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... Genus Eleutheronema Bleeker 1862 Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw, 1804) ( This species is commonly known as fourfinger threadfin. It was reported from Sindh by Aitken (1907), Anonymous (1955), Menon and Babun Rao (1984), Misra (1962), Murray (1880), Sorley (1932), from Indus Delta by Khan (1960) and Mahmood et al. (1999) from Karachi by Anonymous (1955Anonymous ( , 1999, Jenkins (1910), Misra (1962), Motomura (2004b) and Motomura et al. (2002) from Sandspit and Kharo Chan by from Tidal Link Canal, Badin District by Jafri (2004) and Jafri et al. (2000), from Balochistan by Anonymous (1953), Menon and Babun Rao (1984) and Motomura (2004b) from Makran by Anonymous (1955), Misra (1962) and Qureshi (1952). ...
... Aitken (1907), Anonymous (1999), Jenkins (1910), Khan (1960), Murray (1880), and Sorley (1932) reported this species as Polynemus tetradactylus. Shaw (1804) originally described this species as Polynemus tetradactylus from Vizagapatnam, India; however, no type is known (Frickle et al., 2024). This species is known from the Indo-Pacific area (Western Indian Ocean), including the Persian Gulf, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, northern Australia, and New Guinea; however, it is not known from the Red Sea and East Africa (Froese and Pauly, 2024;Motomura , 2022). ...
... No material of this species was examined Gneus Leptomelanosoma Leptomelanosoma indicum (Shaw, 1804) (Fig. 3) This species is commonly known as Indian threadfin. In the River Indus Delta area, it is also called Omaro (meaning burnt wood because of unusual blackish tinge). ...
Threadfins are considered commercially important fish species that are found in coastal waters as well as on the continental shelf, estuaries, and even in freshwater. Fourfinger threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) and Indian threadfin (Leptomelanosoma indicum) fetch high prices in the local market. L. indicum is known to ascend the River Indus, as this species can be found in areas with low salinities. Members of the genera Polydactylus and Filimanus are of small sizes and mainly used in the production of fishmeal, whereas Polynemus paradiseus is of extremely rare occurrence. Commercial landings of threadfin fish in Pakistan during the last ten years are estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 m. tons with the highest landings of 3,150 m. tons were recorded in 2021. Indian threadfin is exported in small quantities to Taiwan (through mainland China and Thailand), where it is considered to be a delicacy and fetches high prices.
... The illustration was based on a single specimen (holotype by monotypy), and we examined the available dry skin catalogued as holotype (NHMUK 1904.7.27.67; not holotype fide Bauer, 2015). We restrict the type locality of L. striatus to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, based on the holotype (now lost) fide Russell (1796) and Shaw (1802), and consider its distribution as being from eastern towards northwest and south India including Sri Lanka. Coluber malignus was described based on the same specimen illustrated (iconotype) of C. striatus, hence it is to be regarded as a junior objective synonym of C. striatus. ...
... Based on current evidence, we thus consider L. striatus sensu stricto as a widely distributed species from central and eastern India (including some lower elevations of northern and northeastern India) to Sri Lanka. (Shaw, 1802) sensu stricto (Figures 1-5, S1-S3; Tables 1 and 2) ...
... Figure S2. Illustrations of several historical specimens: (A) the holotype of Coluber striatus Shaw, 1802(depicted by Russell 1796; (B) the syntype of C. galathea Daudin, 1803(depicted by Russell 1796; (C) a voucher of Contia bicolor Nikolsky, 1903(depicted by Nikolsky 1916; and (D) the neotype of Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus Deraniyagala, 1955 (illustration by AATA). Table S1. ...
We reviewed the systematics of Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802), including all available name‐bearing types of its synonyms after evaluating phylogeographic (genetics), morphological (morphometry, meristic, and hemipenes), osteological and distribution evidence. Lycodon striatus sensu lato is widely distributed throughout South and Central Asia and mimics elapids. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, we demonstrate that populations from (i) eastern and central Peninsular India plus Sri Lanka and (ii) south‐western parts of Central Asia form two different clades representing two distinct species: L. striatus sensu stricto and L. bicolor comb. nov. respectively. These two clades are sisters to L. deccanensis (in the case of L. striatus) and L. jara (in the case of L. bicolor) and together form two main sister radiations. Although the external morphological variability is high in both species, the genetic variability is higher only in L. striatus but not distinct enough to represent more than one species if using the phylogenetic or biological species concept. The phylogeny of the L. aulicus group hints at Sri Lankan L. striatus, likely having evolved in continental Asia through a probable overland dispersal across the Bay of Bengal (present Palk Strait) into Sri Lanka. This dispersal may have been facilitated by low sea levels during the Pleistocene glaciations when Sri Lanka was connected to mainland India. After considering genetic divergence (with a p‐distance of 1.8%–2.1% in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene) and morphological evidence, we synonymize the Sri Lankan subspecies, L. s. sinhaleyus Deraniyagala, 1955, with L. striatus sensu stricto. The eastern and central Indian L. striatus (i.e. L. striatus sensu stricto) is morphologically distinct and deeply divergent genetically compared to Tajik and Pakistani L. bicolor with a p‐distance of 13.6% in cytochrome b gene (mtDNA). Interestingly, L. bicolor is conspecific (p‐distance 1.4%) with L. mackinnoni, a western Himalayan endemic, and it reveals intraspecific clinal variation.
... This species was reported from Pakistan without mentioning any specific location by Ahmad (1988), Hoda (1985), Misra (1962), Qureshi (1960Qureshi ( , 1961, Psomadakis et al. (2015), Qamar et al. (2016), Smith-Vaniz (2022), Sorley (1932) and Zugmayer (1913) reported this species as Trachinotus russelli. It was originally described as Scomber botla from Vishakhapatnam, India by Shaw (1803), however, no type is known (Frickle et al., 2024). ...
... 1 specimen collected from Offshore waters at Malan, 25 October 2013 (32.0 cm) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 21 (4): 527-596, 2024.Trachinotus botla(Shaw, 1803) (Fig. 60) Fig. 60 Trachinotus botla collected from Karachi Fish Harbour. ...
The family Carangidae which includes commercially important fishes such as as jacks, trevallies, scads, queenfishes, runners, and pompanos is represented in Pakistan by 64 species belonging to 28 genera. Three species including Decapterus kurroides Bleeker 1855, Kaiwarinus equula (Temminck and Schlegel 1844) and Seriola lalandi Valenciennes 1833 are reported for the first time from the Pakistan coast. Analysis of commercial landings of the members of the Family Carangidae for the period 1999 to 2023 reveals that this family contributes between 4.57 % (2012) to 8.45 % (2021) in total seafood production of Pakistan. Important food fishes belonging to this family include
... Gymnura is currently formed by 13 valid species: Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758), Gymnura micrura (Block & Schneider, 1801), Gymnura poecilura (Shaw, 1804), Gymnura tentaculata (Muller & Henle, 1841), Gymnura hirundo (Lowe, 1843), Gymnura japonica (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850), Gymnura zonura (Bleeker, 1852), Gymnura marmorata (Cooper, 1864), Gymnura crebipunctata (Peters, 1869), Gymnura australis (Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886), Gymnura natalensis (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911), Gymnura lessae Yokota & Carvalho (2017), and Gymnura sereti Yokota & Carvalho (2017). Several other taxa have also been synonymized with the existing species (Weigmann, 2016;Yokota et al., 2016;Yokota & Carvalho, 2017). ...
