Maximum clutch size in the Cuban Pale-necked Galliwasp, Diploglossus Delasagra (Squamata: Anguidae), with comments on behavior and natural history

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus is a very common bird seen on the periphery of Kurukshetra-Thanesar, twin towns, in agriculture fields. Last 28 years of keen observations reveal the fast coming up threats to its populations. The current populations are a quarter only of the level that existed in 1980s. Most visible threat has been caused by HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority). It has virtually converted the peripheral agriculture fields in Kurukshetra into so called HUDA-Sectors -new Human dwelling places with ultra modern civic amenities with vast open space with no protection or peace for lapwing populations- diminishing its populations to the present deplorable position. It has been observed to segregate into very strong male-female pairs during breeding season which embarks upon with respect to the first or second week of April, culminating in nest building and laying of eggs in the 4 th week of April through May and 4 th week of June. Juveniles were seen first in May last week. A total of 25 nests of the bird were surveyed in the breeding season during April to July 2010. The clutch size ranged from 3-4. Out of 25 nests surveyed, 13 nests were having 4 eggs each and 11 nests 3 eggs as in 2010. Also, only one nest was found with two eggs. Further, in all 87 eggs were laid in 25 nests, out of which 53 eggs hatched successfully. The eggs were mosaic colored with pied patterns- a measure of “Camouflaging” to evade attack of predators including Common Pariah Kite Milvus migrans, House Crow Corvus splendens, Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis and Stray dogs. Eggs on ground always confronted a threat from pedestrians.

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The six-eyed sand spiders of the genus Sicarius (Araneae: Haplogynae: Sicariidae) from the Brazilian Caatinga

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3599.2.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3599 (2) ◽

pp. 101-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

IVAN L. F. MAGALHÃES ◽

ANTONIO D. BRESCOVIT ◽

ADALBERTO J. SANTOS

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Natural History ◽

Mating Behavior ◽

Clutch Size ◽

New Records ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

The World ◽

Three New Species ◽

And Behavior

In this paper we revise the species of Sicarius (Araneae: Sicariidae) from the Brazilian Caatinga, the largest tropical dry forest nucleus in the world. We redescribe, designate a neotype and provide new records for Sicarius tropicus (Mello- Leitão, 1936), the only species previously known from the region, and describe three new species: S. cariri n. sp., S. diadorim n. sp. and S. ornatus n. sp. We report high intraspecific variation in the genitalic morphology of these species, especially in females. We also provide anecdotal observations on natural history and behavior of these species, including diet, mating behavior and clutch size. We include an identification key for Brazilian Caatinga species of Sicarius.

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On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil

Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v14i2p147-156 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jaqueiuto Da Silva Jorge ◽

Raul Fernandes Dantas Sales ◽

Marcelo Nogueira de Carvalho Kokubum ◽

Eliza Maria Xavier Freire

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Clutch Size ◽

Temporary Ponds ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Female Body Size ◽

Important Prey ◽

Brazilian Semiarid ◽

History Of ◽

Bodies Of Water ◽

Santa Maria

On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratrophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Data on reproduction, sexual dimorphism, and the diet of Ceratophrys joazeirensis, the only species of the genus that occurs in the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga Biome, are presented. Anurans were observed and collected in Santa Maria Municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted at night either after or during rains throughout the rainy season in 2010–2013. Searches were conducted near places where males were calling, usually around the perimeters of bodies of water. Reproduction is explosive in the population, with breeding activity occurring as the rain intensified during the rainy seasons of 2011–2013. However, in 2010, neither calling males nor active females were found, even after rainy days. Although males call in temporary and permanent ponds, most males call in the marginal vegetation of temporary ponds. Females C. joazeirensis are significantly larger than males. The average clutch size is 2555.0 ± 1551.1 eggs; clutch size is not significantly correlated with female body size. In decreasing order of volume, the most important prey categories in the diet of C. joazeirensis are anurans, followed by coleopterans and plant material. The apparent importance of anurans in the diet probably is related to the number of anuran species that co-occur with C. joazeirensis and the voracious feeding behavior of ceratophryids.

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Redescription of the tadpole of Leptodactylus rhodomystax (Anura: Leptodactylidae) with natural history notes

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1509.1.6 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1509 (1) ◽

pp. 61-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

DOMINGOS J. RODRIGUES ◽

MARCELO MENIN ◽

ALBERTINA P. LIMA

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Clutch Size ◽

Sympatric Species ◽

Temporary Ponds ◽

Color Patterns ◽

Free Swimming ◽

Similar Morphology ◽

Black Color ◽

Spawning Sites

The tadpole of Leptodactylus rhodomystax is described based on individuals in several stages of development. We compare them with other tadpoles of the Leptodactylus pentadactylus group and three other sympatric species with similar morphology and color patterns. We also provide comments on spawning sites, clutch size, and the distribution of tadpoles in ponds located in a 64 km 2 study area. The tadpole of L. rhodomystax differs from all species of the L. pentadactylus group (except L. flavopictus) in total length and in having uniform black color. It differs in relation to the LTRF (2(2)/3) of all species except L. lithonaetes and L. rhodonotus. Leptodactylus rhodomystax is generally only found in the western watershed of our study area. Foam nests were deposited between shrubs, roots, and fallen tree trunks near temporary ponds. Tadpoles were free-swimming, benthic, and found in the leaf litter of ponds between January and May. The tadpoles are intraand inter-specific predators of anuran eggs and tadpoles.

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

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002413 ◽

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.

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On the assembly and structural modulation of lens fiber junctions

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100110805 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 110-113

Author(s):

E.L. Benedetti ◽

I. Dunia ◽

Do Ngoc Lien ◽

O. Vallon ◽

D. Louvard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Natural History ◽

Intercellular Junctions ◽

Eye Lens ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Functional Polymorphism ◽

Lens Fiber ◽

The Past ◽

Structural Modulation ◽

Biochemical Difference

In the eye lens emerging molecular and structural patterns apparently cohabit with the remnants of the past. The lens in a rather puzzling fashion sums up its own natural history and even transient steps of the differentiation are memorized. A prototype of this situation is well outlined by the study of the lenticular intercellular junctions. These membrane domains exhibit structural, biochemical and perhaps functional polymorphism reflecting throughout life the multiple steps of the differentiation of the epithelium into fibers and of the ageing process of the lenticular cells.The most striking biochemical difference between the membrane derived from the epithelium and from the fibers respectively, concerns the presence of the 26,000 molecular weight polypeptide (MP26) in the latter membranes.

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