We investigated the species composition and reproduction of an anuran community in a Restinga habitat in Ceará State of north-eastern Brazil. Twenty species of four families were observed and most of these reproduced in temporary ponds, whereas Boana raniceps and Scinax x-signatus were observed in a larger number of reproductive sites and micro-habitats. Vocalisation was seasonal, with the majority of the species showing reproductive activity only during the rainy season. Only three species also vocalised during the dry season. Increases in the number of vocalising species were associated with increases in rainfall and humidity but appeared to fall with rising temperatures. For most species, there was spatial overlap of vocalisation sites and strong temporal overlapping. The anuran community in the area was composed of a mix of species that can also be found in the Caatinga and Cerrado domains but not those of the Atlantic Forest.
{"title":"Natural history of an anuran community in a coastal zone of north-eastern Brazil","authors":"Igor Joventino Roberto, P. Cascon","doi":"10.33256/hb165.1115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.1115","url":null,"abstract":"We investigated the species composition and reproduction of an anuran community in a Restinga habitat in Ceará State of north-eastern Brazil. Twenty species of four families were observed and most of these reproduced in temporary ponds, whereas Boana raniceps and Scinax x-signatus were observed in a larger number of reproductive sites and micro-habitats. Vocalisation was seasonal, with the majority of the species showing reproductive activity only during the rainy season. Only three species also vocalised during the dry season. Increases in the number of vocalising species were associated with increases in rainfall and humidity but appeared to fall with rising temperatures. For most species, there was spatial overlap of vocalisation sites and strong temporal overlapping. The anuran community in the area was composed of a mix of species that can also be found in the Caatinga and Cerrado domains but not those of the Atlantic Forest.","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43265792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara is one of the mostly widely distributed reptile species and one of the most northerly, having been recorded within the Arctic Circle as far as 71° N. As protection from sub-zero temperatures during the winter months these lizards brumate in a hibernaculum under debris (Costanzol et al., 1995) or in a carefully prepared cell in the soil (Hodges & Seabrook, 2022). Lizard activity is dependent on weather conditions and in particular the amount of solar radiation available (Van Damme et al., 1987). The Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus is a predator of small mammals, reptiles, other birds and invertebrates (Village, 1990) and is a significant predator of Z. vivipara with which it shares many habitats. One of the most comprehensive studies on this predator-prey relationship found that the likelihood of a viviparous lizard being delivered to a kestrel nest by the parent birds increased towards midday and independently increased with increasing ambient temperature (Steen et al., 2011). When lizards were delivered to the nest, the average temperature was 20.2 °C but other types of prey were delivered at an average temperature of 15.7 °C. Delivery of Z. vivipara to the kestrel nests could be a functional response to the increasing availability of lizards with increased temperature, as well as solar height (Steen et al., 2011). Those lizards basking or actively foraging will be at risk of predation (Lima & Dill, 1990; Caro, 2005) while at other times they stay well hidden within the vegetation. For the lizards, this means there may be a trade-off reaching their optimal body temperatures for maximum physiological performance (for foraging, mating etc.) and the likelihood of being captured by kestrels (Steen et al., 2011). In the middle of winter on 17 December 2020, I observed a female kestrel predating two viviparous lizards on the Solent coast in the Havant area of Hampshire (England) at 13:38 h, one of these is shown in Figure 1. The weather conditions at the time were unusually mild with a temperature of 11 °C, relative humidity of 85 % and wind speed of 9.3 mph (Timeanddate website, 2020). The observed temperature (11 °C) falls within the lower end