Amphibian reptile conservation_9

Published - 2015 • in the United States of America VOLUME NUMBER • v - - AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE • • Board of Directors Howard Craig Hassapakis ARC: Editor, Publisher, ARC: and Chairman of the Board Treasurer Clark, Jr USA Garcia and Associates, Franco Andreone Bruce Waldman of Directors, Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, ITALY University of Peradeniya, SRI LANKA Virginia Commonwealth EGYPT Ted R Kahn KOREA Neotropical Conservation Foundation, USA Indraneil Das Peter Uetz Michael Hutchins Chair, Department of Conservation and Science, American Zoo and Aquarium Association [1990-2005] and former Executive Director/CEO, The Wildlife Society [2005-2012], USA former Director/William Suez University, USA Seoul National University, Madhava Meegaskumbura Adel Ibrahim & Associate Editor; USA University, MALAYSIA Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Walter R Erdelen Conway former Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); FRANCE Editor Craig Hassapakis USA Utah Valley University, Africa Issue B ill Branch Port Elizabeth SOUTH AFRICA Museum, Associate Editors Howard Erik Wild BRAZIL Belo Horizonte, Clark, Raul Diaz Jr Garcia and Associates, USA La Mayra Oyervides Sierra University, USA Branch Elizabeth Museum, SOUTH AFRICA Bill The University of Texas-Pan American, USA Port Copy Editor Ruthe Smith California, USA Editorial Board C Kenneth Dodd, University of Florida, USA Museo Regionale Commonwealth University, di Scienze Naturali, ITALY USA Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Gunther Kohler GERMANY University of Peradeniya, MALAYSIA SRI LANKA Aurelio Ramirez-Bautista Javier Sunyer Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua-Leon, MEXICO NICARAGUA Larry David Wilson Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad, Manuel Acevedo Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, HONDURAS GUATEMALA Melissa Medina-Flores Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, Ulisses Museu Janeiro, Rafaqat Masroor Museum of Natural History, PAKISTAN Zoological BRAZIL Roman Nazarov Museum, Moscow State University of Nis, SERBIA Jianping Jiang Chengdu Institute of Biology, Sciences, National University, Chinese Academy of CHINA SOUTH KOREA Javier Alvarado-Diaz Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, MEXICO Romulo Romeu da Nobrega Alves Universidade Estadual da Parafba, BRAZIL Antonio Salas Environment and Sustainable Development, Cesar Aguilar Universidad de San Marcos, Port Elizabeth Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic EGYPT Kangwon University, RUSSIA Adel Ibrahim Suez University, Caramaschi Nacional, Universidade Federal Rio de HONDURAS SOUTH KOREA Daesik Park Madhava Meegaskumbura Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Pakistan Seoul National University, Indraneil Das Peter Uetz Virginia Bruce Waldman Franco Andreone Jr PERU PERU Bill Branch Museum, SOUTH AFRICA Santiago J Sanchez-Pacheco University of Toronto, CANADA Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 9(2) [Special Section]: The anuran fauna of a v N’Goran Germain Kouame, 1-14 (el 06) West African urban area Caleb Ofori-Boateng, Gilbert Baase Adum, Germain Gourene, and 5t Mark-Oliver Rodel Jean Lorougnon Guede University, Department of Biology and Animal Physiology, UFR-Environnement, Daloa, BP 150 COTE D’IVOIRE Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, PO Box 63, Fumesua, Kumasi GHANA 3Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi GHANA 4Nangui Abrogoua University, Laboratoire d’Environnement el de Biologie Aquatique, UFR-SGE, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02 Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin COTE D’IVOIRE Museum fur Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for GERMANY —Reported are the results of an amphibian survey the district of Daloa and surroundings, in central-western Ivory Coast Spanning a three year period, we investigated two general areas, each during the rainy and dry seasons During 62 days of field work 30 anuran species were recorded The urban environment mainly contained widespread anuran species with preferences Abstract in savannah-dominated landscapes and farmbush habitats The recorded total anuran species richness in the urban area exceeded the diversity in the savannah islands/forest mosaic bordering the Daloa district This indicates many savannah species may well in urban situations However, this higher species richness was only due to one site that possessed particularly diverse amphibian breeding sites, thus illustrating the necessity of maintaining suitable habitats for a wide-range of species One of the most surprising findings was Kassina schioetzi, a species usually difficult to find in its natural habitat In Daloa it seems to have successfully adapted to the urban conditions Although the anuran richness in the Daloa area was relatively low compared to other Ivorian humid savannah areas, it supported an important part of the countries amphibian diversity Nevertheless the forest habitats, and specifically the forest islands bordering the Daloa district, should be considered sensitive conservation areas for Key words Amphibians, Citation: Kouame NG, conservation status, Cote dTvoire, Upper Guinea, urban ecology Ofori-Boateng C, Adum GB, Gourene Reptile Conservation 9(2) [Special Section]: 1-14 G, Rodel MO 2015 The anuran fauna of a West African urban area Amphibian & (el 06) Copyright: © 2015 Kouame et al This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use for non-commercial and education purposes only, in any medium, provided the original author and the official and authorized publication sources are recognized and properly credited The official and authorized publication credit sources, which will be duly enforced, are as follows: official journal title Amphibian & Reptile Conservation official journal website ; Received: June 2015; Accepted: 29 October 201 5; Published: November 2015 demand West Africa has been experiencing intensive urbanization to such a point that human modified (Deikumah and Kudom 2010; Bible 2013) Whereas various Ghanaian forests are protected and/or sustainably managed (Adum et al 2013; Ofori-Boateng et al 2013), only very few Ivorian for- in the Ivory Coast, has attracted see Mayaux et al 2004) third largest city of the country The Ivorian population has exploded over the past four decades, an im- traditionally 44.8% of national and 23.4% of foreign farmers (Assiri et al 2009) During the country’s 2010-2011 post election violence, Daloa, the remnants receive sufficient protection and sustainable (e.g., is portant trading center, particularly for cocoa production in particular native forests management and urbanization (Bible 2013; Hansen et al 2013) The Haut-Sassandra region landscapes are gradually taking over the majority of natural landscapes, est for agriculture and the regional capital of the Haut-Sassandra region, became a refuge for people tri- from the northern, and western Ivory Coast, central, As one pling from 6.7 million in the early 1970s to approxi- resulting in a rapid urbanization process mately 22 million people today (Bible 2013), has largely forests surrounding the city are increasingly fragmented accelerated an urbanization process causing massive en- To enhance vironmental damage The gradual disruption of forests, Ivorian Ministry of Scientific Research has therefore re- has worsened in several forested areas of the Ivory Coast cently during the prolonged political crisis in the the 21 st century, has mainly Correspondence first stemmed from decade of result, the protection of biological diversity, the recommended the collection of scientific informa- tion to update the biodiversity data of the Haut-Sassandra increase land region As data for amphibians were still lacking, we sur- Emails: *ngoran_kouame@yahoo.fr; t mo.roedel@mfn-berlin.de (corresponding authors) Amphib Reptile Conserv November 2015 Volume Number | | | el 06 Kouame veyed the amphibian fauna within the and its district surroundings, and herein report for the of Daloa first West African urban al other infrastructure We islands/forest mosaic bordering the Daloa Methods Daloa Study area the is third largest city in we region situated is It o in between semi-deciduous , for further details) forest and humid Guinea savan- The town is an important trading center, particularly cocoa The region has a mean annual temperature of 26.3 °C; the annual precipitation ranges from 1,200 mm The ha), Eveche (Eve: 50 climate includes a long rainy season Some swampy a highway June, a short dry season (July to August) alternating with were being used for vegetable a short rainy season (September to October), and a long noisy due to heavy dry season (November to March) The relative is 75% mean tion of an urban area follows Our McDonnell and (1993) and Demographia (2008), minimum 1) defini- Pickett streetlights This site also taking into con- sites density of 400 humans/km and toral Institute of bamboo, other other factors such as density of buildings, roads and on the periphery of the urban area; c traffic were i.e., Fig Typical aspects of habitats of the urban Daloa; a Gbokora (Gbo: ha), areas surveyed in this site cultivation This area A concentration was of buildings Gbokora site The Tazibouo site mainly consisted of unpaved roads, buildings, semi-deciduous forest adjacent the Daloa Jean Lorougnon Guede University, and some construction and hu- (Eldin 1971) Description of the survey areas (Fig sideration a inves- surveyed Sapia (Sap: 150 ha) and Zaibo (Zai: 190 (April to June) with the highest precipitation peak in midity We two non-urban sites in the savannah islands/forest mosaic adjacent to urban Daloa (see Appendix 1) The Balouzon and Eveche areas were mainly characterized by unpaved roads, a swampy area used for vegetable cultivation, and a concentration of buildings A large stream, bordered by coconut trees and grasses, was used for fishing activities The vegetation in Gbokora was dominated by grasses and a semi-deciduous forest interspersed by ,, , nah to 1,700 ha), central- west- o ,, Coast N; (06 53 01.8 -06 94 97.8 006°25’65.3”-006°68'89.0” W), in the transition zone for (non- 80 ha), and Tazibouo (Taz: 100 ha) As a comparison, the Coast and the regional capital of the HautIvory ern district tigated four sites inside the urban area namely: Balou- zon (Bal: 45 Sassandra 1) urban aspect) Our surveys were