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Background: SINEs comprise a significant part of animal genomes and are used to study the evolution of diverse taxa. Despite significant advances in SINE studies in vertebrates and higher eukaryotes in general, their own evolution is poorly understood. Results: We have discovered and described in detail a new Squam3 SINE specific for scaled reptiles (Squamata). The subfamilies of this SINE demonstrate different distribution in the genomes of squamates, which together with the data on similar SINEs in the tuatara allowed us to propose a scenario of their evolution in the context of reptilian evolution. Conclusions: Ancestral SINEs preserved in small numbers in most genomes can give rise to taxa-specific SINE families. Analysis of this aspect of SINEs can shed light on the history and mechanisms of SINE variation in reptilian genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A juvenile lizard specimen was collected from Foding Mountain National Nature Reserve of Guizhou Province, on 12 July 2017, which lacks supranasal scale, but has 2 loreal, 6 supralabial, complete frontonasal and smooth parietal scales, with two temporal scales connecting with one side of the parietal scales. It was identified as Tropidophorus berdmorei, which is a reptilian record in Guizhou Province. The specimen is preserved in animal herbarium of Tongren University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amniote vertebrates share a suite of extra-embryonic membranes that distinguish them from anamniotes. Other than that, however, their reproductive characteristics could not be more different. They differ in basic ectothermic vs endothermic physiology, in that two clades evolved powered flight, and one clade evolved a protective shell. In terms of reproductive strategies, some produce eggs and others give birth to live young, at various degrees of development. Crucially, endotherms provide lengthy parental care, including thermal and food provisioning—whereas ectotherms seldom do. These differences could be expected to manifest themselves in major differences between clades in quantitative reproductive traits. We review the reproductive characteristics, and the distributions of brood sizes, breeding frequencies, offspring sizes and their derivatives (yearly fecundity and biomass production rates) of the four major amniote clades (mammals, birds, turtles and squamates), and several major subclades (birds: Palaeognathae, Galloanserae, Neoaves; mammals: Metatheria and Eutheria). While there are differences between these clades in some of these traits, they generally show similar ranges, distribution shapes and central tendencies across birds, placental mammals and squamates. Marsupials and turtles, however, differ in having smaller offspring, a strategy which subsequently influences other traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The features of rDNA amplification have been studied in oocytes of the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta using a number of specific histochemical and cytomolecular methods. A single nucleolus in early diplotene oocytes is associated with the nucleolus organizer region (NOR). With oocyte growth, the number of nucleoli increases dramatically and reaches hundreds by the lampbrush chromosome stage (pre-vitellogenesis). RNA-polymerase I, fibrillarin, and PCNA immunodetection in the amplified nucleoli and FISH of the 5'ETS probe to the oocyte nuclear content suggest pre-rRNA and rDNA synthesis in the nucleoli at all stages studied. This implies a continuous reproduction of the nucleoli during oocyte development from early diplotene up to vitellogenesis. The data obtained offer a different way for rDNA amplification and formation of extrachromosomal nucleoli in turtle oocytes compared with the amplified nucleoli formation in amphibian and fish oocytes. In the Sauropsida clade of Archelosauria, which includes turtles, crocodiles, and birds, rDNA function is known to be suppressed in avian oogenesis during the lampbrush stage (Gaginskaya et al. in Cytogenet Genome Res 124:251–267, 2009). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Traffic is one of the most important pillars of economy and is a central factor of our everyday lives. In the past decades, the expanse of road networks and the number of vehicles increased considerably all over the world. These effects pose a serious threat to the wildlife, and generates conflicts between humans and the wildlife, including animal-vehicle collisions have become a major problem. In our review, we surveyed the related publications from Hungary in order to identify the negative effects of traffic on vertebrates. We found 41 articles related to animal-vehicle collisions, which list a total of 153 vertebrate species involved in roadkill. The nature conservation damage caused by the roadkills exceeded one billion HUF in the case of the vertebrate fauna in Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early evolution of dinosaurs is documented by abundant postcranial material, but cranial material is much rarer and comparisons of cranial features among early dinosaurs are limited to only a few specimens. Here, we fully detail the osteology of the unusual early-diverging dinosaur Daemonosaurus chauliodus from the latest Triassic Coelophysis Quarry in northern New Mexico, USA. The taxon possesses a unique and curious suite of character states present in a variety of early dinosaurs, and the morphology of D. chauliodus appears to link the morphology of Herrerasaurus with that of later diverging eusaurichians. Our phylogenetic analyses places D. chauliodus at the base of dinosaurs and our interpretation of the unusual mix of character states of D. chauliodus does not lead to a firm conclusion about its nearest relationships or its implications for the evolution of character state transitions at