Pub Date : 2022-07-20DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2022.2062459
Nick Sekits, Walter Tunnell-Wilson, Kate Jackson
ABSTRACT The Beaked Snakes (Rhamphiophis) are semi-fossorial snakes with reinforced snouts adapted for digging. The Skaapstekers (Psammophylax) are generalist terrestrial snakes. Both belong to the family, Psammophiidae. The Striped Beaked Snake (Kladirostratus acutus) was originally assigned to the genus Rhamphiophis, because of its beak-like snout. However, molecular evidence indicates that K. acutus is more closely related to Psammophylax. Thus, the “beak” of K. acutus must have evolved independently of that seen in Rhamphiophis. We studied the cranial morphology of K. acutus and representatives of Psammophylax and Rhamphiophis to identify possible traits that may reflect independent derivation of a beak-shaped snout relative to Rhamphiophis. We found that K. acutus retains four main cranial features in common with the Psammophylax: (1) an open fenestra between the premaxilla, nasals and septomaxilla, (2) a lack of fusion between the septomaxilla and the vertical lamina of the nasal, (3) the conchal processes of the septomaxilla extend beyond the dorsal margin of the septomaxilla and (4) a lack of contact between the prefrontals and the dorsal laminae of the nasals. Simultaneously, K. acutus displays traits associated with adaptation to semi-fossorial life in snakes such as a shortening of the maxilla, modification of the premaxilla, elongation of the nasal region, and a narrowing of the braincase.
{"title":"Digging adaptations evolved independently in two lineages of Psammophiid snake: evidence from cranial morphology","authors":"Nick Sekits, Walter Tunnell-Wilson, Kate Jackson","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2022.2062459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2062459","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Beaked Snakes (Rhamphiophis) are semi-fossorial snakes with reinforced snouts adapted for digging. The Skaapstekers (Psammophylax) are generalist terrestrial snakes. Both belong to the family, Psammophiidae. The Striped Beaked Snake (Kladirostratus acutus) was originally assigned to the genus Rhamphiophis, because of its beak-like snout. However, molecular evidence indicates that K. acutus is more closely related to Psammophylax. Thus, the “beak” of K. acutus must have evolved independently of that seen in Rhamphiophis. We studied the cranial morphology of K. acutus and representatives of Psammophylax and Rhamphiophis to identify possible traits that may reflect independent derivation of a beak-shaped snout relative to Rhamphiophis. We found that K. acutus retains four main cranial features in common with the Psammophylax: (1) an open fenestra between the premaxilla, nasals and septomaxilla, (2) a lack of fusion between the septomaxilla and the vertical lamina of the nasal, (3) the conchal processes of the septomaxilla extend beyond the dorsal margin of the septomaxilla and (4) a lack of contact between the prefrontals and the dorsal laminae of the nasals. Simultaneously, K. acutus displays traits associated with adaptation to semi-fossorial life in snakes such as a shortening of the maxilla, modification of the premaxilla, elongation of the nasal region, and a narrowing of the braincase.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44210541","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 : 2022-04-14DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2022.2055653
R. Abraham, C. Hutter
ABSTRACT The Red-fingered Bright-eyed Frog Boophis erythrodactylus is an endemic, range-restricted arboreal frog found only in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. We report new localities for this species, along with locality records for its sister species B. tasymena, including localities where they occur in sympatry, which has never been reported before. We also document evidence for the existence of a colour variant of B. tasymena that is identical to B. erythrodactylus in appearance. We also observed never before documented breeding behaviour in the poorly known B. erythrodactylus, where the male and female in amplexus used a submerged site in a river potentially for oviposition. We also explore why this may be a predator-avoidance strategy considering the presence of aquatic invertebrate predators active near the surface and absence of fully aquatic vertebrate predators, such as fish in headwater stream habitats. Predator-avoidance strategies are a vital component of organismal survival, particularly for amphibians with complex life cycles. Natural history observations are key to revealing such strategies and behaviour, and they form the basis of evolutionary biology and is also fundamental for conservation management.
