Ecdysis in the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

P. Gowri Shankar and Nikhil Whitaker

Submitted May 1, 2007.

Between April 2001 and February 2003, ecdysis of snakes in captive population of Ophiophagus hannah was studied. A strong relationship was observed between snake total length and slough length, resulting in a regression equation that may be used to predict total length from slough length. The number of sloughs per snake increased with total feed weight, and average monthly feed weight. Inter-slough periods differed between sexes, with females shedding at wider intervals at an average of 63.27 days, and males at 55.77 days. In a year, males shed at an average of 6.0 times, while females averaged 5.2 times. Cumulative difference in inter-sloughing periods between the fifth and sixth year of age were significant, averaging 59.54 days at the former age, and 61.65 at the later. No relationship was observed between either average minimum temperature or maximum temperature and the number of snakes sloughing a month. Rainfall did not influence the number of snakes that shed in a given month. Average inter-slough period was weakly related to average minimum temperatures, and unrelated to average maximum temperatures.

Keywords: Ophiophagus hannah, ecdysis, age differences, influence of temperature.

Seasonal Variation in Daily Activity Pattern in a Population of Spiny-Tailed Lizard, Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis, from the United Arab Emirates

Peter L. Cunningham

Submitted May 25, 2007.

Seasonal comparisons of the daily activity pattern of 20 Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis individuals, indicate that they are diurnal and emerge early in the morning during summer and spring (6:30 – 8:30) with average ambient temperatures between 27.5 – 28.5°C and later during winter and autumn (10:00 – 12:00) with average ambient winter temperatures of 21.6°C. More time is spent basking during winter (182 ± 80.4 min per individual) than during any other month. Den clearing activities mainly take place during autumn with 69% of the observed individuals involved in this activity then. Foraging mainly takes place during autumn (62%, 11:00 – 12:00) and spring (70%, 10:00 – 11:00) with 46.5 ± 40.5 min (autumn) and 40.4 ± 15.7 min (spring) on average per individual spent on this activity. Foraging distance from the burrow is highest during the dry summer months with an average distance of 81.9 ± 74.9m per individual observed. Retreating underground takes place with average ambient temperatures varying from 23.6 ± 0.6°C during winter to 35.7 ± 2.2°C during summer.

Keywords: spiny-tail lizard, Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis, Daily activity pattern, reptiles, Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Hematology in an Argentine Lizard Tupinambis merinae (Sauria, Teiidae)

Troiano Juan Carlos, Gould Eduardo F., and Gould Ignacio

Submitted January 21, 2008.

In order to establish referential hematological parameters, blood samples were taken from 100 healthy specimens of argentine tegu lizard (Tupinambis merinae) by means of venipuncture of ventral coccigeal vein. The determination of red blood cells, leukocyte and thrombocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, hematometric index and differential leukocyte count were performed and compared with other saurian species. No statistically significant changes were observed as function as sex and age (p > 0.01). During winter high values of red blood cell counts, hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed (p < 0.01), while in summer significantly increased leukocyte and thrombocyte counts were observed (p < 0.01). The differential leukocyte counts were not affected by the studied factors.

Keywords: tegu lizard, hematological values.

Two New Cases of Paedomorphosis in the Caucasian Newts: Ommatotriton ophryticus (The First Record) and Lissotriton vulgaris lantzi

Dmitry V. Skorinov, Oleg Novikov, Leo J. Borkin, and Spartak N. Litvinchuk

Submitted April 8, 2008.

A female of the Caucasian banded newt, Ommatotriton ophryticus ophryticus (Berthold, 1846) with well-developed external gills was found in Malaya Ritsa Lake, Abkhazia, the western Caucasus. It is the first record of paedomorphosis for the genus. A paedomorphic Lissotriton vulgaris lantzi (Wolterstorff, 1914) and an overwintering larva of Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870) were captured in the settlement Machary, the eastern vicinity of Sukhum Town, Abkhazia. The geographic distribution of paedomorphic newts and overwintering larvae of Ommatotriton ophryticus ophryticus and Lissotriton vulgaris lantzi are mapped.

Keywords: Amphibia, Salamandridae, paedomorphosis, Ommatotriton ophryticus, Lissotriton vulgaris lantzi, the Caucasus.

Age Structure and Growth in Caucasian Parsley Frog Pelodytes caucasicus (Boulenger, 1896) from Turkey

Ugur Cengiz Erismis, Huseyin Arikan, Muhsin Konuk, and Fabio Maria Guarino

Submitted October 25, 2007.

Age structure and growth of the Caucasian parsley frog, Pelodytes caucasicus from Turkey was assessed using phalangeal skeletochronology. Snout-vent length (SVL) ranged from 41.48 to 52.58 mm (mean ± SD: 47.16 ± 2.87, n = 44) in males and 40.28 to 50.62 mm (mean ± SD: 45.79 ± 2.29, n = 31) in females. Ages of adults ranged from 2 to 5 years in males (mean ± SD: 3.61 ± 0.9) and from 2 to 4 years (mean ± SD: 3.03 ± 0.7) in females. For both sexes, SVL was significantly correlated with age and maturity was attained at 2 years of age. Von Bertalanffy growth curves of age vs. SVL showed a similar profile between males (asymptotic size, SVLmax: 53.42 mm; growth coefficient k = 0.42) and female (SVLmax: 52.04 mm; k = 0.38). Adult annual survivorship and adult life expectancy were 0.78 and 5.04 years, respectively, in males; 0.76 and 4.66 years, respectively, in females. Comparison with Georgian populations of P. caucasicus suggests that sexual dimorphism in size and longevity is a species characteristic.

