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Fluorescence in amphibians and reptiles has emerged as a prominent study subject in recent years, with research focused on understanding its function and diversity. As the knowledge of fluorescence in vertebrates is still understudied, we surveyed amphibian and reptile species in montane and lowland Atlantic Forest sites to evaluate presence or absence of fluorescence. By randomly sampling species, we found evidence of fluorescence in amphibians of the genera Scinax, Brachycephalus and Hylodes, and reptiles of the genera Bothrops, Enyalius and Hemidactylus. Our findings increase the list of known species that may benefit from fluorescent patterns. Fluorescence was either ocular, dermal, or subdermal related to the skeleton or ossified dermal structures. Whether these species are able to see and interpret the different the patterns generated by fluorescent structures is yet to be discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge of marine reptiles of the Callovian age (Middle Jurassic) is majorly based on the collections from the Oxford Clay Formation of England, which yielded a diverse marine reptile fauna of plesiosaurians, ichthyosaurians, and thalattosuchians. However, outside of Western Europe, marine reptile remains of this age are poorly known. Here, we survey marine reptiles from the Callovian stage of European Russia. The fossils collected over more than a century from 28 localities are largely represented by isolated bones and teeth, although partial skeletons are also known. In addition to the previously described rhomaleosaurid and metriorhynchids, we identify pliosaurids of the genera Liopleurodon and Simolestes; cryptoclidid plesiosaurians, including Cryptoclidus eurymerus, Muraenosaurus sp., and cf. Tricleidus, and ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurians, including the iconic Ophthalmosaurus icenicus. These findings expand the ranges of several Callovian marine reptile taxa far to the Eastern Europe, and support the exchange of marine reptile faunas between Western and Eastern European seas in the middle to late Callovian. However, some specimens from the lower Callovian of European Russia show differences from typical representatives of the middle Callovian Oxford Clay fauna, possibly representing the earlier stages of evolution of some of these marine reptiles not yet recorded in Western Europe or elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial cover objects, made of various materials, have been used for decades for reptile and amphibian surveys, as well as in habitat restoration programs. Their low cost and maintenance demands make them a cost effective and efficient survey method. Since flipping covers does not require special skills, and covers can be uniform in size and material, they can be used as a standardized survey method to negate observer biases. We surveyed the literature in search of studies describing the use of artificial cover objects in situ as part of surveys or habitat restoration efforts of reptiles and amphibians in the twenty-first century. We found 490 studies conducted in 31 countries. Our results show that artificial cover objects are an effective method to sample reptiles and amphibians in terms of both labor and cost. Overall, artificial cover objects used in the studies we surveyed enabled the detection of 357 species belonging to 47 families. Only one study reported animal mortality caused by artificial covers and it also suggested a way to prevent it. No other studies reported direct or indirect injuries or deaths caused by artificial covers. We discuss the efficacy of artificial cover objects in surveying for reptiles and amphibians, and examine their effectiveness when used as part of habitat restoration programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Serra da Neve inselberg in Namibe Province, southwestern Angola is the second highest peak of Angola with an elevation of 2489 m. It remains one of the least explored regions in the country, despite several endemic species having been recently described from this inselberg. Here we provide an inventory of the amphibian and reptile species ocurring in Serra da Neve and compare its fauna with that of the surrounding habitats at lower elevations. We also examine the phylogenetic affinities of the inselberg taxa. A total of 59 herpetological taxa were recorded for the Serra da Neve inselberg and its immediate surroundings. These include 11 species of amphibians, belonging to nine genera and seven different families, and 48 species of reptiles, belonging to 32 genera and 12 families. Of these, one amphibian and seven reptiles from seven different genera are strictly endemic, making the inselberg the richest region in southwestern Africa with respect to strict endemics, with one endemic reptile taxa per 127 km2. Not surprisingly, most of the recorded taxa belong to clades that are endemic, or at least strongly associated, with southern Africa, but two are representatives of