covering a three year area period (see Appendix Ivory surveyed two general areas: the district of Daloa (urban area), and 2) the savannah time an assessment of the species richness and composition of the anuran fauna in a et forest comprised the Theological and Pas- Daloa whose garden was dominated by grasses, and several stands of different or- = degraded forest and farmbush; d = amphibian breeding pond in the urban = concentration of houses = highway crossing degraded characteristic of the in a high population zone; b environment Amphib Reptile Conserv November 2015 Volume Number | | | el 06 The anuran fauna Some water of a West African urban area two large permanent ponds situated near a roadside and bordered by grasses, were encountered The ponds served as a water point for cattle A few termite mounds were also present A swampy area investigated was used for rice and vegetable cultivations Some parts of this area were lightened by streetlights at night The sites Sapia and Zaibo, adjacent to the district of Daloa represented non-urban conditions However, they had lost the majority of their natural forest cover, resulting in an overall change from a forest to a savannah-dominated landscape Both sites mainly consisted of farmbush, small farms, coffee, and cocoa plantations Some swamps that were part of these two sites had been converted to rice fields Small forest islands were still encountered at Zaibo, but fewer forest islands were left at the Sapia site Field work, sampling effort and vouchers Amphibians were mainly located opportunistically, during visual and acoustic surveys of all available habitats by NGK Surveys were undertaken daily between 07:00-11:00 namental plants and 18:00-22:00 pendix 2) GMT over a at all general receiver (Garmin bodies, total all Snout-urostyle-length (SUL) was taken with a dial caliper (accuracy ±0.5 mm) Records of Xenopus muelleri were based on visual observations only For all other species we deposited vouchers at the Jean Lorougnon Guede University, Daloa, Ivory Coast (see Appendix 3) Frog vouchers were euthanized humanly in a 1,1,1-Trichloro2-methyl-2-propanol hemihydrate sites 70% thereafter preserved in Statistics We (MS 222) ethanol used the daily species the sampling efficiency cies richness with the solution and We calculated the estimated spe- Chao2 and Jack-knife are incidence based, calculating with the presence/ab- sence data of the daily species lists (62 days of survey work) for 30 anuran species To avoid order effects accomplished 500 random runs of the daily species A hand-held GPS we lists to record the geo- The searching veyed areas (herein the tech- district of Daloa and the savan- nah islands/forest mosaic bordering the Daloa of terrain and refuge examination may away estimators (software: Estimates, Colwell 2006) These estimators niques used included acoustic surveying, visual scanning rocks, peeling calculate lists to The Sprensen’s Similarity Index (/?) was used to determine the extent of similarity between the two main sur- survey areas study kept as vouchers, released in their respective habitats of 62 days (see Ap- 12XL) was used graphical positions of ogy or threats, or being particularly typical for the urban amphibian fauna The nomenclature used herein follows the taxonomy by Frost (2015) After capture, frogs were identified to species level, measured, sexed, and if not i.e., (e.g., lifting logs and barks, scraping through leaf vary from to district; f (Sprensen 1948; Wolda 1981) litter, looking around or within burrows, and termite mounds) Results Amphibians encountered were not marked and repeated sightings thus cannot be excluded As we only Species richness and faunal similarities include presence/absence data and not abundances in our analy- seem to be of negligible importance Below we comment only on a few species being ses this markable concerning their distribution, taxonomy, In total re- tics we recorded 30 indicated our area So biol- anuran species (Table 1) more than one Arthroleptis species far, it is Acouslive in not possible to separate taxa from Anuran species recorded in the urban and non-urban areas of Daloa, with sites (see Appendices 1-3), general habitat preference and distribution range S = savannah, FB = farmbush (degraded forest and farmland), F = forest, A = Africa (occur also outside West Africa), WA = West Africa (defined as the area west of the Cross River in Nigeria), UG = Upper Guinea (forest zone west of the Dahomey Gap), E = endemic to Ivory Coast and eastern Guinea, * = taxon comprise complex of several species, ** = records on this Table survey comprise several species (according to acoustics) Family / Species Habitat Site S Distribution FB F X X X X WA UG E - X (?) — X — — A Arthroleptidae Arthroleptis spp.** Bal, Eve, Leptopelis spiritusnoctis Zai L viridis Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Gbo, Taz X — — X — — — Amietophrynus maculatus Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai A regularis Taz X X X X — — X X — — — — — — X X — X — — — Taz, Zai X X — X — — — Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai X X Bufonidae Dicroglossidae Hoplobatrachus occipitalis Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Hemisotidae Hemisus marmoratus Hyperoliidae Afrixalus dorsalis Amphib Reptile Conserv X November 2015 Volume Number | | | el 06 Kouame et al Table (continued) Anuran species recorded in the urban and non-urban areas of Daloa, with sites (see Appendices 1-3), general habitat preference and distribution range S = savannah, FB = farmbush (degraded forest and farmland), F = forest, A = Africa (occur also outside West Africa), west of the Dahomey WA = West Africa (defined as the area west of the Cross River in Nigeria), UG = Upper Guinea (forest zone Gap), E = endemic to Ivory Coast and eastern Guinea, * = taxon comprise complex of several species, ** = records on this survey comprise several species (according to acoustics) Family / Species Habitat Site Hyperoliidae (cont.) Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Hyperolius concolor concolor Bal, Eve, H fusciventris fusciventris Sap H guttulatus Zai H nitidulus Bal, Eve, H picturatus Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai H Taz sp Kassina schioetzi Taz K senegalensis Sap, Taz S FB X X X X X X Gbo, Sap, Taz — — — X X X X X Distribution F A WA — — — — — — X — — X — — — — X X — — — X X X — — X X X — — — X UG X X — — — — — — — — — — X X E — — — — — X — — — X X X X Phrynobatrachidae Phrynobatrachus calcaratus * Sap P francisci Bal, Taz P gutturosus* Sap, Taz, Zai P latifrons Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai X X X Taz X X Taz X X — — — — — — — — — — Phrynomeridae Phrynomantis microps Pipidae Xenopus muelleri Ptychadenidae Ptychadena bibroni Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Ptychadena mascareniensis * Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Ptychadena oxyrhynchus Sap, Taz, Zai Ptychadena tournieri Sap, Taz Ptychadena pumilio Bal, Eve, Gbo, Sap, Taz, Zai Ptychadena Taz tellinii X X X X X X X X X — — — — — — X X — — — X X X X — — — X X X — — — — — — — X X — — Ranidae Amnirana albolabris Sap, Zai A galamensis Taz X the Arthroleptis poecilonotus - complex based phology They can be on mor- distinguished by advertisement call museum (seven 1) of the encountered species depend on farmbush habitats (degraded (indistin- types without molecular data) fifth forest but tolerate Nine species (30%) are very closely associated with savannah habitats Thir- and genetic characters However, assigning populations, based on these characters, to available names More than one spp., 23%; Table richness forest) not teen species (43%) exhibit a strong preference for savan- possible (for a short review of the taxonomic situation in nah and farmbush habitats and are normally not found West African Arthroleptis Four species (13%) not occur outside West Africa [defined as the area west of the Cross River in Ni- guishable 2004) We spp see thus provisionally genus as Arthroleptis spp site records, known is Rodel and Bangoura lumped all in forest records of this A list of recorded anurans with habitat preference and geria; see Penner and are often et al (2011)], smaller parts of West Africa Seven of their distribu- all restricted to recorded spe- Based on the daily species lists we calculated our sampling efficiency The Jack-knife estimator calcu- Upper Guinea forest zone (forests west of the Dahomey Gap) The total number of species recorded in the district of Daloa was 25, while the Chao estimator estimated species richness in the adjacent savannah/forest mosaic tion ranges is given in Table lated 33 anuran species, the species for the study area the entire (94% and 99%, Amphib Reptile Conserv cies We hence recorded almost (23%) occur only in the However, the high species number for Daloa was mainly due to one site (Tazibouo) When excluding this was respectively) estimated species 21 November 2015 Volume Number I I I el 06 The anuran fauna Table a West African urban area S0rensen’s similarity values for pairwise comparisons of the anuran community between the six surveyed text of and Appendix highest abundances directly around sites (see At 1) night, it was found Eve Gbo Taz Sap Zai on Bal 0.95 0.87 0.61 0.62 0.59 logs Eve - 0.91 0.57 0.64 0.61 Gbo - - 0.65 0.67 0.71 Taz - - - 0.65 0.63 Sap - - - - 0.71 insects During the day, at the university was higher species common we recorded /?: 0.70) 11 species in Within the 2015) Hoplobatrachus occipitalis (Gunther, 1859) is the most commonly consumed frog species in West Africa district Balouzon, 10 species The Gbokora, and 25 in Tazibouo Within the in Eveche, 12 in savannah/forest mosaic we recorded consumption of H results of the Sbrensen’s similarity for pairwise At 0.72) this species is least tional Park, a savannah area in northern Ivory Coast 66% With 68% and Faunal Reserve and the (Mohneke et al 2009, 2010) The occipitalis (Fig 3a) has recently in- creased to a considerable extent in the Ivory Coast where presented in sites are more than 50% of the recorded species were similar between sites The anuran fauna of Daloa urban area was most similar to that of the Comoe Na2 to intensive cross-border trade in north- ern Benin and Nigeria comparisons in the six surveyed Table frog trade varies regionally from e.g., local scale in Burkina Faso, 18 and 16 species in Sapia and Zaibo, respectively The Every year several hundred individu- by students and subsequently killed and dissected in anatomy