Journal articles on the topic 'Reptile'
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1
Azevedo, Alexandre, Leonor Guimarães, Joel Ferraz, Martin Whiting, and Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana. "Pet Reptiles—Are We Meeting Their Needs?" Animals 11, no. 10 (October 14, 2021): 2964. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11102964.
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The ability to meet the needs of each species in captivity is at the heart of the ethical debate on the acceptability of keeping reptiles and other animals as pets. Little is known about the ability of reptile owners to understand their pets’ behavior and to meet their welfare requirements. In this study, we surveyed pet reptile owners in Portugal (N = 220) to assess their behavioral knowledge and the provision of essential husbandry needs. Although two-thirds of respondents (68%) scored very good to excellent in terms of knowledge of their pet reptile’s behaviors, only 15% of respondents met four essential reptile husbandry needs (temperature, lighting, diet and refuge) and 43% met two or less. None of the respondents reported their reptile’s welfare as very poor, and only a single respondent reported it as poor. Logistic regression model showed that while snake owners had fourteen times higher odds of reporting adequate husbandry provision, lizard owners had the highest odds of reporting good or very good welfare despite providing less of their animals’ basic husbandry needs. These results suggest that many pet reptiles in Portugal live in, at best, ‘controlled deprivation’ and are at risk of suffering poor welfare throughout their captive lives. Moreover, behaviors indicative of poor welfare and captivity stress were considered ‘normal’ by up to one quarter of respondents. We suggest that the frequency of these behaviors in pet reptiles has led to their acceptance as normal, precluding the search for ways to prevent them. These results suggest that campaigns aimed at challenging the current norm for adequate reptile welfare are warranted.
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Woinarski, J. C. Z., B. P. Murphy, R. Palmer, S. M. Legge, C. R. Dickman, T. S. Doherty, G. Edwards, A. Nankivell, J. L. Read, and D. Stokeld. "How many reptiles are killed by cats in Australia?" Wildlife Research 45, no. 3 (2018): 247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr17160.
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Context Feral cats (Felis catus) are a threat to biodiversity globally, but their impacts upon continental reptile faunas have been poorly resolved. Aims To estimate the number of reptiles killed annually in Australia by cats and to list Australian reptile species known to be killed by cats. Methods We used (1) data from >80 Australian studies of cat diet (collectively >10 000 samples), and (2) estimates of the feral cat population size, to model and map the number of reptiles killed by feral cats. Key results Feral cats in Australia’s natural environments kill 466 million reptiles yr–1 (95% CI; 271–1006 million). The tally varies substantially among years, depending on changes in the cat population driven by rainfall in inland Australia. The number of reptiles killed by cats is highest in arid regions. On average, feral cats kill 61 reptiles km–2 year–1, and an individual feral cat kills 225 reptiles year–1. The take of reptiles per cat is higher than reported for other continents. Reptiles occur at a higher incidence in cat diet than in the diet of Australia’s other main introduced predator, the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Based on a smaller sample size, we estimate 130 million reptiles year–1 are killed by feral cats in highly modified landscapes, and 53 million reptiles year–1 by pet cats, summing to 649 million reptiles year–1 killed by all cats. Predation by cats is reported for 258 Australian reptile species (about one-quarter of described species), including 11 threatened species. Conclusions Cat predation exerts a considerable ongoing toll on Australian reptiles. However, it remains challenging to interpret the impact of this predation in terms of population viability or conservation concern for Australian reptiles, because population size is unknown for most Australian reptile species, mortality rates due to cats will vary across reptile species and because there is likely to be marked variation among reptile species in their capability to sustain any particular predation rate. Implications This study provides a well grounded estimate of the numbers of reptiles killed by cats, but intensive studies of individual reptile species are required to contextualise the conservation consequences of such predation.
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Jordan, Francis, and Sze-Man Ngai. "REPTILES WITH HOLES." Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society 48, no. 3 (September 15, 2005): 651–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s001309150400001x.
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AbstractCroft, Falconer and Guy asked: what is the smallest integer $n$ such that an $n$-reptile in the plane has a hole? Motivated by this question, we describe a geometric method of constructing reptiles in $\mathbb{R}^d$, especially reptiles with holes. In particular, we construct, for each even integer $n\ge4$, an $n$-reptile in $\mathbb{R}^2$ with holes. We also answer some questions concerning the topological properties of a reptile whose interior consists of infinitely many components.
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Cerdeña, José, Jackie Farfán, and Aarón J. Quiroz. "A high mountain lizard from Peru: The world’s highest-altitude reptile." Herpetozoa 34 (February 15, 2021): 61–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.34.61393.
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Life at high altitudes is particularly challenging for ectothermic animals like reptiles and involves the evolution of specialised adaptations to deal with low temperatures, hypoxia and intense UV radiation. As a result, only very few reptile taxa are able to survive above 5,000 m elevation and herpetological observations from these altitudes are exceedingly rare. We report here an exceptional observation of a lizard population (Liolaemus aff. tacnae; Reptilia, Squamata) from the high Andes of Peru. During an ascent of Chachani mountain (6,054 m, 16°11'S, 71°32'W), we observed and documented photographically this species living between 5,000 and 5,400 m above sea level. Following a review of literature, we show that this is the highest known record of a reptile species.
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Valdez, Jose W. "Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade." Animals 11, no. 3 (March 3, 2021): 676. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11030676.
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Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained, which means they are also largely unregulated and unmonitored, resulting in a large portion of the reptile pet trade remaining unknown. In this study, the past, current, and future trends of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade were examined. Google Trends was used to determine the global popularity of the most popular pets from 2004 to 2020 and compared to the results from an online survey sent to individuals involved in the reptile trade. The most popular pets from the previous five years were also compared globally across regions and countries. The results determined that the most popular reptile species during the last decade is by far bearded dragons, followed by ball pythons and leopard geckos. Although the survey results were similar when asked what the top reptiles were, most respondents named ball pythons as the most popular reptile. However, when asked what reptiles had lost the most popularity during the previous decade, the survey respondents named green iguanas, Burmese pythons, chameleons, red-eared sliders, and green anoles, concurring with what was found with Google Trends. The reptiles thought to be more popular in the upcoming decade by the survey participants were blue-tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx, crested geckos, and ball pythons—most of which did indeed show an increase in popularity during the last decade, as indicated with Google Trends. The results from Google Trends demonstrated that ball pythons and crested geckos have increased their popularity more than any other reptile in the last two decades. Reptile popularity also differed between countries, with bearded dragons the most popular reptile in Australia, Western Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Leopard geckos were the most popular reptile in Italy and Turkey, and ball pythons were the reptile of choice in Mexico, Indonesia, and India. The general finding of this study is that the reptiles declining in popularity were mostly wild-caught or restricted due to regulations, while current and future species were captive-bred and available in many varieties or morphs. The most popular species were also docile, medium-sized, and easy to handle, with relatively simple care requirements. This study demonstrates that Google Trends can be a useful tool for determining relative popularity among reptiles, or any other pet group, with results closely mirroring those obtained through direct surveying of people involved in the pet trade. However, unlike surveys, this analysis is quick, quantifiable, and can show what is popular and in-demand not only at the global level but at much finer scales. Thus, Google Trends can be a valuable tool in many research applications, especially in topics that may otherwise be difficult to monitor and quantify.
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Madella-Auricchio, Cláudia Renata, Paulo Auricchio, and Enio Saraiva Soares. "Reptile species composition in the Middle Gurguéia and comparison with inventories in the eastern Parnaíba River Basin, State of Piauí, Brazil." Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 57, no. 28 (September 15, 2017): 375. http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/0031-1049.2017.57.28.
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The reptile diversity of the Middle Gurguéia River Basin in southern Piauí, Brazil, is little known. The rapid expansion of agriculture in the region is converting the Cerrado and Caatinga into large farming areas, which threatens biodiversity and hastens its loss. In this study, 68 specimens of reptiles from a university collection were examined, comprising 29 species: ten lizards, one amphisbaenian, 15 snakes, two turtles and one crocodilian. They were collected from five locations in the Middle Gurguéia Basin, a region not previously evaluated for reptiles. The most abundant species is a member of Tropidurus. Comparison with eight other areas in the eastern Parnaíba Basin indicated that the diversity of reptiles in the Middle Gurguéia is similar to that in other Caatinga-Cerrado ecotone areas. The reptile assemblage in the eastern Parnaíba Basin comprises 100 species of reptiles: 39 lizards, five amphisbaenians, 50 snakes, four chelonians and two crocodilians. This study expanded the known distributions of some reptiles and recorded the first occurrence of Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837) for Piauí. A cluster analysis showed that the reptile composition concords with the habitat where species were found, i.e. Cerrado, Caatinga or ecotone. Studies that associate habitat structure with each species are essential to propose efficient strategies for reptile management and conservation for the entire Parnaíba River Basin, mostly in areas that are not yet protected.