... Smith et al. (2009) also suggested this evolutionary distinct origin of G. marmorata in comparison with the other species of the western Atlantic, with a more derived position within the genus Gymnura. Muktha et al. (2018) redescribed Gymnura poecilura and designated a neotype from Visakhapatnam, India, based on the "Tenkee kunsul" of Russell (1803), which was described formally the following year by Shaw as Raja poecilura (Shaw, 1804). Muktha et al. (2018) also raised the hypothesis that the species the Indian Ocean/Western Pacific (IWP) represents a complex of morphologically very similar species based on previous studies of the region's fauna (Randall, 1995;Vossoughi & Vosoughi, 1999;Raje et al., 2007) and the available molecular inferences (Jacobsen & Bennett, 2009;Naylor et al., 2012;Henderson et al., 2016). ...
Gymnurid rays are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the world, where they are associated with sandy or muddy bottoms in coastal areas, being easily distinguished from other rays by the width of the disc. In recent years, the systematics of this family have been revised extensively. However, there has been no comprehensive molecular review of the family based on an adequate sample of species and localities, which may have obscured the presence of distinct evolutionary lineages. The present study was based on samples of 12 of the 13 valid species of the genus Gymnura, which were used for a multilocus reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the family Gymnuridae. Our results indicate the existence of several cryptic gymnurid lineages, within the species Gymnura micrura, Gymnura lessae, Gymnura altavela, and Gymnura poecilura. Also, we indicate that only half of the species that compose the genus are known, as well their conservation status. The analyses also indicate that the gymnurids originated during the Paleocene, with events of dispersal and vicariance occurring through the formation of oceanographic barriers, and species diversification peaking during the Oligocene and Miocene. The results of the present study reinforce the need for a comprehensive revision of the systematics of the family, in particular the widely distributed species that are considered valid taxa, but may in fact represent different cryptic species. The inadequate classification of this cryptic diversity may have negative implications for the development of effective conservation measures.
... Comparative fossil species include Canis arnensis from Poggio Rosso, Upper Valdarno localities (e.g., Il Tasso, or unspecified ones held in the collection of MGPUF) (Torre, 1967(Torre, , 1979Bartolini-Lucenti & Rook, 2016); Canis etruscus from Olivola, Pantalla, and Upper Valdarno (Torre, 1967(Torre, , 1979Cherin et al., 2014); Canis mosbachensis from Pirro Nord, Cueva Victoria, Vallparadís Section (Rook & Torre, 1996;Petrucci et al., 2013;Bartolini-Lucenti et al., 2017); and Canis borjgali from Dmanisi ( Bartolini-Lucenti et al., 2020). The extant comparative sample includes specimens of thirty-two species of nine genera: Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1883); Canis, with C. aureus, C. latrans, C. lupus, Canis simensis Rüppel, 1835; Cerdocyon thous; Chrysocyon brachyurus; Cuon alpinus; Lupulella, with L. adusta and L. mesomelas; Lycalopex including Lc. culpaeus Molina, 1782, Lc. griseus Gray, 1821, Lc. gymnocercus Fischer, 1814 sechurae Thomas, 1900, Lc. vetulus (Lund, 1842); Lycaon pictus; Nyctereutes procyonoides; Otocyon megalotis Desmarest, 1822; Speothos venaticus; Urocyon including U. cinereoargenteus Schreber, 1775 and U. littoralis (Baird, 1858); Vulpes including V. bengalensis Shaw, 1800, V. cana Blanford, 1877, V. chama Smith, 1833, V. corsac Linnaeus, 1768, V. ferrilata Hodgson, 1842, V. lagopus Linnaeus, 1758, V. macrotis Merriam, 1888, V. pallida Cretzschamar, 1827 (Schinz, 1825), V. vulpes, V. zerda Zimmermann, 1780. ...
The Fonelas P-1 site in southern Spain (~2.0 Ma) offers an exceptional window into the Early Pleistocene canid diversity and ecology in Europe. This study identifies two medium-sized canid morphotypes from the site, corresponding to the species Canis arnensis Del Campana, 1913 and Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877. Morphological and ecomorphological analyses, integrating cranial, dental, and mandibular features, confirm their taxonomic identities and ecological differentiation. Canis arnensis at Fonelas P-1 expands the geographic and temporal range of this species, providing robust evidence of its presence in southern Europe before 2 Ma. The co-occurrence of C. arnensis and C. etruscus at this well-dated site underscores their ecological divergence, with C. arnensis exhibiting a mesocarnivorous dietary niche and C. etruscus showing adaptations closer to hypercarnivory. These findings illuminate the complexity of Early Pleistocene canid guilds, offering critical insights into their dispersal patterns, adaptive strategies, and interactions within dynamic taphocenoses.
... According to Vishnupriya and Nair (2023), the genus Upeneus has the most variety, with six species, followed by the genus Parupeneus with five species and the genus Mulloidichthys with three species. Pati et al. (2018) reported ten species of the family Mullidae in the Odisha coast of the Bay of Bengal i.e., Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (Lacepède, 1801), Parupeneus ciliatus (Lacepède, 1802), Parupeneus indicus (Shaw, 1803), Parupeneus macronemus (Lacepède, 1801), Upeneus guttatus (Day, 1868), Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855), Upeneus sulphureus (Cuvier, 1829), Upeneus taeniopterus (Cuvier, 1829), Upeneus tragula (Richardson, 1846) and Upeneus vittatus (Forsskål, 1775). ...
Numerous different habitats found in marine environments are often conducive to migration and ecological adaption of various marine organisms. The inherent drawbacks of morphology-based identification systems have made it imperative to develop trustworthy genetic techniques that permit the unambiguous identification of fish species. In the present study, seven specimens of the goatfish Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia and Golani, 1989, were recorded (February 2021) for the first time from the Odisha coast, Bay of Bengal, India. Their DNA was isolated, and mtCOI barcode regions of four specimens were amplified and sequenced successfully. The generated barcode sequences were analyzed using different molecular approaches. U. pori exhibited low genetic variation within populations (average K2P distance = 0.0046). The median joining network of U. pori was simple, with only five haplotypes, including one haplotype present in this region. The analysis of the variation of the amino acids in the mtCOI barcode sequences suggested that there were no significant variations found among U. pori of different geographical locations. The species U. pori was diverged from its common ancestor during the late Miocene sub-epoch, which was around 6.38 Mya. These findings provide insights into the population genetics and evolutionary history of U. pori in this region.
