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Two research expeditions surveyed the herpetofauna within the monsoon-influenced zone of Wadi Sayq, a coastal wadi system 31.5km in length, situated in the southwestern Jabal Qamar mountain range, Dhofar, Oman. Surveys were undertaken from 02 to 29 February 2012, and from 06 February to 07 March 2013. Ninety-three individuals belonging to 15 species were recorded. Morphological data was collected for 10 species. An elevation gradient in habitat preference is observed for the genus Hemidactylus, and the discovery of four Coluber thomasi individuals significantly increases the total global records for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted from July 2004 to July 2005 in the Sierra de Juarez, in northern Chihuahua. This mountainous area is located west of Ciudad Juarez, is geographically isolated, by both natural features and anthropogenic influence. The objectives were to determine the richness and diversity of amphibians and reptiles along an altitudinal gradient and thus contribute to a better understanding of their spatial distribution and abundance. Five hundred and eleven individuals of 16 species were recorded in 52 samplings. Ecological and environmental conditions that reveal the current status of this fauna and their potential use as indicators of disturbance are described. Knowledge of our study community is urgent, given the dynamic that is beginning to show by invasions and changes being made in the Sierra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the herpetological survey regarding McDowell Sonoran Preserve (MSP) in Arizona. It mentions the application of minimally-intrusive methods and outlined the primary goal of the survey which is to establish a baseline list of documented herpetofauna inhabiting the MSP. It notes that the most common method was a visual encounter survey that entailed walking slowly and quietly through the survey area and focusing on habitat likely to be productive.

The article discusses the study on geographical distributions of herpetofauna found in Mexico. Several reptiles and amphibians species are reported in Mexican states including Craugastor pygmaeus (Pigmy Robber Frog), Sceloporus jarrovii (Yarrow's Spiny Lizard), Bothriechis rowleyi (Rowley's Palm Pitviper).

The rapid loss and degradation of tropical forests threatens the maintenance of biodiversity across different spatial scales. Nevertheless, the extirpation and population decline of some disturbance-sensitive species may be compensated for by colonization and proliferation of disturbance-adapted species, thus allowing distributions of community-level attributes (e.g., abundance and diversity) to be preserved in human-modified tropical landscapes. To test this poorly assessed hypothesis we evaluated species- and community-level responses of amphibians and reptiles to differences in forest patch (patch size, shape, and distance to water bodies) and landscape metrics (old-growth forest cover, degree of fragmentation, and matrix composition) in the fragmented Lacandona rainforest, Mexico. We found that the abundance of several amphibian and reptile species was strongly associated with forest patch and landscape attributes, being particularly higher in larger patches surrounded by a greater forest cover. Such changes at the species level generated notable changes in reptile communities. In particular, the abundance, diversity, and evenness of reptile communities were strongly related to patch size, patch shape, and matrix composition. Yet, because of compensatory dynamics in amphibians, this group showed weak responses at the community level. Despite such compensatory dynamics, our results indicate that forest loss at the patch and landscape levels represents the main threat to both amphibians and reptiles, thus indicating that to preserve herpetological communities in this biodiversity hotspot, conservation initiatives should be focused on preventing further deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes observation of predation on a Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae or Mountain Patch-nosed Snake by a Spilogale gracilis that was captured on a remote camera in the Aguirre Springs Recreation Area on the east side of the Organ Mountains, Doña Ana County, New Mexico on October 12, 2020. Information is provided on the diet of a Spilogale gracilis and its three major lineages. Other cases of snake species preying on Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae are cited.

The article describes observation of the diet of an adult male Porthidium yucatanicum or Yucatán Hog-nosed Pitviper that was found south of the Maya Archaeological Zone of Kabáh, Municipality of Santa Elena, Yucatán on Movember 26, 2019 and whose fecal sample showed that its prey correspond to Cryptotis mayensis.

The article presents a study related to the herpetological perspective of science, statistics and surveys. Topics discussed include biodiversity assessment keeping in view of the amphibians and reptiles, benefits of population assessment in conservation decision-making, and how conservation legislation protects individual animals and their habitats.

