Pub Date : 2021-01-11DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00094.1
A. Carvalho
Abstract. The taxonomic history of Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 is one of the most problematic among all tropidurids. The species was originally described supposedly based on four specimens collected in Peru and deposited by J.J. von Tschudi at the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel, Switzerland. However, the syntypes were not re-examined until Roux (1907: Rev. Suisse Zool. 15:293–303) performed a revision of Tschudi's Peruvian collection. Fritts (1974: Mem. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 7:1–89) revised the taxonomy of Stenocercus and endorsed Roux's allocation of Steironotus arenarius in Tropidurus Wied, 1825, although he never analyzed Tschudi's types. Ortiz (1989: Bull. Soc. Neuchâtel. Sci. Nat. 112:47–64) was the first contemporary systematist to re-analyze Tschudi's specimens for his catalogue of the lizard types of the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel. His compilation attempted to clarify the number, location, and identity of the types of Steironotus arenarius found at the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel and Naturhistorisches Museum Basel. Subsequent authors overlooked or opted for not following Ortiz and endorsed the allocation of Steironotus arenarius in Tropidurus. Although Ortiz was the only one to re-analyze the types of Steironotus arenarius after Roux, he never provided full morphological descriptions or detailed comparative notes to support his taxonomic conclusions. Herein, I clarify the taxonomic history of Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 and Tropidurus tschudii Roux, 1907, and confirm that Tschudi's syntypic series is a composite of two genera, i.e., Microlophus Duméril and Bibron, 1837 and Stenocercus Duméril and Bibron, 1837. I ultimately designate a new lectotype for Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 and provide recommendations for correcting uncorroborated taxonomic arrangements, bringing stability to tropidurid taxonomy.
{"title":"Resolving the Obscure Identity of Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 and Tropidurus tschudii Roux, 1907 (Squamata: Tropiduridae)","authors":"A. Carvalho","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00094.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00094.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The taxonomic history of Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 is one of the most problematic among all tropidurids. The species was originally described supposedly based on four specimens collected in Peru and deposited by J.J. von Tschudi at the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel, Switzerland. However, the syntypes were not re-examined until Roux (1907: Rev. Suisse Zool. 15:293–303) performed a revision of Tschudi's Peruvian collection. Fritts (1974: Mem. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 7:1–89) revised the taxonomy of Stenocercus and endorsed Roux's allocation of Steironotus arenarius in Tropidurus Wied, 1825, although he never analyzed Tschudi's types. Ortiz (1989: Bull. Soc. Neuchâtel. Sci. Nat. 112:47–64) was the first contemporary systematist to re-analyze Tschudi's specimens for his catalogue of the lizard types of the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel. His compilation attempted to clarify the number, location, and identity of the types of Steironotus arenarius found at the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel and Naturhistorisches Museum Basel. Subsequent authors overlooked or opted for not following Ortiz and endorsed the allocation of Steironotus arenarius in Tropidurus. Although Ortiz was the only one to re-analyze the types of Steironotus arenarius after Roux, he never provided full morphological descriptions or detailed comparative notes to support his taxonomic conclusions. Herein, I clarify the taxonomic history of Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 and Tropidurus tschudii Roux, 1907, and confirm that Tschudi's syntypic series is a composite of two genera, i.e., Microlophus Duméril and Bibron, 1837 and Stenocercus Duméril and Bibron, 1837. I ultimately designate a new lectotype for Steironotus arenarius Tschudi, 1845 and provide recommendations for correcting uncorroborated taxonomic arrangements, bringing stability to tropidurid taxonomy.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2021-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42978830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-12-31DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00093.1
P. Siroski, Moleón Barsani María Soledad
Abstract. Despite the key position of reptiles in evolutionary history, reptilian immune responses have received relatively little attention. Like all jawed vertebrates, reptiles possess both an innate and adaptive immune system to recognize unknown foreign substances. Although diverse immunological mechanisms have been discovered, they seem not to be adequate to avoid the invasion of some microorganisms and stop some infections. All species of crocodilians show well-defined social behaviors, and hierarchical dominance attitudes can be observed in both males and females. This behavior generates conflicts that are expressed through aggression and combat with serious health consequences. These animals have evolved a very active immune mechanisms and components that provides a fast and effective line of defense. Science has focused on those mechanisms and components because crocodilians are an especially interesting group on which to perform evolutionary studies because they are one of the surviving archosaurs, which represents an important link within “higher” vertebrates. Based on those background, they are being observed and evaluated for their potential application in domestic and wild species. These findings will not only generate an increasing value as a therapeutic resource but also to the ecosystem, and to decode biological processes that could lead to phylogenetic (ancestral) cognition. In this review, many components of the crocodilian immune system are described that could lead to a more thorough understanding of how these animals select the most appropriate response to environmental challenges and antigen exposure and identify networks to study and interesting opportunities to the experts in the field.