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Lemos-Espinal, Julio A., and Geoffrey R. Smith. "Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico." Check List 11, no. 3 (April 24, 2015): 1642. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.3.1642.
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We compiled a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. The herpetofauna of Hidalgo consists of a total of 175 species: 54 amphibians (14 salamanders and 40 anurans); and 121 reptiles (one crocodile, five turtles, 36 lizards, 79 snakes). These taxa represent 32 families (12 amphibian families, 20 reptile families) and 87 genera (24 amphibian genera, 63 reptile genera). Two of these species are non-native species (Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril and Bibron, 1836 and Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803)). This herpetofauna represents a mixture of species from both the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Transvolcanic Belt. In addition, 26% of all categorized amphibian and reptile species in Hidalgo are considered Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Thus, Hidalgo represents a relatively unique and threatened diversity of amphibians and reptiles.
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Perry, Sean M., and Mark A. Mitchell. "Reptile assisted reproductive technologies: can ART help conserve 300 million years of evolution by preserving extant reptile biodiversity?" Reproduction, Fertility and Development 34, no. 5 (December 17, 2021): 385–400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd21034.
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Biodiversity loss is the greatest environmental problem threatening ecosystem, animal, and human health. Anthropogenic induced changes to climate, habitat, disease, species distributions, poaching, and unsustainable trade have accelerated extinction rates in all vertebrates, including reptiles. Preventing reptile extinctions will require humans to acknowledge these losses and develop ex situ and in situ plans to preserve them. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are management tools used to protect numerous vertebrate taxa; however, progress in developing ART for reptiles has lagged. Creating functional and sustainable reptile ART will strengthen our conservation capacity by capturing genetic material from select individuals to overcome natural or manmade boundaries. Utilising short-term gamete storage and genome resource banking, in conjunction with timed artificial insemination (AI) or ex ovo incubation, could lead to profound advances in reptile conservation, mitigating the loss of reptile biodiversity. In this article, we review ART reptile research completed since the 1970s. Topics include AI, hormonal control of reproduction, gamete collection, gamete storage, and genome resource banking. Additionally, we review the potential application of advanced reproductive methodologies, including in vitro/ex ovo fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer), and genetic editing.
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Deakin, Janine E., and Tariq Ezaz. "Understanding the Evolution of Reptile Chromosomes through Applications of Combined Cytogenetics and Genomics Approaches." Cytogenetic and Genome Research 157, no. 1-2 (2019): 7–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000495974.
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Studies of reptile (nonavian reptiles) chromosomes began well over a century ago (1897) with the initial report on the description of sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) chromosomes. Since then, chromosome analysis in reptiles has contributed significantly to understanding chromosome evolution in vertebrates. Reptile karyotypes are also unique, as being the only vertebrate group where the majority of the species possess variable numbers of macro- and microchromosomes, which was first reported for iguanids and teiids in 1921. In addition, many reptiles have microchromosomes as sex chromosomes, highlighting their evolutionary significance, yet very little is known about their evolutionary origin and significance in shaping amniote genomes. Advances in genomic technologies in recent years have accelerated our capacity to understand how sequences are arranged within a genome. However, genomic and cytogenetic analyses have been combined for only 3 species to provide a deeper understanding of reptile chromosome evolution and sequence organization. In this review, we highlight how a combined approach of cytogenetic analysis and sequence analysis in reptiles can help us answer fundamental questions of chromosome evolution in reptiles, including evolution of microchromosomes and sex chromosomes.
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Warren, Dr Kristin. "Reptile Euthanasia — No Easy Solution?" Pacific Conservation Biology 20, no. 1 (2014): 25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc140025.
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Reptiles are commonly studied in biological research projects, and wildlife researchers may be required to euthanize a reptile if it sustains a severe injury associated with the research. When conducting euthanasia of any animal it is critical to confirm death. Whilst in mammals and birds euthanasia and confirmation of death can easily be accomplished, in reptiles these are not straight forward processes due to reptilian poikilothermic biology and physiology. Many traditional methods of reptile euthanasia are controversial, and recommended methods of acceptable euthanasia vary amongst the different reptilian orders. Physical methods of euthanasia involving hypothermia or decapitation alone are considered inhumane and are not acceptable methods of euthanasia. Injectable pentobarbitone sodium is considered an acceptable method of euthanasia for all reptiles, except large crocodiles and other large reptile species where carcass removal in the wild may be problematic. However, in Australia pentobarbitone sodium is a Scheduled 4 drug with requirements for locked storage, and users other than registered veterinarians must apply for authorization to administer scheduled drugs. Stunning followed by destruction of the brain is considered acceptable with reservations in some small species of snakes and lizards, where these methods can be effectively accomplished. MS222 has been used in several species of reptiles, however further research is required to determine whether this technique is effective and humane across the diverse range of reptilian species. Humane euthanasia in reptiles is not easily achieved and, whilst recognizing limitations in accessing veterinary anaesthetic and euthanasia drugs, it can best be assured by using a two-stage euthanasia process — whereby the reptile is initially anaesthetized, and then euthanized by administration of pentobarbitone sodium or alternatively a combination of decapitation and brain destruction following anaesthesia.
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Worrell, Brianna. "How to intubate a reptile." Veterinary Nurse 10, no. 10 (December 2, 2019): 548–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2019.10.10.548.
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Intubation in reptiles can be challenging in some species. From their anatomy, anaesthetic protocols, technique, and recovery, reptiles have several special considerations. With the right instruments, intubation can be performed successfully on reptiles. In this article, we will discuss the various tools that help to properly intubate reptiles. We will also discuss techniques that will help with intubation on reptile patients as well as protocols for anaesthesia and recovery.
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Teixeira, Camila Palhares, Luiza Passos, Vinicius D. L. R. Goulart, Andre Hirsch, Marcos Rodrigues, and Robert J. Young. "Evaluating patterns of human–reptile conflicts in an urban environment." Wildlife Research 42, no. 7 (2015): 570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr15143.
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Context Reptiles, especially snakes, can cause a fear reaction in the public and are, therefore, a good model to examine human–wildlife conflicts. Human city dwellers often respond to the presence of snakes or other reptiles by calling out the responsible agency for animal control, which has to mediate the situation. Aims To determine how the temporal and spatial occurrence of human–reptile conflicts were associated with environmental conditions and socio-economic factors in a large Brazilian city (Belo Horizonte). Methods The callout reports of the Environmental Police of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, over a 7-year period from 2002 to 2008 to mediate reptile conflicts were analysed. Densities of callouts were determined by kernel-density estimator and matched with the vegetation cover and land use, to determine how the environment affected reptile callout distribution. The study area was divided into nine regions with different socio-economic and demographic characteristics to evaluate the possible effects of human factors in the conflict. Key results Reptile callouts were almost exclusively about snakes or freshwater turtles, despite a large population of wild lizards. In general, the difference in callout distribution of snakes and freshwater turtles was the result of different attitudes from city dwellers on the basis of socio-economic characteristics. Snakes were less frequent as urbanisation increased, whereas freshwater turtles were associated with water or open areas. Significantly, more conflicts occurred during the rainy season. People in areas of high per capita income used the Environmental Police as mediators more often than did those in poorer areas, but callouts were not related to human population density. Conclusions Habitat type and climate were significantly predictive of human–reptile conflicts. Human populations with higher salaries and education levels tended to resolve their conflicts with reptiles using official mediators whether the reptile was venomous or not. Implications The environmental and climatic data show that it is possible to predict when and where human–reptile conflicts are most likely. Thus, official mediators can use this information for targeted education programs. Such education programs should emphasise, at all levels of society, how to deal with such conflicts sensibly, so as to ensure the best outcomes for people and reptiles.
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Mirza, Amrin Naimoddin, and Satish S. Patil. "Seasonal Reptilian Diversity at Gautala Reserve Forest, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), India." Current World Environment 18, no. 2 (August 31, 2023): 786–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/cwe.18.2.27.
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Reptiles are playing a vital role in ecology. These reptiles show a diverse range of habitat adaptations. They are dispersed in extreme desert conditions as well as in low-temperature areas and they are broadly dispersed across the world. The occurrence of reptiles is a sign of rich biodiversity and ecology. To assess the distribution of the reptile species in a given area, a reptilian species survey was carried out in the Gautala Reserve Forest, where 15 different spots were selected during the rainy, winter, and summer seasons. A checklist was created for the period of 2017-2018. During the investigation, a total of 28 species of reptiles from 6 families were found. The transect method was used to sample direct and indirect evidence of reptilian species. This paper discusses seasonal variations in reptilian diversity and statistical analysis methods. The Boidae family has fewer species than various other families, compared to the huge number of species of the Colubridae family reported in the current study. According to the IUCN, Three species of reptiles, the Common Sand Boa (Gongylophis Conicus), India Rock Python (Python molurus molurus), and John's Sand Boa (Eryx johnii), are Near Threatened (NT- Decreasing), and one species of reptile, the Gunther's Racer (Coluber gracilis), is Data Deficient (DD-Unknown). The remaining 24 species of reptiles are considered Least Concerned. Baseline information on the resilience of these reptile species was collected for the current investigation. These details will be useful for future planning on the preservation of reptile diversity.
