although the genetic distinction is mirrored by strong morphological differences and distinct geographic distribution which may support its elevation to species status once that more comprehensive data become available. A key to the taxa of the A. superciliaris-species complex is provided.

Dusted off - The African Amietophrynus superciliaris-species complex of giant toads (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230555620_Dusted_off_-_The_African_Amietophrynus_superciliaris-species_complex_of_giant_toads [accessed Dec 06 2017].

List of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Mr. H. H. Johnston on the Rio del Rey, Cameroons District, W. Africa.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887: 564–565.

Volltext

Medicinal use of Gekko gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) has an impact on agamid lizards

SALAMANDRA 50(3): 185–186 30. Oktober 2014. ISSN 0036–3375.

Volltext (PDF)

Der Teichmolch (Triturus vulgaris (L.)), ein Musterbeispiel für systematische Verwechslungen und eine Flut von Namen in der frühen Erforschungsgeschichte.

Sekretär. Beiträge zur Literatur und Geschichte der Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde 4: 10–28.

Zusammenfassung:

Der Teichmolch, heute Triturus vulgaris (LINNÉ, 1758), ist nach den Zitaten bei LINNÉ (1758, 1766) bereits seit prälinneischen Zeiten bekannt. Seine frühe Erforschungsgeschichte war durch eine Fülle systematischer Verwechslungen und eine Flut von synonymen Artnamen (zum Teil gesondert für Männchen, Weibchen, Alters- und saisonale Stadien) gekennzeichnet. Insoweit sind die Verhältnisse beim Teichmolch für manche anderen Amphibienarten exemplarisch. Begründet waren diese Verhältnisse vor allem durch das rasche Anwachsen des Wissens um 1800, durch das Fehlen verbindlicher Nomenklalurregeln, sowie die erschwerte Zugänglichkeit mancher Werke in jener Zeit. Die Wissensfortschritte (inklusive der Rückschritte) bei T. vulgaris werden hier insbesondere anhand sechs früher Traditionslinien dargestellt, die durch bestimmte Autoren sowie nationale Besonderheiten definierbar sind: LINNÉ, GMELIN, RETZIUS - LAURENTI - LATREILLE, SONNINI, DAUDIN - BECHSTEIN, STURM - RUSCONI, BONAPARTE - BELL, GRAY, COOKE. Allein im Jahre 1800 gebrauchten Autoren aus drei verschiedenen Traditionslinien (RETZIUS - LATREILLE - BECHSTEIN) nicht weniger als sechs verschiedene Artnamen für die eine Art Triturus vulgaris. BECHSTEIN (1800) erkannte damals als erster die Artidentität der verschiedenen Stadien des Teichmolchs. Nachdem die Gattung Triturus seit mehr als 50 Jahren systematisch stabil zu sein schien, wird auch bei ihr durch die Anwendung genetischer Methoden mehr und mehr erkennbar, dass sie kein Monophylum darstellt. Dies wird taxonomische Konsequenzen nach sich ziehen, und so mündet ein nomenklatorisches Ergebnis meiner Untersuchungen in die prophylaktische Diskussion von Synonymen und Homonymen der Gattungskategorie im Umfeld von T. vulgaris: Ichthyosaura LATREILLE, 1802, Triturus RAFINESQUE, 1820 (non 1815), Molge MERREM, 1820, Geotriton BONAPARTE, 1832 (non 1837), Lissotriton BELL, 1839, Lophinus GRAY, 1850 ( non RAFINESQUE, 1815) und Palaeotriton FITZINGER, 1843 (non BOLKAY, 1928).

Neue Reptilien und Amphibien.

Archiv für Naturgeschichte, vol. 46, no 1, p. 215-227.

Enthält u.a. Erstbeschreibung von Caecilia (=Typhlonectes) natans.

Volltext: https://archive.org/stream/archivfrnaturg4601berl#page/n3/mode/2up

Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren

311 Seiten, 275 Farbfotos, 1 Landkarte.
Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart. ISBN-13 978-3-8001-7323-5.

Verlagstext:

Madagaskar und die umliegende Inselwelt des Indischen Ozeans zählen zu den begehrtesten Reisezielen von Naturfreunden, Herpetologen und Terrarianern. Mit diesem Farbatlas liegt erstmals in deutscher Sprache ein Bestimmungsführer und eine Beschreibung der Herpetofauna dieses Raumes vor, zugleich ein Nachschlagewerk mit allen notwendigen Informationen zur Haltung und Zucht von Amphibien und Reptilien.

