Sebastian Hoefer, A. Rotger, Sophie A. Mills, N. Robinson
Photo-identification is a non-invasive option for mark-recapture. Here, we tested the effectiveness of APHIS, a semi-automated photo-identification software, to distinguish between individual Bahamian Racers (Cubophis vudii vudii) on the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Over 10 months, we photographed 50 Bahamian Racers. We first identified individuals by manually comparing colouration and scale patterns in the pileus and labial regions. Next, we used APHIS to identify recaptured individuals after manually identifying the locations of intersections of the scales in the pileus and labial regions. In addition, we assessed whether images taken with a hand-held camera or by a smart phone affected the accuracy of APHIS. All recaptured snakes were correctly identified using APHIS from both camera or phone images as validated by our manually derived results. We conclude that APHIS is an effective tool for photo-identification in snakes.
{"title":"Semi-automated photo-identification of Bahamian Racers (Cubophis vudii vudii)","authors":"Sebastian Hoefer, A. Rotger, Sophie A. Mills, N. Robinson","doi":"10.36253/a_h-11502","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-11502","url":null,"abstract":"Photo-identification is a non-invasive option for mark-recapture. Here, we tested the effectiveness of APHIS, a semi-automated photo-identification software, to distinguish between individual Bahamian Racers (Cubophis vudii vudii) on the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Over 10 months, we photographed 50 Bahamian Racers. We first identified individuals by manually comparing colouration and scale patterns in the pileus and labial regions. Next, we used APHIS to identify recaptured individuals after manually identifying the locations of intersections of the scales in the pileus and labial regions. In addition, we assessed whether images taken with a hand-held camera or by a smart phone affected the accuracy of APHIS. All recaptured snakes were correctly identified using APHIS from both camera or phone images as validated by our manually derived results. We conclude that APHIS is an effective tool for photo-identification in snakes. ","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44497497","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}
Sexual size dimorphism is widespread among snakes and has also been observed in lengths of body appendages such as in tails. Males typically possess longer tails than females and this dimorphism in tail length has generally been attributed to the importance of the tail in mating and reproduction. We used body size measurements, snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL) as well as a body condition index (BCI) as a measure of quality in Caspian Whip Snakes from Hungary, in order to shed light on sexual dimorphism patterns. The SVL of males (1061 ± 133 mm, n = 25) were significantly longer than that of females (887 ± 208 mm, n = 41). However, the proportion of TL to total length was lower in males than in females (0.257 ± 0.018 and 0.274 ± 0.017, respectively). The BCI of females (386 ± 10) was significantly higher than that of males (343 ± 15). Females having proportionally longer tails compared to males seems to be the reverse of the usual trend. Selective pressures on the tails of female snakes are less obvious, as tail length may be linked to more than one function, and hence be simultaneously subjected to more than one type of selective force.
{"title":"Sexual size dimorphism in the tail length of the Caspian Whip Snakes, Dolichophis caspius (Serpentes, Colubridae), in south-western Hungary","authors":"György Dudás, K. Frank","doi":"10.36253/a_h-10306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-10306","url":null,"abstract":"Sexual size dimorphism is widespread among snakes and has also been observed in lengths of body appendages such as in tails. Males typically possess longer tails than females and this dimorphism in tail length has generally been attributed to the importance of the tail in mating and reproduction. We used body size measurements, snout-vent length (SVL) and tail length (TL) as well as a body condition index (BCI) as a measure of quality in Caspian Whip Snakes from Hungary, in order to shed light on sexual dimorphism patterns. The SVL of males (1061 ± 133 mm, n = 25) were significantly longer than that of females (887 ± 208 mm, n = 41). However, the proportion of TL to total length was lower in males than in females (0.257 ± 0.018 and 0.274 ± 0.017, respectively). The BCI of females (386 ± 10) was significantly higher than that of males (343 ± 15). Females having proportionally longer tails compared to males seems to be the reverse of the usual trend. Selective pressures on the tails of female snakes are less obvious, as tail length may be linked to more than one function, and hence be simultaneously subjected to more than one type of selective force.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46570828","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}
D. Ottonello, S. D’angelo, F. Oneto, S. Malavasi, M. Zuffi, F. Spadola
The introduction of alien fish species in wetland ecosystems could have a great impact on freshwater communities and ecological processes. Despite fish introduction has been noticed as one of the principal cause of freshwater extinctions, ecosystem processes alteration, and change in aquatic community assemblage, very few data about impact on freshwater reptiles are available. As study model we used two neighbour sub-populations of the endangered Sicilian pond turtle, Emys trinacris, inhabiting two small, close each other and very similar lakes, except for the presence of allocthonous fish, Cyprinus carpio and Gambusia hoolbroki in one of the two. The multi-year study allowed highlighting significant differences in abundance, growth and reproductive output between the two freshwater turtle sub-populations, suggesting their influence on phenotypic plasticity of the studied population. These results are discussed in the light of previous evidence about the impact of these alien species on abundance and assemblage of the invertebrate community with an evident impact on niche width, diet composition and therefore energy intake by Emys trinacris. These data may provide important information to address management strategies and conservation actions of small wetland areas inhabited by pond turtles, pointing out a threats never highlighted up to now.
