Olivier S. G. Pauwels

Genetics, Morphology, Advertisement Calls, and Historical Records Distinguish Six New Polyploid Species of African Clawed Frog ( Xenopus , Pipidae) from West and Central Africa

African clawed frogs, genus Xenopus, are extraordinary among vertebrates in the diversity of their polyploid species and the high number of independent polyploidization events that occurred during their diversification. Here we update current understanding of the evolutionary history of this group and describe six new species from west and central sub-Saharan Africa, including four tetraploids and two dodecaploids. We provide information on molecular variation, morphology, karyotypes, vocalizations, and estimated geographic ranges, which support the distinctiveness of these new species. We resurrect Xenopus calcaratus from synonymy of Xenopus tropicalis and refer populations from Bioko Island and coastal Cameroon (near Mt. Cameroon) to this species. To facilitate comparisons to the new species, we also provide comments on the type specimens, morphology, and distributions of X. epitropicalis, X. tropicalis, and X. fraseri. This includes significantly restricted application of the names X. fraseri and X. epitropicalis, the first of which we argue is known definitively only from type specimens and possibly one other specimen. Inferring the evolutionary histories of these new species allows refinement of species groups within Xenopus and leads to our recognition of two subgenera (Xenopus and Silurana) and three species groups within the subgenus Xenopus (amieti, laevis, and muelleri species groups).

Molecular Systematics of African Colubroidea (Squamata: Serpentes)

Phylogenetic relationships between African representatives of the Colubroidea have been relatively little investigated. In this paper, DNA sequences of three marker genes were used to identify phylogenetically relevant groups. Viperids represent a basal clade among Colubroidea. The two monophyletic families Elapidae and Atractaspididae are nested within the paraphyletic family Colubridae. African colubroid snakes are found within the cosmopolitan subfamilies Colubrinae and Natricinae, the mainly African subfamilies Lamprophiinae, Psammophiinae and Pseudoxyrhophiinae, and also within the families Elapidae and Atractaspididae. The clade comprising Lamprophiinae, Psammophiinae, Pseudoxyrhophiinae, Elapidae and Atractaspididae is likely to have an African origin, whereas the Colubroidea probably originated in Asia.

The global distribution of tetrapods reveals a need for targeted reptile conservation

The distributions of amphibians, birds and mammals have underpinned global and local conservation priorities, and have been fundamental to our understanding of the determinants of global biodiversity. In contrast, the global distributions of reptiles, representing a third of terrestrial vertebrate diversity, have been unavailable. This prevented the incorporation of reptiles into conservation planning and biased our understanding of the underlying processes governing global vertebrate biodiversity. Here, we present and analyse the global distribution of 10,064 reptile species (99% of extant terrestrial species). We show that richness patterns of the other three tetrapod classes are good spatial surrogates for species richness of all reptiles combined and of snakes, but characterize diversity patterns of lizards and turtles poorly. Hotspots of total and endemic lizard richness overlap very little with those of other taxa. Moreover, existing protected areas, sites of biodiversity significance and global conservation schemes represent birds and mammals better than reptiles. We show that additional conservation actions are needed to effectively protect reptiles, particularly lizards and turtles. Adding reptile knowledge to a global complementarity conservation priority scheme identifies many locations that consequently become important. Notably, investing resources in some of the world’s arid, grassland and savannah habitats might be necessary to represent all terrestrial vertebrates efficiently.The global distribution of nearly all extant reptile species reveals richness patterns that differ spatially from that of other taxa. Conservation prioritization should specifically consider reptile distributions, particularly lizards and turtles.

A new forest-dwelling Hemidactylus (Squamata : Gekkonidae) from Gabon, West Africa : original article

Abstract A distinctive new species of forest‐dwelling gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from Mt. Iboundji in south central Gabon. The species is distinguished from other equatorial West African members of the genus by its 18–19 rows of small dorsal tubercles, well‐developed digital webbing, and characteristic colour pattern, including dark venter and large white markings on the posterior surface of the thighs. The species is also known to occur in Equatorial Guinea and may be more widespread in montane forests of the region.

Cyrtodactylus khelangensis, a new cave-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Lampang Province, northern Thailand.

