Fred Kraus

Predicting establishment success for alien reptiles and amphibians: a role for climate matching

We examined data comprising 1,028 successful and 967 failed introduction records for 596 species of alien reptiles and amphibians around the world to test for factors influencing establishment success. We found significant variations between families and between genera. The number of jurisdictions where a species was introduced was a significant predictor of the probability the species had established in at least one jurisdiction. All species that had been introduced to more than 10 jurisdictions (34 species) had established at least one alien population. We also conducted more detailed quantitative comparisons for successful (69 species) and failed (116 species) introductions to three jurisdictions (Great Britain, California and Florida) to test for associations with climate match, geographic range size, and history of establishment success elsewhere. Relative to failed species, successful species had better climate matches between the jurisdiction where they were introduced and their geographic range elsewhere in the world. Successful species were also more likely to have high establishment success rates elsewhere in the world. Cross-validations indicated our full model correctly categorized establishment success with 78–80% accuracy. Our findings may guide risk assessments for the import of live alien reptiles and amphibians to reduce the rate new species establish in the wild.

Human-mediated escalation of a formerly eradicable problem: the invasion of Caribbean frogs in the Hawaiian Islands

Two species of neotropical frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui and E. planirostris, have been introduced into the State of Hawaii via the horticulture trade. E. coqui was introduced prior to 1988 and E. planirostris was first reported in 1994. Since these dates frog colonies have rapidly spread accidentally and intentionally and frog abundance within colonies has grown rapidly. Although these frogs were originally restricted to horticulture sites, they are now found in residential areas, resorts and hotels, and public lands. Due to the high potential biomass of introduced frogs there are realistic anthropogenic and ecological concerns associated with the spread of these frogs. Though there currently is a tool that can be used for localized control of frogs in limited circumstances, overall efforts by Federal, State, and County agencies to control the frog in Hawaii have been hampered by limited authorities and funds, disbelief in the threat, and the reluctance to act.

Crotaline Intergeneric Relationships Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Data

We investigated phylogenetic relationships among 30 species of pit vipers representing all proposed genera except monotypic Ophryacus by comparing DNA sequence data from mitochondrial ND4 genes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on two conserved subsets of the data. Retrieved topologies are discordant between these analyses, but it is difficult to make a compelling case for the superiority of one or the other data set for phylogenetic inference. Results common to both analyses, which we believe most likely reflect historical reality, include diphyly of Agkistrodon (s.l.); monophyly of (Hypnale + Calloselasma}; polyphyly of Agkistrodontini; monophyly of Protobothrops and of Trimeresurus (s.s.); paraphyly of bothropoid genera; and monophyly of American crotalines. The last suggests an Old World origin of Crotalinae with a single invasion of the New World.

ENDOPARASITES IN SPHENOMORPHUS JOBIENSIS (SAURIA: SCINCIDAE) FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA WITH DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES

One species of digenean, Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp., and 2 nematode species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp., from the intestine of Sphenomorphus jobiensis, are described and illustrated. Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp. represents the second species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. the 18th species, and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp. the 19th species assigned to each respective genus. In addition, 1 species of cestode, Oochoristica javaensis; 7 nematode species, Abbreviata oligopapillata, Aplectana macintoshii, Aplectana zweifeli, Cosmocerca zugi, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngodon maplestonei; 1 species of acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus bufonis; and 1 species of pentastome, Kiricephalus sp., were found. With the exception of Abbreviata oligopapillata, Sphenomorphus jobiensis represents a new host record for each species of endoparasite.

A New Sibling Species of Ambystoma from the Ohio River Drainage

A new sibling species of Ambystoma texanum is described from central Kentucky and adjacent Ohio and Indiana. It differs from A. texanum in several morphological, ecological, behavioral, and reproductive characteristics. The new form is largely parapatric to A. texanum, though both species are sympatric in western Kentucky and possibly in southwestern Ohio. Two areas where the two species are sympatric or parapatric are described in detail and evidence for some introgression is presented. Possible reproductive isolating barriers between the two species are discussed.

Snake venomics of two poorly known Hydrophiinae: Comparative proteomics of the venoms of terrestrial Toxicocalamus longissimus and marine Hydrophis cyanocinctus

The venom proteomes of Toxicocalamus longissimus and Hydrophis cyanocinctus, a fossorial and a marine species, respectively, of the Hydrophiinae genus of Elapidae, were investigated by Edman degradation of RP-HPLC isolated proteins, and de novo MS/MS sequencing of in-gel derived tryptic peptide ions. The toxin arsenal of T. longissimus is made up of 1-2 type-I PLA(2) molecules, which account for 6.5% of the venom proteins, a minor PIII-SVMP (1.4% of the venom toxins), and ~20 members of the 3FTx family comprising 92% of the venom proteome. Seventeen proteins (5 type-I PLA(2)s and 12 3FTxs) were found in the venom of H. cyanocinctus. Three-finger toxins and type-I PLA(2) proteins comprise, respectively, 81% and 19% of its venom proteome. The simplicity of the H. cyanocinctus venom proteome is highlighted by the fact that only 6 venom components (3 short-chain neurotoxins, two long-chain neurotoxins, and one PLA(2) molecule) exhibit relative abundances >5%. As expected from its high neurotoxin abundance, the LD(50) for mice of H. cyanocinctus venom was fairly low, 0.132μg/g (intravenous) and 0.172μg/g (intraperitoneal). Our data indicate that specialization towards a lethal cocktail of 3FTx and type-I PLA(2) molecules may represent a widely adopted trophic solution throughout the evolution of Elapidae. Our results also points to a minimization of the molecular diversity of the toxin arsenal of the marine snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus in comparison to the venom proteome of its terrestrial relatives, and highlight that the same evolutionary solution, economy of the toxin arsenal, has been convergently adopted by different taxa in response to opposite selective pressures, loss and gain of neurotoxicity.