courses This exploitation seems to have reached a point where the species is becoming rare in the city However, concerning the entire range of the species, it is very common and of Feast Concern (IUCN both areas was 16 to was found under rocks or it als are collected in the savannah/forest mosaic (Sbrensen’s Similarity Index of Daloa around houses, park- in gardens, The most imminent threat to the toad’s survival in city of Daloa is its exploitation for scientific courses the The number of in some an important component of animal protein local populations (NGK, unpubl obs.) In Daloa, the trade of H occipitalis mainly took place batch of five adult specimens was sold for 500.00 Lamto Marahoue National Park, which faunal similarity the USD) Frog meat (app 0.84 local used in soups, stews, or sauces by the local populations Parks comprise savannah and real rainforest zones and Faso and Nigeria, respectively According thus consequently differed in their faunal composition, et al (2010), in compared pended on or dried (Fig 3d) was mean 3) to It is The local price in Daloa markets low compared to prices recorded in Burkina its USD) Mohneke to Burkina Faso, the price for one frog de- size and varied between 25.00 a small frog, up to 250.00 Species accounts FCFA are sold fresh (Figs 3b, c) same vegetation zone as Daloa, were very similar to the Daloa fauna Other Ivorian protected areas such as the Mont Peko and Mont Sangbe National Daloa (Table on a scale at the different markets of the district Usually a (/?: are situated in the to settlements ing areas, buildings, or below streetlights, preying mostly Sites site diversity human FCFA FCFA USD (0.05 for and 0.50 for a large one In Nigeria, they reported one bag containing at least 1,000 frogs cost 26.94-40.40 USD on USD at sale Amietophrynus regularis (Reuss, 1833) - The genus Amietophrynus currently encompasses 40 species of true purchase and 40.40-67.34 African toads [Frost 2015; although this spective consequences for the local populations are lack- tains non-vaild taxa such as list of Daloa hard data on harvested frog numbers and re- also con- ing Amietophrynus chudeaui wide distribution in Africa The local trade of H occipitalis attention (Chabanaud, 1919) see Rodel (2000)] Amietophrynus regularis has a In the urban area hence needs more and detailed investigation Hyperolius concolor concolor (Hallowell, 1844)(Fig and inhabits a typical West African farmbush species living in a broad range of habitats from moist and dry savannahs, 4) montane grassland, degraded forest of the forest zone and gallery forests in tats, as well as forest margins, human and agricultural habi- the savannah zone (Schiotz 1967; Rodel 2000) settlements, often in association to with rivers (Rodel 2000; Channing and Howell 2006) In our urban Table sites A regularis (Fig 2) Sprensen’s similarity value (ft) seemed is the Species richness most widespread species recorded between the anuran fauna of the Daloa urban area and other Ivorian species richness; twenty-five species were recorded in urban Daloa (this study); Area Number of species seemed very well under urban condition and was hence among to reach its It common with the Daloa urban area NP= national park; FR= areas, in the ur- and respective faunal reserve /3-value (Sorensen) Source Rodel and Spieler (2000) Comoe NP 33 21 0.72 Lamto FR 40 22 0.68 Marahoue NP 33 19 0.66 Rodel and Ernst (2003) Mont Peko NP 33 11 0.38 Rodel and Ernst (2003) Mont Sangbe NP 45 20 0.57 Rodel (2003) Amphib Reptile Conserv Adebaet al (2010) November 2015 Volume Number | | | el 06 Kouame et al Fig Amietophrynus regularis female recorded in the garden of the Theological and Pastoral Institute ban sites among of Daloa (Table of Daloa 1); it was particularly abundant (Rodel we record- 2010) grasses near ponds In the rainy season et al 2002; Rodel and Ernst 2003; Adeba lives along the It et al savannah forest edge, reaching The species may ed some, presumably migrating, individuals on windows, into the balconies, and in houses also occur in Bia National Park, western Ghana, but a Hyperolius sp - The genus Hyperolius Rapp, 1842 28 species occurring (Schiptz 1967, 1999; Frost 2015) problem (e.g., is many A in West Africa On and Pastoral before hence Our is site, district bamboo patch tute, either a juvenile H picturatus or a = resembles newly metamorphosed individual phase J of H sylvaticus ivorensis, which The cies (compare the Its sites (Fig 6) We also at within the Theological and Pastoral Insti- a grassy roadside in the vicinity of a large thus being within the et al known range of K schioetzi 2002) most characteristic species inhabiting the one of is West Af- rican savannahs and the degraded areas of the former was 20 SUL, thus exceeding the metamorphosed Hyperolius of most speSchiotz 1967; Rodel 2000) from more exposed Leptopelis viridis (Gunther, 1868) (Fig 7) and an hourglass pattern (Schiptz 1999) e.g., 4), is size of our reed frog size of freshly and (Rodel normally brownish to green with paired undelimited dorsolateral stripes, so far investigated pond Our recorded males measured 32.1 ±1.6 (SUL, n individual lacked a vocal sac and gland and It all localities encountered a small number of other males calling in a in had rained heavily the night either female or juvenile (Fig 5) 2009) Kassina schioetzi of Daloa (Tazibouo), some males were observed calling at night within the garden of the Theological it et al above and own experience of the authors) In the (see 15 September 2013, at around Institute, after usually hard to find in is major taxonomic 07h00 GMT, we found a Hyperolius on humid ground the Tazibouo with K cochranae (Hillers species of this genus are highly variable Schiptz 1999) rivers voucher from there exhibited a mixture of characters is one of the most diverse African anuran genera with currently approximately savannah zone along rainforest belt As a synanthropic species, villages (Schiotz 1967; widespread anurans in dorsal it also lives in Rodel 2000) It is one of the most the urban sites of Daloa Leptope- was beige with a greenish grey hourglass pattern The iris was golden, the anterior and posterior sides of pupil were red The ventral surface was whitish Without majority of the recorded males were found at night call- having male specimens and advertisement is surface it cannot be decided if this lis calls available known Hyperolius was found around houses, and in gardens The ing exposed on the ground between short grasses, which frog represents an undescribed species or only an atypical, but viridis in contrast to the calling sites in natural habitats from high perch sites, 2000; Rodel 2000) the species calls, often and trees (Grafe spe- et al Phrynomantis microps Peters, 1875 cies is a in There bushes medium- Kassina schioetzi Rodel, Grafe, Rudolf, and Ernst, sized microhylid frog inhabiting the savannah regions of 2002 was known so far from the Mont Peko National Park, the Marahoue and Comoe National Parks, and the Lamto Faunal Reserve, all situated in the Ivory Coast West Africa (Hirschfeld and Rodel 2011) where it hides in burrows or empty termite mounds during the day and the dry season The frog was also observed to occupy and Amphib Reptile Conserv November 2015 Volume Number I | | el 06 The anuran fauna of a West African urban area most 85% of amphibian species threatened by urbanization are encountered in the tropics (IUCN, Conservation International and NatureServe 2006) Many factors are unharmed in the nest of the highly agspecies - Paltothyreus tarsatus (e.g., Rodel live essentially gressive ant and Braun 1999; Rodel was heard after et al 2013) In Daloa, rainfalls In the microps around houses known to negatively influence the herpetofauna inhabit- garden of the Theological and ing big cities calling at night in tufts of grass heavy P was observed in Pastoral Institute, a calling male associa- tat and Pastoral may even surprise with the discovery of scientifically new species (Newman et al 2012; Feinberg et al 2014; Howlader city of urban site al Tazibouo, the frog was observed to live in holes drilled ground by the national company of water distribu- Discussion their importance to ecosystem functions (Mohneke and Rodel 2009; Hocking and Babbitt 2014), amphibians are still among the least studied vertebrates particularly in urban and suburban areas in the tropics (Hamer and McDonnell 2008; Fig Hoplobatrachus occipitalis five adult specimens, fresh (b Amphib Reptile Conserv and Pickett et from the al district c) or dried (d), 2001) Al- of Daloa were sold 2009, 2012) woman trading this species on 500.00 FCFA (app 0.84 USD) (a) for Abidjan where a monotypic genus Morerella cy- With its geographic position in a transition zone between the semi-deciduous forest and humid savannah, we expected the urban landscape of Daloa region to promote a diverse amphibian fauna However, the overall species richness (30 spp.) was lower compared to the species richness recorded in western, central, and northern Ivorian savannah areas, for instance the Mont Sangbe National Park (45 species, Rodel 2003), Lamto Faunal Reserve (40 species, Adeba et al 2010), Marahoue and Mont Peko National Parks (33 species for each park, Rodel and Ernst 2003), or the Comoe National Park (33 The depths of these holes varied from 0.7-1.20 m Despite 2015) This also concerns the Ivorian et al anophthalma and a night-frog Astylosternus laticephalus have recently been discovered and described (Rodel et variable size during the rainy season and the edges of riv- tion traffic adapt to urban conditions and sometimes urban areas Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844) is an aquatic species inhabiting the West African savannah ponds of highly in the fragmentation, isolation, pollution, over harvesting, and road Institute ers during the dry season (Rodel 2000) In the these factors are habitat loss, habi- (Hammer and McDonnell 2008; Perry et al 2008; Stuart et al 2008; Deikumah and Kudom 2010; Tonini et al 2011) However, many species are able to Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) in a hole behind the wall of a building The association of P microps with scorpions has also been reported by Rodel and Braun (1999) and Rodel (2000) We captured another male (Fig 8) on 08 September 2013 around 22h00 GMT at the edges of a wide roadside pond beside the Theologition with an cal Among and a a local market (b); batches of November 2015 Volume Number | | | el 06 Kouame Fig A calling Institute et al Hyperolius