central African clades, and another two are more closely related to eastern African highland taxa. We also provide comments on the threats to the conservation of this endemic-rich inselberg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucism, in which pigmentation is lost over part or the entire body of an animal, has a range of possible genetic causes. Here, we report leucism in an individual tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) found on Jeung Island, Shinan‐gun, Jeollanam‐do, South Korea, during a survey of the distribution of reptiles in the area. The individual was observed sunbathing in the bushes next to a pond. This individual exhibited ecdysis, thus it considered that have normal feeding activity. Our report represents the first observation of leucism in R. tigrinus, and thus, further analysis is needed of this phenotype to more clearly understand its impact on the species and its natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies related to herpetofauna diversity in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (Tanakaya), West Kalimantan are very limited. Data related to the richness of amphibians and reptiles in this area are important for the management of the area in the future. We conducted amphibian and reptile surveys in Tanakaya in July-August 2019 using Visual Encounter Survey methods at five sites (Belaban Resort: Km 37 & 39; Resort Rantau Malam: Batu Lintang, Sungai Mangan, and Hulu Rabang). We recorded 50 amphibian species from nine families and 25 reptile species from seven different families. Twenty of these species are new records for Tanakaya. The highest diversity (H' = 2.94) was found in Batu Lintang, while the highest evenness (E = 0.55) was in Sungai Mangan, and the highest community similarity index (IS = 0.6) was in Batu Lintang with Km 37. Combined with previous studies, there have been 142 species (78 species of amphibians and 64 species of reptiles) recorded from Tanakaya. Further study is needed to fully understand the herpetofauna in Tanakaya, but our data highlights the importance of the national park for preserving global biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of wildlife populations is essential for their conservation and requires a carefully chosen methodology. We compared survey effectiveness of reptiles using coverboards and visual encounter surveys in two study sites in the Italian Alps with similar habitats and reptile communities. The two sites shared similar methodologies, cover boards and visual encounter surveys (VES), except for the temporal approach, with one employing a long-lasting monitoring scheme and the other operating on a much shorter time-frame. Coverboards were placed two years before the beginning of the monitoring in the first site, while they were installed only for ten days and then removed each year in the second site. Similarly, VES were spread across the whole reptile activity season (May-September) in the first site, while conducted over nine consecutive days in the second site. Although the observation rate of any species was mainly associated with its relative abundance, reptiles preferred long-established coverboards and all three species present (Zootoca vivipara , Anguis veronensis and Vipera berus) were found underneath them. Only Zootoca vivipara used recently installed ones. On the other hand, short-term daily visual encounter surveys led to a much higher observation rate of Z. vivipara than those spread over the entire season. Our results suggest that coverboards may provide a valuable monitoring tool for reptiles when projects are conducted over long periods. Conversely, when only short-term assessments are possible, no real difference exists between the two methods and observation rate is more influenced by the species abundance than by the chosen method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is repeatedly stressed the need to characterize the extant biodiversity in tropical ecosystems. However, inventory studies are still progressing slowly in dry ecosystems, leading to the underestimation of their true biodiversity and hindering conservation efforts. In this study, we present primary and secondary data, along with an updated list of amphibians and reptiles from two localities in the São Francisco-Gurguéia region in Piauí. Additionally, we compare the species composition between nine areas within the Caatinga, which were sampled using standardized methods over the past ten years, to examine broader spatial patterns of community composition. To survey reptiles and amphibians, we employed similar methods and sampling efforts in two areas within the Serra das Confusões National Park (SCNP) region. Our surveys recorded a total of 73 species of amphibians and reptiles, of which 24 are new distribution records for the SCNP region. Consequently, our findings increase the known herpetofauna in the region to 94 species. Despite their proximity, the two sites in the SCNP region exhibited only 42% similarity in species composition, and