We describe Cyrtodactylus khelangensis sp. nov. from a limestone cave in Pratu Pha, Mae Mo District, Lampang Province, northern Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 95.3 mm; 16-20 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; a continuous series of 37-40 enlarged femoroprecloacal scales, including six-seven pitted or pore-bearing scales (males) or one or two pitted scales (females) on each femur separated by a diastema from 2-6 pore-bearing precloacal scales (males and females); no precloacal groove nor depression; transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; and four irregular brown dorsal bands between nuchal loop and hind limb insertions.

A new Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus ) from Phetchaburi Province, Thailand

A new Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus phetchaburiensis sp. nov. is described from the Tha Yang District of Phetchaburi Province, western Thailand. It is a medium-sized Cyrtodactylus (SVL to at least 63.2 mm), with small, mostly keeled tubercles in 20 regular longitudinal rows on dorsum; 33 scales across mid-venter between lowest rows of flank tubercles; enlarged row of femoral scales present; five precloacal pores in male, femoral pores and precloacal groove absent; 5-6 broad basal lamellae and 11 narrow distal lamellae beneath digit IV of pes; and a single median row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales present. It has a dorsal colour pattern of large, dark, diffusely-edged markings on a fawn background and a pair of dark scapular patches. The species is a member of the Central Indochinese (Thai-Myanmar) clade of Cyrtodactylus and is most closely related to C. oldhami (Theobald), from which it differs in colour pattern.

Cyrtodactylus kunyai (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new cave-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko from Loei Province, northeastern Thailand

We describe a new cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus from Suan Hin Pha Ngam, Nong Hin District, Loei Province, northeastern Thailand, characterized by a maximal known snout-vent length of 87.9 mm, a banded dorsal pattern with a medially interrupted nuchal loop and four or five brown bands between nuchal loop and hind limb insertions and three bicolored band interspaces between limbs insertions, a dark orangeish iris, a continuous series of enlarged femoro-precloacal scales with 5-6 femoral pores on each side separated by a diastema from 3 precloacal pores in males (no pores in females), 19 irregularly arranged dorsal longitudinal tubercle rows at midbody, 34 ventral scale rows between ventrolateral skin folds, transversely enlarged subcaudal plates, and no precloacal groove.

Re‐discovery of Cynisca bifrontalis in Gabon, with additional notes on Monopeltis galeata (Reptilia: Amphisbaenia)

Abstract A small series of amphisbaenians from the Toucan/Rabi region, Ogooué‐Maritime Province, south‐western Gabon, is reported. It includes five specimens of Cynisca bifrontalis (Boulenger 1906), previously known only from the holotype, and five specimens of Monopeltis galeata (Hallowell 1852). The Toucan/Rabi material represents a range extension of 90 km south‐east for both species. Morphological variation in the new material is discussed. Body annuli counts in both species differ from documented ranges, but the possible taxonomic significance of this cannot be assessed until larger series become available. Like congeners with extensively fused head shields, C. bifrontalis displays variability in cephalic scutellation. Pre‐cloacal pores in females are represented by small scale depressions, but these lack secretion cores. The species reaches a snout‐vent length of only 131 mm and is thus one of the smallest known fossorial reptiles. Cynisca haughi (Mocquard 1904) is poorly diagnosed and its taxonomic status requires further study.

Cyrtodactylus wangkulangkulae (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new Bent-toed Gecko from Satun Province, southern Thailand

We describe a new Cyrtodactylus from Manang District, Satun Province, southern Thailand, based on an adult female having a snout-vent length of 73.9 mm, a long tail (1.34 times snout-vent length), a complex blotched and banded dorsal pattern with four irregularly shaped dark bands between limbs insertions, bluish-grey iris, discontinuous series of enlarged poreless femoral and precloacal scales, 10 regularly arranged dorsal tubercle rows, 38 ventral scale rows between ventrolateral skin folds, transversely enlarged subcaudal plates, and no precloacal groove.

Reptilia, Amphisbaenidae, Monopeltis schoutedeni de Witte, 1933: first record from Gabon, with an updated key to Gabonese worm lizards

The amphisbaenian Monopeltis schoutedeni is reported for the first time from Gabon based on a single individual from the extreme southeastern part of the country. The species was formerly known only from the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the 4th amphisbaenian and the 123rd reptile species recorded from Gabon. An identification key to Gabon amphisbaenians is provided.