Herpetology Notes

When death calls: a defunct phone booth as an unusual, unintentional trap for lizards in French Polynesia

2025-12-05T00:21:08+00:00

Manipulation-induced birth in a Fire Salamander, Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758), from southern Italy

2025-05-23T18:27:25+00:00

New morphological records of haemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) in caimans from the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon rainforest of Brazil

2025-10-10T18:42:34+00:00

Range extensions for two threatened glassfrogs, Cochranella mache Guayasamin & Bonaccorso, 2004 and Sachatamia albomaculata (Taylor, 1949), from remnants of threatened Ecuadorian Chocoan forest

2025-10-15T17:23:49+00:00

Predation by the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius streckeri Gloyd, 1935, on the Rough Earthsnake, Virginia striatula (Linnaeus, 1766), with comments on prey size and feeding ecology

2025-08-25T04:13:04+00:00

Long-distance homing in the Iberian Green Frog, Pelophylax perezi (López-Seoane, 1885), in central Spain, documented via photo identification

2025-02-04T18:35:22+00:00

In search of the Narrow-bridged Mud Turtle, Kinosternon angustipons Legler, 1965: a knowledge gap and forgotten species

2025-11-14T00:58:03+00:00

What’s for dinner: documented predations of the Blunt-headed Tree Snake, Imantodes cenchoa (Linnaeus, 1758)

2025-09-06T20:17:37+00:00

New records of non-native digeneans (Haematoloechus floedae and Glypthelmins quieta) in invasive American Bullfrogs, Aquarana catesbeiana (Shaw, 1802), in Japan

2025-10-20T00:14:12+00:00

First confirmed records of Iberolacerta horvathi (Méhely, 1904) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and an updated species distribution

2025-09-04T10:34:54+00:00

Hidden in the lows: a novel record of a Toad-headed Pitviper, genus Bothrocophias, in the lowland Chocó of Esmeraldas Province, northwestern Ecuador

2025-12-06T23:57:04+00:00

Bilateral hindlimb abnormality in an undescribed endemic gecko (genus Gekko) from the Koshiki Islands, Japan, locally known as “Nishiyamori”

2025-10-13T23:44:20+00:00

First record of Trimerodytes praemaxillaris (Angel, 1929) from Xaisomboun Province, Laos, with additional comments on morphology, natural history, and the type locality

2024-12-13T16:58:33+00:00

We describe the discovery of the 11th specimen of Trimerodytes premaxillaris and use this opportunity to make some clarifying remarks about the history of the species, its type locality, morphology, and natural history. The snake was found at the southernmost locality for the species and represents a new provincial record for Laos. It was in the process of swallowing a juvenile spiny bream (Scaphiodonichthys acanthopterus), the first identifiable prey for this snake. The snake was a female carrying two oviductal eggs indicating that the reproductive season of the species likely coincides with the monsoon season. This correlates with the collection of the hatchling type specimens in late 1925 or early 1926. Finally, we provide some additional detail regarding this species’ scale and colour pattern, as well as a more detailed account of the type locality and the time when the syntypes were collected.

Rescue records of Leith’s Sandsnake, Psammophis leithii Günther, 1869, from Surat, Gujarat, India with some additional insights on pholidosis and natural history

2025-02-05T15:15:51+00:00

Communal nesting behaviour of female American Alligators, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1801) in southeastern Oklahoma, USA

2024-12-02T23:15:34+00:00

Tail movements as an anti-predatory behaviour in Hynobius okiensis Sato, 1940

2024-12-06T05:42:09+00:00

Six predation events by the Red-banded Snake, Lycodon rufozonatus Cantor, 1842, on Tsushima Island, Japan

2024-12-02T10:07:29+00:00

Shedding excess: small tape patches as a lower-impact transmitter attachment method for snakes

2024-12-13T19:08:26+00:00

Bright marks, dark fate: records of predation on Coleodactylus meridionalis Boulenger, 1888 from a movement ecology study in a forest area in southern Bahia, Brazil

2024-12-14T19:59:23+00:00

First record of Kellogg’s Coralsnake, Sinomicrurus kelloggi (Pope, 1928), from Nghe An Province, Vietnam