they differed significantly from other areas within the Caatinga. Furthermore, even the closer Caatinga areas presented differences in species composition, highlighting the necessity to evaluate biodiversity across the landscape and contribute to understanding biogeographic patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is about the Blandings night tree snake (Toxicodryas blandingii), a tree-dwelling snake found in tropical Africa. Four species are identified in the genus Toxicodryas. The Blandings night tree snake prefers moist forests, is nocturnal, and can grow up to 250 cm long. In terrariums, they are usually calm and docile, but caution is advised as they have venomous teeth. Keeping them requires a spacious terrarium with plenty of climbing branches and plants for visual barriers. The snake can reproduce year-round, with a clutch of 5 to 7 eggs per year. The article also describes the rearing of Blandings night tree snakes, in which the female has attached two eggs to the outside of the hatching box. The first baby hatched after 115 days. The juveniles are raised individually in glass terrariums and fed with live mice. It is noted that the venom of Toxicodryas blandingii contains a neurotoxin that appears to be stronger than that of Boiga species. The text also includes a list of captive-bred snakes of various species in 2022, including venomous species such as Vipera ammodytes meridionalis and Trimeresurus insularis. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the behavior and breeding of the horseshoe snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). The horseshoe snake is widespread in Europe, especially on the Iberian Peninsula, and prefers sunny places with sufficient cover. In the terrarium, they are lively and tend to be aggressive. Keeping them requires a spacious terrarium and patience in handling the animals. The horseshoe snake is an aggressive and food-competitive snake that mainly eats small mammals, birds, eggs, and lizards. Breeding horseshoe snakes in a terrarium is not very difficult as long as healthy and well-fed animals are used. The author reports that he keeps his breeding pairs together in a terrarium all year round and has not observed any problems with aggression between the animals. After hibernation, the animals regularly appear under the heat lamp. The male then shows increased restlessness and the female gains weight, indicating pregnancy. The female then seeks out the wet box to lay her eggs. The young horseshoe snakes are housed individually in plastic boxes and fed with nestling mice. The animals grow quickly and can become sexually mature after three years. Keeping and breeding horseshoe snakes requires experience in handling fast and sometimes aggressive snakes. The species is protected in Germany, and kept and bred animals must be registered with the relevant authority. [Extracted from the article]

Context: Understanding what characteristics influence retreat-site selection by fauna is critical for both habitat management and species conservation. Despite the documented ecological values of surface rocks, there is limited knowledge of the attributes of surface rock that contribute to their use in agricultural landscapes or during winter months when reptiles are brumating, activity patterns are reduced, and sheltering individuals are most vulnerable to disturbance. Objectives: We surveyed reptiles sheltering beneath surface rocks in grazing farms in south-eastern Australia to address two questions: (i) What landscape factors influence the occurrence of reptiles over austral winter? (ii) What physical and thermal factors influence retreat-site selection? Methods: We surveyed 14 sites, with three plots per site, stratified across a gradient of canopy cover. We measured landscape attributes of surveyed sites and thermal and physical characteristics of individual surface rocks to quantify relationships between the occurrence of reptiles in the landscape and the properties of retreats selected. Results: We found that relatively small patches of surface rock can support high reptile numbers, with density estimates up to of 208 individuals per hectare. Reptile abundance was positively associated with increased elevation and limited canopy cover. Reptiles selected smaller rocks with high surface area to volume ratio, were minimally embedded in the soil, and rocks supporting few invertebrates. Conclusions: Conserving cryptozoic reptiles in agricultural landscapes can be enhanced through the appropriate management and retention of surface rock. We discuss implications for reptile conservation and surface rock management in agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the area covered by human‐modified environments grows, it is increasingly important to understand the responses of communities to the novel habitats created, especially for sensitive and threatened taxa. We aimed to improve understanding of the major evolutionary and ecological processes that shape the assemblage of amphibian and