... For example, the karyotype and thus chromosome number of this species has not yet been characterized. Past studies have shown that V. chama is morphologically similar to the Bengal fox, Vulpes bengalensis, (Shaw, 1800), but Cape foxes have larger ears and wider skulls (Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1966;Stains, 1975) and one of the first molecular phylogenetic analyses suggested they diverged early within the Vulpes group (Geffen et al., 1992). Complete mitochondrial genomes (hereafter, mitogenomes) are commonly used to analyze phylogeographical relationships within species or phylogenetic relationships among species (DeSalle and Hadrys, 2017). ...
... and population structure. In the other hand migration and E. tetradactylum is a species of polynemidae fish larvae by passive transport or by active adult migration distributed from the Persian Gulf of Asia to Papua in New between different locations, first tends to keep Guinea and North Australia [1,2]. Many researchers have populations homogeneous, seconds adds genetic worked on morphological and other properties of E . ...
... Parupeneus indicus (Shaw, 1803) Indian goatfish Distinctive Characters.-Body depth 3.3-3.8 in SL; barbel length 1.3-1.6 in head length; posterior end of maxilla asymmetrical, posterior margin slanting forward ventrally; first dorsal fin separated from the second fin by a space in 3 rows of scales. Meristic values: dorsal-fin spines and rays VIII + 9; anal-fin spines and rays I,7; pectoral-fin rays 15-17; lateral-line scales 27-28; gill rakers 5-7 + 18-21, total 24-27. ...
The diversity of goatfishes from the Socotra Archipelago is documented for the first time. The distributional biogeography of the family in the Arabian region is analyzed and thoroughly discussed in the context of the western Indian Ocean. Twelve species of two genera, Mulloidichthys and Parupeneus , are positively recorded, including a new record for Parupeneus heptacantha . Upeneus heemstra is visually recorded, pending further documentation. The Socotra Archipelago thus hosts 13 of the 31 species found in Arabia. This degree of species richness is comparable to other Arabian ecoregions. With a single species the richness of Upeneus stands out as very low. Biogeographically, three main Arabian units are identified: a “Red Sea unit”, a “Gulf unit”, and a “Socotra unit”. The former two units are strongly characterized by endemics, notably within Upeneus , while there are no species endemic to the latter. The “Socotra unit”, comprising the Socotra Archipelago, eastern Gulf of Aden, and southern Oman, resembles more strongly all sites of the western Indian Ocean than the Arabian sites. The “Gulf unit” is the most distant to all other sites. These units do not cluster to a discrete “pan-Arabian” region within the wider western Indian Ocean. The Mullidae thus strongly contrast overall biogeographic patterns of coastal fishes and reef-building corals, which cumulatively suggest that Arabia forms a discrete biogeographic unit within the Indian Ocean. The study serves further analyses of contrasting biogeographies of major coastal fish families in Arabia, with a focus on the role of the southern Arabian upwelling areas.
... Wilson described in detail a new quadruped in the region matching the then-known description of the wombat (described in 40). These early accounts were followed in 1800 by the first scientific description of the mainland bare-nosed wombat (41). The name wombat derived from Wombach, a name Governor John Hunter noted in a letter to George Shaw in 1798. ...
The bare-nosed wombat is an iconic Australian fauna with remarkable biological characteristics and mythology. This solitary, muscular, fossorial, herbivorous marsupial from southeast Australia has continent and continental island subspeciation. Vombatiformes also contains hairy-nosed wombats ( Lasiorhinus spp.); koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus); and extinct megafauna, Phascolonus gigas (giant wombat), Diprotodon, and Thylacoleo (marsupial lion). Culturally important to Aboriginal people, bare-nosed wombats engineer ecosystems through digging, grazing, and defecation. Olfaction and cubic fecal aggregations appear critical for communication, including identity, courtship, and mating. Though among the largest fossorial herbivores, they have a nutrient-poor diet, a home range up to an order of magnitude smaller than expected, and a metabolism among the lowest extreme for mammals >10 kg. Metabolic depression may confer advantages over resource competitors and fossorial lifestyle protection from predators, fires, and climatic extremes. Bare-nosed wombats are loved and persecuted by European colonists. Recent population increases may reflect softening attitudes toward, and greater protections of, bare-nosed wombats.
Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 12 is February 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
... The first species, the banded kukri snake Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802), is common across the Indian subcontinent but a single specimen from Afghanistan is known (Král, 1969;Wagner et al., 2016b). This species was recently divided into three taxa by Bandara et al. (2022), who published a revision of O. arnensis sensu auctorum based largely on morphology. ...
The kukri snakes of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 reach the westernmost limits of their distribution in Middle and Southwest Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan), and the Palearctic portions of Pakistan. In this article, we review the systematics and distribution of the two species native to this region, Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802) and Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853) based on an integrative approach combining morphological, molecular, and species distribution modeling (SDM) data. Phylogenetic analyses recover O. taeniolatus populations from Iran and Turkmenistan in a clade with the O. arnensis species complex, rendering the former species paraphyletic relative to O. taeniolatus sensu stricto on the Indian subcontinent. To correct this, we resurrect the name Contia transcaspica Nikolsky, 1902 from the synonymy of O. taeniolatus and assign it to populations in Middle–Southwest Asia. So far, Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. is known only from the Köpet–Dag Mountain Range of northeast Iran and southern Turkmenistan, but SDM mapping suggests it may have a wider range. Genetic samples of O. “arnensis” from northern Pakistan are nested in a clade sister to the recently described Oligodon churahensis Mirza, Bhardwaj & Patel, 2021, and are phylogenetically separate from O. arnensis sensu stricto in south India and Sri Lanka. Based on morphological similarity, the Afghanistan and Pakistan populations are assigned to Oligodon russelius (Daudin, 1803) and we synonymize O. churahensis with this species. Our investigation leads us to remove O. taeniolatus from the snake fauna of Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, with the consequence that only Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. and O. russelius are present in these countries. Additional studies are needed to resolve the taxonomy of the O. taeniolatus and O. arnensis species complexes on the Indian subcontinent, and an updated key for both groups is provided.