2024-12-18T02:41:46+00:00

Preliminary data on saltwater crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus Schneider, 1801, and an updated assessment of threats in the Nilwala River, Matara, Sri Lanka

2025-04-04T01:05:21+00:00

New country records of the Laotian Wolfsnake, Lycodon laoensis Günther, 1864, in Myanmar, discovered via citizen science

2025-03-08T21:51:55+00:00

Potential predation by a carabid beetle (Catadromus sp.) larva on an adult Spotted Marsh Frog, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Günther, 1858, in western Victoria, Australia

2025-04-30T23:07:50+00:00

Insights from short-term post-fire monitoring of a population of Hermann’s Tortoise, Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789, in Calabria, southern Italy

2025-05-06T21:28:22+00:00

Low genetic diversity and relatively strong population genetic structure of Przewalski's Wondergecko, Teratoscincus przewalskii Strauch, 1887, in the Mongolian Gobi Desert

2025-05-21T05:27:27+00:00

We examined the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 75 Teratoscincus przewalskii from seven different populations in the Mongolian Gobi Desert using partial sequences of the mitochondrial ND2 gene. Our diversity estimations showed a relatively low level of genetic diversity for these samples (Hd; 0.416, π; 0.0009), with only five polymorphic sites that defined six haplotypes. Our Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees suggested monophyly of a group comprising Mongolian and non-Mongolian T. przewalskii populations. In addition, we found that T. roborowskii, a geographically close species, is the likely sister taxon of T. przewalskii. The approximate estimated time for T. przewalskii’s colonization of Mongolia was 149,000 years ago (95% highest posterior density interval: 51,900–275,000 years ago). Among studied populations, we found that the Gurvantes population was genetically distant from the six remaining populations (mean uncorrelated p-distance = 1.3%, pairwise distance F_ST = 0.57). Our hierarchical AMOVA suggested a relatively strong genetic structure of T. przewalskii at the population level, with 45% of total genetic variation resulting from differences between populations.

Interaction between two Japanese Ratsnakes, Elaphe climacophora (Boie, 1826), at the nest of a Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

2025-03-08T07:01:54+00:00

Decoding the overlap: diagnostic acoustics to distinguish the endangered Magnificent Broodfrog, Pseudophryne covacevichae Ingram & Corben, 1994, from the common Montane Toadlet, Uperoleia altissima Davies et al., 1993 in northern Queensland, Australia

2025-05-31T15:14:04+00:00

Accurate species identification from passive acoustic monitoring data is critical for threatened species, particularly when vocal overlap with sympatric species risks misidentification. The Magnificent Broodfrog (Pseudophryne covacevichae), a narrowly endemic species of the Australian Wet Tropics listed as Endangered (IUCN) and Vulnerable (Australia EPBC), co-occurs and reproduces alongside the common Montane Toadlet (Uperoleia altissima), and the two species produce advertisement calls that overlap in structure and frequency. This study provides a diagnostic reference to reduce the potential risk of misidentification during acoustic analysis, particularly by those working in poorly documented areas between the Magnificent Broodfrog’s two main populations (Atherton Tablelands and Paluma Range). The advertisement and threat calls of the Magnificent Broodfrog are described in detail and compared with the advertisement call of the Montane Toadlet. Principal Component Analysis showed distinct clustering by species, and an analysis using the Multi-Response Permutation Procedure confirmed call duration contributes most strongly to species discrimination. The Magnificent Broodfrog’s advertisement call was longer, lower in frequency, and had more variation in pulse number than the Montane Toadlet’s short, repetitive call. These findings provide an applied framework to support accurate identification of the Magnificent Broodfrog from recordings and enhance the reliability of acoustic assessments for this threatened species.

