Pub Date : 2018-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1349004
W. Branch, M. Bates
ABSTRACT Donald G. Broadley was one of Africa’s most prolific recent authors. He produced over 410 articles, including numerous comprehensive and detailed taxonomic reviews of lizard and snake genera. A review of his scientific publications spanning over 50 years of herpetological research reveals three phases. The first (1958–1981) saw Don describe his first new reptile and the completion of numerous important generic revisions. The second phase (1982–1991) was a period of relative taxonomic quiescence, but saw the compilation of major faunal overviews, including two books, the monographic Amphibia Zambesiaca (with J.C. Poynton, 1985–1991), and a checklist of the reptiles of Tanzania (with Kim Howell, 1991). The third and final phase of Don’s career (1992–2015) saw him at the peak of both his collaborative and authoritative stage. His outlook embraced sub-Saharan Africa, although always with a bias towards eastern and southern Africa. Appendices include: a detailed bibliography of his herpetological publications; a chronological list of all the scientific taxa he described; and details of the numerous current patronyms named in his honour. He described 123 taxa, including 115 species/subspecies and 8 genera/subgenera. As of 2016 there are 16 patronyms (five amphibians, nine reptiles and two invertebrates) named in his honour.
{"title":"Donald George Broadley: Bibliography, taxonomic discoveries and patronyms","authors":"W. Branch, M. Bates","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1349004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1349004","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Donald G. Broadley was one of Africa’s most prolific recent authors. He produced over 410 articles, including numerous comprehensive and detailed taxonomic reviews of lizard and snake genera. A review of his scientific publications spanning over 50 years of herpetological research reveals three phases. The first (1958–1981) saw Don describe his first new reptile and the completion of numerous important generic revisions. The second phase (1982–1991) was a period of relative taxonomic quiescence, but saw the compilation of major faunal overviews, including two books, the monographic Amphibia Zambesiaca (with J.C. Poynton, 1985–1991), and a checklist of the reptiles of Tanzania (with Kim Howell, 1991). The third and final phase of Don’s career (1992–2015) saw him at the peak of both his collaborative and authoritative stage. His outlook embraced sub-Saharan Africa, although always with a bias towards eastern and southern Africa. Appendices include: a detailed bibliography of his herpetological publications; a chronological list of all the scientific taxa he described; and details of the numerous current patronyms named in his honour. He described 123 taxa, including 115 species/subspecies and 8 genera/subgenera. As of 2016 there are 16 patronyms (five amphibians, nine reptiles and two invertebrates) named in his honour.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1349004","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44335366","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 : 2018-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714
W. Conradie, Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva, Harith Farooq, S. Loader, M. Menegon, K. Tolley
ABSTRACT Nothophryne Poynton, 1963 is a monotypic genus of frog, with the nominal species N. broadleyi found only on Mount Mulanje, in southern Malawi. Recent surveys in northern Mozambique, however, have uncovered at least four new species associated with four inselbergs (Mount Inago, Mount Namuli, Mount Ribáuè and Taratibu Hills). Previous phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial genes suggest that each mountain isolate has an endemic species of Nothophryne. Herein we provide a rediagnosis of the genus and comparative diagnoses of four new species based on new material. ZooBank— urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:19C53BF3-BA52-4CAE-933F-5BBEE0AF0457
{"title":"New species of Mongrel Frogs (Pyxicephalidae: Nothophryne) for northern Mozambique inselbergs","authors":"W. Conradie, Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva, Harith Farooq, S. Loader, M. Menegon, K. Tolley","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Nothophryne Poynton, 1963 is a monotypic genus of frog, with the nominal species N. broadleyi found only on Mount Mulanje, in southern Malawi. Recent surveys in northern Mozambique, however, have uncovered at least four new species associated with four inselbergs (Mount Inago, Mount Namuli, Mount Ribáuè and Taratibu Hills). Previous phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial genes suggest that each mountain isolate has an endemic species of Nothophryne. Herein we provide a rediagnosis of the genus and comparative diagnoses of four new species based on new material. ZooBank— urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:19C53BF3-BA52-4CAE-933F-5BBEE0AF0457","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1376714","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47800212","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 : 2018-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1413014
L. Verburgt, Ursula K. Verburgt, W. Branch
ABSTRACT Seven specimens of Scolecoseps Loveridge, 1920 from the vicinity of Palma on the north coast of Mozambique are compared morphologically with other known material of this genus. The new material can be distinguished morphologically from all other Scolecoseps by the presence and position of certain head scales, particularly a supraciliary and four small suboculars, a small mental and high subcaudal counts. It is described as a new species, Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov. The new species is found in coastal savannah habitat under leaf litter of Berlinia orientalis trees, in sandy soils in close proximity to large wetlands. Its currently known distribution is south of the range of Scolecoseps litipoensis Broadley, 1995 and north of that of Scolecoseps boulengeri Loveridge, 1920. We provide a review of the available literature for the genus Scolecoseps and highlight the necessity for additional research on these poorly known fossorial skinks. ZooBank— Scolecoseps broadleyi: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4E3723C-F982-4CFA-900B-0B23A9AD5B84