... Cependant, toutes ces formes anciennes éocènes ont toujours en commun des caractères dont quelques-uns sont préservés dans la forme de Rouzilhac (abstraction faite de la région suprapygales-pygale trop peu connue). Notamment : -de grandes dimensions (supérieure à 40 cm de longueur de carapace) ; -une grande partie antérieure de dossière avec les longues pleurales et grandes neurales antérieures par rapport aux courtes pleurales 6 à 8 et aux neurales correspondantes ; -une situation non stabilisée d'une première neurale à quatre côtés dans la série neurale ; la neurale quadrangulaire n'est pas fixée en première de la série comme dans les formes du Néogène à l'Actuel européen, étant postérieure à une ou plusieurs premières neurales hexagonales à petits côtés postérieurs [neurale quadrangulaire en 2 e place chez (Miller, 1779) et Astrochelys radiata (Shaw, 1802), se traduisant chez le mâle par des bourrelets épiplastraux plus forts et plus saillants aux gulaires (saillants ou non ventralement) (Lapparent de Broin, 2003 ;Villiers 1958) et extroversés ou non suivant les espèces, une concavité du plastron et des bourrelets ventraux aux anales et éventuellement aux gulaires (Broin, 1977 ;Jiménez Fuentes, 2003) . Cette différence sexuelle non prise en compte fait que les épiplastrons de diverses localités de l'Eocène présentant un bourrelet plus protubérant, extroversé ou non, ont pu être considérés comme appartenant à une seule espèce sur la foi de ce seul paramètre de protubérance tel celui de « Testudo » eocaenica. ...
... Studies concerning the micro-morphology of gustatory organs of other caudatans and anurans, especially the representative of the genus Pachytriton (Reiss and Eisthen, 2006), appear to be essential for further conclusions on this subject. (Shaw andNodder, 1798) (Takeuchi et al., 1997), Eurycea longicauda (Green, 1818) (Opolka et al., 2003), Pelophylax esculentus (Linnaeus, 1758(Linnaeus, ) (Żuwała, 2002b, P. fuscus (Żuwała, 2002a), B. bufo (Jasiński, 1979;Sagmeister et al., 1977;Żuwała and Jakubowski, 1997;Goodarzi et al., 2018), B. ...
The genus Eucyon includes several Late Miocene–Early Pleistocene canid species, the earliest of which, Eucyon davisi, is regarded as basal in the radiation of the Canini. Eucyon monticinensis is known from Italy (Late Miocene) and Spain (Early Pliocene). Here we report on an articulated skeleton from Verduno (Italy) referred to E. monticinensis based on comprehensive comparisons. The Verduno skeleton stands out as the most complete specimen of Eucyon from Europe, and as one of the most complete in the world. The fossil has allowed us to investigate and reconstruct in detail the morphology of E. monticinensis. Based on morphological similarity, Eucyon debonisi is regarded as a junior synonym of E. monticinensis. Computed tomography-based analysis provides some interesting insights into the comparative anatomy of the brain and frontal sinuses of Eucyon and other canids. We further present a revised phylogeny of the Canidae based on morphological characters. Eucyon davisi is confirmed as the most basal species in a monophyletic clade that also includes E. monticinensis, Eucyon zhoui, and Eucyon adoxus. Eucyon khoikhoi from South Africa and Eucyon ferox from North America show phylogenetic relationships and morphological affinities with the Vulpini and crown-Canini, respectively, which raises questions regarding their systematic status.
Arrojadoa bahiensis subsp. minutiflora is described on the basis of living collections and herbarium specimens. The new subspecies is considered endemic to the Brazilian Caatinga (Municipality of Piatã, Diamantina Plateau, Bahia State). Comments on its morphology in comparison with the similar taxa, as well as geographical distribution, phenology, habitat, conservation status, and original photographs are provided.
We provide a catalogue of the genus-series nomina of chelonians of the world, including all (343) extant and extinct genera or subgenera since the Holocene (present geological epoch, beginning about 12,000 years ago), currently recognized as valid (107) or not (236).
In order to solve some nomenclatural cases, we had to resort to 29 Articles of the Code (8.1.3, 8.4.2.2, 9.12, 11 .6.1, 11 .8, 11 .10, 23.9, 23.9.1.1, 23.9.1.2, 23.9.2, 24.1, 28, 29.3, 29.3.1.1, 29.4, 30.1.1, 30.1.2, 30.1.3, 30.1.4.2, 30.1.4.3, 30.1.4.4, 30.1.4.5, 30.2.2, 30.2.3, 30.2.4, 32.5.2.1, 56.2, 67.8 and 67.13) and to 63 technical nomenclatural terms.
Some nomenclatural consequences result from our observations: [1] we fix onomatophores (by subsequent designation) for 15 genera in order to place them in synonymies; [2] we validate two nomina of genera (Chrysemys Gray, 1844 and † Hesperotestudo Williams, 1950) and one of species (Emys kachuga Gray, 1831) as mnemokyronyms (nomina protecta) by showing that their older synonyms
should be considered as lethakyronyms (nomina oblita); [3] we act as first reviser by choosing Parapelodiscus Hoser, 2021 as lectoprotograph; [4] the genus Chelonemys Gray, 1864 is a synonym of Peltocephalus Duméril & Bibron, 1835, not of Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 as usually indicated; [5] the family-series nomen Rhinoclemmydinae Gray, 1873 must be corrected into Rhinoclemmyinae Gray, 1873; [6] the nomen Testudo muhlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (currently Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
must be corrected into Testudo muehlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (now Glyptemys muehlenbergii); [7] under a rigorous application of the Code, the subgenus nomen Supremechelys Hoser, 2014 should take precedence over Chelydera Thomson & Georges in Shea, Thomson & Georges, 2020, but this is controversial; [8] we remind that, without a decision of the Commission, two nomina (Trachemys
Agassiz, 1857 and Trionyx Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809) are threatened, as the first subsequent designations of their type species result in these nomina applying to taxa very different from those which are currently recognized. Finally, the search for distribution dates of publications led us to correct the dates of promulgation of several genus-series nomina.
We provide a catalogue of the genus-series nomina of chelonians of the world, including all (343) extant and extinct genera or subgenera since the Holocene (present geological epoch, beginning about 12,000 years ago), currently recognized as valid (107) or not (236). In order to solve some nomenclatural cases, we had to resort to 29 Articles of the Code (8.1.3, 8.4.2.2, 9.12, 11.6.1, 11.8, 11.10, 23.9, 23.9.1.1, 23.9.1.2, 23.9.2, 24.1, 28, 29.3, 29.3.1.1, 29.4, 30.1.1, 30.1.2, 30.1.3, 30.1.4.2, 30.1.4.3, 30.1.4.4, 30.1.4.5, 30.2.2, 30.2.3, 30.2.4, 32.5.2.1, 56.2, 67.8 and 67.13) and to 63 technical nomenclatural terms. Some nomenclatural consequences result from our observations: [1] we fix onomatophores (by subsequent designation) for 15 genera in order to place them in synonymies; [2] we validate two nomina of genera (Chrysemys Gray, 1844 and † Hesperotestudo Williams, 1950) and one of species (Emys kachuga Gray, 1831) as mnemokyronyms (nomina protecta) by showing that their older synonyms should be considered as lethakyronyms (nomina oblita); [3] we act as first reviser by choosing Parapelodiscus Hoser, 2021 as lectoprotograph; [4] the genus Chelonemys Gray, 1864 is a synonym of Peltocephalus Duméril & Bibron, 1835, not of Podocnemis Wagler, 1830 as usually indicated; [5] the family-series nomen Rhinoclemmydinae Gray, 1873 must be corrected into Rhinoclemmyinae Gray, 1873; [6] the nomen Testudo muhlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (currently Glyptemys muhlenbergii) must be corrected into Testudo muehlenbergii Schoepff, 1801 (now Glyptemys muehlenbergii); [7] under a rigorous application of the Code, the subgenus nomen Supremechelys Hoser, 2014 should take precedence over Chelydera Thomson & Georges in Shea, Thomson & Georges, 2020, but this is controversial; [8] we remind that, without a decision of the Commission, two nomina (Trachemys Agassiz, 1857 and Trionyx Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809) are threatened, as the first subsequent designations of their type species result in these nomina applying to taxa very different from those which are currently recognized. Finally, the search for distribution dates of publications led us to correct the dates of promulgation of several genus-series nomina.
