Cuadernos de Herpetología

Explorando el reconocimiento químico recíproco madre-cría en un lagarto Liolaemus vivíparo

Vanesa Chocobar — 2024-08-01

To our knowledge, there are no studies of mother-offspring recognition in Liolaemus lizards, even though many species have a refined discrimination capacity based on chemical signals, and some of them are viviparous with a close relationship between mothers and offspring. We studied the reciprocal chemical mother-offspring recognition in the viviparous species Liolaemus
zullyae, evaluating whether both mothers and offspring can discriminate between their consanguineous relative from another who is not genetically related. Six females gave birth in the laboratory. Once the offspring were born, crossover experiments were carried out. The results suggest that mothers showed no clear evidence of discrimination of their own and other´s newborns. In contrast, newborns rubbed their faces for longer when scents were from other females than from their own mothers, suggesting that newborns may recognize their mothers. We discuss the asymmetric mother-offspring recognition detected in this study.

Are the males of Dendropsophus minutus (Peters, 1872) spider devourers?

João Lucas Pereira Ferreira — 2024-09-03

In this study, we described the diet composition of males of the treefrog Dendropsophus minutus from the region of the Chapada das Mesas National Park, Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. We collected 19 males, of which 17 had stomach contents. Of that, five prey categories were registered, with spiders being the most consumed prey item. We also observed that the snout-vent length of each male had a weak influence on prey selection. Notably, D. minutus consumed a substantial quantity of spiders. Nonetheless, further studies considering temporal variation, reproductive period, and prey availability, among others, are still needed to elucidate the role of spiders on the diet of D. minutus.

Defensive behaviors in Pleurodema borellii (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from northwest Argentina

Henrique Folly — 2024-09-02

Anurans are common prey for several vertebrates and also invertebrates. In response to this predatory pressure, they exhibit various defensive behaviors. In this work we report liquid cloacal discharge, body inflation, stiff-legged posture and body vibration performed by Pleurodema borellii from San Miguel de Tucumán, northwest of Argentina. These multiple defensive behaviors performed together can hinder or disrupt the predator’s action more efficiently.

Observación del saco endolinfático en la lagartija Homonota borelli (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) en Argentina

Gabriel Natalio Castillo — 2024-09-03

Observation of the endolymphatic sac in the lizard Homonota borelli (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in Argentina. Increased endolymphatic sac size in reptiles has received little attention in the literature. We present a note based on the observation of inflated endolymphatic sacs in two female specimens of Homonota borelli (Phyllodactylidae) from an urbanized site in Argentina. The macroscopic results indicated that the samples analyzed showed a surface with a soft and whitish dermis. Microscopically, a cystic cavity lined by simple epithelium with calcium crystals was observed. We conclude that the endolymphatic sacs presented accumulation of calcium crystals which play a role during the reproductive period in reptiles. This finding represents the first record of a macro- and microscopic analysis of inflated endolymphatic sacs in the bush lizard H. borelli in Argentina.

Color pattern polymorphism and chromatic aberrancies in Physalaemus fernandezae (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Rodrigo Cajade — 2024-09-30

Skin coloration patterns in anurans could be markedly varied due to color pattern polymorphism and the occurrence of chromatic aberrancies. Knowledge about this variability allows to understand prey-predator relationships, contributes to the characterization of taxonomic groups, and may reflects genetic variability. We report herein a characterization of dorsal and ventral color pattern polymorphisms in the Neotropical frog Physalaemus fernandezae, and the finding of chromatic aberrancies in wild tadpoles. We assessed the sexual variation of four dorsal color morphs (Broadband, Reticulate, Vertebral Line, Uniform with Urostylar Line) and two ventral color morphs (Immaculate and Maculate). We found no association about the co-occurrence of different ventral and dorsal color patterns, also regardless sex, suggesting independent evolution forces influencing on them. In addition, we found geographic color pattern variation. A color aberrancy considered as leucism was observed in tadpoles, and is reported for the first time in P. fernandezae. We suggest that the patterns frequency distributions are suggestive of an apostatic selection mechanism for the color polymorphism in P. fernandezae.

Reptiles of Santa Catarina Island, Southern Brazil

Ivo Rohling Ghizoni Jr — 2024-09-03

The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Still, its reptile fauna is poorly known, especially in its southern portion. We present here for the first time a compiled list of land and freshwater reptiles of the Island of Santa Catarina, the largest continental island off the Brazilian coast. The list was based on field observation, literature, and preserved material from herpetological collections. We recorded 36 autochthonous reptile species, including one crocodylian, one turtle, two amphisbaenians, nine lizards, and 23 snakes. We also recorded introduced populations of two exotic emydid turtles. Species composition is strongly influenced by the presence of Atlantic Forest species, but there are also some non-forest species associated with the fauna of southern South America.

Desde los últimos confines: nueva especie de lagartija Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) de la estepa patagónica de Santa Cruz, Argentina

Agustina San Millán — 2024-09-02

A new species of lizard of the genus Liolaemus is described. It inhabits the Patagonian steppe at the eastern of Santa Cruz Province, Argentine. Characters of external morphology, morphometry, coloration pattern and pholidosis were used for its description. In addition, phylogenetic proposals based on morphological and molecular evidence that distinguishes the proposed species from other closely related species are presented. This new lizard belongs to the L. boulengeri group, L. melanops clade, L. telsen subclade. It is a small species in relation to other species of the same genus, and its coloration pattern is distinctive within the L. telsen subclade. This combination of characters supports the candidate species as a unique species within the genus. The taxon described in this study was previously classified within the range of Liolaemus boulengeri. However, the molecular and morphological evidence presented in this study, added to those from works clearly indicates the validity as a new species of Liolaemus.

Nuevo registro de la tortuga acuática Hydromedusa tectifera (Cope, 1869; Testudines: Chelidae) para la Pampa Deprimida (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Mauro Iván Bonavita — 2024-09-02

New distribution record and habitat of the Mesoamerican Drunken Toad, Rhinophrynus dorsalis Duméril and Bibron, 1841, in Honduras

Anthonie Andino-Mazariegos — 2024-09-30