of the temperature range at which lizards have been recorded to be delivered to nests by kestrels 7.1–31.4 °C (Steen et al., 2011). Due to the lack of orange ventral colouration, no distinct hemipenal bulge at the tail base and adult size, the lizard in this observation appears to be female. This is interesting to note, as males may be expected to emerge from hibernation earlier than females in readiness for reproduction (Van Damme et al., 1987). However, due to the disfigurement of the body, it is difficult to determine the lizard’s gender with certainty. This may be the first record of predation by kestrels on viviparous lizards in December in Britain. Certainly, warmer British winters in recent times may be rendering Z. vivipara more vulnerable to winter predation (Da
vivipara动物蜥蜴是分布最广泛的爬行动物之一，也是最北的爬行动物之一，在北纬71度的北极圈内都有记录，为了在冬季抵御零度以下的温度，这些蜥蜴在碎片下的冬眠中冬眠(Costanzol et al.， 1995)或在土壤中精心准备的细胞中冬眠(Hodges & Seabrook, 2022)。蜥蜴的活动取决于天气条件，特别是可用的太阳辐射量(Van Damme et al.， 1987)。欧亚红隼Falco tinnunculus是小型哺乳动物、爬行动物、其他鸟类和无脊椎动物的捕食者(Village, 1990)，也是vivipara的重要捕食者，它们与Z. vivipara共享许多栖息地。关于这种捕食者-猎物关系的一项最全面的研究发现，胎生蜥蜴被母鸟送到红隼巢穴的可能性在接近正午时增加，并且随着环境温度的升高而独立增加(Steen et al.， 2011)。当蜥蜴被送到巢穴时，平均温度为20.2°C，而其他类型的猎物的平均温度为15.7°C。将Z. vivipara送到红隼巢穴可能是对蜥蜴的可用性随着温度和太阳高度的升高而增加的功能性反应(Steen et al.， 2011)。那些正在晒太阳或积极觅食的蜥蜴将面临被捕食的风险(Lima & Dill, 1990;Caro, 2005)，而在其他时候，它们则很好地隐藏在植被中。对于蜥蜴来说，这意味着达到最佳体温以获得最大生理性能(觅食、交配等)和被红隼捕获的可能性之间可能存在权衡(Steen et al.， 2011)。在2020年12月17日的隆冬，我观察到一只雌性红隼在13:38分在汉普郡哈凡特地区的索伦特海岸先于两只胎生蜥蜴，其中之一如图1所示。当时的天气条件异常温和，温度为11°C，相对湿度为85%，风速为9.3英里/小时(Timeanddate网站，2020年)。观测到的温度(11°C)处于有记录的红隼将蜥蜴送到巢穴的温度范围7.1-31.4°C的下限(Steen et al.， 2011)。由于腹部没有橙色的颜色，尾底没有明显的半边缘凸起，加上成年的体型，这只蜥蜴似乎是雌性的。这一点值得注意，因为雄性可能比雌性更早从冬眠中苏醒，准备繁殖(Van Damme et al.， 1987)。然而，由于身体的毁容，很难确定蜥蜴的性别。这可能是12月份在英国首次记录到红隼捕食胎生蜥蜴。当然，最近英国温暖的冬天可能会使Z. vivipara更容易受到冬季捕食(Davies et al.， 2021)。
{"title":"Winter predation of the viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara by the Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus in Britain","authors":"Josh Phangurha","doi":"10.33256/hb165.4142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.4142","url":null,"abstract":"T viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara is one of the mostly widely distributed reptile species and one of the most northerly, having been recorded within the Arctic Circle as far as 71° N. As protection from sub-zero temperatures during the winter months these lizards brumate in a hibernaculum under debris (Costanzol et al., 1995) or in a carefully prepared cell in the soil (Hodges & Seabrook, 2022). Lizard activity is dependent on weather conditions and in particular the amount of solar radiation available (Van Damme et al., 1987). The Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus is a predator of small mammals, reptiles, other birds and invertebrates (Village, 1990) and is a significant predator of Z. vivipara with which it shares many habitats. One of the most comprehensive studies on this predator-prey relationship found that the likelihood of a viviparous lizard being delivered to a kestrel nest by the parent birds increased towards midday and independently increased with increasing ambient temperature (Steen et al., 2011). When lizards were delivered to the nest, the average temperature was 20.2 °C but other types of prey were delivered at an average temperature of 15.7 °C. Delivery of Z. vivipara to the kestrel nests could be a functional response to the increasing availability of lizards with increased temperature, as well as solar height (Steen et al., 2011). Those lizards basking or actively foraging will be at risk of predation (Lima & Dill, 1990; Caro, 2005) while at other times they stay well hidden within the vegetation. For the lizards, this means there may be a trade-off reaching their optimal body temperatures for maximum physiological performance (for foraging, mating etc.) and the likelihood of being captured by kestrels (Steen et al., 2011). In the middle of winter on 17 December 2020, I observed a female kestrel predating two viviparous lizards on the Solent coast in the Havant area of Hampshire (England) at 13:38 h, one of these is shown in Figure 1. The weather conditions at the time were unusually mild with a temperature of 11 °C, relative humidity of 85 % and wind speed of 9.3 mph (Timeanddate website, 2020). The observed temperature (11 °C) falls within the lower end of the temperature range at which lizards have been recorded to