The taxonomy of Neotropical forest lizards (Diploglossidae) has been the subject of controversy because of a paucity of diagnostic characters and genetic data. Recent molecular studies have produced phylogenies that are highly supported but have few individuals represented for each species. These studies have corrected generic names and defined new genera and subfamilies in Diploglossidae. However, they have shown that multiple species are not monophyletic or have high levels of genetic divergence, indicating the need to define new species. Three subfamilies, 12 genera, and 56 species of diploglossid lizards are currently recognized; 25 of these are in the subfamily Celestinae. We conducted a systematic revision of Caribbean celestine forest lizards (from the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Hispaniola) using DNA sequence data from 372 individuals, supplemented by both conventional and unconventional morphological characters from 958 preserved specimens. In some cases, we obtained DNA sequence data from museum specimens, including types, nearly 200 years old. We propose and use a new species delimitation method based on time of divergence. We define 17 new species, elevate 17 subspecies, and elevate one species from synonymy, resulting in 35 newly recognized species. Additionally, we synonymize two pairs of previously recognized subspecies and one pair of species. This increases the number of celestine species from 25 to 59 and raises the total number of diploglossids to 90 species. Of those, 63 occur on Caribbean islands and all are endemic to those islands. Fourteen Caribbean celestine species (24%) are Critically Endangered, 17 species (29%) are Endangered, and 1 species (2%) is Vulnerable, resulting in a proportion of threatened species (54%) more than twice as high as the average for reptiles, based on IUCN Redlist criteria. Three of the Critically Endangered species are possibly extinct because of human activities during the last two centuries. Several of the surviving species are near extinction and in need of immediate protection. Extensive forest loss on Caribbean islands has led to the decline of Caribbean forest lizards, which rely on forests as their primary habitat. In addition to deforestation, the introduction of the Small Indian Mongoose is in part responsible for the decline of Caribbean diploglossid lizards. That invasive predator was introduced as a biological control of rats in sugar cane fields in the late 19th Century (1872–1900), immediately resulting in a mass extinction of reptiles. The ground-dwelling and diurnal habits of diploglossids have made them particularly susceptible to mongoose predation.
The taxonomic status of butterfly rays within the genus Gymnura remains a subject of ongoing debate among researchers. Some authors recognize up to five valid species for the Americas, while others considered several to be synonyms, which has posed a persistent challenge. We aimed to shed light on this complexity by employing molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Genetic sequences were obtained from fresh muscle tissue collected in the marine ecoregions corresponding to the type locality from all the nominal butterfly ray species distributed along the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Our results unveiled compelling findings; all the species delimitation models used consistently identified seven MOTUs for the American continent and an extra G. altavela MOTU restricted to Africa. In addition, our results and models exceeded the worldwide accepted interspecific threshold of 2.0%. Remarkably, our results support the taxonomic reinstatement of Gymnura afuerae (Hildebrand, 1946) as a valid species, with a range expanding into the ETP in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, our data support the recent suggestion of resurrecting Gymnura valenciennii (Duméril, 1865) as a valid species in the western Atlantic. These findings urge a reassessment of the conservation status and a comprehensive taxonomic revision of American butterfly rays.
The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN) holds a significant repository of historical specimens collected by Leonardo Fea in Myanmar from 1885 to 1889, which have remained overlooked for decades. In this work, we present a commented taxonomic catalogue of the MNCN amphibians and reptiles collected by L. Fea. Based on this material, we unveil the first documented record of Wijayarana melasma in Myanmar and identify a potential new species of Leptobrachium. Also, the collection contains several topotypes of six species: Limnonectes macrognathus, Orixalus carinensis, Chirixalus doriae, Xenophrys parva, Brachytarsophrys carinense, and Leiolepis ocellata. These findings emphasize the crucial role of scientific collections in revealing information that have gone unnoticed for more than a century, hinting at a potential underestimation of Myanmar's biodiversity.
Amphibians and reptiles are highly sensitive to environmental changes due to their physiological and biological characteristics. Nevertheless, the effects of landscape changes on amphibians and reptiles are rarely studied. We set out to determine the effect of landscape attributes at two different scales (landscape and patch) on herpetofaunal diversity in the area influenced by the Reserva de la Biosfera Selva el Ocote, a Protected Natural Area in Chiapas, Mexico. We monitored the herpetofauna from January 2018 to March 2019. We used general linear models to determine the effect of landscape composition and configuration at the two scales. Amphibians were affected by attributes at both scales; their diversity was positively affected by more a permeable matrix and heterogeneous sites at the landscape scale, while being negatively affected by larger patches at the patch scale. In contrast, reptiles were only affected at the patch scale; their diversity was positively affected by greater distances of patches from highways and roads and was negatively affected by greater distances between similar patches and from water bodies. The response of amphibians to attributes at both the landscape and patch scales suggests that their diversity could be favored by habitat, microhabitat, and microclimate conditions contributing to their access to vital resources, decreased risk of desiccation, and decreased exposure to predators. In contrast, for reptiles, connectivity and ease of mobility among patches and access to water bodies at the patch scale appear to be the most relevant requirements to preserve species in the area.
