2005. Volume 12. No. 3. Contents

Home Area Recognition via Olfactory Cues in the Tropical Poison Frog Dendrobates auratus

Robert G. Korbeck, Jr., and Scott P. McRobert

The ability of the poison frog Dendrobates auratus to recognize and associate, via olfactory cues, its home area, a conspecific’s home area, and the sex of the conspecific was examined in laboratory studies. The results showed that test individuals do not display recognition or preference for their home area, or for other conspecific home areas, but did show preference for the home area of conspecifics of the opposite sex. Comparison of these results to results from another closely related species, and other species capable of gender recognition is presented.

Keywords: Anuran, olfaction, home area recognition, Dendrobates auratus

A Taxonomic Review of the Genus Bronchocela (Squamata: Agamidae), with Description of a New Species from Vietnam

Jakob Hallermann

About 288 specimens of the genus Bronchocela were examined. For each species of the genus a taxonomic synopsis, diagnosis and distribution, based on voucher specimens and new specimen records, is given. A neotype for Bronchocela hayeki is designated. A new smaragdina-like species from the Central highlands of Vietnam is described by Hallermann and Orlov. Special attention is drawn to the dispersal and colonization scenario of the Philippine Islands by B. cristatella and B. marmorata including exact distribution patterns for both species. A subspecific subdivision of B. marmorata can no longer be perpetuated on morphological grounds. Lophyrus spinosus Duméril, 1851, regarded as B. marmorata, is in fact a Gonocephalus sophiae (Gray, 1845). A determination key to all species of Bronchocela based on external morphological characters is given.

Keywords: Reptilia, Squamata, Agamidae, taxonomy, new species Bronchocela vietnamensis, biogeography, Philippines, taxonomic key to species

On Laudakia caucasia (Eichwald, 1831) (Sauria: Agamidae: Laudakia) Specimens Collected from Northeastern Anatolia

Cetin Ilgaz, Ibrahim Baran, Aziz Avci, Kurtulus Olgun, and Yusuf Kumlutas

In this study, Laudakia caucasia specimens, which were caught between Oncul and Kurtkale 5 km, Cildir, Vilayet Ardahan in NE Turkey was examined in terms of pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements, coloration and pattern. Specimens examined in this study were compared with specimens from Iran with regard to literature. Furthermore, the known range of the species was extended.

Keywords: Laudakia caucasia, morphology, distribution.

Status, Distribution, and Population Structure of Land Tortoises in European Thrace and Northwestern Anatolia

Oguz Türkozan, Ferhat Kiremit, Ertan Taskavak, and Kurtulus Olgun

We examined a total of 47 (23 , 23 , and 1 juv.) individuals of T. g. ibera from Anatolian Thrace and 34 (23 , 9 , and 2 juv.) from European Thrace (ET) morphologically and morphometrictly. Furthermore, 12 (8 , 3 , and 1 juv.) individuals of T. hermanni boetgeri were examined. For morphological comparison 38 morphometric characters standardized by SCL were investigated. The ET ibera males differ from Anatolian Thrace males by: a shorter maximum gular scute length (ANOVA, F = 8.350, p < 0.01), pectoral suture length (F = 12.397, p < 0.01), anal suture length (F = 4.841, p < 0.05) and nuchal length (F = 4.913, p < 0.05). The ET females differ from Anatolian females by a shorter pectoral suture length (F = 4.396, p < 0.05) and anal suture length (F = 5.373, p << 0.05). However, these morphometric differences could not be identified visually. The individuals were found at 168 ± 18.2 m (range: 40 – 385 m) and 176 ± 13.95 m (range: 58 – 367 m) altitudes in European Turkey and Anatolian mainland, respectively. The southernmost range of hermanni was in Sarköy. We could not see hermanni further southern part of this border. The minimum age of ET population ranged from 4 to 13 with a mean of 8.7 ± 2.43 while the mean age was 8.7 ± 1.80 (range = 5 – 12) in Anatolian range. The minimum age ranged from 8 to 12 with a mean of 10.2 for T. h. boetgeri individuals. Carapacial scute abnormalities and tick infections were also recorded.

Keywords: Reptilia, Testudines, Testudinidae, Testudo graeca, Testudo hermanni, Thrace, Turkey

THREE NEW MOUNTAIN STREAM DWELLING Litoria (AMPHIBIA: ANURA: HYLIDAE) FROM WESTERN NEW GUINEA

Rainer Günther and Stephen J. Richards

Three new species of the hylid genus Litoria from mountain streams of western New Guinea (Papua Province, Indonesia) are described. Data on their morphology, osteology, bioacoustics, ecology and distribution are presented. Related species and original type specimens are compared. The new species do not obviously belong in any of the currently recognized species-groups of New Guinea frogs.

Keywords: Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Litoria, new species, morphology, osteology, bioacoustics, ecology, Papua (Irian Jaya), New Guinea, Indonesia

A New Species of Genus Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae: Colubrinae) from Sri Lanka

V. A. M. P. K. Samarawickrama, V. A. P. Samarawickrama, N. M. Wijesena, and Nikolai L. Orlov

A new species of genus Boiga from Sri Lanka is described. According to its morphological characters, Boiga ranawanei is related to B. ceylonensis and B. beddomei and could be combined in one group with the following species: B. ceylonensis, B. beddomei, B. forsteni, and B. barnesi.

Keywords: Colubrid snakes, Boiga barnesi, B. ceylonensis, B. beddomei, Boiga sp. nov., Sri Lanka

Studies on Anacondas III. A Reappraisal of Eunectes beniensis Dirksen, 2002, from Bolivia, and a Key to the Species of the Genus Eunectes Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes: Boidae)

Lutz Dirksen and Wolfgang Böhme

Eunectes beniensis Dirksen, 2002 is a recently discovered anaconda species from Beni Province, Bolivia. Based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, E. beniensis is closer related to E. notaeus and E. deschauenseei than to E. murinus. The phylogenetic relationships within Eunectes are currently best described as: E. murinus [E. beniensis (E. deschauenseei, E. notaeus)]. E. beniensis is easily recognizable by its brown to olive-brownish ground color in combination with five head stripes and less than 100 large dark, solid dorsal blotches which always lack lighter centers. An identification key for the species of Eunectes is provided.

Keywords: Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes, Boidae, Eunectes beniensis, taxonomy, identification key

A NEW RECORD OF Mesalina brevirostris (REPTILIA: SAURIA: LACERTIDAE) FROM SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

Cetin Ilgaz, Ibrahim Baran, Yusuf Kumlutas, and Aziz Avci

A total of 12 Mesalina brevirostris specimens collected from Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa, Turkey were examined in terms of pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements and color-pattern features. Akcakale and Ceylanpinar populations were differentiated from one another in the number transversal series of ventral plates (TVP) according to the results of the Mann–Whitney U-test. The main characteristics of the specimens collected from Ceylanpinar are within variation limits mentioned in the literature.

Keywords: Mesalina brevirostris, new locality, distribution, Ceylanpinar, Turkey

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

A New Locality Record for Pachydactylus haackei Branch, Bauer and Good, 1996 at Augrabies National Park, Republic of South Africa

Mirko Barts, Felix Hulbert, and Jon Boone

A new and significant extension to the known range of Haacke’s Thick Toed Gecko in the Republic of South Africa is described. The new location is approximately 110 km southeast of the nearest recorded locality of Pachydactylus haackei. Incredibly, the locality is in the heart of the heavily trafficked Augrabies National Park.

Keywords: Pachydactylus haackei, Augrabies National Park, Republic of South Africa

INDEX OF VOLUME 12

Author's Index

Keywords' Index