{"title":"New records and a notable observation of potentially predator-avoiding amplectic behaviour in Boophis erythrodactylus from Madagascar","authors":"R. Abraham, C. Hutter","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2022.2055653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2055653","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Red-fingered Bright-eyed Frog Boophis erythrodactylus is an endemic, range-restricted arboreal frog found only in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. We report new localities for this species, along with locality records for its sister species B. tasymena, including localities where they occur in sympatry, which has never been reported before. We also document evidence for the existence of a colour variant of B. tasymena that is identical to B. erythrodactylus in appearance. We also observed never before documented breeding behaviour in the poorly known B. erythrodactylus, where the male and female in amplexus used a submerged site in a river potentially for oviposition. We also explore why this may be a predator-avoidance strategy considering the presence of aquatic invertebrate predators active near the surface and absence of fully aquatic vertebrate predators, such as fish in headwater stream habitats. Predator-avoidance strategies are a vital component of organismal survival, particularly for amphibians with complex life cycles. Natural history observations are key to revealing such strategies and behaviour, and they form the basis of evolutionary biology and is also fundamental for conservation management.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46952924","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 : 2022-04-07DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2022.2055652
Thore Koppetsch, W. Böhme
ABSTRACT Tarentola geckos have a widespread geographic distribution and occur both in the Palearctic and Afrotropical realms, as well as the Neotropical region. Particularly, across North Africa phenotypically similar and cryptic species can be found, like the west Saharan members of the T. ephippiata complex. However, the taxonomic relationships and phylogeographic patterns of these geckos are not fully understood. Here we show that some specimens of Tarentola geckos from Mauritania and southern Morocco previously identified as T. hoggarensis can actually be assigned to T. panousei, a taxon treated as a synonym until now. Because the corresponding type specimen has apparently been lost, we designate a neotype for T. panousei referring to a suitable specimen from the type locality. Based on a morphological examination of the neotype and comparative material we provide a detailed redescription of T. panousei and evaluation of its diagnostic characters. Moreover, we report on a syntopic occurrence of T. annularis and T. panousei on an isolated acacia tree in the Western Sahara and the (micro) habitat use of both species.
{"title":"On the identity of west Saharan geckos of the Tarentola ephippiata complex (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), with comments on an extreme case of syntopy with their close relative T. annularis","authors":"Thore Koppetsch, W. Böhme","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2022.2055652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2055652","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Tarentola geckos have a widespread geographic distribution and occur both in the Palearctic and Afrotropical realms, as well as the Neotropical region. Particularly, across North Africa phenotypically similar and cryptic species can be found, like the west Saharan members of the T. ephippiata complex. However, the taxonomic relationships and phylogeographic patterns of these geckos are not fully understood. Here we show that some specimens of Tarentola geckos from Mauritania and southern Morocco previously identified as T. hoggarensis can actually be assigned to T. panousei, a taxon treated as a synonym until now. Because the corresponding type specimen has apparently been lost, we designate a neotype for T. panousei referring to a suitable specimen from the type locality. Based on a morphological examination of the neotype and comparative material we provide a detailed redescription of T. panousei and evaluation of its diagnostic characters. Moreover, we report on a syntopic occurrence of T. annularis and T. panousei on an isolated acacia tree in the Western Sahara and the (micro) habitat use of both species.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45727957","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 : 2022-03-17DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2022.2043945
H. Christoph Liedtke, John V Lyakurwa, Lucinda P. Lawson, M. Menegon, Marina Garrido-Priego, J. Mariaux, Wilirk Ngalason, A. Channing, Nisha R. Owen, Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva, M. Wilkinson, J. G. Larson, S. Loader
ABSTRACT Records of biodiversity over time are important resources for assessing conservation priorities. However, such baseline data are missing for regions of key biodiversity importance. The Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania are known for their species richness and endemism, but not all mountain blocks have received the same attention. The Ukaguru Mountains, for example, have only infrequently been surveyed by herpetologists, with the first known herpetological survey in 1990. Here we compile and quantify all amphibian survey efforts in the Ukaguru Mountains in the past 30 years, publish an updated species list and comment on the health of amphibian populations and their habitat. We report on fourteen described species of amphibians, with potentially three additional species awaiting formal description. Of these seventeen lineages, seven are endemic to the Ukaguru Mountains. Although total species numbers remain low, compared with other Eastern Arc Mountains, surveys frequently recorded new species for the Ukaguru Mountains and for science. Worryingly, however, endemics, such as the monotypic bufonid Churamiti maridadi, have not been recorded in the past fifteen years. Our analyses show the region is becoming warmer and drier and is experiencing an alarming rate of deforestation. We find that over the past 30 years, dense forest cover inside the boundaries of the forest reserves has reduced by 8.4%.