Los anfibios y reptiles son muy sensibles a los cambios ambientales debido a sus características biológicas y fisiológicas. A pesar de ello se ha estudiado poco el efecto de los cambios en el paisaje sobre estos grupos. Nos propusimos determinar el efecto de los atributos del paisaje a dos diferentes escalas (paisaje y fragmento) sobre la diversidad herpetofaunística. Este estudio se realizó en Chiapas, México, en la zona de influencia del área natural protegida denominada Reserva de la Biosfera Selva el Ocote. Se monitoreó la herpetofauna entre Enero del 2018 y Marzo del 2019. Para determinar el efecto de la composición y configuración del paisaje a dos diferentes escalas sobre la herpetofauna se utilizaron Modelos Lineales Generalizados (MLG). Los anfibios fueron afectados tanto a escala de paisaje como de fragmento; su diversidad se ve favorecida por una matriz más permeable y por sitios heterogéneos a escala de paisaje, mientras que a escala de fragmento es afectada negativamente por los fragmentos más grandes. Los reptiles fueron afectados únicamente a escala de fragmento; su diversidad fue favorecida por fragmentos a mayores distancias de carreteras y caminos, y fue negativamente afectada por las distancias entre fragmentos del mismo tipo, así como por las distancias a cuerpos de agua. La respuesta de los anfibios a los atributos del paisaje en el área sugiere que a las escalas de paisaje y de fragmento su diversidad puede verse favorecida por condiciones de hábitat, microhábitat y microclimas que contribuyen con acceso a recursos vitales, a un bajo riesgo de deshidratación y menor exposición a depredadores. Por otro lado, para los reptiles la conectividad entre los fragmentos y el acceso a cuerpos de agua a escala de fragmento puede ser una medida apropiada para conservar a las especies en el área, asegurando su movilidad entre sitios relevantes para este grupo.
In the current herpetological literature, the original authorship of Hapsidophrys smaragdina is assigned to Schlegel (1837). In this note, evidence is produced that the authorship needs to be attributed to H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827. Furthermore, an earlier lectotype designation is proven invalid and the possible designation of a neotype is suggested.
SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
Abstract: Invasive amphibians and reptiles have historically been ignored by governments and science, especially in the Neotropics. There have been few studies related to invasive herpetofauna in Brazil, making information about this group scarce. Our aim was to review the current status of alien amphibians and reptiles with wild populations in Brazil. We compiled knowledge about the history of invasions, biological characteristics of species, and their impacts and current distributions in Brazil. In addition, we discuss management and policy actions that must be implemented for each species, especially for the most harmful ones. We found six amphibian and six reptile invasive species recorded in Brazil, in addition to four reptile species that were considered potential invaders. There are confirmed negative impacts on human health and biodiversity for two amphibians (Aquarana catesbeiana and Rhinella jimi) and two reptiles (Salvator merianae and Trachemys scripta elegans). The main routes of introduction of invasive herpetofauna in
Brazil are the pet trade and commercial production. Most invasive species are present in the Atlantic Forest and three are found only in the Fernando de
Noronha archipelago. Furthermore, most species have small and dispersed populations that allow monitoring programs for research or even eradication,
especially for island populations. Species at more advanced stages of invasion, such as A. catesbeiana and T. scripta elegans, need a national program to control populations and prevent spread. Further ecological studies are important to assess the impacts of invasive herpetofauna on Brazilian biodiversity, as is the straightforward implementation of action plans with the best techniques for the control or eradication of these populations.
Three competing names were introduced by Linnaeus (1758) for Mallard, based on males (Anas boschas), females (A. platyrhynchos) and the hook-billed domestic breed (A. adunca). A. domestica (often attributed to J. F. Gmelin, 1789, but arguably better to Brünnich, 1764) was described later for domestic ducks. A. platyrhynchos was selected as having priority over its contemporaneous synonyms via First Reviser actions. Priority of widely used A. p. domestica remains threatened by the senior A. adunca and potentially by the mixed type series of A. boschas (comprising wild male Mallards and ducks of mixed or domestic origin). Lectotypes are designated here for A. boschas Linnaeus, 1758 (and its synonym A. boschas fera Brünnich, 1764, or Bechstein, 1792), using the same male Mallard specimen of wild phenotype illustrated by Albin (1734). This clarifies these names as objective synonyms of one another and as junior synonyms of A. platyrhynchos, as all three would then have a type series exclusively of wild Mallards from Western Europe. Garsault and Brünnich both named Anser domesticus in the same year, just three weeks apart—on 30 June 1764 and 23 July 1764, respectively. Garsault thus has priority. Consequently, Brünnich's Anas anser domesticus represents subsequent usage and his A. boschas domestica is not a homonym. Brünnich's A. anser ferus and A. boschas fera for wild geese and Mallards, respectively, if available, would be primary homonyms of one another. Acting as First Reviser, the latter name is here selected as having priority. Authorship of Anser ferus should be attributed to S. G. Gmelin (1770), whose locality of the Caspian Sea results in a potential threat to the priority heretofore afforded to A. anser rubrirostris Swinhoe, 1871, for the Eastern Greylag Goose. Brünnich's names Anser boschas domestica and Anas boschas fera were introduced as apparent trinominals; they were already in widespread use by 1764. In all likelihood Brünnich thought they had been described already, citing Linnaeus (1746, 1758) and Brisson (1760), but neither made these names available under the Code. Brünnich's names for domestics may not have been recognised because the same font was used in his work to denote distinct male and female plumages as for his domesticus/a and ferus/a, potentially denoting infrasubspecific variation. There is competing evidence as to whether or not he intended to name these units. Irrespective, under Art. 45.6.4 infrasubspecific names later adopted as valid are available. Regarding priority of A. adunca, I will separately be asking the Commission to endorse either Brünnich (1764) or J. F. Gmelin (1789) as author of Anas boschas domestica. Reversal of priority of A. adunca Linnaeus, 1758, vs. A. boschas domestica (Brünnich, 1764, or J. F. Gmelin, 1789), reversal of precedence of Anser ferus S. G. Gmelin, 1770, vs. A. anser rubrirostris Swinhoe, 1871, resolution of the type series for A. anser Linnaeus, 1758, and typification of the genus Anser Brisson, 1760, also all require ICZN attention.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Martinique: identification, distribution and bibliography.
Although Costa Rica occupies a mere 0.03% of the Earth’s land area, it nevertheless has recorded within its borders approximately 5% of the global diversity of mammals, thus making it one of the world’s megadiverse countries. Over the past ten years, 22 species have been added to the country’s inventory, bringing the total number known as here documented to 271; Chiroptera account for ten of these, having grown to 124 from 114; rodents have increased by eight species, from 47 to 55, with the caveat that we include three invasive species of Muridae that have gone feral. In contrast, the number of orders has decreased by one, by Artiodactyla incorporating the former Cetacea. Notes are provided for all taxonomic novelties since the last update. Since the first taxonomic compendium of the mammals of Costa Rica in 1869, the number of known species has grown by approximately 1.22 species year-1 (R2 = 0.96). Since 1983 however, this growth rate has been 1.64 species year-1 (R2 = 0.98). Despite this strong growth, an asymptote in the number of known species has not been reached. Conservation remains a primary need: over 60% of the country’s mammal species show population trends that are decreasing (13%), unknown (37%), or not assessed (11%), based on IUCN criteria. These analyses suggest that much remains to be known regarding the number of mammal species living in Costa Rica, but also that much more remains to be done to safeguard Costa Rica’s exceptional biodiversity heritage.
