Arlo Hinckley

Smithsonian Institution · Department of Vertebrate Zoology

The hyperdiverse shrew genus Crocidura is one of few small mammal genera distributed across Sundaland and all of its boundaries. This represents a rare opportunity to study the geological history of this region through the evolutionary history of these shrews. We generate a phylogeny of all recognized species of Sundaland Crocidura and show that mo...

Aim Understanding the biotic and abiotic mechanisms underlying the generation and maintenance of biogeographic transitions represent long-standing topics in evolutionary biology. The Isthmus of Kra (IOK) divides Sundaland and Indochina and constitutes a poorly characterized terrestrial biogeographic transition. Here we looked at population genetic...

We here present a comprehensive integrative taxonomic review of the genus Hylomys, using molecular (mitochondrial genomes and up to five nuclear loci) and morphological data from museum specimens across its distribution, resulting in the description of two new species and the elevation of three subspecies to specific status. This revision significa...

The extraction of nucleic acids is one of the most routine procedures used in molecular biology laboratories, yet kit performance may influence the downstream processing of samples, particularly for samples which are degraded, and in low concentrations. Here we tested several commercial kits for specific use on commonly sampled mammalian museum spe...

Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules were defined to describe macroecological patterns across latitudinal gradients. Bergmann observed a positive association between body size and latitude for endothermic species while Allen described shorter appendages as latitude increases. Almost two centuries later, there is still ongoing discussion about these pattern...

Aim: Comprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroeco...

The genus Neomys contains four species, three of which are present on the Iberian Peninsula. Recent phylogeographic studies have thoroughly assessed the evolutionary history of this genus in this region. However, perhaps due to its rarity, the isolated and endangered populations of southern Iberia have never been included in these studies. Thus, th...

Based on a combination of literature published records, scientific collection specimens, biodiversity citizen science resources (Observation.org) and data from recent field campaigns, we provide an updated distribution map of Felis lybica and Felis margarita in the WSS, particularly, in the lower Draa region of SW Morocco

Pelobates varaldii has been listed as Endangered because this species has an area of occupancy (AOO) calculated from available locality data as being 60 km2, its population is severely fragmented, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. Although the true area of occupancy is probably larger as additional localiti...

The Near Eastern fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) reaches its southern distribution range in Israel. Although the population structure has been analysed in central Israel and at the southern distribution limit, we lack knowledge on populations in the northern area, such as along Mount Hermon. S. infraimmaculata occurs at Mt. Hermon alon...

The bleak Alburnus alburnus is native to most of Europe. This cyprinid fish is a successful invader in the Iberian Peninsula. No studies exist on its foraging strategies on a large scale for this ecoregion. The aim of the present study was to compare dietary traits of invasive bleak among the main Iberian rivers and a ‘reference’ native bleak popul...

Supplementary figure 4. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view of the holotype skins of Sundasciurus lowii (NHM76.5.2.14), Sundasciurus natunensis (NHM94.9.28.40), Sundasciurus robinsoni (NHM3.2.6.55) and Sundasciurus fraterculus (NHM95.1.9.12). Photographs of live specimens: (C) Sundasciurus robinsoni (taken in Sumatra; photo credits: Oscar Johnson), (D)...

Supplementary figure 5. Bivariate plots of selected external measurements and diagnostic craniodental dimensions. (A) shows tail length versus head and body length; (B) shows ear length versus occipitonasal length; (C) shows breadth of bony palate at fourth premolar versus length of bony palate ; (D) shows height of braincase versus occipitonasal l...

A surprising amount of hidden phylogenetic diversity exists in the small to medium size, drab colored squirrels of the genus Sundasciurus. This genus is endemic to Sundaland and the Philippines, where it is widespread. An earlier revision of this genus found that the high elevation ‘populations’ of the widespread, lowland slender squirrel (S. tenui...

North Africa is a climatically and topographically complex region with unique biotic assemblages resulting from the combination of multiple biogeographic realms. Here, we assess the role of climate in promoting intra-specific diversification in a Palearctic relict, the North African fire salamander, Salamandra algira, using a combination of phyloge...

Insular ecosystems are sensitive to alien invasive species. The Balearic Islands have been colonized by a large list of invasive species, in most cases due to human activity. White-toothed shrews have been historically recorded in this archipelago and to date four different species have been found. In this study we focus on the white-toothed pygmy...

The native European freshwater cyprinid fish, common bleak Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758), is an invasive non-native fish in the Iberian Peninsula, where it threatens the valuable endemic fish fauna. Despite the bleak's invasive status, there is a dearth of studies on the biological traits of non-native populations in Europe's Mediterranean reg...

Invasive species currently account for a major threat to global biodiversity, and island ecosystems are among the most vulnerable, because of the frequency and success of spe- cies introductions on islands. Within Mediterranean islands, reptiles not only are frequently introduced species but are also among the most threatened because of these intro...

Three cases of limb abnormality in a Fire Salamander population of Northern Israel are described.The description is followed by some hypothetical explanations of these malformations

Bufo spinosus AmphibiaWeb account

Description of a case of dark facial pattern in two specimens of Mauremys leprosa observed inside a mine in the province of Ciudad Real.The description is followed by a brief discussion of the possible causes of this rare event .

Habitat description, demography, threats and conservation measures for a urban population of Discoglossus galganoi that has survived in a park of the center of Madrid

Use of caves by turtles is an uncommon but reported behaviour.But until now, caves have never been reported as thermoregulatory refuges.Here we describe an unusual active winter behaviour by the Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin (Mauremys leprosa) which usually hibernates from November to February in Central Spain

The Beni Snassen’s Salamander Salamandra algira spelaea is one of the amphibians with a more restricted distribution in North Africa. Its presence is confined to a very small area inthe Beni Snassen massif in northeastern Morocco. This massif shows sub-humid to semi-arid climatic conditions that are possibly close to the eco-physiological limits of...

Amphibians can use caves and other subterranean habitats for thermal refugia, to avoid predation, as feeding habitats and as breeding sites. A number of salamanders are troglobitic (obligate cavernicole species unable to survive outside) restricted to cave habitats and exhibiting special characters adapted to these environments, such as degenerated...