Capture events of Forster's Tree Iguana, Liolaemus forsteri Laurent, 1982, by Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis Temminck, 1822, in the high Andes of Bolivia

2025-04-22T03:17:14+00:00

Preliminary assessment of movements and habitat use of the Tabasco Mud Turtle, Kinosternon acutum Gray, 1831, in a tropical rainforest in Belize

2025-07-29T09:17:48+00:00

Understanding the movement ecology and habitat use of the Tabasco Mud Turtle (Kinosternon acutum) is essential for conservation planning, particularly in dynamic rainforest ecosystems of the Yucatan Peninsula. Despite its broad distribution across Central America, the spatial behaviour of K. acutum remains poorly studied. This study examines movement patterns, microhabitat preferences, and the influence of precipitation on K. acutum movement in a tropical rainforest setting within the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education reserve. Six adult individuals (two males, four females) were tracked using radio telemetry over a 17-day period, with relocations recorded daily. Results indicate that males exhibited greater movement distances than females, with maximum straight-line movements of 205 m and 103 m, respectively. Microhabitat analysis revealed a strong preference for leaf litter, tree bases, and Cohune Palm (Attalea cohune) associations, while use of ephemeral water habitats were lower than expected. Movement was not consistently correlated with rainfall, suggesting that K. acutum does not uniformly adjust its movement patterns in response to precipitation events. These findings highlight the species’ reliance on specific microhabitats and limited movements, emphasising its vulnerability to habitat fragmentation and environmental change. Conservation efforts should prioritise the protection of terrestrial and aquatic habitat connectivity, particularly in areas with abundant leaf litter and cohune palm.

Nueva información sobre la distribución y biología de la Culebra de Cola Corta Jaspeada, Tantillita brevissima (Taylor, 1937) en México y Guatemala

2025-07-08T00:17:43+00:00

Tantillita brevissima (Taylor, 1937) es una serpiente de hábitos fosoriales y de pequeño tamaño, nativa del sur de México y Guatemala, previamente conocida solo a partir de seis ejemplares. Mediante trabajo de campo, revisión de literatura y análisis de colecciones científicas y bases de datos públicas, reportamos nuevos registros de distribución para la especie, duplicando a 12 el número total de localidades conocidas. Estos incluyen los primeros registros para los municipios de Cintalapa y Jiquipilas, en el estado de Chiapas, México. Además, corregimos problemas relacionados con el rango de distribución de la especie, aclaramos su intervalo altitudinal conocido, confirmamos su presencia en la Reserva de la Biósfera La Sepultura, describimos nuevas asociaciones de vegetación y presentamos nueva información morfológica.

Attempted scavenging and aquatic hunting in the Iberian Asp Viper, Vipera aspis zinnikeri Kramer, 1958

2025-08-15T13:45:34+00:00

Life history characteristics of the Colombian Wood Turtle, Rhinoclemmys melanosterna (Gray, 1861), in the middle Magdalena River, Colombia

2025-09-07T20:32:44+00:00

Rhinoclemmys melanosterna is part of a clade of neotropical freshwater turtles known for their reduced clutch sizes with exceptionally large eggs. However, there are few studies of the life history of natural populations of these turtles to document what other aspects of their biology covary with this particular reproductive strategy. From 2009–2020, we used several capture techniques in different types of habitats in the middle Magdalena River region of Colombia to obtain captures/recaptures to estimate ontogenetic growth rates and sex ratios and to calculate body condition indices for each size class and sex. We also estimated the sizes/ages of sexual maturity of each sex, as well as generation time. Almost all individuals captured were adults, and the sex ratio was skewed towards females (1.85:1). Most recaptured individuals had moved a short distance (< 1000 m), although one female was recaptured 2800 m away from where she was first marked. Body condition indices of females diverged from those of males beginning at approximately 20 cm straight-line carapace length, with females almost always exhibiting higher scores. Using the von Bertalanffy Growth Model, we estimated that males reach sexual maturity earlier than females, at an approximate straight-line carapace length of 18–20 cm, whereas females mature at lengths of 20–22 cm, consistent with our body condition analysis. The average annual growth rate was 1.54 cm/year for males and 1.32 cm/year for females. The time required to reach the body size and/or the minimum age of sexual maturity was 3–4 years for males and 5–7 years for females.

