Pub Date : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1294115
J. M. D. Silva, K. Feldheim, G. J. Measey, Stephen Doucette-Riise, R. Daniels, L. Chauke, K. Tolley
Abstract Intraspecific genetic diversity provides the basis for evolutionary change and is therefore considered the most fundamental level of biodiversity. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite loci are the markers most typically used in population-level studies; however, their patterns of genetic variation are not always congruent. This can result in different interpretations of the data, which can impact on management decisions, especially for threatened species. Consequently, in this study, we developed and analysed novel microsatellite markers for the Endangered Western Leopard Toad (WLT), Sclerophrys pantherina, and compared the results to previously published mtDNA data to compare the level of genetic diversity between the two molecular markers. The microsatellite evidence showed signs of a past bottleneck, yet relatively high levels of genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation between two sampling sites. In contrast, the mtDNA revealed moderate to low levels of diversity between sampling sites, and strong genetic differentiation. An explanation for the conflicting patterns may be that the current genetic signature, as depicted by the microsatellite data, is not yet reflected in the mitochondrial dataset; and, as such the data are depicting a timeline for genetic variation within the WLT. Both markers revealed important information about the two sampling sites, which can help inform conservation management of the species.
{"title":"Genetic diversity and differentiation of the Western Leopard Toad (Sclerophrys pantherina) based on mitochondrial and microsatellite markers","authors":"J. M. D. Silva, K. Feldheim, G. J. Measey, Stephen Doucette-Riise, R. Daniels, L. Chauke, K. Tolley","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1294115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1294115","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Intraspecific genetic diversity provides the basis for evolutionary change and is therefore considered the most fundamental level of biodiversity. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite loci are the markers most typically used in population-level studies; however, their patterns of genetic variation are not always congruent. This can result in different interpretations of the data, which can impact on management decisions, especially for threatened species. Consequently, in this study, we developed and analysed novel microsatellite markers for the Endangered Western Leopard Toad (WLT), Sclerophrys pantherina, and compared the results to previously published mtDNA data to compare the level of genetic diversity between the two molecular markers. The microsatellite evidence showed signs of a past bottleneck, yet relatively high levels of genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation between two sampling sites. In contrast, the mtDNA revealed moderate to low levels of diversity between sampling sites, and strong genetic differentiation. An explanation for the conflicting patterns may be that the current genetic signature, as depicted by the microsatellite data, is not yet reflected in the mitochondrial dataset; and, as such the data are depicting a timeline for genetic variation within the WLT. Both markers revealed important information about the two sampling sites, which can help inform conservation management of the species.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"66 1","pages":"25 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1294115","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49305006","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 : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1300610
S. Walton, M. Hofmeyr
Abstract Land transformation reduced the habitat of Psammobates geometricus to small isolated fragments, rendering the species vulnerable to extinction. Field biologists often use erythrocyte metrics to assess wildlife health but need baseline values to distinguish normal variations from disease or chronic stress. Here we characterise erythrocyte types and features of P. geometricus and assess if age, sex and environmental fluctuations influence their frequencies and metrics. We collected blood from males, females and juveniles over four seasons to prepare smears for cytological evaluation. We treated the smears with May–Grünwald–Giemsa stains and used imaging software to measure size, shape and colour intensity of erythrocyte types. The blood of all groups contained immature, mature and senescent erythrocytes, and the appearance of each cell type corresponded to descriptions for other chelonians. Season had a strong effect on the occurrence of erythrocyte types and features with few group differences. The frequency of immature erythrocytes was high in winter and spring, the wet season, reflecting increased erythropoiesis. Mature erythrocytes dominated in summer and autumn, but frequencies of senescent cells, poikilocytosis, cytoplasmic inclusions and cytoplasmic vacuoles increased in autumn, indicating that water and food shortages caused physiological stress. The small size and elongated shape of summer and autumn erythrocytes would facilitate oxygen exchange when high temperatures increase metabolic needs of ectotherms. Lower temperatures and energy demands in the wet season counter the lower oxygen capacity of round, immature cells. Our results provide baseline information on erythrocyte physiology and metrics for health assessments of geometric tortoises.