concolor concolor male recorded at the garden of the Theological and Pastoral of Daloa Fig Dorsolateral view of a juvenile Hyperolius sp with uncertain taxonomic status species, Rodel and Spieler 2000) Compared to these turosus (Rodel and Branch 2002; and Kouame West African savannah areas with known amphibian assemblages such as north-western Benin (Nago et al 2006), east-central Guinea (Greenbaum and Carr 2005), central-northern Guinea (Hillers et al 2008a), or eastern Ghana (Leache et al 2006), the urban landscape of Daloa ranks among the West African areas of medium to low amphibian species richness While we recorded few forest related species e.g., Amnirana albolabris Leptopelis Amphib Reptile Conserv P et al 2006; et al 2014; et al 2014; the latter spread species with preferences for savannah-dominated landscape and farmbush habitats The six surveyed all shared at least half of their species with all other sites sites We observed the highest species richness at the Tazibouo site , Phrynobatrachus calcaratus, and Kpan Assemian two species comprising out of cryptic species with savannah and forest specialists), most of the recorded frogs were wide- other spiritusnoctis, from the urban Daloa (25 spp.) which was the only urban site comprising various suitable breeding habitats For instance in the gut- November 2015 Volume Number I | | el 06 Messenger and Wang work of was an examination of the species structure of the skin such as rocks and logs, and actively searching using vi- the micro- by Li and Liang (2007), which sual re- vealed a canaliculated type structure Additionally, prior to the 2006 field work, this snake was among of China’s species, with only three specimens science at the time common Even though known ried out during the is it is NNR, A final A second survey was intense survey was car- museum did not have a specimen, then in its an animal was preserved as a voucher Subsequent indi- important to understand the viduals were photographed and released unless they differed from the previous specimens in such attributes as pattern, gender, or age ecology, and distribution of the species as observed in its in July 2008 If the reserve This study reports on the natural history, breeding NNR, and September survey was conducted tically natural history of the species the Shennongjia to first summer of 2011 Beginning in 2012, only one month every summer was surveyed opportunis- to locally no additional populations are found range For these reasons, May completed could very well be a species of conserva- tion interest if aspects of 2006 from The stimuli the rarest within Shennongjia at select locations this species the species in and auditory additional the museum Specimens were deposited with officials in Shennongjia, headquartered in town of Muyu Specimens were later relocated to the research lab at Guanmenshan within the reserve Focations of finds were marked with GPS coordinates (accuracy < m) Environmental data such as ambient temperature, substrate temperature, habitat, and elevation were commentary on the unique morphology, with special regard toward the genus Oligodon and members of the family Pareatidae recorded as well as precipitation and time of day or night Materials and Methods Upon capture, each animal was sexed via probing and measured snout-to-vent (SVF) and Fourteen field sites were surveyed within the Shennon- NNR in western Hubei Province, China (Fig the closest 0.25 cm using total length a tape measure (TF) to Measurements Approximately one week was spent at each field station At field stations, the primary surveying technique was walk- length posterior to the head, at mid-body, and one head- ing habitat day and night, flipping natural cover objects length distance anterior to the vent gjia of eggs were taken with digital slide calipers to the clos- 1) est 0.01 Fig Locations of field stations and of Stichophanes ningshaanensis (n Amphib Reptile Conserv 112 mm Dorsal scale rows were counted one head = 22) within the Shennongjia September 2015 | NNR Volume Number | | el 03 Yuen Natural history and morphology of Stichophanes ningshaanensis Gans Hubei Legend Shennongjia # known range Fig Current 55 110 1 I Stichophanes ningshaanensis 220 Kilometers 1 1 of S ningshaanensis type locality located in Shaanxi province ; Pingqian, where individuals had been found previously, was completely destroyed or urbanized The finds in Shennongjia NNR represented a range extension of 280 km to the southeast of the type locality, Results From 24-26 June 2006, we found six females and three major population found since the species’ males near Pingqian Three of the females were dead (one and the beat to death by villagers, two were road discovery in 1983 (Yang et were alive In July 2008, and one dead specimen, we found all kill); all males first al 2009; Fig 2) eight live specimens, adults except one sub-adult Three new locations within the reserve were recorded: town of Xiangshui, another record between the towns of Banqiao and Pingqian, and several individuals (n = 3) on the outskirts of Muyu In July 2011, we found an additional three specimens in Pingqian and another on the mountain road near Xiangshui (N31 531231° E110 113914°) In the years Description Based Shennongjia NNR Specimens from on a high mountain road near the Dorsal scales are smooth, with counts of 13, 13, and 12 anteriorly, mid-body, and posteriorly, respectively The anal scale is oculars, (3 2012-2014, no additional new locations were discov- rd and th porals the earliest protruding as discovery in 1983 In 2012, surveys were conducted in May, site, represented the first Pingqian, The year 2014 year that surveys failed to find an in- dividual, despite surveying during the active time of year The development started in 2013 was much more extensive in 2014 and much of the habitat in for the species Amphib Reptile Conserv scale, six supralabials The one an- and two (sometimes one) posterior tem- smooth and not upturned or characteristic of the genus Oligodon The rostral scale is is Males are olive-brown or olive-green, and females are yellow-brown in color In both sexes, the venter is a cream-colored version of the dorsal background color Both sexes have a single row of dots on the lateral edges of each ventral scale These spots tend to fade posteriorly Anteriorly, there are five distinct black lines imme- began, and only a single specimen was found in July, ironically crossing habitat just bulldozed two post- subcaudal scales are paired early June, and early August In 2013, major construction and development at the core scales consist of in contact with eye), five infralabials, terior temporal, we had a single observation, representing known observation of the species since its Head one pre-ocular, no loreal ered In 2012, late divided diately posterior to the head 113 One September 2015 | line is along the spine Volume Number | | el 03 Messenger and Wang Fig Close up of the head, showing detail of the scales, and illustrating the indistinct Fig Seasonal activity of Stichophanes ningshaanensis ob- neck of the species Photo by Kevin servations (n = 24) R Messenger the breeding season No specimens were found in an ar- boreal setting During the breeding season, several speci- mens ( n = 8) were also found dead on the road The aver- age elevation of provenances of specimens was 1628 (SD + 126 m) (range 1,550-2,200 m) May surveys failed to find specimens The earliest observation date was a female found on 07 June 2012, but in general, late June and early July were best times finding species as this is the breeding season and snakes were actively moving above surface (Fig 4) The latest documented date occurrence was on 20 July 2008 Surveys in August and September failed to detect any specimens The species was usually in proximity to water, i.e., within -300 m of a water source, and was often encountered actively moving after rainstorms The species was active on overcast and cool days with temperatures ranging 20-24 °C With respect to habitat, between 1,500-2,600 m el- Fig Typical habitat of Stichophanes ningshaanensis in the Pingqian area pre-2013 Photo by Kevin R Messenger but quickly fades from black to brown to indistinct and evation, the habitat blending with the background coloration toward the broadleaf coniferous forest including Farges’ Fir and For- Two pairs of lines are situated dorso-laterally tail and run the edge of the mains black The tro -laterally, The iris is brown and the superior edge retwo pairs of lines are located ven- between or along the st and nd scale rows golden-brown in females and golden-yellow The head in from the neck (Fig 3) The largest individual found was a female measuring 730 mm total length (TL) and 578 Snout-to-vent length (SVL) The largest male measured 654 TL and 495 mm SVL Hatchlings (n = 17) averaged 150 in males is indistinct adjacent to permanent streams (Fig and 119 Individuals were Stichophanes ningshaanensis shares mm mm) 5) never far from a source of water mm ephemeral stream beds, in short grasses, commonly found on the outskirts of agriculture land, and in habitat mm TL (SD + tiodon capito, in the evening, P Lizards: Ples- ; elegans, Scincella modesta, Spheno- morphus indicus, Takydromus septentrionalis', Anurans: Amolops chunganensis, A granulosus, Bufo cf andrewsi, Megophrys wushanensis, Odorrana margaratae, P aa quadranus, Rana chensinensis; Salamanders: Lina shihi and Ranodon tsinpaensis (pers obs.) When confronted, the species was reluctant to bite No amount of provocation elicited a defensive bite Twenty four specimens were found: locals beat one specimen to death, two were found dead on the road, two specimens were under rocks, and the rest were actively moving about Species observations were primarily terrestrial, but lacking specimens as late as 80 minutes after sunset outside the breeding season, species are suspected to be Amphib Reptile Conserv Azem- Dinodon [ =Lycodon ] rufozonatum, Elaphe carinata, Lycodon cf fasciatus, Orthriophis taeniurus, Protobothrops jerdonii, Pseudoxenodon macrops, Rhabdophis nuchalis, Sibynophis chinensis move above ground habitat with iops feae, Natural History Notes primary fossorial and only its the following species: Snakes: Achalinus spinalis, mm SVL (SD + mm) Specimens were found during the day and deciduous Rhododendron (Zhao et al 2005) Average annual temperature of locations where individuals were found were 16.2 °C (range: 15.6-16.7) Average annual precipitation of locations where individuals were found was 