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The article describes novel observations of aerial and aquatic basking behavior in the critically endangered Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) during the cool season in Myanmar. Topics include the turtle's natural history, its critically endangered status, and detailed observations of basking behavior.

The article discusses research on the specie, "Alligator Mississippiensis (American Alligator)" and explores about its geographical distribution and collection of specimen, along with explores diet and prey of the species.

The article offers information on predators and predation of Turkey Vultures. Topics discussed include identification of Turkey Vulture by the red coloration of the bare skin on the head and gray-brown iris ; reports of large constricting snakes preying on Carthartid vultures; and role of predatory attacks by eagles on vultures to induce vultures to regurgitate partially digested food.

Rice Oryza sativa ecosystems provide foraging and nesting habitat for a variety of birds. Myanmar is a major rice-producing nation and yet bird use of rice ecosystems remains largely unstudied. We present the results of a case study of avian species richness in a traditional rice ecosystem at Limpha Village in upper Myanmar. The rice field at Limpha occupies 17.5 ha where a single crop is produced each year without chemical inputs (fertilizer and pesticides). Village lands are contiguous with the buffer zone of Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary. We conducted bird surveys of the rice field during dry and wet seasons (2013–20) and documented the occurrence of 85 species (exclusive of Buttonquail these included 58 resident species, 20 migratory species, six species with both resident and migratory populations in upper Myanmar), including 10 species of conservation concern. Species richness was greatest during the dry season when an influx of Palearctic migrants was present. We ranked 52 species as Common, 23 as Uncommon, and 10 as Rare. Most birds used the rice field as foraging rather than breeding habitat. Insectivore was the most common feeding guild (43 species), followed by Omnivore (22 species), Carnivore (12 species), Granivore (6 species), Frugivore (1 species), and Nectarivore (1 species) guilds. We observed eight species associated with domestic Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis and 15 species foraging at active fires or in burned areas in the rice field. Piles of rice straw are important foraging sites for several species. Low intensity agricultural practices, habitat heterogeneity, and proximity to the nearby swamp, forest, & Chindwin River are probably responsible for the relatively high avian species richness at Limpha. Future agricultural intensification could negatively impact avian species richness in the Limpha rice field. Our findings suggest that traditional rice agriculture is compatible with conservation objectives in the buffer zone of Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary. Our study, however, requires replication before generalizations can be made concerning the value of traditional rice ecosystems to avian conservation in Myanmar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nile Monitors (Varanus niloticus) are large (up to 2.4 m in length), semiaquatic, carnivorous lizards native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Nile Monitors are reported from southeastern Florida near the Homestead Air Reserve Base in Miami-Dade County, around Southwest Ranches in Broward County, and from a reproducing population along the C-51 canal in Palm Beach County. This study characterizes the diet of Nile Monitors removed from Palm Beach and Broward counties. In 2012, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff and University of Florida researchers began conducting monthly boat surveys along the C-51 canal and driving and walking surveys in Southwest Ranches. We used Nile Monitors removed with firearms or live traps from southeastern Florida from 2012 to 2016. We extracted gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and collected gut contents when present. We rinsed, sorted, dried, examined, and identified gut contents to the lowest taxonomic level possible. We examined 68 GI tracts (30 males, 37 females, 1 of undetermined sex) and identified 1,484 prey items from 65 individuals. We categorized prey items as gastropod, diplopod, malacostracan, arachnid, insect, fish, amphibian, reptile, reptile egg, bird, and mammal. Adult Nile Monitors exhibited the highest dietary diversity and evenness among size classes, and there was no observable difference in diet between males and females. Our observations confirm Nile Monitors are active foragers, and the combination of broad diet and active foraging makes it unlikely that food availability will limit distribution of these invasive lizards in Florida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents field observations of nesting, aggressive nest defense, and prolonged nest attendance by Crocodylus siamensis (Siamese crocodile) in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Topics discussed include description of Crocodylus siamensis, the visit made by the researchers to Noa Neua on July 12, 2011 to collect eggs from a crocodile nest found by participants in the community conservation program, and significance of the observations of the nesting and attendance behavior.

The article highlights the ex-situ conservation efforts for the critically endangered Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) in Myanmar. Topics discussed include the history and establishment of assurance colonies, detailed husbandry and breeding practices, and the challenges of reintroduction and hatchling care.

The article describes the nesting habitat of Chelydra Serpentina or Snapping Turle and Chrysemys Picta or Painte Turtle along a railroad embankment in the Great Swamp of Dutchess County, New York. The study identifies the number of depredated nests and measures the approximate linear distance of the nesting area along the railroad embankment. It estimates tree canopy coverage above the nesting area and notes the presence and composition of ground vegetation and substrate used by the species.

