Melita Vamberger

Senckenberg Research Institute · Research Museum of Zoology Dresden

The exact understanding of distribution and natural history is the necessary prerequisite for conservation of the endangered European pond turtle. In this study we examined the distribution and population size of pond turtles in Ljubljansko barje, a bog of European importance (Natura 2000 site, intended to be included into the Convention on Wetland...

It is generally assumed that ectothermic vertebrates show a reversed Bergmann's cline, but several studies suggest the opposite for turtles. Here, we assess this issue using the widely distributed European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), which displays strong geographic size variation. We tested carapace lengths of more than 2000 individuals from t...

Recent studies indicate that hybridization in animals occurs more frequently than previously thought and that it may play an important evolutionary role. Chelonians are capable of extensive hybridization, raising the question how chelonian species evolve and maintain genetic integrity despite hybridization. Here, we use two sister species with para...

Using virtually range-wide sampling for three pond turtle taxa (Emys orbicularis galloitalica, E. o. hellenica, E. trinacris), we analyse gene flow across their southern Italian contact zone. Based on population genetic analyses of 15 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial marker, we show that the general genetic pattern matches...

Traditionally, one giraffe species and up to eleven subspecies have been recognized [1]; however, nine subspecies are commonly accepted [2]. Even after a century of research, the distinctness of each giraffe subspecies remains unclear, and the genetic variation across their distribution range has been incompletely explored. Recent genetic studies o...

Taxonomy, Description, Distribution, Habitat and Ecology, Diet, Activity, Predation, Parasites, Serology, Age at Maturity and Longevity, Reproduction, Embryonic Development, Population Status, Threats to Survival, Conservation Measures Taken, Conservation Measures Proposed, Captive Husbandry are discussed.

The Asian box turtles of the Cuora galbinifrons complex (C. galbinifrons, C. bourreti, and C. picturata) rank among the most endangered chelonian species in the world. Despite several previous studies, the phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries of this complex remain a matter for dispute due to a shortage of field-collected samples for g...

Changes in the structural association of skeletal traits are crucial to the evolution of novel forms and functions. In vertebrates, such rearrangements often occur gradually and may precede or coincide with the functional activation of skeletal traits. To illustrate this process, we examined the ontogeny of African hinge-back tortoises (Kinixys spp...

Biological invasions by alien species have substantial economic impacts and are a major driver of the ongoing decline and loss of biodiversity. Through humans, the North American pond slider ( Trachemys scripta ) has acquired a global distribution over the last decades and is currently listed among the worst invasive reptile species. However, in mo...

The pond slider Trachemys scripta is one of the most widespread alien turtle species in the world. Its unregulated trade and the consequent uncontrolled releases into the wild led to negative impacts on the native turtles of the invaded areas. In Italy, alien pond sliders are widely spread, and the occurrence of hatchlings and well-established popu...

Some species do well in human-modified habitats and thus such habitats can be considered as alternative habitats for the conservation of threatened species only, if no natural habitats are available. During one of our surveys on the black terrapin (Melanochelys trijuga) in Sri Lanka, we selected to investigate one out of six visited ponds in the Ku...

Species-level phylogeny and especially phylogeography of African chelonians is a comparatively under-studied field of research. We review the current knowledge of phylogeny and phylogeography, highlight congruence of spatial phylogeographic patterns amongst chelonians and other taxa and suggest future research directions to address gaps in knowledg...

Based on the critical review of the literature published in the last 22 years, an attempt was made to evaluate the current knowledge gap on the distribution and status of the native Testudines taxa occurring in Sicily (namely Caretta caretta, Emys trinacris, and Testudo hermanni hermanni), as well as the available knowledge of the only non-native s...

We describe a new species from the Pelodiscus axenaria complex from Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces, China. Also, the application of the name P. axenaria (Zhou, Zhang & Fang, 1991) is clarified by designating a neotype for this species. Besides its genetic divergence, the new species differs from all other Pelodiscus species, including the two other ta...

