Natural history of Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi from a dry forest in Madagascar

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isami Ikeuchi ◽  
Masami Hasegawa ◽  
Akira Mori
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Visual Modality ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Foraging Mode ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Census Methods ◽  
History Of

AbstractNatural history of the diurnal gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi, was investigated with mark-and-recapture and census methods from the end of the dry season to the middle of the rainy season in a dry forest of Madagascar. Males were larger than females in snout-vent length, tail length, and body mass, and also had relatively larger head widths. Hatchlings were observed only in the rainy season. The geckos passively followed ambient temperatures, rarely basked, but had lower cloacal temperature than air temperature at high air temperatures. They preferred high and thick trees. The frequency of sighting decreased in the rainy season. Foraging mode was sit-and-wait. Home ranges of male P. madagascariensis kochi did not overlap with each other, but partially overlapped with those of females and unsexed individuals. Several ecological traits of P. madagascariensis kochi such as male-biased sexual size dimorphism and possible home range defense, seemed more similar to those of diurnal, arboreal lizards (some iguanids and agamids) relying on the visual modality, rather than to those of nocturnal geckos.

Sexual dimorphism, deformations, and epibionts of Phrynops tuberosus (Testudines, Chelidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Fabrício Mota Rodrigues ◽  
José Roberto Feitosa Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Effective Conservation

Studies focusing on the natural history of species are essential for developing effective conservation measures and evaluating ecological hypotheses. To this end, we describe natural history data of the Cotinga River toadhead turtle, Phrynops tuberosus, in the Banabuiú River in Ceará, Brazil, and evaluated sexual dimorphism, epibionts, and mutilation effects. We hand-captured 134 individuals by snorkeling, over a period of one year, resulting in the capture of 94 males, 24 females, and 16 juveniles. Females had larger head width and body mass than males, while males had longer tail length. One quarter of the turtles captured had some sort of injury or deformation, most common injuries being missing claws, mutilations, and shell deformations. We found no difference in body condition index between mutilated and non-mutilated animals. Mollusks, insects, and leeches were found as epibionts on P. tuberosus and most of the captured turtles had extensive algal cover. Future studies should focus on understanding the effect of mutilations on animal fitness and reproductive success.

The natural history of the Stenoderminae Chiroderma doriae vizottoi Taddei and Lim 2010 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in a semiarid region from Brazil

Mammalia ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Silva Bellizzi ◽  
Shirley Seixas Pereira da Silva ◽  
Patrícia Gonçalves Guedes ◽  
Juliana Cardoso de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Original Data ◽  
The State ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Internal Anatomy ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
History Of

Abstract Original data on diet, internal anatomy, morphology, reproduction, and parasites of Chiroderma doriae vizottoi from the State of Ceará (Brazil) are presented. Intact and crushed seeds of Solanum rhytidoandrum and scales of Lepidoptera were detected in the gastrointestinal tract and feces. Observation of internal organs did not reveal any abnormalities; the intestines were, on average, 11 times longer than the animal’s body length. Reproduction seems to occur in the rainy season. The association with an ectoparasite, Mastoptera sp. (Diptera, Streblidae), was recorded.

scholarly journals Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽  
Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

Preliminary observations on home ranges and natural history of Scotinomys teguina in Costa Rica

Mammalia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 490-493
Author(s):  
David O. Ribble ◽  
Galen B. Rathbun
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Central America ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Dense Forest ◽  
Low Diversity ◽  
History Of

Abstract We conducted a brief radiotelemetry study of Scotinomys teguina (Alston’s singing mice) in Costa Rica to better understand their natural history and spatial ecology. We radio-collared five mice, one of which was quickly eaten by a pitviper. The home ranges of the remaining mice were in moist habitats and ranged from 255 to 1620 m2, with extensive overlap between adjacent individuals. Singing mice, being small, diurnal, uniformly dark-colored insectivores foraging in dense forest floor habitats, have an adaptive syndrome similar to soricids, which may be due to the low diversity of shrews through Central America.