Well known does not mean well studied: Morphological and molecular support for existence of sibling species in the Javanese gliding frog Rhacophorus reinwardtii (Amphibia, Anura)

Comptes Rendus. Biologies. Paris 329: 86–97.. DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2005.11.001

Abstract:

Morphological, morphometrical and molecular data support the existence of two sibling species in the taxon previously known as Rhacophorus reinwardtii. The two species can be distinguished by the coloration pattern of webbing, the size of adult specimens and the relative size of various morphometric characters. This long and commonly known taxon should be separated into two species. As a consequence, the conservation status of the new species Rhacophorus kio n. sp. as well as of the redefined species Rhacophorus reinwardtii must be re-evaluated and, considering the new distribution data and the particular ecological demands, both species should be considered as 'endangered'.

Well known does not mean well studied: Morphological and molecular support for existence of sibling species in the Javanese gliding frog Rhacophorus reinwardtii (Amphibia, Anura).

Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7334983_Well_known_does_not_mean_well_studied_Morphological_and_molecular_support_for_existence_of_sibling_species_in_the_Javanese_gliding_frog_Rhacophorus_reinwardtii_Amphibia_Anura [accessed Nov 28 2017].

Multiple origins of invasive and ‘native’ water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) in Switzerland.

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 112. DOI: 10.1111/bij.12283

Abstract:

The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) has been introduced in many areas in Central and Western Europe as a result of commercial trade with Eastern Europe, and is rapidly replacing the native pool frog (P. lessonae). A large number of Pelophylax species are distributed in Eastern Europe and the strong phenotypic similarity between these species is rendering their identification hazardous. Consequently, alien populations of Pelophylax might not strictly be composed of P. ridibundus as previously suspected. In the present study, we analysed the cytochrome-b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 genes of introduced and native Pelophylax species from Switzerland (299 individuals) in order to properly identify the source populations of the invaders and the genetic status of the native species. Our study highlighted the occurrence of several genetic lineages of invasive frogs in western Switzerland. Unexpectedly, we also showed that several populations of the native pool frog (P. lessonae) cluster with the Italian pool frog P. bergeri from central Italy (considered by some authors as a subspecies of P. lessonae). Hence, these populations are probably also the result of introductions, meaning that the number of native P. lessonae populations is fewer than expected in Switzerland. These findings have important implications concerning the conservation of the endemic pool frog populations, as the presence of multiple alien species could strongly affect their long-term subsistence.

Multiple origins of invasive and ‘native’ water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) in Switzerland.

Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261675084_Multiple_origins_of_invasive_and_%27native%27_water_frogs_Pelophylax_spp_in_Switzerland [accessed Nov 27 2017].

Notes sur la classification des Ranidae (Amphibiens anoures).

Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon 61: 305–352.

PDF: http://www.persee.fr/doc/linly_0366-1326_1992_num_61_10_11011

Larval development, stages and an international comparison of husbandry parameters of the Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Theloderma corticale (Boulenger, 1903) (Anura: Rhacophoridae).

Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, December 2012. Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 51-66. ISSN 2278-7666.   

Abstract:

We describe the larval development and stages of the locally threatened Vietnamese Mossy Frog Theloderma corticale, which is endemic to northern Vietnam. Diagnostic morphological characters are provided for Gosner (1960) larval stages 1-46. This is to our knowledge the first larval staging for the rhacophorid anuran genus Theloderma in general. As guideline for further breeding engagement with Theloderma representatives in an international scale, based on the species T. corticale as husbandry analogue, we further oppose larval development, captive reproduction and husbandry management both achieved under tropical conditions at the Amphibian breeding station of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in Hanoi (Vietnam), and in Europe, at the amphibian breeding unit at Cologne Zoo (Germany). Observed ovipositions at Cologne Zoo took place from March to September and were initiated after increase of temperatures and humidity (increased spraying) subsequent to a hibernation phase in combination with raised water levels. The developmental time observed for T. corticale  at 20°C was about 4.5 months. For providing a recent captive management overview, we furthermore compare our husbandry experiences and data on the reproductive biology of T. corticale  with data from the literature.