Much of the western United States is managed by state and federal agencies for multiple uses, including recreation, grazing, extraction, and defense. Biological inventories are integral to proper management and conservation of biodiversity on these lands. We surveyed for amphibians and reptiles occurring on Naval Air Station Fallon (NAS Fallon), Nevada, USA, using a variety of methods. We documented the presence of a majority of the amphibian and reptile species native to this region of the Great Basin. We found 5 species on NAS Fallon that are listed as Species of Conservation Priority by the Nevada Department of Wildlife: the Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana), Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), Northern Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos platyrhinos), Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wizlizenii), and Great Basin Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores). However, we found no evidence of any narrowly distributed species of conservation concern, such as the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) or Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae), that could have occurred on installation lands based on historical or recent observations in nearby areas. Our results indicate that this property, while primarily used for military training, can support a diverse, representative herpetofaunal community. Therefore, NAS Fallon should be considered a valuable part of the network of state and federally managed lands necessary for regional conservation planning in the face of future change. Our study also provides a baseline against which future inventories of this federally managed land can be compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations on Tiga provide the first vouchered her-petological records for this small island between Lifou and Maré in the Loyalty Islands. Eighty-three skeletal elements from four sites yielded material assignable to skinks (Emoia loyaltiensis, Lioscincus nigrofasciolatus), geckos (Bavayia crassi-collis, B. sp., Gehyra georgpotthasti, Nactus pelagicus), and a boid snake (Candoia bibroni) all known from elsewhere in the Loyalties, as well as undetermined material consistent with these and other Loyalties lizards. Diagnostic features of geckos versus skinks for elements commonly recovered from archaeological sites and from owl pellets are discussed. Gehyra georgpotthasti has a limited distribution in the Loyalties and its occurrence on Tiga clarifies its range. The boid snake is the only reptile likely to have been harvested by human inhabitants of Tiga. The presence of gekkonid geckos in pre-European times is confirmed and contrasts with the situation of Grande Terre fossil sites, where only diplodac-tylid geckos have been recovered. Although it is anticipated that all species recovered from archaeological sites are still present on the island, a modern herpetofaunal survey is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report of the occurrence of Iranolacerta brandtii in Eastern Anatolia. The distribution of I. brandtii is extended approximately 230 km eastwards into Van province, Turkey, showing that this species is not endemic to Iran as previously stated in the literature. Seven specimens were collected from four different localities between May and September 2014. Specimens were evaluated with respect to their morphological characters and some ecological features and their taxonomical status is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on herpetofaunal inventory of Borneo, which conserves several amphibians and reptiles. Topics discussed include presence of animals in Borneo instead of highest deforestation rates of Borneo in the world; areas of Borneo which have inventory such as dipterocarp forest and montane forest; present species in Borneo such as reptiles Aplopeltura boa and Asthenodipsas laevis along with amphibians such as Philautus ingeri and Philautus macroscelis.

The article discusses cataract in the species Sphaerotheca Pashchima, commonly known as Western Burrowing Frog.

The article discusses the predation behavior in the species Rhinella Marina, located in Cane Toad.

The article discusses predation in the species Incilus Valliceps, commonly known as Southern Gulf Coast Toad.