{"title":"A new species of Scolecoseps (Reptilia: Scincidae) from coastal north-eastern Mozambique","authors":"L. Verburgt, Ursula K. Verburgt, W. Branch","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1413014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1413014","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Seven specimens of Scolecoseps Loveridge, 1920 from the vicinity of Palma on the north coast of Mozambique are compared morphologically with other known material of this genus. The new material can be distinguished morphologically from all other Scolecoseps by the presence and position of certain head scales, particularly a supraciliary and four small suboculars, a small mental and high subcaudal counts. It is described as a new species, Scolecoseps broadleyi sp. nov. The new species is found in coastal savannah habitat under leaf litter of Berlinia orientalis trees, in sandy soils in close proximity to large wetlands. Its currently known distribution is south of the range of Scolecoseps litipoensis Broadley, 1995 and north of that of Scolecoseps boulengeri Loveridge, 1920. We provide a review of the available literature for the genus Scolecoseps and highlight the necessity for additional research on these poorly known fossorial skinks. ZooBank— Scolecoseps broadleyi: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4E3723C-F982-4CFA-900B-0B23A9AD5B84","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1413014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45914221","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 : 2018-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2018.1437085
M. Bates, W. Branch
ABSTRACT English-born Donald George Broadley spent most of his adult life working as a herpetologist at two museums in Zimbabwe. His many taxonomic reviews and other publications made him one of the most respected experts on African reptiles and amphibians worldwide. Don passed away at home in Bulawayo on 10 March 2016. This obituary summarises, emphasises and honours his many achievements as a herpetologist, and notes the many honours bestowed on him by the scientific community. His numerous collecting expeditions to south-central and eastern Africa resulted in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo) having the second largest collection (more than 52 000 specimens) of reptiles and amphibians in Africa. Included is a brief history of his involvement with the Herpetological Association of Africa, of which he was a founder member. The authors mention a few personal recollections of their associations and collaborations with him since the 1970s.
{"title":"End of an era for African Herpetology—An obituary for a remarkable man: Donald George Broadley (29 May 1932 – 10 March 2016)","authors":"M. Bates, W. Branch","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2018.1437085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2018.1437085","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT English-born Donald George Broadley spent most of his adult life working as a herpetologist at two museums in Zimbabwe. His many taxonomic reviews and other publications made him one of the most respected experts on African reptiles and amphibians worldwide. Don passed away at home in Bulawayo on 10 March 2016. This obituary summarises, emphasises and honours his many achievements as a herpetologist, and notes the many honours bestowed on him by the scientific community. His numerous collecting expeditions to south-central and eastern Africa resulted in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo) having the second largest collection (more than 52 000 specimens) of reptiles and amphibians in Africa. Included is a brief history of his involvement with the Herpetological Association of Africa, of which he was a founder member. The authors mention a few personal recollections of their associations and collaborations with him since the 1970s.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2018.1437085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45933814","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 : 2018-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2018.1423578
D. Broadley, K. Tolley, W. Conradie, S. Wishart, J. Trape, M. Burger, C. Kusamba, Ange-Ghislain Zassi-Boulou, E. Greenbaum
ABSTRACT The sub-Saharan African file snake genus Gonionotophis is currently comprised of 15 species. However, the concept of this genus has been confounded by morphological and genetic differences between the constituent taxa. Due to the dearth of DNA samples, a taxonomic assessment has been impractical to date. We therefore sequenced two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker (16S, cyt b, and c-mos) from 45 samples representing ten species of Gonionotophis to construct a molecular phylogeny using Bayesian and likelihood approaches. Four divergent and well-supported clades were recovered, including: (1) grantii + brussauxi; (2) poensis + stenophthalmus; (3) nyassae; and (4) capensis, chanleri, crossi, guirali and savorgnani. Based on these results and morphological data, the genus Gonionotophis is restricted to the first clade, Mehelya is resurrected for the species in the second clade, and new genera are described for the remaining two clades. ZooBank—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A82CFAD6-E2E0-439E-90BB-9224E225426B