{"title":"So close so different: what makes the difference?","authors":"D. Ottonello, S. D’angelo, F. Oneto, S. Malavasi, M. Zuffi, F. Spadola","doi":"10.36253/a_h-10402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-10402","url":null,"abstract":"The introduction of alien fish species in wetland ecosystems could have a great impact on freshwater communities and ecological processes. Despite fish introduction has been noticed as one of the principal cause of freshwater extinctions, ecosystem processes alteration, and change in aquatic community assemblage, very few data about impact on freshwater reptiles are available. As study model we used two neighbour sub-populations of the endangered Sicilian pond turtle, Emys trinacris, inhabiting two small, close each other and very similar lakes, except for the presence of allocthonous fish, Cyprinus carpio and Gambusia hoolbroki in one of the two. The multi-year study allowed highlighting significant differences in abundance, growth and reproductive output between the two freshwater turtle sub-populations, suggesting their influence on phenotypic plasticity of the studied population. These results are discussed in the light of previous evidence about the impact of these alien species on abundance and assemblage of the invertebrate community with an evident impact on niche width, diet composition and therefore energy intake by Emys trinacris. These data may provide important information to address management strategies and conservation actions of small wetland areas inhabited by pond turtles, pointing out a threats never highlighted up to now.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42978674","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}
Carolina Reyes-Puig, Juan M. Guayasamin, C. Koch, David Brito-Zapata, Matthijs Hollanders, Melissa Costales, D. Cisneros-Heredia
We describe a new species of terrestrial-breeding frog of the genus Noblella from the northwestern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador, in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador, and report a new locality for the recently described N. worleyae. We include a detailed description of the osteology of both species and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. The new species is differentiated from other species of Noblella by having discs of fingers rounded, without papillae; distal phalanges only slightly T-shaped; toes slightly expanded and rounded distally, without papillae; dorsum uniform brown with irregular suprainguinal dark brown marks; venter yellowish cream, ventral surfaces of legs and thighs reddish to brownish cream; and dark brown throat. The new locality for N. worleyae is located in Los Cedros Reserve, an area highly threatened by mining. We highlight the importance of protecting endemic species of small vertebrates in northwestern Ecuador.