{"title":"Review of the Recent Knowledge on the Crocodilian Immune System","authors":"P. Siroski, Moleón Barsani María Soledad","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00093.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00093.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Despite the key position of reptiles in evolutionary history, reptilian immune responses have received relatively little attention. Like all jawed vertebrates, reptiles possess both an innate and adaptive immune system to recognize unknown foreign substances. Although diverse immunological mechanisms have been discovered, they seem not to be adequate to avoid the invasion of some microorganisms and stop some infections. All species of crocodilians show well-defined social behaviors, and hierarchical dominance attitudes can be observed in both males and females. This behavior generates conflicts that are expressed through aggression and combat with serious health consequences. These animals have evolved a very active immune mechanisms and components that provides a fast and effective line of defense. Science has focused on those mechanisms and components because crocodilians are an especially interesting group on which to perform evolutionary studies because they are one of the surviving archosaurs, which represents an important link within “higher” vertebrates. Based on those background, they are being observed and evaluated for their potential application in domestic and wild species. These findings will not only generate an increasing value as a therapeutic resource but also to the ecosystem, and to decode biological processes that could lead to phylogenetic (ancestral) cognition. In this review, many components of the crocodilian immune system are described that could lead to a more thorough understanding of how these animals select the most appropriate response to environmental challenges and antigen exposure and identify networks to study and interesting opportunities to the experts in the field.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48897089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-12-31DOI: 10.2994/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00044.1
J. C. Alvarado-Avilés, C. Venegas-Barrera, Javier Alvarado‐Díaz, Oswaldo Hernández‐Gallegos, Maria de Lourdes Ruiz-Gomez, H. Sánchez-Sánchez
Abstract. Species distribution models are increasingly important in herpetological studies of spatial ecology and conservation. In this paper, we estimate the potential distribution of an endemic and threatened Mexican lizard, Plestiodon copei. The presence of this skink was estimated using the maximum entropy algorithm, and the most relevant environmental variables for the model were identified. Additionally, the specialization of the species was evaluated, the coverage of natural protected areas throughout its distribution was estimated, and the priority areas for the conservation of this lizard were delimited. The model shows that the optimum areas of distribution extend from the southeastern state of Jalisco within the Faja Volcánica Transmexicana (FVT) to the limits of the states of Puebla and Veracruz, covering an area of approximately 12,300 km2. The distribution of P. copei was associated with high mountains and temperate forests, ecosystems strongly affected by human activities. The model predicted previously unrecorded populations, some of which were corroborated in the field. It was also found that 53.08% of the species' distribution is within natural protected areas along the FVT. These observations emphasize the urgent need to propose conservation strategies for this endemic lizard and its habitat.