The article reports predation of a newly emerged hatchling Batagur trivittata by a Javan Rat Snake. It mentions that the snake displayed an obvious bulge immediately posterior to the head that was preventing its passage through the fence. It informs that hatchling otherwise appeared to suffer no ill-effects from being ingested by the snake and was transferred to the rearing facility where it remains alive.

The article focuses on conducting a conservation and threat assessment in marine turtles and estuarine crocodiles in Lampi Marine National Park in Myanmar. It provides an overview of the significant role of the protected area system in the country in the national and regional conservation of marine turtles.

The article reports that juvenile Crocodylus siamensis foraging around the periphery of a floating grass mat in Kean Tok wetland (Sre Ambel River System, Koh Kong Province, Cambodia). Topics include the crocodile appeared uninjured and swam rapidly into floating vegetation where it was lost from sight, and the observation constitutes the only report of predation or attempted predation on any sizeclass of C. siamensis yet suggests Channa may be a predator of juveniles.

The article offers information on Cyclemys atripons is a semi-aquatic turtle restricted to extreme southwestern Cambodia and adjacent areas of southeastern Thailand, with an apparently disjunct population occurring in the Dangrek Mountains of northern Cambodia. Topics include the natural history and ecology of C. atripons remains poorly studied with virtually nothing known concerning reproduction in the wild, and the eggs and reproductive phenology of C. atripons in Cambodia.

The article offers information of GLYPTEMYS INSCULPTA known as Wood Turtle, and the Railroads threaten wildlife indirectly by genetically isolating populations, and directly through mortality resulting from collisions with trains and lethal entrapment between rails.

The article reports that Kleptoparasitism is the stealing of already procured food by individuals of the same or different species. Topics include considered that observations of kleptoparasitism in Nerodia are noteworthy for two reasons and to our knowledge, these observations constitute the first report of kleptoparasitic behaviors among any Nerodia.

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene Carolina, along with mentions about omnivore behavior of the Terrapene Carolina.

The Central American river turtle (Dermatemys mawii) is a large Critically Endangered freshwater turtle historically found in the coastal lowlands of southern Mexico, northern Guatemala, and Belize. Due to years of intense harvesting for its meat, D. mawii has been virtually eliminated from much of its former range in southern Mexico, while its status in Guatemala remains unclear. During April and May 2010, we conducted a countrywide survey in Belize to assess the current conservation status of D. mawii in what is believed to be its last stronghold. We surveyed approximately 30 localities from deep southern to extreme northern Belize, including 17 areas previously surveyed during the early 1980s and 1990s. Results indicate D. mawii is heavily depleted in most of Belize, but healthy populations remain in a few remote areas (including multiple, previously unsurveyed localities in southern Belize), especially those receiving some level of protection. While this mirrors the trend observed in previous surveys, the current findings are of particular concern because the number of localities where turtles were observed and the number of turtles observed at these localities were both much reduced compared to earlier surveys. Large turtles (reproductive adults) continue to be targeted during harvests, significantly reducing the most demographically important segment of the population. Further, interviews with fishermen and hunters indicate that laws and regulations enacted for the protection of D. mawii are largely ignored by locals, as broad-scale enforcement is difficult or impossible to achieve. In this paper, we discuss survey results in the context of previous investigations, describe levels and sources of exploitation, and provide conservation recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa) is a critically endangered, poorly known chelonian endemic to western Myanmar. We conducted surveys of the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range in 2003 and 2009, and herein report field observations of H. depressa. This protected area offers excellent prospects for the future conservation of this endangered species owing to its large area, inaccessibility, and minimal human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the distribution and conservation status of Indotestudo forstenii, Leucocephalon yuwonoi, and Cuora amboinensis in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia during 2005-06. Village interviews suggest that I. forstenii and L. yuwonoi are more widely distributed than available records indicate. We verified the occurrence of I. forstenii at five heretofore unreported localities in Central and North Sulawesi, including xeric hills above the Palu Valley and sites adjacent to Lore Lindu National Park, and local villagers reported encounters in Panua Nature Reserve. Sexual size dimorphism was not evident in our sample (n = 103) of I. forstenii. We were unable to locate wild populations of L. yuwonoi, but interview data suggest that this endemic species might occur in Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park and Panua Nature Reserve. Among the L. yuwonoi we measured (n = 150), males were larger than females; large body size may give males an advantage in intraspecific dominance contests. Cuora amboinensis remains common in northern Sulawesi where it occurs in a variety of wetland habitats. Subsistence harvesting of turtles appears minimal in northern Sulawesi owing to a cultural bias against consuming turtle meat. We found little evidence of commercial exploitation of turtles in North Sulawesi and Gorontalo; however, a modest but increasing number of turtles are being harvested in Central Sulawesi to supply local ethnic Chinese, and international pet, food, and medicinal markets. Future conservation efforts should seek to verify the occurrence of endemic chelonians in protected areas and develop management plans to insure the survival of these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the biodiversity, exploitation, and conservation status of turtles in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR) of Cambodia from June 2000 through October 2001. We confirmed the occurrence or former occurrence of 4 native species of turtles (Batagur baska, Cuora amboinensis, Heosemys annandalii, and Malayemys subtrijuga) in TSBR and discuss the possible occurrence of 4 others, including 2 native species (Amyda cartilaginea and Pelochelys cantorii) and 2 exotics (Trachemys scripta and Pelodiscus sinensis). Large numbers of turtles were being unsustainably harvested from TSBR at the time of our study. Most harvested turtles were destined for urban markets in Cambodia and international wildlife markets in Vietnam and southern China, with very few kept by fishermen for household consumption. We regard any attempts to eliminate the subsistence harvest of turtles as impractical in Cambodia but recommend a complete ban on the extraction of turtles and other wildlife resources from the 3 core areas of TSBR. Incidental to our investigation of turtles in TSBR, we collected data on sexual size dimorphism and reproductive biology of M. subtrijuga. Our findings indicate that female M. subtrijuga are larger than males, and females may construct underwater nests as floodwaters begin to recede in the early dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the mortality of an adult Crocodylus (C.) moreletii (Morelet's crocodile) as the result of a probable vessel strike in Belize. Topics include the injuries of the crocodile which were consistent with vessel strikes observed in West Indian Manatees, analysis of the pattern of injuries observed by the authors, and factor which has likely increased the vulnerability of C. moreletti and other aquatic vertebrates to vessel-related injuries and mortalities in Belize.