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Moore, T. L., L. E. Valentine, M. D. Craig, G. E. S. J. Hardy, and P. A. Fleming. "Is the reptile community affected by Eucalyptus wandoo tree condition?" Wildlife Research 40, no. 5 (2013): 358. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13015.
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Context Large portions of the world’s forests and woodlands are currently affected by declines in canopy condition of dominant tree species; however, the effects of these declines on faunal communities are largely unknown. Eucalyptus wandoo woodlands in the south-west region of Western Australia have demonstrated declines in condition since the early 1990s. Such declines in tree condition can result in reduced understorey vegetation, increased leaf-litter cover and coarse woody debris, potentially altering the habitat and resource available to reptiles. Prescribed fire events, another mechanism of habitat change for reptiles, are a common occurrence in these woodlands. Aims The present research investigated whether reptile communities were influenced by E. wandoo tree condition, and the changes in the habitat associated with E. wandoo decline. Methods Reptile trapping was conducted at 24 E. wandoo-dominated sites (of varying condition) in Dryandra State Forest and Wandoo Conservation Park, Western Australia. Overall, reptile abundance, species richness and individual reptile species abundances (only those species captured in sufficient numbers for analysis) were compared with a range of habitat characteristics that are likely to be altered by changes in E. wandoo tree condition. Key results Overall, higher reptile abundance and species richness were observed at sites with longer time since fire and more site litter cover. There was also a greater abundance and diversity of reptiles at sites where E. wandoo trees exhibited fewer symptoms of tree decline. Similar analyses for the five most common skink species indicated species-specific relationships with tree-condition measures, time since last fire, site litter cover, distance to drift fence from E. wandoo trees, understorey vegetation density and the density of coarse woody debris. Conclusions Abundance and species diversity of the reptile communities in E. wandoo woodlands were strongly related to time since last fire, E. wandoo tree condition and habitat characteristics such as site litter cover and the density of coarse woody debris. Implications Decline in the condition of E. wandoo trees and the fire events in E. wandoo woodlands are both mechanisms of change correlated with reptile habitat and resources. Future management of E. wandoo woodlands may include reducing prescribed fire events in areas demonstrating symptoms of tree decline, to conserve reptile abundance and species richness.
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Chan, Sze-Wing, Wei-Ta Fang, Ben LePage, and Shun-Mei Wang. "Assessing the Current Landscape of Reptile Pet Ownership in Hong Kong: A Foundation for Improved Animal Welfare and Future Research Directions." Animals 14, no. 12 (June 12, 2024): 1767. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani14121767.
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We investigated the evolving landscape of reptile pet ownership in Hong Kong. Employing a quantitative approach, a self-administered survey was distributed and over 200 reptile pet owners residing in Hong Kong responded. The survey instrument captured demographic data on pet ownership history, species preferences, husbandry practices, and veterinary care utilization. The findings revealed a strong interest in pet reptiles, with lizards being particularly popular (67%) among new owners. Turtles remain common (35%), likely due to cultural factors and perceived ease of care. However, a gap was noted between the awareness and the implementation of proper husbandry practices, with 51% of respondents expressing concerns about enrichment and 21% uncertain about appropriate enclosure size. Veterinary care utilization also showed a disconnect, with 50% of the respondents reporting no regular check-ups were performed, despite acknowledging its importance. Reptile behavior served as a well-being indicator. Over 90% of the respondents observed normal behaviors like locomotion and breathing. Interestingly, a positive correlation emerged between reptile behavior scores and duration of ownership (r = 0.200, p < 0.01), suggesting improved well-being for reptiles that were in long-term care. These findings emphasize the need for educational initiatives promoting responsible pet ownership practices and fostering collaboration between reptile owners, veterinarians, and animal welfare organizations. By addressing these knowledge gaps and promoting a collaborative approach, our results aim to contribute to enhanced reptile welfare in the context of Hong Kong’s evolving pet ownership trends.
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Zverkov, Nikolay, Maxim Arkhangelsky, Denis Gulyaev, Alexey Ippolitov, and Alexey Shmakov. "Callovian Marine Reptiles of European Russia." Diversity 16, no. 5 (May 10, 2024): 290. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d16050290.
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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.
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Lambert, Carder, and D’Cruze. "Given the Cold Shoulder: A Review of the Scientific Literature for Evidence of Reptile Sentience." Animals 9, no. 10 (October 17, 2019): 821. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9100821.
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We searched a selection of the scientific literature to document evidence for, and explorations into reptile sentience. The intention of this review was to highlight; (1) to what extent reptile capability for emotions have been documented in the scientific literature; (2) to discuss the implications this evidence has for the trade in reptiles; and (3) to outline what future research is needed to maximise their captive welfare needs. We used 168 keywords associated with sentience, to search through four journal databases and one open-access journal. We recorded studies that explored sentience in reptiles and those that recognised reptile sentience in their experiments. We found that reptiles were assumed to be capable of the following emotions and states; anxiety, distress, excitement, fear, frustration, pain, stress, and suffering, in 37 articles. We also found four articles that explored and found evidence for the capacity of reptiles to feel pleasure, emotion, and anxiety. These findings show that reptiles are considered to be capable of experiencing a range of emotions and states. This has implications for how reptiles are treated in captivity, as a better understanding could help to inform a range of different operational initiatives aimed at reducing negative animal welfare impacts, including improved husbandry and consumer behaviour change programmes.
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Hu, Yang, Graeme Gillespie, and Tim S. Jessop. "Variable reptile responses to introduced predator control in southern Australia." Wildlife Research 46, no. 1 (2019): 64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18047.
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Context Australia harbours an immense diversity of reptiles, which are generally expected to have frequent and diverse trophic interactions with introduced mammalian carnivores. Nevertheless, the potential for predatory or competitive interactions is likely to be contingent on multiple processes, including the importance of reptiles in the diet of introduced predators, alongside overlaps in their body sizes and ecological niches that would influence the strength of their interactions. In Australia’s temperate and relatively productive mesic environments there is little understanding of how introduced mammalian predators affect reptile assemblages. Aims The aim was to investigate the effects that a European red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 5–7kg) suppression program had on the abundance and species richness of a reptile community, with species ranging in size from the largest local ectothermic predator, the lace monitor (Varanus varius; 4–7kg), to small terrestrial reptiles (mostly 10–150g). Methods We utilised two sampling designs (baited camera monitoring stations and pitfall trapping) to evaluate the effects of fox suppression and other site-level ecological covariates (fire regime and habitat vegetation characteristics) on the lace monitor and small terrestrial reptiles. Reptile abundance and richness at site level were estimated from count-related abundance models. Key results For lace monitors, significantly higher abundances occurred in poison-baited areas relative to control areas. This suggests that fox suppression can affect the populations of the lace monitor via mesopredator release arising from reduced competition and, possibly, predation. For small terrestrial reptiles, neither abundance nor species richness were influenced by fox suppression. Individual abundances of the three most common small reptile species matched the overall pattern, as only responses to structural parameters of the habitat were detected. Conclusions Fox suppression can have different impacts for different reptile taxa, pending their ecological niche, as only the largest species was affected. Implications Increase in lace monitor abundance may change food web dynamics in fox-suppressed sites, such as by increasing predation pressure on arboreal marsupials.
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Miles, Sonya. "A surgical approach to the reptile patient." Companion Animal 27, no. 3 (March 2, 2022): 32–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/coan.2021.0068.
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Reptile surgery, as well as owner expectations for the care of reptiles, is constantly evolving. It is essential that the unique anatomical and physiological differences between reptiles and mammal patients, as well as between reptiles of different groups, be fully understood before undertaking any surgery. All reptile patients should undergo a full clinical examination and be stabilised wherever possible before surgery, with the patient's preferred optimum temperature being ensured pre-, peri- and postoperatively to optimise drug metabolism and wound healing. It is important to optimise patient and surgeon positioning, use appropriately sized suture material, and maintain haemostasis, magnification and lighting to improve surgical technique, regardless of the procedure or organ system being operated on.
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Anđelković, Marko, and Neda Bogdanović. "Amphibian and Reptile Road Mortality in Special Nature Reserve Obedska Bara, Serbia." Animals 12, no. 5 (February 23, 2022): 561. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12050561.
