A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3288 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. BLAIR HEDGES ◽  
CAITLIN E. CONN
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
South America ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Glacial Cycles ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Caribbean Islands ◽  
Island Species ◽  
Degree Of Convergence

Neotropical skinks are unique among lizards and other vertebrates in their degree of convergence, in reproductive traits,with eutherian mammals. They have also been famously difficult to classify into species, largely because of a conservativebody plan and paucity of conventional diagnostic characters. Currently there are 26 recognized species, six of which occuronly on Caribbean islands. All are placed in a single genus, Mabuya. We conducted a systematic revision of Neotropicalskinks using both conventional and unconventional morphological characters, supplemented by DNA sequence analyses.We define 61 species grouped into 16 clades, recognized here as genera. They include three available generic names(Copeoglossum, Mabuya, and Spondylurus) and 13 new genera: Alinea gen. nov., Aspronema gen. nov., Brasiliscincusgen. nov., Capitellum gen. nov., Exila gen. nov., Manciola gen. nov., Maracaiba gen. nov., Marisora gen. nov., Noto-mabuya gen. nov., Orosaura gen. nov., Panopa gen. nov., Psychosaura gen. nov., and Varzea gen. nov. These 16 generaof skinks form a monophyletic group and are placed in the Subfamily Mabuyinae of the skink Family Mabuyidae. Sixother skink families are recognized: Acontidae, Egerniidae, Eugongylidae, Lygosomidae, Scincidae, and Sphenomorphi-dae. We describe three new subfamilies of Mabuyidae: Chioniniinae subfam. nov., Dasiinae subfam. nov., and Trachyl-epidinae subfam. nov. We describe 24 new species of mabuyines: Capitellum mariagalantae sp. nov., Capitellumparvicruzae sp. nov., Copeoglossum aurae sp. nov., Copeoglossum margaritae sp. nov., Copeoglossum redondae sp.nov., Mabuya cochonae sp. nov., Mabuya desiradae sp. nov., Mabuya grandisterrae sp. nov., Mabuya guadeloupae sp.nov., Mabuya hispaniolae sp. nov., Mabuya montserratae sp. nov., Marisora aurulae sp. nov., Marisora magnacornaesp. nov., Marisora roatanae sp. nov., Spondylurus anegadae sp. nov., Spondylurus culebrae sp. nov., Spondylurus caico-sae sp. nov., Spondylurus haitiae sp. nov., Spondylurus magnacruzae sp. nov., Spondylurus martinae sp. nov., Spondy-lurus monae sp. nov., Spondylurus monitae sp. nov., Spondylurus powelli sp. nov., and Spondylurus turksae sp. nov. Wealso resurrect 10 species from synonymies: Alinea lanceolata comb. nov., Alinea luciae comb. nov., Capitellum metalli-cum comb. nov., Mabuya dominicana, Marisora alliacea comb. nov., Marisora brachypoda comb. nov., Spondylurusfulgidus comb. nov., Spondylurus nitidus comb. nov., Spondylurus semitaeniatus comb. nov., and Spondylurus spilonotuscomb. nov. Of the 61 total species of mabuyine skinks, 39 occur on Caribbean islands, 38 are endemic to those islands,and 33 of those occur in the West Indies. Most species on Caribbean islands are allopatric, single-island endemics, al-though three species are known from Hispaniola, three from St. Thomas, and two from Culebra, St. Croix, Salt Island,Martinique, the southern Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Tobago. Co-occurring species typically differ in body size and be-long to different genera. Three ecomorphs are described to account for associations of ecology and morphology: terrestri-al, scansorial, and cryptozoic. Parturition occurs at the transition between the dry and wet seasons, and the number ofyoung (1–7) is correlated with body size and taxonomic group. Molecular phylogenies indicate the presence of many un-named species in Middle and South America. A molecular timetree shows that mabuyines dispersed from Africa to SouthAmerica 18 (25–9) million years ago, and that diversification occurred initially in South America but soon led to coloni-zation of Caribbean islands and Middle America. The six genera present on Caribbean islands each represent separate dis-persals, over water, from the mainland during the last 10 million years. Considerable dispersal and speciation alsooccurred on and among Caribbean islands, probably enhanced by Pleistocene glacial cycles and their concomitant sea lev-el changes. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria, all of the 38 endemic Caribbean island species are threatened with extinction.Twenty-seven species (71%) are Critically Endangered, six species (16%) are Endangered, and five species (13%) are Vul-nerable. Sixteen of the Critically Endangered species are extinct, or possibly extinct, because of human activities duringthe last two centuries. Several of the surviving species are near extinction and in need of immediate protection. Analysisof collection records indicates that the decline or loss of 14 skink species can be attributed to predation by the Small IndianMongoose. That invasive predator was introduced as a biological control of rats in sugar cane fields in the late nineteenthcentury (1872–1900), immediately resulting in a mass extinction of skinks and other reptiles. The ground-dwelling and diurnal habits of skinks have made them particularly susceptible to mongoose predation.