{"title":"Thirty years of amphibian surveys in the Ukagurus Mountains of Tanzania reveal new species, yet others are in decline","authors":"H. Christoph Liedtke, John V Lyakurwa, Lucinda P. Lawson, M. Menegon, Marina Garrido-Priego, J. Mariaux, Wilirk Ngalason, A. Channing, Nisha R. Owen, Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva, M. Wilkinson, J. G. Larson, S. Loader","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2022.2043945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2043945","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Records of biodiversity over time are important resources for assessing conservation priorities. However, such baseline data are missing for regions of key biodiversity importance. The Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania are known for their species richness and endemism, but not all mountain blocks have received the same attention. The Ukaguru Mountains, for example, have only infrequently been surveyed by herpetologists, with the first known herpetological survey in 1990. Here we compile and quantify all amphibian survey efforts in the Ukaguru Mountains in the past 30 years, publish an updated species list and comment on the health of amphibian populations and their habitat. We report on fourteen described species of amphibians, with potentially three additional species awaiting formal description. Of these seventeen lineages, seven are endemic to the Ukaguru Mountains. Although total species numbers remain low, compared with other Eastern Arc Mountains, surveys frequently recorded new species for the Ukaguru Mountains and for science. Worryingly, however, endemics, such as the monotypic bufonid Churamiti maridadi, have not been recorded in the past fifteen years. Our analyses show the region is becoming warmer and drier and is experiencing an alarming rate of deforestation. We find that over the past 30 years, dense forest cover inside the boundaries of the forest reserves has reduced by 8.4%.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44108039","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 : 2022-02-06DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.2019839
Gary K. Nicolau, Emily A Jackson, A. Jordaan, G. Alexander
ABSTRACT Viviparity has evolved independently multiple times within squamate reptiles. In the Lacertidae, two genera and several species from the Northern Hemisphere are known to be viviparous. However, although viviparity is present in many African reptiles, all African lacertids were considered exclusively oviparous. The lacertid genus Tropidosaura is restricted to mountainous grassland habitats across central and southern South Africa. Prompted by the dissection of a gravid T. essexi specimen containing well-developed embryos, we dissected additional gravid females from two museum collections to assess parity mode in the four Tropidosaura species. Gravid females of three species contained developing eggs, but all gravid Tropidosaura essexi specimens examined exhibited simple placental development or contained well-developed embryos with the presence of a simple placenta and an absence of any eggshell. The large yolks and simple placentae suggest that viviparity in T. essexi is lecithotrophic. T. essexi thus represents the only known viviparous species of lacertid in Africa and therefore, the first known viviparous lacertid in the Southern Hemisphere, revealing yet another independent case of the evolution of viviparity within the squamates. T. essexi occurs at higher maximum elevations than any of its oviparous congeners, and the recorded litter size in T. essexi was slightly higher than the clutch sizes of other members of the genus. Previously reported oviparity in T. essexi may either be the result of specimen misidentification or potential bimodal reproductive in this species, but this latter explanation is unlikely, given that none of the T. essexi examined in this study showed evidence of oviparity.
