Pub Date : 2023-03-01Epub Date: 2023-03-08DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00018
John H Roe, Maria S Chavez, Abbie E Hudson
An individual's behavioral tendencies (i.e., personality or temperament) can influence its interactions with the environment and thus have important ecological and evolutionary consequences for animal populations. Boldness, defined as an individual's tendency to engage in risk-taking activities, is a phenotypically variable trait linked with numerous behavioral and fitness outcomes in free-ranging animals. We examined variation and repeatability of boldness and other behavioral characteristics in two wild Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) populations using radiotelemetry, and assessed fitness correlates of boldness over multiple years. We observed large amounts of among-individual variation and within-individual consistency (i.e., repeatability) of boldness as measured by their head emergence latency following a standardized confinement assay. Individuals were also consistent in several in-field behaviors including movement rate, home range size, and date of emergence from overwintering refuges. Individuals with shorter head emergence latencies (i.e., bolder turtles) had larger home ranges, emerged earlier from overwintering dormancy, and experienced moderately lower survival compared with shy individuals. Boldness did not affect time spent within the thermal preference range, somatic growth rates, or the frequency of mating or same-sex aggressive encounters. Boldness and its effects on in-field behaviors differed between sexes and populations, and the relationship between boldness and survival was temporally variable. Our results suggest possible intrinsic behavioral types in T. c. carolina and highlight the importance of long-term and multipopulation studies when examining ecological and evolutionary processes that shape personality phenotypes in turtles.
{"title":"Ecological and Fitness Correlates of Personality in a Long-lived Terrestrial Turtle.","authors":"John H Roe, Maria S Chavez, Abbie E Hudson","doi":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00018","DOIUrl":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An individual's behavioral tendencies (i.e., personality or temperament) can influence its interactions with the environment and thus have important ecological and evolutionary consequences for animal populations. Boldness, defined as an individual's tendency to engage in risk-taking activities, is a phenotypically variable trait linked with numerous behavioral and fitness outcomes in free-ranging animals. We examined variation and repeatability of boldness and other behavioral characteristics in two wild Eastern Box Turtle (<i>Terrapene carolina carolina</i>) populations using radiotelemetry, and assessed fitness correlates of boldness over multiple years. We observed large amounts of among-individual variation and within-individual consistency (i.e., repeatability) of boldness as measured by their head emergence latency following a standardized confinement assay. Individuals were also consistent in several in-field behaviors including movement rate, home range size, and date of emergence from overwintering refuges. Individuals with shorter head emergence latencies (i.e., bolder turtles) had larger home ranges, emerged earlier from overwintering dormancy, and experienced moderately lower survival compared with shy individuals. Boldness did not affect time spent within the thermal preference range, somatic growth rates, or the frequency of mating or same-sex aggressive encounters. Boldness and its effects on in-field behaviors differed between sexes and populations, and the relationship between boldness and survival was temporally variable. Our results suggest possible intrinsic behavioral types in <i>T. c. carolina</i> and highlight the importance of long-term and multipopulation studies when examining ecological and evolutionary processes that shape personality phenotypes in turtles.</p>","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10673623/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47638991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00015
Marvin ANGANOY-CRIOLLO, Andres Viuche-Lozano, Maria Paula Enciso-Calle, M. H. Bernal, T. Grant