reptile communities to forest modifications. To this end, we compiled a global data set of amphibian and reptile surveys in natural, disturbed (burned, logged), and transformed (monocultures, polyspecific plantations) forest communities to assess the richness, phylogenetic diversity, and composition of those communities, as well as the morphological disparity among taxa between natural and modified forest habitats. Forest transformations led to a diversity reduction of 15.46% relative to the statistically nonsignificant effect of disturbances. Transformations also led to a community composition that was 39.4% dissimilar to that on natural forests, compared with 16.1% difference in disturbances. Modifications did not affect the morphological disparity of communities (p = 0.167 and 0.744), and we found little evidence of taxon‐specific responses to anthropic impacts. Monocultures and polyspecific plantations detrimentally affected the conservation and ecological value of both amphibian and reptile communities and altered the evolutionary processes shaping these communities, whereas forests with lower impact disturbances might, to some extent, serve as reservoirs of species. Although different mechanisms might buffer the collapse of herpetological communities, preserving remaining natural forests is necessary for conserving communities in the face of future anthropic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Caldasia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On August 20, 2023, the author Jochen Zauner observed a living dice snake with a parasitic fly maggot infestation on the Soča River in Slovenia. The snake was in the process of shedding its skin and had a wound in the first third of its body infested with maggots. Due to the different developmental stages of the maggots, it was suspected that the wound had been serving as a breeding ground for the flies and a source of food for the maggots for some time. The snake otherwise appeared to be in good condition, and the author plans to observe it again in the summer of 2024 to report on its survival and the condition of the injury. [Extracted from the article]

Reptiles are increasingly of conservation concern due to their susceptibility to habitat loss, emerging disease, and harvest in the wildlife trade. However, reptile populations are often difficult to monitor given the frequency of crypsis in their life history. This difficulty has left uncertain the conservation status of many species and the efficacy of conservation actions unknown. Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys consistently elevate the detection rate of species they are designed to monitor, and while their use is promising for terrestrial reptile conservation, successes in developing such surveys have been sparse. We tested the degree to which inclusion of surface and soil eDNA sampling into conventional artificial‐cover methods elevates the detection probability of a small, cryptic terrestrial lizard, Scincella lateralis. The eDNA sampling of cover object surfaces with paint rollers elevated per sample detection probabilities for this species 4–16 times compared with visual surveys alone. We readily detected S. lateralis eDNA under cover objects up to 2 weeks after the last visual detection, and at some cover objects where no S. lateralis were visually observed in prior months. With sufficient sampling intensity, eDNA testing of soil under cover objects produced comparable per sample detection probabilities as roller surface methods. Our results suggest that combining eDNA and cover object methods can considerably increase the detection power of reptile monitoring programs, allowing more accurate estimates of population size, detection of temporal and spatial changes in habitat use, and tracking success of restoration efforts. Further research into the deposition and decay rates of reptile eDNA under cover objects, as well as tailored protocols for different species and habitats, is needed to bring the technique into widespread use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Habitat loss and fragmentation can interact with other threats, including altered fire regimes, and responses to these effects can be mediated by functional traits. Objectives: To determine how richness and abundance of reptile trait groups respond to habitat fragmentation, patch isolation and fire. Methods: We surveyed reptiles in 30 sites over 3 years. Sites in remnant patches in farmland were adjacent to a conservation park with either recently burnt or long-unburnt habitat. The remnant patches were stratified by distance from the reserve. Sites were spatially paired, and we experimentally burnt one of each pair in farmland. Trait groups included size, reproduction, habitat position, diet, and activity period. Results: None of the trait groups benefited from experimental burns, while the burns reduced abundance of viviparous, small, and above-ground species. Species richness was lower in isolated sites than in sites close to the conservation