scholarly journals Second observation of the reproductive biology of Blythia reticulata (Blyth, 1854) (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

Herpetozoa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 121-124
Author(s):  
Lal Biakzuala ◽  
Vanlal Hruaia ◽  
Lal Biakhlui ◽  
Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Northeastern India ◽  
History Of

A second observation on the reproduction of Blythia reticulata was based on three eggs found on a forest path among leaf litter and successfully incubated. Given the limited knowledge on the natural history of the species, including its breeding biology, we provide information on egg measurements (n = 3; length = 25.54 ± 1.05 mm; width = 11.79 ± 0.37 mm; weight = 1.94 ± 0.24 g) and the first data on hatchling biometrics (n = 3; snout-vent length = 106 ± 1.73 mm; tail length = 14 ± 1.00 mm; weight = 1.13 ± 0.09 g) from Mizoram State, northeastern India.

scholarly journals Natural history of two carpenter ants, Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in an Atlantic Forest reserve

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Piovesana Pereira-Romeiro ◽  
Gabriel Tofanelo Vanin ◽  
Marianne Azevedo-Silva ◽  
Gustavo Maruyama Mori
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Carpenter Ants ◽  
Activity Schedule ◽  
Se Brazil ◽  
History Of ◽  
Nesting Habits

Widespread species face a wide variety of environmental challenges and their morphology, behavior, and natural history may change across their range. However, not rarely, natural history research is restricted to one or few locations. That is the case for Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes. Both species occur across South America in different ecosystems, but most research on these species is restricted to the Brazilian savanna, known as Cerrado. Here, we describe the home range, nesting habits, and activity schedule of C. renggeri and C. rufipes in an Atlantic Forest reserve in SE Brazil. C. renggeri foraged exclusively during nighttime and C. rufipes remained active throughout the nycthmeron, but with little intensity during daylight hours. Most nests of both species were composed of dry straw, and home ranges varied from nearly 0.91 m2 (C. renggeri) to 1.79 mm2 (C. rufipes). Foraging areas overlapped, especially in C. renggeri. Our field study reinforces the importance of natural history and what it adds to our knowledge on the ecology and behavior of C. renggeri and C. rufipes in Atlantic Forest.

Feeding, reproduction and growth in the crowned snake

1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otavio A.V. Marques ◽  
Giuseppe Puorto
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
First Year ◽  
Main Prey ◽  
Significant Seasonal Variation ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe crowned snake Tantilla melanocephala is a small fossorial sonorine snake, widely distributed through South America. Dissection of 186 specimens, combined with observations of captive specimens, provided information on the natural history of this species in southeastern Brazil. Females attained larger body sizes than males. Apparently T. melanocephala forage at night for active prey. Centipedes of the genus Otostigmus were the main prey item. These centipedes are subdued by injection of venom. Data from preserved specimens showed no significant seasonal variation in the number of collected snakes. Reproduction seemed to be highly seasonal with vitellogenesis occurring from onset to the middle of the rainy season and hatching at the end of the rainy season. Clutch size ranged from one to three and was correlated with female body length. Neonates measured 10-12 cm snout-vent length and juveniles attained about 17.5 cm SVL during the first year. Apparently males attain sexual maturity at an age of about 10 months and females at about 20 months.

scholarly journals Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽  
Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

How is the moral stance related to the intentional stance and group thinking?

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Rakoczy
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Intentional Stance ◽  
Cognitive Capacities ◽  
Shared Intentionality ◽  
History Of ◽  
Group Thinking ◽  
Moral Stance

Abstract The natural history of our moral stance told here in this commentary reveals the close nexus of morality and basic social-cognitive capacities. Big mysteries about morality thus transform into smaller and more manageable ones. Here, I raise questions regarding the conceptual, ontogenetic, and evolutionary relations of the moral stance to the intentional and group stances and to shared intentionality.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document