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Amphibians and reptiles are the most threatened vertebrates by traffic, especially near ponds and wetlands. The main aim of this study was to examine seasonal and spatial patterns of amphibian and reptile road mortality in Special Nature Reserve “Obedska bara” (Serbia). We chose a road section of 4.2 km near the largest wetland in Serbia, with two different habitat types (forest-pond and agricultural area-pond). During 2018 (32 fieldwork days) and 2019–2020 (three control fieldwork days), we found 20,457 and 2231 road-killed animals, respectively. We recorded nine amphibian and eight reptile species. Amphibians (93%) were more vulnerable to traffic than reptiles (7%). The number of killed amphibians and reptiles varied between the seasons. Generally, amphibian roadkill was most frequent during the summer, whereas reptile roadkill was most frequent in spring and at the end of the summer. Furthermore, different roadkill patterns were observed during the examined months. In addition, we found that habitat type significantly affects the vulnerability of animals towards the roads. For both amphibians and reptiles, there were significant aggregations of roadkill, and most hotspots were located at the forest pond habitat type where mitigation measures must be applied (construction of tunnels and fences).
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Winata Findua, Ari, Sugeng P. Harianto, and Nuning Nurcahyani. "Keanekaragaman Reptil Di Repong Damar Pekon Pahmungan Pesisir Barat (Studi Kasus Plot Permanen Universitas Lampung)." Jurnal Sylva Lestari 4, no. 1 (April 7, 2016): 51. http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/jsl1451-60.
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Repong Damar in Pahmungan village, West Coast Regency is a Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park buffers, plays an important role a national preservation zone. Reptile is one of fauna in Pahmungan, the research had to be done because there wasn’t available data abaut reptiles. The research was conducted on June 2015, the aim of this study was to know the Biodiversity of Reptile Species in Repong Damar, Pahmungan village West Coast (University of Lampung permanent plot case study), The method in this research was used Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method. The result showed, there are 15 reptile species from 7 families (N=323) and biodiversity index H’= 2,008 which included as average category and Index of evennessJ’= 0,927 which included as stable. Reptile species often encountered was Tachydromus sexlineatus, Eutropis multifasciata, Dasia olivacea, Draco obscurus, Draco volans,Gecko geckoand Hemidactylus frenatus(n=72, 54, 42, 38, 28, 28,27). Keywords: reptile, repong damar, visual encounter survey
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Choquette, Jonathan D., and Lindsey Valliant. "Road Mortality of Reptiles and Other Wildlife at the Ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park Ecosystem in Southern Ontario." Canadian Field-Naturalist 130, no. 1 (January 1, 2016): 64. http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v130i1.1804.
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The Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor contains the largest protected tallgrass prairie ecosystem in Ontario and supports numerous species at risk. Despite its ecological significance, it is crossed by multiple high-traffic roads. Road mortality is a major threat to endangered species in Canada, particularly reptiles. The main goal of this study was to describe the nature and extent of vertebrate road mortality, with a focus on reptiles, on roads bisecting the Ojibway Prairie Complex, and the Greater Park Ecosystem, in Windsor and Lasalle, Ontario. A systematic road mortality survey was conducted by bicycle along seven roads (12.5 km) in 2010, 2012, and 2013. Also, opportunistic observations (n = 103) spanning over 30 years were assembled from a variety of sources. In total, 2083 vertebrates (49 species), including 446 reptiles (11 species), were recorded “dead onroad” during systematic surveys. The highest diversity of reptiles was recorded on Matchette Road, whereas the highest rate of reptile mortality was recorded on Malden Road. Reptile species at risk were killed on all roads surveyed. Combining systematic and opportunistic data, we found seven reptile species at risk: Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri), Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis vulpinus), Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii),Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), and Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Reptile road mortality “hotspots” occurred where each road is intersected by a naturalized utility right-of-way. Our results can be used to focus mitigation efforts in space and time to reduce mortality rates and enhance connectivity in the Ojibway Prairie Complex and Greater Park Ecosystem.
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McInerny, C. J. "The study and conservation of adders in Scotland." Glasgow Naturalist 27, Supplement (2018): 67–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.37208/tgn27s10.
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This paper describes two projects that explored the study and conservation of European adders (Vipera berus) and other reptiles in Scotland. One involved the implementation of an environmental mitigation plan during the construction of a hydroelectric scheme through an area of high reptile densities. The other involved the monitoring of a population of adders in a highly managed environment on a golf course. In both cases the adder numbers persisted suggesting that the populations were not affected, and so they illustrate situations where this reptile species can co-exist with humans. Finally, more general observations about reptile habitat requirements and conservation in Scotland are inferred from these studies.
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Lemos-Espinal, Julio A., Geoffrey R. Smith, and James C. Rorabaugh. "A conservation checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Sonora, Mexico, with updated species lists." ZooKeys 829 (March 11, 2019): 131–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.829.32146.
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Sonora has a rich natural diversity, including reptiles and amphibians. Sonora’s location on the United States-Mexico border creates some unique conservation challenges for its wildlife. We compiled a list of the amphibian and reptile species currently known for Sonora, summarized the conservation status of these species, and compared our list of species with known species lists for adjacent states. The herpetofauna of Sonora comprises 200 species of amphibians and reptiles (38 amphibians and 162 reptiles). Overall, Sonora shares the most species with Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Arizona. Approximately 11% of the amphibian and reptile species are IUCN listed, but 35.5% are placed in a protected category by SEMARNAT, and 32.6% are categorized as high risk by the Environmental Vulnerability Score.
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Stobo-Wilson, Alyson M., Brett P. Murphy, Sarah M. Legge, David G. Chapple, Heather M. Crawford, Stuart J. Dawson, Chris R. Dickman, et al. "Reptiles as food: predation of Australian reptiles by introduced red foxes compounds and complements predation by cats." Wildlife Research 48, no. 5 (2021): 470. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr20194.
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ContextInvasive species are a major cause of biodiversity loss across much of the world, and a key threat to Australia’s diverse reptile fauna. There has been no previous comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of the introduced European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, on Australian reptiles. AimsWe seek to provide an inventory of all Australian reptile species known to be consumed by the fox, and identify characteristics of squamate species associated with such predation. We also compare these tallies and characteristics with reptile species known to be consumed by the domestic cat, Felis catus, to examine whether predation by these two introduced species is compounded (i.e. affecting much the same set of species) or complementary (affecting different groups of species). Methods We collated records of Australian reptiles consumed by foxes in Australia, with most records deriving from fox dietary studies (tallying >35000 samples). We modelled presence or absence of fox predation records against a set of biological and other traits, and population trends, for squamate species. Key resultsIn total, 108 reptile species (~11% of Australia’s terrestrial reptile fauna) have been recorded as consumed by foxes, fewer than that reported for cats (263 species). Eighty-six species have been reported to be eaten by both predators. More Australian turtle species have been reported as consumed by foxes than by cats, including many that suffer high levels of predation on egg clutches. Twenty threatened reptile species have been reported as consumed by foxes, and 15 by cats. Squamate species consumed by foxes are more likely to be undergoing population decline than those not known to be consumed by foxes. The likelihood of predation by foxes increased with squamate species’ adult body mass, in contrast to the relationship for predation by cats, which peaked at ~217g. Foxes, but not cats, were also less likely to consume venomous snakes. ConclusionsThe two introduced, and now widespread, predators have both compounding and complementary impacts on the Australian reptile fauna. ImplicationsEnhanced and integrated management of the two introduced predators is likely to provide substantial conservation benefits to much of the Australian reptile fauna.
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Derez, Chantelle M., and Richard A. Fuller. "The Reptile Relocation Industry in Australia: Perspectives from Operators." Diversity 15, no. 3 (February 28, 2023): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15030343.
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Thousands of reptiles are relocated annually in Australia, yet there has been relatively little research aimed at understanding how the reptile relocation industry operates. An online questionnaire was distributed to anyone who had relocated a reptile between April 2019 and April 2020, including wildlife relocators, wildlife rehabilitators and the general public. The questionnaire explored demographics, decision-making and concerns about how the industry functions, through 24 questions and two opportunities to provide open-ended comments. We received 125 responses and 123 comments from operators in all Australian states and territories. Beliefs about appropriate times and places for reptile releases were not reflected in practice for the majority of operators. Confidence about reptiles remaining at recipient sites was low regardless of how many years’ experience an operator had. Escaped captive native reptiles were encountered by most operators, and a quarter of operators were called out to exotic non-native snakes. Operators across all levels of experience indicated a need for changes within the industry, including increased training and professionalism, and more scientific studies on the outcomes of relocations to address concerns about the impacts that the industry has on the wildlife that it is trying to protect.
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Stenger, Lilli, Anke Große Hovest, Truong Quang Nguyen, Cuong The Pham, Anna Rauhaus, Minh Duc Le, Dennis Rödder, and Thomas Ziegler. "Assessment of the threat status of reptile species from Vietnam - Implementation of the One Plan Approach to Conservation." Nature Conservation 53 (September 5, 2023): 183–221. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.53.106923.