The use of fluorescent powdered pigments as a tracking technique for hatchling turtles in Belize

2024-12-09T18:28:37+00:00

Hatchling freshwater turtles face significant challenges during early life stages, including predation, desiccation, and habitat loss. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about their movements and habitat preferences due to their cryptic behaviour and small size. In this study, we utilized fluorescent powder tracking, a non-invasive method, to investigate the spatial ecology of hatchling turtles in southern Belize. Forty-seven hatchlings from five species (Kinosternon acutum, K. leucostomum, Trachemys venusta, Claudius angustatus, and Chelydra rossignonii) were tracked across old-growth rainforest and pine savanna habitats. Hatchlings exhibited movement distances ranging from 3–1987 cm, with most activity concentrated in high-elevation rainforest, particularly in ephemeral aquatic habitats such as puddles and ditches. Species-specific preferences were observed, aligning with adult habitat use. Notably, the longest movement was recorded for a C. rossignonii individual, which travelled over 19 m in two days. Significant differences in habitat use were found between ephemeral, permanent, and upland microhabitats, highlighting the importance of temporary aquatic environments during the rainy season. The study confirmed the effectiveness of fluorescent powder tracking as a low-cost, low-impact tool for monitoring hatchling turtles. Despite potential concerns about increased visibility to predators, only one potential predation event occurred during tracking. These findings emphasize the critical role of ephemeral habitats in supporting hatchling survival and provide valuable insights for conservation planning. By addressing a key knowledge gap, this research supports efforts to protect threatened freshwater turtle species in Belize’s rapidly changing ecosystems.

Male-male combat in free-ranging Falcón Indigo Snakes, Drymarchon caudomaculatus Wüster et al., 2001, in Guajira, Colombia

2025-06-18T09:28:28+00:00

Field body temperatures and microclimatic influences in Hermann’s Tortoise, Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789, from Thrace

2025-05-17T14:59:53+00:00

Temperature is considered a fundamental factor in reptile ecology because their body temperature generally varies depending on environmental temperature. This study investigated the thermal ecology of Testudo hermanni populations inhabiting two different habitat types in the Thrace region (Karakoç/Kırklareli–open habitat, Keşan/Edirne–closed habitat) by examining the relationship between body temperatures (Internal Body Temperature: T_int and External Body Temperature: T_ext), microclimatic parameters (Substrate Temperature: T_s and Air Temperature: T_air), and morphological features (Body Weight: BW and Straight Carapace Length: SCL). Additionally, the effect of different weather conditions (cloudy and sunny) on the body temperatures of the populations was determined. Significant positive correlations were found between body temperatures and microclimatic parameters in both populations, whereas no significant relationship was detected between body temperatures and morphological features. Behavioural analyses indicated that activities such as basking and movement were associated with higher body temperatures. It was also found that individuals had higher body temperatures under sunny weather conditions. However, no significant difference in body temperatures was detected between the two populations, one inhabiting the densely wooded, closed habitat of Keşan and the other in the sparsely vegetated, open habitat of Karakoç. The results suggest that T. hermanni individuals have a high capacity to maintain optimal body temperatures under varying environmental conditions. This ability is crucial for the species’ survival in the face of environmental challenges. However, increasing habitat fragmentation and habitat loss may significantly limit this adaptability. Moreover, rising temperatures could affect thermoregulation strategies, potentially threatening the long–term survival of populations. Future studies should focus on the long–term impacts of climate change on the thermal ecology and habitat use of T. hermanni to contribute to effective conservation strategies.

First report of consumption of the Italian Three-toed Skink, Chalcides chalcides (Linnaeus, 1758), by a European Pine Marten in Lazio, Italy

2025-04-02T11:20:43+00:00

The herpetofauna of the Echinades Island Complex, Ionian Islands, Greece, with notes on the ecological peculiarities of its lizard species

2025-07-08T14:00:07+00:00

The near-shore islands of western Greece remain to this day little explored in terms of herpetological research, while most of them have only been occasionally visited in recent years. We conducted several field excursions on 20 satellite islets of the Echinades Island Complex (Ionian archipelago), corresponding to a two-year field study from 2022 to 2023. During the surveys, we documented 39 new island records. We confirmed the presence of six out of the seven previously documented reptiles (Mediodactylus kotschyi, Lacerta trilineata, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Platyceps najadum, Testudo hermanni and T. marginata), and also documented for the first time four additional species new to the island group (Hemidactylus turcicus, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Podarcis ionicus and Hierophis gemonensis). During our field excursions we noticed a peculiar lifestyle concerning arboreal microhabitat preference of gecko species which is briefly discussed.