Abstract: Hyloxalus edwardsi and H. ruizi are high-Andean dendrobatid frogs that inhabit the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Both species were placed in the H. edwardsi group on the basis of the synapomorphic presence of an elongate cloacal sheath and the absence of a tarsal keel and vocal slits. The group was originally placed in Colostethus sensu lato and was subsequently transferred to Hyloxalus; however, no species of the group were included in previous phylogenetic analyses. Both species are critically endangered, and recent expeditions to their type localities have yielded no additional specimens. Nevertheless, on the western flank of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia, we discovered a population possessing the elongate cloacal sheath but with other morphological character states that differentiate it from the previously known species. On the basis of this new material and examination of H. edwardsi, H. ruizi, and other Andean dendrobatids, we describe this population as a new species and test the phylogenetic position of this group. Our results corroborate the placement of this group within Hyloxalus, specifically as sister to H. picachos, thereby refuting the monophyly of the recently proposed H. subpunctatus clade. We also identify several new putative morphological synapomorphies of the H. edwardsi group related to the extrinsic cloacal musculature and the subarticular tubercles of the hand. Although the cloacal sheath character is still taxonomically useful, given the inherent difficulty in scoring it unambiguously on the basis of external morphology, we deprecate it for phylogenetic analysis in favor of the internal morphological characters. Resumen: Hyloxalus edwardsi e H. ruizi son dos dendrobátidos altoandinos que habitan la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Ambas especies hacen parte del grupo monofilético Hyloxalus edwardsi, puesto que comparten la presencia sinapomórfica de la proyección cloacal (o embudo cloacal, tubo cloacal), la ausencia de la quilla del tarso y de hendiduras vocales. Este grupo de especies fue ubicado dentro del género Colostethus sensu lato, y posteriormente fue transferido a Hyloxalus; sin embargo, ninguna de estas dos especies fue incluida en análisis filogenéticos anteriores. Ambas especies están en peligro crítico y en salidas de campo recientes a las localidades tipo no se encontraron registros adicionales. No obstante, sobre la vertiente occidental de la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia, descubrimos una población que presenta proyección cloacal y una quilla del tarso débil, pero con características morfológicas que diferencian esta población de las otras dos especies descritas del grupo H. edwardsi. Con base en este material y la revisión de H. edwardsi, H. ruizi, y de otros dendrobátidos de los Andes, describimos esta población como nueva especie, revisamos la proyección cloacal, reportamos la presencia de tubérculos hiperdistales en el dedo manual IV and V (nueva sinapomorfia putativa para el grupo
摘要:Hyloxalus Edwardsi和H.Ruizi是居住在哥伦比亚东部山脉的高安第斯树蛙。根据长阴沟鞘的同型存在以及没有跗骨龙骨和声带,这两个物种都被置于H.爱德华兹组。该小组最初被放置在广义的Colostethus中,随后转移到Hyloxalus;然而,该组中没有物种被纳入以前的系统发育分析。这两个物种都受到严重威胁,最近对其类型地点的探险没有产生额外的物种。然而,在哥伦比亚东部山脉的西侧,我们发现了一个拥有长阴沟鞘但具有其他形态特征的种群,这些形态特征使其与以前已知的物种不同。根据这一新材料和对H.Edwardsi、H.Ruizi和其他安第斯石斛的检查,我们将这一种群描述为一个新物种,并测试了这一群体的系统发育地位。我们的结果证实了这一群体在Hyloxalus中的地位,特别是作为H.picachos的姐妹,从而驳斥了最近提出的H.subpunctus clade的单亲性。我们还确定了H.Edwardsi组与手的外阴沟肌和网膜下结节有关的几个新的推测形态突触。虽然阴沟鞘特征在分类上仍然有用,但鉴于内在难以根据外部形态对其进行不准确的评分,我们对其进行系统发育分析,以利于内部形态特征。摘要:Hyloxalus edwardsi和H.Ruizi是两种生活在哥伦比亚东部山脉的安第斯树栖动物。这两个物种都是单系Hyloxalus-Edwardsi组的一部分,因为它们共享阴沟投射(或阴沟漏斗、阴沟管)的突触存在,没有跗骨龙骨和声带裂。这组物种位于Colostethus sensu lato属内,后来转移到hyloxalus;然而,这两个物种都没有被纳入以前的系统发育分析。这两个物种都处于严重危险之中,在最近前往标准地点的实地考察中,没有发现其他记录。然而,在哥伦比亚东部山脉的西侧,我们发现了一个种群,该种群具有阴沟投影和脆弱的跗骨龙骨,但具有将该种群与H组描述的另外两个物种区分开来的形态特征。爱德华兹。根据这一材料,并根据H.Edwardsi、H.Ruizi和安第斯山脉其他树突动物的审查,我们将该种群描述为一个新物种,审查了阴沟投影,报告了手动手指IV和V(H.Edwardsi组的假设新突触体)中存在超远端块茎,并通过新物种评估了该组的系统发育位置。结果证实,这一群体是Hyloxalus的一部分,因为它是H.picachos的姐妹物种,最近提出的H.subpunctus分支的单亲性也得到了反驳。此外,我们还确定了新的形态特征,例如泄殖腔外肌和手指关节下结节的一系列转化。尽管“阴沟投影”仍然具有分类学意义,但由于其固有的难以从外部形态清晰编码,因此在系统发育推断中被拒绝,我们倾向于内部形态特征。
{"title":"The Enigmatic Hyloxalus edwardsi Species Group (Anura: Dendrobatidae): Phylogenetic Position, a New Species, and New Putative Morphological Synapomorphies","authors":"Marvin ANGANOY-CRIOLLO, Andres Viuche-Lozano, Maria Paula Enciso-Calle, M. H. Bernal, T. Grant","doi":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00015","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Hyloxalus edwardsi and H. ruizi are high-Andean dendrobatid frogs that inhabit the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Both species were placed in the H. edwardsi group on the basis of the synapomorphic presence of an elongate cloacal sheath and the absence of a tarsal keel and vocal slits. The group was originally placed in Colostethus sensu lato and was subsequently transferred to Hyloxalus; however, no species of the group were included in previous phylogenetic analyses. Both species are critically endangered, and recent expeditions to their type localities have yielded no additional specimens. Nevertheless, on the western flank of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia, we discovered a population possessing the elongate cloacal sheath