In the Himalayas, a number of secondary contact zones have been described for vicariant vertebrate taxa. However, analyses of genetic divergence and admixture are missing for most of these examples. In this study, we provide a population genetic analysis for the coal tit (Periparus ater) hybrid zone in Nepal. Intermediate phenotypes between the dis...

Revealing the genetic basis of the existence of different species living together in different geographic regions provides clarification of this phylogeographic differentiation. In this study, we investigated the population genetics and evaluated the level of genetic variation of inland and coastal populations of Mauremys and Emys in Turkey. Tissue...

Sub-Saharan Africa harbours an outstanding diversity of tortoises of which the leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis is the most widespread. Across its’ range the species is impacted by habitat transformation, over-collection for human consumption and the pet trade, road mortality, and electrocution by electric fences. Most leopard tortoises in so...

In this study we examined the population of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Prilipe oxbow lakes along the Sava River. The species' sex and age structure were estimated as well its population size. In the area of approximately 5.9 ha of water surface, 3 individuals were found in 2008 and 70 in 2019, when a more detailed survey was...

The geographical pattern of genetic diversity was investigated in the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris across its entire distribution range, using 16 microsatellite loci. Overall, 245 specimens of E. trinacris were studied, showing high polymorphic microsatellite loci, with allele numbers ranging from 7 to 30. STRUCTURE and GENELAND anal...

The last species list of the European herpetofauna was published by Speybroeck, Beukema and Crochet (2010). In the meantime, ongoing research led to numerous taxonomic changes, including the discovery of new species-level lineages as well as reclassifications at genus level, requiring significant changes to this list. As of 2019, a new Taxonomic Co...

Using range-wide sampling and 1,143 bp of mtDNA (cytochrome b gene) and 14 microsatellite loci, we examined genetic differentiation in the widely distributed Southern African angulate tortoise (Chersina angulata). We found evidence for two genealogical lineages that differ in both genetic marker systems and their preferred habitat conditions. Accor...

Grass snakes are widely distributed across the Western Palearctic. Recent phylogeo-graphic studies provided evidence that three distinct parapatric species exist. Two of these occur in Italy, Natrix helvetica and N. natrix, and a contact zone between both taxa has been suggested for northeastern Italy. Moreover, previous investigations revealed for...

The Lobatse Hinge-back Tortoise, Kinixys lobatsiana (Power, 1927), has a small distribution range in northern South Africa and adjacent Botswana. Local populations have been fragmented by degradation and destruction of suitable habitat, resulting in this species being listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. Here, the geographic distribution of K. lobatsiana...

We studied for the first time the molecular differentiation of all three currently recognized subspecies of Trachemys scripta, including the morphologically distinct western populations of T. s. elegans ('western red-eared sliders'), using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences (up to 3,236 bp and 2,738 bp, respectively) and 14 microsatellite loci...

Under different environmental conditions, hybridization between the same species might result in different patterns of genetic admixture. Particularly, species pairs with large distribution ranges and long evolutionary history may have experienced several independent hybridization events over time in different zones of overlap. In birds, the divers...

Records from the putative gap in the distribution range of Pelomedusa galeata in western South Africa provide evidence for the occurrence of helmeted terrapins in those areas. Further research is needed to reveal the genetic and taxonomic identity of these populations.

Pelusios sinuatus is distributed in East Africa from southern Ethiopia and Somalia to northeastern South Africa. Inland it reaches westernmost Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Burundi. Despite this wide range, which spans in north-south direction across 3,500 km and in east-west direction more than 1,500 km, no geographic variation has been described. However...

In contrast to mammals, little is known about the phylogeographic structuring of widely distributed African reptile species. With the present study, we contribute data for the leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). It ranges from the Horn of Africa southward to South Africa and westwards to southern Angola. However, its natural occurrence is dis...

Hybrid zones are natural laboratories allowing insights in genetic processes like lineage diversification, speciation and introgression. Using large sampling, 15 microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial marker, we examined the Pyrenean contact zone of three pond turtle taxa (Emys orbicularis orbicularis, E. o. galloitalica, E. o. occidentalis). The...

