Evolution of rattlesnakes (Viperidae; Crotalus) in the warm deserts of western North America shaped by Neogene vicariance and Quaternary climate change.

Molecular Ecology (2006) 15, 3353 – 3374. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03007.x

Abstract:

During Pleistocene, the Laurentide ice sheet rearranged and diversified biotic distributionsin  eastern  North  America,  yet  had  minimal  physical  impact  in  western  North  Americawhere  lineage  diversification  is  instead  hypothesized  to  result  from  climatic  changes.  If Pleistocene climatic fluctuations impacted desert species, the latter would reflect patterns of restricted gene flow concomitant with indications of demographic bottlenecks. Accordingly, molecular evidence for refugia should be present within these distributions and for subsequent range expansions as conditions improved. We sought answers to these questions by evaluating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from four species of rattle-snakes [Crotalus mitchellii (speckled rattlesnake), Crotalus cerastes (sidewinder), Crotalus tigris (tiger rattlesnake), Crotalus ruber (red  diamond  rattlesnake)] with distributions restricted to desert regions of southwestern North  America. We inferred relationships using  parsimony  and  maximum likelihood, tested  intraspecific  clades  for  population expansions, applied an isolation-with-migration model to determine bi-directional migration rates (m) among  regions, and inferred divergence times for species and clades by applying a semiparametric penalized likelihood approach to our molecular data. Evidence for significant range expansion was present in two of eight  regions in  two  species (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus, C. tigris region north). Two species (C. cerastes, C. mitchellii) showed a distribution concomitant with northward displacement of Baja California from mainland México, followed by vicariant separation into subclades. Effects of Pleistoceneclimate  fluctuations were found in the distributions of all four species. Three regional diversification patterns were  identified: (i) shallow genetic diversity that resulted  from Pleistocene climatic events (C. tigris, C. ruber); (ii)  deep Pleistocene divisions indicating allopatric segregation of subclades within refugia (C. mitchellii, C. cerastes); and (iii) line-age diversifications that extended to Pliocene or Late Miocene (C. mitchellii, C. cerastes). Clade-diversifying and clade-constraining effects impacted the four species of rattlesnakes unequally.  We found relatively high levels of molecular  diversification in the two most broadly distributed species (C. mitchellii, C. cerastes), and lower levels of genetic diversification in the two species (C. tigris, C. ruber) whose ranges are relatively more restricted. Furthermore, in several cases, the distributions of subspecies were not congruent with our molecular information. We suggest  regional conservation perspectives for southwestern deserts cannot rely upon subspecies as biodiversity surrogates, but must instead employ a molecular and deep historical perspective as a primary mechanism to frame biodiversity reserves within this region.

douglas-biblio

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A preliminary analysis of phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the dangerously venomous Carpet Vipers, Echis (Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Amphibia-Reptilia 30(2):273-282. DOI: 10.1163/156853809788201090.

Abstract:

Phylogenetic analysis of 1117 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequences (731 bp of cytochrome b and 386 bp of 16S rRNA) indicate that Echis consists of four main clades: E. ocellatus, and the E. coloratus, E. pyramidum, and E. carinatus groups. In the E. coloratus group, E. coloratus itself shows substantial genetic divergence from E. omanensis, corroborating their separate species status. In the E. pyramidum clade, E. pyramidum from Egypt and E. leucogaster from West Africa are genetically very similar, even though samples are separated by 4000 km. South Arabian populations of the E. pyramidum group are much better differentiated from these and two species may be present, animals from Dhofar, southern Oman probably being referable to E. khosatzkii. In the E. carinatus group, specimens of E. carinatus sochureki and E. multisquamatus are very similar in their DNA. The phylogeny indicates that the split between the main groups of Echis was followed by separation of African and Arabian members of the E. pyramidum group, and of E. coloratus and E. omanensis. The last disjunction probably took place at the lowlands that run southwest of the North Oman mountains, which are likely to have been intermittently covered by marine incursions; they also separate the E. pyramidum and E. carinatus groups and several sister taxa of other reptiles. The E. carinatus group may have spread quite recently from North Oman into its very extensive southwest Asian range, and there appears to have been similar expansion of E. pyramidum (including E. leucogaster) in North Africa. Both these events are likely to be associated with the marked climatic changes of the Pleistocene or late Pliocene. Similar dramatic expansions have also recently occurred in three snake species in Iberia.

arnold-biblio

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Dienstag, 14 Juli 2020 07:42

SHINE, R. (1989)

Constraints, Allometry, and Adaptation: Food Habits and Reproductive Biology of Australian Brownsnakes (Pseudonaja: Elapidae).

Herpetologica. 45 (2): 195–207.

305 006 042 007 pseudonaja textilis artikel

shine-biblio

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Montag, 13 Juli 2020 09:01

FISCHER, J.G. (1885)

Herpetologische Bemerkungen.

Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten 2: 82-121.

Inhalt:

Es werden 19 Arten von Schlangen und Echsen beschrieben. Teilweise handelt es sich um Erstbeschreibungen.

fischer-biblio

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Samstag, 11 Juli 2020 14:16

BÖHME, W. (1977)

Eine neue Art der Gattung Bitis (SERPENTES VIPERIDAE) aus Äthiopien.

Monitore Zoologico Italiano. Supplemento, 9:1,59-68, DOI: 10.1080/03749444.1977.10736843.

Zusammenfassung:

Aus dem bewaldeten Bergland SW-Athiopiens wird Bitis parviocula n.sp. beschrieben, eine große, B. nasicornis (Schaw, 1802), B. gabonica (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) und B. arietans (Merrem, 1820) nahestehende Art. Ihre Merkmale werden hinsichtlich ihrer phylogenetischen Beziehungen und einer wahrscheinlich unterirdischen Lebensweise diskutiert.

böhme-biblio

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Dienstag, 07 Juli 2020 07:32

ZHOU, Z. & JIANG, Z. (2004)

International Trade Status and Crisis for Snake Species in China.