222.85 mm (range: 209-235) Individuals were found line is final classified as temperate tune’s length of the body with consistent boldness, often the inferior is during 114 September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Yuen Natural history and morphology of Stichophanes ningshaanensis Fig Tail-curling defensive behavior characteristic of Oligodon scale O formosanus O ornatus (right), and enlarged rostral (left), Photos by Kevin R Messenger Fig Courtship behavior by the male, rubbing his chin along the female, observed by the male observed on 28 June of dichromatic differences Photo by Fig Courtship behavior on 28 June 2006 Photo by Kevin R Mes- 2006, and illustration Kevin R Messenger senger Many members teeth : when Despite the fact snakes were found in mid-summer of Oligodon effectively use their unique restrained and harassed and will bite readily (late June), musk known males attempted to mate with gravid females Stichophanes thrashes about and readily produces Courtship behavior was observed on multiple occasions but does not display the characteristic tail-coiling It to some consisted of a male rubbing his chin along the length of a female and positioning his cloaca next to hers (Figs other species within the genus Oligodon (Ses- No was observed with these gravid females before oviposition There is no documentation of hadri 2014; Fig 6) 7, 8) copulation other colubrids trying to copulate with gravid females Notes on Reproduction nearly full term, although this crotalids (Duvall et al ing occur in the same season, in size, but also in color (sexual dichromatism), an un- ningshaanensis is similar common eggs in among snakes (Boulenger and Altenbach 1977; Shine and Madsen 1913; Jacob trait late commonly observed in 1992) in which mating and birth- species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, not only The is typically Immediately fall Stichophanes after females laid summer, males commence with copulation A clutch of eight and nine eggs was recorded from two 1992) There The time span are only a handful of other species that have been re- females on 29 and 30 June 2006 (Fig ported to exhibit sexual dichromatism, such as Crotalus between successive eggs was 15 minutes, and each egg lepidus klauberi, in which males have a greenish hue and took two minutes to exit the cloaca In the females have a purple hue (Jacob and Altenbach 1977) after oviposition, a Shine and Madsen (1992) noted dichromatism in the ge- successfully copulated (Fig 10) nus Vipera In S female, first male immediately courted her and The eggs measured 26.98 ningshaanensis, males are smaller than 9) mm long and 9.52 mm wide females Females are yellowish-brown, while males are All 17 eggs were placed in a plastic container and cov- olive-brown or olive-green Males also have a longer ered with a damp paper towel They were kept 24-27% of the total temperature (generally 24 °C but reaching a the value for females is 21% (Wang of 29 °C) After 62 days, the than females In males, the body length, whereas tail tail is 64 days etal 2014) all 115 eggs started room maximum to pip By 17 eggs had pipped, and the young began to emerge from the eggs Amphib Reptile Conserv first at (Fig 11) September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Messenger and Wang mm Nine eggs from a female measuring 533 SVL and 673 mm TL on 30 June 2006 Photo by Kevin R Messenger Fig Fig 10 Copulation on 30 June 2006, post oviposition by the female Photo by Kevin R Messenger Fig 11 Hatching and emergence after 64 days of incubation Photo by Kevin R Messenger Fig 12 Comparison of right maxillae; mm Oligodon on the with the characteristic kukri-shaped rear teeth which saw it top, uses to from the anterior teeth (from Coleman et al 1993), Stichophanes on the bottom, anterior teeth all the same, and a lack of rear- specialized teeth (from Wang into eggs, distinguished et al 2014) Comparison of typical head scales and head shapes of Oligodon (top); supralabials, and in contact with eye, Fig 13 pre-oculars, post-oculars, 1+2 temporals, Fig 14 Photograph of loreal, enlarged, P areas formosensis (van Denburgh upturned rostral scale, to the head scales of Stichophanes (bot- 1909) from Taiwan, illustrating the concave tongue notch tom); supralabials, and in contact with eye, opening that post-oculars, tos by 1+2 temporals, no pre-ocular, loreal, blunt rostral scale is typical of Pareas members Photo by Daniel Rosenberg Pho- Kevin R Messenger Amphib Reptile Conserv 116 September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Yuen Natural history and morphology of Stichophanes ningshaanensis Comparison with Species any of the known prey ingested by other Oligodon spe- Oligodon of cies but rather eats snails The genus Oligodon Fitzinger 1826 is a very broadly 2014) et al The species lacks chevron markings on the characterized genus There are approximately 74 species nape and lacks a within the genus as of 2013 and as such bring a wide or through the eye variety of characteristics and diversity (Green 2010; Vas- not blotched, and silieva et to al are: pearing in shape to Ghurka kukri knives, for which the its common name, 3) Many lastly, all specimens lack a loreal species to be placed from a morphological and dietary standpoint, eas, the Asian snail eaters in, above Par- is mark Comparison with Asian pattern, usually not prominently striped Due Most scale internal perspective, the on the nape and a stripe across the anterior part of the head and down over/through the eye 4) Majority of species have blotched and/or reticulate 5) and striped is distinctly The next most likely genus for the “Kukri Snake.” species possess a distinct dark chevron species Oligodon 2) Large, slightly upturned rostral shield, protruding when viewed from The of the head give credence to the species not belonging to the genus Presence of unique posterior maxillary teeth, ap- genus gets stripe across the anterior part hemipene morphology does not conform to that of Oligodon From a morphological and behavioral standpoint, these key differences 2013) Five robust characters tend to apply most species (Green 2010) These 1) From an and slugs exclusively (Wang Snail and Slug Eat- ing Species species possess a loreal scale to its shortened, square head, as well as its exclu- sive diet of gastropods, it seems likely that Stichophanes could be closely related to members of the Asian snail Stichophanes ningshaanensis differs on several levels and slug and conflicts with each of these five robust charac- ters: in are eaters: Pareatidae Currently known in Pareatidae These only three genera are: addition to the defensive behavioral differences mentioned previously lack of tail curling, refusing Aplopeltura a genus containing a single species, A to bite defensively), S ningshaanensis does not possess boa, the Blunt-headed Slug Eating Snake This genus (i.e., the distinctive rear teeth for (Fig 12) : which Oligodon was named Most Oligodon use is these specialized teeth to arboreal This genus The head is very distinct from the neck is located outside of China (Coleman et al 1993) They use their upturned snout to dig up eggs, similar to species in the North American genera Cemophora and Asthenodipsas a genus containing five species (Lore- Phyllorhynchus Once an egg head, distinct neck, lacking a mental groove, very slice or “saw” into reptile eggs head inside the egg to is opened, they insert their consume the contents Sticho- phanes ningshaanensis lacks this instead, having a very blunt and squared-off head 13) Additionally, the species : 2013) et al Members are characterized large eyes, and an arboreal lifestyle upturned rostral shield, by a large The mouth pos- sesses a slotted opening that facilitates ingestion of (Fig snails does not prey on eggs or and slugs All members of the genus are located outside of China Pareas : a genus containing 13 species (You et 2015; Vogel 2015) Members al by a are characterized blunt snout, lacking a mental groove, distinct neck, and no teeth on the anterior part of the maxilla (Guo and Deng 2009) The tongue notch possesses a concave opening to slugs (Fig 14) facilitate the ingestion The majority of the of snails and species are found in China Stichophanes ningshaanensis does not these genera The species sorial, there is little to and neck, it fit any of into is strictly terrestrial and fos- no distinction between the head possesses teeth on the anterior part of the maxilla (Fig 12), it possesses a mental groove (Fig 15), and does not have a slotted notch on the mouth From Fig 15 Left: underside view of Pareas vindumi (from Vogel a morphological, dietary, and behavioral standpoint, the 2015), showing the lack of a mental groove due to asymmetri- species does not cal chin shields Right: underside Wang et al 2014), view of Stichophanes (from into any known Asian genus and quite unique, not only in appearance but also in showing symmetrical chin shields and the ogy Genetic presence of a mental groove Amphib Reptile Conserv fit work by Wang et al is ecol- its (2014) further support- ed what the morphological data suggested and could not 117 September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Messenger and Wang View of Downtown Pingqian Downtown Pingqian Stichophanes ningshaanensis was commonly found crossing this road and in the habitat ad- Fig 17 jacent to the road Picture taken June 2011 Photo by Kevin R Messenger Fig 16 same view in June 2014, covering (different angle) as Figure 16 Photo by Kevin R Messenger place the species in any new genus was known my genus, at which point, a friends Dong Xue, Ming Wong, Linsen Yang, and Jianhuan Yang erected, Stichophanes A&M We thank Shennongjia NNR, Alabama University, Nanjing Forestry University, and the National Science Foundation for funding, either indirect- Discussion ly or directly, over the years The purpose of this rarely paper was to provide insight into this Literature Cited observed and studied species The population in the Shennongjia NNR Boulenger GA 1913 has provided opportunities to activity periods, to seasonal differences, to court- and incubation of eggs The species has Coleman K, Rothfuss LA, Ota H, Kardong KV 1993 not documented Kinematics of egg-eating by the specialized Taiwan the very least, snake Oligodon formosanus (Colubridae) Journal of Herpetology 27(3): 320-327 ship, breeding, a unique reproductive strategy, which among other species quite uncommon of colubrids, or was Prior to 2013, the species is is, at its 1992 Pitviper mat- ing