{"title":"A new species of the genus Noblella (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from Ecuador, with new information for Noblella worleyae","authors":"Carolina Reyes-Puig, Juan M. Guayasamin, C. Koch, David Brito-Zapata, Matthijs Hollanders, Melissa Costales, D. Cisneros-Heredia","doi":"10.36253/a_h-10742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-10742","url":null,"abstract":"We describe a new species of terrestrial-breeding frog of the genus Noblella from the northwestern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador, in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador, and report a new locality for the recently described N. worleyae. We include a detailed description of the osteology of both species and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. The new species is differentiated from other species of Noblella by having discs of fingers rounded, without papillae; distal phalanges only slightly T-shaped; toes slightly expanded and rounded distally, without papillae; dorsum uniform brown with irregular suprainguinal dark brown marks; venter yellowish cream, ventral surfaces of legs and thighs reddish to brownish cream; and dark brown throat. The new locality for N. worleyae is located in Los Cedros Reserve, an area highly threatened by mining. We highlight the importance of protecting endemic species of small vertebrates in northwestern Ecuador.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45309522","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}
In lizards, flight initiation distance (FID), the distance between a prey individual and a predator when escape begins, can be affected by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including sex, temperature, and level of conspicuousness. Here we report on a study of FID in a population of Ornate Tree Lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, from the Sierra de Samalyuca, Chihuahua, Mexico which are cryptic due to their dorsal coloration blending into their background. Urosaurus ornatus in our study population allowed close approaches (mean FID = 65 cm). Mean FID did not differ between males and females. We also found no effect of body, air, or substrate temperature on FID. The short FID we observed may be related to the cryptic nature of U. ornatus.
{"title":"Flight initiation distance of Urosaurus ornatus from the Sierra de Samalayuca, Mexico","authors":"J. Lemos‐Espinal, Geoffrey R. Smith","doi":"10.36253/a_h-9843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-9843","url":null,"abstract":"In lizards, flight initiation distance (FID), the distance between a prey individual and a predator when escape begins, can be affected by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including sex, temperature, and level of conspicuousness. Here we report on a study of FID in a population of Ornate Tree Lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, from the Sierra de Samalyuca, Chihuahua, Mexico which are cryptic due to their dorsal coloration blending into their background. Urosaurus ornatus in our study population allowed close approaches (mean FID = 65 cm). Mean FID did not differ between males and females. We also found no effect of body, air, or substrate temperature on FID. The short FID we observed may be related to the cryptic nature of U. ornatus.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70128534","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}
{"title":"MARIELLA TURRINI – La tartaruga nella cultura dei popoli – Miti, leggende e Folklore","authors":"S. Salvidio, M. Delfino","doi":"10.36253/a_h-10870","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-10870","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:p>None</jats:p>","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70128935","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}
. Two groups of extant Archosauria, Crocodylia and Neornithes, have two-chambered stomachs and store gastroliths inside their “gizzards”. Morphological similarities of the “gizzards” lead some previous studies to assume that the presence of this structure, organ “gizzard” is synapomorphic to Archosauria. However, the homology of archosaur “gizzards” had never been tested. This study provides general histological descriptions of stomachs of two crocodylian taxa, Crocodylus siamensis and Gavialis gangeticus , to determine the homology of crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards”. Our study demonstrates that both Crocodylus siamensis and Gavialis gangeticus have longer, more complex glands in the fundic stomach (crocodylian “gizzard”) than in the pyloric stomach. Additionally, we found that compound glands are present in the fundic stomach of Crocodylus siamensis. Therefore, crocodylian stomach histomorphological structures are concordant with those of other non-avian reptiles, despite the unique gross morphology. The pyloric regions of non-avian reptile stomachs are known to be homologous with the pyloric regions of mammalian stomachs as well as neornithine ventriculus (neornithine gizzard). Therefore, crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards” are morphologically analogous but not homologous. The presence of PAS-positive layer in the pyloric stomach of Gavialis gangeticus , which resembles the koilin layer of neornithine ventriculus, further supports this inter-pretation. At the same time, however, the similarity in gastroliths mass/body mass ratio and the correlations between gastroliths occurrence and diet types suggest that crocodylian gastroliths might have contributed to the digestion of ingesta, even though crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards” are not homologous.