{"title":"Potential Distribution of Plestiodon copei (Squamata: Scincidae), an Endemic and Threatened Lizard of Mexico","authors":"J. C. Alvarado-Avilés, C. Venegas-Barrera, Javier Alvarado‐Díaz, Oswaldo Hernández‐Gallegos, Maria de Lourdes Ruiz-Gomez, H. Sánchez-Sánchez","doi":"10.2994/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00044.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00044.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Species distribution models are increasingly important in herpetological studies of spatial ecology and conservation. In this paper, we estimate the potential distribution of an endemic and threatened Mexican lizard, Plestiodon copei. The presence of this skink was estimated using the maximum entropy algorithm, and the most relevant environmental variables for the model were identified. Additionally, the specialization of the species was evaluated, the coverage of natural protected areas throughout its distribution was estimated, and the priority areas for the conservation of this lizard were delimited. The model shows that the optimum areas of distribution extend from the southeastern state of Jalisco within the Faja Volcánica Transmexicana (FVT) to the limits of the states of Puebla and Veracruz, covering an area of approximately 12,300 km2. The distribution of P. copei was associated with high mountains and temperate forests, ecosystems strongly affected by human activities. The model predicted previously unrecorded populations, some of which were corroborated in the field. It was also found that 53.08% of the species' distribution is within natural protected areas along the FVT. These observations emphasize the urgent need to propose conservation strategies for this endemic lizard and its habitat.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46152523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-12-31DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00056.1
Raciel Cruz‐Elizalde, A. Ramírez‐Bautista, F. F. Núñez de Cáceres-González
Abstract. Morphology and resource use have a significant influence on lizard population dynamics. In this study, sexual dimorphism and feeding ecology were assessed in a population of Sceloporus aeneus from central Mexico. Sexual dimorphism was recorded, with males being larger than females in several morphological characteristics, such as jaw width, femur length, tibia length, and forearm length, but not snout–vent length (SVL) or jaw length, which were similar in both sexes. The stomach contents analysis indicated an insectivorous diet composed of 11 prey categories, of which females consumed 11 and males consumed 9. Low values of feeding niche breadth were found, as well as high overlap between sexes and seasons. For the whole population, adult preys of the family Formicidae and orders Coleoptera and Hemiptera showed the highest values of food importance and abundance. A higher volume of stomach contents was recorded during the dry season than the wet season in both females and males. Results showed a pattern of sexual dimorphism similar to that of other species of the genus Sceloporus, but different from those of other populations of the same species. Morphological variation in jaw length and width seems to be related to food resources use because, in spite of the high similarity in the diet between sexes, the volume of stomach contents was not correlated with SVL in females. These findings suggest a constant consumption of food that is subsequently invested in reproduction. Further studies analyzing morphology and diet and their effect on reproductive characteristics such as clutch size, eggs mass, and volume are needed among populations of this species. The results obtained in this research could help explain the differences and similarities previously reported on the morphology and reproductive characteristics for S. aeneus and other species of the S. scalaris group.
{"title":"Sexual Dimorphism and Feeding Ecology of the Black-bellied Bunchgrass Lizard Sceloporus aeneus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) in Central Mexico","authors":"Raciel Cruz‐Elizalde, A. Ramírez‐Bautista, F. F. Núñez de Cáceres-González","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00056.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00056.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Morphology and resource use have a significant influence on lizard population dynamics. In this study, sexual dimorphism and feeding ecology were assessed in a population of Sceloporus aeneus from central Mexico. Sexual dimorphism was recorded, with males being larger than females in several morphological characteristics, such as jaw width, femur length, tibia length, and forearm length, but not snout–vent length (SVL) or jaw length, which were similar in both sexes. The stomach contents analysis indicated an insectivorous diet composed of 11 prey categories, of which females consumed 11 and males consumed 9. Low values of feeding niche breadth were found, as well as high overlap between sexes and seasons. For the whole population, adult preys of the family Formicidae and orders Coleoptera and Hemiptera showed the highest values of food importance and abundance. A higher volume of stomach contents was recorded during the dry season than the wet season in both females and males. Results showed a pattern of sexual dimorphism similar to that of other species of the genus Sceloporus, but different from those of other populations of the same species. Morphological variation in jaw length and width seems to be related to food resources use because, in spite of the high similarity in the diet between sexes, the volume of stomach contents was not correlated with SVL in females. These findings suggest a constant consumption of food that is subsequently invested in reproduction. Further studies analyzing morphology and diet and their effect on reproductive characteristics such as clutch size, eggs mass, and volume are needed among populations of this species. The results obtained in this research could help explain the differences and similarities previously reported on the morphology and reproductive characteristics for S. aeneus and other species of the S. scalaris group.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49138997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-12-17DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-18-00042.1
S. Nenda, A. Laspiur, F. Lobo, C. Abdala
Abstract. Liolaemus duellmani is a poorly known, microendemic lizard described from southwestern Mendoza, Argentina, representing the southernmost distribution of the Liolaemus montanus species group. We report the rediscovery of the species after 43 years, presenting the fifth voucher specimen and the second female of L. duellmani. Data on external morphology, activity, and color photographs are included, and the geographic coordinates of the type locality are discussed.