systems: Ecological potential sexual selection, more common and predictable species when habitat The changing habitat due to development of among GW Duvall D, Arnold SJ, Schuett locally abundant in Shennongjia NNR, and specifically in Pingqian, and was in the geographic races of Vipera ammodytes Annuals and Magazine of Natural History 8(11): 283-287 observe several aspects of the species’ natural history, from On and microevolution Pp 321-336 Biology of the Pitvipers Editors, Campbell JA, Brodie ED Jr Selva the In: may be a turning point for the spe- worse (Figs 16, 17) Future inves- Green M 2010 Molecular phylogeny of the snake genus knowledge on Oligodon (Serpentes: Colubridae), with an annotated the urban tolerance (or intolerance) of the species Inves- checklist and key M.Sc Thesis University of Toron- the Pingquin village cies in the area, for the tigations in this area will hopefully yield tigations in 2014, despite being Publishing, Arlington, Texas, done during the height of to, Guo up a single specimen Currently, the species is not under any special protection, currently classified as “Data Deficient.” It is hoped this the breeding season, failed to turn its potential distribution, and this genus, Pareas on in Wang its its Oligodon ningshaanensis Journal of Xian University next most likely of Arts and Science (Natural Science Edition) 10(3): 66-68 [In Chinese with English abstract] and deserved greater Loredo AI, scrutiny Ahmad —We want to especially Shennongjia National Nature Reserve for all Wood PL Jr, Quah ESH, Anuar S, Greer LF, N, Grismer LL 2013 Cryptic speciation within Asthenodipsas vertebralis (Boulenger, 1900) thank the (Squamata: Pareatidae), the description of a of the sup- port they have provided us over the years, specifically Amphib Reptile Conserv species of Pareas (Ser- Li L, Liang G 2007 Microdermatoglyphis patterns of these differences were briefly touched Acknowledgments new Viperidae) Journal of Herpetology 11(1): 81-84 — et al (2014), A Crotalus lepidus klauberi Gloyd (Reptilia, Serpentes, morphological distinction Oligodon and Deng X 2009 Jacob JS, Altenbach JS 1977 Sexual dimorphism in information will of the species from closely aligned genera, such as original placement in K, 53-60 Aside from the natural history aspects, another goal to further illustrate the Toronto, Ontario, Canada 169 p from the Gaoligong Mountains, southwestern China Zootaxa (2009): reduce the deficiency of data for this species was p pentes: Colubridae: Pareatinae) paper will bring us closer to understanding the species and USA 467 cies 118 new spe- from Peninsular Malaysia, and the resurrection of September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Yuen Natural history and morphology of Stichophanes ningshaanensis Wang from Sumatra: Zootaxa 3664(4): A tropidonotus (Lidth de Jude, 1923) An integrative taxonomic analysis (Ophidia: Colubridae) into a perceived threat by Indian short-headed kukri snake havior Yang Oligodon brevicaudus (Gunther, 1862) (Squamata: Colubridae) Herpetology Notes 7(2014): 447-450 its malacophagous be- Asian Herpetological Research 5(3): 137-149 Messenger K, Liao MY 2009 Reptile and am- Preserve Sichuan Journal of Zoology 2009 28(2): A review and a new evolutionary 286-291 [In Chinese with English You CW, Poyarkov hypothesis Journal of Herpetology 28(1): 114-117 AB, Geissler P, Galoyan EA., Poyarkov Jr NA, Van Devender W, Bohme W 2013 Anew species Jr NA, Lin SM abstract] 2015 Diversity of the snail-eating snakes Pareas (Serpentes, Pareatidae) Vassilieva from Taiwan Zoologica Scripta 44(4): 349-361 Yuen H 1983 Anew species of the genus Oligodon from Shaanxi Province, China Acta Herpetologica Sinica of Kukri Snake ( Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826; Squamata: Colubridae) from the Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam Zootaxa 3702(3): 233-246 2: Anew montane species in the genus Par- 65-67 [In Chinese with English abstract] Zhao CM, Chen WL, Tian ZQ, Xie ZQ 2005 eas Wagler, 1830 (Squamata: Pareatidae) from north- Myanmar Taprobanica L, genus, Stichophanes phibian diversity of Shennongjia National Nature Shine R, Madsen T 1992 Sexual dichromatism in snakes of the genus Vipera: new gen nov with description on Seshadri KS 2014 Display behaviour in response to a ern of Oligodon ningshaanensis Yuan, 1983 sification 505-524 Vogel G 2015 X, Messenger K, Zhao E, Zhu C 2014 Reclas- Altitudi- nal pattern of plant species diversity in Shennongjia Mountains, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 47(12): 1,431-1,449 7(1): 1-7 China central Kevin Messenger is a graduate student pursuing dual Ph.D.’s, one from Alabama A&M University under Professor Yong Wang in Wildlife Conservation, and another from Nanjing Forestry University in Nanjing, China in Zoology He received his B.S (zoology) from North Carolina State University under Dr Harold Heatwole, followed by a M.S (biology) from Marshall University under Dr Thomas Pauley Kevin’s primary interest is in behavior, conservation, ecology, and natural history He is especially interested in snakes, the herpetofauna of the southeastern US, and Asian herpetology Yong Wang is a Professor of Wildlife Biology and Biometry at the Department of Biological and Environ- mental Science, Alabama A&M University He has a B.S degree from Shanghai Normal University of China and a doctoral degree from University of Southern Mississippi He has worked as a post-doctoral wildlife Rocky Mountain Research Station of the USDA Forest Service His current research interests relationships between forest management practices and wildlife communities including avian and biologist at the include the herpetofauna, stopover ecology of songbird migrants, and modeling spatial and temporal patterns of forest and wildlife community using Amphib Reptile Conserv statistical, geographic information systems, and remote sensing technology 119 September 2015 | Volume Number | | el 03 Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Official journal website: amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 9(2) [General Section]: 120-125 (el 04) Short Communication On the distribution, taxonomy, and natural history of the Indian Smooth Snake, Coronella brachyura (Gunther, 1866) 14 Harshil Patel, 25 Raju Vyas, and ’ Shantilal K Tank Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat-395007, Gujarat, INDIA 505 Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat-395007, Gujarat, INDIA —The Indian Smooth Snake Coronella brachyura one of the least studied endemic species of snake from India with regard to distribution, taxonomy, and natural history In the present study, we verified literature, museum specimens and distributional records which enabled us to correct erroneous reports and map the distribution of this species Additionally, we provide information on taxonomy, morphology, microhabitat, and behavior of the species based on three live specimens and voucher specimens in the collection of the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai Abstract Key words is Colubridae, endemic, India, rare, morphology, scalation Citation: Patel H, Vyas R, Tank SK 201 (Gunther, 1866) Amphibian © & On the distribution, taxonomy, and natural history 120-125 (el 04) of the Indian Smooth Snake, Coronella brachyura Reptile Conservation 9(2) [General Section]: under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialnon-commercial and education purposes only, in any medium, provided the original author and the official and authorized publication sources are recognized and properly credited The official and authorized publication credit sources, which will be duly enforced, are as follows: official journal title Amphibian & Reptile Conservation official journal website Copyright: 2015 Patel et al This an open-access is article distributed NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use for ; Received: 23 April 201 5; Accepted: June 2015; Published: 03 October 201 Members of colubrid snake genus Coronella Laurenti, 1768 are among the least studied snakes across the world The genus is represented by three species namely C Marole (Andheri) austriaca Laurenti, 1768, C girondica (Daudin, 1803), trict and C brachyura (Gunther, 1866) (Wallach et al 2014; Uetz and Hosek 2015) The former two species are dis- 2013), and Jalna (Z Mirza, pers comm.) Furthermore, tributed in western Palaearctic (from southern 1932); Visapur, to northern Iran in the east) to India (Wallach et al Gunther (1866) described and the the species endemic was reported from the distribution range of the species be restricted to three states in the calities in range of Madhya unclear Pradesh state (Ingle and this species this species as “few “Northern India Poona why he S E Berar,” lo- included “Northern India” in we came specimens, published live individuals district however, it is range its across three live individuals of C brachyura from Surat, Gujarat Based on localities Correspondence this species is In the recent past, from Maharashtra state are: “Wun, S E Berar” (now Wani, Yavatmal district) referred by Blanford (1870), Anderson (1871), Theobald (1876), Boulenger (1890), Sclater (1891), and Wall (1923); Chink Hill and Kurduwadi in Solapur district (Lindberg Reported (Vyas and Maharashtra.” According to Smith (1943) the and Visapur, near Bombay; to western part of India namely; Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh Captain (2004) gave the range of which was considered (Abdulali but did not provide any specific localities Whitaker and from Poona (Pune) several localities based on state Sarsavan 2011) Sarasin (1910) referred to in the Indian state of Maharashtra Subsequently, the species Mumbai was reported from Gujarat Patel 2007) and Ujjain, 2014; Uetz and Hosek 2015) this species Salsette Islands, (Gharpurey 1935); (Nande and Deshmukh 2007); Latur, Latur district (Kamble 2010); Khed, Pune district (Ghadage et al Norway in latter, — district 1935); Nashik (Mistry 2005); Melghat, Amravati dis- the north to northern Algeria in the south; Portugal in the west Ahmednagar literature, museum and additional data from we provide additional morphological and distributional data, as well as natural history observations for this poorly known species Email: harshilpatell21@gmail.com (Corresponding author) razoovyas@hotmail.com drtanksk@ gmail.com Amphib Reptile Conserv 120 October 2015 | Volume I Number | el 04 Patel et Material and Methods al snout-ventral length; TaL, HL, head Three live