be delivered to nests by kestrels 7.1–31.4 °C (Steen et al., 2011). Due to the lack of orange ventral colouration, no distinct hemipenal bulge at the tail base and adult size, the lizard in this observation appears to be female. This is interesting to note, as males may be expected to emerge from hibernation earlier than females in readiness for reproduction (Van Damme et al., 1987). However, due to the disfigurement of the body, it is difficult to determine the lizard’s gender with certainty. This may be the first record of predation by kestrels on viviparous lizards in December in Britain. Certainly, warmer British winters in recent times may be rendering Z. vivipara more vulnerable to winter predation (Da","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41246833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Goodman, David J. Clemens, Mario I. Shimbov, S. J. R. Allain
The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis threatens amphibian species globally as the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, with the introduction of non-native species being one of the pathways that the pathogen can spread to naive populations. We have monitored and screened the common midwife toad Alytes obstetricans in four separate populations in eastern England, to investigate the potential threats to local amphibians. Forty-eight toads across all life stages were swabbed between May 2018 and August 2020, and screened for the presence of B. dendrobatidis DNA using qPCR. None of the samples tested were positive, indicating that it is unlikely that any of the A. obstetricans swabbed were infected with B. dendrobatidis. The populations surveyed represent only a small part of the species range in Britain, consequently a more widespread survey is recommended to increase confidence that British A. obstetricans are free of B. dendrobatidis.
{"title":"No amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis detected in four introduced populations of the midwife toad Alytes obstetricans in eastern England","authors":"M. Goodman, David J. Clemens, Mario I. Shimbov, S. J. R. Allain","doi":"10.33256/hb165.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.14","url":null,"abstract":"The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis threatens amphibian species globally as the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, with the introduction of non-native species being one of the pathways that the pathogen can spread to naive populations. We have monitored and screened the common midwife toad Alytes obstetricans in four separate populations in eastern England, to investigate the potential threats to local amphibians. Forty-eight toads across all life stages were swabbed between May 2018 and August 2020, and screened for the presence of B. dendrobatidis DNA using qPCR. None of the samples tested were positive, indicating that it is unlikely that any of the A. obstetricans swabbed were infected with B. dendrobatidis. The populations surveyed represent only a small part of the species range in Britain, consequently a more widespread survey is recommended to increase confidence that British A. obstetricans are free of B. dendrobatidis.","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43265913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grégory Deso, M. Roesch, Xavier Porcel, Juan Claudin, Jean‐Michel Probst, JEAN-MICHEL Luspot, Nicolas Dubos
T introduction of non-native species of reptiles raise many concerns regarding the potential impact they may exert on indigenous species. The day geckos (Phelsuma spp) are territorial lizards. Several species have been repeatedly introduced to many areas outside their natural range (Fieldsend et al., 2021). One species, the gold dust day gecko Phelsuma laticauda is frequently reported as an invasive species (Dubos et al., 2014) and considered an aggressive competitor (Lund, 2015). It was first reported on Reunion Island in 1975 (Moutou, 1995) and is today present in habitats alongside the endemic Phelsuma inexpectata, a species listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (Sanchez, 2021). Here we report observations on interspecific interactions between the two species, including filmed material (BHS video, 2023), from a botanical garden where the native species P. inexpectata was first observed in 2012 and the non-native P. laticauda was first observed in 2015 (Personal obs., J.M. Luspot).