Based on rangewide sampling and three mitochondrial and two nuclear markers (together up to 1,850 bp and 1,840 bp, respectively), we examine the phylogeography of two helmeted terrapin species (Pelomedusa galeata and P. subrufa sensu stricto) and infer shifts of climatically suitable spaces since the Last Glacial Maximum using a modeling approach....

Alignment cyt b sequences

Studied samples and ENA accession numbers for DNA sequences

Alignment 12S rRNA sequences

Alignment ND4 + tRNA sequences

Alignment of concatenated mtDNA for TCS network

Problems with the reliability of the distribution map for Emys orbicularis in the online atlas of European amphibians and reptiles (NA2RE) are highlighted. Two distinct species (E. orbicularis, E. trinacris) are lumped together there. For E. orbicularis, many regions are included into the native distribution range where the species does not occur n...

Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus spp.) are widely distributed, ranging from the Amur and Ussuri Rivers in the Russian Far East through the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and eastern, central, and southern China to southern Vietnam. In East and Southeast Asia, Chinese softshell turtles are traditionally exploited for food and have been farm-bred in C...

The Fifth International Symposium on Emys orbicularis and the other European Freshwater Turtles was held in Kiten, Bulgaria, on 19–21 August 2015. It continued the tradition of international collaboration and exchange of knowledge related to the chelonians. The resultant proceedings combine 22 papers presented in the program of the symposium. They...

Mimicking venomous species is widespread among animals, especially snakes. This concerns both visual and behavioral mimicry. Raising the forepart of the body and flattening the neck are characteristic defense behaviors of cobras and mimicked by several non-venomous snake species that co-occur with them. Here we describe the cobra stance for grass s...

Map turtles of the genus Graptemys are native to North America, where a high degree of drainage endemism is believed to have shaped current diversity. With 14 species and one additional subspecies, Graptemys represents the most diverse genus in the family Emydidae. While some Graptemys species are characterized by pronounced morphological differenc...

Recent studies found major conflicts between traditional taxonomy and genetic differentiation of grass snakes and identified previously unknown secondary contact zones. Until now, little is known about gene flow across these contact zones. Using two mitochondrial markers and 13 microsatellite loci, we examined two contact zones. One, largely corres...

Cambodia is known to harbour three distinct species of Southeast Asian leaf turtles (Cyclemys spp.), which are heavily traded and common in seizures of wildlife. Confiscated leaf turtles are often released to natural habitats. Thus, an exact knowledge of the distribution of the individual species is of great importance to avoid the introduction of...

Supporting Information

It is not unexpected that a proposal, such as ours [1] , of four new mammalian species stirs up controversy, as evident in the correspondence by Bercovitch et al. [2] . We appreciate that their concerns are unrelated to the quality of the genetic data, the methodological approach or analyses, but are focused on the interpretation. Thus, we provided...

Ancient DNA of extinct species from the Pleistocene and Holocene has provided valuable evolutionary insights. However, these are largely restricted to mammals and high latitudes because DNA preservation in warm climates is typically poor. In the tropics and subtropics, non-avian reptiles constitute a significant part of the fauna and little is know...

Ten new observations of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Podravje region are presented. One observation is fairly old, while the others have been made in the last six years. Most of the data are just random observations and do not give a complete overview of the species distribution in the Podravje region. New data...

Africa, inclusive of the West Indian Ocean islands, harbours 11 of the world’s 16 extant testudinid genera. Fossil records indicate that testudinids originated in Asia and dispersed first to North America and Europe (Early Eocene) and later to Africa (Late Eocene). We used mitochondrial (1870 bp) and nuclear (1416 bp) DNA sequence data to assess wh...

Based on DNA sequences derived from two hatchlings from the Alwero river, Gambela Region, Cyclanorbis senegalensis is recorded for the first time for western Ethiopia. Previously published DNA sequences of C. senegalensis from Benin and Togo are slightly different, suggesting phylogeographic structure.