{"title":"A phylogeny and genus-level revision of the African file snakes Gonionotophis Boulenger (Squamata: Lamprophiidae)","authors":"D. Broadley, K. Tolley, W. Conradie, S. Wishart, J. Trape, M. Burger, C. Kusamba, Ange-Ghislain Zassi-Boulou, E. Greenbaum","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2018.1423578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2018.1423578","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The sub-Saharan African file snake genus Gonionotophis is currently comprised of 15 species. However, the concept of this genus has been confounded by morphological and genetic differences between the constituent taxa. Due to the dearth of DNA samples, a taxonomic assessment has been impractical to date. We therefore sequenced two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker (16S, cyt b, and c-mos) from 45 samples representing ten species of Gonionotophis to construct a molecular phylogeny using Bayesian and likelihood approaches. Four divergent and well-supported clades were recovered, including: (1) grantii + brussauxi; (2) poensis + stenophthalmus; (3) nyassae; and (4) capensis, chanleri, crossi, guirali and savorgnani. Based on these results and morphological data, the genus Gonionotophis is restricted to the first clade, Mehelya is resurrected for the species in the second clade, and new genera are described for the remaining two clades. ZooBank—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A82CFAD6-E2E0-439E-90BB-9224E225426B","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2018-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2018.1423578","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45549461","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 : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1388297
I. Layloo, Caitlin Smith, B. Maritz
Abstract It is widely reported that African cobras (genus Naja) are generalist predators, but examination of formal literature yields relatively little evidence of this for most species. Here, we review the diet of cape cobras (Naja nivea) based on examination of museum specimens, an extensive literature review, and social media reported natural history observations. We quantify dietary niche breadth and test the hypothesis that cape cobras are generalist predators. Additionally, we test the hypotheses that diet varies significantly (1) across biomes, and (2) across winter, summer and year-round rainfall regions. We gathered 101 feeding records for cape cobras and based on family-level prey frequencies calculated Levins’ measure of niche breadth as B = 6.57, which we standardised to BA = 0.29. We found no association between prey classes and biomes or rainfall region. Our data indicate that cape cobras consume a wide range of vertebrate prey from all four tetrapod classes, including a large number and diversity of snakes. Our findings suggest that cape cobras may be involved in several important ecological processes. Moreover, our study demonstrates the utility and value of collating natural history observations reported on social media platforms.
{"title":"Diet and feeding in the Cape Cobra, Naja nivea","authors":"I. Layloo, Caitlin Smith, B. Maritz","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1388297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1388297","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract It is widely reported that African cobras (genus Naja) are generalist predators, but examination of formal literature yields relatively little evidence of this for most species. Here, we review the diet of cape cobras (Naja nivea) based on examination of museum specimens, an extensive literature review, and social media reported natural history observations. We quantify dietary niche breadth and test the hypothesis that cape cobras are generalist predators. Additionally, we test the hypotheses that diet varies significantly (1) across biomes, and (2) across winter, summer and year-round rainfall regions. We gathered 101 feeding records for cape cobras and based on family-level prey frequencies calculated Levins’ measure of niche breadth as B = 6.57, which we standardised to BA = 0.29. We found no association between prey classes and biomes or rainfall region. Our data indicate that cape cobras consume a wide range of vertebrate prey from all four tetrapod classes, including a large number and diversity of snakes. Our findings suggest that cape cobras may be involved in several important ecological processes. Moreover, our study demonstrates the utility and value of collating natural history observations reported on social media platforms.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1388297","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47054614","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 : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1388855
D. Escoriza, Jihène Ben Hassine
Abstract This study examined the role of habitat characteristics on the presence of Salamandra algira in the Edough Peninsula, north-eastern Algeria. In this region, 33 sites were surveyed over the late winter and spring for a period of three years. Salamandra algira was present at 16 of these sites and absent from 17. These sites were characterized based on parameters related to their macroecology (climate, topography) and habitat structure (density, height, canopy closure and diversity of woody plants). Our analyses showed that mean temperature, topography, woody plant density and height and canopy cover contributed most to the explaining differences between sites where S. algira was present and where it was absent. Most of the sites occupied by S. algira were supra- and meso-Mediterranean forest thermotypes and were dominated by deciduous/evergreen oak trees (Quercus canariensis Willd. and Quercus suber L.). In contrast, the presence of S. algira in thermo-Mediterranean forest was only confirmed in one location. This suggests that the transition between the thermophilic facies of the cork oak forest and the thermo-Mediterranean formations possibly determines the lower limits of S. algira in the region of Edough.