park, while generalist trait groups appeared unaffected by patch isolation. Large-sized reptiles had higher abundance in remnants. There was not more rapid colonisation of burnt sites near recently burnt conservation park. Instead, low initial abundance may have been caused by fire in combination with drought, with high rainfall during the study allowing recovery and spill-over into adjacent remnants. Conclusions: Landscape structure appears to interact with natural fires, restoration burns and longer-term climatic trends to influence the abundance and distribution of reptiles. Traits mediate responses, enabling us to formulate a set of testable mechanistic hypotheses, which illustrates a pathway to generalisation and prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herpetofauna of Amazonia biome is one of the richest in the world. However, there is a lack of information on its richness and distribution. Here we provide a list of the herpetofauna from the Environmental Protection Area of Lagoa dos índios, state of Amapá, Brazil, in the northern Amazon Forest. Sampling effort was conducted by active search in three distinct transects from January to May 2018 (rainy season) and August to December 2019 (drought season). We recorded 46 species composing the local herpetofauna, being 18 amphibians and 28 reptiles. Scinax ruber, Gonatodes humeralis and Helicops angulatus were the most abundant species. Regarding the conservation status, two species are categorized as Date Data deficient, (.Lysapsus bolivianus and Eunectes deschauenseei)> and one as Vulnerable (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Podocnemis unifilis is also considered Near Threatened in the Brazilian Red List of Endangered Species. Our results suggest that local biodiversity is still underestimated and, if expanded, could increase the species richness in the area. This study represents preliminary trends and raise further questions concerning the herpetofauna assemblage of Eastern Brazilian Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inventory of the non-avian terrestrial vertebrate species found within the 493-hectare land area of the UP Diliman campus is presented. Visual encounter surveys for amphibians and reptiles, as well as mist-netting and trapping for mammals, were conducted last August 2019 to early February 2020 on selected study grids on campus. To determine habitat associations, the species richness of each vertebrate class (i.e., amphibia, reptilia, and mammalia) was analyzed with habitat characteristics of the grid using regression analysis. Based on the surveys and recent records (2015 onwards) in literature, a total of 33 species were recorded: seven amphibians, 15 reptiles, and 11 mammals. Comparison with historical records from 1998 revealed that an additional two amphibian species, seven reptile species, and six mammalian species have been sighted within the area since 2015. However, a fork-tongued frog, falling under the genus Fejervarya, and four reptilian species that had previously been recorded within the study sites were not observed. Habitat association analysis revealed that building area is correlated with species richness, with reptilian species richness being positively correlated with it. Overall, this study shows that the UP Diliman campus supports considerable urban biodiversity despite recent developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Field Notes" in the journal Catesbeiana provides a platform for publishing natural history information on amphibians and reptiles in Virginia. The section welcomes observations on various topics such as geographic distribution, ecology, reproduction, behavior, and more. The format of the reports includes the scientific name, state abbreviation, county and location, date of observation, observer's information, and data and observations. Field Notes must also include a brief statement explaining the significance of the record or observation. Submissions will be reviewed by the editor and may require verification through voucher specimens or photographs. The article also mentions the acceptance of high-quality photographs relevant to accompanying articles or field notes. [Extracted from the article]

Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area in Caroline County, Virginia was surveyed for amphibians and reptiles on 11-13 June 2021. A total of 24 species (11 anurans, 3 salamanders, 4 turtles, 3 lizards, and 3 snakes) were observed during the survey. Three of the species are listed in Virginia’s 2015 Wildlife Action Plan as species with special conservation needs; Lithobates virgatipes (Tier IIIa), Scaphiopus holbrookii (Tier IVc), and Terrapene c. carolina (Tier IIIa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to document the reptile species in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah. A rapid inventory was conducted from 20 to 23 October 2019 during the Malaysian Nature Society Ulu Muda Scientific Expedition using the visual encounter survey (VES) as the