{"title":"Erythrocyte morphology of the Critically Endangered Geometric Tortoise Psammobates geometricus: effects of season, sex and age","authors":"S. Walton, M. Hofmeyr","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1300610","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1300610","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Land transformation reduced the habitat of Psammobates geometricus to small isolated fragments, rendering the species vulnerable to extinction. Field biologists often use erythrocyte metrics to assess wildlife health but need baseline values to distinguish normal variations from disease or chronic stress. Here we characterise erythrocyte types and features of P. geometricus and assess if age, sex and environmental fluctuations influence their frequencies and metrics. We collected blood from males, females and juveniles over four seasons to prepare smears for cytological evaluation. We treated the smears with May–Grünwald–Giemsa stains and used imaging software to measure size, shape and colour intensity of erythrocyte types. The blood of all groups contained immature, mature and senescent erythrocytes, and the appearance of each cell type corresponded to descriptions for other chelonians. Season had a strong effect on the occurrence of erythrocyte types and features with few group differences. The frequency of immature erythrocytes was high in winter and spring, the wet season, reflecting increased erythropoiesis. Mature erythrocytes dominated in summer and autumn, but frequencies of senescent cells, poikilocytosis, cytoplasmic inclusions and cytoplasmic vacuoles increased in autumn, indicating that water and food shortages caused physiological stress. The small size and elongated shape of summer and autumn erythrocytes would facilitate oxygen exchange when high temperatures increase metabolic needs of ectotherms. Lower temperatures and energy demands in the wet season counter the lower oxygen capacity of round, immature cells. Our results provide baseline information on erythrocyte physiology and metrics for health assessments of geometric tortoises.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"66 1","pages":"39 - 52"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1300610","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49589109","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 : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1271834
Messaoud Saoudi, A. Necer, Idriss Bouam, Farouk Khelfaoui, Oussama Saadi
Abstract Although Timon pater is among the largest species of lacertids found throughout North Africa, mainly in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, studies examining the ecology of this lizard remain rare. In this paper we describe the daily activity patterns, biometry and diet of T. pater in a mountain area during its period of maximum activity. We carried out the field study in the southern slope of Mount Chélia in the middle of the Aurès Massif, north-eastern Algeria. In order to analyse the daily activity patterns we performed surveys along 4 000 m long random transects. To obtain biometrical measurements we captured and measured 20 adults with a digital calliper. We obtained diet data by analysing 17 extracted stomach contents. The daily activity patterns of T. pater were similar during the summer periods (early and late summer), and no variation in activity was detected. Adult males were slightly larger and heavier than adult females and their heads were longer, larger and thicker than females’ heads. T. pater primarily consumed Coleopterans, but diet composition was noticeably different between the two summer periods. There were no sexual differences in dietary preferences.
{"title":"Daily activity, biometry and diet of the North African ocellated lizard Timon pater in Mount Chélia, north-eastern Algeria","authors":"Messaoud Saoudi, A. Necer, Idriss Bouam, Farouk Khelfaoui, Oussama Saadi","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2016.1271834","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2016.1271834","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Although Timon pater is among the largest species of lacertids found throughout North Africa, mainly in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, studies examining the ecology of this lizard remain rare. In this paper we describe the daily activity patterns, biometry and diet of T. pater in a mountain area during its period of maximum activity. We carried out the field study in the southern slope of Mount Chélia in the middle of the Aurès Massif, north-eastern Algeria. In order to analyse the daily activity patterns we performed surveys along 4 000 m long random transects. To obtain biometrical measurements we captured and measured 20 adults with a digital calliper. We obtained diet data by analysing 17 extracted stomach contents. The daily activity patterns of T. pater were similar during the summer periods (early and late summer), and no variation in activity was detected. Adult males were slightly larger and heavier than adult females and their heads were longer, larger and thicker than females’ heads. T. pater primarily consumed Coleopterans, but diet composition was noticeably different between the two summer periods. There were no sexual differences in dietary preferences.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"66 1","pages":"1 - 11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2016.1271834","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45021579","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 : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1324918
A. Turner, A. Channing
Abstract A comprehensive survey of the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa, was undertaken for moss frogs of the genus Arthroleptella. Advertisement calls were recorded and voucher specimens collected for all populations encountered. A molecular phylogeny was constructed for the entire genus using two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker. Standard morphological measurements were made and salient morphological characters described. Analysis of these data revealed the presence of three undescribed species: two that were previously obscured under Arthroleptella bicolor and one obscured under A. landdrosia are described herein. The advertisement calls of the three new species are described and contrasted with the calls of other Arthroleptella species. Their distribution is described and spatial extent of occurrence quantified along with a brief discussion of conservation status for each species. ZooBank.—Arthroleptella draconella: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:341BABC2-63A8-4C60-A306-D232E92ECE69 Arthroleptella atermina: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC23D804-3075-40DB-9852-624C32A51547 Arthroleptella kogelbergensis: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA573B06-BA81-4B84-B436-5F5CCDF1D892.