{"title":"Rediscovery of Liolaemus duellmani Cei, 1978 (Iguania: Liolaemidae): Description of a Female Found Near the Type Locality","authors":"S. Nenda, A. Laspiur, F. Lobo, C. Abdala","doi":"10.2994/sajh-d-18-00042.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/sajh-d-18-00042.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Liolaemus duellmani is a poorly known, microendemic lizard described from southwestern Mendoza, Argentina, representing the southernmost distribution of the Liolaemus montanus species group. We report the rediscovery of the species after 43 years, presenting the fifth voucher specimen and the second female of L. duellmani. Data on external morphology, activity, and color photographs are included, and the geographic coordinates of the type locality are discussed.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42562176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-26DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00111.1
Caio Carneiro Leão Pompeu, Fábio P. de Sá, C. Haddad
Abstract. Social structure in anurans is directly related to reproductive traits such as chorus organization, male territoriality, pair formation, breeding site choice, and temporal breeding pattern. The Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus sanborni is an excellent model for studies on reproductive dynamics because it is a prolonged-breeder and usually occurs in high densities. Here, our goals were to better understand the factors that lead to social organization and influence seasonal reproductive dynamics of males of the species. We addressed the hypotheses that (1) the seasonal dynamics of D. sanborni is locally delimited by climatic conditions throughout its breeding season and (2) territorial males are structured spatially and temporally based on body size. We carried out monthly field sampling between October 2015 and September 2016 in an ecotone region of Brazil that originally comprised Semideciduous Seasonal Forest and Cerrado (savannah vegetation). We specifically analyzed environmental conditions, population abundance, size of calling males, and microhabitat use. Our results showed that environmental conditions drive the seasonal reproductive pattern and social structure of calling males is not organized by size. We did not find significant variation in male size among months of the breeding season or among perch heights and types. Our findings suggest a prolonged seasonal reproductive pattern associated with climatic factors without a social structure based on body size.
{"title":"Seasonal Reproductive Dynamics of a Lek-Breeding Neotropical Treefrog is not Organized by Male Size (Anura, Hylidae)","authors":"Caio Carneiro Leão Pompeu, Fábio P. de Sá, C. Haddad","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00111.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00111.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Social structure in anurans is directly related to reproductive traits such as chorus organization, male territoriality, pair formation, breeding site choice, and temporal breeding pattern. The Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus sanborni is an excellent model for studies on reproductive dynamics because it is a prolonged-breeder and usually occurs in high densities. Here, our goals were to better understand the factors that lead to social organization and influence seasonal reproductive dynamics of males of the species. We addressed the hypotheses that (1) the seasonal dynamics of D. sanborni is locally delimited by climatic conditions throughout its breeding season and (2) territorial males are structured spatially and temporally based on body size. We carried out monthly field sampling between October 2015 and September 2016 in an ecotone region of Brazil that originally comprised Semideciduous Seasonal Forest and Cerrado (savannah vegetation). We specifically analyzed environmental conditions, population abundance, size of calling males, and microhabitat use. Our results showed that environmental conditions drive the seasonal reproductive pattern and social structure of calling males is not organized by size. We did not find significant variation in male size among months of the breeding season or among perch heights and types. Our findings suggest a prolonged seasonal reproductive pattern associated with climatic factors without a social structure based on body size.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41592267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-15DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00069.1
Omar Torres‐Carvajal, P. Venegas, Pedro M. Sales Nunes
Abstract. We describe a new species of Macropholidus lizard from the Andean highlands of southern Ecuador and northern Peru based on recent collections. Among other characters, the new species differs from other species of Macropholidus in having a paired series of enlarged middorsal scale rows restricted to the nape, striated dorsal scales, as well as ocelli on tail, flanks, scapular region and neck. We also present a molecular phylogeny of Cercosaurinae and genetic distances as additional evidence supporting delimitation of the new species, which is sister to M. annectens from southern Ecuador. Data on Andean orogeny and age estimates of cercosaurine lizards suggest that the Huancabamba Depression, long recognized for its dual role as a biogeographic barrier and a migration corridor, has also served as a center of origin and diversification of Macropholidus lizards.