{"title":"Tropidosaura essexi Hewitt, 1927 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) is live bearing: the only viviparous African lacertid","authors":"Gary K. Nicolau, Emily A Jackson, A. Jordaan, G. Alexander","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.2019839","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.2019839","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Viviparity has evolved independently multiple times within squamate reptiles. In the Lacertidae, two genera and several species from the Northern Hemisphere are known to be viviparous. However, although viviparity is present in many African reptiles, all African lacertids were considered exclusively oviparous. The lacertid genus Tropidosaura is restricted to mountainous grassland habitats across central and southern South Africa. Prompted by the dissection of a gravid T. essexi specimen containing well-developed embryos, we dissected additional gravid females from two museum collections to assess parity mode in the four Tropidosaura species. Gravid females of three species contained developing eggs, but all gravid Tropidosaura essexi specimens examined exhibited simple placental development or contained well-developed embryos with the presence of a simple placenta and an absence of any eggshell. The large yolks and simple placentae suggest that viviparity in T. essexi is lecithotrophic. T. essexi thus represents the only known viviparous species of lacertid in Africa and therefore, the first known viviparous lacertid in the Southern Hemisphere, revealing yet another independent case of the evolution of viviparity within the squamates. T. essexi occurs at higher maximum elevations than any of its oviparous congeners, and the recorded litter size in T. essexi was slightly higher than the clutch sizes of other members of the genus. Previously reported oviparity in T. essexi may either be the result of specimen misidentification or potential bimodal reproductive in this species, but this latter explanation is unlikely, given that none of the T. essexi examined in this study showed evidence of oviparity.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43000537","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 : 2022-01-31DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.2019838
Kirstin Stephens, G. Alexander, Buyisile G. Makhubo, N. Telford, K. Tolley
ABSTRACT It is commonly recognised that natural history datasets contain locality errors that can compromise the utility of those datasets. However, another source of error in these datasets is taxonomic misidentifications, and this type of error is potentially common, particularly with regards to morphologically conservative species. For example, in the African skinks, the Trachylepis striata and T. varia species complexes each contain morphologically similar species that are commonly confused, despite being genetically distinct. Some species also are partly sympatric, and misidentifications are likely to be especially problematic in those areas. Using DNA barcoding, we assessed misidentification rates between species and applied the updated identifications to known distribution maps to examine whether those maps are accurate representations. Existing banked samples and newly collected samples were DNA barcoded using the mitochondrial 16S gene and supplemented with GenBank data. Identifications were made by matching sequences using haplotype networks that included material from near type localities. The barcode-based identifications were compared with the original identifications recorded for those samples. Taxonomic error was common, particularly in areas of presumed sympatry (error for T. striata species complex: 28%; T. varia species complex: 31%) and this resulted in inaccurately represented species distributions and areas of sympatry. Areas of sympatry were, however, confirmed for T. spilogaster/T. punctatissima, T. striata/T. punctatissima and T. damarana/T. laevigata/T. varia. Our findings corroborate other studies that demonstrate taxonomic error in existing datasets is a significant, but typically unrecognised problem, particularly for morphologically conservative species. This has implications for the utility of historical collections, citizen science records and public databases used in the formulation of species distribution maps, but also for other downstream analyses that rely on these datasets.
{"title":"Mistaken identity: challenges with specimen identification for morphologically conservative skinks (Trachylepis) leads to taxonomic error","authors":"Kirstin Stephens, G. Alexander, Buyisile G. Makhubo, N. Telford, K. Tolley","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.2019838","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.2019838","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT It is commonly recognised that natural history datasets contain locality errors that can compromise the utility of those datasets. However, another source of error in these datasets is taxonomic misidentifications, and this type of error is potentially common, particularly with regards to morphologically conservative species. For example, in the African skinks, the Trachylepis striata and T. varia species complexes each contain morphologically similar species that are commonly confused, despite being genetically distinct. Some species also are partly sympatric, and misidentifications are likely to be especially problematic in those areas. Using DNA barcoding, we assessed misidentification rates between species and applied the updated identifications to known distribution maps to examine whether those maps are accurate representations. Existing banked samples and newly collected samples were DNA barcoded using the mitochondrial 16S gene and supplemented with GenBank data. Identifications were made by matching sequences using haplotype networks that included material from near type localities. The barcode-based identifications were compared with the original identifications recorded for those samples. Taxonomic error was common, particularly in areas of presumed sympatry (error for T. striata species complex: 28%; T. varia species complex: 31%) and this resulted in inaccurately represented species distributions and areas of sympatry. Areas of sympatry were, however, confirmed for T. spilogaster/T. punctatissima, T. striata/T. punctatissima and T. damarana/T. laevigata/T. varia. Our findings corroborate other studies that demonstrate taxonomic error in existing datasets is a significant, but typically unrecognised problem, particularly for morphologically conservative species. This has implications for the utility of historical collections, citizen science records and public databases used in the formulation of species distribution maps, but also for other downstream analyses that rely on these datasets.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46861472","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.1998236
K. Tolley, C. Tilbury, M. Burger
ABSTRACT The mechanisms that underpin ecological speciation, morphological convergence and the evolution of ecological morphotypes (ecomorphs) in squamates have allowed for a better appreciation of the speciation process in chameleons. In particular, attention has been drawn to several populations of chameleons (Sauria, Chamaeleonidae, Bradypodion) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa. Previous work suggested that these populations are genetically divergent, but with strong similarities in phenotype. Using an integrative taxonomic approach that accounts for genetic diversity, habitat and morphology, three of these populations are described as species. One population is from an isolated forest patch and is genetically different at the species level, but morphologically similar to Bradypodion damaranum (Boulenger, 1887) from forested areas in the Knysna region. Although not sister species, the two are in the same clade and probably diverged through vicariance of the forest. Two other populations are from fynbos habitat in adjacent mountain ranges (Tsitsikamma/Langkloof/Kouga mountains and Baviaanskloof Mountains) and are also morphologically similar, but genetically divergent at the species level. These two species are not sister taxa and are not in the same clade yet have a virtually identical phenotype presumably as the result of convergent evolution for the fynbos habitat. Within the context of morphological taxonomy, these populations have been difficult to evaluate. However, when viewed in the context of ecological speciation, convergence and morphological conservatism, the species boundaries are apparent, allowing for them to be described as new taxa.