Keywords: age structure, growth curve, skeletochronology, Pelodytes caucasicus.

A New Species of Gecko of the Genus Hemidactylus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from Andhra Pradesh, India

Stephen Mahony

Submitted September 5, 2007.

A new species of Hemidactylus herein is described from a small population in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is compared with all Indian congeneric species from which it differs by the following combination of characters; SVL 59.1 – 70.2 mm, 15 – 16 transverse rows of tubercles at midbody, 6 transverse rows of tubercles on the first segment of the tail, 6 – 7 lamellae on digit I of pes, 9 lamellae on digit IV of pes, 14 precloacal-femoral pores in males, 11 – 12 superlabials, 10 infralabials and three enlarged postcloacal spurs, posterior most spur approximately three times the size of each of the anterior pair which are of equal size to each other.

Keywords: Hemidactylus treutleri, new species, Squamata, Reptilia, Andhra Pradesh, India.

A Taxonomic Re-Evaluation of Goniurosaurus hainanensis (Squamata: Eublepharidae) from Hainan Island, China

Christopher Blair, Nikolai L. Orlov, Hai-tao Shi, and Robert W. Murphy

Submitted November 3, 2007.

Previous examination of morphological characters for Goniurosaurus hainanensis yielded incomplete results due to a relatively small sample size (n = 4). Therefore, we re-examined previously used scale counts for the species utilizing a significantly larger sample size of 24 individuals in addition to analyzing morphometric data for the species. Our results yielded significant differences in several scale counts previously described, which we attribute to the high degree of morphological variability of lizards in the genus. No sexual size dimorphism was found for any morphometric character, although males had slightly higher values than females for most characters. Future molecular work is needed if we are to better understand the taxonomy and evolutionary history of the genus.

Keywords: Hainan, gecko, morphology, morphometrics, taxonomy.

Formation of the Coracoid Region of the Anuran Pectoral Girdle

Natalia V. Baleeva

Submitted December 7, 2007.

The anuran pectoral girdle consists of the scapular and coracoid regions. The latter is composed of the coracoid, procoracoid, epicoracoid, and clavicular elements. The coracoid and procoracoid enclose a large coracoid fenestra, which is a unique feature of these amphibians. Despite many authors having studied the development of the amphibian pectoral girdles, some mechanisms of its development remain unclear. This paper presents a morphological description of the development of the coracoid part of the pectoral girdle in four anuran species (Bombina bombina, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, and Xenopus laevis) and proposes a mechanism of its ontogenetic formation. The critical part of this process seems to be the position and size of the coraco-clavicularis nerve, vein and artery complex.

Keywords: Anura, coracoid fenestra, epicoracoid, lymphatic cavity, ontogenesis, pectoral girdle.

New Finds of the Racerunner of Eremias multiocellata Complex in Kazakhstan

T. N. Dujsebayeva, M. A. Chirikova, and O. V. Belyalov

Submitted October 27, 2007.

New finds of the lizards of Eremias multiocellata complex became known for extreme southeast of Kazakhstan. In 2006 – 2007 we recorded the lizards in the mountain valleys of Kegen and Tekes Rivers crossing an intermountain depression located between Ketmen´ and Terskey-Alatau ranges at altitude 1850 – 1950 m a.s.l. Morphological analysis revealed the reliable differences of the specimens collected from other species of multiocellata complex inhabited the close areas –- E. stummeri from Issyk-Kul´ Depression and E. kokshaaliensis from Sary-Dzhaz River Basin of Kyrgyzstan. Morphological peculiarity of the populations recorded may be caused by their isolative position in extreme southeast of Kazakhstan and needs future elucidation.

Keywords: Reptilia, Squamata, Eremias multiocellata complex, distribution, habitats, morphology.

Atlantal Vertebrae of Tailed Amphibians of Russia and Adjacent Countries

Viatcheslav Yu. Ratnikov and Spartak N. Litvinchuk

Submitted August 18, 2007.

Morphology of atlantal vertebrae of four species of the family Hynobiidae (Onychodactylus fischeri, Ranodon sibiricus, Salamandrella keyserlingii, and Salamandrella schrenkii) and nine species of the family Salamandridae (Lissotriton montandoni, Lissotriton vulgaris, Mertensiella caucasica, Mesotriton alpestris, Ommatotriton ophryticus, Salamandra salamandra, Triturus cristatus, Triturus dobrogicus, and Triturus karelinii) were studied. Analysis of variation of vertebrae of these species and systematic descriptions of these species are given. Our comparative analysis revealed that all species studied have peculiarities which allow diagnosing them.

Keywords: atlantal vertebra, morphology, Hynobiidae, Salamandridae, Caudata.

Two New Species of Genera Protobothrops Hoge et Romano-Hoge, 1983 and Viridovipera Malhotra et Thorpe, 2004 (Ophidia: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from Karst Region in Northeastern Vietnam. Part I. Description of a New Species of Protobothrops Genus

Nikolai L. Orlov, Sergei A. Ryabov, and Nguyen Thien Tao

Submitted September 30, 2008.

Two new species of Protobothrops and Viridovipera genera were recorded in karst region in Trung Khanh Nature Reserve, Cao Bang Province and karst region in Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong Province in northeastern Vietnam. This paper (part I) includes description of a new species of Protobothrops genus. The short data on natural history and comparison with species of Protobothrops and Trimeresurus sensu lato are provided. Special focus is made on comparison with Indochina and southern China pitvipers from karst massifs in tropical and subtropical forests.

Keywords: new species, Viridovipera, Protobothrops, Trimeresurus sensu lato, Trung Khanh Nature Reserve, Cao Bang Province, northeastern Vietnam, karst area.