NEW GENUS, NEW SPECIES OF CESTODA (ANOPLOCEPHALIDAE), NEW SPECIES OF NEMATODA (COSMOCERCIDAE) AND OTHER HELMINTHS IN CYRTODACTYLUS LOUISIADENSIS (SAURIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Gekkotaenia novaeguineaensis n. gen., n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from the small intestine and Cosmocerca zugi n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of the ring-tailed gecko, Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Sauria: Gekkonidae) are described and illustrated. Gekkotaenia novaeguineaensis n. gen., n. sp. is unique among the acraspedote Linstowiinae in possessing a poral female reproductory system. Cosmocerca zugi n. sp. is the 22nd species to be assigned to the genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing 4 pairs of rosette papillae on plectanes and having a gubernaculum longer than the spicules. It is the fifth species to be described from the Australian biogeographical region. Eight additional helminth species were found: the digenean, Allopharynx macallisteri; 2 cestodes, cysticercoids of Cyclophyllidea gen. sp. and tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp.; 5 nematodes, larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., Aplectana macintoshii, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngodon maplestonei, and an undescribed species of Physalopteroides. Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis represents a new host record for each of these helminths.

Metazoan endoparasites of 14 species of skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

Three hundred and three individuals representing 14 species of lizards (Scincidae), collected in Papua New Guinea, were examined for metazoan endoparasites. Two species of Digenea, four species of Cestoda, 21 species of Nematoda (adults and larvae in cysts), two species of Acanthocephala and one species of Pentastomida were found. Forty-two new host records and two new locality records are reported. Skinks from Papua New Guinea are infected by “generalist” endoparasites, which parasitize a variety of reptile or amphibian hosts. Mean endoparasite species diversity per skink species was 5.0 ± 3.3 SD, range: 1–11.

Gastrointestinal helminths of eleven species of Emoia (Squamata: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

Four hundred and forty‐six individuals representing 11 species of Emoia (Scincidae), E. atrocostata, E. battersbyi, E. caeruleocauda, E. impar, E. jakati, E. kordoana, E. longicauda, E. obscura, E. pallidiceps, E. physicae and E. popei, collected in Papua New Guinea were examined for helminths. Two species of Cestoda (Adenobrechmos greeri, Cylindrotaenia hickmani); five species of Digenea (Mesocoelium monas, Paradistomoides gregarium, Saurokoilophilia kinsellai, Spelotrema brevicaeca, Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi); 14 species of Nematoda, (gravid individuals of Abbreviata oligopapillata, Hedruris hanleyae, Kreisiella chrysocampa, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Meteterakis crombiei, Parapharyngodon maplestoni, Physaloperoides milnensis, Pseudoreticularia dipsarilis, Raillietnema nanus, Skrjabinodon sp. 1, Skrjabinodon sp. 2 and larvae (in cysts) of Abbreviata sp., Acuariidae gen. sp., and Riticulariidae gen. sp.) were found. The mean helminth species richness for infected skinks was 6.4±4.7 SD (range 1–14 species). Fifty‐three new host records are reported.

A New Species of Proteocephalus (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), Description of the Male of Desmogathiema papuensis (Nematoda: Quimperiidae), and Other Endoparasites in Sylvirana supragrisea (Anura: Ranidae) from Papua New Guinea

Abstract Sixty-two of 66 (94%) Sylvirana supragrisea collected from 4 localities in Papua New Guinea harbored 1,137 endoparasies representing 15 known species and 1 new species. Proteocephalus papuensis n. sp. and the male of Desmognathiema papuensis Moravec and Sey, 1990, from the small intestine of the ranid frog Sylvirana supragrisea are described and illustrated. Proteocephalus papuensis is the second proteocephalid cestode to be described from New Guinea; it differs from P. niuginii in that it possesses a post-equatorial cirrus sac and 72–84 uterine pouches compared to an equatorial cirrus sac and 28–36 uterine pouches in P. niuginii. Desmognathiema papuensis is the third species assigned to the genus. It parasitizes ranid frogs of New Guinea, D. toyamai is known from an endemic Japanese frog, and D. nantahalaensis is a parasite of North American salamanders. In addition to these 2 species, gravid individuals of the nematodes Aplectana macintoshii, Cosmocerca novaaeguineae, Icosiella papuensis, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Paracapillaria spratti, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica and the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus bufonis were found. Juvenile individuals of the nematode Abbreviata sp. (in cysts), unidentified cestode cysticerci, acanathocephalan cystacanths, and nymphs of a pentostome, Kirkicephalus sp., were also found. Sylvirana supragrisea represents a new host record for each of these parasites. Of the 1,137 endoparasite individuals, 638 (56%) were juvenile forms not capable of completing their life cycles in frogs. Of the 16 endoparasite species, no 2 collection sites had more than 7 species in common.