引入非本土爬行动物引起了人们对它们可能对本土物种产生的潜在影响的许多担忧。日壁虎（Phelsuma spp）是一种领地蜥蜴。一些物种被反复引入其自然范围之外的许多地区（Fieldsend等人，2021）。其中一个物种，金尘天壁虎Phelsuma laticoda经常被报道为入侵物种（Dubos et al.，2014），并被认为是一个具有攻击性的竞争对手（Lund，2015）。它于1975年在留尼汪岛首次被报道（Moutou，1995年），如今与世界自然保护联盟红色名录（Sanchez，2021）上被列为极度濒危物种的地方性无齿Phelsuma expectata一起存在于栖息地。在这里，我们报告了对这两个物种之间种间相互作用的观察，包括来自植物园的拍摄材料（BHS视频，2023），在植物园中，2012年首次观察到了本地物种无经验P.expectata，2015年首次观测到了非本地扁尾P.laticoda（Personal obs.，J.M.Luspot）。
{"title":"Interactions between the endemic gecko Phelsuma inexpectata and the introduced Phelsuma laticauda: understanding the drivers of invasion on Reunion Island","authors":"Grégory Deso, M. Roesch, Xavier Porcel, Juan Claudin, Jean‐Michel Probst, JEAN-MICHEL Luspot, Nicolas Dubos","doi":"10.33256/hb165.2123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.2123","url":null,"abstract":"T introduction of non-native species of reptiles raise many concerns regarding the potential impact they may exert on indigenous species. The day geckos (Phelsuma spp) are territorial lizards. Several species have been repeatedly introduced to many areas outside their natural range (Fieldsend et al., 2021). One species, the gold dust day gecko Phelsuma laticauda is frequently reported as an invasive species (Dubos et al., 2014) and considered an aggressive competitor (Lund, 2015). It was first reported on Reunion Island in 1975 (Moutou, 1995) and is today present in habitats alongside the endemic Phelsuma inexpectata, a species listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (Sanchez, 2021). Here we report observations on interspecific interactions between the two species, including filmed material (BHS video, 2023), from a botanical garden where the native species P. inexpectata was first observed in 2012 and the non-native P. laticauda was first observed in 2015 (Personal obs., J.M. Luspot).","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43758842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Léa Lorrain‐Soligon, jean-pierre vacher, François Brischoux
{"title":"Palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus infected with Amphibiocystidum sp. in France","authors":"Léa Lorrain‐Soligon, jean-pierre vacher, François Brischoux","doi":"10.33256/hb165.2728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.2728","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42729231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T slow worm Anguis fragilis is a legless anguid lizard native to Britain. There is also a colony in the Burren area of the west of Ireland, in counties Clare and Galway, where it is presumed to have been introduced. I have studied this colony since 2015 and to this end have employed the use of artificial cover objects (ACOs) of various materials including roofing felt, hardboard, and corrugated iron. The refuges had an area of about 0.05 m2 and were positioned close to various thick vegetation and bushes that provided good cover for slow worms. The presence of the greater white-toothed shrew Croidura russula was first discovered in Ireland in 2007 in pellets of birds of prey (Tosh et al., 2008) in Counties Tipperary and Limerick. It is thought to have originated from France and is believed to be spreading at a rate of 5 km per annum. It was on 16 June 2022, while completing my regular survey of ACOs, that I discovered the two species sharing the same refuge, in this instance a piece of corrugated iron placed on a roadside verge in the townland of Dereenatloghtan in County Clare. Upon lifting the refuge, a pair of white-toothed shrews were observed along with a male slow worm. One of the shrews immediately departed leaving just a single shrew and the slow worm (Fig. 1). While the slow worm was not disturbed by my frequent visits it appears the greater whitetoothed shrews were, as they were not observed there again. These shrews have increasingly been noted under a number of refuges at different sites, but this was the only occasion when a photograph was possible of the two species together. Shrews are insectivores whose diet is not confined to insects and it has been noted that young slow worms are at risk of predation by shrews (Simms, 1970; Beebee & Griffiths, 2000). In the case of white-toothed shrews, a study in Algeria showed that of 115 items in the stomach contents of 15 shrews, a total of three (1.9 %) were lizards/ geckos which accounted for 14.9 % of prey biomass (Brahmi et al., 2012). I have not observed slow worm predation by the white-toothed shrew but this very probably happens. The same is likely to be true for Ireland’s only native reptile, the viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara, which may be even more vulnerable as it lacks the protective osteoderms that are present as a ‘chain-mail’ protection in the skin of slow worms (Beebee & Griffiths, 2000).