New records of the Vanzolini’s Spiny-chest Frog, Alsodes vanzolinii (Donoso-Barros, 1974), from south-central Chile

2025-05-19T23:51:38+00:00

First photographic evidence of oceanic swimming behaviour in littoral Snake-eyed Skinks, genus Cryptoblepharus, in the Western Indian Ocean

2025-07-04T09:30:13+00:00

A noteworthy observation of Corallus caninus (Linnaeus, 1758) within the Corallus batesii (Gray, 1860) range in the Central Brazilian Amazonia

2025-03-04T10:46:43+00:00

Predation of a White-banded Treefrog, Boana albomarginata (Spix, 1824), by a Parrot Snake, Leptophis liocercus (Wied, 1824), in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Bahia, northeastern Brazil

2025-04-15T23:53:06+00:00

Contribution to the knowledge of the gecko Tenuidactylus longipes (Nikolsky, 1896) in northeastern Iran

2025-07-01T13:20:29+00:00

Societatis Europeae Herpetologicae brevis historia

2025-07-30T13:13:22+00:00

Predation of the Madagascar Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko, Paroedura vazimba Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 2000, by the Madagascar Bullfrog, Laliostoma labrosum (Cope, 1868), in Ankarafantsika, northwestern Madagascar

2024-12-11T01:53:15+00:00

The wonder of rain: records of Plateau Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma velasci Dugès, 1888, in Salinas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

2025-02-07T20:41:32+00:00

First report of piebaldism for the Crowned False Boa, Pseudoboa coronata Schneider, 1801, from the lowlands of Bolivia

2025-03-24T01:39:38+00:00

Head hiding behaviour in the Eastern Montpellier Snake, Malpolon insignitus fuscus (Fleischmann, 1831)

2025-01-01T19:44:34+00:00

Tail trifurcation in Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi in southern Mississippi, USA

2025-07-08T03:12:57+00:00

Third case of tail bifurcation in Cope’s Mabuya, Notomabuya frenata (Cope, 1863), in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

2025-04-12T00:44:31+00:00

On the occurrence of a golden colour variant in the Common Spadefoot Toad, Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768), in the state of Saxony, Germany

2025-07-03T05:30:19+00:00

Limb and digit malformations in the Alpine Newt, Mesotriton alpestris (Laurenti, 1768), in the United Kingdom

2024-12-09T12:06:15+00:00

Amplexus between frogs in different families: a microhylid Nilphamarai Narrow-mouthed Frog, Microhyla nilphamariensis Howlader et al., 2015, grasps a Terai Cricket Frog, Minervarya teraiensis (Dubois, 1984), in Nepal

2025-02-06T08:37:17+00:00

Domestic water buffaloes: an unexpected basking support for two sympatric freshwater turtles, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833) in Türkiye

2025-05-24T10:25:39+00:00

How the tables may turn: opportunistic scavenging by tadpoles of Discoglossus galganoi Capula et al., 1985 and Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768) on the carcass of a Viperine Watersnake, Natrix maura (Linnaeus, 1758) in northern Portugal

2025-06-30T07:49:17+00:00

Unusual use of water-filled tires by Nyctixalus spinosus (Taylor, 1920) in an agroforestry farm in eastern Mindanao, Philippines

2025-09-12T04:33:13+00:00

Minimum hydroperiod for metamorphosis in the California Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma californiense Gray, 1853

2025-05-27T19:46:07+00:00

First record of predation on reptiles by the Sakishima Rice Frog, Fejervarya sakishimensis Matsui et al., 2007, in Japan

2025-06-26T12:49:36+00:00

Hidden breeding behaviour in a still undescribed giant Mantidactylus frog from Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, eastern Madagascar