sampling method. The survey found 17 species of reptiles consisting of 13 lizards and four snakes. The checklist incorporates data from previous studies in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. In total, 34 species of reptiles (20 species of lizards, 13 species of snakes and a species of freshwater turtle) are known from the area. The results highlight that Sungai Muda sub-catchment holds a high species richness of reptiles and additional surveys in the future will uncover more species in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arboreal lizards, especially species that inhabit flood-prone environments, have been poorly surveyed worldwide. We examined spatiotemporal patterns in arboreal lizard abundance and factors driving detection rates in floodplain environments using artificial bark covers, a non-destructive and cost-effective survey method. In total, 112 flexible, closed-cell foam bark covers were installed on eucalypt trees in 13 wetlands in the Murrumbidgee River floodplain of southern New South Wales, Australia, stratified by two inundation frequency treatments. Of four arboreal lizard species detected, the southern marbled gecko (Christinus marmoratus) (n = 41) and the tree dtella (Gehyra versicolor) (n = 8) were restricted to the mid-Murrumbidgee region, whereas the crevice skink (Egernia striolata) (n = 19) was restricted to the lower-Murrumbidgee region and did not co-occur with either gecko species. Mean detection rates of lizard species did not differ between frequently and infrequently inundated treatments but their abundance beneath covers varied significantly by month. For all detected lizard species, the presence/absence of the arachnid Holconia murrayensis represented a significant variable in explaining lizard occurrence patterns, particularly that of C. marmoratus. Artificial bark covers are a useful survey method for collecting distribution, abundance, and occupancy data on floodplain reptiles, although detection rates can be affected by the month, predator–prey interactions, and survey effort. Adopting passive, non-destructive reptile survey methods would greatly improve our knowledge of species' distributions and abundance patterns in vegetation communities subject to disturbance events. The distribution and abundance of wetland associated tree dwelling lizards has received little attention. Artificial bark covers (ABCs) were used as a survey method to investigate the distribution and abundance of known lizard species throughout the Murray–Darling Basin. ABCs were an efficacious survey method and have the potential for many avenues of research for floodplain associated lizards. Photo by Eva Moore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, knowledge about the herpetological diversity and the species distribution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains largely incomplete. In order to fill this gap, we carried out long-term and large-scale herpetological surveys to improve the knowledge about the herpetofauna occurrence and species composition data. Site scanning, visual encounter, transect and quadrat methods were used along with call recordings for identifying and locating amphibians on each survey site. Additional data were gathered from literature reviews and museum collections. The herpetological diversity was assessed on twenty-eight survey sites located in both Congo Basin and Albertine Rift ecoregions. All surveyed localities and sites were georeferenced in order to generate distribution maps by using QGIS 2.14.0 software. Herpetological diversity indices were generated using the PAST software. Using morphological characters and information provided by DNA analysis, species lists were produced per site and on national level. The results show that the rich Congolese herpetofauna is composed of 605 species, including 247 (40.83%) amphibians and 358 (59.17%) reptiles. There are 57 endemic amphibian species (23.1%) and of these, 19 (32.7%) are located in Protected Areas. There are 38 endemic reptile species (10.6%) and of these, twelve (31.5%) are found in Protected Areas. Furthermore, there are nine and seventeen threatened amphibian and reptile species respectively; but only 20% of these have been detected inside of national parks. Concerning this situation, it appears that, if no action is undertaken for fighting against the human pressure on habitat, there will be a decline in populations and species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Based on relevant indices, including species richness, rarity, diversity, endemism, and presence of threatened species, and other objective criteria in respect to international standards, the following ten sites were identified as sites of priority for conservation: Marungu, Kabobo, Itombwe, Ituri, Tshopo, Mai Ndombe Tumba, Lualaba, Lukaya, Sankuru, and Ubangi Uele. These sites are proposed as new Protected Areas for reaching the government's national conservation targets of land preservation necessary for conserving the rich biodiversity.