{"title":"Three new species of Arthroleptella Hewitt, 1926 (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa","authors":"A. Turner, A. Channing","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1324918","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1324918","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A comprehensive survey of the Cape Fold Mountains, South Africa, was undertaken for moss frogs of the genus Arthroleptella. Advertisement calls were recorded and voucher specimens collected for all populations encountered. A molecular phylogeny was constructed for the entire genus using two mitochondrial and one nuclear marker. Standard morphological measurements were made and salient morphological characters described. Analysis of these data revealed the presence of three undescribed species: two that were previously obscured under Arthroleptella bicolor and one obscured under A. landdrosia are described herein. The advertisement calls of the three new species are described and contrasted with the calls of other Arthroleptella species. Their distribution is described and spatial extent of occurrence quantified along with a brief discussion of conservation status for each species. ZooBank.—Arthroleptella draconella: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:341BABC2-63A8-4C60-A306-D232E92ECE69 Arthroleptella atermina: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC23D804-3075-40DB-9852-624C32A51547 Arthroleptella kogelbergensis: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA573B06-BA81-4B84-B436-5F5CCDF1D892.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"66 1","pages":"53 - 78"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1324918","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48281103","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 : 2017-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1281172
Daniel J. Paluh, Aaron H. Griffing, A. Bauer
Abstract Osteoderms are bony deposits that form within the dermal layer of skin in vertebrates. Within geckos, osteoderms are uncommon, only described in Gekko gecko and the genus Tarentola. A previous report of osteoderms in the Afro-Malagasy gekkonid genus Geckolepis has been questioned due to the extreme skin fragility and regional integumentary loss within the group. We re-evaluated the integument anatomy of Geckolepis maculata using µCT scanning, histology, and clearing and staining to verify the presence or absence of osteoderms and, if present, to characterise and compare their morphology to the osteoderms of Gekko gecko and Tarentola, as well as osteoderm diversity within squamates. Osteoderms were confirmed present in Geckolepis maculata; however, these osteoderms are compound, imbricating, squamous elements that are morphologically similar to the dermal ossifications observed in scincids and gerrhosaurids, while G. gecko and Tarentola possess plate-like and granular osteoderms. Our results suggest that osteoderms have independently evolved at least three times within the Gekkota and that epidermal anatomy may be a better predictor of osteoderm morphology than ancestral history. Further research is required to investigate the regenerative capability of Geckolepis osteoderms following skin autotomy.