{"title":"Habitat structure and presence of Salamandra algira Bedriaga, 1883 in the Edough Peninsula, north-eastern Algeria","authors":"D. Escoriza, Jihène Ben Hassine","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1388855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1388855","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study examined the role of habitat characteristics on the presence of Salamandra algira in the Edough Peninsula, north-eastern Algeria. In this region, 33 sites were surveyed over the late winter and spring for a period of three years. Salamandra algira was present at 16 of these sites and absent from 17. These sites were characterized based on parameters related to their macroecology (climate, topography) and habitat structure (density, height, canopy closure and diversity of woody plants). Our analyses showed that mean temperature, topography, woody plant density and height and canopy cover contributed most to the explaining differences between sites where S. algira was present and where it was absent. Most of the sites occupied by S. algira were supra- and meso-Mediterranean forest thermotypes and were dominated by deciduous/evergreen oak trees (Quercus canariensis Willd. and Quercus suber L.). In contrast, the presence of S. algira in thermo-Mediterranean forest was only confirmed in one location. This suggests that the transition between the thermophilic facies of the cork oak forest and the thermo-Mediterranean formations possibly determines the lower limits of S. algira in the region of Edough.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1388855","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45535987","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 : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1369170
Omar Kisserli, E. Moudilou, J. Exbrayat
Abstract Sclerophrys mauritanica is an anuran amphibian found in the wetlands of Beni-belaid, Jijel, Algeria. The animals are constrained by wet (from September until May) and dry (from June until August) seasons, however, the sexual cycle of males is continuous (all germ cells categories are present throughout the year). The aim of this study was to follow the changes in the reproductive organs of male toads during the annual breeding cycle using light microscopy. Our study was conducted over the period 2003 to 2005. The surfaces of testicular sections, interstitial tissue and Leydig cells, as well as the number of total seminiferous tubules with spermatozoa in bundles, were analysed. All showed monthly variations throughout the annual breeding cycle. For each year, the surface of testis sections and the number of spermatozoa in bundles fluctuate in the same way throughout the year, with a strong increase during the dry season (maximum in August) and a slow decrease until January. The surface of interstitial tissue remained stable, with the exception of a strong peak in August. Additionally, the surface of Leydig cells showed a substantial peak in May before the dry period. Finally, testosterone was observed every month of the year.
