Vicente Mata-Silva

University of Texas at El Paso | UTEP · Department of Biological Sciences

Tantilla cascadae Wilson and Meyer, 1981. Until recently, this species was known only from the type locality, Cascada de Tzaráracua, Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. A second locality now is known from 20 km NE Pihuamo, Jalisco, where a single individual was found (D. Cruz-Sáenz, pers. comm.; submitted). Peter Heimes also collected and photographed the...

We provide a checklist and identification key for the 66 members of the Tantilla clade, as defined by Holm (2008), which consists of the genera Geagras (one species), Scolecophis (one species), Tantilla (61 species), and Tantillita (three species). We provide summary information for these genera, and the species accounts contain information on a ba...

The rediscovery of Tantilla bocourti from Isla María Cleofas, Nayarit, Mexico is reported. This species was initially reported from the island by McDiarmid et al. (1976), based on a specimen collected 54 years ago (1964).

A new species of Tantilla in the calamarina group from southeastern coastal Guerrero, Mexico is described. This new species is part of a clade that contains T. calamarina, T. cascadae, T. ceboruca, T. coronadoi, T. deppei, T. sertula, and T. vermiformis. All of these species are endemic to Mexico, except for T. vermiformis, which is found along the...

The Mexican Conservation Series (MCS) was initiated in 2013, with a study of the herpetofauna of Michoacán (Alvarado-Díaz et al. 2013) that was published as part of a set of fve papers designated as the Special Mexico Issue in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. The basic format of the entries in the MCS was established in that paper, i.e., examining...

Herein, we report the first case of caudal scoliosis in an adult male of Aspidoscelis marmorata in a population located in far west Texas, in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. This record also represents the second taxon in the genus Aspidoscelis where this condition has been documented.

The herpetofauna of the Mexican state of Guanajuato currently consists of 24 anurans, three salamanders, 71 squamates, and three turtles, for a total of 101 species. The members of the herpetofauna are categorized among the three recognized physiographic regions of the Central Plateau, the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, and the Sierra Madre Oriental....

The species – area relationship (SAR) is a common pattern in which diversity increases with the area sampled, but ecosystems are three‐dimensional (3D) and diversity – volume relationships (DVRs) may exist in ecosystems that vary substantially in their vegetation volume. We tested whether forest vegetation volume, as a 3D extension of area in SARs,...

Chiapas harbors significant biological and cultural diversity. The region known as Selva Lacandona is an ideal example to study what is called the “biocultural axiom”. This neotropical region is inhabited by multiple indigenous groups, such as the Tsotziles, Tseltales, Tojolabales, Ch’oles, Kanjobales, Chujes, Mames, Lacandones (Hach Winik), and Zo...

The growth in our knowledge of the diversity of the herpetofauna of Mexico has occurred over the period of approximately 445 years from the work of Francisco Hernán-dez to that of a broad multinational array of present-day herpetologists. The work of this huge group of people has established Mexico as one of the most significant centers of herpetof...

Animal-borne sensors ('bio-loggers') can record a suite of kinematic and environmental data, which can elucidate animal ecophysiology and improve conservation efforts. Machine learning techniques are useful for interpreting the large amounts of data recorded by bio-loggers, but there exists no standard for comparing the different machine learning t...

Taxonomic and functional diversity metrics have been used together to describe functional patterns through species richness in a given area or region. Many scientists have shown that these two metrics can be positively correlated; nevertheless, other studies have found the opposite. In either case, the usefulness of both metrics has helped to devel...

Detailed studies on the natural history of snakes are essential for ecological hypothesis-driven research and effective conservation. Herein, we studied the diet composition and morphology of Yucatecan Cantils (Agkistrodon russeolus Gloyd 1972 [Serpentes: Viperidae]), an understudied viperid species endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula. We collected da...

The herpetofauna of the Mexican state of Guanajuato currently consists of 24 anurans, three salamanders, 71 squamates, and three turtles, for a total of 101 species. The members of the herpetofaunacare categorized among the three recognized physiographic regions of the Central Plateau, the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, and the Sierra Madre Oriental....

