Presence of the red leg syndrome(RLS) was documented through bacterial and histological examinations in the endangered Kaiser’s mountain newt Neurergus kaiseri obtained from a pet shop. The individuals which were severely infected showed lethargy, appetite loss, weight loss, abdominal skin redness and skin ulcers on hind legs. This study reveals the presence of two bacteria causing RLS on the skin of captive N. kaiseri including Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus cereus. Sections of skin in affected areas and internal organs were examined through standard histological procedures. Histologically, epidermal necrosis and ulcers, epidermal gland depletion, myositis and subcutaneous edema, gastric submucosal edema and hepatomegaly were seen. There were also correlations between the microbial infection and structural changes in tissues of Kaiser’s mountain newt. The severity of the structural changes are related to the level of microbial infection in the target organs and could be sustained by the isolation of P. vulgaris and other pathogens. The presence of the infective bacterial population and their interaction on the skin of the newt may have changed the normal skin flora and facilitate the prevalence of other disease.
{"title":"Microbiological and Histological Examinations of Endangered Neurergus kaiseri Tissues Displaying Red-leg Syndrome","authors":"Paria, Parto, Zahra, Haghighi, Somaye, Vaissi, Mozafar, Sharifi","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00204","url":null,"abstract":"Presence of the red leg syndrome(RLS) was documented through bacterial and histological examinations in the endangered Kaiser’s mountain newt Neurergus kaiseri obtained from a pet shop. The individuals which were severely infected showed lethargy, appetite loss, weight loss, abdominal skin redness and skin ulcers on hind legs. This study reveals the presence of two bacteria causing RLS on the skin of captive N. kaiseri including Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus cereus. Sections of skin in affected areas and internal organs were examined through standard histological procedures. Histologically, epidermal necrosis and ulcers, epidermal gland depletion, myositis and subcutaneous edema, gastric submucosal edema and hepatomegaly were seen. There were also correlations between the microbial infection and structural changes in tissues of Kaiser’s mountain newt. The severity of the structural changes are related to the level of microbial infection in the target organs and could be sustained by the isolation of P. vulgaris and other pathogens. The presence of the infective bacterial population and their interaction on the skin of the newt may have changed the normal skin flora and facilitate the prevalence of other disease.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Predictive potential distribution modeling is of increasing importance in modern herpetological studies and determination of environmental and conservation priorities. In this article we provided results of analysis and forecasts of the potential distribution of smallscaled rock agama Paralaudakia microlepis (Blanford, 1874) using the distribution models through Maxent (www.cs.princeton.edu/ ~ schapire / maxent). We made an attempt for comparison of input of bioclimatic factors and characteristics of biotope distribution for three species of genus Paralaudakia. Constructed model identified dissemination of Paralaudakia microlepis enough performance (AUC = 0.972 with dispersion 0.003). According to the map constructed, the most suitable habitats of smallscaled rock agama Paralaudakia microlepis are located in southern and eastern Iran, the west of central Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan.
