Climate change presents a considerable challenge to biodiversity, with amphibians being particularly susceptible due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. One of these amphibian groups is the Anatolian waterfrog complex (genus: Pelophylax), a distinct, genetically and phylogenetically differentiated cryptic specieswhose membersare morphologically indistinguishable. In this group, the Cilician water frog lineage (Pelophylax cf. bedriagae 1) is of particular interest as it is only found in the biodiversity-rich & Ccedil;ukurova Plain in southeastern T & uuml;rkiye; it faces dual threats from historical overharvesting and impending climate change. In this study, we utilized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to map the Cilician lineage's current habitat suitability and distribution, identify key environmental drivers, and project future range shifts under various climate change scenarios. We compiled 167 georeferenced occurrence records and initially assembled 17 environmental predictors (climatic, topographic, and hydrological). Through a rigorous optimization process, including variable selection (varSel and reduceVar functions) and hyperparameter tuning, the model was refined to utilize the seven most influential predictors, substantially improving its predictive accuracy. Permutation and jackknife tests identified temperature seasonality, minimum temperature of the cold quarter, annual precipitation, ruggedness, slope, and distance to lake as the most important variables influencing the frog's distribution. Response curves further elucidated the specific ecological niche characteristics shaped by these factors. Projections for 2050, 2080, and 2100 under low (GCM-245) and high (GCM-585) carbon emission scenarios consistently predict a pronounced northward shift in the suitable habitat of the Cilician water frog lineage. This shift is accompanied by increased habitat fragmentation and a notable decline in suitability within the lineage's current core range, particularly under the high-emission pathway. Whereas the total climatically suitable area may increase in newly favourable northern regions, the lineage's ability to colonize these areas depends on landscape connectivity and dispersal capabilities. This raises concerns about its potential invasiveness in new ecosystems. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted, adaptive conservation strategies that mitigate the impact of climate change and account for human-induced habitat alterations to ensure the long-term persistence of this narrowly distributed water frog lineage.
the loss and homogenization of natural habitats, artificial wildlife refuges are important tools. Since one of the main obstacles is the cost of construction and subsequent monitoring of their effectiveness, it is essential to optimize procedures. Preferably, the technical specifications of the refuges and an assessment of their effectiveness should be available, as well as an estimate of the total cost. Using the PRISMA method and a Google Scholar search, we reviewed publications on the construction of various types of refuges (e.g. burrows, walls) for squamate reptiles, a speciose but highly endangered zoological group. Our results show that despite the successes associated with the construction of refuges, precise technical information is often lacking. The experimental approach needed to isolate key factors (e.g. refuge size versus ability to buffer climatic variation), to guide technical improvements and to assess overall costs, is generally lacking. While the empirical and expert-based approaches are essential, the construction of refuges could be improved by following some rules, in particular by providing the technical characteristics of the refuge, the construction and labour costs, the assessment of effectiveness (including failures) and, where possible, an experimental approach.
In light of critical environmental crises, this study emphasizes the urgent need for the U.S. and Mexico to protect 231 shared herpetofaunal species (amphibians and reptiles) distributed along their border. Key findings indicate that Texas and Chihuahua have the highest number of these cross-border species, with the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion being particularly rich in diversity. Alarmingly, 62 species (26.8%) are classified as highly vulnerable, predominantly reptiles, and 90 species are narrowly distributed across just a few states and ecoregions, primarily in the California-Baja California, Texas-Tamaulipas, and Arizona-Sonora border areas. This study highlights how the border wall severely harms wildlife by sidestepping environmental laws, destroying habitats, and undermining crucial conservation and research efforts. Consequently, our research strongly advocates for increased binational cooperation between both nations, urging governmental bodies to base their policies on sound scientific knowledge and adopt a biocentric approach to ensure the continued survival of these vulnerable species and their habitats.
