First Record of Tropiocolotes persicus euphorbiacola Minton, Anderson and Anderson 1970 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the Republic of India, with Notes on Its Habitat and Natural History

Ishan Agarwal

Submitted October 22, 2007.

Tropiocolotes persicus euphorbiacola is reported for the first time from India, based on two specimens collected from the Thar Desert, in Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India. Morphometrics and morphological characters of the specimens, along with notes on habitat and natural history of this species are presented.

Keywords: Sauria, Gekkonidae, Tropiocolotes persicus euphorbiacola, first record, habitat, natural history, Thar Desert, Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India.

On the Bioacoustic Behavior of Male Homopholis fasciata

Dieter Gramentz

Submitted January 2, 2008.

The distress and threat calls of male Homopholis fasciata were examined. The lengths, call structures, frequencies and sound intensities along with associated behavior were described and analyzed. The calls are shown in oscillo- and audiospectrograms as well as three-dimensional images.

Keywords: Homopholis fasciata, vocalization, distress call, threat call, interactive behavior.

New Records of the Geckonid Lizard, Cyrtopodion heterocercum heterocercum (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Isfahan Province, Central Iran, with an Extended Description and Notes on Distribution

Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Hamzeh Oraei, and Morteza Johari

Submitted September 8, 2007.

Based on extensive study and field work in various regions of the central Iranian Plateau, eight specimens of the geckonid lizard, Cyrtopodion heterocercum, were collected from Khansar, Kashan and Semirom in Isfahan Province, central Iran. The collected specimens were examined based on metric, meristic and pholidosis characters, as well as color pattern, and compared with 12 specimens of the same species, belonging to the Zoological Museum of Razi University, collected from Kermanshah and Hamedan Provinces. These comparisons were not indicative of distinct morphological differences between specimens occurring in the central Iranian Plateau (the new records) with those occurring in western regions of the Iranian Plateau (Kermanshah and Hamedan Provinces).

Keywords: Gekkonidae, Cyrtopodion heterocercum heterocercum, new records, morphology, Isfahan Province, Iranian Plateau, distribution.

Morphology of Peripheral Blood Cells from Some Lacertid Lizards from Turkey

Hüseyin Arikan, Bayram Göçmen, Mehmet Zülfü Yildiz, Çetin Ilgaz, and Yusuf Kumlutas

Submitted February 23, 2008.

The present study is on the morphologies and sizes of peripheral blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) on blood smears, stained with Wright's stain, in some lacertid lizards species [Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902), Acanthodactylus boskianus (Daudin, 1802), Acanthodactylus harranensis Baran et al. 2005, Anatolacerta danfordi (Günther, 1876), Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834), D. uzzelli (Darevsky and Danielyan, 1977), D. valentini (Boettger, 1892), Parvilacerta parva (Boulenger, 1887), Lacerta pamphylica Schmidtler, 1975, L. trilineata Bedriaga, 1886, L. viridis (Laurenti, 1768), Ophisops elegans Menetries, 1832, Mesalina brevirostris Blanford, 1876, Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768), P. sicula (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810), Timon princeps (Blanford, 1874)] from Turkey. As a result of our survey, it was determined that the blood cells of the investigated species are shows significant variations in sizes and of leukocytes, agranulocytic leukocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) are present as predominant cells. Moreover, of granulocytes, neutrophils were no observed in A. danfordi, D. praticola, D. uzzelli, and P. parva.

Keywords: Lacertidae, blood cell morphology, blood smears, Wright's stain.

Are Toad-Headed Lizards Phrynocephalus przewalskii and P. frontalis (Family Agamidae) the Same Species? Defining Species Boundaries with Morphological and Molecular Data

Agnes Gozdzik and Jinzhong Fu

Submitted February 26, 2008.

Toad-headed lizards of the Phrynocephalus przewalskii complex provide a challenging case for delimiting species boundaries. We tested the species status of P. przewalskii and P. frontalis using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence and morphological data. A phylogenetic analysis was applied to the mtDNA data and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the morphological data. Furthermore, Mantel tests were used to test congruence between the patristic distance matrix derived from the phylogenetic tree and Euclidean distance matrix derived from PCA. The phylogenetic tree presented deeply diverged discreet clades that largely correspond to the two putative species. Nevertheless, PCA revealed no distinct clustering of individuals. Unique maternal inheritance might explain the discrete mtDNA variations while nuclear gene based morphological variations were continuous. Mantal tests suggested the mtDNA and morphology diverged in concordance; both had evidence of a west to east clinal variation. We conclude that P. frontalis is a synonym of P. przewalskii. Furthermore, the Mantel test is a useful method to compare mtDNA data with morphological data, but insufficient to delimit species boundaries.

Keywords: species validity, Mantel test, mtDNA sequence, phylogeny, PCA, multivariate morphometrics, Phrynocephalus

Blood Cell Counts and Sizes of Some Anurans from Turkey

Çigdem Gül and Cemal Varol Tok

Submitted February 13, 2008.

We determined blood cell counts and sizes of Rana ridibunda, Rana dalmatina, Bufo viridis, Bufo bufo, Hyla arborea, and Pelobates syriacus, examining 72 specimens (33 males, 39 females) of species collected from Çanakkale Province of Turkey. For the blood cell counts and sizes, a sexual dimorphism was lacking in the species studied. The lowest erythrocytes count was found in R. ridibunda, the largest one in B. viridis. The smallest erythrocytes were found in P. syriacus and the largest ones in R. ridibunda. Semiaquatic and hydrophilous species had lower erythrocyte count in comparison with terrestrial ones.

Keywords: Rana ridibunda, Rana dalmatina, Bufo viridis, Bufo bufo, Hyla arborea, Pelobates syriacus, Anura, Blood cells.