{"title":"Description and Phylogeny of a New Species of Andean Lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae) from the Huancabamba Depression","authors":"Omar Torres‐Carvajal, P. Venegas, Pedro M. Sales Nunes","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00069.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00069.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. We describe a new species of Macropholidus lizard from the Andean highlands of southern Ecuador and northern Peru based on recent collections. Among other characters, the new species differs from other species of Macropholidus in having a paired series of enlarged middorsal scale rows restricted to the nape, striated dorsal scales, as well as ocelli on tail, flanks, scapular region and neck. We also present a molecular phylogeny of Cercosaurinae and genetic distances as additional evidence supporting delimitation of the new species, which is sister to M. annectens from southern Ecuador. Data on Andean orogeny and age estimates of cercosaurine lizards suggest that the Huancabamba Depression, long recognized for its dual role as a biogeographic barrier and a migration corridor, has also served as a center of origin and diversification of Macropholidus lizards.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46004434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-01DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00058.1
A. D. Abegg, C. Gomes, O. M. Entiauspe-Neto, Paulo Passos
Abstract. Pseudoautotomy is presumably a derived character within Lepidosauria and occurs in taxa that have lost the ability to perform autotomy. In general, species capable of employing pseudoautotomy as a defensive strategy against predators present a high frequency of damaged tails in series deposited in herpetological collections. We assessed data from three largely sympatric Echinanthera species in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (E. cephalostriata, E. cyanopleura, and E. undulata) to test previous assumptions that species of Echinanthera use their tails defensively. This hypothesis derives from anecdotal observations during fieldwork and is reinforced by the number of specimens presenting tail breakage in scientific collections. In general, the frequency of damaged tails in these species resembles that of others in which pseudoautotomy has been demonstrated. Statistical analyses revealed no differences in tail breakage frequencies between sexes for the analyzed species or between the two geographical groups defined for E. cyanopleura. In contrast, we detected a significant difference between snout–vent length and sex regarding pseudoautotomy probability for E. cyanopleura, with a positive relationship between tail breakage frequency and snout–vent length.
摘要假自切可能是鳞翅目的衍生特征，发生在失去自切能力的分类群中。一般来说，能够采用假自切作为防御捕食者的防御策略的物种在一系列的爬行动物收藏中呈现出高频率的损伤尾巴。我们评估了巴西大西洋雨林中三种主要同域的棘球菊物种(E. cephalostriata, E. cyanopleura和E. undulata)的数据，以验证先前的假设，即棘球菊物种使用它们的尾巴进行防御。这一假设来自实地考察期间的轶事观察，并被科学收藏中出现尾巴断裂的标本数量所加强。一般来说，在这些物种中，受损尾巴的频率与其他假自切已被证明的物种相似。统计分析显示，在被分析的物种中，尾巴断裂频率在两性之间没有差异，在为cyanopleura定义的两个地理类群之间也没有差异。与此相反，我们发现青胸膜胸鼠的假自切概率在鼻口长度和性别之间存在显著差异，尾巴断裂频率与鼻口长度呈正相关。
{"title":"Does a Defensive Pseudoautotomy Mechanism Exist in the Subfamily Xenodontinae? A Study of the Genus Echinanthera","authors":"A. D. Abegg, C. Gomes, O. M. Entiauspe-Neto, Paulo Passos","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00058.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00058.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Pseudoautotomy is presumably a derived character within Lepidosauria and occurs in taxa that have lost the ability to perform autotomy. In general, species capable of employing pseudoautotomy as a defensive strategy against predators present a high frequency of damaged tails in series deposited in herpetological collections. We assessed data from three largely sympatric Echinanthera species in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest (E. cephalostriata, E. cyanopleura, and E. undulata) to test previous assumptions that species of Echinanthera use their tails defensively. This hypothesis derives from anecdotal observations during fieldwork and is reinforced by the number of specimens presenting tail breakage in scientific collections. In general, the frequency of damaged tails in these species resembles that of others in which pseudoautotomy has been demonstrated. Statistical analyses revealed no differences in tail breakage frequencies between sexes for the analyzed species or between the two geographical groups defined for E. cyanopleura. In contrast, we detected a significant difference between snout–vent length and sex regarding pseudoautotomy probability for E. cyanopleura, with a positive relationship between tail breakage frequency and snout–vent length.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47271041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-08-31DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00080.1
Cristina Mora-Rivera, Fernando Suarez-Páez, G. Pacheco-Sierra, Laura Vargas-Cuevas, Mónica Padilla-Barreto
Abstract. The main goal of this research was to identify the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) found in 10 individuals of spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) from 349 individuals captured at the Hidroprado hydroelectric dam in the Department of Tolima, Colombia. Parasite prevalence was 2.9%. A total of 40 ticks were collected and two species identified: Amblyomma dissimile (n = 39) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 1). This is the second record of A. dissimile in C. crocodilus in Colombia and the first record of R. sanguineus in crocodilians. The natural infection of C. c. fuscus by A. dissimile establishes this species as a host in the life cycle of this tick. Similarly, parasitism by R. sanguineus indicates C. c. fuscus as a potential host for this tick, which is important since it is associated with domestic animals and has a high potential for transmission of zoonotic diseases. Our results highlight the parasitic relationship between ticks and one of the most resistant wild vertebrates: caimans. The prevalence, although not high, establishes the potential of ticks to parasitize different species and to be a vector of diseases for new groups of hosts.