{"title":"Convergence and vicariance: speciation of chameleons in the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa, and the description of three new species of Bradypodion Fitzinger, 1843","authors":"K. Tolley, C. Tilbury, M. Burger","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.1998236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.1998236","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The mechanisms that underpin ecological speciation, morphological convergence and the evolution of ecological morphotypes (ecomorphs) in squamates have allowed for a better appreciation of the speciation process in chameleons. In particular, attention has been drawn to several populations of chameleons (Sauria, Chamaeleonidae, Bradypodion) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa. Previous work suggested that these populations are genetically divergent, but with strong similarities in phenotype. Using an integrative taxonomic approach that accounts for genetic diversity, habitat and morphology, three of these populations are described as species. One population is from an isolated forest patch and is genetically different at the species level, but morphologically similar to Bradypodion damaranum (Boulenger, 1887) from forested areas in the Knysna region. Although not sister species, the two are in the same clade and probably diverged through vicariance of the forest. Two other populations are from fynbos habitat in adjacent mountain ranges (Tsitsikamma/Langkloof/Kouga mountains and Baviaanskloof Mountains) and are also morphologically similar, but genetically divergent at the species level. These two species are not sister taxa and are not in the same clade yet have a virtually identical phenotype presumably as the result of convergent evolution for the fynbos habitat. Within the context of morphological taxonomy, these populations have been difficult to evaluate. However, when viewed in the context of ecological speciation, convergence and morphological conservatism, the species boundaries are apparent, allowing for them to be described as new taxa.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48986473","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.2014989
D. Donaire-Barroso, A. Hernandez, D. Escoriza
ABSTRACT Alytes maurus is one of the lesser-known amphibians of northwestern Africa. This small toad appears in several fragmented subpopulations in the mountainous systems of northern Morocco and it is threatened by deforestation and the pollution of streams. In this study, we evaluate, for the first time, the environmental factors (habitat and climate) that may influence its presence, by comparing the characteristics of the study sites with baseline conditions. The results indicate that the vegetation cover is positively related to the presence of this amphibian, which is possibly mediated by the environmental buffering effect of the plant cover. To ensure the adequate protection of riparian forests and streams is possibly the most efficient strategy for the conservation of this endangered amphibian.
{"title":"Shedding light on a threatened midwife toad: fine-scale niche modelling of the Moroccan endemic Alytes maurus (Pasteur and Bons 1962)","authors":"D. Donaire-Barroso, A. Hernandez, D. Escoriza","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.2014989","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.2014989","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Alytes maurus is one of the lesser-known amphibians of northwestern Africa. This small toad appears in several fragmented subpopulations in the mountainous systems of northern Morocco and it is threatened by deforestation and the pollution of streams. In this study, we evaluate, for the first time, the environmental factors (habitat and climate) that may influence its presence, by comparing the characteristics of the study sites with baseline conditions. The results indicate that the vegetation cover is positively related to the presence of this amphibian, which is possibly mediated by the environmental buffering effect of the plant cover. To ensure the adequate protection of riparian forests and streams is possibly the most efficient strategy for the conservation of this endangered amphibian.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47248148","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.1998235
Barbora Thumsová, D. Donaire-Barroso, E. E. El Mouden, J. Bosch
ABSTRACT Multiple threats, including emerging infectious diseases, are contributing to the extinction of amphibians worldwide. One of the most devastating diseases is the fatal amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The presence of Bd in North Africa was described in 2011 and this included the distribution range of the endemic Moroccan midwife toad (Alytes maurus). Here we report new Bd positive occurrences across several distant regions of Morocco, augment the known number of infected species, and describe the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in A. maurus. Although population declines in this species were not recorded, the family Alytidae has been identified as the most susceptible taxonomic group to chytridiomycosis of the Palearctic. An environmental niche model, taking into account new records of Bd in the country, confirms the Mediterranean coast and the Rif and Middle Atlas Mountains as very favourable areas for Bd. Our results suggest that the real impact of chytridiomycosis in North Africa is poorly understood, and that this continent cannot be identified as a region less impacted by chytridiomycosis, as was previously proposed.