In August 2016, scientists from the United States and Mexico assembled at Highlands, North Carolina, a temperate-zone hot spot of salamander biodiversity, to participate in the Special Highlands Conference on Plethodontid Salamander Biology. Hosted by the Highlands Biological Station (HBS), the conference celebrated the 90th year of the HBS, and especially the productive collaboration at Highlands of Drs. Lynne Houck, Steve Arnold, and Rick and Pam Feldhoff. The conference showcased the increasing value of plethodontids as research models, exemplified by eight papers in this special issue of Herpetologica stemming from invited minireviews presented at the 2016 Special Conference. The papers contribute to the dramatic rise in journal articles that use plethodontids to address diverse questions of broad relevance to modern biology. We hope that this special issue of Herpetologica sparks new research on these fascinating salamanders, and we look forward to future conferences on plethodontid salamander biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We encountered 14 fish species in Carei Plain natural protected area, from which 10 were native and 4 were non native. Cobitis elongatoides and Misgurnus fossilis registered the highest frequency of occurrence and percentage abundance. Unlike the studies undertaken before in the region, our data emphasize a distinct aspect of the ichthyofauna, due to the fact that we used a net designed for capturing amphibians. This allowed us to investigate some habitats that are difficult to study with other methods. The species from the area are generally characteristic to small plain rivers, with abundant vegetation and sandy or muddy substratum. The presence of Umbra krameri and Carassius carassius is important, they being native species, characteristic to the habitats from the area. The waters from Carei Plain are man-modified or artificial. Thus the fish assemblages, although with many protected, ecologically or zoogeographically important species cannot present the aspect of the initial communities from the region. Due to the anthropic impact and to the drought from the past decade, it is expected that the ichthyofauna from the region will be even more affected in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dmanisi is currently the oldest Early Palaeolithic site discovered out of Africa. It has produced over 40 hominin remains, including a set of very informative skulls, in direct association with faunal remains and numerous lithic artifacts. Given the relevance of this locality, every effort is being made to reconstruct the landscapes where these hominins once lived. Amphibian and reptile remains from Dmanisi are here described for the first time and used as paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental proxies. They comprise at least six taxa: a green toad ( Bufo gr. Bufo viridis ), the Greek tortoise ( Testudo graeca ), a green lizard ( Lacerta gr. Lacerta viridis ), a four-lined snake ( Elaphe gr. Elaphe quatuorlineata ), an indeterminate colubrid and a water snake ( Natrix sp.). As these taxa are not extinct and their ecology can be directly studied, they can contribute to the reconstruction of the landscape and climate. The application of the Mutual Climatic Range method provides quantitative data indicating that during the hominin presence at Dmanisi climate was warm and dry, similar to the present-day Mediterranean climate. In comparison with today climate of Dmanisi, estimated mean annual temperature was 3.1 °C higher, with a greater increase of temperature in summer (+7.1 °C) than in winter (+4.7 °C). The mean annual precipitation was slightly lower (−65 mm) than the current level, with precipitation higher than current one during winter (+104 mm) but strongly lower during the other seasons, suggesting a stronger contrast in the rainfall regime during the year. From a paleoenvironmental point of view, fossil amphibians and reptiles all suggest the predominance of arid environments, from steppe or semi-desert to open Mediterranean forest, with stony or rocky substrate and bushy areas. The presence of permanent aquatic environments is also documented. These results mainly agree with those for large mammals, small mammals and the archaeobotanical analysis that indicate an important water stress suggesting a period of increased aridity contemporaneous with human occupations of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Herpetofauna of the Capanda Dam region in Angola. Topics discussed include lack of knowledge of Angolan biodiversity and amphibian and reptile diversity, review of the herpetofauna of Angola, and description of specimens in the region including Amietophrynus cf. regularis, Hyperolius parallelus and Phrynobatrachus cf. natalensis.

Species inventories provide the basic information for biodiversity studies. Designing cost-effective species inventories is important in estimating the species richness or the number of additional species expected in a study area. Complete species inventories are difficult to achieve and a variety of estimation methods are available to counter the underestimation of species richness associated with incomplete sampling. A main criterion of selecting an estimation method requires deciding on a sampling unit type. The sampling unit may vary across study and estimating species richness using different sample units may produce different results. We evaluated the ability of incidence-based estimators of species richness to provide reliable estimates of species richness of temperate herpetofauna (i.e. amphibian and reptile) communities using two different types of sampling units (i.e. numbers of sampling days and the number of sampling sites, respectively). Our results showed that incidence-based estimators varied in their performance according to the two sampling units used. The incidence-based coverage estimator performed best when sampling unit was the number of sampling days whereas second-order Jackknife was the best estimator using sites as sampling unit. We draw attention on the lack of robustness of incidence-based estimators to sampling unit and recommend using species richness estimators in inventories of herpetofauna depending on the sampling unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on herpetological research by herpetologists such as Raymond Ditmars and Lawrence Klauber who have influenced undergraduate for research. Topics discussed include elements of maintaining a research program at schools for high-quality teaching such as long-standing research program and emphasis on graduate degrees and suggestions by the author for betterment of the research such as research grant to students.