{"title":"Tick Infection of Caiman crocodilus fuscus at the Hidroprado Hydroelectric Dam in Colombia: New Records, Parasite Prevalence, and Blood Loss Rate","authors":"Cristina Mora-Rivera, Fernando Suarez-Páez, G. Pacheco-Sierra, Laura Vargas-Cuevas, Mónica Padilla-Barreto","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00080.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00080.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The main goal of this research was to identify the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) found in 10 individuals of spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) from 349 individuals captured at the Hidroprado hydroelectric dam in the Department of Tolima, Colombia. Parasite prevalence was 2.9%. A total of 40 ticks were collected and two species identified: Amblyomma dissimile (n = 39) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 1). This is the second record of A. dissimile in C. crocodilus in Colombia and the first record of R. sanguineus in crocodilians. The natural infection of C. c. fuscus by A. dissimile establishes this species as a host in the life cycle of this tick. Similarly, parasitism by R. sanguineus indicates C. c. fuscus as a potential host for this tick, which is important since it is associated with domestic animals and has a high potential for transmission of zoonotic diseases. Our results highlight the parasitic relationship between ticks and one of the most resistant wild vertebrates: caimans. The prevalence, although not high, establishes the potential of ticks to parasitize different species and to be a vector of diseases for new groups of hosts.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48344111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-08-31DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00075.1
Hernán Ciocan, P. M. Leiva, M. Simoncini
Abstract. Sexual identification of crocodilians is important in population studies and provides useful information for conservation and management plans and monitoring populations over time. It is possible to distinguish between male and female Caiman latirostris by cloacal palpation or eversion of the penis in individuals larger than 75 cm total length, but smaller animals possess a barely differentiable cliteropenis. In hatchlings, sex determination methods involve surgical examination, necropsy, or analysis of cranial dimorphism, which cannot be applied in the field. We classified hatchlings of C. latirostris by observing the color and shape of their genitals. The penis is a milky white organ with a rounded shape at the tip and a purple hue at the end, whereas the clitoris is shorter, whitish, and has a pointed end. The procedure was tested on hatchlings from three nests at the “Proyecto Yacaré” study area (Santa Fe province); half of the eggs of each nest were incubated at a constant temperature of 31°C (producing females) and the other half at 33°C (producing males). To observe the sexual organs by cloacal inspection, we used a modified instrument whose function during palpation is like that of a finger applied in large animals to evert the penis or clitoris. In the first days after hatching we correctly scored the sex of 80% of the individuals. The number of correct identifications was slightly lower for males than for females. This technique might be a useful tool for field studies, as it allows the sex of small caimans to be estimated in situ.
{"title":"Sexual Identification of Caiman latirostris Hatchlings by Cloacal Inspection","authors":"Hernán Ciocan, P. M. Leiva, M. Simoncini","doi":"10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00075.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2994/SAJH-D-18-00075.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Sexual identification of crocodilians is important in population studies and provides useful information for conservation and management plans and monitoring populations over time. It is possible to distinguish between male and female Caiman latirostris by cloacal palpation or eversion of the penis in individuals larger than 75 cm total length, but smaller animals possess a barely differentiable cliteropenis. In hatchlings, sex determination methods involve surgical examination, necropsy, or analysis of cranial dimorphism, which cannot be applied in the field. We classified hatchlings of C. latirostris by observing the color and shape of their genitals. The penis is a milky white organ with a rounded shape at the tip and a purple hue at the end, whereas the clitoris is shorter, whitish, and has a pointed end. The procedure was tested on hatchlings from three nests at the “Proyecto Yacaré” study area (Santa Fe province); half of the eggs of each nest were incubated at a constant temperature of 31°C (producing females) and the other half at 33°C (producing males). To observe the sexual organs by cloacal inspection, we used a modified instrument whose function during palpation is like that of a finger applied in large animals to evert the penis or clitoris. In the first days after hatching we correctly scored the sex of 80% of the individuals. The number of correct identifications was slightly lower for males than for females. This technique might be a useful tool for field studies, as it allows the sex of small caimans to be estimated in situ.","PeriodicalId":48691,"journal":{"name":"South American Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2020-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41957794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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