{"title":"Distribution and Environmental Suitability of the Smallscaled Rock Agama, Paralaudakia microlepis (Sauria: Agamidae) in the Iranian Plateau","authors":"Natália, Ananjeva, Evgeny, Golynsky, Seyyed, Saeed, Hosseinianyousefkhani, Rafaqat, Masroor","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00161","url":null,"abstract":"Predictive potential distribution modeling is of increasing importance in modern herpetological studies and determination of environmental and conservation priorities. In this article we provided results of analysis and forecasts of the potential distribution of smallscaled rock agama Paralaudakia microlepis (Blanford, 1874) using the distribution models through Maxent (www.cs.princeton.edu/ ~ schapire / maxent). We made an attempt for comparison of input of bioclimatic factors and characteristics of biotope distribution for three species of genus Paralaudakia. Constructed model identified dissemination of Paralaudakia microlepis enough performance (AUC = 0.972 with dispersion 0.003). According to the map constructed, the most suitable habitats of smallscaled rock agama Paralaudakia microlepis are located in southern and eastern Iran, the west of central Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00276
Ji Xiang, Lin Longhui, Wang Zheng
{"title":"Unhatched and hatched eggshells of the Chinese cobra Naja atra","authors":"Ji Xiang, Lin Longhui, Wang Zheng","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00276","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70022207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00060
Paria, Parto, Somaye, Vaissi, Mozafar, Sharifi
This study deals with the histomorphology of the mesonephros in male and female Neurergus microspilotus. The slender and narrow kidneys are positioned in the retro peritoneal position up against the ventral aspect of vertebral column and may extend the length from the esophagus-stomach junction to cloaca. The kidney in both sexes is composed of sexual(anterior) and pelvic(posterior) parts. The duct of sexual kidney is a narrow duct which is lying alongside its lateral edge. In the female, it is connected to the ureters and then the duct of defi nitive kidney. Before entering the cloaca, two ureters are joined together and open to the apex of the cloaca. In the male, after entering the sexual kidney, the sperm leave the testis through efferent ducts, then these ducts join together and eventually form Bidder’s duct. The Bidder’s duct joins the Bowman’s capsule of the nephrons in the sexual kidney and the nephrons make collecting ducts which are fi lled with both sperm and urine. After leaving the kidney, all the collecting ducts are connected to the Wolffi an duct. Wolffi an duct joins the ureters(merge from defi nitive kidney) just before entering the cloaca. Based on serial paraffi n sections, nephrons consist of a fi ltration unit, the Malpighian corpuscle, and a renal tubule, which can be divided into 4 morphologically distinct segments: proximal tubule(first and second segment), distal tubule, and collecting tubule. Collecting tubules merge and form a branch system that opens into collecting ducts.
{"title":"Structure Organization of Urinary System in the Yellow Spotted Mountain Newts (Salamandridae: Neurergus microspilotus)","authors":"Paria, Parto, Somaye, Vaissi, Mozafar, Sharifi","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00060","url":null,"abstract":"This study deals with the histomorphology of the mesonephros in male and female Neurergus microspilotus. The slender and narrow kidneys are positioned in the retro peritoneal position up against the ventral aspect of vertebral column and may extend the length from the esophagus-stomach junction to cloaca. The kidney in both sexes is composed of sexual(anterior) and pelvic(posterior) parts. The duct of sexual kidney is a narrow duct which is lying alongside its lateral edge. In the female, it is connected to the ureters and then the duct of defi nitive kidney. Before entering the cloaca, two ureters are joined together and open to the apex of the cloaca. In the male, after entering the sexual kidney, the sperm leave the testis through efferent ducts, then these ducts join together and eventually form Bidder’s duct. The Bidder’s duct joins the Bowman’s capsule of the nephrons in the sexual kidney and the nephrons make collecting ducts which are fi lled with both sperm and urine. After leaving the kidney, all the collecting ducts are connected to the Wolffi an duct. Wolffi an duct joins the ureters(merge from defi nitive kidney) just before entering the cloaca. Based on serial paraffi n sections, nephrons consist of a fi ltration unit, the Malpighian corpuscle, and a renal tubule, which can be divided into 4 morphologically distinct segments: proximal tubule(first and second segment), distal tubule, and collecting tubule. Collecting tubules merge and form a branch system that opens into collecting ducts.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00026
J. Lei, Xiaoyue Sun, K. Jiang, G. Vogel, D. Booth, L. Ding
Classification of the Asian snake genera Lycodon and Oligodon has proven challenging. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis to estimate the phylogenetic relationships in the genus of Lycodon and clarify the taxonomic status of Oligodon multizonatum using mitochondrial (cyt b, ND4) and nuclear (c-mos) genes. Phylogenetic trees estimated using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference indicated that O. multizonatum is actually a species of Lycodon. Comparing morphological data from O. multizonatum and its closest relatives also supported this conclusion. Our results imply that a thorough review of the evolutionary relationships in the genus of Lycodon is strong suggested.