The intentional translocation of animals is an important tool for species conservation and ecosystem restoration, but reported success rates are low, particularly for threatened and endangered species. Publication bias further distorts success rates because the results of successful translocations may be more likely to be published than failed translocations. We conducted the first comprehensive review of all published and unpublished translocations of herpetofauna in New Zealand to assess publication bias. Of 74 translocations of 29 species in 25 years, 35 have been reported in the published literature, and the outcomes of 12 have been published. Using a traditional definition of success, publication bias resulted in a gross overestimate of translocation success rates (41.7% and 8.1% for published and all translocations, respectively), but bias against failed translocations was minimal (8.3% and 6.8%, respectively). Publication bias against translocations with uncertain outcomes, the vast majority of projects, was also strong (50.0% and 85.1% for published and all translocations, respectively). Recent translocations were less likely to be published than older translocations. The reasons behind translocations were related to publication. A greater percentage of translocations for conservation and research were published (63.3% and 40.0%, respectively) than translocations for mitigation during land development (10.0%). Translocations conducted in collaboration with a university were more frequently published (82.7% and 24.4%, respectively). To account for some of this publication bias, we reassessed the outcome of each translocation using a standardized definition of success, which takes into consideration the species' life history and the time since release. Our standardized definition of translocation success provided a more accurate summary of success rates and allows for a more rigorous evaluation of the causes of translocation success and failure in large-scale reviews. Entendiendo el Sesgo de Publicaciones en la Biología de la Reintroducción Mediante el Estudio de Traslocaciones de la Herpetofauna de Nueva Zelanda [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madrean Archipelago in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico consists of 22 mountain ranges south of the Mogollon Rim. Herpetofaunal lists for these ranges and a segment of the rim were constructed based on museum specimens from Madrean evergreen woodland, petran montane conifer forest, and interior chaparral. Few or no species have been recorded from these communities in the Sierrita, Little Dragoon, and Big Hatchet mountains, emphasizing the need for additional sampling in the archipelago. A total of 83 species are found in the remaining 20 ranges, with lizards (28) and snakes (35) predominating. No two mountain ranges had the same herpetofauna. Species richness varies from 15 to 44 (mean 28.1). Phenetic analyses of herpetofaunal similarity among the ranges identify three groups: a northern group with eight ranges from the Rincon Mountains to the Pinaleño Mountains to the Sierra Ancha; a southwestern group consisting of the Baboquivari, Santa Rita, Pajarito, and Patagonia mountains; and a southeastern group with seven ranges from the Huachuca and Whetstone mountains to the Animas Mountains; the Mogollon Rim segment is placed as the first "branch" of the phenogram. The analyses place the Patagonia Mountains in the SW group and the Huachuca Mountains in the SE group, although the two are connected by woodland. The Madrean line separating the northern group from the two southern groups approximates the southern limit of interior chaparral. The ranges of the southwestern group are in contact with semitropical Sonoran desert scrub at low elevations, whereas Chihuahuan desert scrub and semidesert grassland surround the southeastern ranges. With few exceptions, published studies of phylogeography within species suggest that divergence among montane populations in the archipelago does not predate the Pleistocene. Phylogeographic analyses using nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and including all ranges of the Madrean Archipelago inhabited by a species are needed to determine the extent to which shared historic biogeographic events may underlie the groups of mountain ranges identified on the basis of herpetofaunal similarities in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interglacial episodes of the Quaternary Period are currently the focus of a great deal of attention within the scientific community, primarily because they can help us to understand how the climate of the current interglacial may have evolved without human intervention and to assess the impact of these climate changes on ecological systems. In the central Iberian Peninsula, the archaeological site of Áridos-1 (Arganda, Madrid), with numeric dates of 379.7 ± 45 ka obtained by AAR for the upper part of the sedimentological unit of Arganda I, in combination with the evolved state of the small mammals, has been chronologically attributed to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11. Given