A new species of red toad, Schismaderma Smith, 1849 (Anura: Bufonidae), from central Angola
- Baptista, Ninda L, Pinto, Pedro V, Keates, Chad, Edwards, Shelley, Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Conradie, Werner C
- Authors: Baptista, Ninda L , Pinto, Pedro V , Keates, Chad , Edwards, Shelley , Rödel, Mark-Oliver , Conradie, Werner C
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461462 , vital:76204 , xlink:href="https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.5081.3.1"
- Description: A new species of red toad, from the previously monotypic genus Schismaderma, is described. The new species was found in Malanje Province, and seems endemic to central Angola, occurring approximately 500 km west of the closest known records of Schismaderma carens. Unusual adult colouration and geographical distance to remaining S. carens populations suggested specific differentiation. In an integrative approach, we compared the red toads from central Angola with S. carens from across the entire range, including molecular data, morphology of adults and tadpoles, and male advertisement calls. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) and nuclear (CXCR4, RAG1) markers, retrieved the Angolan clade as monophyletic, and revealed intra-specific substructuring among the remaining Schismaderma. Genetic distances supported specific differentiation of the central Angolan material compared with other S. carens. Adults from the new Angolan species have bolder ventral patterning and smaller body size than S. carens. No obvious differences were detected between the tadpoles and the advertisement calls of the two Schismaderma species. This discovery adds to the knowledge of the herpetofauna of the Angolan Miombo woodlands, a poorly understood ecoregion, and likely more biodiverse than previously assumed. The result of past river basin dynamics in central Angola likely led to the evolution of this new species of Schismaderma.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Baptista, Ninda L , Pinto, Pedro V , Keates, Chad , Edwards, Shelley , Rödel, Mark-Oliver , Conradie, Werner C
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461462 , vital:76204 , xlink:href="https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.5081.3.1"
- Description: A new species of red toad, from the previously monotypic genus Schismaderma, is described. The new species was found in Malanje Province, and seems endemic to central Angola, occurring approximately 500 km west of the closest known records of Schismaderma carens. Unusual adult colouration and geographical distance to remaining S. carens populations suggested specific differentiation. In an integrative approach, we compared the red toads from central Angola with S. carens from across the entire range, including molecular data, morphology of adults and tadpoles, and male advertisement calls. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) and nuclear (CXCR4, RAG1) markers, retrieved the Angolan clade as monophyletic, and revealed intra-specific substructuring among the remaining Schismaderma. Genetic distances supported specific differentiation of the central Angolan material compared with other S. carens. Adults from the new Angolan species have bolder ventral patterning and smaller body size than S. carens. No obvious differences were detected between the tadpoles and the advertisement calls of the two Schismaderma species. This discovery adds to the knowledge of the herpetofauna of the Angolan Miombo woodlands, a poorly understood ecoregion, and likely more biodiverse than previously assumed. The result of past river basin dynamics in central Angola likely led to the evolution of this new species of Schismaderma.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
New insights into the geographical distribution, ecology and conservation status of South Africa’s endemic Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910)
- Nicolau, Gary K, Petford, Melissa, Edwards, Shelley, Busschau, Theo, Lynch, Kier, Kemp, Luke, Balmer, Jonathan P, Keates, Chad, Hundermark, Courtney R, Weeber, Joshua, Conradie, Werner C
- Authors: Nicolau, Gary K , Petford, Melissa , Edwards, Shelley , Busschau, Theo , Lynch, Kier , Kemp, Luke , Balmer, Jonathan P , Keates, Chad , Hundermark, Courtney R , Weeber, Joshua , Conradie, Werner C
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461517 , vital:76209 , xlink:href="https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/63908"
- Description: Range-restricted species are generally poorly known and at higher risk of extinction than species with wider distributions. In the past, the Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910) caused much confusion and was once referred to as “one of the herpetological mysteries of the region”. Knowledge on the species has grown substantially, predominately due to new insights into its ecological preferences. Surveys from 2018 through early 2020 re-established the presence of C. peringueyi at three of four historical localities, as well as documenting four new localities. In 2018, preliminary data from these surveys resulted in an IUCN Red List downgrading from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened. However, with further investigation into the distribution of the species, the results from the present study more than doubled the previously estimated Extent of Occurrence from 785 km2 to 1504 km2 and the populations appear to be stable, despite environmental and anthropogenic disturbance. By incorporating environmental niche modelling, we further discuss the distribution, habits and ecology of C. peringueyi. The results presented here highlight the importance of fully understanding a species’ ecology to address its conservation status and we suggest that a new listing of Least Concern is appropriate for C. peringueyi.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Nicolau, Gary K , Petford, Melissa , Edwards, Shelley , Busschau, Theo , Lynch, Kier , Kemp, Luke , Balmer, Jonathan P , Keates, Chad , Hundermark, Courtney R , Weeber, Joshua , Conradie, Werner C
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461517 , vital:76209 , xlink:href="https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/63908"
- Description: Range-restricted species are generally poorly known and at higher risk of extinction than species with wider distributions. In the past, the Coastal Leaf-toed Gecko, Cryptactites peringueyi (Boulenger, 1910) caused much confusion and was once referred to as “one of the herpetological mysteries of the region”. Knowledge on the species has grown substantially, predominately due to new insights into its ecological preferences. Surveys from 2018 through early 2020 re-established the presence of C. peringueyi at three of four historical localities, as well as documenting four new localities. In 2018, preliminary data from these surveys resulted in an IUCN Red List downgrading from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened. However, with further investigation into the distribution of the species, the results from the present study more than doubled the previously estimated Extent of Occurrence from 785 km2 to 1504 km2 and the populations appear to be stable, despite environmental and anthropogenic disturbance. By incorporating environmental niche modelling, we further discuss the distribution, habits and ecology of C. peringueyi. The results presented here highlight the importance of fully understanding a species’ ecology to address its conservation status and we suggest that a new listing of Least Concern is appropriate for C. peringueyi.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
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