Most of the species of amphibians and reptiles are facing a decline because of drug-induced metabolic disturbances and exposure to environmental contaminants. Consequently, focus is being directed to identifying various natural products with an aim of alleviating drug-induced metabolic disequilibrium. The testicular damage is due to different metabolic disturbances that are observed such as oxidative stress, liver damage, and glucose level disturbances. The given research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of curcumin in the context of preventing the testicular damage caused by the influence of ketoconazole through the utilization of a rodent organism. The results of the present research are also a prospect of amphibian and reptile conservation (ARC) medicine. To accomplish this, a sample of 36 male rodents was chosen, and they were separated into 6 groups (Group A: control, Group B: ketoconazole, Group C: Ketoconazole and low dose of curcumin, Group D: Ketoconazole and high dose of curcumin, Group E: low dose of curcumin, and Group F: high dose of curcumin). Statistical analysis was done on blood tests and serum concentrations and weight of the body. The findings indicate that in Group B, the levels of serum testosterone and SOD were reduced to 2.0 ng/ mL and 6.0 U/ mg respectively. On the contrary, MDA and glucose levels rose by 3.1 nmol/ mg and 119.9 mg/ dL, respectively, in Group B. This demonstrates that ketoconazole affects the male reproductive system to a great extent. Conversely, group D, E, and F were statistically equal, with significant results (a). The article has a clinical impact in highlighting the use of curcumin in addressing drug-induced disruption of metabolism by inhibiting oxidative stress and enzymatic action. Thus, the current study has future implications on analyzing the role of curcumin in offsetting various drug-induced metabolic disturbances in different species of amphibians and reptiles by enhancing the veterinary protocols in that matter.
Ambystoma velasci, an endemic axolotl species of Mexico, faces significant conservation challenges. Classified under Special Protection by Mexican regulations, this species is among the 18 endemic axolotl taxa at risk. Unfortunately, there are only a few ecological studies for this species, and aspects of their populations are generally unknown hindering effective conservation strategies. The present study addresses this gap by providing demographic insights on a population of A. velasci within a temperate environment of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Guanajuato (SGBR-G). The population exhibits facultative paedomorphosis and it comprises four age classes: hatchlings, juveniles, subadults, and metamorphosed adults, subadults were the most abundant class. Significant differences were observed in the occupation of the microhabitat and activity patterns across these age classes. Key threats to this population include the extraction of specimens, water contamination, and siltation of the primary pool, which is a critical refuge, breeding site, and foraging area. Given its symbolic importance to the SGBR-G and its ecological role, A. velasci warrants priority status in regional conservation programs. Long-term monitoring initiatives are essential to track population dynamics and inform effective management strategies for this species.
Habitat loss and degradation is threatening amphibian populations worldwide. The four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, is a small plethodontid salamander that deposits eggs terrestrially in moss clumps overhanging vernal pools. Hemidactylium scutatum has declined across its range, largely due to the loss of wetland habitat necessary for breeding. Constructed ponds and wetlands are common tools used to combat amphibian declines, but they often require several years for natural vegetation communities to establish. As a result, there have been calls to better understand the factors that promote the growth of critical habitat components to refine ex situ cultivation methods and expedite restoration effort. Here we evaluate the factors that influence the growth of Climacium americanum moss, a preferred nesting substrate of H. scutatum, in a greenhouse setting. We examined the impacts of plant density, soil type, and soil moisture on changes in biomass. Our analysis determined that density has little impact on growth rates while two of the three soil types had a significantly higher change in mass. We determined soil moisture-as a result of soil type-is the most critical component in greenhouse-grown moss, with plants in the 75th quartile of moisture seeing the largest positive change in biomass. Our results show that growing moss in greenhouses for use in constructed wetlands is achievable when proper soil moisture is maintained. Ultimately, this work aids restoration efforts for H. scutatum by providing a simple methodology to produce high volumes of nesting habitat and promote population recovery.