{"title":"Multilocus Phylogeny of Lycodon and the Taxonomic Revision of Oligodon multizonatum","authors":"J. Lei, Xiaoyue Sun, K. Jiang, G. Vogel, D. Booth, L. Ding","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00026","url":null,"abstract":"Classification of the Asian snake genera Lycodon and Oligodon has proven challenging. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis to estimate the phylogenetic relationships in the genus of Lycodon and clarify the taxonomic status of Oligodon multizonatum using mitochondrial (cyt b, ND4) and nuclear (c-mos) genes. Phylogenetic trees estimated using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference indicated that O. multizonatum is actually a species of Lycodon. Comparing morphological data from O. multizonatum and its closest relatives also supported this conclusion. Our results imply that a thorough review of the evolutionary relationships in the genus of Lycodon is strong suggested.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00012
Jinlong Liu, N. Ananjeva, M. Chirikova, K. Milto, Xianguang Guo
The rapid racerunner, Eremias velox, is a widely distributed lizard from the northern Caucasus across entire Central Asia eastward to China. It is increasingly common to accept E. velox as a species complex in its entire range. To date, published morphological and molecular systematic hypotheses of this complex are only partially congruent, and its taxonomic status and evolutionary history are still far from clear. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA sequences were used to evaluate the taxonomy of this complex, with particular attention to the phylogenetic placement of populations in northwestern China. Examination of the phylogenetic analyses recovers seven distinct, biogeographically discrete, and well-supported clades, revealing genetically identifiable populations corresponding to some previously morphology-defined subspecies. Chinese E. v. roborowskii appears to have split from other Central Asian rapid racerunner lizards well before differentiation occurred among the latter taxa. Specifically, we corroborate that there are two subspecies occurring in China, i.e., E. v. velox and E. v. roborowskii. We recommend a novel subspecific status for the phenotypically and genetically distinct populations in southern Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan previously assigned to E. v. velox. Finally, each of the three independently evolving lineages from Iranian Plateau should be recognized as three species new to science under the general lineage concept.
{"title":"Molecular Assessment and Taxonomic Status of the Rapid Racerunner (Eremias velox complex) with Particular Attention to the Populations in Northwestern China","authors":"Jinlong Liu, N. Ananjeva, M. Chirikova, K. Milto, Xianguang Guo","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00012","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid racerunner, Eremias velox, is a widely distributed lizard from the northern Caucasus across entire Central Asia eastward to China. It is increasingly common to accept E. velox as a species complex in its entire range. To date, published morphological and molecular systematic hypotheses of this complex are only partially congruent, and its taxonomic status and evolutionary history are still far from clear. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 12S rRNA sequences were used to evaluate the taxonomy of this complex, with particular attention to the phylogenetic placement of populations in northwestern China. Examination of the phylogenetic analyses recovers seven distinct, biogeographically discrete, and well-supported clades, revealing genetically identifiable populations corresponding to some previously morphology-defined subspecies. Chinese E. v. roborowskii appears to have split from other Central Asian rapid racerunner lizards well before differentiation occurred among the latter taxa. Specifically, we corroborate that there are two subspecies occurring in China, i.e., E. v. velox and E. v. roborowskii. We recommend a novel subspecific status for the phenotypically and genetically distinct populations in southern Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan previously assigned to E. v. velox. Finally, each of the three independently evolving lineages from Iranian Plateau should be recognized as three species new to science under the general lineage concept.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Although landscape features such as mountains and rivers are recognized often as limiting factors to amphibian dispersal and gene flow, a limited number of studies have investigated such patterns across Southeast Asia. A perfect example of this is Thailand, located in one of the world's biodiversity hotspot regions. Thailand represents the corridor between mainland Asia and the Sunda Shelf, a famous and widely recognized biogeographic region, and yet there are few studies on the genetic structure among populations of amphibian species distributed across Thailand. The Southeast Asian tree frog, Chiromantis hansenae has been reported to possess a geographic range that is restricted to Thailand and, presumably, Cambodia. Here, we investigate phylogenetic relationships among C. hansenae populations using partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and nuclear POMC gene. Our results reveal two distinct evolutionary lineages within C. hansenae populations in Thailand. The genetic divergence among populations between these two clades is considerable, and results support inter-population divergence, and high genetic differentiation (pairwise FST = 0.97), between two localities sampled in western Thailand (TK1 and TK2), separated from each other by 40 kilometers only. The results suggest that landscape features across Thailand may have a profound impact on patterns of diversification in the country, underscoring the urgent need for fine-scale investigations of genetic structure of endemic and "widespread" species.