2025-07-26T09:37:51+00:00

Post-hatching maternal attendance in wild Burmese Pythons in southern Florida

2025-01-17T21:57:45+00:00

New records of the Ocellated Skink, Chalcides ocellatus (Forskål, 1775), reveal possible human-mediated translocation to Syros Island, Greece

2025-03-13T06:00:47+00:00

Unusual defensive behaviour combination recorded in Bufotes viridis (Laurenti, 1768)

2025-06-25T08:04:41+00:00

Initial survey of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis around Bouamir Research Station, Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon

2025-05-06T17:47:12+00:00

Updating the snake menu: two cases of ophiophagy by the Western Indigo Snake, Drymarchon corais (Boie, 1827), in a Neotropical rain forest

2025-07-14T13:51:24+00:00

Ocular anomaly in the Plateau Toad, Anaxyrus compactilis (Wiegmann, 1833), from Jalisco State, West-Central Mexico

2024-12-04T18:24:52+00:00

New data on introduced geckos of the Mediodactylus kotschyi complex in Hungary

2025-01-10T08:21:03+00:00

Predation of a Barker Frog, Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826, by a Giant Water Bug, genus Belostoma, in a Cerrado pond Minas Gerais, Brazil

2025-07-07T14:36:36+00:00

A new record of the Endangered Zolio's Shield-backed Ground Lizard, Philochortus zolii Scortecci, 1934, from Algeria, with genetic insights and a geographic distribution review

2025-07-01T12:27:12+00:00

Give me five: a case of polymelia in the Common Midwife Toad, Alytes obstetricans (Laurenti, 1768), in Central Spain

2025-06-13T12:40:17+00:00

First record of Paratelmatobius segallai Santos et al., 2019 in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, based on molecular and morphological evidence

2025-06-30T15:11:18+00:00

Don't bother me, I'm venomous: first report of envenoming by an Aesculapian False Coralsnake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Bolivian Yungas

2025-05-22T00:37:22+00:00

New prey record for Baird's Patchnose Snake, Salvadora bairdi Jan, 1860

2025-07-03T09:18:06+00:00

New insights into the distribution of Scincus and Scincopus (Scincidae) in Northwest Africa, with the first record of the Sandfish Skink, Scincus scincus (Linnaeus, 1758), from Morocco

2025-08-15T23:34:36+00:00

New records of the Golden Spectacled Tegu, Gymnophthalmus speciosus (Hallowell, 1861), in Veracruz, Mexico

2025-03-20T23:12:53+00:00

Prolonged copulation and possible mating plug formation in the Ryukyu Greensnake, Ptyas semicarinata (Hallowell, 1861), on Okinawa Island

2025-04-29T11:10:00+00:00

Efficacy of GPS-based satellite transmitters to monitor movement and nesting of Alligator Snapping Turtles, Macrochelys temminckii (Troost, 1835)

2025-06-30T20:12:21+00:00

Molecular identification of the ant Pheidole nodus in the diet of Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) in Taiwan

2025-04-09T03:46:32+00:00

Use of a handheld metal detector to evaluate metal ingestion in the Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macrochelys temminckii (Troost, 1835)

2025-05-16T16:24:14+00:00

Novel observations of arachnid predation on the Mountain Skink, Chalcides montanus Werner, 1931, and the Algerian Sand Gecko, Tropiocolotes algericus Loveridge, 1947, in Morocco

2025-07-28T20:00:26+00:00

An Eastern Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis saurita (Linnaeus, 1766), scavenging on a roadkilled Cuban Treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

2024-12-06T17:57:05+00:00

Early maturation and high growth rates in an Eastern Treefrog, Hyla orientalis Bedriaga, 1890, population after the species’ expansion in Kaliningrad Oblast (East Baltic Sea region)

2025-02-04T14:50:37+00:00

Biofluorescence in the Madeiran Wall Lizard, Teira dugesii (Milne-Edwards, 1829)

2025-03-15T10:49:05+00:00

Expanding the known range: Spalerosophis diadema diadema (Schlegel, 1837) in the temperate western Himalayan region, India

2025-06-17T06:41:00+00:00

Further herpetofaunal records from Kastos and Kalamos islands, with comments on the occurrence of Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Podarcis ionicus (Lehrs, 1902) in the adjacent Meganissi, Ionian Islands, Greece