the diversified faunal assemblages delivered by the 1976 excavations, Áridos-1 is probably one of the best terrestrial candidates for an understanding of the climatic and environmental conditions that prevailed in central Spain during the MIS 11 interglacial. In consequence, the fossil amphibians and squamate reptiles stored in the collections of the Museo Arqueológico Nacional of Madrid have been newly described and quantified in order to apply the mutual climatic range and habitat weighting methods for estimating quantitative data. The Mediterranean climate is shown to have been warmer and wetter than today in central Spain during MIS 11, with the mean annual temperature 1.7 °C higher and mean annual precipitation 223.9 mm higher than at present. The monthly climatic reconstruction shows differences in the distribution of precipitation over the course of the year, with more abundant precipitation during the winter months, at the beginning of spring and at the end of fall (from October to March) and less precipitation than today during the summer months and at the end of spring (from May to August), suggesting stronger rainfall seasonality between winter and summer than currently occurs. Such climate reconstruction is consistent with other European MIS 11 paleoclimatic records. The paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on the herpetofaunal assemblage suggests a patchy landscape with a large representation of dry meadows, scrubland and rocky habitats together with well-evidenced aquatic habitats. Such open environments during a warm and humid forestal period are seen to be connected with the location of the site in a large river valley, where open vegetation would have been partly initiated and certainly maintained by the grazing, browsing, trampling and tree-felling activities of large mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Balkan Peninsula is a hot spot for European herpetofaunal biodiversity and endemism. The rock climbing lizards Dalmatolacerta oxycephala and Dinarolacerta mosorensis and the ground-dwelling Dalmatian wall lizard Podarcis melisellensis are endemic to the Western Balkans, and their ranges largely overlap. Here, we present a comparative phylogeographical study of these three species in the area of their codistribution in order to determine the level of concordance in their evolutionary patterns. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on two mitochondrial genes ( cytochrome b and 16S rRNA), and a molecular clock approach was used to date the most important events in their evolutionary histories. We also tested for correlations regarding genetic differentiation among populations and their geographical distances. For all three species, a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances was found. Within D. oxycephala, two deeply separated clades ('island' and 'mainland clade'), with further subdivision of the 'mainland clade' into two subclades ('south-eastern' and 'north-western'), were found. High sequence divergences were observed between these groups. From our data, the time of separation of the two main clades of D. oxycephala can be estimated at about 5 mya and at about 0.8 mya for the two subclades of the mainland clade. Within D. mosorensis, coalescence time may be dated at about 1 mya, while D. mosorensis and D. montenegrina separated around 5 mya. The results imply the existence of complex palaeo-biogeographical and geological factors that probably influenced the observed phylogeographical patterns in these lacertid species, and point to the presence of numerous glacial/interglacial refugia. Furthermore, the observed cryptic genetic diversity within the presently monotypic species D. oxycephala prompts for a revision of its taxonomic and conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest area of preserved Atlantic forest is located in the southern portion of Brazil. The region of Paranapiacaba is depicted in Brazilian zoological studies as one of the first and most intensely sampled areas of the state of São Paulo. We provide a concise list of reptiles and amphibians from the Paranapiacaba Municipal Park. It represents the first comprehensive survey of the group in the area. We recorded 136 species of reptiles and amphibians from field surveys, museum collections and the literature. The anuran diversity of Paranapiacaba is greater than that of Estação Ecológica de Boracéia, which has been considered the most distinctive areas in São Paulo in terms of amphibian diversity. The rich history of herpetological research in the region, including the occurrence of the two most threatened species in Brazil, converts the area to an important conservation landmark for the Brazilian herpetofauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information of Ptyas nigromarginata known as Green Rat Snake has a wide geographic range, little is known about its biology, and it is known to be diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal, and inhabit hill evergreen, montane forests, and agricultural fields at 500–2300 m elev.