T慢虫脆弱安格斯是一种原产于英国的无腿安格斯蜥蜴。在爱尔兰西部的布伦地区，克莱尔县和戈尔韦县也有一个殖民地，据推测是在那里引入的。自2015年以来，我一直在研究这个群体，为此，我使用了各种材料的人造覆盖物（ACO），包括屋顶毡、硬纸板和瓦楞铁。这些避难所的面积约为0.05平方米，靠近各种茂密的植被和灌木，为慢虫提供了良好的掩护。大白齿鼩Croidura russula于2007年在爱尔兰蒂珀雷里县和利默里克县的猛禽颗粒中首次被发现（Tosh et al.，2008）。它被认为起源于法国，并以每年5公里的速度传播。正是在2022年6月16日，在完成对ACO的定期调查时，我发现这两个物种共享同一个避难所，在这个例子中，一块波纹铁被放在克莱尔郡Dereenatloghtan镇的路边边缘。在打开避难所后，观察到一对白齿鼩和一只雄性慢虫。其中一只鼩立即离开，只留下一只鼩和一只慢虫（图1）。虽然我的频繁造访并没有打扰到这只慢虫，但大白齿鼩似乎是，因为它们在那里再也没有被观察到。在不同地点的许多避难所里，越来越多的人注意到了这些鼩，但这是唯一一次有可能拍摄到这两个物种在一起的照片。鼩是食虫动物，其饮食不局限于昆虫，人们注意到，年幼的慢虫有被鼩捕食的风险（Simms，1970；Beebee&Griffiths，2000年）。就白齿鼩而言，阿尔及利亚的一项研究表明，在15只鼩的胃内容物中，共有115种（1.9%）是蜥蜴/壁虎，占猎物生物量的14.9%（Brahmi等人，2012）。我没有观察到白齿鼩对蠕虫的缓慢捕食，但这种情况很可能会发生。爱尔兰唯一的本土爬行动物——胎生蜥蜴Zootoca vivipara可能也是如此，它可能更脆弱，因为它缺乏保护性的骨皮动物，而骨皮动物是慢蠕虫皮肤中的“连锁邮件”保护（Beebee&Griffiths，2000）。
{"title":"Slow worms and greater white-toothed shrews sharing refuges","authors":"Nicholas Parry","doi":"10.33256/hb165.36","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.36","url":null,"abstract":"T slow worm Anguis fragilis is a legless anguid lizard native to Britain. There is also a colony in the Burren area of the west of Ireland, in counties Clare and Galway, where it is presumed to have been introduced. I have studied this colony since 2015 and to this end have employed the use of artificial cover objects (ACOs) of various materials including roofing felt, hardboard, and corrugated iron. The refuges had an area of about 0.05 m2 and were positioned close to various thick vegetation and bushes that provided good cover for slow worms. The presence of the greater white-toothed shrew Croidura russula was first discovered in Ireland in 2007 in pellets of birds of prey (Tosh et al., 2008) in Counties Tipperary and Limerick. It is thought to have originated from France and is believed to be spreading at a rate of 5 km per annum. It was on 16 June 2022, while completing my regular survey of ACOs, that I discovered the two species sharing the same refuge, in this instance a piece of corrugated iron placed on a roadside verge in the townland of Dereenatloghtan in County Clare. Upon lifting the refuge, a pair of white-toothed shrews were observed along with a male slow worm. One of the shrews immediately departed leaving just a single shrew and the slow worm (Fig. 1). While the slow worm was not disturbed by my frequent visits it appears the greater whitetoothed shrews were, as they were not observed there again. These shrews have increasingly been noted under a number of refuges at different sites, but this was the only occasion when a photograph was possible of the two species together. Shrews are insectivores whose diet is not confined to insects and it has been noted that young slow worms are at risk of predation by shrews (Simms, 1970; Beebee & Griffiths, 2000). In the case of white-toothed shrews, a study in Algeria showed that of 115 items in the stomach contents of 15 shrews, a total of three (1.9 %) were lizards/ geckos which accounted for 14.9 % of prey biomass (Brahmi et al., 2012). I have not observed slow worm predation by the white-toothed shrew but this very probably happens. The same is likely to be true for Ireland’s only native reptile, the viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara, which may be even more vulnerable as it lacks the protective osteoderms that are present as a ‘chain-mail’ protection in the skin of slow worms (Beebee & Griffiths, 2000).","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45363230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T grass snake Natrix natrix (L., 1758) has a broad Palearctic distribution that extends from central Germany in the west to southern central Russia in the east, and from central Scandinavia in the north to the Balkans and Middle East in the south (Speybroeck et al., 2016; Kindler et al., 2017; Schultze et al., 2020). It is known to be predated by a wide range of vertebrates, including various species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles (e.g. Kabisch, 1999; 2020; Cugnasse, 2001; Strugariu et al., 2014). It should however be noted that many reports mentioning predation refer to observations of snakes that are currently considered to be the barred grass snake Natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1798), which has only recently been elevated to full species status (Kindler et al., 2017). In addition, some recent reports don’t take this taxonomic split into account. Records of N. natrix sensu lato being predated by invertebrates are rare but do include