Morphology of Southeast Asian Tadpoles: Hoplobatrachus chinensis (Dicroglossidae), Leptolalax pelodytoides (Megophryidae), and Other Megophryids

Ronald Altig, Amy Lathrop, and Robert W. Murphy

Submitted April 25, 2008.

The structure and development of the large, spike-like, biserial teeth of the tadpole of Hoplobatrachus chinensis are unique. The presently erupted, conical tooth has at least 5 replacement teeth of decreasing sizes stacked inside, and the whole assembly projects only slightly into the oral epithelium. The ventrolateral abdominal wall of Leptolalax pelodytoides has well delineated, lymphatic spaces that presumably aid in stabilizing the tadpole among rocky substrates. The external narial apertures of megophryid tadpoles have a diversity of ornamentations that range from a simple rim, a lobate rim or a distinct tube.

Keywords: tadpole, morphology, mouthparts, Hoplobatrachus, Leptolalax, Megophryidae.

A New Locality of the Southern Crested Newt, Triturus karelinii (Strauch, 1870) (Urodela: Salamandridae), from Afyon Province in Turkey

Mehmet Öz, Mustafa Yavuz, Mehmet Rizvan Tunç, and Ali Erdogan

Submitted March 1, 2008.

In this study, we described 46 specimens of Triturus karelinii which were collected from Büyük Kalecik-District Gölcük Lake in Afyon Province. The specimens and habitat characteristics are described. This is the first record of T. karelinii from Afyon Province and, therefore, the species distributional range is being extend to the west of Central Anatolian in Turkey.

Keywords: Triturus karelinii, Crested Newt, Distribution, Afyon, Turkey.

Notes on the Natural History of Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (Squamata: Viperidae)

Behzad Fathinia, Steven C. Anderson, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Hasan Jahani, and Hosien Mohamadi

Submitted September 15, 2008.

An Iranian viper, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, was collected alive during fieldwork in April 2008. The viper was transferred to the lab where many observations were made of its biology, behavior, feeding, habitat and distribution. During this survey we verified the previous speculation that its tail ornament (knob-like structure) is used as a lure to attract prey. Distribution was extended from Kermanshah Province to Khuzestan Province.

Keywords: Pseudocerastes, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, tail ornament, caudal luring, Squamata, Iran, Viperidae, behavior, feeding, distribution.

Color Variation of Common Toad (Bufo bufo) Larvae

Galina S. Surova

Submitted May 18, 2008.

In the natural pond (Moscow Oblast') common toad tadpoles with unusual olive-red color have been found and registered three times for six year investigation. This color is similar to the color of yearlings soon after metamorphosis. "Red" tadpoles can be found at various stages of development but they always appeared after the beginning of metamorphosis of the most part of the population. Their occurrence is not affected neither by seasonal temperature, nor related with distinctions in number (density) of tadpoles between years. We suggest that this phenomenon could be explained by heterochrony.

Keywords: Bufo bufo, development, color variation, common toad, tadpoles.

A Giant Tadpole Record of Rana esculenta in Northwestern Russia

Konstantin D. Milto

Submitted November 19, 2007.

This report describes the first record of giant neotenic tadpole of Rana esculenta from Northwestern Russia.

Keywords: giant larva, Rana esculenta, neoteny.

A New Species of the Genus Calamaria (Squamata: Ophidia: Colubridae) from the Central Highlands (Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Ngoc Linh Mountain, Kon Tum Province), Vietnam

Nikolai L. Orlov

Submitted October 12, 2008.

A new species of Calamaria is described from the Central Highlands, Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Ngoc Linh Mountain, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. This species is characterized by a black body with blazing yellow-orange spots on the ventral part of the body. Total body length (holotype) 482 mm; tip of a thick tapering tail is slightly sharpened, tail length 34 mm; 13 rows of dorsal scales around the midbody; 11 rows of dorsal scales on the level of a single anal plate; 159 – 174 ventral scales, 20 – 26 divided subcaudals; four supralabials (second and third entering orbit), five infralabials; rostral large, triangular, its height equal to width, in contact with nasal, prefrontal and first supralabial shield, visible from above; paraparietal surrounded by six shields and scales; one preocular scale; eight modified maxillary teeth in holotype. The new taxon is known only from two specimens (holotype and paratype) collected in the tropical rainforest. It is the eighth species of Calamaria recorded from Vietnam.

Keywords: Central Highlands, Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Ngoc Linh Mountain, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam, Squamata, Ophidia, Colubridae, Calamaria sp. nov., morphology, taxonomy.

A New Locality for Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi Nikolsky, 1909 (Reptilia, Viperidae) in the North-Eastern Anatolia

Murat Afsar and Birgül Afsar

Submitted June 12, 2008.

In this study, Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi specimens collected from Camili Biosphere Reserve (Borçka, Artvin province Turkey) were investigated in terms of morphological characters. Information on morphological, ecological features and population status of this species in the Biosphere Reserve is given. Furthermore, the distribution range of Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi has been extended in Turkey.

Keywords: Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi, taxonomy, morphology, distribution, Biosphere Reserve.

Occurrence of Enhydris sieboldii (Schlegel, 1837) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh State of India

Sanjay Thakur and Aparna Watve

Submitted January 29, 2008.

Enhydris sieboldii is reported from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh state of India, with comments on its occurrence.

Keywords: Enhydris sieboldii, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

On the Nomenclatural Status of Agama cristata Mocquard, 1905: A Reply to A. Barabanov (2008)

Philipp Wagner and Wolfgang Böhme

Submitted June 12, 2008.

Keywords: Squamata, Agamidae, Iguanidae sensu lato (Corythophanidae), Agama cristata, Agama maria nom. nov., synonymy.