The article offers information of Philodryas nattereri (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) is known from Paraguay and Brazil, where it is widespread and common in the Cerrado, Caatinga, and Chiquitano Dry Forest, with marginal records in Amazonia.

This study was developed in order to determine the annual and seasonal herpetofauna diversity of Montecillo Santa Cruz, Municipality of San Francisco del Mar, Oaxaca, at the south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Between November 2010 and November 2011, over 48 field workdays (24-dry season and 24-wet season), two 500 m long and 10 m wide transects were established in open grassland, nanchal, tropical deciduous forest and riparian vegetation. We recorded in an area of 20 km2, a total of 49 species (10 species of amphibians and 39 species of reptiles). This richness represents 30.61% of the total herpetofauna of Oaxaca. A total of 46 species were recorded at the wet season (10 amphibians and 37 reptiles) and 37 at the dry season (4 amphibians and 33 reptiles). The 30.61% of the total are listed in some risk category in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, one species is listed as critically endangered (Ctenosaura oaxacana) by the IUCN Red List, and four more are in the Appendix II of CITES. Throughout the study, the tropical deciduous forest presented the highest alpha diversity (H' = 3.2900, 1 / D = 20.6), while the open grassland was the one with less diversity (H' = 3.1664, 1 / D = 17.14). On a seasonal basis, the deciduous forest showed the highest diversity (H' = 3.2900, 1 / D = 20.6 wet season, H' = 3.0850, 1 / D = 17.71 dry season), while the lowest diversity was recorded in the riparian vegetation during the wet season (H' = 3.1009, 1 / D = 16.61), and in the grassland (H' = 2.7095, 1 / D = 11.40) during the dry season. Throughout the study, the vegetation associations that shared a greater number of species were tropical deciduous forest and riparian vegetation (P = 0.7045 and S = 0.5613), coinciding with the seasonal results (J = 0.6500 and S = 0.4921 wet season, J = 0.6333 and S = 0.4489 dry season). We found a high diversity in a relatively small area, so the area can be considered as important for the distribution of amphibians and reptiles, and therefore is essential to establish conservation and management measures for these species and their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural history collection of the Bolognese polymath, encyclopedist, and natural philosopher Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) is regarded as the first museum in the modern sense of the term. It was intended as a resource for scholarship and a microcosm of the natural world, not simply a cabinet of curiosities. In addition to physical specimens, Aldrovandi's zoological material included a large series of paintings of animals (Tavole di Animali) that were integral to the collection. Following Aldrovandi's death, his collection was maintained by the terms of his will, but by the 19th century relatively little remained. We examined surviving herpetological components of the collection, comprising 19 specimens of ten species, as well as the corresponding paintings and associated archival material in the Museum of Palazzo Poggi, Museo di Zoologia, and Biblioteca Universitaria Bolognese in Bologna, Italy. Although the antiquity of some of these dried preparations is in question, many are documented in the Tavole di Animali and/or are mentioned in 17th century lists of the museum, verifying them as the oldest museum specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the world. Exotic species are best represented, including two specimens of Uromastyx aegyptia and several boid snakes - the first New World reptiles to be displayed in Europe. However, the Tavole di Animali suggest that the original collection was dominated by Italian taxa and that greater effort may have been made to conserve the more spectacular specimens. The Aldrovandi collection provides a tangible link to the dawn of modern herpetology in Renaissance Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses herpetological surveys conducted at the Lichinga Plateau and Mt. Namuli, regions in northern Mozambique. Topics discussed include hyperoliid frog species Afrixalus brachycnemis and Hyperolius cf. spinigularis, the connection of Mozambican Afromontane inselbergs to the Afromontane archipelago, and discovery of range extensions and taxonomic novelties along with records of amphibians and reptiles.

The results of herpetological investigations in the Buila-Vânturariţa massif (Southern Carpathians, Romania) and its surrounding areas are reported here. 19 amphibian and reptile species were identified (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus cristatus, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton vulgaris, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana temporaria, R. dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, P. lessonae, Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, L. viridis, Podarcis muralis, Zootoca vivipara, Zamenis longissimus, Natrix natrix) and are presented together with distribution and ecological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of herpetological investigations in the Ţarcu massif (Southern Carpathians, Romania) and its surrounding areas are reported here. 21 amphibian and reptile forms were identified (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus cristatus, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton vulgaris, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana temporaria, R. dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, P. kl. esculentus, Lacerta agilis, L. viridis, Zootoca vivipara, Podarcis muralis, Anguis colchica, Zamenis longissimus, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Vipera ammodytes) and are presented together with distribution and ecological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the genus sphaenorhynchus tschudi contains 14 species of tree frogs found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. The only possible exception is sphaenorhynchus platycephalus whose type of localiyy and exact distribution are unknown. Longitudinal white spot was detected below the eye in some specimens of sphaenorhynchus palustris which was considered a putative autapomorphy of another species S. botocudo. Specimens were compared to the material in the herpetological collection of the museum Museu Nacional.