the predation of juveniles by Carabus ground beetles (Kabisch, 2020). In this report we share an observation of a juvenile N. natrix being predated by a Peloponnesian freshwater crab Potamon pelops, Jesse, Schubart & Klaus, 2010, on the south of the Peloponnese peninsular, Greece. On 10 July 2020, at 12:16 h, about 750 m south of Charavgi (36.98473° N, 21.85503° E, WGS 84) we were undertaking a herpetological survey from a trail adjacent to the stream that includes the Polylimnio waterfalls when we spotted a juvenile N. natrix (i.e. likely born in the previous season) in shallow water of the riparian zone of the stream. Upon further inspection, it turned out that the snake was being predated by a specimen of P. pelops (BHS video, 2023), which was partially hidden under a piece of dead wood. The crab was holding the snake with its pincers and eating it tail first (Fig. 1). The snake was fully conscious and trying to escape, but wasn’t capable of releasing itself from the crab’s grip. At the moment the observation took place, the crab had completely devoured the snake’s tail, the cloaca and part of the lower abdomen, indicating that it had been feeding for a while and that the snake had no chance of survival. We observed and documented the situation for twenty minutes, decided not to intervene and then left the scene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of predation of a European snake by a crustacean. To understand the role of a snake species in an ecological system, it’s important to know the factors that play a role in its survival rate. With this contribution, we add to the knowledge regarding Greek herpetofauna and particularly to the ecology of N. natrix. Since N. natrix and other species of Natrix share their range with several other species of Potamon, it is likely that more interactions between members of these two genera are yet to be recorded.
草蛇Natrix Natrix（L.，1758）分布广泛，西起德国中部，东至俄罗斯中南部，北起斯堪的纳维亚半岛中部，南至巴尔干半岛和中东（Speybroeck et al.，2016；Kindler et al.，2017；Schultze et al.，2020）。众所周知，它被多种脊椎动物所捕食，包括各种鸟类、哺乳动物、鱼类、两栖动物和爬行动物（例如，Kabisch，1999；2020；Cugnasse，2001；Strugariu等人，2014）。然而，应该注意的是，许多提到捕食的报告都提到了对蛇的观察，这些蛇目前被认为是斑草蛇Natrix helvetica（Lacépède，1798），它最近才被提升为全物种（Kindler等人，2017）。此外，最近的一些报告没有考虑到这种分类学上的分裂。N.natrix senso lato被无脊椎动物捕食的记录很少见，但确实包括Carabas地甲虫对幼虫的捕食（Kabisch，2020）。在本报告中，我们分享了一个观察结果，即在希腊伯罗奔尼撒半岛南部，一只幼年的N.natrix被一只伯罗奔尼西亚淡水蟹Potamon pelops，Jesse，Schubart&Klaus，2010年捕食。2020年7月10日12时16分，在Charavgi以南约750米处（北纬36.98473°，东经21.85503°，WGS 84），我们在包括Polylimnio瀑布在内的溪流附近的一条小径上进行爬行动物调查时，在溪流河岸带的浅水中发现了一只幼年的N.natrix（即可能在上一季出生）。经过进一步检查，发现这条蛇被部分隐藏在一块枯木下的佩洛普斯蛇标本所捕食（BHS视频，2023）。螃蟹用钳子夹住蛇，先吃掉它的尾巴（图1）。这条蛇意识清醒，试图逃跑，但没能从螃蟹的手中挣脱出来。在观察发生的那一刻，螃蟹已经完全吞噬了蛇的尾巴、泄殖腔和部分小腹，这表明它已经进食了一段时间，蛇没有生存的机会。我们观察并记录了20分钟的情况，决定不干预，然后离开了现场。据我们所知，这是第一例记录在案的甲壳类动物捕食欧洲蛇的案例。要了解蛇在生态系统中的作用，了解影响其存活率的因素很重要。通过这一贡献，我们增加了关于希腊疱疹病毒的知识，特别是对N.natrix生态学的知识。由于N.natrix和natrix的其他物种与Potamon的其他几个物种共享它们的范围，这两个属的成员之间可能还有更多的相互作用有待记录。
{"title":"Predation of a grass snake Natrix natrix by a Peloponnesian freshwater crab Potamon pelops","authors":"J. Groen, B. Bok, Elias Tzoras","doi":"10.33256/hb165.4647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.4647","url":null,"abstract":"T grass snake Natrix natrix (L., 1758) has a broad Palearctic distribution that extends from central Germany in the west to southern central Russia in the east, and from central Scandinavia in the north to the Balkans and Middle East in the south (Speybroeck et al., 2016; Kindler et al., 2017; Schultze et al., 2020). It is known to be predated by a wide range of vertebrates, including various species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles (e.g. Kabisch, 1999; 2020; Cugnasse, 2001; Strugariu et al., 2014). It should however be noted that many reports mentioning predation refer to observations of snakes that are currently considered to be the barred grass snake Natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1798), which has only recently been elevated to full species status (Kindler et al., 2017). In addition, some recent reports don’t take this taxonomic split into account. Records of N. natrix sensu lato being predated by invertebrates are rare but do include the predation of juveniles by Carabus ground beetles (Kabisch, 2020). In this report we share an observation of a juvenile N. natrix being predated by a Peloponnesian freshwater crab Potamon pelops, Jesse, Schubart & Klaus, 2010, on the south of the Peloponnese peninsular, Greece. On 10 July 2020, at 12:16 h, about 750 m south of Charavgi (36.98473° N, 