2025-09-05T12:24:22+00:00

Bioacoustics of the False Toad Pseudobufo subasper Tschudi, 1838 from Southeast Asia

2025-05-19T17:37:32+00:00

First report of juvenile fish (genus Geophagus) in the diet of the neotropical caecilian Potomotyphlus kaupii (Berthold, 1859)

2025-08-17T10:36:12+00:00

First recorded predation of a Mediterranean Centipede, Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1789, by a North African Ocellated Lizard, Timon pater (Lataste, 1880), in Chréa National Park, Algeria

2025-07-18T14:16:14+00:00

Bite, shriek, or intimidate: defensive behaviours of the Apatani Horned Toad, Xenophrys apatani Saikia et al., 2024, and the Bicoloured Frog, Clinotarsus curtipes (Jerdon, 1853), from India

2025-09-21T19:06:39+00:00

An unexpected urbanite: first record of a Plateau Toad, Anaxyrus compactilis (Wiegmann, 1833), from a developed site in Tlaxcala, Mexico

2025-04-25T04:45:20+00:00

A new observation of ophiophagy in the Madagascar Black-backed Smooth Snake, Liophidium vaillanti (Mocquard, 1901), in the Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar

2025-06-15T14:15:31+00:00

Passive acoustic monitoring protocol reveals new occurrence data for Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi Schwartz, 1960 in eastern Cuba

2025-07-05T05:56:20+00:00

Observations on nocturnal activities of the Dumeril’s Monitor, Varanus dumerilii Schlegel, 1839, in Borneo, Malaysia

2025-06-28T11:39:22+00:00

Morphometrics aid identification of non-native iguanas to improve conservation of native Saba Green Iguanas, Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758)

2025-06-28T16:23:04+00:00

The Lesser Antilles are part of the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot with relative high levels of diversity, also within the genus Iguana. However, these islands and their native Iguana populations are equally known for presence of invasive alien species, including non-native Green Iguanas. These threaten native iguanid populations through displacement and competitive hybridisation. The most recent island where the presence of non-native iguanas has been identified is Saba, Caribbean Netherlands. To aid rapid identification of non-native iguanas and potential future arrivals, we assessed the presence of morphometric and meristic differences between native Saba Green Iguanas and non-native Green Iguanas from neighbouring St. Martin. The latter is a shipping hub for the northern Lesser Antilles and the main source of non-native iguanas to surrounding islands as iguanas hitch rides in materials shipments. Our results show 13 morphometric size-dependent characters that significantly differ between both populations. Furthermore, we identified that Saba Green Iguanas have larger and fewer femoral pores compared to the non-native iguanas of St. Maarten. To more accurately identify non-native iguanas on Saba, we highlight that in addition to colouration, the relative size of the dorsal spines and the subtympanic plate, as well as the lengths of the head and snout are useful. These characters are often clearly visible and aid rapid in-situ assessments from a distance without the necessity to capture an individual. Given the currently poor biosecurity on Saba, and the upcoming increased volume of materials to be shipped to the island for construction of a new harbour, these additional diagnostic characters should prove useful in combatting the expected surge in incursions of non-native iguanas.

Range extension and first record of Dendropsophus studerae (Carvalho-e-Silva, Carvalho-e-Silva, and Izecksohn, 2003) in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

2025-07-10T20:18:52+00:00

Comments on the retraction of an article by Faiz et al. (2017) on the putative occurrence of a King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah
(Cantor, 1836), in Pakistan

2025-11-02T06:42:22+00:00

Feeding on different life stages of the Common Spadefoot Toad, Pelobates fuscus (Laurenti, 1768), by the Medicinal Leech, Hirudo medicinalis

2025-04-25T10:55:57+00:00

Beyond the asymptote: a near-complete reptile inventory in the Miombo woodland and on Mount Morué, Mocuba Municipality, with a major range extension for the lizard Nucras boulengeri Neumann, 1900