Geomorphological changes have played a central role in species diversification by promoting vicariance through barriers that reduce gene flow. However, niche evolution leading to local adaptations to new environments may also drive speciation, regardless of the presence of geographical barriers. Here, we assessed the role of geological changes and climatic niche evolution in the diversification of true frogs of the Rana palmipes species group (Ranidae) in Central and South America. We investigated if the evolutionary history of species was shaped by vicariance and ecological niche conservatism, founder events followed by niche divergence or both by estimating ancestral areas. Then, we used a phyloclimatic analysis to quantify niche overlap and tested for niche conservatism between species. We found a pattern of both vicariance and successive founder events from north to south, with lineages reaching newly formed areas during the formation of Central America throughout the Miocene and Pliocene, and at least two dispersal events into South America. Species presented low overlaps in climatic niche and phyloclimatic analysis did not recover a phylogenetic signal. Profiles of niche occupancy diverging over time and high values of disparity between clades indicate niche divergence during the evolutionary history of species. Our results indicate an interplay between niche evolution and geological changes acting on Rana palmipes species group diversification. Speciation events were probably driven by vicariance and ecological speciation after successive dispersal events, while species occupied new areas available during the uplift of Talamanca and Andes Mountain ranges.
Passiflora urnifolia is a poorly known species that is distributed in five countries in the centre of South America. In Argentina, it grows in the Northern rain forests. Its reproductive system, floral biology and pollinators remain unknown, so they were studied for the first time in the Argentine Yungas. Flowers open before dawn and close at dusk, displaying the three typical phases of the genus due to the style movement, being all pollen donors, while the second also functioning as pollen receptor. The concentrated nectar, present from anthesis, is replenished twice. Visual guides consist of concentric circles: white versus purple around the green centre in the visible, while reflecting versus absorbent in the UV spectra, respectively. The corona emits aroma, sweet and light. Among the diurnal flower visitors (5 species of hymenopterans, 2 of coleopterans, 2 of hummingbirds) and nocturnal (blatodeans and microlepidopterans), due to their activity on the flowers, contact with anthers and stigmas, abundance of pollen of P. urnifolia on body parts that contact the stigmas and the body dimensions that fit those of the flowers, the bees Xylocopa eximia, Bombus tucumanus and Apis mellifera can be considered pollinators. The floral traits indicate melittophily, in coincidence with the detected pollinators; though, the long pedicels that separate the flowers from the foliage and the slightly outward orientation of the anthers suggest that the hummingbirds could also pollinate. The high degree of self-pollination would compensate for the low frequency of pollinators in the mostly ever shaded lower stratum of the forest.
By living underground, fossorial animals may be challenged by limited gas exchange due to prolonged exposure to low oxygen levels (hypoxia) and carbon dioxide buildup (hyper-carbia) in their burrows. The negative effects of hypoxia and hypercarbia generally relate to changes in breathing and energy metabolism. In mammals, reduced metabolic rates are a common adaptation to a fossorial lifestyle. It is unclear, however, whether fossoriality exerted a similar selection pressure over the metabolism of fossorial ectotherms. In this study, we tested whether fossorial amphibians showed reduced metabolic rates compared to non-fossorial and aquatic ones in a phylogenetic framework. We found that whole-organism resting metabolic rates varied according to body mass and temperature. However, our analyses did not support the hypothesis of lowered energy expenditure in fossorial species. We suggest that the intrinsically low energetic requirements of amphibians, coupled with their relatively small body sizes, and ability to breathe through both lungs and skin, potentially circumvented the energetic and respiratory challenges imposed by fossoriality. Our analyses further suggest that species from higher latitudes have higher metabolic rates than those from lower latitudes regardless of lifestyle. This finding supports a mechanism of negative compensation in metabolic responses, whereby species from cooler habitats would be able to sustain relatively high activity levels despite thermal constraints. This view of energetics in the context of fossoriality integrates central tenets of eco-physiological theory (metabolic scaling, metabolic variation along environmental gradients) and comparative physiology (control of bimodal breathing). Ultimately, our work contributes to a broader understanding of the metabolic correlates in vertebrate ectotherms.
Despite the recognition that bone histology provides much information about the life history and biology of extinct animals, osteohistology of extinct marsupials is sorely lacking. We studied the bone histology of the ca. 15-million-year-old Nimbadon lavarackorum from Australia to obtain insight into its biology. The histology of thin sections of five femora and five tibiae of juveniles, subadult, and adult Nimbadon lavarackorum was studied. Growth marks in the bones suggest that N . lavarackorum took at least 7–8 years (and likely longer) to reach skeletal maturity. The predominant bone tissue during early ontogeny is parallel-fibered bone, whereas an even slower rate of bone formation is indicated by the presence of lamellar bone tissue in the periosteal parts of the compacta in older individuals. Deposition of bone was interrupted periodically by lines of arrested growth or annuli. This cyclical growth strategy indicates that growth in N . lavarackorum was affected by the prevailing environmental conditions and available resources, as well as seasonal physiological factors such as decreasing body temperatures and metabolic rates.
Maran, J. & Frétey, T. (2023) Les tortues terrestres et d'eau douce, autochtones et introduites, de France métropolitaine: état des connaissances et clé de détermination illustrée. Herp me!, 5: 1-172
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Cette publication donne tous les éléments nécessaires à l'identification des tortues pouvant être rencontrées sur le territoire de France métropolitaine. Les deux auteurs apportent également de nombreuses informations sur chaque espèce mettant en perspective la problématique des espèces exotiques envahissantes et la conservation des espèces autochtones.
The genus Parapercis Bleeker (1863) is widely reported, with three recent new records from Indian waters. During the biodiversity assessment surveys, Black dotted sand perch, Parapercis millepunctata (Günther 1860), is collected from the
outer reef slope of Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep, India. The present record forms the report from the west coast of India, with voucher specimen and abridges the gap in the continuous distribution of P. millepunctata, from Andaman and Nicobar
Islands in the east through the east coast of India and the Maldives to Mauritius in the West, in the Indian Ocean, by providing an intermediary occurrence in Lakshadweep. An annotated checklist of fourteen species reported from Indian waters is provided, with a detailed account of the distribution and comments on earlier reports.
Arrojadoa flava is described on the basis of living collections and herbarium specimens. The new species is considered endemic to the Brazilian Caatinga (Municipality of Ibitiara, Bahia State). Comments on its morphology in comparison with the similar taxa, as well as geographical distribution, phenology, habitat, conservation status, and original photographs are provided. In terms of conservation, it was assessed according to IUCN criteria as Data Deficient (DD). Resumo Arrojadoa flava é descrita com base em material vivo e espécimes de herbário. A nova espécie é considerada endêmica da Caatinga brasileira (município de Ibitiara, estado da Bahia). São fornecidos comentários sobre suas afinidades morfológicas com espécies relacionadas, distribuição geográfica, fenologia, habitat, estado de conservação e fotografias. Em termos de conservação foi avaliada segundo critérios da IUCN como Deficiente de Dados (DD).