21.85503° E, WGS 84) we were undertaking a herpetological survey from a trail adjacent to the stream that includes the Polylimnio waterfalls when we spotted a juvenile N. natrix (i.e. likely born in the previous season) in shallow water of the riparian zone of the stream. Upon further inspection, it turned out that the snake was being predated by a specimen of P. pelops (BHS video, 2023), which was partially hidden under a piece of dead wood. The crab was holding the snake with its pincers and eating it tail first (Fig. 1). The snake was fully conscious and trying to escape, but wasn’t capable of releasing itself from the crab’s grip. At the moment the observation took place, the crab had completely devoured the snake’s tail, the cloaca and part of the lower abdomen, indicating that it had been feeding for a while and that the snake had no chance of survival. We observed and documented the situation for twenty minutes, decided not to intervene and then left the scene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of predation of a European snake by a crustacean. To understand the role of a snake species in an ecological system, it’s important to know the factors that play a role in its survival rate. With this contribution, we add to the knowledge regarding Greek herpetofauna and particularly to the ecology of N. natrix. Since N. natrix and other species of Natrix share their range with several other species of Potamon, it is likely that more interactions between members of these two genera are yet to be recorded.","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41869053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C of teratological conditions and other developmental abnormalities are important to document in reptiles and amphibians because they can bring to light new emergent pathogens, diseases or conditions that can have ecological and conservation implications (Barr et al., 2020; Kaiser, 1997; Schmidt, 1997; Bishop et al., 1991; 1998; Bell et al., 2006) or highlight understudied physiological, developmental or healing processes that are in need of more focused research (Barr et al., 2019; Alibardi & Meyer-Rochow, 2021). In rattlesnakes (Crotalus and Sistrurus), a well-studied group of New World pit vipers (Crotalinae), a wide variety of developmental aberrations have been recorded (for example Klauber, 1956; Pendlebury, 1976; Wallach, 2007; Sant’Anna et al., 2013; Murphy, 2018), but with regard to the specialised crotaline rattle, abnormalities have been rare; they include a case of accelerated growth in the structure which resulted in the accumulation of an abnormal number of rattle segments over a brief period (Walker et al., 2008), and the loss of the rattle style and matrix (Rice et al., 2016). Here, we report on an unusual aberration in an adult Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake Crotalus polystictus that resulted in the growth of secondary rattle tissue. As part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-managed Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the species, C. polystictus has been maintained by Audubon Zoo since 2002. In August 2019, a 13-year-old captive-bred male (AZA regional studbook #192) that had been maintained at Audubon Zoo since 2009, underwent a veterinary physical examination due to concerns over an uncharacteristic decrease in its body mass (30.6 %) over the previous winter cooling period, and apparent difficulties with regaining its lost weight despite feeding regularly. The examination was performed by staff veterinarians while the animal was conscious and restrained in a tube, and its demeanor was bright, alert, and responsive. Full body orthogonal radiographs and coelomic ultrasonography showed no abnormalities. Blood was collected from the caudal coccygeal vein and submitted for a complete blood count, biochemistry panel, and protein electrophoresis; no parameters were significantly abnormal. Upon close visual inspection, a small (ca. 1 mm), firm, subcutaneous swelling was noticed on the right lateral aspect of the tail at the base of the rattle, which, based on its size and general appearance, was presumed to be a caseous abscess. The mass was aspirated using a 22-gauge hypodermic needle, and a small amount of yellowish liquid was collected and submitted for cytological examination. No microbial organisms were observed; occasional white blood cells were noted. The mass was left untreated to be closely monitored for changes in size and potential impacts on the animal’s activity and behaviour. A follow-up examination in September 2020 revealed that the mass had increased in size to ca. 2 mm in diameter and had begun to protrude from th