As a key area of ecological protection in Shandong Province, Zibo area has rich animal resources and profound Qi cultural heritage. This paperexamines the current state of animal habitats and their cultural and ecological characteristics in the Zibo area, revealing conflicts between animal habitats and both nature reserves and surrounding scenic spots and forest parks. These conflicts lead to resource management issues and ecosystem endangerment. The study proposes to build a digital platform to integrate the biodiversity database, infrared camera monitoring network and cultural resources mapping to realize intelligent planning and public participatory conservation of animal migration corridors. In addition, the "government-led + multi-party synergy" mechanism is used to emphasize the combination of policy support and community participation, and to promote the ecological compensation system and benefit-sharing model. Finally, the multilevel protection system can reduce the impact of human activities and improve the smooth progress of animal habitat protection, providing a practical framework for biodiversity conservation and cultural and ecological integration in industrial transition cities.
Based on our field surveys between 2016 and 2024, we herein provide a herpetofaunal list of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Vietnam, comprising 40 species of amphibians and 63 species of reptiles. Four species, Occidozyga lingnanica, Vietnamophryne orlovi, Zhangixalus dennysi, and Pseudocalotes brevipes are newly recorded in Thanh Hoa Province, and 30 species are recorded for the first time from Pu Luong Nature Reserve, comprising 12 species of amphibians (Leptobrachella minima, L. namdongensis, Ophryphryne hansi, O. microstoma, Limnonectes limborgi, Hylarana annamitica, H. maosonensis, Rana johnsi, Polypedates megacephalus, Theloderma corticale, T. gordoni, Tylototriton pasmansi), four species of lizards (Cyrtodactylus bobrovi, Draco maculatus, Sphenomorphus cryptotis, and Tropidophorus hainanus), 11 species of snakes (Python bivittatus, Xenopeltis unicolor, Boiga guangxiensis, Dendrelaphis pictus, Gonyosoma coeruleum, Lycodon futsingensis, L. meridionalis, Pareas margaritophorus, Ptyas korros, Bungarus fasciatus, and Ophiophagus hannah), and three species of turtles (Geoemyda spengleri, Manouria impressa, and Platysternon megacephalum). This study also highlighted the conservation value of the hereptofauna of Pu Luong Nature Reserve with nine species listed in the CITES Appendices (2023), 20 species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2024), 13 species listed in the IUCN Red List (2024), and nine species listed in the Governmental Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP. Additional data on the natural history of amphibian and reptile species was also provided.
The Yellow-bellied Sea Snake ranges across the tropical Indo-Pacific and is the most widely distributed squamate reptile. The bicolored form, Hydrophis platurus platurus, has a black dorsum and is cryptic while floating among wavelets that produce dark streaks resembling the snake. When flotsam is present on slicks that are its favored foraging sites, the snakes also resemble sticks or debris, while the mottled coloration of the tail resembles the froth that is a common component of flotsam. A second color morph is the all-yellow xanthic subspecies, H. p. xanthos, which has a discrete population restricted to an inner basin of Golfo Dulce. These yellow snakes are conspicuous, and floating specimens are highly visible. Predation pressures from birds, fishes, and marine mammals are potentially great on this species. Whereas the bicolored snakes are diurnal, the highly conspicuous xanthic snakes tend to be nocturnal. In both forms, brilliant yellow coloration is a presumptive aposematic signal that is reinforced by chemical detection of noxious skin. Scarring of snakes is indicative of predatory strikes, but overall predation appears to be less than expected and conceivably mitigated by crypsis and aposematic signals. Understanding features of coloration is important to the conservation of this species, which may serve as an important bioindicator of changes in climate and habitat.
The Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) is a globally endangered, ancient relic-tual frog endemic to the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot of India. Here, we present observations on mass mortality of this species at the Nelliyampathy Hills, a Reserved Forest interspersed by private coffee, rubber, and tea plantations. During 25 person-hours of surveying during January to May 2024 at three sites with various land uses, including Chernalli (a rubber plantation), Nooradi (a tea plantation + village), and Kaikatty (a forest), 185 sightings of Purple frog were obtained. Direct sightings included live tadpoles (N=100; Chernalli; January) and dead tadpoles (N=75; Nooradi; March), with indirect detection of adult males based on their breeding calls emanating from underground (N=10; Kaikatty; May). Our surveys documented the persistence of a breeding population of Purple frog and recorded a mass mortality event in the adjoining plantations. Mass mortality is a cause of concern and calls for better protective measures. Histopathological studies on tadpoles that are found dead without any traumatic injury are recommended to determine the cause of the mortality and to identify measures for preventing a reoccurrence.
Mexico ranks first in salamander diversity in the Neotropical region, and most species are threatened by habitat loss and emerging diseases. The pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is associated with severe amphibian population declines worldwide, particularly in the Neotropics, but the extent of the declines at the amphibian community level is not completely understood. In central Veracruz, Mexico, the fungal pathogen Bd has been detected in the salamander hotspot on the Cofre de Perote volcano. In this study, we evaluated the presence of Bd and its potential link to population declines and changes in the salamander community in this region. First, we characterized the current salamander community along the elevational gradient of Cofre de Perote through fieldwork. Then, we assessed shifts in the salamander community in historical and contemporary frameworks covering a time window of more than 40 years. In addition, we investigated the presence of Bd over time in this region in both formalin-preserved and recently collected specimens. Finally, we analyzed the associations between habitat and host species traits with current Bd prevalence and infection load. The results indicated that the salamander community of Cofre de Perote experienced significant reductions in abundance, species richness, and diversity over the past similar to 40 years. The declines in two species distributed at 2,400 m asl are potentially related to Bd. Meanwhile, population fluctuations recorded before the first appearance of Bd in the region or in recent sampling were probably related to habitat loss and stochastic factors. The prevalence of Bdwas mainly influenced by host species, while infection load was associated with tree density. The results suggest that Bd is likely one of several factors affecting these species and that its presence in this area of high salamander diversity remains a threat.
We describe a new species of Dendrelaphis that is morphologically close to D. caudolineolatus, however the new species is readily distinguished from it by having an undivided anal plate, as well as other characters. This species is only known from a single female collected from Maragala Mountain in Monaragala District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka. The new species is likely adapted to an arboreal lifestyle and its color is similar to that of the tree branches it inhabits. Currently, eight species of Dendrelaphis inhabit Sri Lanka (including the new species), six of which are endemic, and most of them are threatened. The Maragala Mountain is a biodiversity rich area in Sri Lanka because of its habitat heterogeneity and favorable climatic conditions. Currently, 67 species of reptiles (30 endemics), and 18 amphibians (five endemics) are known to inhabit this mountain. Various habitats on Maragala Mountain have been heavily influenced and modified by humans. Therefore, urgent conservation measures are needed to conserve this isolated forest and its resident species.
