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Teratological anomalies are congenital abnormalities manifested in the body structure of an organism because of developmental aberrations. These congenital abnormalities, also known as teratological forms, are rare in ticks (Ixodida) and include cases of asymmetries, atrophies, gynandromorphs, and schizomelies. Such teratological anomalies are underreported in Asia, as evidenced by the relatively few published works on this subject. Here, we describe five cases of teratological anomalies in the ixodid ticks Amblyomma cordiferum Neumann, Amblyomma helvolum Koch, and Dermacentor taiwanensis Sugimoto from Taiwan and the Philippines. These are the first records of teratologies in D. taiwanensis and A. cordiferum and only the second report for A. helvolum. Additionally, these are the first published accounts of teratological anomalies in ixodid species from Taiwan and the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article, published in the journal Mitochondrial DNA Part B, discusses the discovery of the first recorded instance of an ixodid tick parasitizing the snake genus Pseudagkistrodon in Taiwan. The tick species, Amblyomma cordiferum, is commonly found on snakes but has also been observed on other reptiles and some mammals. This report highlights the first known case of A. cordiferum parasitizing P. rudis and the Pseudagkistrodon genus. The article suggests further research to determine if there are additional tick species associated with P. rudis. [Extracted from the article]

The ixodid tick Amblyomma cordiferumNeumann, 1899 is an uncommonly collected Old World reptile-associated species that is primarily ectoparasitic on snakes. This tick is known from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Samoa. In Taiwan, A. cordiferum has previously been reported on Elaphe carinata (Günther), Elaphe taeniura (Cope), and Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus). In this paper, we examined a total of 246 specimens of A. cordiferum from recent and old collections. Here we report new Taiwan records of A. cordiferum parasitizing the Chinese cobra, Naja atra Cantor, many-banded krait, Bungarus multicinctus Blyth, and yellow-spotted keelback, Fowlea flavipunctatus (Hallowell). This is also the first report of A. cordiferum parasitizing members of the venomous family Elapidae in Taiwan, as well as the first report of A. cordiferum parasitizing a member of the colubrid genus Fowlea Theobald. An updated host-parasite list summarizes all known hosts of A. cordiferum throughout this tick's geographic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyomma helvolum Koch is an Asiatic reptile-associated tick that usually inhabits tropical forests and is primarily parasitic on varanids, skinks, and snakes. In Taiwan, A. helvolum has been reported on Elaphe carinata (Taiwan stink snake) and Ptyas mucosa (Oriental rat snake). Herein, we report new host records of A. helvolum in Taiwan from the following squamate species: Diploderma swinhonis (Swinhoe's japalure), Eutropis longicaudata (Long-tailed sun skink), Oligodon formosanus (Taiwan kukri), Sphenomorphus incognitus (Brown forest skink), and Trimeresurus stejnegeri (Chinese green tree viper). In addition, we present an overview of the distribution of A. helvolum across its range and its association with reptilian microbial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thaumapsylla Rothschild is a small genus of Old World ischnopsyllid fleas parasitic only on the family Pteropodidae (fruit bats). Despite its widespread record in the Philippines, it has never been reported in the Bicol Region, southern Luzon. In this account, we report the first record of Thaumapsylla breviceps Rothschild in the Bicol Region. It was collected from Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson), a nectarivorous fruit bat native to Southeast Asia. Also, this paper represents the first record of the genus Thaumapsylla on Bicol Region, Luzon Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclopodia horsfieldi de Meijere, 1899 is an Old World nycteribiid bat fly primarily ectoparasitic to flying foxes (Pteropodidae). This is the first record of C. horsfieldi on Ursula Island, Philippines. This represents the first report of an ectoparasitic arthropod on bats in this protected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in Herpetological Review discusses various natural history observations related to snakes and their prey. It includes instances of Drymarchon corais preying on Philodryas olfersii in Brazil, Elaphe carinata consuming Nectophrynoides viviparus in Tanzania, and Elaphe carinata with ectoparasites in Taiwan. Additionally, the document highlights Elaphe schrenckii's arboreal mating behavior in Russia. The observations provide valuable insights into the ecological interactions and behaviors of these snake species in different regions. [Extracted from the article]