This work includes information on 30 species of amphibians and reptiles, 10 and 20 respectively. They live in the Las Musas Natural Protected Area, Guanajuato. Infographics of each species, taxonomic keys and a glossary of terms are presented. This guide is aimed at the general public and is presented in simple language. It provides information and...

Editor: Adriana Manzano, Argentina. Resumen.-Reportamos el primer registro de la serpiente Geophis lorancai para el estado mexicano de Oaxaca. La especie se conocía previamente solamente de las localidades tipo en la Sierra de Zongolica en Veracruz y la Sierra de Quimixtlán en Puebla, así como de algunas localidades adicionales descubiertas más re...

The herpetofauna of Tabasco, Mexico, consists of 170 species, including 39 anurans, five caudates, one caecilian, two crocodylians, 111 squamates, and 12 turtles. We catalogued the distribution of these species among the three physiographic regions we recognize in the state: the Gulf Coastal Plain (88 species), the Sierras Bajas de Petén (93 specie...

The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Los Chimalapas Region, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico: Composition, Distributional Categorization, Conservation Status, and Biodiversity Significance Please read, download and share https://biologiaysociedad.uanl.mx/.../b/article/view/73/63

Dado el incesante impulso de la actual crisis mundial de la biodiversidad, existe una gran urgencia en documentar y reportar la ocurrencia y distribución de especies, y las amenazas para su persistencia. Esta urgencia aumenta aún más cuando se trata de especies secretivas de regiones poco estudiadas. Presentamos una lista taxonómica actualizada de...

Description of a new defensive behavior displayed by Phrynosoma modestum (Round-tailed Horned Lizard) in far west Texas.

Despite its wide distribution throughout the northern Chihuahuan Desert, extraordinarily little is known about the ecology or behavior of Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus). The primary literature for Black-tailed Rattlesnakes was largely based on research conducted on the former conspecific (C. molossus); thus, the revalidation o...

The herpetofauna of the state of Querétaro, Mexico, consists of 129 species, including 27 anurans, seven caudates, 92 squamates, and three turtles. Regarding the distribution of the herpetofaunal species among the three recognized physiographic regions in the state, the total number of species ranges from 43 in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt to 102...

First report of an unusual item (cooked chicken bone) in the diet of Crotalus atrox at Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS), Hudspeth County, Texas.

Freshwater turtles represent a diverse group of reptiliaforms in Mexico, with the highest diversity being distributed mostly in the southern tropical states. Unfortunately, knowledge regarding their ecology, behavior, cultural importance, and reliable geographic distribution is still scarce; consequently, preventing in-depth spatial analyses that a...

New distributional records of Anolis carolinensis (A. porcatus) in Tamaulipas, México

The herpetofauna of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, currently consists of 359 species, including 76 anurans, 45 caudates, one caecilian, one crocodylian, 217 squamates, and 19 turtles. The distribution of the herpetofaunal species are catalogued here among the four recognized physiographic regions in the state. The total number of species ranges fro...

A substantial number of changes to the composition of the herpetofauna of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, including taxonomic additions and deletions, have occurred in the five years since our original assessment of this region. These changes now establish a herpetofauna of 480 species for the state. A number of taxonomic and nomenclatural changes inv...

“Biodiversidad Mesoamericana” es una publicación digital mensual de comunicación de la ciencia en torno al conocimiento y conservación de la Diversidad Biológica y Cultural de Mesoamérica.

“Biodiversidad Mesoamericana” es una publicación digital mensual de comunicación de la ciencia en torno al conocimiento y conservación de la Diversidad Biológica y Cultural de Mesoamérica.

Salamanders are threatened currently by the destructive activities of humans and potentially endangered by the possibility of the invasion of their habitats by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Our conclusion is that Mesoamerican salamanders should be recognized as a conservation focal group for several reasons outlined herein....

Predation of the Chihuahuan Nightsnake, Hypsiglena jani by the Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus, in Trans-Pecos, Texas.