The Chaco Tortoise Chalonoidis chilensis is the southernmost species of land tortoise in the world. This species is currently listed as Endangered not only due to habitat reduction and destruction, but also because of its value in the illegal pet trade. As both a grazer and a seed disperser, it serves as a keystone species in the dry ecosystems it inhabits. Despite its endangered status and important ecological rold, there is currently limited information on the movement patterns of C. chilensis. In this work, we investigated the movement characteristics of this species over two seasons and in both sexes, using three complementary tracking techniques of spool-and-line, radiotelemetry, and GPS-based tracking, including the use of a device designed and developed by our team. To capture the most comprehensive view of movement patterns, each of the techniques used provides distinct strengths in characterizing spatial or temporal aspects of movement. We studied the movements of the tortoises over two seasons (spring 2020 and summer 2021), in their natural habitat near the city of San Antonio Oeste, Rio Negro, Argentina. We tracked seven individuals (four males and three females) with the spool-and-line technique, 12 (six males and six females) with radiotelemetry, and 10 (four males and six females) with the GPS-based system. We estimated their daily home range (DHR) and speed of movement, measured the tortuosity of the walks and characterized their mean square displacement. The results indicated that C. chilensis remains within a DHR of 864 +/- 283 m(2) in the spring season and 1034 +/- 298 m(2) in the summer season. The most probable value of their velocity is 0.4 +/- 0.1 m/min, with a median value of 0.6 +/- 0.1 m/min, and the walks are characterized by bouts of foraging during movement, with periods of time spent exploring new spaces while also maintaining activity within their home ranges. Notably, we observed that C. chilensis can travel as much as 400 m in one day. The complementarity of our monitoring techniques allowed us to study and characterize the movement of this species at different scales. For example, the high spatial resolution of the spool-and-line technique can describe tortuosity, while the GPS-based and radiotelemetry techniques can describe trajectories with fine temporal resolution. To better understand how these animals move, the distances they can travel daily, and how these results depend on the season are relevant for_making conservation_decisions while. considering the significant impact that habitat fragmentation and other factors can have on their environment.
Sceloporus is a diverse genus of lizards that has been widely studied regarding its evolution, behavior, and ecology. Although evidence suggests Sceloporus lizards are threatened by several factors, there are few studies concerning their conservation issues and status. Here we analyzed the conservation status of species of the genus Sceloporus based on two different systems: the IUCN Red List and the Environmental Vulnerability Scores (EVS) system. We updated the taxonomic state of the genus, investigated the conservation status of the existing species, calculated the EVS for previously unevaluated species, and generated potential distribution maps of all species based on species distribution modelling. We determined that 116 species of Sceloporus are currently recognized. For conservation status, we found differences between the IUCN Red List and the EVS system. According to the Red List, 64 species are in the Least Concern category, two Near Threatened, three Vulnerable, three Endangered, and one Critically Endangered (and 38 Not Evaluated); however, based on the EVS system, most of the species (69) are in the high vulnerability category, 37 in the medium category, and 10 in the low category. About half of the species in the high vulnerability category in the EVS either have not been evaluated, are deficient in data, or are of Least Concern in the IUCN Red list. Of the 116 species, we assigned 46 to conservation priority level I. Because Sceloporus is a widely distributed genus and there have been new cryptic species discovered, the information provided here is vital for the conservation of the genus, since it will allow us to identify Sceloporus species urgently in need of conservation.
The distribution of herpetofauna on the Arabian Peninsula is generally poorly known, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) in east-central Saudi Arabia is in an area predicted to have high reptile species richness, yet there is no baseline reptile checklist for the reserve. Knowing which species occur within a protected area is vital for ensuring that conservation strategies and long-term monitoring are effective. Here, we provide the first detailed list of reptile fauna occurring in the KARNR. This study recorded a total of 31 species from 1,551 observations, including 25 lizards and six snakes. A desktop study identified three additional species, bringing the total number of herpetofaunal species known in the KARNR to 34. Two of the species found in the reserve are of conservation concern: Uromastyx aegyptia (VU) and Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei (DD). Through species accumulation curves we were able to determine that the sampling methods implemented during the survey were adequate, and we predicted that the species richness of the reserve is likely as much as 38 species. Prior to this study, only 82 reptile records (30 species) were known from the study area, so we add a significant number of new records to the reserve and an additional four species that were previously unknown from the region.