specimens (two females and one male: number assigned NCS as: at the same locality within a of Bombay Natural History Society few museum (BNHS), Mumbai as Morphology and coloration Head short, comprising 2.3% of total length; longer than wide (HL/HW ratio: 1.55); slightly distinct from neck; eyes circular with round pupil; nostrils large; body circular Dorsal color of live individuals was olive brown, with indistinct light variegation on head and forebody (Fig 1); labials pale olive; lateral scale rows dark brown, forming indistinct lateral stripe on each side from nostril to tail, which is prominent between nostril to eye; underside cream white : The pholidosis and morphometric data of museum specimens and live specimens are given in Table method proposed by Dowling (1951) Head measurements of voucher specimens were measured with a digital calliper to the nearest 0.01 mm and other body measurements were recorded with string and a ruler to the nearest mm Descriptions and mensural characters were compared with available literature (Smith 1942; Mistry 2005; Vyas and Patel 2007) The number of dorsal scale rows were Ventral scales were counted following the at specimens 23:23:19 (23:23:21 in in 2); with single apical pit 3407; 23:23:17 on the posterior margin 209-237 (maximum 224 fide Smith 1943); anal undivided; subcaudals 43-54 (46-53 fide Smith 1943); rostral wider than high, scarcely visible from above; in- Subcaudal counts reported here not include The NCS BNHS Ventrals approximately one head length behind the the terminal scute Dorsal scale rows (DSR) smooth, in most Lepidosis head, midbody, and one head length before the vent, respectively head width Results Coronella brachyura from six localities were also exam- counted HW, total length; 01-03) rescued by snake res- days), and seven specimens catalogued in the ined and TL, field cuers and brought to us (they were photographed, ex- amined, and released length; length; tail supralabials touching the eye are ternasals, wider than long; prefrontals, as long as wide, given in brackets after the number of supralabials Val- longer than the internasals; frontal bell shaped, slightly ues for symmetric head characters are given in right/left longer than wide; parietals longer than wide, slightly lon- order Abbreviations comparable characters are: V, ventrals; D, dorsal rows; SL, supralabials; L, ular; ger than frontal; used to describe scalation and other PO, postocular; loreal; PrO, preoc- T, temporal; IL, infralabial; Fig Dorsal aspect of Coronella brachyura in Amphib Reptile Conserv than high; SC, subcaudals; life, lars; SVL, from 1 loreal, as long as high, rarely longer preocular reaching top of head; postocu- anterior temporal scales; poral scale(s); 8, sometimes 2, rarely (8 fide posterior tem- Smith 1943) supra- Surat, Gujarat, India 121 October 2015 | Volume I Number | el 04 taxonomy, and natural history Distribution, of Coronella brachyura BNHS 794, collected by Abdulali (1935) from Mumbai, Fig India Nande and Deshmukh 2007; Ingle and Sarsavan 2011; Ghadage et al 2013) shows that the species is narrowly Fig Lateral aspect of Coronella brachyura distributed in western India (Table 2) (NCS 2); a, left museum specimens BNHS 793, 796, 798, and 3407 were examined Two specimens BNHS 795 and Four showing supralabials and Ul supralabial partly divided; lh right side showing supralabials, 4— touching eye side b, 797 were damaged; therefore unable labials, the th and th , sometimes th th and and rarely th pholidosis and morphometric data to examine for The specimen BNHS Lindberg 1932; Gharpurey 1935; Smith 1943; Whitaker from Marol, Mumbai collected and reported as C brachyura by Abdulali (1935); was re-examined by the senior author It had 23 scale rows at mid body; 217 ventrals; anal scale damaged; 96+ subcaudals, divided; supralabials; presubocular; 2+3 temporals; and measured 285 total length All these characters clearly matched with Argyrogena fasciolata (Shaw, 1802) The and Captain 2004; Mistry 2005; Vyas and Patel 2007; coloration of this specimen has faded likely due to long to th 9-11 (4 th and {h fide Smith 1943) touch the eye 794 (Fig 2); infralabials The present study and published records (Gunther 1866; Blanford 1870; Anderson 1871; Theo- Distribution- mm bald 1876; Boulenger 1890; Scarlet 1891; Wall 1923; Table (Fig 3) Scale counts, measurements (mm), and collection details for specimens of Coronella brachyura Specimen No Locality BNHS 793 BNHS 796 Visapur, Talegaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Maha- BNHS BNHS 798 3407 Bhopal, Mad- Piplod, Surat, hya Pradesh Gujarat July 1945 March 2006 NCS NCS NCS Piplod, Surat, Piplod, Surat, Gujarat Gujarat February 12, Feburary 17, 2012 2014 2014 Surat, Gujarat Maharashtra rashtra Date — October 27, TL 375 523 507 495 410 620 560 SVL 322 447 443 445 360 552 480 TaL 53 66 64 50 50 68 80 D 23:23:19 23:23:19 23:23:19 23:23:21 23:23:19 23:23:17 23:23:19 V 221 216 209 237 223 223 220 A Undivided Undivided Undivided Undivided Undivided Undivided Undivided SC 45 49 47 45 47 43 54 SL 9(5,6)/8(4,5) 8(4,5)/8(4,5) 8(4,5)/8(4,5) 8(4,5)/8(4,5) 9(5,6)/8(4,5) 9(4 to 6)/8(4,5) 8(4,5)/8(4,5) L 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 IL 10/10 9/10 10/10 9/9 10/10 11/11 9/9 PreO 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 PO 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 + 212+2 + 212+2 + 212+2 2+ 1/2+1 + 212+2 + 212+2 + 212+2 ND ND ND Female Female Male T Sex 1956 ND=Not Deter- mined Amphib Reptile Conserv 122 December 5, October 2015 I Volume I Number | el 04 Patel et al 25.00 23.00 21.00 19.00 Fig Map showing distribution range of Coronella brachyura (For shows remains of 27+ vestigial whitish bands in the forebody which became paler in posterior half and became indistinguishable which is found in juveniles of A fasciolata Based on our observations we here conclude that the specimen cited by Abdulali (1935) is conspecific with A fasciolata and is an erroneous report from Mumbai, and should be removed from the known distribution range of C brachyura Vyas and Patel (2007) collected C brachyura from Surat, Gujarat and in the same publication they also presented two more localities (Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar) from Gujarat based on photographs of a striped snake which they attributed to C brachyura However, specimens were not available to the authors and hence the exact identity of specimens from these two localities remains in question Fresh specimens are needed to confirm the presence of C brachyura from these localities term preservation However, the localities: 1-13, reference Table 2) all food but none accepted However, some authors report- it ed that the species feeds on juvenile geckos in captivity — (Whitaker and Captain 2004; Ingle and Sarsavan 2011) Discussion Our observations coupled with published information of the species shows this endemic species is Distribution: widely distributed encompassing a geographical area of 2,80,000 sq km across three Indian states, namely harashtra, Madhya Pradesh only (Fig 4) and natural history Coronella are situated around to occur in a to dry 500 m Conservation status: Coronella brachyura brachyura by the IUCN Red sulu et al human found in a water body near a newly developing urban loss, NCS 01 was found near a water body The speci- killed area; mens were active during day time and did not aggression when a 03) were Amphib Reptile Conserv sp List of Threatened Species (Sriniva- were observed, except the general threats to by Vyas (2007), includ- ing expansion of urbanization, agricultural lands, habitat and habitat alteration, by laymen due and large numbers of snakes to fear show any Taxonomy: The genus Coronella has shown handled Live individuals were kept for few days; juveniles of Hemidactylus species under the Indian Wildlife the reptilian fauna as reported Two (NCS 02 and legally pro- 2013) During the study no specific threats to the species habitations live individuals IV is Protection Act of 1972 and categorized as Least Concern The species appears from arid scrub lands deciduous forests; they are also found in Psammo- phis longifrons (Vyas and Patel 2013) a.s.l wide range of habitats distribution range recorded in another endemic colubrid snake, are found in plains and hillocks; majority of known localities and Gujarat (south), si mil ar This has a very tected as a Schedule Habit, habitat, (west), Ma- were offered phyletic based 123 to be para- on molecular data from western Palaeart- October 2015 I Volume I Number | el 04 taxonomy, and natural history Distribution, Table List of localities for Coronella brachyura based on database records, and photographic records No new of Coronella brachyura collections or observations , examined specimens , literature or Locality Coordinates Pune 2,3 18.31°N 73.51°E Talegaon 3 m a.s.l District State 561 Pune Maharashtra 18.72°N 73.68°E 670 Pune Maharashtra Wani 20.03°N 78.57°E 228 Yavatmal Maharashtra Kurduwadi 23 18.08°N 75.43°E 502 Solapur Maharashtra Visapur2 18.48°N 74.35°E 620 Ahmednagar Maharashtra Nashik 20.00°N 73.78°E 600 Nashik Maharashtra Melghat3 21.26°N 77.11°E 575 Amravati Maharashtra Latur 18.23°N 76.36°E 620 Latur Maharashtra Khed 18.56°N 73.43°E 715 Pune Maharashtra 10 Bhopal 23.15°N 77.25°E 527 Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 11 Ujjain 23.10°N 75.47°E 511 Ujjain Madhya Pradesh 12 Surat 23 21.18°N 72.83°E 13 Surat Gujarat 13 Jalna4 19.83°N 75.88°E 489 Jalna Maharashtra - - ’ Elevation, of Bombay Natural History Society 38(1): 197-198 Anderson J 1871 On some Indian Reptiles Proceedings by recent workers (Pyron et al 2010, 2013; Utiger et al 2002) Recently, Hoser (2012) removed C brachyura from the genus Coronella and allocated it to the genus Wallophis; it was earlier suggested by Werner (1929) In doing so, Hoser (2012) did not provide any valid taxonomic characters to support partitioning the genus Coronella Coronella brachyura differs from its congeners by the higher number of scale rows at mid body (23 vs 21 in C girondica and 19 in C austriacaf by the higher number of supralabials (8-9 vs in C austriaca and in C girondica) However, the status of Indian taxa remains unresolved as there is no comparative study on the morphology or molecular data of Coronella ic species with other colubrid genera We of the Zoological Society of London 1871 149-21 Blanford WT 1870 Notes on some Reptilia and Am: phibia from Central India Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal 39: 