{"title":"Phylogenetic Patterns of the Southeast Asian Tree Frog Chiromantis hansenae in Thailand","authors":"Siriporn, Yodthong, Cameron, Siler, Pongpun, Prasankok, AnchaleeAOWPHOL","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00179","url":null,"abstract":"Although landscape features such as mountains and rivers are recognized often as limiting factors to amphibian dispersal and gene flow, a limited number of studies have investigated such patterns across Southeast Asia. A perfect example of this is Thailand, located in one of the world's biodiversity hotspot regions. Thailand represents the corridor between mainland Asia and the Sunda Shelf, a famous and widely recognized biogeographic region, and yet there are few studies on the genetic structure among populations of amphibian species distributed across Thailand. The Southeast Asian tree frog, Chiromantis hansenae has been reported to possess a geographic range that is restricted to Thailand and, presumably, Cambodia. Here, we investigate phylogenetic relationships among C. hansenae populations using partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and nuclear POMC gene. Our results reveal two distinct evolutionary lineages within C. hansenae populations in Thailand. The genetic divergence among populations between these two clades is considerable, and results support inter-population divergence, and high genetic differentiation (pairwise FST = 0.97), between two localities sampled in western Thailand (TK1 and TK2), separated from each other by 40 kilometers only. The results suggest that landscape features across Thailand may have a profound impact on patterns of diversification in the country, underscoring the urgent need for fine-scale investigations of genetic structure of endemic and \"widespread\" species.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wild King Cobras, Ophiophagus hannah, are known to prey almost exclusively on snakes. We observed opportunistic ingestion of a plastic bag by a radio-tracked adult male O. hannah, which was detrimental to the health of the individual and likely lead to its death. Our observation demonstrates that improper disposal of food and plastic waste can be a threat to snakes, highlighting the need to maintain a waste-free environment, especially in areas inhabited by vulnerable species.
{"title":"Mortality of a Wild King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, 1836 (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Northeast Thailand after Ingesting a Plastic Bag","authors":"Colin, Thomas, Strine, Inês, Silva, Matthew, Crane, Bartosz, Nadolski, TaksinARTCHAWAKOM, Matt, Goode, Pongthep, Suwanwaree","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00284","url":null,"abstract":"Wild King Cobras, Ophiophagus hannah, are known to prey almost exclusively on snakes. We observed opportunistic ingestion of a plastic bag by a radio-tracked adult male O. hannah, which was detrimental to the health of the individual and likely lead to its death. Our observation demonstrates that improper disposal of food and plastic waste can be a threat to snakes, highlighting the need to maintain a waste-free environment, especially in areas inhabited by vulnerable species.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70022219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00091
Xiuyun Yuan, Xiaomao Zeng, Xianguang Guo
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a dynamic genetic region with an essential role in the adaptive immunity of jawed vertebrates. The MHC polymorphism is affected by many processes such as birth-and-death evolution, gene conversion, and concerted evolution. Studies investigating the evolution of MHC class I genes have been biased toward a few particular taxa and model species. However, the investigation of this region in non-avian reptiles is still in its infancy. We present the first characterization of MHC class I genes in a species from the family Lacertidae. We assessed genetic diversity and a role of selection in shaping the diversity of MHC class I exon 4 among 37 individuals of Eremias multiocellata from a population in Lanzhou, China. We generated 67 distinct DNA sequences using cloning and sequencing methods, and identified 36 putative functional variants as well as two putative pseudogene-variants. We found the number of variants within an individual varying between two and seven, indicating that there are at least four MHC class I loci in this species. Gene duplication plays a role in increasing copy numbers of MHC genes and allelic diversity in this species. The class I exon 4 sequences are characteristic of low nucleotide diversity. No signal of recombination is detected, but purifying selection is detected in beta 2-microglobulin interaction sites and some other silent sites outside of the function-constraint regions. Certain identical alleles are shared by Eremias multiocellata and E. przewalskii and E. brenchleyi, suggesting trans-species polymorphism. The data are compatible with a birth-and-death model of evolution.