Conservation Biology 18 (5): 1386-1394

Abstract:

In recent years, the purchase of snakes for leather, food, and traditional medicine has increased in China, which has greatly reduced certain snake populations. Trade records show that since the 1990s, with respect to some species of snakes, China is changing from a net export country to a net import country. We analyzed data on international trade in snake species, concentrating, in particular, on trade dynamics and species composition. The overall number of snakes exported appears to have decreased in the last 10 years. However, the number of snakes imported during this period has increased steadily. Many species of snakes that are traded in significant numbers are endangered or threatened species. To conserve snakes in China, we recommended that the Chinese government and the international conservation community take the following actions: enhance legislation and list several species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) appendices; register all snake farms in China; carry out population and market surveys; monitor the dynamics of trade; encourage biological research; encourage change in food habits; and enhance cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China.

zhou-biblio

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Samstag, 04 Juli 2020 16:34

KUCH, U. & YUWONO, F. B. (2002)

First record of Brown Snakes Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854) from  Papua, Indonesia (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae).

HERPETOZOA 15 (1/2): 75-78.

Kurzfassung:

Braunschlangen {Pseudonaja) sind in Australien weit verbreitet und stellen dort eine der medizinisch bedeutsamsten Schlangengattungen dar. Auf der Insel Neuguinea wurden Braunschlangen erstmals 1953 entdeckt. Heute sind sie dort aus einem kleinen Gebiet im Südosten Papua-Neuguineas (Central Province, Milne Bay Province und Oro Province) bekannt. Dieses disjunkte Vorkommen wurde mit einer möglichen unbeabsichtigten Einschleppung während des Zweiten Weltkrieges erklärt. Wir berichten über den Erstnachweis von Braunschlangen - Pseudonaja cf. textilis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854) - aus der Gegend um Merauke imSüdosten von Papua (Indonesien), ca. 800 km westlich der bisher bekannten Fundorte. Die Schlangen wurden dort erstmals 1993 gefunden und seitdem regelmäßig gefangen. Mit gegenwärtiger Kenntnis betrachten wir Braunschlangen auf der Insel Neuguinea daher als autochthonen Bestandteil der Fauna und nicht als das Resultat einer kürzlich erfolgten Verschleppung australischer Tiere.

kuch-biblio

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Samstag, 04 Juli 2020 10:12

BAIG, K. J. & MASROOR, R. (2008)

The snakes of the genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865 in Indo-Pakistan and Iran.

Herpetozoa 20:109-115

Abstract:

The present studies aimed to resolve some systematic issues related to species of the colubrid snake genus Spalerosophis JAN, 1865. The studies were carried out with particular reference to Spalerosophis atriceps FISCHER, 1885 that has been rated controversially since long among other things because of the incorrect identification of the type locality of Spalerosophis diadema (SCHLEGEL, 1837). The studies conclude that atriceps is an independent species and schirazianus is a junior synonym of Spalerosophis diadema.

baig-biblio

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Mittwoch, 11 Oktober 2017 13:35

RYABOV, S.A. & NIKOLAI, L.O. (2010)

Reproductive Biology of Boiga guangxiensis Wen, 1998 (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Asian Herpetological Research 2010, 1(1): 44-47
DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2010.00044

Abstract:

Up to now, the reproductive biology of most species of the genus Boiga is investigated very little. Important data on the reproductive biology of Boiga guangxiensis were received by us for the first time. The investigations were carried out in Viet Nam during expeditions and in the laboratories of Tula Exotarium in the period between 1998−2000.

The data on the feeding, egg size, incubation, size of hatchings, and juvenile colouration of this species are provided for the first time. In addition, the data on size and ratio of snout-vent length/tail length of this snake are provided based on the Vietnamese samples. Our researches demonstrated that B. guangxiensis is distinguished from most other species of the genus by a number of peculiarities of its reproductive biology. Also, morphological differences between Chinese and Vietnamese individuals of this species were noted.

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Phylogeography And Systematic Revision Of The Egyptian Cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja Haje) Species Complex, With The Description Of A New Species From West Africa.

Zootaxa. 2236. 1-25. 10.5281/zenodo.190424.

Abstract:

We use a combination of phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA sequences and multivariate morphometrics to investigate the phylogeography and systematics of the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) species complex. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial haplotypes reveals a highly distinct clade of haplotypes from the Sudano–Sahelian savanna belt of West Africa, and that the haplotypes of Naja haje arabica  form the sister group of North and East African N. h. haje. Multivariate morphometrics confirm the distinctness of the Arabian populations, which are consequently recognised as a full species, Naja arabica Scortecci. The Sudano-Sahelian populations are also found to represent a morphologically distinct taxon, and thus a separate species, which we describe as Naja senegalensis sp. nov. The new species differs from all other members of the N. haje complex by a combination of colour pattern and scalation characteristics (especially higher numbers of scale rows around the neck), and the possession of a unique clade of mtDNA haplotypes. The distribution of the new species includes savanna areas of West Africa, from Senegal to western Niger and Nigeria.

Phylogeography And Systematic Revision Of The Egyptian Cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja Haje) Species Complex, With The Description Of A New Species From West Africa (PDF Download Available).

Full text available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228655725_Phylogeography_And_Systematic_Revision_Of_The_Egyptian_Cobra_Serpentes_Elapidae_Naja_Haje_Species_Complex_With_The_Description_Of_A_New_Species_From_West_Africa [accessed Oct 4, 2017].

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