The article offers information on sperm storage of Big-headed Turtle. Topics discussed include information on sperm storage in non-parthenogenetic vertebrates for production of viable eggs over time; information on Platysternon megacephalum which is threatened by subsistence hunting, rampant commercially driven poaching, and habitat destruction; role of sperm storage to enable a female to increase her genetic fitness by copulating only as often as necessary to fertilize her eggs.

The article offers information on turtle specie Batagur trivittata. It mentions that they are critically endangered, conservation-dependent, aquatic turtle endemic to the larger rivers of Myanmar. It also mentions that the observations were made on sandbanks along the Chindwin River at Limpha and Htamanthi villages in the Sagaing Region, Myanmar.

We critically evaluated a published historic account purported to be a new size record for A. mississippiensis (American Alligator). According to a newspaper article published in 1885, this large alligator was killed in Natchitoches, LA, and reportedly measured 823 cm (27 ft) in length and weighed 355.3 kg (783.5 lbs). We compared the reported values for total length (TL) and body mass (BM) with those predicted by a growth model describing the allometric relationship between these 2 variables. According to this model, an American Alligator with a TL of 823 cm would have a BM of 2534 kg; alternatively, an American Alligator weighing 355.3 kg would measure only 432 cm in length. Given these morphometric discrepancies, we are unable to accept this record. The largest credible size record for an American Alligator remains an individual measuring 450 cm in length and weighing 458 kg, harvested in Wilcox County, AL, in 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile virus (WNV) is an endemic arboviral pathogen that occurs throughout most of the United States and is typically maintained through a bird-mosquito-bird transmission cycle. The ecological significance of the virus is high due to its ability to infect and cause disease in humans, livestock, and wildlife. West Nile virus infection of many vertebrate species causes signs of viral illness, including encephalitis that may result in mortality. Infection by WNV has recently been detected in captive Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligators) in Georgia and Louisiana, and in both captive and free-ranging alligators in Florida. However, additional surveys for WNV in populations of free-ranging alligators within the southeastern USA have not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to survey free-ranging alligators in south Louisiana for active WNV infection. Blood samples were collected from 93 alligators captured at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish, LA, during May 2006 and were screened for WNV using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All samples (100%) tested negative for WNV, indicating a lack of detectable active infection in these animals. Additional surveys of the occurrence of WNV in alligators throughout the southeastern USA are needed to determine the susceptibility of these reptiles to the virus, effects on the health of infected populations, and the potential role of alligators in the maintenance and transmission of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]