Search for: All records

The genus Rhoptropus comprises nine recognized species of diurnal geckos endemic to the arid regions of Angola and Namibia. Seven species occur in Angola, including the widespread R. boultoni and the poorly known Angolan endemics R. benguellensis and R. montanus, formerly recognized as subspecies of R. boultoni. While R. benguellensis is relatively widespread in the Angolan Escarpment highlands, R. montanus is geographically restricted to the Huíla Plateau. Recent fieldwork on the Serra da Neve inselberg, a herpetological diversity hotspot in southwestern Angola, revealed the presence of an undescribed species of Rhoptropus at an elevation of approximately 1600 m. An integrative taxonomic approach combining coloration, morphological and molecular data supports the recognition of this population as a distinct taxonomic unit with affinities to R. montanus, which we describe herein as Rhoptropus nivimontanus sp. nov. The discovery of a new species of Rhoptropus endemic to Serra da Neve is discussed in the biogeographic context of the region.  

Abstract Hoplodactylus delcourtiis a presumably extinct species of diplodactylid gecko known only from a single specimen of unknown provenance. It is by far the largest known gekkotan, approximately 50% longer than the next largest-known species. It has been considered a member of the New Zealand endemic genusHoplodactylusbased on external morphological features including shared toe pad structure. We obtained DNA from a bone sample of the only known specimen to generate high-throughput sequence data suitable for phylogenetic analysis of its evolutionary history. Complementary sequence data were obtained from a broad sample of diplodactylid geckos. Our results indicate that the species is not most closely related to extantHoplodactylusor any other New Zealand gecko. Instead, it is a member of a clade whose living species are endemic to New Caledonia. Phylogenetic comparative analyses indicate that the New Caledonian diplodactylid clade has evolved significantly more disparate body sizes than either the Australian or New Zealand clades. Toe pad structure has changed repeatedly across diplodactylids, including multiple times in the New Caledonia clade, partially explaining the convergence in form betweenH. delcourtiand New ZealandHoplodactylus. Based on the phylogenetic results, we placeH. delcourtiin a new genus. 

We report on the longest body length record for the Philippine Pit Viper, Trimereserus flavomaculatus. 

Lycodon alcalai is a small, terrestrial snake endemic to the northern Philippines where it is known from the islands of Batan (70 km2), Sabtang (16 km2), and Calayan (196 km2; Ota and Ross 1994. Copeia 1994:159–174; Oliveros et al. 2011. Sci. Pap. Nat. Hist. Mus. Univ. Kans. 43:1–20). Although L. alcalai has been reported to prey upon Common Tree Frogs (Polypedates leucomystax) and unidentified, soft-shelled reptilian eggs (Ota and Ross 1994, op. cit.), little natural history information is available for this species. Here, we report on a new diet item for L. alcalai: an as of yet undescribed species of scaly-toed gecko (Lepidodactylus). 

Abstract Armored skin resulting from the presence of bony dermal structures, osteoderms, is an exceptional phenotype in gekkotans (geckos and flap‐footed lizards) only known to occur in three genera:Geckolepis,Gekko, andTarentola. The Tokay gecko (Gekko geckoLINNAEUS 1758) is among the best‐studied geckos due to its large size and wide range of occurrence, and although cranial dermal bone development has previously been investigated, details of osteoderm development along a size gradient remain less well‐known. Likewise, a comparative survey of additional species within the broaderGekkoclade to determine the uniqueness of this trait has not yet been completed. Here, we studied a large sample of gekkotans (38 spp.), including 18 specimens ofG. gecko, using X‐rays and high‐resolution computed tomography for visualizing and quantifying the dermal armorin situ. Results from this survey confirm the presence of osteoderms in a second species within this genus,GekkoreevesiiGRAY 1831, which exhibits discordance in timing and pattern of osteoderm development when compared with its sister taxon,G. gecko. We discuss the developmental sequence of osteoderms in these two species and explore in detail the formation and functionality of these enigmatic dermal ossifications. Finally, we conducted a comparative analysis of endolymphatic sacs in a wide array of gekkotans to explore previous ideas regarding the role of osteoderms as calcium reservoirs. We found thatG. geckoand other gecko species with osteoderms have highly enlarged endolymphatic sacs relative to their body size, when compared to species without osteoderms, which implies that these membranous structures might fulfill a major role of calcium storage even in species with osteoderms.