2025-09-03T07:45:05+00:00

We assessed the composition and diversity of reptiles occurring in a dry Miombo woodland at Zambezi University and on Mount Morué, both in Mocuba Municipality, northern Mozambique. Reptiles were collected using active daytime searches, pitfall traps, and opportunistic encounters. A total of 23 species (17 lizards and six snakes) belonging to 15 genera and 12 families were recorded. Among them, the dwarf gecko Lygodactylus grotei was the most frequently recorded species with 11 individuals. All sampling methods were effective in detecting terrestrial species, although most species were recorded using pitfall traps (56.5%). The rarefaction curves almost reached an asymptotic point, indicating that few species are likely to be added with additional sampling effort. It was possible to extend the known range of Boulenger’s Scrub Lizard, Nucras boulengeri, southward by 662 km. This survey is the first to document the reptiles in Mocuba Municipality and represents an important contribution to our knowledge of reptiles in the dry Miombo woodland ecotone in northern Mozambique.

Gut and faecal microbial diversity in a Japanese lotic-breeding salamander, Hynobius boulengeri (Thompson, 1912)

2025-04-28T10:42:43+00:00

Death by geochemistry: sudden mortality among larvae of Korean Clawed Salamander, Onychodactylus koreanus Min et al., 2012, in Hwanseon Cave, South Korea

2025-07-07T09:27:32+00:00

Egg predation of a rhacophorid foam-nest frog (Chiromantis cf. rufescens) by a colubrid tree snake (Dipsadoboa sp.) in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2025-08-18T14:15:07+00:00

Deimatic anti-predator behaviour in Uroplatus henkeli Böhme & Ibisch, 1990 during predation by Ithycyphus miniatus (Schlegel, 1837) on Nosy Be, Madagascar

2025-08-26T20:46:46+00:00

The diet spectrum of Pelophylax waterfrogs from mainland Greece, including novel data for the Epirus Waterfrog, Pelophylax epeiroticus (Schneider et al., 1984)

2025-09-25T05:52:33+00:00

Observations on predation by Mimophis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867) in Andranomena Special Reserve, Madagascar

2025-05-03T09:33:29+00:00

Reproductive behaviour and natural history of the Long-toed Treefrog, Leptopelis xenodactylus Poynton, 1963, in South Africa

2025-07-07T10:38:20+00:00

Little is known about the reproductive behaviour of frogs in the genus Leptopelis, and in this study of the endangered L. xenodactylus we offer some insights from a wetland in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Males call from wetlands and change their position during the season, possibly because females become more conspicuous over time. The most active period for reproductive behaviour is under heavy cloud cover between 19:00 and 21:00 h. These frogs use axillary amplexus, with evidence of a sticky substance secreted where the male’s forearms grip the female, likely to assist with maintaining grip. Up to 150 eggs are laid on top of hummocks in shallow burrows. Eggs take approximately one month to develop, with tadpoles able to wait for suitable conditions before hatching. Tadpoles develop for approximately three months before metamorphosis but show evidence of being able to overwinter. These insights can guide conservation management and perhaps be useful for studies of other members of the genus.

Home-range and behaviour of four female Garden Treeboas, Corallus hortulana (Linnaeus, 1758), in French Guiana

2025-06-29T01:44:46+00:00

Understanding the home range and behaviour of snakes provides valuable insights into their ecological roles, territorial behaviours, and the impacts of environmental changes on their populations but our knowledge of behaviour and preferred habitat characteristics of arboreal snakes in tropical forests remains largely unclear. Corallus hortulana (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as the Garden Treeboa, is fairly easy to observe in the field, but no long-term monitoring has been carried out on it to date, even though it could make an ideal study model. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the home range size and movement behaviour of Corallus hortulana within its natural habitat by using telemetry and field-based observations. Four adult females were equipped with radio-transmitters and tracked over 15 months between 30 March 2022 and 9 July 2023. Of the four females tracked, only two showed a stable and well-defined home range which were estimated at 18 ha and 4.6 ha with a core area of respectively of 3.6 ha and 0.9 ha. Our observation confirmed that this is an exclusively arboreal species but with good swimming abilities allowing them to cross wide streams. Finally, we showed a strong link between animal locations and the edge of the stream indicating a possible preference for edge habitats.