Biodiversidad Mesoamericana” es una publicación digital mensual de comunicación de la ciencia en torno al conocimiento y conservación de la Diversidad Biológica y Cultural de Mesoamérica.

Las salamandras constituyen el segundo orden más grande de anfibios en el mundo. Las 762 especies que ocurren a nivel mundial están organizadas en nueve familias, de las cuales ocho se encuentran en el hemisferio occidental. Las 308 especies de salamandras mesoamericanas están distribuidas en cuatro familias, solo dos de las cuales tienen represent...

The use of miniature accelerometer (ACT) data-loggers for remote and continuous recording of animal movement behavior is becoming increasingly common. Until recently, size constraints limited most animal-borne ACT applications to large-bodied species. We capitalized on the ongoing miniaturization and advancement of these technologies and associated...

The herpetofauna of Hidalgo, Mexico, is comprised of 203 species, including 42 anurans, 17 caudates, one crocodylian, 137 squamates, and six turtles. Here, the distribution of the herpetofaunal species are catalogued among the four recognized physiographic regions. The total number of species varies from 77 in the Mexican Plateau to 166 in the Sier...

The diversity of amphibians of Oaxaca, México

Geographic distribution of the Mexican salamander Isthmura maxima. First report in the municipality of Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Habitat heterogeneity and local resource distribution play key roles in animal search patterns. Optimal strategies are often considered for foraging organisms, but many of the same predictions are applicable to mate searching. We quantified movement and space use by a pitviper to test whether Native Habitats (NH) and human-made Resource Hotspots (R...

The herpetofauna of Coahuila, Mexico, is comprised of 143 species, including 20 anurans, four caudates, 106 squamates, and 13 turtles. The number of species documented among the 10 physiographic regions recognized ranges from 38 in the Laguna de Mayrán to 91 in the Sierras y Llanuras Coahuilenses. The individual species occupy from one to 10 region...

A review of the book "Venomous Snakes of South America/Giftschlangen Südamerikas."

Food resources have a significant effect on many characteristics of living organisms, such as growth, reproduction, and tissue repair, among others. These resources, however, can vary among localities and seasons of the year. In this study, we examined the feeding ecology of the lizard Sceloporus minor from two localities (La Manzana and El Enzuela...

The bird Catharus occidentalis (Russet Nightingale-Thrush) is reported for the first time in the diet of the snake Oxybelis fulgidus, in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The endemic herpetofauna of Central America is of global significance, and currently consists of 623 species, 56.9% of a total herpetofauna of 1,095 species. During the last two years 43 endemic species have been added to this total, and one species has been deleted. The endemic herpetofauna of Central America is distributed unevenly among 10 physi...

Content of the dipsadid genus Rhadinaea has changed considerably since Myers’ 1974 revision. Three species groups are recognized currently in the genus. Our fieldwork in Oaxaca in June 2018 produced a single specimen of Rhadinaea considered to represent a new taxon. This new species is described from converted Premontane Wet Forest in the municipal...

Little is known about the ecology and behavior of Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus) despite the species’ wide geographic distribution throughout the southwestern United States and central Mexico. The goal of this study was to quantify space use, movement patterns, and habitat use by C. lepidus in the Chihuahuan Desert of extreme west Texas. We u...

Scavenging behavior reported in the Rock Rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus.

First report of the Chihuahuan Nightsnake (Hypsiglena jani) in the diet of the Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus).

First report of arboreal behavior on the Dunn's Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium dunni) from Oaxaca, Mexico.

The snake Rena segrega (cited as R. humilis) is reported in the diet of the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus).

The lizard Phrynosoma modestum is reported in the diet of the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus).

First report of the exotic Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in the diet of the native White-fronted Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Tropical dry forests are recognized as environments with high biological diversity marked by phenological patterns throughout the year, which define their species richness, composition, and abundance. Accordingly, knowledge on the diversity and abundance of species in a given area, and other aspects of their biology, is crucial for their conservati...