but with other morphological character states that differentiate it from the previously known species. On the basis of this new material and examination of H. edwardsi, H. ruizi, and other Andean dendrobatids, we describe this population as a new species and test the phylogenetic position of this group. Our results corroborate the placement of this group within Hyloxalus, specifically as sister to H. picachos, thereby refuting the monophyly of the recently proposed H. subpunctatus clade. We also identify several new putative morphological synapomorphies of the H. edwardsi group related to the extrinsic cloacal musculature and the subarticular tubercles of the hand. Although the cloacal sheath character is still taxonomically useful, given the inherent difficulty in scoring it unambiguously on the basis of external morphology, we deprecate it for phylogenetic analysis in favor of the internal morphological characters. Resumen: Hyloxalus edwardsi e H. ruizi son dos dendrobátidos altoandinos que habitan la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Ambas especies hacen parte del grupo monofilético Hyloxalus edwardsi, puesto que comparten la presencia sinapomórfica de la proyección cloacal (o embudo cloacal, tubo cloacal), la ausencia de la quilla del tarso y de hendiduras vocales. Este grupo de especies fue ubicado dentro del género Colostethus sensu lato, y posteriormente fue transferido a Hyloxalus; sin embargo, ninguna de estas dos especies fue incluida en análisis filogenéticos anteriores. Ambas especies están en peligro crítico y en salidas de campo recientes a las localidades tipo no se encontraron registros adicionales. No obstante, sobre la vertiente occidental de la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia, descubrimos una población que presenta proyección cloacal y una quilla del tarso débil, pero con características morfológicas que diferencian esta población de las otras dos especies descritas del grupo H. edwardsi. Con base en este material y la revisión de H. edwardsi, H. ruizi, y de otros dendrobátidos de los Andes, describimos esta población como nueva especie, revisamos la proyección cloacal, reportamos la presencia de tubérculos hiperdistales en el dedo manual IV and V (nueva sinapomorfia putativa para el grupo ","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46202232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.280
{"title":"THe Herpetologists' League Graduate Research Award Call For Competitors","authors":"","doi":"10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.280","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42417330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.279
{"title":"2022 Winners of the Herpetologists' League Awards","authors":"","doi":"10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.279","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42386174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.281
{"title":"Herpetologists' League Award for Distinguished Service to Herpetology Announcement and Call for Nominations","authors":"","doi":"10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.281","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47877032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.277
R. Platenberg
{"title":"Summary of Business Conducted at the Annual Meeting of The Herpetologists' League","authors":"R. Platenberg","doi":"10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.277","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.277","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47604043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00014
N. Burgmeier, Emily B. McCallen, Erin K. Kenison, ROD N. Williams
Abstract: Translocations of captive-reared animals are commonly used to stabilize declining wildlife populations. However, captive-reared animals are often raised in conditions dissimilar to their release sites and lacking natural characteristics, which could alter movement patterns and postrelease survivorship. These patterns can be further altered by season of release and soft-release conditions. We reared juvenile Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) for 18 mo in captivity in one of two conditions: a control condition with low-velocity water flow (unconditioned) or a treatment condition with moving water (conditioned) that simulated natural flow velocities at their intended release site. We divided 4-yr-old Hellbenders (n = 118) into six treatment groups to determine the effects of release season (fall or summer), release type (standard soft release or enhanced soft release), and conditioning (unconditioned or conditioned) on the number of days until first movement, release site retention, and survival. In November 2017, we released 80 radio-tagged individuals (40 conditioned and 40 