Studies on the relationship between host species and ectoparasites are limited on small oceanic islands such as the Philippine archipelago, particularly between bat species and their associated ectoparasites. Prior to our study, only a single bat fly species (Leptocyclopodia simulans), a wingless species in the family Nycteribiidae, was reported on Bohol Island located in the central Philippines. We report additional records of nycteribiid bat fly species collected from cave-dwelling bats on Bohol Island. We also report the first records of winged bat flies in the family Streblidae as well as new distribution records for Brachytarsina amboinensis, B. cucullata, B. werneri, Megastrebla parvior, Raymondia pagodarum, R. pseudopagodarum, Eucampsipoda inermis, E. sundaica, Nycteribia allotopa, N. allotopoides, N. parvula, and Penicillidia acuminata on Bohol Island. In addition to documenting new distribution records of nycteribiid and streblid bat flies in the Philippines, we also report new host records for some bat fly species. This includes the first record of B. amboinensis collected on Taphozous melanopogon (Black-bearded tomb bat), B. werneri on Miniopterus tristis (Great bent-winged bat), and R. pagodarum on Hipposideros pygmaeus (Philippine pygmy roundleaf bat). Our study highlights the undocumented relationships that exist between bats and bat flies, and warrants further investigation particularly in understudied island systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How flightless animals disperse to remote oceanic islands is a key unresolved question in biogeography. The flightless Pachyrhynchus weevils represent repetitive colonization history in West Pacific islands, which attracted our interests about how some weevils have successfully dispersed in the reverse direction against the sea current. Here, we propose endozoochory as a possible mechanism that the eggs of the weevils might be carried by embedded in the fruits as the food of frugivorous birds. In this study, Pachyrhynchus eggs were embedded in small pieces of persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki) and fed to captive frugivorous birds. After digestion, 83%–100% eggs were retrieved from the feces of a bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) and two thrushes (Turdus chrysolaus). The retrieved eggs had hatching rates higher than 84%, which were not different from the control. In contrast, no egg was retrieved from the feces of the frugivorous pigeon (Treron sieboldii), which took a longer retention time in the guts. Our study identified that the eggs of Pachyrhynchus weevils are possible to be transported by internal digesting in some bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in Herpetological Review discusses various natural history observations related to different species. It reports an unusual feeding event of Micrurus yatesi on Hydromorphus concolor in Costa Rica, as well as an instance of Amblyomma cordiferum tick attachment on Naja atra in Taiwan. Additionally, it mentions limited records of predation on Nerodia clarkii, including instances involving Blue Crab, Whooping Crane, and American Crocodile. The article provides valuable insights into the interactions and behaviors of these reptiles and their associated parasites in different ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on investigating ectoparasites found on Cyclemys dentata (Asian Leaf Turtle), a freshwater turtle native to Southeast Asia, to understand potential threats to its population across its range due to factors like habitat destruction and illegal trade.

The article focuses on ticks as ectoparasites of reptiles, specifically Elaphe taeniura, and highlights the typical locations where ticks are found on lizards and snakes.

The article reports the first published record of the endemic Luzon Stream Frog, Anguirana luzonensis, in Pampanga Province and Mt. Arayat National Park, observed on boulders near stream banks at night, marking a new addition to its previously known range across the Greater Luzon faunal region.

The article documents the first records of the Kalinga Narrowmouth Toad (Kaloula kalingensis) from Pampanga Province, Philippines, with observations made on July 5 and 6, 2023, at Mt. Arayat National Park, marking a significant addition to the species' known range.

The article focuses on the discovery of a DENDRELAPHIS LUZONENSIS (Luzon Bronzeback Tree Snake) in Mt. Arayat National Park, Philippines, near the forest edge, marking the first provincial record for Pampanga province.

The Philippines possess a remarkable species diversity of amphibians and reptiles, much of which is endemic to this Southeast Asia island nation. Lizard diversity in the family Gekkonidae is no exception, with more than 80% of the country's gecko species endemic to the archipelago, including the entire genus of False Geckos ( Pseudogekko). This small radiation of diminutive, slender, arboreal forest species has been the focus of several recent phylogenetic and systematic studies that have highlighted the prevalence of undocumented species concentrated in several geographical regions within the archipelago. Newly available genetic data have led to the revision of two species complexes in the genus Pseudogekko, one of which is the focus of this study. We describe a new member of the Pseudogekko brevipes complex, which represents the first population from this species group discovered in the Luzon Faunal Region. Because of the species' secretive nature, rarity, or restricted geographic range, it has gone undetected despite recent biodiversity surveys targeting the central and northern portions of the Bicol Peninsula. We evaluate both morphological and genetic data to support the recognition of the new species. All three members of the P. brevipes complex have allopatric distributions situated within three of the archipelago's distinct faunal regions. The recognition of the new species increases the total number of taxa in the genus Pseudogekko to nine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyctenidae Westwood, also known as bat bugs, is a haematophagous group of hemipterans exclusively ectoparasitic on bats and is closely related to Cimicidae Latreille. These bugs are dorsoventrally flattened with conspicuous ctenidia, apterous, anophthalmus, possess well-developed legs, and reproduce via pseudoplacental viviparity. They are rare compared to other insect taxa ectoparasitic on bats as evinced by a relatively small number of museum collections and described taxa. Worldwide, it is represented by 2 subfamilies, 5 genera, and 32 species. In the Philippines, it is only represented by two species from the genus Eoctenes Kirkaldy: E. spasmae (Waterhouse) and E. intermedius (Speiser). The first Philippine record for the genus was reported in 1961 from Northern Luzon. This paper presents the first record of Eoctenes in Southern Luzon, with key to the Cimicoidea ectoparasitic on bats in the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]