{"title":"Supernumerary rattle growth in a Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake Crotalus polystictus","authors":"R. Mendyk, Daniel Cutler, Adam Weisse","doi":"10.33256/hb165.3233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.3233","url":null,"abstract":"C of teratological conditions and other developmental abnormalities are important to document in reptiles and amphibians because they can bring to light new emergent pathogens, diseases or conditions that can have ecological and conservation implications (Barr et al., 2020; Kaiser, 1997; Schmidt, 1997; Bishop et al., 1991; 1998; Bell et al., 2006) or highlight understudied physiological, developmental or healing processes that are in need of more focused research (Barr et al., 2019; Alibardi & Meyer-Rochow, 2021). In rattlesnakes (Crotalus and Sistrurus), a well-studied group of New World pit vipers (Crotalinae), a wide variety of developmental aberrations have been recorded (for example Klauber, 1956; Pendlebury, 1976; Wallach, 2007; Sant’Anna et al., 2013; Murphy, 2018), but with regard to the specialised crotaline rattle, abnormalities have been rare; they include a case of accelerated growth in the structure which resulted in the accumulation of an abnormal number of rattle segments over a brief period (Walker et al., 2008), and the loss of the rattle style and matrix (Rice et al., 2016). Here, we report on an unusual aberration in an adult Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake Crotalus polystictus that resulted in the growth of secondary rattle tissue. As part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-managed Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the species, C. polystictus has been maintained by Audubon Zoo since 2002. In August 2019, a 13-year-old captive-bred male (AZA regional studbook #192) that had been maintained at Audubon Zoo since 2009, underwent a veterinary physical examination due to concerns over an uncharacteristic decrease in its body mass (30.6 %) over the previous winter cooling period, and apparent difficulties with regaining its lost weight despite feeding regularly. The examination was performed by staff veterinarians while the animal was conscious and restrained in a tube, and its demeanor was bright, alert, and responsive. Full body orthogonal radiographs and coelomic ultrasonography showed no abnormalities. Blood was collected from the caudal coccygeal vein and submitted for a complete blood count, biochemistry panel, and protein electrophoresis; no parameters were significantly abnormal. Upon close visual inspection, a small (ca. 1 mm), firm, subcutaneous swelling was noticed on the right lateral aspect of the tail at the base of the rattle, which, based on its size and general appearance, was presumed to be a caseous abscess. The mass was aspirated using a 22-gauge hypodermic needle, and a small amount of yellowish liquid was collected and submitted for cytological examination. No microbial organisms were observed; occasional white blood cells were noted. The mass was left untreated to be closely monitored for changes in size and potential impacts on the animal’s activity and behaviour. A follow-up examination in September 2020 revealed that the mass had increased in size to ca. 2 mm in diameter and had begun to protrude from th","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44854554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"King cobra Ophiophagus hannah exhibiting breaching behaviour while swimming in response to a predation threat from a white-bellied sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster","authors":"Z. Cheo, S.M.X. Hung","doi":"10.33256/hb165.4344","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.4344","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41543737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Snakes of the World: A Guide to Every Family","authors":"Christopher J. Mcinerny","doi":"10.33256/hb165.48","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/hb165.48","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35972,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Bulletin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43869934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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