unconditioned) into soft-release structures in the Blue River, Indiana. In July 2018, we released another 38 radio-tagged individuals (18 conditioned and 20 unconditioned) into soft-release structures at the same site. After release, we tracked each individual one to three times weekly for 10 mo (fall release) or 12 mo (summer release). We found that treatment groups released into caged cobble beds (i.e., enhanced soft release) delayed their first movement and had higher release site retention relative to groups released under caged shelter rocks (i.e., standard soft release). We found that conditioning had a positive effect on survival but only in the treatment group released in the summer. By combining techniques and releasing conditioned individuals in the summer using enhanced soft releases, we increased annual survival of captive-reared Hellbenders from a probability of 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31–0.79) to 0.74 (95% CI = 0.55–0.99). Our results provide important information about techniques that can be adopted across captive-rearing programs to help maximize the conservation success of Eastern Hellbenders.
{"title":"Comparing the Effects of Environmental Enrichment, Seasonality, and Soft Release on Site Retention and Survivorship of Captive-Reared Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)","authors":"N. Burgmeier, Emily B. McCallen, Erin K. Kenison, ROD N. Williams","doi":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00014","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Translocations of captive-reared animals are commonly used to stabilize declining wildlife populations. However, captive-reared animals are often raised in conditions dissimilar to their release sites and lacking natural characteristics, which could alter movement patterns and postrelease survivorship. These patterns can be further altered by season of release and soft-release conditions. We reared juvenile Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) for 18 mo in captivity in one of two conditions: a control condition with low-velocity water flow (unconditioned) or a treatment condition with moving water (conditioned) that simulated natural flow velocities at their intended release site. We divided 4-yr-old Hellbenders (n = 118) into six treatment groups to determine the effects of release season (fall or summer), release type (standard soft release or enhanced soft release), and conditioning (unconditioned or conditioned) on the number of days until first movement, release site retention, and survival. In November 2017, we released 80 radio-tagged individuals (40 conditioned and 40 unconditioned) into soft-release structures in the Blue River, Indiana. In July 2018, we released another 38 radio-tagged individuals (18 conditioned and 20 unconditioned) into soft-release structures at the same site. After release, we tracked each individual one to three times weekly for 10 mo (fall release) or 12 mo (summer release). We found that treatment groups released into caged cobble beds (i.e., enhanced soft release) delayed their first movement and had higher release site retention relative to groups released under caged shelter rocks (i.e., standard soft release). We found that conditioning had a positive effect on survival but only in the treatment group released in the summer. By combining techniques and releasing conditioned individuals in the summer using enhanced soft releases, we increased annual survival of captive-reared Hellbenders from a probability of 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31–0.79) to 0.74 (95% CI = 0.55–0.99). Our results provide important information about techniques that can be adopted across captive-rearing programs to help maximize the conservation success of Eastern Hellbenders.","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45280404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.282
The Herpetology Education Committee is seeking nominations for the 2014 Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology, sponsored by the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, The Herpetologists’ League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles. The award recognizes superior teaching effectiveness and mentoring of students in the area of herpetology and will be presented at the 2014 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The recipient will receive a cash prize of US$500, recognition in the form of an official letter from the Herpetology Education Committee, and a plaque. Letters of nomination should be submitted electronically to the committee chair, Craig Guyer (guyercr@auburn.edu) by 31 March 2014. For details on this award and the nomination procedure, please contact Craig Guyer or check for information at www. herpetologistsleague.org/en/news.php.