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Since the world is currently in the midst of a major biodiversity crisis, scientists have assigned high conservation priority to 36 biodiversity hotspots around the world. As part of one of the leading hotspots in terms of species richness and local endemism, Vietnam is considered a country with high conservation priority. The reptile fauna of Vietnam is known for its high level of diversity and an outstanding number of endemic species. Vietnamese reptiles are highly threatened due to habitat loss and overharvesting for domestic and international trade, traditional medicine and food, making them a group of great conservation concern. As a baseline for improved reptile conservation in Vietnam, we conducted a conservation assessment of Vietnamese reptile species by evaluating data from a variety of sources. Our study results show that approximately 32.9% (n = 159) of the total reptile species (n = 484) present in Vietnam are endemic to the country, of which more than half are only known from their type locality and about one-third restricted to a particular subregion, making the species particularly vulnerable to threats. Furthermore, 33.5% (n = 53) of 158 endemic taxa included in the protected area analysis have not yet been recorded from any protected area. Among all 418 Vietnamese reptile species listed on the IUCN Red List, 17.7% (n = 74) are threatened with extinction, 46.0% (n = 34) of the total 74 threatened species are endemic to Vietnam. The fact that 135 species are either listed as DD or have not yet been evaluated by the IUCN highlights the urgency of further research. Moreover, only very few species are protected by national or international legislation, and further assessments are needed to protect reptiles of particular concern. A Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) analysis revealed that 22.5% (n = 109) of all reptiles occurring in Vietnam and only 6.3% (n = 10) of the endemic Vietnamese reptiles are currently kept in zoos worldwide. Although 60.8% (n = 45) of the threatened reptiles (n = 74) from Vietnam are currently held in zoos, only 23.5 (n = 8) of the endemic threatened species (n = 34) are held there. Following the IUCNCPSG`s One Plan Approach to Conservation, it is therefore recommended to increase the number of threatened and endemic species in breeding stations and zoos to maintain assurance populations, suitable for restocking measures. Despite ongoing efforts in Vietnam, further conservation measures are required. We therefore also identify areas of highest reptile diversity and with the largest number of threatened species and provide a list of 50 most threatened species (10% of total species) as a guide for further research and conservation action in Vietnam.
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Malinovskaya, Yu V., V. A. Minoranskiy, S. I. Kolesnikov, and V. I. Dankov. "Reptile Number Observation on the Rostov Nature Reserve Grounds the Middle of 20th Century to 2020." UNIVERSITY NEWS. NORTH-CAUCASIAN REGION. NATURAL SCIENCES SERIES, no. 3 (207) (October 2, 2020): 98–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.18522/1026-2237-2020-3-98-106.
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To ascertain the changes in complexes of Reptilia species due to human activities on the Rostov Nature Reserve grounds in the 20th-21st centuries. Research Location and methods: There are 10 Reptilia species that habits observed territory. Starting from the middle of 20th century steppes had huge anthropological changes, which had significant impact on reptiles. The Re-serve creation had positive contribution to reptile group. In this region were preserved species included in Rostov region red book, such as Eremias arguta Pall., Coronella austriaca Laur., Hierophis caspius Gmel., Elaphe sauromates Pall., El. dione Pall. и Vipera renardi Chris. Intensification of agricultural activities in this region in last decade requires improved environmental work.
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Annesa, Olvy Diaz, Condro Kartiko, and Agi Prasetiadi. "Identification of Reptile Species Using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)." Jurnal RESTI (Rekayasa Sistem dan Teknologi Informasi) 4, no. 5 (October 30, 2020): 899–906. http://dx.doi.org/10.29207/resti.v4i5.2282.
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Reptiles are one of the most common fauna in the territory of Indonesia. quite a lot of people who have an interest in knowing more about this fauna in order to increase knowledge. Based on previous research, Deep Learning is needed in particular the CNN method for computer programs to identify reptile species through images. This reseacrh aims to determine the right model in producing high accuracy in the identification of reptile species. Thousands of images are generated through data augmentation processes for manually captured images. Using the Python programming language and Dropout technique, an accuracy of 93% was obtained by this research in identifying 14 different types of reptiles.
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Iftime, Alexandru, and Oana Iftime. "Alien fish, amphibian and reptile species in Romania and their invasive status: a review with new data." Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 64, no. 1 (June 30, 2021): 131–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/travaux.64.e67558.
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The paper presents a review of literature data, supplemented with original observations, on the presence, establishment, distribution and invasive status of alien fish, amphibian and reptile species in Romania. Consistent criteria were followed in defining alien species records, establishment and invasive status. From the 48 alien fish species, 1 fish hybrid, 1 amphibian and 18 reptile species recorded, only 16 fishes and 3 reptiles can be regarded as established. Of these we consider the criteria for invasive status as being probably fulfilled by one fish species (Perccottus glenii), and less likely by six more fish species. The presence and the alien status of the one amphibian are debatable. No reptile species can be considered invasive at present.
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Lindenmayer, David B., Daniel Florance, David Smith, Clare Crane, Angelina Siegrist, Eleanor Lang, Mason Crane, Damian R. Michael, Ben C. Scheele, and Maldwyn John Evans. "Temporal trends in reptile occurrence among temperate old-growth, regrowth and replanted woodlands." PLOS ONE 18, no. 9 (September 28, 2023): e0291641. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291641.
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Reptiles are an important part of the vertebrate fauna in the temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia. However, compared to birds and mammals, the long-term occurrence of reptiles across woodland growth types–old growth, regrowth, and replantings–remains poorly understood. Here, using 18-years of data gathered at 218 sites across 1.5 million hectares in New South Wales South West Slopes bioregion, we sought to quantify patterns of temporal change in reptile occurrence and determine if such changes varied between woodland growth types. Despite extensive sampling, almost 75% of our 6341 surveys produced no detections of reptiles. Significant survey effort exceeding 2000 surveys was needed over a prolonged period of time to record detections of 26 reptile species in our study area. Our analyses showed a temporal increase in estimated reptile species richness and abundance over 18 years. Such increases characterized all three vegetation structural types we surveyed. At the individual species level, we had sufficient data to construct models for five of the 26 species recorded. Three of these species were least commonly detected in replantings, whereas the remaining two were most often detected in replantings relative to old growth and regrowth woodland. We found evidence of a temporal increase in two skink species, a decline in one gecko species, and no change in the remaining two skink species. Although detections were consistently low, active searches were the best survey method, and we suggest using this method in habitats known to be hotspots for reptiles, such as rocky outcrops, if the aim is to maximize the number of individuals and species detected. Our findings highlight the value of all three broad vegetation structure types in contributing to woodland reptile biodiversity.
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Vera, David Gustavo, Diego Omar Di Pietro, Germán Tettamanti, Manuel Eirin, Clara Trofino Falasco, María Florencia Aranguren, Jorge Daniel Williams, Federico Pablo Kacoliris, and Igor Berkunsky. "An annotated list of the reptiles of the highland grassland of Tandilia Mountains, Argentina." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 16, no. 1 (March 9, 2021): 185–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.16.e60629.
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The study of biodiversity is a fundamental step to develop conservation strategies. Reptile populations are immersed in a global crisis, due to anthropic disturbances. Almost the entire Pampa ecoregion in Argentina was modified for agricultural and livestock activities, the only remnants of mountain native grasslands in Buenos Aires province being the Tandilia and Ventania mountain systems. Ventania reptiles have been exhaustively researched in last years, while Tandilia counts with fewer studies. We presented an actualized reptiles list of the Tandilia Mountain System. We used five data sources to collect presence records: literature, fieldwork, museum collection, citizen science, and a online database. The composition of reptiles from the Tandilia Mountain range includes 26 species in 12 families. Due to the presence of several endemic reptiles, and the representativeness of more than half of the reptiles of Pampa Ecoregion, Tandilia would be useful to determine conservation priority areas to conserve the native grassland and their reptile fauna.
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Dégi, János, Viorel Herman, Isidora Radulov, Florica Morariu, Tiana Florea, and Kálmán Imre. "Surveys on Pet-Reptile-Associated Multi-Drug-Resistant Salmonella spp. in the Timișoara Metropolitan Region—Western Romania." Antibiotics 12, no. 7 (July 19, 2023): 1203. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12071203.
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The number of reptiles owned as pets has risen worldwide. Additionally, urban expansion has resulted in more significant human encroachment and interactions with the habitats of captive reptiles. Between May and October 2022, 48 reptiles from pet shops and 69 from households were sampled in the Timișoara metropolitan area (western Romania). Three different sample types were collected from each reptile: oral cavity, skin, and cloacal swabs. Salmonella identification was based on ISO 6579-1:2017 (Annex D), a molecular testing method (invA gene target), and strains were serotyped in accordance with the Kauffman–White–Le-Minor technique; the antibiotic susceptibility was assessed according to Decision 2013/652. This study showed that 43.28% of the pet reptiles examined from households and pet shops carried Salmonella spp. All of the strains isolated presented resistance to at least one antibiotic, and 79.32% (23/29) were multi-drug-resistant strains, with the most frequently observed resistances being to gentamicin, nitrofurantion, tobramycin, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. The findings of the study undertaken by our team reveal that reptile multi-drug-resistant Salmonella is present. Considering this aspect, the most effective way of preventing multi-drug-resistant Salmonella infections requires stringent hygiene control in reptile pet shops as well as ensuring proper animal handling once the animals leave the pet shop and are introduced into households.