scholarly journals Pternopetalum paucifoliolatum (Apiaceae), a new Critically Endangered species from Sichuan, China

PhytoKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
Jian-Fei Ye ◽  
Liang Chen ◽  
Zhang-Jian Shan ◽  
Xiao-Jie Li ◽  
Ce-Hong Li
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Sichuan Province ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Full Description ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
A New Species

Pternopetalum paucifoliolatum, a new species from Sixigou Scenic Area, Emeishan City, Sichuan Province, is proposed and described. Diagnostic morphological characters, full description, detailed illustrations, and a distribution map are provided. The new species is similar to P. porphyronotum in possessing the 1-pinnate leaves and the abaxially purple-red leaflets, but differs from the latter by shorter stature, fewer leaflets ((1–) 3–7) and rays (5–8), the leaflet margin white-ciliate. The new species, which is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), was only found on limestone cliffs. We also provide a new key to the species of Pternopetalum.

Age structure and body size of a critically endangered species, Acanthodactylus harranensis (Squamata: Lacertidae) and its demography

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-431
Author(s):  
Nurettin Beşer ◽  
Çetin Ilgaz ◽  
Yusuf Kumlutaş ◽  
Aziz Avcı ◽  
Kamil Candan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Abstract Within reptiles, lizards cover less area across the globe than snakes do. One out of every seven known species of lizards in the world is found only in its type locality. Acanthodactylus harranensis Baran, Kumlutaş, Lanza, Sindaco, Ilgaz, Avcı & Crucitti, 2005, is one of these species. It is an endemic lizard species in Turkey with a very small area of occupancy and is listed in the critically endangered category (CR) by the IUCN. Here we document the age structure and body size of A. harranensis using skeletochronological methods for the first time and aim to point out current problems and contribute to an understanding of its demography. The mean age of males was found to be significantly higher than that of females. The maximum life span was 10 years in males while it was 9 years in females. The 8-year-old age group contained a higher number of individuals than any other age group. The mean snout-vent length of specimens was not significantly different between the sexes. As in many other lizards, A. harranensis exhibits a low-level male-biased sexual dimorphism. Acanthodactylus harranensis also displayed a considerably bigger body size than other studied lacertids from Şanlıurfa province. The data presented in this study may contribute to future conservation efforts for this endangered species.

scholarly journals Rediscovery of Salvia freyniana Bornm. (Lamiaceae), a critically endangered species in Turkey

1970 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safi Bagherpour ◽  
Ferhat Celep ◽  
Musa Dogan ◽  
Ahmet Kahraman
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Rare Endemic ◽  
First Time

In 1890, Salvia freyniana Bornm., an endemic species of Turkey, was first collected and described by J.F. Bornmueller in 1892. While revising the genus occurring in Turkey based on specimens collected from Yenipazar, south of Yozgat (Turkey in 1892), it was discovered once again in 2006. The diagnostic morphological characters of this rare endemic species are discussed. Details of fruiting material and pollen micromorphology are given for the first time. Moreover, an emended and expanded description, distribution, phenology and ecology of this species are also provided along with its conservation status. Key words: Salvia freyniana Bornm.; Lamiaceae; Endangered; Rediscovery; Turkey  

Where have all the sawfishes gone? Perspectives on declines of these Critically Endangered species in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshay Tanna ◽  
Daniel Fernando ◽  
Ramajeyam Gobiraj ◽  
Buddhi M. Pathirana ◽  
Sahan Thilakaratna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Critically Endangered Species

scholarly journals The Oral Bacterial Community in Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Michele Bertoni Mann ◽  
Janira Prichula ◽  
Ícaro Maia Santos de Castro ◽  
Juliana Mello Severo ◽  
Michelle Abadie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Bacterial Community ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Personal Genome ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Environment