The late Oligocene taxa Marada arcanum and Mukupirna nambensis (Diprotodontia, Vombatiformes) are the only known representatives of the families Maradidae and Mukupirnidae, respectively. Mukupirna nambensis was described from a partial skeleton, including a cranium but no dentary, and reconstructed as the sister taxon to Vombatidae (wombats). By contrast, Ma. arcanum is known only from a single dentary, preventing direct comparison between the two. Here, we describe a new species, Mu. fortidentata sp. nov., based on craniodental and postcranial specimens from the Oligocene Pwerte Marnte Marnte Local Fauna, Northern Territory, Australia. Phylogenetic analysis of Vombatiformes, using 124 craniodental and 20 postcranial characters, places these three species within Vombatoidea, wherein Marada arcanum is sister to species of Mukupirna + Vombatidae. Mukupirna fortidentata sp. nov. does not share any robust synapomorphies of the dentary with Ma. arcanum that would support placing them together in a clade to the exclusion of Vombatidae. We therefore maintain separation of the families Mukupirnidae and Maradidae. From a functional perspective, the craniodental specimens of Mu. fortidentata sp. nov. reveal a suite of morphological traits that are unusual among vombatiforms, which we interpret as adaptations for acquiring and processing hard plant material. These include: a short, broad rostrum; large, robust, steeply upturned incisors; and a steep, anteroposteriorly decreasing gradient in cheek tooth size. The dental specimens of Mu. fortidentata sp. nov. also assist in the identification of two further allied taxa: an early vombatid from the younger late Oligocene Tarkarooloo Local Fauna, South Australia; and a possible vombatoid from the earliest Miocene Geilston Bay Local Fauna, Tasmania. The Tarkarooloo Local Fauna taxon indicates that vombatids diverged from other vombatoids prior to 24 million years ago.
Arthur I. Crichton [arthur.crichton@flinders.edu.au], College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, 5042, South Australia;
Trevor H. Worthy [trevor.worthy@flinders.edu.au], Aaron B. Camens [aaron.camens@flinders.edu.au], Adam Yates [Adamm.Yates@magnt.net.au] Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Alice Springs 0870, Northern Territory, Alice Springs, 0870 Australia;
Aidan M. C. Couzens [acouzens@ucla.edu], Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
Gavin J. Prideaux [gavin.prideaux@flinders.edu.au], Flinders University School of Biological Sciences, Palaeontology, Adelaide, 5001 Australia.
Amphibians perform numerous ecological roles—as predators and prey, as connectors of energy flow between aquatic and terrestrial landscapes, and as sizable contributors to vertebrate biomass—in wetland and forest ecosystems. Amphibians are also modern “canaries in the coal mine”, serving as a barometer for assessing environmental health. The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is geographically widespread in eastern North America and is well-studied. This research arises from long-term monitoring of Spotted Salamanders at Bat Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, approaching the species northern climatic range edge. In 2008, monitoring efforts were formalized into a capture-mark-recapture study, collecting morphological, reproduction, and population data. The long-term aims of this project are to monitor baseline population vital rates and assess the effects of climate (change) on a northern salamander population. Chapter One introduces salamanders as research subjects and the ecology of Bat Lake. Chapter Two presents a synthesis of Spotted Salamander biology based on 15-years of monitoring data, including phenology of spring breeding and post-metamorphic dispersal, operational sex ratio, early life survival, body size of adults and metamorphic juveniles, age and size at maturity, longevity, and spatial habitat use. These findings are paired with a literature review to compare the natural and life history of Bat Lake salamanders to other populations. Chapter Three estimates population vital rates, including adult survival and abundance, and provides suggestions on how to sample the Bat Lake salamander population to inform continued long-term ecological and demographic study. Chapter Four investigates the influence of seasonal climate on body condition, reproductive output, and breeding phenology. Breeding body condition declined over a 12 year monitoring period (2008–2019) with warmer summer temperatures at least partly responsible for the observed decline in body condition, highlighting the vulnerability of fossorial taxa and subterranean environments amid accelerating climate change. This dissertation contributes to our understanding of salamander ecology and begins to address a knowledge gap about the consequences of climate (change) for amphibian populations.
Turtles are one of nature’s most immediately recognizable life forms. They are an ancient group of vertebrateswith a rich fossil history whose natural limits have long been recognized by naturalists. Indeed, the monophylyof this order has never been seriously questioned. The use of turtles and their eggs as food and for medicinaland ceremonial purposes has made them of importance to mankind since prehistoric times. As such, cheloniansfigured prominently in the earliest museum collections, all of them privately owned, including that of the Ital-ian physician and encyclopedist of nature, Ulisse Aldrovandi of Bologna, in the late 16th century and the collec-tions amassed in Amsterdam by the wealthy pharmacist and amateur naturalist, Albertus Seba, early in the 18thcentury. The first books devoted exclusively to turtles were on their anatomy. Giovanni Caldesi, physician tothe last grand duke of Tuscany, and Christoph Gottwald, a physician and collector of natural history curiositiesin Danzig, published their treatises on chelonian morphology in 1687 and 1781, respectively, the latter beingissued eight decades after Gottwald’s death. Neither author, however, provided a comprehensive review of theworld’s turtles.
An updated checklist for living American marsupial species (orders Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) is presented here. It includes 22 genera and 137 species, a figure slightly larger than previous, recent compilations. For each species, a reference to its type locality and a brief description of its overall distribution are included. Taxonomic comments were reduced to a minimum, mostly for those taxa that were reviewed in the last 5 years and that were not included in other recent compilations. Additional hypotheses on which taxa are most likely to undergo taxonomic changes soon and suggestions on some geographic areas that should be explored in search of new species are also included.
We describe a new species of coralsnake, Calliophis haematoetron, from central Sri Lanka. This is the second species of coralsnake known from the island country, after Calliophis melanurus. It differs from C. melanurus in coloration, possessing a relatively unpigmented head (vs. capped with black from rostrum to nuchal collar), no light spots posterolateral to the parietal plates (vs. one at each side), a banded body dorsum (vs. unicolored), a bright red body venter (vs. orange or yellow through most of the length), and red pigment lateral to the blue under-tail color (vs. no red on tail). It also differs from C. melanurus in aspects of lepidosis, in having a frontal that is shorter or equal in size (vs. longer) than the interparietal suture and a first sublabial that does not touch the second pair of chin-shields (vs. first sublabial broadly touching second pair of chin-shields). The new species is easily distinguished from all other Calliophis species in nearby India and Southeast Asia by characters of external morphology and coloration.
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