{"title":"Fatal chytridiomycosis in the Moroccan midwife toad Alytes maurus and potential distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis across Morocco","authors":"Barbora Thumsová, D. Donaire-Barroso, E. E. El Mouden, J. Bosch","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.1998235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.1998235","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Multiple threats, including emerging infectious diseases, are contributing to the extinction of amphibians worldwide. One of the most devastating diseases is the fatal amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The presence of Bd in North Africa was described in 2011 and this included the distribution range of the endemic Moroccan midwife toad (Alytes maurus). Here we report new Bd positive occurrences across several distant regions of Morocco, augment the known number of infected species, and describe the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in A. maurus. Although population declines in this species were not recorded, the family Alytidae has been identified as the most susceptible taxonomic group to chytridiomycosis of the Palearctic. An environmental niche model, taking into account new records of Bd in the country, confirms the Mediterranean coast and the Rif and Middle Atlas Mountains as very favourable areas for Bd. Our results suggest that the real impact of chytridiomycosis in North Africa is poorly understood, and that this continent cannot be identified as a region less impacted by chytridiomycosis, as was previously proposed.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47720772","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.1998234
A. Elepfandt, A. Gutsche, W. Fischer, W. Leujak, P. Bishop
ABSTRACT A study of the behaviour of Xenopus laevis in a small dam in South Africa was continued annually from 1992 until 1999. All individuals were tagged. The annual number of frogs varied between 22 and 109 by migration. The sex ratio remained balanced. Most subadults stayed for just one season, whereas half of the adults remained longer. Some individuals reappeared after one or more years of absence. Within a season, male activity was concentrated in series of nights between quiet periods. Higher population density did not result in more territorial, stationary, or roaming males, or more fighting, but mainly in a higher number of inactive males. Fighting was intense, however, at extreme low water in 1995. Territorial males might maintain their territory in subsequent years. The size of individuals did not differ between behavioural types and males of any behaviour could mate successfully. The rare matings aggregated in adjacent nights at peak calling. Female approach to males was not seen, but playback in silent nights caused some females to linger near the loudspeaker. Females that experienced no amplexus during our observations were found significantly more in the shallow areas of the dam where sound did not enter. For mating, females accepted only males larger than 65 mm SVL and repelled all smaller ones. Mating was not size assortative. In both sexes, maturation took years of gradual development before successful mating.
{"title":"Long-term field study of the behaviour of Xenopus laevis (Pipidae) in a small dam","authors":"A. Elepfandt, A. Gutsche, W. Fischer, W. Leujak, P. Bishop","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2021.1998234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2021.1998234","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A study of the behaviour of Xenopus laevis in a small dam in South Africa was continued annually from 1992 until 1999. All individuals were tagged. The annual number of frogs varied between 22 and 109 by migration. The sex ratio remained balanced. Most subadults stayed for just one season, whereas half of the adults remained longer. Some individuals reappeared after one or more years of absence. Within a season, male activity was concentrated in series of nights between quiet periods. Higher population density did not result in more territorial, stationary, or roaming males, or more fighting, but mainly in a higher number of inactive males. Fighting was intense, however, at extreme low water in 1995. Territorial males might maintain their territory in subsequent years. The size of individuals did not differ between behavioural types and males of any behaviour could mate successfully. The rare matings aggregated in adjacent nights at peak calling. Female approach to males was not seen, but playback in silent nights caused some females to linger near the loudspeaker. Females that experienced no amplexus during our observations were found significantly more in the shallow areas of the dam where sound did not enter. For mating, females accepted only males larger than 65 mm SVL and repelled all smaller ones. Mating was not size assortative. In both sexes, maturation took years of gradual development before successful mating.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42474491","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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