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Syafiq, Muhamad Fatihah, Baizul Hafsyam Badli-Sham, Noor-Shahirah Ibrahim, Lukman H. B. Ismail, Muhammad Afif Mohd Amin, Goh Shu Xian, Rabiatul ‘Aqilah Mohamad Ariffin, et al. "Taxonomic Composition, Diversity, and Conservation Status of Reptilian Fauna at Sekayu Lowland Forests, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia." Russian Journal of Herpetology 31, no. 1 (February 29, 2024): 14–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2024-31-1-14-23.
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Lowland forests of Terengganu are still lacking in extensive studies on reptiles, and Sekayu lowland forest is one such example. We assess the composition, diversity and conservation status of reptiles in this area based on seven years (2013 – 2019) of data collection via Visual Encounter Survey and pitfall traps as the collecting methods. We also compiled a checklist by combining the data from our surveys and previous studies done at this area. We discovered a total of 84 species of reptiles belonging to 15 families and 50 genera. Of these, lizards were the most abundant whereas snakes had the highest number of families, genera and highest species richness. Approximately 71% of the sampled reptiles are categorised as «Least Concern» based on the IUCN Red List Categories. Overall, reptile species richness is high and these records highlight the importance of lowland forests in Terengganu as a source of significant reptile diversity.
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Triska, Maggie D., Michael D. Craig, Vicki L. Stokes, Roger P. Pech, and Richard J. Hobbs. "Conserving reptiles within a multiple-use landscape: determining habitat affiliations of reptile communities in the northern jarrah forest of south-western Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 65, no. 1 (2017): 21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo16074.
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Disturbed landscapes can provide habitat for a variety of species; however, for fauna, a strong understanding of their habitat affiliations is critical both to detect species and to develop management prescriptions to maintain their populations. We assessed habitat affiliations of common, uncommon and rare reptile species in a multiple-use landscape, the northern jarrah forest of south-western Australia. To identify predictors of reptile occurrence, we related reptile presence/absence, or relative abundance, to habitat, climatic and seasonal variables. Because the reptiles studied have cryptic behaviours and low numbers of detections, we used a combination of analyses including non-metric multi-dimensional scaling, occupancy and regression models. We identified specific habitat affiliations for the most common species and potential linkages with vegetation structure for most uncommon species. There were insufficient detections to determine habitat affiliations accurately for most rare species. Often species were detected too infrequently to determine specific habitat variables that influence occupancy and detection, and altering survey time and scale may increase detections so that habitat affiliations can be determined. However, in highly speciose landscapes, like our study area, we may not be able to wait until we have enough detections to define the habitat affiliations of all reptiles before we make management decisions. Therefore management activities that maintain habitat heterogeneity and complexity is likely to be the best strategy to conserve the most reptile species.
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Mizsei, Edvárd, Daniel Jablonski, Zsolt Végvári, Szabolcs Lengyel, and Márton Szabolcs. "Distribution and diversity of reptiles in Albania: a novel database from a Mediterranean hotspot." Amphibia-Reptilia 38, no. 2 (2017): 157–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003097.
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Although Albania has a rich reptile fauna, efforts to reveal its diversity have so far been limited. To fill this gap, we collected available published and unpublished (museum collections, online sources) records of reptile occurrences and conducted several expeditions to search for reptiles in areas with few or no previous records. Our georeferenced database contains 3731 records of 40 species from between 1918 and 2015. Based on this comprehensive dataset, we prepared distribution maps for each reptile species of the country. Applying spatial statistics, we revealed that overall sampling effort was clustered, with hotspots associated with easily accessible areas and natural heritage sites. The maximum number of species per cell was 26 with an average of seven. Cells harbouring large reptile diversity were located along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, on the western slopes of south Albanian mountains, i.e. in areas generally considered as Balkans biodiversity hotspots or potential historical refugia. We found that species presence and diversity is strongly influenced by landscape features. Diversity of land cover, altitudinal variation, temperature and precipitation variation explained the observed pattern in our models. Our study presents the largest database of reptile occurrences to date and is the first to analyse reptile diversity patterns in Albania. The database and the diversity patterns can provide a basis for future macroecological studies and conservation planning.
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Richardson, Emily, Dale G. Nimmo, Sarah Avitabile, Lauren Tworkowski, Simon J. Watson, Dustin Welbourne, and Steven W. J. Leonard. "Camera traps and pitfalls: an evaluation of two methods for surveying reptiles in a semiarid ecosystem." Wildlife Research 44, no. 8 (2017): 637. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr16048.
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Context Passive infrared cameras have become a widely utilised method for surveying mammals, providing substantial benefits over conventional trapping methods. Cameras have only recently been tested for their ability to survey terrestrial reptiles, and have not yet been tested against other reptile survey methods for their comparative effectiveness. Aims To investigate the reliability of passive infrared cameras as a reptile survey method, compared with pitfall trapping. In addition, to test a refinement of a current protocol for using cameras to survey reptiles. Methods The study was carried out in the herpetologically diverse, semiarid Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. Paired camera and pitfall lines were set up at 10 sites within Murray Sunset National Park and results from the two methods were compared. A comparison of results from cameras with and without the use of a cork tile substrate was also made. Key results Cameras were just as effective as pitfall traps for detecting some common diurnal species – detecting additional species that pitfalls did not – but were significantly less effective overall. Cameras provided lower estimates of species richness and failed to detect nocturnal species. We also discovered that cork tiles, required in other environments for the cameras to be effective in detecting diurnal reptiles, were not needed here. Conclusions Cameras can be an effective, efficient non-invasive alternative to conventional trapping methods, such as pitfall trapping, for surveying some terrestrial diurnal reptile species. However, further investigation into using cameras for surveying nocturnal reptile species is still required. Implications If the methodological issues identified during this study can be overcome, passive infrared cameras have the potential to be a valuable tool for future herpetological research.
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Vasconcelos, Raquel, Eudald Pujol-Buxó, Gustavo A. Llorente, Ahmed Saeed, and Salvador Carranza. "Micro-Hotspots for Conservation: An Umbrella Tree Species for the Unique Socotran Reptile Fauna." Forests 11, no. 3 (March 21, 2020): 353. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11030353.
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Umbrella species are defined as species that can be rare and sensitive to human disturbance, whose protection may confer the protection of other co-occurring species. The dragon’s blood tree Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. was already considered an umbrella species on Socotra Island (Indic Ocean, Yemen) due to its ecological importance for some native biota. We studied the reptile community living on D. cinnabari from Socotra Island. We sampled reptiles on trees across most D. cinnabari populations and applied co-occurrence and network partition analyses to check if the presence of reptiles on D. cinnabari populations was random or structured. Regardless of its patched and scarce actual distribution, we report the use of this tree as a habitat by more than half of the reptile community (12 endemic reptiles). Co-occurrence and network partition analyses demonstrate that this community is structured across the distribution of dragon’s blood trees, reflecting complex allopatric, vicariant, and biotic interaction processes. Hence, these trees act as micro-hotspots for reptiles, that is, as areas where endemic and rare species that are under threat at the landscape scale co-occur. This Socotra endemic tree is currently threatened by overgrazing, overmaturity, and climate change. Its protection and declaration as an umbrella species are expected to benefit the reptile community and to protect evolutionary processes that are partially driven by the ecological links between reptiles and this tree. To our knowledge, no tree species has been proposed as an umbrella species for island vertebrate endemics so far, highlighting the ecological uniqueness of Socotra Island.
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Cozer, Jonathan Silva, Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro, Thais Meirelles Linause, Atilla Colombo Ferreguetti, Helena de Godoy Bergallo, and Carlos Frederico Duarte da Rocha. "Reptile diversity in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve, Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil." Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 60 (August 28, 2020): e20206040. http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2020.60.40.
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The lack of information on the occurrence of species in a region limits the understanding of the composition and structure of the local community and, consequently, restricts the proposition of effective measures for species conservation. In this study, we researched the reptiles in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (DBBR), Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. We analyzed the parameters of the local community, such as richness, composition, and abundance of species. We conducted samplings from August 2017 to January 2019, through active search. We performed the samplings in nine standard plots of 250 meters in length. All individuals located in the plots or occasionally on the trails were registered. To evaluate sample effort to characterize the reptile community, we performed an accumulation curve of species, and to update the DBBR reptile list, we used as secondary data specimens deposited in collections and previously published studies. Considering primary and secondary data, we recorded 38 species, one chelonia, 13 lizards, and 24 snakes. Our study showed a richness of 15 additional species to the previous list of reptiles, increasing by about 40% the known richness to the area. We concluded that the DBBR holds a high richness of reptile species, representing 12% of the richness of reptiles of the Atlantic Forest and with a considerable number of endemic species in this biome. This suggests that the DBBR is an important forest fragment constituting a reservoir of the biodiversity of the reptiles of the Atlantic Forest.