While only distantly related to mammals, the anatomy of Permian gorgonopsians has shed light on the functional biology of non-mammalian synapsids and on the origins of iconic 'mammal-like' anatomical traits. However, little is known of gorgonopsian behaviour or physiology, which would aid in reconstructing the paleobiological context in which familiar mammalian features arose. Using multi-modal imaging, we report a discrete osseous lesion in the forelimb of a late Permian-aged gorgonopsian synapsid, recording reactive periosteal bone deposition and providing insights into the origins and diversity of skeletal healing responses in premammalian synapsids. We suggest that the localized lesion on the anterolateral (preaxial) shaft of the left radius represents acute periostitis and, conservatively, most likely developed as a subperiosteal haematoma with subsequent bone deposition and limited internal remodelling. The site records an inner zone of reactive cortical bone forming irregular to radial bony spicules and an outer, denser zone of slowed subperiosteal bone apposition, all of which likely occurred within a single growing season. In surveys of modern reptiles--crocodylians, varanids--such haematomas are rare compared to other documented osteopathologies. The extent and rapidity of the healing response is reminiscent of mammalian and dinosaurian bone pathologies, and may indicate differing behaviour or bone physiology compared to non-dinosaurian reptiles. This report adds to a growing list of putative disease entities recognized in early synapsids and broadens comparative baselines for pathologies and the evolution of bone response to disease in mammalian forebears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourteenth annual herpblitz was held on 15-16 June 2019 at Featherfin Wildlife Management Area, Virginia. A total of six species of amphibians (three anurans and three salamanders) and seven species of reptiles (one turtle, two lizards, and four snakes) were observed during the survey time period. This was the first amphibian and reptile biodiversity survey conducted at this WMA and thus serves as a baseline checklist that future surveyors can build upon. After surveying Featherfin we highly recommend WMA managers restore 18 hectares (45 acres) of the original property that were ditched and drained back into viable wetlands. Restoring these wetlands would provide needed habitat to increase the amphibian and reptile biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 28 April and 5 May 2019 the Virginia Herpetological Society conducted a herpetological field survey of several diverse habitats located in Amelia Wildlife Management Area (AWMA) in Amelia County, Virginia to identify amphibian and reptile species within AWMA. This report provides the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) with an inventory of amphibian and reptile species for AWMA. Fourteen amphibian (12 anuran and 2 salamander) and twelve reptile (7 snake, 4 turtle and 1 lizard) species were positively identified. Noteworthy species included Scaphiopus holbrookii (Eastern Spadefoot), Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hog-nosed Snake) and Terrapene c. carolina (Woodland Box Turtle). The defensive display by the adult Heterodon platirhinos included open mouth strikes from a raised head cobra-like posture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on documenting the discovery of two aberrant, symmetrical extra horns associated with the parietal horns of an adult female Phrynosoma cornutum during a reptile survey in Sonora, Mexico.

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On 11 and 12 June 2019 the Virginia Herpetological Society conducted a field survey of several diverse habitats located in Natural Bridge Park (NBP) in Rockbridge County, Virginia to identify amphibian and reptile species within NBP. Operational Management of NBP was assumed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) on September 24, 2016 and this report provides VDCR with an initial inventory of amphibian and reptile species for this new state park. Thirteen Amphibian (4 anuran and 9 salamander) and thirteen reptile (9 snake, 2 turtle and 2 lizard) species were positively identified. Noteworthy species included Eurycea lucifuga (Cave Salamander), Plethodon hoffmani (Valley and Ridge Salamander), Lampropeltis t. triangulum (Eastern Milsnake), Regina septemvittata (Queesnake) and Terrapene c. carolina (Woodland Box Turtle). One adult E. lucifuga was observed in an unusual habitat, about 28 meters inside the third chamber of a cavern far from the entrance and any visible openings. E. lucifuga usually inhabit the twilight zone area of caves, where there is some light but not enough for plants to grow. The sex of 10 T. c. carolina were identified, 9 of which were male. The 9/1 sex ratio of males to females is much higher than the 1/2 and 1.2/1 sex ratios reported in two previous Virginia distribution studies for T. c. carolina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Editorial" of the journal "Ophidia" reports on the latest issue of the professional journal. It is mentioned that Josef Beck was able to win Thomas Lindner as the second chairman and specialist editor of the working group. The issue contains exciting contributions from members of the working group who report on their experiences with the keeping and breeding of various snake species. A main article deals with the keeping and reproduction of the Blandings night tree snake. The issue is rounded off with the breeding statistics of the last year. [Extracted from the article]