A new snake of the genus Chironius is described based on external morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence. The new species occurs in Bolivia, both in the humid montane forests of the Yungas of Cochabamba and in Santa Cruz. It differs from all congeners in having 10 dorsal scale rows at midbody, an entire cloacal plate, keeled paravertebral rows, lightly colored lower portions of the supralabials, a yellow snout, a short hemipenis, and lacking postocular stripes, proximal enlarged spines on the hemipenis, and apical pits. Adults and juveniles have an emerald green background color. The new species is recovered as the sister taxon of C. leucometapus,which is known from the Amazonian slopes of the Andes between central Peru and northern Ecuador. We also provide an identification key to the species of Chironius with 10 dorsal rows at midbody
The Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina Linnaeus, 1761) is a vulnerable and protected species in Europe, where it is suppressed in small, isolated populations in its northern distribution range. The main cause of B. bombina population declines in this region is the loss of suitable habitats due to either anthropogenic factors or natural succession. Recently, very hot summers with prolonged dry and very heated periods have contributed to the declines of B. bombina populations on a very large scale. Therefore, it is important to preserve the natural, although small, populations of B. bombina to save the gene pool of the rare northern populations for the future, which is essential for conservation breeding, research, and outreach with this species. This study provides the rearing methodology, growth rates, and sexual dimorphism of protected B. bombina individuals in their first year.
report the results of a herpetofauna inventory of Copia Nature Reserve, Vietnam conducted between November 2012 and June 2020, comprising 48 species of amphibians and 67 species of reptiles, with 105 of the species recorded directly in this study. Four species, Gracixalus jinxiuensis, Dopasia ludovici, Hebius boulengeri, and Ovophis makazayazaya, represent new records for Son La Province, and 25 species are recorded for the first time from the Copia Nature Reserve, comprising 11 species of frogs (Xenophrys jindongensis, O. graminea, O. nasica, Kurixalus bisacculus, Raorchestes parvulus, and Rhacophorus kio), two species of lizards (Calotes emma and Eutropis multifasciatus), and 12 species of snakes (Calamaria Trimerodytes percarinatus, and Pareas carinatus). The herpetofauna of Copia Nature Reserve has a high level of conservation concern, including eight species listed in the Governmental Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP, 17 species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007), 13 species listed in the IUCN Red List (2023), and eight species listed in the CITES Appendices (2023). In addition, we provide data on distribution, natural history, and figures for all the amphibian and reptile species in Copia Nature Reserve, Vietnam.
Reliable approaches for tracking individual organisms are needed for research purposes and to inform the conservation and management of aquatic organisms. However, safe and dependable tagging methods are difficult to implement for small-bodied organisms. The objective of this study was to examine survival, tag retention, and growth in three aquatic salamander species of different sizes (Barton Springs Eurycea rathbuni) injected with p-Chip tags in a captive setting. The ability of novice scanners to read p-Chips over the duration of the study was also assessed. Post-tagging survival was high across all treatments for all species (97-100%). Tag retention among species was similar (97-100%), and growth appeared unaffected by tagging. No relationship between success of tag readability and time since tagging was found, and all novice scanners were able to read the tags implanted in 100% of Comal Springs and Texas Blind Salamanders. However, variability was found with novice scanners reading tags in Barton Springs Salamanders, although all tags were successfully read by an experienced scanner. P-Chips provided an improved readability rate, reduced human error, and allowed for more individual identification codes than the visible implant elastomer tags commonly used for these species. This study shows that p-Chips are suitable tags for small-bodied aquatic salamanders.
The little-known glassfrog Cochranella litoralis (Ruiz-Carranza and Lynch 1996) is a Vulnerable (VU) species infrequently reported in the literature. Its purported distribution includes the departments of Cauca and Nari & ntilde;o, Colombia, and the provinces of Esmeraldas, Los R & iacute;os, Pichincha, and Santo Domingo de los Ts8chilas, Ecuador. Due to conflicting details regarding its distribution within the literature, we review past records to clarify which localities are valid. We also report two new localities that expand its elevational range to <= 407 m and its distribution approximately 175 km south from the previous southernmost locality, present an updated distribution map, and recommend an IUCN Red List status of Endangered (EN) for C . litoralis . Lastly, the call of C. litoralis is described for the first time, as is that of an Ecuadorian specimen of the widely-distributed C. granulosa .