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Bondarenko, D. A., and U. H. Ergashev. "Reptiles of the Southwestern Tajikistan desert plains: Spatial distribution, population density and communities structure." Current Studies in Herpetology 22, no. 1/2 (June 30, 2022): 17–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.18500/1814-6090-2022-22-1-2-17-39.
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Population density of reptiles in four desert areas of southwestern Tajikistan was estimated in spring 2018–2019. The structure of reptile communities in seven typical landscapes was described. The highest species diversity and population density were observed in sandy landscapes. Seven species of psammobionts formed the basis of these reptile communities. Among them Phrynocephalus interscapularis (56.4), Crossobamon eversmanni (27.8), Eremias lineolata (15.6), Eremias scripta (13.0) had the highest distribution and high population density (individuals/hectare). The relationship of cohabitating species was considered. The highest total population density of reptiles (89.0 ind./ha) was discovered on sandy ridges along the Amu Darya. On the loamy plain the population density of four species was 8.4 ind./ha, and on the foothill plain 2.4 ind./ha. Eremias nigrocellata (2.0 ind./ha) dominated in reptile communities on solid ground. In total, 25 species of reptiles inhabit the desert plains of Southwestern Tajikistan. 17 out of 25 (68%) species are included in the national Red Data Book. The level of endemism and similarity of reptile fauna in desert areas were high. Fauna similarity indices calculated according to Sørensen were 0.9–0.8. These values indicate close contact and connection between desert communities. The formation of the reptile fauna in southwestern Tajikistan occurred as a result of dispersal of Turanian species across the left bank of the Amu Darya River from Turkmenistan. They moved to the right bank due to the changes in the riverbed at the Pleistocene Epoch. The absence of some reptile species (Teratoscincus scincus, C. eversmanni, Phrynocephalus mystaceus, E. lineolata, Eremias grammica, E. scripta, etc.) in Northern Afghanistan along the border with Tajikistan is explained by the lack of herpetological study of this territory. Their habitat in the area is highly probable. Isolation and autonomy of desert areas in the Amu Darya valley create the opportunity for formation of new taxonomic forms. Examples are lizards E. scripta ladzinni and P. interscapularis sogdianus. The desert plains of Southwest Tajikistan have a small area and are subjected to significant anthropogenic pressure. Protection of small species, including lizards (Phrynocephalus raddei, P. mystaceus, Varanus griseus) and snakes (Eryx tataricus, Spalerosophis diadema, Boiga trigonatum, Naja oxiana, Echis carinatus) is needed. For widespread and numerous psammobiont species (P. interscapularis, E. lineolata, E. grammica, E. scripta, C. eversmanni) there is no threat of extermination at the moment.
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Maute, Kimberly, Kristine French, C. Michael Bull, Paul Story, and Grant Hose. "Current insecticide treatments used in locust control have less of a short-term impact on Australian arid-zone reptile communities than does temporal variation." Wildlife Research 42, no. 1 (2015): 50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14194.
Full textAbstract:
Context Despite the regular use of pesticides to control locusts, there is a lack of information on the effects of locust-control treatments on reptiles worldwide. Exposure to pesticides poses a significant potential hazard to small reptiles, both from the direct effects of exposure, and indirectly because of their largely insectivorous diet and small home ranges. Aims Our study aimed to monitor the effects of two insecticides applied operationally for locust control in Australia. A phenyl pyrazole pesticide, fipronil, and a fungal biopesticide, Metarhizium acridium (Green Guard®), were applied aerially in either a barrier or block treatment in the absence of dense locust populations, and effects on non-target arid-zone reptiles were measured. Methods We monitored reptile-abundance and community-composition responses to treatments using a large field-based pitfall-trapping experiment, with replicated control and spraying treatments, which approximated the scale of aerial-based locust-control operations in Australia. Key results Neither reptile abundance nor community composition was significantly affected by locust-control treatments. However, both abundance and community composition as detected by pitfall trapping changed over time, in both control and treatment plots, possibly as a result of a decrease in annual rainfall. Conclusions The absence of any significant short-term pesticide treatment effects in our study suggests that the two locust-control application methods studied present a relatively insignificant hazard to reptiles at our site, based on a single application. Similar to other areas of Australia, climate and other factors are likely to be stronger drivers of reptile abundance and community structure. Implications Monitoring over an area that approximates the scale of the current locust-control operations is an important step in understanding the possible effects of current pesticide exposure on reptile populations and will inform insecticide risk assessments in Australia. However, important information on the immediate response of individuals to insecticide application and long-term effects of exposure are missing. The preliminary research reported in the present paper should be complemented by future investigations on long-term and sublethal impacts of pesticide exposure on Australian native reptiles and the possible benefits provided to reptiles by the resource pulses represented in untreated high-density locust populations.
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Lemos-Espinal, Julio A., and Geoffrey R. Smith. "An analysis of the inter-state similarity of the herpetofaunas of Mexican states." Nature Conservation 53 (September 25, 2023): 223–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.53.106732.
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Mexico is a megadiverse country with high amphibian and reptile richness. Understanding how Mexico’s herpetofauna is shared among Mexican states can contribute to developing conservation plans by figuring out which states may need to coordinate conservation actions. We generated species lists for the herpetofauna for all Mexican states, and used hierarchical clustering analyses to identify clusters of states on the basis of amphibian and reptile species separately. We also calculated pair-wise Jaccard distances for all Mexican states for amphibians, reptiles, and physiographic provinces and estimated the length of shared borders between states and the geographic (straight-line) distance between the centroids of pairs of states. We used these data to explore potential drivers of the cluster analysis results. Our cluster analysis for amphibians identified five clusters with nine subclusters, and for reptiles, resulted in four clusters with six subclusters. In general, the clusters for Mexican amphibians and reptiles have a similar composition of states. However, for amphibians, the states of Veracruz and Puebla form a cluster separate from a large cluster of northeastern Mexican states, whereas in reptiles Veracruz and Puebla cluster with northeastern Mexican states. Jaccard distances of amphibians and reptiles were highly, positively correlated. Both amphibian and reptile Jaccard distances were positively correlated with the physiographic provinces’ Jaccard distance and shared border length and negatively correlated with the distance between centroids. Taken together, our results suggest that the pattern of the sharing of herpetofaunal species among Mexican states is a consequence of the states’ proximity. Such a pattern is consistent with the underlying driver being the similarity of physiographic provinces (i.e., habitats and ecosystems) of these states (i.e., geographic proximity likely reflects, at least in large part, ecological similarity). Our results suggest clusters of states that should coordinate the conservation and management of their herpetofaunas. For example, clusters of states in southern Mexico share a high number of threatened amphibian species and clusters of states in northern Mexico share a high number of threatened reptile species. Oaxaca is also a state that has a unique herpetofauna and a high number of threatened species of both amphibians and reptiles.
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Lotzkat, Sebastian, Gerrit Wehrenberg, Marcel Haas, and Gunther Köhler. "Amphibians (Amphibia, Anura and Caudata) and reptiles (Reptilia, Squamata) from the headwaters of Río Guázaro on the Caribbean versant of Veraguas province, western Panama." Check List 17, no. 6 (November 12, 2021): 1541–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/17.6.1541.
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We present a list of amphibian and reptile species encountered from 16–20 July 2016 in the upper drainage of Río Guázaro, Parque Nacional Santa Fé, Veraguas, Panama. We collected 10 amphibian and 10 reptile species and observed three additional amphibian and one additional reptile species. Our collected material provides the first records from Veraguas province for the amphibians Bolitoglossa schizodactyla Wake & Brame, 1966 and Diasporus aff. quidditus (Lynch, 2001), as well as for the reptiles Basiliscus plumifrons Cope, 1876, Micrurus stewarti Barbour & Amaral, 1928, and Sibon argus (Cope, 1876). Although relatively small in species and specimen numbers, our collection represents the first documented herpetological inventory on the largely unexplored Caribbean versant of Veraguas in 50 years.
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Colston, Timothy J., José António L. Barão-Nóbrega, Ryan Manders, Alice Lett, Jamie Wilmott, Gavin Cameron, Sidony Hunter, et al. "Amphibians and reptiles of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, México, with new records." Check List 11, no. 5 (October 4, 2015): 1759. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.5.1759.