{"title":"Sheddable armour: identification of osteoderms in the integument of Geckolepis maculata (Gekkota)","authors":"Daniel J. Paluh, Aaron H. Griffing, A. Bauer","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2017.1281172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2017.1281172","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Osteoderms are bony deposits that form within the dermal layer of skin in vertebrates. Within geckos, osteoderms are uncommon, only described in Gekko gecko and the genus Tarentola. A previous report of osteoderms in the Afro-Malagasy gekkonid genus Geckolepis has been questioned due to the extreme skin fragility and regional integumentary loss within the group. We re-evaluated the integument anatomy of Geckolepis maculata using µCT scanning, histology, and clearing and staining to verify the presence or absence of osteoderms and, if present, to characterise and compare their morphology to the osteoderms of Gekko gecko and Tarentola, as well as osteoderm diversity within squamates. Osteoderms were confirmed present in Geckolepis maculata; however, these osteoderms are compound, imbricating, squamous elements that are morphologically similar to the dermal ossifications observed in scincids and gerrhosaurids, while G. gecko and Tarentola possess plate-like and granular osteoderms. Our results suggest that osteoderms have independently evolved at least three times within the Gekkota and that epidermal anatomy may be a better predictor of osteoderm morphology than ancestral history. Further research is required to investigate the regenerative capability of Geckolepis osteoderms following skin autotomy.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"66 1","pages":"12 - 24"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2017-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2017.1281172","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44109577","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 : 2016-07-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1183717
D. Broadley, G. Measey
Abstract We describe a new species of Zygaspis based on a single specimen collected in north-eastern Mozambique and deposited in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo. The new species is characterised by its extensively black pigmentation, 191 body annuli, discrete preoculars, four parietals, two postoculars, three supralabials, and two post-supralabials. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA suggests that it is a sister taxon to the widespread Zygaspis quadrifrons. ZooBank.—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9651A65E-949E-4C95-A363-81C558A222AC
{"title":"A new species of Zygaspis (Reptilia: Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from north-eastern Mozambique","authors":"D. Broadley, G. Measey","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2016.1183717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2016.1183717","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We describe a new species of Zygaspis based on a single specimen collected in north-eastern Mozambique and deposited in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo. The new species is characterised by its extensively black pigmentation, 191 body annuli, discrete preoculars, four parietals, two postoculars, three supralabials, and two post-supralabials. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA suggests that it is a sister taxon to the widespread Zygaspis quadrifrons. ZooBank.—urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9651A65E-949E-4C95-A363-81C558A222AC","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"65 1","pages":"115 - 122"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2016-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2016.1183717","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60106295","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 : 2016-07-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1234511
J. D. da Silva, K. Feldheim, R. Daniels, S. Edwards, K. Tolley
Abstract On the Cape Peninsula, Capensibufo rosei is known from only two isolated breeding populations within Table Mountain National Park. Because of its declining state, there is an urgent need to understand the genetic diversity, population structure and patterns of movement of this species. To do this, 15 microsatellite primer pairs were designed, optimised and tested. Successful loci were screened for null alleles and genotyping errors and then analysed, specifically noting the number of alleles, allelic size range, observed and expected heterozygosities, deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibria. Bottleneck tests and analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) were also conducted to gain insight into each population’s structure. Eleven primer pairs produced unambiguous polymerase chain reactions (PCR) products and scoreable bands, which were found to be polymorphic across both breeding populations. Deviations from HWE were detected owing to the presence of null alleles and inbreeding. Significant bottleneck signatures were detected for both populations and the AMOVA revealed significant differentiation between the two populations, indicating genetic structure at the population level.
{"title":"Analysis of genetic diversity in Rose’s mountain toadlet (Capensibufo rosei) using novel microsatellite markers","authors":"J. D. da Silva, K. Feldheim, R. Daniels, S. Edwards, K. Tolley","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2016.1234511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2016.1234511","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract On the Cape Peninsula, Capensibufo rosei is known from only two isolated breeding populations within Table Mountain National Park. Because of its declining state, there is an urgent need to understand the genetic diversity, population structure and patterns of movement of this species. To do this, 15 microsatellite primer pairs were designed, optimised and tested. Successful loci were screened for null alleles and genotyping errors and then analysed, specifically noting the number of alleles, allelic size range, observed and expected heterozygosities, deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibria. Bottleneck tests and analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) were also conducted to gain insight into each population’s structure. Eleven primer pairs produced unambiguous polymerase chain reactions (PCR) products and scoreable bands, which were found to be polymorphic across both breeding populations. Deviations from HWE were detected owing to the presence of null alleles and inbreeding. Significant bottleneck signatures were detected for both populations and the AMOVA revealed significant differentiation between the two populations, indicating genetic structure at the population level.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"65 1","pages":"69 - 82"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2016-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2016.1234511","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60106398","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 : 2016-07-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1258012
S. Stanley, R. M. Liniewski, P. Senter
Abstract Within the lizard family Scincidae (the skinks) are numerous examples of species with vestigial limbs and girdles, but these vestigial structures remain undescribed for many such species. Here we seek to partially fill this gap in knowledge by describing the vestigial limb and girdle skeletons of Eumecia anchietae, an African skink for which the appendicular skeleton has not previously been described. Radiographs of 10 adult specimens reveal variation in the degree of ossification of the interclavicle and scapula and in the forelimb epiphyses; lengths of the humerus, forelimb and femur; and number of metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges. The variation is unrelated to specimen size for most of these parameters. In all specimens the sternum is absent, the clavicle is ossified, ossification is greater in the humerus than in the more distal forelimb elements, ossification is greater in the tibia than the fibula, and the third toe has two phalanges. The results of this study suggest caution in the use of details of the morphology of vestigial limbs to diagnose lizard species, because of the variability present in such limbs.