Unlike avifauna, which have been inventoried and monitored for decades at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, OK, herpetofauna have had few targeted inventories on the refuge. Therefore, in 2010 we established 6 permanent drift fence arrays to expand the current knowledge on the terrestrial herpetofauna present within the refuge. The arrays were in operation for a total of 105 nights over 5 years (2010-2014), capturing 1122 vertebrates including 12 anuran, 1 salamander, 13 snake, 5 lizard, and 2 turtle species. The surveys resulted in the discovery of 5 new amphibian species as well as a new mammal species on the refuge. By placing arrays across 3 different habitat types, we were able to compare and determine that there were differences in species diversity and relative abundance across those habitats. The results have shown the richness of herpetofauna in the area has been underestimated. The study also indicates that a preserve established for the conservation of one particular species group (waterfowl and neotropical migratory birds) can have appreciable diversity of another vertebrate group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Indigo Snakes (EIS, Drymarchon couperi) and Eastern Diamondbacked Rattlesnakes (EDB, Crotalus adamanteus) are species of conservation concern, in large part attributable to anthropogenic landscape changes within the southeastern Coastal Plain of North America. Both species use Gopher Tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus) burrows on xeric sandhills for winter retreat sites. Protected lands play an important role in the conservation of threatened species by offering the potential to conserve potentially limiting resources such as sandhills. We surveyed 40 randomly selected xeric sandhills containing Gopher Tortoise burrows on protected lands throughout the Lower Altamaha River Watershed in southern Georgia using visual encounter surveys over three winters (November through March). We used single-season occupancy models to relate detection and occupancy rates to survey- and site-specific covariates collected at both the sandhill- and landscape-scale. Eastern Indigo Snake occupancy was positively related to the number of Gopher Tortoise burrows and the amount of surrounding sandhill habitat. In contrast, EDB occupancy was not associated with any of the covariates we considered, perhaps because EDB/EIS use a greater diversity of winter retreat sites. Detection of EIS was higher than EDB (0.40 vs. 0.22) and most influenced by air temperature, whereas EDB detection was most influenced by survey date. Our study provides previously lacking population-level detection rates and habitat associations for EIS and corroborates the previously noted importance of Gopher Tortoise burrows as overwintering retreat sites. Our study also illustrates the potential shortcomings of monitoring multiple species using survey methodologies designed for a single species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conecuh National Forest (CNF) contains one of the largest tracts of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) forest in Alabama, and due to this habitat's rich associated herpetofauna, it is one of the most important areas for amphibian and reptile conservation in the state. Here, we publish the results of extensive herpetofaunal inventories conducted from 2002-2012 within CNF. Our results indicate 105 species of amphibians and reptiles are documented within CNF, although a few species have not been encountered in over 30 years and are presumed to be extirpated, and one species was recently reintroduced. This list also includes one exotic species documented within CNF for the first time during this study. We observed most of these species within the past 10 years, and during this study we discovered and/or formally vouchered 18 new species within the forest for the first time. The episodic nature of surveys conducted within CNF allowed us to qualitatively determine population stability for the herpetofauna. Most species were consistently observed during any given study period, indicating they are fairly common and their populations are likely stable, while fewer species evaded dectection between studies, possibly indicating that low detection probabilies, rarity, population declines, or some combination of these factors explain the lack of detection. We found qualitative differences between herpetofuanal assemblages in Longleaf Pine forests with different moisture regimes, however, statistically there were few differences in capture rates among these forest types. Our analysis of species richness patterns within southeastern U.S. public lands indicate that CNF contains the most species rich native herpetofauna (adjusted for size) of any National Forest in the United States, and therefore this property possibly has the highest species richness of any herpetofauna in North America north of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reptile habitats are described using various indices. The definitions of such indices are crucial, as they are applied to habitat modelling for numerous species on local to continental scales. We examined the Leaf Area Index (LAI) for its value as a tool for determining reptile habitat. During measurements carried out in spring and summer months between 2011 and 2013, LAI values were assessed and surveys were conducted on reptile fauna at 11 survey sites in the Solska Forest and Roztocze National Parks areas in Eastern Poland. In total, six Squamata reptiles occurring in Poland were found. We determined that LAI can be utilized as a reptile habitat index, with reptile species associated with LAI seasonal variability as well as LAI range. Moreover, we found that the higher the LAI median value, the greater the variety of reptile species. These findings are useful for development of spatial models of habitats based on LAI as they point to the importance of its seasonal variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]