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We provide a list of amphibians and reptiles of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in the southern half of the Mexican Yucatan, in the state of Campeche. The study area was sampled through opportunistic, transect and pitfall trap surveys conducted for three successive years. These surveys resulted in a total of 2,359 amphibian and reptile encounters, belonging to 20 amphibian and 69 reptile species from 24 total families. We present herein the records for one snake, one chelonian and two salamander species not previously recorded in the area.
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A. How, R., and J. Dell. "Ground vertebrate fauna of Perth's vegetation remnants: impact of 170 years of urbanization." Pacific Conservation Biology 6, no. 3 (2000): 198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc000198.
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Ground vertebrates were surveyed on 34 vegetation remnants on the Swan Coastal Plain within the Perth metropolitan area. The remnants ranged from one hectare to nearly 340 ha and were sampled for at least 50 days during the year using pitfall traps. Six remnants were sampled in two or more successive years. Seven native, non-volant mammal, six introduced mammal, 11 amphibian and 43 reptile species were recorded. Native mammals are the most disadvantaged vertebrates in urban remnants with few species surviving the effects of long-term fragmentation. The herpetofauna is less affected, although snakes are generally rare. Marked annual variation occurred in lizard assemblages recorded on remnants sampled over consecutive years. On average, these remnants had a similarity in species composition of only 77% between years. Small remnants are important for conservation of reptile assemblages and there is a strong correlation between remnant area and species number for all reptile groups, except skinks. Remnants as small as one hectare retain viable populations of many reptiles, but need active management to exclude fire and predation. Regional biogeographic patterns are apparent in reptiles. Subregional patterns on the Swan Coastal Plain are associated with different soil types and the Swan River also creates a barrier across landforms. The diversity of reptile assemblages and variation in species trophic patterns indicate that many elements of the original food chain continue to operate in these urban environments.
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Xia, Tian, Lei Zhang, Guolei Sun, Xiufeng Yang, and Honghai Zhang. "Genomic evidence of adaptive evolution in the reptilian SOCS gene family." PeerJ 9 (June 24, 2021): e11677. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11677.
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The suppressor of the cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins play an essential role in inhibiting cytokine receptor signaling by regulating immune signal pathways. Although SOCS gene functions have been examined extensively, no comprehensive study has been performed on this gene family’s molecular evolution in reptiles. In this study, we identified eight canonical SOCS genes using recently-published reptilian genomes. We used phylogenetic analysis to determine that the SOCS genes had highly conserved evolutionary dynamics that we classified into two types. We identified positive SOCS4 selection signals in whole reptile lineages and SOCS2 selection signals in the crocodilian lineage. Selective pressure analyses using the branch model and Z-test revealed that these genes were under different negative selection pressures compared to reptile lineages. We also concluded that the nature of selection pressure varies across different reptile lineages on SOCS3, and the crocodilian lineage has experienced rapid evolution. Our results may provide a theoretical foundation for further analyses of reptilian SOCS genes’ functional and molecular mechanisms, as well as their roles in reptile growth and development.
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Stubbs, Thomas L., and Michael J. Benton. "Ecomorphological diversifications of Mesozoic marine reptiles: the roles of ecological opportunity and extinction." Paleobiology 42, no. 4 (May 17, 2016): 547–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/pab.2016.15.
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AbstractMesozoic marine ecosystems were dominated by several clades of reptiles, including sauropterygians, ichthyosaurs, crocodylomorphs, turtles, and mosasaurs, that repeatedly invaded ocean ecosystems. Previous research has shown that marine reptiles achieved great taxonomic diversity in the Middle Triassic, as they broadly diversified into many feeding modes in the aftermath of the Permo-Triassic mass extinction, but it is not known whether this initial phase of evolution was exceptional in the context of the entire Mesozoic. Here, we use a broad array of disparity, morphospace, and comparative phylogenetic analyses to test this. Metrics of ecomorphology, including functional disparity in the jaws and dentition and skull-size diversity, show that the Middle to early Late Triassic represented a time of pronounced phenotypic diversification in marine reptile evolution. Following the Late Triassic extinctions, diversity recovered, but disparity did not, and it took over 100 Myr for comparable variation to recover in the Campanian and Maastrichtian. Jurassic marine reptiles generally failed to radiate into vacated functional roles. The signatures of adaptive radiation are not seen in all marine reptile groups. Clades that diversified during the Triassic biotic recovery, the sauropterygians and ichthyosauromorphs, do show early diversifications, early high disparity, and early burst, while less support for these models is found in thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs and mosasaurs. Overall, the Triassic represented a special interval in marine reptile evolution, as a number of groups radiated into new adaptive zones.
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Schlesinger, CA, JC Noble, and T. Weir. "Fire Studies in Mallee (Eucalyptus Spp.) Communities of Western New South Wales: Reptile and Beetle Populations in Sites of Differing Fire History." Rangeland Journal 19, no. 2 (1997): 190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9970190.
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Reptile and terrestrial beetle populations were sampled within adjoining mallee communities of similar botanical composition, but differing in fire history and vegetation structure. Studies were aimed at determining whether there were any major differences between faunal communities in sites with different fire histories. While the number of beetle species captured was significantly higher in the two most recently burnt sites, overall abundance of beetles did not differ significantly between various fire histories. Captures of Carenurn interiove were highest in a site burnt seven years prior to the study whereas captures of Tvichocarenum sp. were most common in the two most recently burnt areas. The number of reptile species captured did not differ significantly between sites but the relative abundance of nocturnal and diurnal reptiles was found to be significantly related to time since last fire. The number of geckos captured at the oldest fire site (burnt 18 years earlier) were significantly fewer than at the more recently burnt sites whereas captures of diurnal lizards did not differ. These patterns of reptile abundance are consistent with those found in other fire studies undertaken in similar habitats. This preliminary study confirms that both reptiles and beetles may be usefully incorporated in future management systems designed to monitor biological diversity in mallee ecosystems. Key words: fire, mallee, porcupine grass, nocturnal and diurnal reptiles and beetles
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DE LA LUZ, NELSON M. CERON, JULIO A. LEMOS-ESPINAL, and GEOFFREY R. SMITH. "A diversity and conservation inventory of the Herpetofauna of the Cuautlapan Valley, Veracruz, Mexico." Zootaxa 4205, no. 2 (December 5, 2016): 127. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4205.2.2.
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We compiled an inventory of the amphibians and reptiles of the Cuautlapan Valley, Veracruz, Mexico based on field surveys and museum and literature records. We found a total of 78 species: 28 amphibians (6 Salamanders and 22 anurans); and 50 reptiles (three turtles, 18 lizards, and 29 snakes). These taxa represent 26 families (eight amphibian families, 18 reptile families) and 60 genera (19 amphibian genera, 41 reptile genera). Two of these species are not native to the area (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima and Hemidactylus frenatus). According to the IUCN red list, five species are Critically Endangered, two are Endangered, four are Near Threatened, and four are Vulnerable. In the SEMARNAT (Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) listing, one species is Endangered, eight species are Threatened, and 25 are Subject to Special Protection. Even though the Cuautlapan Valley is represented by a relatively small area it hosts a rich diversity of amphibian and reptile species, many of which are at risk and protected under Mexican law. This valley lies between the growing cities of Orizaba and Cordoba which have contributed to habitat degradation threatening the existence of the wildlife that occurs there.
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Moseby, K. E., and J. L. Read. "Factors affecting pitfall capture rates of small ground vertebrates in arid South Australia. II. Optimum pitfall trapping effort." Wildlife Research 28, no. 1 (2001): 61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99058.
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Pitfall trapping is widely used for sampling small terrestrial vertebrates. This study investigated the influence of trapping period, number of trap sites and drift fences on the capture rates of small vertebrates in order to ascertain optimum pitfall trapping efficiency. Capture rates at fenced pits were five times higher than at unfenced pits. Our study indicates that one fenced site established in chenopod shrubland in the Olympic Dam region and trapped for four nights yielded less than one third of the local chenopod shrubland reptile inventory. Capture rates of reptiles at Olympic Dam in arid South Australia were significantly higher on the first three nights of trapping than on the seven subsequent nights. The most efficient number of trap nights for maximising the number of reptile species captured was five nights. Trapping only a single pitfall site per habitat type for 5 nights captured approximately 30% of the reptile species in that habitat compared with 55%, 65% and 73% for three, five and ten sites respectively. Typically, approximately 70% of the reptile species in chenopod shrubland were captured by trapping 5 sites for 7 nights, a method recommended for thorough surveys of species present in chenopod shrublands. Captures of mammals were more variable than those of reptiles and, as a result, sampling of mammal species benefited from more trapping nights than did sampling of reptiles. New mammal species continued to be recorded at a high rate for 8 nights and even 10 sites trapped for 10 nights typically yielded only 60–80% of the species present in chenopod shrubland. Standard 4-night trapping periods adopted by most surveys will fail to detect many rare species, or those that are difficult to trap. Repeated 7-night trapping sessions for up to 21 nights are recommended for surveys where more accurate species inventories are required.