{"title":"Stomach histology of Crocodylus siamensis and Gavialis gangeticus reveals analogy of archosaur \"gizzards\", with implication on crocodylian gastroliths function","authors":"R. Takasaki, Y. Kobayashi","doi":"10.13128/A_H-7564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13128/A_H-7564","url":null,"abstract":". Two groups of extant Archosauria, Crocodylia and Neornithes, have two-chambered stomachs and store gastroliths inside their “gizzards”. Morphological similarities of the “gizzards” lead some previous studies to assume that the presence of this structure, organ “gizzard” is synapomorphic to Archosauria. However, the homology of archosaur “gizzards” had never been tested. This study provides general histological descriptions of stomachs of two crocodylian taxa, Crocodylus siamensis and Gavialis gangeticus , to determine the homology of crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards”. Our study demonstrates that both Crocodylus siamensis and Gavialis gangeticus have longer, more complex glands in the fundic stomach (crocodylian “gizzard”) than in the pyloric stomach. Additionally, we found that compound glands are present in the fundic stomach of Crocodylus siamensis. Therefore, crocodylian stomach histomorphological structures are concordant with those of other non-avian reptiles, despite the unique gross morphology. The pyloric regions of non-avian reptile stomachs are known to be homologous with the pyloric regions of mammalian stomachs as well as neornithine ventriculus (neornithine gizzard). Therefore, crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards” are morphologically analogous but not homologous. The presence of PAS-positive layer in the pyloric stomach of Gavialis gangeticus , which resembles the koilin layer of neornithine ventriculus, further supports this inter-pretation. At the same time, however, the similarity in gastroliths mass/body mass ratio and the correlations between gastroliths occurrence and diet types suggest that crocodylian gastroliths might have contributed to the digestion of ingesta, even though crocodylian and neornithine “gizzards” are not homologous.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"15 1","pages":"111-118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2020-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41715033","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}
M. S. Moleón, Mark Merchant, H. Ortega, P. Siroski
Multiple mechanisms have evolved for the defensive recognition of foreign components, such as microorganisms. The majority of immunological studies with vertebrates have been focused on endothermic species, and relatively little attention has been directed toward ectothermic vertebrates. We employed a colorimetric assay designed to compare plasma hemolytic activities based on the serum complement system (CS) activities amongst some representative reptiles, wild and domestic birds, and mammals. Results obtained from the hemolytic assays conducted with plasma derived from all of the animal species used showed that broad-snouted caiman had the highest activity, and no differences were observed in the hemolytic activities of plasma from birds or the other reptile species. In contrast, the CS activity obtained with mammalian plasma was markedly lower than that from the other taxa. This assay has many advantages, such as the requirement of small sample volume, reproducible results, and low cost. In addition, unsensitized sheep red blood cell hemolysis can be successfully used for the evaluation of innate immune system activities in non-mammalian species; however, for mammals, it should be combined with other immunological determinates to evaluate integral innate immunocompetence.
{"title":"Comparison of complement system activity amongst wild and domestic animals","authors":"M. S. Moleón, Mark Merchant, H. Ortega, P. Siroski","doi":"10.13128/A_H-7903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13128/A_H-7903","url":null,"abstract":"Multiple mechanisms have evolved for the defensive recognition of foreign components, such as microorganisms. The majority of immunological studies with vertebrates have been focused on endothermic species, and relatively little attention has been directed toward ectothermic vertebrates. We employed a colorimetric assay designed to compare plasma hemolytic activities based on the serum complement system (CS) activities amongst some representative reptiles, wild and domestic birds, and mammals. Results obtained from the hemolytic assays conducted with plasma derived from all of the animal species used showed that broad-snouted caiman had the highest activity, and no differences were observed in the hemolytic activities of plasma from birds or the other reptile species. In contrast, the CS activity obtained with mammalian plasma was markedly lower than that from the other taxa. This assay has many advantages, such as the requirement of small sample volume, reproducible results, and low cost. In addition, unsensitized sheep red blood cell hemolysis can be successfully used for the evaluation of innate immune system activities in non-mammalian species; however, for mammals, it should be combined with other immunological determinates to evaluate integral innate immunocompetence.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"15 1","pages":"59-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2020-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48639821","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}
In Southern India, during the Southwest monsoon phase, the newly formed ephemeral water bodies harbour several species of tadpoles as well as some of their predators. Tadpoles of Microhyla ornata dwell in surface or column zones of water. They face predation threat from aquatic insect predators and carnivorous tadpoles of other anurans though they are invisible due to their transparent body form. We tested whether transparent body form of M. ornata tadpoles is a useful attribute against predation by exposing tail fin stained (with the Nile blue) subjects to a naturally occurring predator (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus tadpoles that detect prey using both visual and chemical cues). The study shows that susceptibility of stained M. ornata tadpoles to predation increased significantly compared to the unstained transparent individuals. We conclude that the transparent body form is of great significance in escaping predation during the larval phase of life in M. ornata.