A herpetofaunal inventory and distribution study was conducted at the Inhotim Institute in Brumadinho Municipality (State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil). The Inhotim Institute is located in a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, and the study site encompasses natural forest fragments (secondary forest) and landscaped areas with buildings and gardens representing human occupancy. Comparison between these habitats provides a test as to whether human habitats designed to be interwoven with small tracts of wild habitat are sufficient to maintain a broad array of native species, as proposed in the concept known as ''reconciliation ecology." We conducted field work during 7 d per month from January 2008 to January 2009, except for December 2008. We used pitfall traps with drift fences, visual and auditory surveys, and random records and capture by persons not directly involved in the study in both forest and anthropogenic habitats. We recorded 65 species which included 32 amphibians and 33 reptiles. Three anurans and one lizard were introduced species (probably from the transport of plants from other states for landscaping) and were excluded from our analyses. Most species recorded have a wide geographicdistribution and generalist habits. Herpetofaunal species richness was greater in anthropogenic areas,possibly due to the generalist habits of most species and because such areas have a greater availability of suitable breeding habitats for amphibians. The sampling methods used proved to be complementary, with no single method capturing all species. The number of species recorded was high compared to other Brazilian sites, suggesting that the reconciliation ecology approach might be an effective conservation strategy for herpetofauna at the Inhotim Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gorham''s Cave is located in the British territory of Gibraltar in the southernmost end of the Iberian Peninsula. Recent excavations, which began in 1997, have exposed an 18 m archaeological sequence that covered the last evidence of Neanderthal occupation and the first evidence of modern human occupation in the cave. By applying the Mutual Climatic Range method on the amphibian and reptile assemblages, we propose here new quantitative data on the terrestrial climatic conditions throughout the latest Pleistocene sequence of Gorham''s Cave. In comparison with current climatic data, all mean annual temperatures were about 1.6–1.8 °C lower in this region. Winters were colder and summers were similar to today. Mean annual precipitation was slightly lower, but according to the Aridity Index of Gaussen there were only four dry months during the latest Pleistocene as opposed to five dry months today during the summer. The climate was Mediterranean and semi-arid (according to the Aridity Index of Dantin–Revenga) or semi-humid (according to the Aridity Index of Martonne). The atmospheric temperature range was higher during the latest Pleistocene, mainly due to lower winter temperatures. Such data support recent bioclimatic models, which indicate that high rainfall levels may have been a significant factor in the late survival of Neanderthal populations in southern Iberia. The Solutrean levels of Gorham''s Cave and climate records from cores in the Alboran Sea indicate increasing aridity from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3-2. Because Neanderthals seem to have been associated with woodland habitats, we propose that lessening rainfall may have caused the degradation of large areas of forest and may have made late surviving Neanderthal populations more vulnerable outside southern refuges like the Rock of Gibraltar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We conducted a herpetofaunal study from November 2009 to July 2010 on the ranches El Herradero and San Jose de los Leones, both in the municipality of Soto la Marina, in the centraleastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, northeastern Mexico. Their location corresponds to a peninsula surrounded by the Laguna Madre. The objectives were to conduct a herpetological inventory and to determine the distribution of the species in the plant communities and the status of each species following the criteria of the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. The information will be useful in delineating an area to set aside for conservation easement for the species. We followed the transect method described by Campbell & Christman (1982). We recorded 17 species: one anuran, one crocodile, six turtles, three lizards and six snakes. Of these, eight are new records for the municipality of Soto la Marina, 10 species are at risk, six are of special concern, three are threatened, and one is endangered. The ranches contain 34.69% of the herpetofauna species present in the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen species of reptiles (two turtles, five geckos, six skinks, one monitor lizard) are recorded in the first herpetological survey of Sorol Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Most of the species are widespread in the western Pacific and often well beyond. Emoia boettgeri is endemic to the Caroline and Marshall Islands and is at the western limits of its range on Sorol Atoll, and E. atrocostata, which is widely distributed in Indo-Australia and the western Pacific, is near the eastern edge of its range in the Caroline Islands on Sorol. Emoia caeruleocauda and E. impar are the most common lizards on the islands where they were recorded, and Lepidodactylus moestus was the most widely encountered, being recorded on four of the six islands. An abundance of turtle tracks on the beaches of nearly all the islands suggests that Sorol Atoll is an important sea turtle nesting site in the FSM. The monitor lizard, Varanus indicus, frequently feeds on turtle eggs on Sorol Island, where it was introduced during the Japanese administration, but it has not spread to the other islands on the atoll. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study of the amphibians and reptiles in North Punjab, Pakistan, their diversity and conservation, from February 2010 to January 2011. The study are contained 35 herpetofauna species, including 30 reptiles. It recorded 388 individuals that belong to 11 recognizable taxonomic units (RTU) with 0.22 individuals per hectare population density. Areas with higher species richness and higher species diversity and evenness are identified. Some of the threatened species in the area included the Indian Soft-shell Turtle, Nilssonia gangetica and Brown River Turtle, Pangshura smithii. Also discussed are threats to the herpetofauna and conservation measures.