{"title":"Appendicular skeleton of the vestigial-limbed African skink Eumecia anchietae","authors":"S. Stanley, R. M. Liniewski, P. Senter","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2016.1258012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2016.1258012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Within the lizard family Scincidae (the skinks) are numerous examples of species with vestigial limbs and girdles, but these vestigial structures remain undescribed for many such species. Here we seek to partially fill this gap in knowledge by describing the vestigial limb and girdle skeletons of Eumecia anchietae, an African skink for which the appendicular skeleton has not previously been described. Radiographs of 10 adult specimens reveal variation in the degree of ossification of the interclavicle and scapula and in the forelimb epiphyses; lengths of the humerus, forelimb and femur; and number of metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges. The variation is unrelated to specimen size for most of these parameters. In all specimens the sternum is absent, the clavicle is ossified, ossification is greater in the humerus than in the more distal forelimb elements, ossification is greater in the tibia than the fibula, and the third toe has two phalanges. The results of this study suggest caution in the use of details of the morphology of vestigial limbs to diagnose lizard species, because of the variability present in such limbs.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"65 1","pages":"114 - 99"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2016-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/21564574.2016.1258012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60106268","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 : 2016-07-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1234512
María de Fuentes-Fernández, María Mercedes Suárez-Rancel, M. Molina-Borja
Abstract We analysed sexual dimorphism in body size and several other morphological traits of two populations of Tarentola delalandii on the island of Tenerife (San Cristóbal de La Laguna in the North, and Granadilla de Abona in the South), whose habitats differ in climate and vegetation cover. Sexual size dimorphism was invariant between populations. Males had significantly larger body size (snout−vent length, SVL) than females and SVL was larger in the northern population than in the southern population. Applying a Permutational MANCOVA to the other morphological variables, considering separately head and trunk lengths as covariates, we found a significant effect of population and gender. For the majority of morphological variables (body mass, SVL, width, length and height of the head, trunk length, forelimb and hindlimb, height and width of the tail) studied (eight in each analysis), there were significant differences, males having larger values than females and northern individuals larger values than those of the southern population. Therefore, we confirmed quantitatively a significant male biased sexual dimorphism in body size in the two populations and have shown sexual dimorphism in the characteristics mentioned previously. However, most of the shape-adjusted traits were significantly larger in females than in males. Results are discussed of possible evolutionary, ontogenetic and ecological factors affecting the expression of sexual dimorphism in the species studied.
摘要本文分析了特内里费岛(Tenerife island)两个不同气候和植被生境的Tarentola delalandii种群(北部的San Cristóbal de La Laguna和南部的Granadilla de Abona)在体型和其他形态特征上的性别二态性。两性大小二态性在种群间是不变的。雄鼠的体长(鼻口长度)显著大于雌鼠，且北方种群的鼻口长度大于南方种群。对其他形态变量应用置换方差分析，分别考虑头长和干长作为协变量，我们发现种群和性别的影响显著。研究的大多数形态学变量(体重、SVL、头部宽度、长高、躯干长度、前肢和后肢、尾巴高度和宽度)(每次分析8个)存在显著差异，雄性个体的值大于雌性，北方个体的值大于南方种群的值。因此，我们在数量上证实了两个种群在体型上存在显著的雄性偏向性二态性，并且在前面提到的特征上也显示了性别二态性。然而，大多数形状调节特征在女性中明显大于男性。结果讨论了可能的进化，个体发生和生态因素影响两性异形的表达在研究的物种。
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Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2016.1138149
A. Bauer
Abstract The nominal taxa Scelotes bicolor and Scelotes schebeni are known only from their respective type specimens, both now lost, and they have been regarded as species inquirendae. A review of available data confirms that earlier synonymisations with S. arenicola and Melanoseps occidentalis, respectively, are correct and that the type localities of both are in error.
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