{"title":"Adaptive significance of the transparent body in the tadpoles of ornamented pygmy frog, Microhyla ornata (Anura, Amphibia)","authors":"Santosh M. Mogali, B. A. Shanbhag, S. K. Saidapur","doi":"10.13128/A_H-8871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13128/A_H-8871","url":null,"abstract":"In Southern India, during the Southwest monsoon phase, the newly formed ephemeral water bodies harbour several species of tadpoles as well as some of their predators. Tadpoles of Microhyla ornata dwell in surface or column zones of water. They face predation threat from aquatic insect predators and carnivorous tadpoles of other anurans though they are invisible due to their transparent body form. We tested whether transparent body form of M. ornata tadpoles is a useful attribute against predation by exposing tail fin stained (with the Nile blue) subjects to a naturally occurring predator (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus tadpoles that detect prey using both visual and chemical cues). The study shows that susceptibility of stained M. ornata tadpoles to predation increased significantly compared to the unstained transparent individuals. We conclude that the transparent body form is of great significance in escaping predation during the larval phase of life in M. ornata.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"15 1","pages":"55-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2020-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.13128/A_H-8871","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49500451","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}
This study presents first evidence for underwater sounds produced by adult Balkan crested newts (Triturus ivanbureschi). Recordings were made in spring of 2019 in controlled laboratory conditions using a commercially available omnidirectional hydrophone connected to a linear PCM recorder. A total of 27 animals (21 males, 6 females) were recorded under different conditions: (a) alone in an empty tank, (b) alone in a tank full of vegetation, and (c) a pair in an empty tank. Results indicated that both male and female newts produced a click-like sound with a mean duration of 34 ms (± 5.31 SD; range: 27-51) and mean peak frequency of 1887 Hz (± 405 SD; range: 1162-2770). Not all newts tested produced sounds and there were no statistically significant differences between males and females or recordings under different conditions in terms of click number, duration and frequency parameters, with the exception of the ratio of peak frequency/bandwidth at 50% peak amplitude, which was lower for clicks produced in the vegetated tank. Newt snout-vent length and body mass also had no effect on any of the studied parameters. The obtained results suggest that clicks could have a function in orientation and exploratory behaviour.
{"title":"First record of underwater sound produced by the Balkan crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi)","authors":"Simeon Lukanov","doi":"10.13128/A_H-7863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13128/A_H-7863","url":null,"abstract":"This study presents first evidence for underwater sounds produced by adult Balkan crested newts (Triturus ivanbureschi). Recordings were made in spring of 2019 in controlled laboratory conditions using a commercially available omnidirectional hydrophone connected to a linear PCM recorder. A total of 27 animals (21 males, 6 females) were recorded under different conditions: (a) alone in an empty tank, (b) alone in a tank full of vegetation, and (c) a pair in an empty tank. Results indicated that both male and female newts produced a click-like sound with a mean duration of 34 ms (± 5.31 SD; range: 27-51) and mean peak frequency of 1887 Hz (± 405 SD; range: 1162-2770). Not all newts tested produced sounds and there were no statistically significant differences between males and females or recordings under different conditions in terms of click number, duration and frequency parameters, with the exception of the ratio of peak frequency/bandwidth at 50% peak amplitude, which was lower for clicks produced in the vegetated tank. Newt snout-vent length and body mass also had no effect on any of the studied parameters. The obtained results suggest that clicks could have a function in orientation and exploratory behaviour.","PeriodicalId":50896,"journal":{"name":"Acta Herpetologica","volume":"15 1","pages":"15-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2020-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.13128/A_H-7863","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48677269","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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