335-376, plates 14-16 BoulengerGA 1890 The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Reptilia and Batrachia) Taylor and Francis, London, United Kingdom 541 p Dowling HG 1951 A proposed standard system of counting ventrals in snakes British Journal of Herpetology 1(5): 97-99 Ghadage MK, Theurkar SV, Madan SS, Bhor GL, Pa- believe for now, the In- dian species should be considered as a member til SB 2013 Distribution of Calliophis melanueus, Boiga trigonata, Coluber grascilis and Coronella of the genus Coronella Future studies involving detailed com- brachy era in Western region of MS, In- dia , techniques, will be essential for the correct allocation of Ahmednagar Journal of Bombay Natural History So- Indian species ciety 38(1): Acknowledgments —We are thankful to in the collection of the British allowing us to examine the snake specimens Rahul Khot Vithoba Hegde, Priya Warekar, Pinal Patel, and supported by a with the creation of three New Delhi, new monotypic genera , (Ser- pentes: Colubridae) Australasian Journal of Herpe- tology 12: 26-31 Ingle INSPIRE M, Sarsavan A 2011 Anew locality record of Cor- onella brachyura (Gunther 1866) (Serpentes, Colub- Fellowship (IF 130480) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Eu- ropean Colubrid snake genera Natrix and Coronella Saunak Pal provided valuable assistance at the BNHS, Mumbai Viral Mistry and Frank Tillack provided some important literature Zeeshan Mirza and Deepak Veerappan are thanked for valuable comments for which the HP was Museum Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3(18): 24-29 Hoser RT 2012 A review of the taxonomy of kindly facilitated examining material under his manuscript benefited 198-200 Gunther A 1866 Fifth account of new species of snakes Bhautik Dudhatra and Bhavin Mistri for sharing information and care Tahsil, Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2: 24-25 Gharpurey KG 1935 A further list of Snakes from parison of the genus Coronella with the aid of molecular (BNHS) Khed from Madhya Pradesh, India, with distribution and natural history Sauria ridae, Colubrinae) notes on India its 33(2): 59-61 Kamble R 2010 Literature Cited First record of the Indian 0Coronella brachyura ) Abdulali H 1935 Bombay and An addition to the Salsette: Amphib Reptile Conserv list of Snakes of dia Available: from Smooth Snake Latur, Maharashtra, In- https://www.academia.edu/3037435/ First_record_of_the_Indian_Smooth_Snake_Coro- Coronella brachyura Journal 124 October 2015 | Volume I Number | el 04 Patel et al nella_brachyura_from_Latur_Maharashtra_India Threatened Species Version 2014.3 Available: [Accessed: 15 April 2015] iucnredlist.org [Accessed: 15 April 2015] Theobald W 1876 Descriptive Catalogue of the Reptiles of British India Thacker, Spink and Co, Calcutta, In- Lindberg K 1932 Snakes on the Barsi light railway (Deccan) Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 35(3): 690-697 VK Mistry dia 2005 Ein neuer Fundort von Coronella Uetz brachyura (Gunther, 1866) (Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae)-einer endemischen Schlange aus Indien, 314 p Hosek P, J 2015 The Reptile Database Available: http://www.reptile-database.org [Accessed: 18 March 2015] mit Anmerkungen zu deren Verbreitung Sauria 27(3): Utiger U, Helfenberger N, Schatti B, Schmidt C, 29-31 Ruf M, Ziswiler V 2002 Molecular systematics and phylog- 2007 Snakes of Amravati dis- eny of old and new world ratsnakes, Elaphe Auct., and including Melghat, Maharashtra, with important related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae) Rus- Nande R, Deshmukh trict www S Montane Trinket Snake and Indian Smooth Snake Zoos Print Journal sian Journal of Herpetology 9(2): 105-124 records of the Indian Egg-eater, Vyas R, Patel SS 2007 ’ endemic snake Coronella brachyura (Gunther 1866) (Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae) from Gujarat 22(12): 2,920-2,924 Pyron R, Burbrink F, zynski C, Wiens J Oca D, Kuc2010 The phylogeny of advanced Colli G, de Vitt L, snakes (Colubroidea), with discovery of a new New distributional records of the State, India Sauria 29(3): 47-50 Vyas R 2007 Present conservation scenario of sub- reptile family and comparison of support methods for like- fauna in Gujarat State, India The Indian Forester lihood trees Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 133(10): 1,381-1,394 Vyas R, Patel H 2013 Notes on distribution and natu- 58: 329-342 Pyron R, Burbrink F, Wiens J 2013 A phylogeny and re- ral history (Serpentes: Psammophiidae: vised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards 2013 Sarasin and snakes BMC Evolutionary Biology jarat, India 1910 Uber die Geschichte der Tierwelt von Wall WF Indian 1891 List of Snakes in the Indian Museum, MA Museum Gu- Russian Journal of Herpetology 20(3): 1943 The Srinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B, Vyas R, Mohapatra 2013 Coronella brachyura The IUCN Red 1923 F A Hand list of the Snakes of the Indian Wallach V, Williams KF, Boundy Calcutta, India 104 p Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region Reptilia and Amphibia Volume III- Serpentes Taylor and Francis, Fondon, United Kingdom, xii + 583 p Smith in Empire Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 29(3): 598-632 Ceylon Zoologische Jahrbucher 12(1): 1-160 Sclater Psammophiinae) 217-222 13: 93 F of Psammophis longifrons Boulenger 1896 Werner 2014 Snakes of the A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species Press, Fondon, United Kingdom 1,237 p World: CRC J F 1929 Ubersicht der Gattungen und Arten der Schlangen aus der Familie Colubridae, brinae) Teil (Colu- Mit einem Nachtrag zu den ubrigen Familien Zoologische Jahrbuecher Systematik 57: 1-196 P Whitaker R, Captain A 2004 Snakes of India, The Field Guide Draco Books, Chennai, India 495 p Fist of a young herpetologist, currently pursuing a Ph.D in the Department of Biosciences, Veer Harshil Patel is Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, India He is interested in the systematics and distribution of colubrid snakes and geckos of genus Hemidactylus from India His doctoral work and study is on the “Taxonomic study of herpetofauna of Northern Western Ghats of Gujarat State.” Raju Vyas is an enthusiastic herpetologist, presently working at the Sayaji Baug Zoo, Vadodara- Gujarat, India as a Zoo Biologist After his post graduate education in Zoology, he pursued a doctorate in philosophy, “Snakes of Gujarat State,” from Bhavnagar University, Gujarat-India (1995) For almost two decades, he has extensively explored the natural heritage of Gujarat state and its territohis research dissertation titled rial extensions contributing significantly toward the enrichment of base line data on amphibian and reptiles of the state many native reptilian Mugger Crocodiles, and Apart from his exposure to ex-situ conservation, he’s active in breeding species Presently, his activities include conservation of urban wildlife, especially has an affiliation with the Vishwamitri River Project, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Vadodara Raju has been monitoring the urban crocodile population in Gujarat and has published several reports about the same Lastly, Raju Shantilal K Surat tion, Amphib Reptile Conserv is optimistically promoting mitigation measures for Tank is man-animal a Professor at the Department of Biosciences, Veer For the past two decades Dr Tank has worked and ichthyology Recently, he works in the fields in biodiversity 125 conflicts locally Narmad South and nationally Gujarat University, of environmental toxicology, bioremedia- documentation and conservation October 2015 | Volume I Number | el 04 CONTENTS Special Section N’Goran Germain Kouame, Caleb Ofori-Boateng, Gilbert Baase Adum, Germain Gourene, MarkOliver Rodel A The anuran fauna of a West African urban area Ivan Ineich, Matthew Lebreton, Nathalie Lhermitte-Vallarino, Laurent Chirio The reptiles of the summits of Mont Oku and the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon 15 Jean-Fran^ois Trape and Youssouph Mane The snakes of Niger 39 Michael F Barej, Tilo Pfalzgraff, Mareike Hirschfeld, H Christoph Liedtke, Johannes Penner, Nono L Gonwouo, Matthias Dahmen, Franziska Grozinger, Andreas Schmitz, Mark-Oliver Rodel The tadpoles of eight West and Central African Leptopelis species (Amphibia: Anura: Arthroleptidae) 56 — General Section Jerry D Johnson, Vicente Mata-Silva, Larry David Wilson A conservation reassessment of the Cen- American herpetofauna based on the EVS measure Cesar L Barrio-Amoros, Andres Chacon-Ortiz, Fernando J.M Rojas-Runjaic First report of the salamanders Bolitoglossa leandrae and B tamaense (Urodela, Plethodontidae) for Venezuela 95 Christopher J Michaels, Benjamin Tapley, Luke Harding, Zoe Bryant, Sebastian Grant, George Sunter, Iri Gill, Oscar Nyingchia, Thomas Doherty-Bonec Breeding and rearing the Critically Endangered Lake Oku Clawed Frog {Xenopus longipes Loumont and Kobel 1991) 100 Kevin R Messenger and Yong Wang Notes on the natural history and morphology of the Ningshan Lined tral — — — Snake Stichophanes ningshaanensis Yuen, 1983; Ophidia: Colubridae) and gjia National Nature Reserve, China (, its distribution in the Harshil Patel, Raju Vyas, Shantilal K Tank On the distribution, taxonomy, and an Smooth Snake, Coronella brachyura (Gunther, 1866) Ill natural history of the Indi- 120 Back cover Table of Contents Cover: A juvenile Lined House Snake ( Bothrophthalmus lineatus) caught in a funnel trap in closed canopy lowland evergreen forest during a herpetological survey of the West 29’33.0”N, 008° 4F59.5”W, 432 Shennon- m a.s.l., Instructions for Authors: Located 19 November at the Photograph: 2011) Amphibian & Nimba Nature Bill Reserve, Nimba County, Libera (07° Branch Reptile Conservation website: http://amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/submissions.html Copyright: © 2015 Craig Hassapakis /Amphibian & Reptile Conservation volume 2015 NUMBER ... 2013); H nitidilus: : : : : : : : : Amphib Reptile Conserv 14 November 2015 Volume Number I | | el 06 Amphibian & Reptile Conservation website: amphibian- reptile- conservation.org Official journal... will be duly enforced, are as follows: official journal title Amphibian & Reptile Conservation official journal website ; Received: June 2015; Accepted: 29... within the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) With his team he investigates the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles, but in particular uses amphibians as model