Roads are more frequently fragmenting natural habitats increasing the likelihood of collisions between wildlife and vehicles. The Canada Species at Risk Act (2002) lists species that are threatened with regional extinction, and roads have been identified as a significant threat for many of these wildlife species in Ontario, e.g. turtles. In response to negative road impacts on wildlife, we developed a GIS modeling tool that predicts high-risk road mortality locations for selected wetland-forest herpetofaunal species that are representative of the landscape. We obtained a habitat suitability index (sum of weighted habitat scores) within a 12.6 hectare buffer surrounding each 15 × 15 m pixel of road in the landscape. Validation of the final model with dead and alive on-road herpetofaunal data showed animals were more at risk of road mortality when roads bisected large areas of wetland-forest habitat. The tool has been effective to promote proactive mitigation planning within government transportation agencies at the municipal and provincial level. Future work will develop species-specific models that identify road mortality locations along roads that re-connect habitat from a local and metapopulation perspective. In addition, the models will be used to prioritize locations along roads for effective mitigation solutions, e.g. turtle crossing signs and wildlife crossing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ngamiland is one of the most remote regions in Botswana, and its herpetofauna is largely under-surveyed. This study documents the herpetofauna of the Koanaka Hills (KH) in Ngamiland in 2009 following extensive fire destruction and compares it to the pre-fire herpetofauna collected in 2008. We also provide new records for the region for three amphibian and six reptile species, and document vouchers for two taxa that were sighted but not collected in 2008. During 2009, 14 reptile and three amphibian species were collected, bringing the total number of confirmed herpetofaunal taxa near the KH to three amphibian and 19 reptile species. For seven species this is the first published occurrence in quarter degree square 2021 Aa. Analyses measuring changes in the KH herpetofauna following the fire are inconclusive due to differences in collection effort and weather conditions. However, these data suggest that fire impact was minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the herpetological endemism on the windward side of Refugio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Texiguat in Honduras. It notes that Herpetofaunal inventory has about 2,320 person-hours of sampling on the windward side of RVS documented the presence of 47 herpetofaunal species including 21 snakes, 12 lizards and 11 anurans. It mentions that herpetofaunal research and conservation examination in the country have concentrated on two areas Cordillera nombre de Dios and Parque Nacional Pico Bonito.

We report the herpetofauna of two neighboring upland locations in west-central Guyana. Twenty amphibian and 24 reptile species were collected. Only 40% of amphibians and 12.5% of reptiles were collected in both locations. This is one of the few collections made at upland (750-800 m) locations in the Guiana Shield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide an initial checklist of the herpetofauna of Baramita, a lowland rainforest site in the Northwest Region of Guyana. Twenty-five amphibian and 28 reptile species were collected during two separate dry-season visits. New country records for two species of snakes are documented, contributing to the knowledge on the incompletely known herpetofauna of Guyana [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]