{"title":"The Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology","authors":"","doi":"10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/0018-0831-78.4.282","url":null,"abstract":"The Herpetology Education Committee is seeking nominations for the 2014 Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology, sponsored by the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, The Herpetologists’ League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles. The award recognizes superior teaching effectiveness and mentoring of students in the area of herpetology and will be presented at the 2014 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The recipient will receive a cash prize of US$500, recognition in the form of an official letter from the Herpetology Education Committee, and a plaque. Letters of nomination should be submitted electronically to the committee chair, Craig Guyer (guyercr@auburn.edu) by 31 March 2014. For details on this award and the nomination procedure, please contact Craig Guyer or check for information at www. herpetologistsleague.org/en/news.php.","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43499928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00033
Javier A. Ortíz-Medina, J. R. Cedeño-Vázquez, D. González-Solís, Vicente Mata-Silva
Abstract: Detailed studies on the natural history of snakes are essential for ecological hypothesis-driven research and effective conservation. Herein, we studied the diet composition and morphology of Yucatecan Cantils (Agkistrodon russeolus Gloyd 1972 [Serpentes: Viperidae]), an understudied viperid species endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula. We collected data from live free-ranging snakes; freshly road-killed snakes and snakes deliberately killed by local villagers; and museum specimens and literature sources. We compared their age classes, sexes, and color morphs. Data came from snakes from Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche in Mexico, and two records were from northern Belize, comprising most of the species' distribution range. Examination of 76 individuals resulted in 77 prey items from 68 snakes. Results indicated that A. russeolus is a generalist-opportunistic predator that feeds on a wide variety of vertebrates, but primarily on lizards and small mammals and less frequently on birds, snakes, and anurans. Geographic patterns in the diet and morphology of A. russeolus were evident: snakes from the coastal region were smaller in body size and less heavy bodied and with a heavily lizard-based diet, whereas snakes from both dry and moist forest regions were larger and heavier and their diet was primarily mammal based. We did not detect differences in diet composition among age classes because lizards and mammals were eaten at all stages of life, but an “ontogenetic telescope” was evident; that is, the importance of mammals increases with snake body size and the spectrum of prey types consumed also broadens. Males had longer tails than females, and females were light colored more often than males, but other morphological characteristics were similar between the sexes. The sexes and color morphs did not differ in diet composition. We did not detect dietary composition variations between seasons, and our data indicate that this species can feed year-round opportunistically. Because of increasing environmental pressures within its range, studies are urgently needed to elucidate other critical aspects of the ecology of this viperid species.
{"title":"Intraspecific Variation in Diet Composition and Morphology of Yucatecan Cantils (Agkistrodon russeolus Gloyd 1972 [Serpentes: Viperidae])","authors":"Javier A. Ortíz-Medina, J. R. Cedeño-Vázquez, D. González-Solís, Vicente Mata-Silva","doi":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-21-00033","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Detailed studies on the natural history of snakes are essential for ecological hypothesis-driven research and effective conservation. Herein, we studied the diet composition and morphology of Yucatecan Cantils (Agkistrodon russeolus Gloyd 1972 [Serpentes: Viperidae]), an understudied viperid species endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula. We collected data from live free-ranging snakes; freshly road-killed snakes and snakes deliberately killed by local villagers; and museum specimens and literature sources. We compared their age classes, sexes, and color morphs. Data came from snakes from Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche in Mexico, and two records were from northern Belize, comprising most of the species' distribution range. Examination of 76 individuals resulted in 77 prey items from 68 snakes. Results indicated that A. russeolus is a generalist-opportunistic predator that feeds on a wide variety of vertebrates, but primarily on lizards and small mammals and less frequently on birds, snakes, and anurans. Geographic patterns in the diet and morphology of A. russeolus were evident: snakes from the coastal region