{"title":"MHC Class I Exon 4 in the Multiocellated Racerunners (Eremias multiocellata): Polymorphism, Duplication and Selection","authors":"Xiuyun Yuan, Xiaomao Zeng, Xianguang Guo","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00091","url":null,"abstract":"The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a dynamic genetic region with an essential role in the adaptive immunity of jawed vertebrates. The MHC polymorphism is affected by many processes such as birth-and-death evolution, gene conversion, and concerted evolution. Studies investigating the evolution of MHC class I genes have been biased toward a few particular taxa and model species. However, the investigation of this region in non-avian reptiles is still in its infancy. We present the first characterization of MHC class I genes in a species from the family Lacertidae. We assessed genetic diversity and a role of selection in shaping the diversity of MHC class I exon 4 among 37 individuals of Eremias multiocellata from a population in Lanzhou, China. We generated 67 distinct DNA sequences using cloning and sequencing methods, and identified 36 putative functional variants as well as two putative pseudogene-variants. We found the number of variants within an individual varying between two and seven, indicating that there are at least four MHC class I loci in this species. Gene duplication plays a role in increasing copy numbers of MHC genes and allelic diversity in this species. The class I exon 4 sequences are characteristic of low nucleotide diversity. No signal of recombination is detected, but purifying selection is detected in beta 2-microglobulin interaction sites and some other silent sites outside of the function-constraint regions. Certain identical alleles are shared by Eremias multiocellata and E. przewalskii and E. brenchleyi, suggesting trans-species polymorphism. The data are compatible with a birth-and-death model of evolution.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70020796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00228
P. Lf, Lutz Ch, S. Huang, P. Guo, Zhang Yp
The hot-spring snakes, Thermophis, were previously known only from the Tibet Autonomous Region and Western Sichuan, China. During the past two years, three adult hot-spring snakes (2 females, 1 male) were sampled in Shangri-La, northern Yunnan, China, thus expanding their known distribution region towards the southeast. This site is the southeastern-most corner of the Tibetan Plateau and the southernmost tip of the Hengduan Mountains (Mts.). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear (n) DNA segments suggested that the three specimens belong to the genus of Thermophis. Morphologically, the new species is more similar to T. zhaoermii. However, it is distinguished from T. zhaoermii in the number of maxillary teeth (15), distance between the two eyes/head width, rostral width/ height, mental width/height, in one character limited to female: head width/length, and in four characters restricted to male: occurrence of the reduction from 10 to 8 (8 to 6, 6 to 4) scales in each dorsal row on the tail. There are differences in morphology, genetics (mtDNA, nDNA), and geography between the putative new species and T. zhaoermii, the new species meets our proposed eclectic and feasible "four-differences" rule.
{"title":"A New Species of the Genus Thermophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Shangri-La, Northern Yunnan, China, with a Proposal for an Eclectic Rule for Species Delimitation","authors":"P. Lf, Lutz Ch, S. Huang, P. Guo, Zhang Yp","doi":"10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1245.2014.00228","url":null,"abstract":"The hot-spring snakes, Thermophis, were previously known only from the Tibet Autonomous Region and Western Sichuan, China. During the past two years, three adult hot-spring snakes (2 females, 1 male) were sampled in Shangri-La, northern Yunnan, China, thus expanding their known distribution region towards the southeast. This site is the southeastern-most corner of the Tibetan Plateau and the southernmost tip of the Hengduan Mountains (Mts.). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear (n) DNA segments suggested that the three specimens belong to the genus of Thermophis. Morphologically, the new species is more similar to T. zhaoermii. However, it is distinguished from T. zhaoermii in the number of maxillary teeth (15), distance between the two eyes/head width, rostral width/ height, mental width/height, in one character limited to female: head width/length, and in four characters restricted to male: occurrence of the reduction from 10 to 8 (8 to 6, 6 to 4) scales in each dorsal row on the tail. There are differences in morphology, genetics (mtDNA, nDNA), and geography between the putative new species and T. zhaoermii, the new species meets our proposed eclectic and feasible \"four-differences\" rule.","PeriodicalId":49236,"journal":{"name":"Asian Herpetological Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70021802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}