Melanophryniscus admirabilis (admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically endangered species found exclusively along 700 m of the Forqueta River, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. One of the greatest concerns regarding the conservation of this species is the extensive use of pesticides in areas surrounding their natural habitat. In recent years, the adaptation and persistence of animal species in human-impacted environments have been associated with microbiota. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the oral bacterial community of wild M. admirabilis and to address the question of how this community might contribute to this toad’s adaptation in the anthropogenic environment as well as its general metabolic capabilities. A total of 11 oral samples collected from wild M. admirabilis were characterized and analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. Fragments of the 16S rRNA variable region 4 (V4) were amplified, and sequencing was conducted using an Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) System with 316 chips. A total of 181,350 sequences were obtained, resulting in 16 phyla, 34 classes, 39 orders, and 77 families. Proteobacteria dominated (53%) the oral microbiota of toads, followed by Firmicutes (18%), Bacteroidetes (17%), and Actinobacteria (5%). No significant differences in microbial community profile from among the samples were reported, which suggests that the low dietary diversity observed in this population may directly influence the bacterial composition. Inferences of microbiome function were performed using PICRUSt2 software. Important pathways (e.g., xenobiotic degradation pathways for pesticides and aromatic phenolic compounds) were detected, which suggests that the bacterial communities may serve important roles in M. admirabilis health and survival in the anthropogenic environment. Overall, our results have important implications for the conservation and management of this microendemic and critically endangered species.

Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER B. HEENAN ◽  
ROB D. SMISSEN
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
South America ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Genus ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
New Combinations ◽  
Southern South America ◽  
Dna Sequence Data

The generic taxonomy of the Nothofagaceae is revised. We present a new phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters and map these characters onto a recently published phylogenetic tree obtained from DNA sequence data. Results of these and previous analyses strongly support the monophyly of four clades of Nothofagaceae that are currently treated as subgenera of Nothofagus. The four clades of Nothofagaceae are robust and well-supported, with deep stem divergences, have evolutionary equivalence with other genera of Fagales, and can be circumscribed with morphological characters. We argue that these morphological and molecular differences are sufficient for the four clades of Nothofagaceae to be recognised at the primary rank of genus, and that this classification will be more informative and efficient than the currently circumscribed Nothofagus with four subgenera.        Nothofagus is recircumscribed to include five species from southern South America, Lophozonia and Trisyngyne are reinstated, and the new genus Fuscospora is described. Fuscospora and Lophozonia, with six and seven species respectively, occur in New Zealand, southern South America and Australia. Trisyngyne comprises 25 species from New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. New combinations are provided where necessary in each of these genera.

scholarly journals High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina, as a contribution to population recovery

2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Monticelli ◽  
Ricardo Ceia ◽  
Ruben Heleno ◽  
Hugo Laborda ◽  
Sergio Timóteo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
High Survival Rate ◽  
Critically Endangered Species

scholarly journals Effects of Lead on Ultrastructure of Isoetes sinensis Palmer (Isoetaceae), a Critically Endangered Species in China

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e0139231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guohua Ding ◽  
Chunye Li ◽  
Xu Han ◽  
Chunyu Chi ◽  
Dawei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Critically Endangered Species

Selective extinction of late Neogene bivalves on the temperate Pacific coast of South America

Paleobiology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo M. Rivadeneira ◽  
Pablo A. Marquet
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
South America ◽  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Life Habit ◽  
Late Neogene ◽  
Probability Of Extinction ◽  
Phylogenetic Effects ◽  
Selective Extinction

AbstractWe assessed selective extinction patterns in bivalves during a late Neogene mass extinction event observed along the temperate Pacific coast of South America. The analysis of 99 late Neogene and Quaternary fossil sites (recorded from 7°S to 55°S), yielding ∼2800 occurrences and 118 species, revealed an abrupt decline in Lyellian percentages during the late Neogene–Pleistocene, suggesting the existence of a mass extinction that decimated ∼66% of the original assemblage. Using the late Neogene data set (n = 59 species, 1346 occurrences), we tested whether the extinction was nonrandom according to taxonomic structure, life habit, geographic range, and body size. Our results showed that the number of higher taxa that went extinct was not different than expected by random. At first sight, extinction was selective only according to life habit and geographic range. Nevertheless, when phylogenetic effects were accounted for, body size also showed significant selectivity. In general, epifaunal, small-sized (after phylogenetic correction), and short-ranged species tended to have increased probability of extinction. This is verified by strong interactions between the variables herein analyzed, suggesting the existence of nonlinear effects on extinction chances. In the heavily decimated epifaunal forms, survival was not enhanced by widespread ranges or larger body sizes. Conversely, the widespread and large-sized infaunal forms tended to have lower probability of extinction. Overall, the ultimate extinction of late Neogene bivalve species along the Pacific coast of South America seems to have been determined by a complex interplay of ecological and historical (phylogenetic) effects.

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