were smaller in body size and less heavy bodied and with a heavily lizard-based diet, whereas snakes from both dry and moist forest regions were larger and heavier and their diet was primarily mammal based. We did not detect differences in diet composition among age classes because lizards and mammals were eaten at all stages of life, but an “ontogenetic telescope” was evident; that is, the importance of mammals increases with snake body size and the spectrum of prey types consumed also broadens. Males had longer tails than females, and females were light colored more often than males, but other morphological characteristics were similar between the sexes. The sexes and color morphs did not differ in diet composition. We did not detect dietary composition variations between seasons, and our data indicate that this species can feed year-round opportunistically. Because of increasing environmental pressures within its range, studies are urgently needed to elucidate other critical aspects of the ecology of this viperid species.","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46647408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-14DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00011
Lesly Montserrat Barragán-Reséndiz, Carlos J. Pavón-Vázquez, Romina Itzel Cervantes-Burgos, Marysol Trujano-Ortega, L. Canseco-Márquez, U. García-Vázquez
Abstract: We describe Geophis berillus sp. nov., a new species of the Geophis sieboldi group based on three specimens from the Valle de Bravo region in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Estado de México, Mexico. The new species differs from all other members of this group by having 17 dorsal scale rows without apical pits, 149 and 151–152 ventrals (in males and females, respectively), and the lower portion of each scale in the first dorsal scale row pale. The new species is allopatric respective to other Geophis species. A phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA (cyt-b) supports the inclusion of G. berillus sp. nov. in the G. sieboldi group and a sister relationship with G. sieboldi, a finding corroborated by morphological evidence. Resumen: Describimos a Geophis berillus sp. nov una nueva especie del grupo Geophis sieboldi con base en tres especímenes de la región de Valle de Bravo en la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana. La nueva especie se diferencia de otros miembros del grupo por poseer 17 hileras de escamas dorsales sin fosas apicales, 149 y 152–153 ventrales (en machos y hembras, respectivamente) y la porción inferior de cada escama en la primera hilera de escamas dorsales clara. La nueva especie es alopátrica con respecto a otras especies de Geophis. Un análisis filogenético basado en DNA mitocondrial (cyt-b) respalda la inclusión de Geophis berillus sp. nov en el grupo G. sieboldi y su relación como grupo hermano de G. sieboldi, lo cual se corrobora con la evidencia morfológica.
{"title":"A New Species of Snake of the Geophis sieboldi Group (Squamata: Dipsadidae) from Estado de México, Mexico","authors":"Lesly Montserrat Barragán-Reséndiz, Carlos J. Pavón-Vázquez, Romina Itzel Cervantes-Burgos, Marysol Trujano-Ortega, L. Canseco-Márquez, U. García-Vázquez","doi":"10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-22-00011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: We describe Geophis berillus sp. nov., a new species of the Geophis sieboldi group based on three specimens from the Valle de Bravo region in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Estado de México, Mexico. The new species differs from all other members of this group by having 17 dorsal scale rows without apical pits, 149 and 151–152 ventrals (in males and females, respectively), and the lower portion of each scale in the first dorsal scale row pale. The new species is allopatric respective to other Geophis species. A phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA (cyt-b) supports the inclusion of G. berillus sp. nov. in the G. sieboldi group and a sister relationship with G. sieboldi, a finding corroborated by morphological evidence. Resumen: Describimos a Geophis berillus sp. nov una nueva especie del grupo Geophis sieboldi con base en tres especímenes de la región de Valle de Bravo en la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana. La nueva especie se diferencia de otros miembros del grupo por poseer 17 hileras de escamas dorsales sin fosas apicales, 149 y 152–153 ventrales (en machos y hembras, respectivamente) y la porción inferior de cada escama en la primera hilera de escamas dorsales clara. La nueva especie es alopátrica con respecto a otras especies de Geophis. Un análisis filogenético basado en DNA mitocondrial (cyt-b) respalda la inclusión de Geophis berillus sp. nov en el grupo G. sieboldi y su relación como grupo hermano de G. sieboldi, lo cual se corrobora con la evidencia morfológica.","PeriodicalId":56312,"journal":{"name":"Herpetologica","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41539529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}