{"title":"Sexual cycle and seasonal expression of testosterone (T) in the testes of Sclerophrys mauritanica (Schlegel, 1841)","authors":"Omar Kisserli, E. Moudilou, J. Exbrayat","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1369170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1369170","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Sclerophrys mauritanica is an anuran amphibian found in the wetlands of Beni-belaid, Jijel, Algeria. The animals are constrained by wet (from September until May) and dry (from June until August) seasons, however, the sexual cycle of males is continuous (all germ cells categories are present throughout the year). The aim of this study was to follow the changes in the reproductive organs of male toads during the annual breeding cycle using light microscopy. Our study was conducted over the period 2003 to 2005. The surfaces of testicular sections, interstitial tissue and Leydig cells, as well as the number of total seminiferous tubules with spermatozoa in bundles, were analysed. All showed monthly variations throughout the annual breeding cycle. For each year, the surface of testis sections and the number of spermatozoa in bundles fluctuate in the same way throughout the year, with a strong increase during the dry season (maximum in August) and a slow decrease until January. The surface of interstitial tissue remained stable, with the exception of a strong peak in August. Additionally, the surface of Leydig cells showed a substantial peak in May before the dry period. Finally, testosterone was observed every month of the year.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1369170","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47919667","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 : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1331935
B. Henen, Ulric P. van Bloemestein, M. Hofmeyr, C. A. Weatherby
Abstract To help assess habitat requirements of Critically Endangered geometric tortoises, we used thread-trailing to measure daily activity, movements and refugia of adult Psammobates geometricus in autumn and spring 2002. We found strong differences between seasons, and effects of weather, individuals and sex. The high activity was consistent with mild weather during autumn and spring. However, daily temperatures limited female movements on cool autumn days and male movements on warm spring days, a pattern consistent with sexual size dimorphism (large females and small males). The long movements in autumn probably helped tortoises find food plants that grow quickly after autumn rains; both sexes recover body condition from autumn lows, and females begin egg production in late-autumn and winter. These movements may also help males mate with females before they ovulate. The high activity of females in spring should help them forage and sustain their vitellogenesis, egg production and nesting in spring. Male paths tended to be more linear than female paths in both seasons, so this sexual difference is likely not linked to food consumption. Males may move long, linear paths to engage females and avoid other males. Males may have been thermally-challenged in spring. Their movements decreased with increased ground temperatures (in the sun), they used denser refugia in spring than in autumn, and in spring used denser refugia than females used. Geometric tortoises typically used different refugia on consecutive nights, a type of predator avoidance mechanism.
{"title":"Variation in the daily activity, movement and refugia of Critically Endangered geometric tortoises, Psammobates geometricus, in autumn and spring","authors":"B. Henen, Ulric P. van Bloemestein, M. Hofmeyr, C. A. Weatherby","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1331935","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1331935","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To help assess habitat requirements of Critically Endangered geometric tortoises, we used thread-trailing to measure daily activity, movements and refugia of adult Psammobates geometricus in autumn and spring 2002. We found strong differences between seasons, and effects of weather, individuals and sex. The high activity was consistent with mild weather during autumn and spring. However, daily temperatures limited female movements on cool autumn days and male movements on warm spring days, a pattern consistent with sexual size dimorphism (large females and small males). The long movements in autumn probably helped tortoises find food plants that grow quickly after autumn rains; both sexes recover body condition from autumn lows, and females begin egg production in late-autumn and winter. These movements may also help males mate with females before they ovulate. The high activity of females in spring should help them forage and sustain their vitellogenesis, egg production and nesting in spring. Male paths tended to be more linear than female paths in both seasons, so this sexual difference is likely not linked to food consumption. Males may move long, linear paths to engage females and avoid other males. Males may have been thermally-challenged in spring. Their movements decreased with increased ground temperatures (in the sun), they used denser refugia in spring than in autumn, and in spring used denser refugia than females used. Geometric tortoises typically used different refugia on consecutive nights, a type of predator avoidance mechanism.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1331935","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46639615","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 : 2017-07-03DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1381649
Achim Ringeis, Birgit Krumscheid, P. Bishop, Christian de Vries, A. Elepfandt
Abstract We studied the acoustic and reproductive behaviour of the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, in a pond with clear water in South Africa over a period of two months. It contained 21 adult males and females. Each was marked with a transponder so that the behaviour of individuals could be tracked. The animals inhabited the bottom of the pond. They were active from dusk to midnight. Series of nights in which several males called alternated with series without calling. Simultaneous calls were not synchronised. On nights when males called, several of them established territories on the bottom of the pond that they defended against other males. They delineated the territory by calling along its borders. When meeting a male intruder they emitted an encounter call, followed by a fighting call if they fought. At the end of a fight the loser emitted a release call. Territories could remain constant over several weeks. They were abandoned on nights without calling, but re-established by the same individuals at the same locations on nights with calling. When a female entered a territory, the male approached, started the courtship call and attempted amplexus. The female usually rejected the male while emitting a release call. Females spawned synchronously on one or two nights, with weeks without oviposition in-between. Eggs were laid individually or in small groups on hard structures all over the pond. The adults preyed upon the tadpoles and only a few single tadpoles remained after two weeks. Raising the water level stimulated calling activity.
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