the base of Dinosauria. The combination of character states of D. chauliodus should not be ignored in future considerations of character evolution in early dinosaurs. As one of the last members of the earliest radiation of saurischians in the Carnian–early Norian, D. chauliodus demonstrates that members of the original diversification of dinosaurs survived until nearly the end of the Triassic Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex constructions of land vertebrate skulls have inspired a number of functional analyses. In the present study, we provide a basic view on skull biomechanics and offer a framework for more general observations using advanced modeling approaches in the future. We concentrate our discussion on the cranial openings in the temporal skull region and work out two major, feeding-related factors that largely influence the shape of the skull. We argue that (1) the place where the most forceful biting is conducted and (2) the handling of resisting food (sideward movements) constitute the formation and shaping of either one or two temporal arcades surrounding these openings. Diversity in temporal skull anatomy among amniotes can be explained by specific modulations of these factors with different amounts of acting forces which inevitably lead to deposition or reduction of bone material. For example, forceful anterior bite favors an infratemporal bar, whereas forceful posterior bite favors formation of an upper temporal arcade. Transverse forces (inertia and resistance of seized objects) as well as neck posture also influence the shaping of the temporal region. Considering their individual skull morphotypes, we finally provide hypotheses on the feeding adaptation in a variety of major tetrapod groups. We did not consider ligaments, internal bone structure, or cranial kinesis in our considerations. Involving those in quantitative tests of our hypotheses, such as finite element system synthesis, will provide a comprehensive picture on cranial mechanics and evolution in the future., (© 2024 The Authors. The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

Teiid lizards possess an incomplete post-hepatic septum (PHS) separating the lungs and liver from the remaining viscera, and within this group, Salvator merianae has the most complete PHS. In this study, we explored the combined effects of the presence of the PHS and alterations in abdominal volume on the mechanics of the respiratory system. The PHS is believed to act as a mechanical barrier, mitigating the impact of the viscera on the lungs. Using established protocols, we determined static (Cstat) and dynamic (Cdyn) compliance, lung volume and work of breathing for the respiratory system in tegu lizards with intact (PHS+) or removed (PHS-) PHS, combined with (balloon+) or without (balloon-) increased abdominal volume. The removal of the PHS significantly reduced resting lung volume and Cdyn, as well as significantly increasing the work of breathing. An increase in abdominal volume significantly reduced Cstat, Cdyn, and resting and maximum lung volume. However, the work of breathing increased less in the PHS+/balloon+ treatment than in the PHS- treatments. These results highlight the barrier function of the PHS within the tegu lizard's body cavity. The septum effectively reduces the impact of the viscera on the respiratory system, enabling the lungs to be ventilated at a low work level, even when abdominal volume is increased. The presence of the PHS in teiid lizards underscores how extrapulmonary structures, such as septal divisions of the body cavity, can profoundly affect pulmonary breathing mechanics., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Information gaps about species distribution hamper the evaluation of conservation status and decisions on biodiversity conservation, affecting to a greater extent, areas with high species richness and endemism. In this context, biological inventories are an important tool to fill these gaps by providing data on the composition, richness, and abundance of species in each locality. The Parque Nacional da Serra das Lontras (PNSL) protects various mountain range just up 1000 m. in altitude, and, together with other conservation units, forms an ecological corridor in the southern part of the state of Bahia, within the Atlantic Forest hotspot. We conducted systematic samplings on transects, and opportunistic records in ponds and streams, in order to record amphibian and reptile species in the PNSL. We complement the sampling with the information available in the literature and in scientific collections. A total of 100 species (49 amphibians and 51 reptiles) was recorded, 53 of them endemic to the Atlantic Forest, 13 to the state of Bahia, and two known only from the PNSL. Hylidae was the most diverse family of amphibians (22 spp.) and Colubridae of reptiles (33 spp.). New information on the distribution and natural history of these species is provided, many of which have not yet been assessed by the IUCN while others have already been categorized as at risk of extinction at the regional level. Results confirm the high species richness and rates of endemism in southern Bahia and highlight the importance of protecting high altitude areas for the preservation of evolutionary and ecological processes within the Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term data sets are critical in assessing populations of long-lived species such as turtles. The Urban Turtle Project was initiated in 2018 to begin building a long-term data set on the demography and ecology of the turtle populations in various urban waterways of Birmingham, Alabama. Another goal of the project is to increase public awareness of the state's impressive chelonian diversity by employing citizen scientists on semiannual sampling weekends. In its 2-yr existence, 52 participants volunteered over 200 hrs during 4 sampling weekends, with 16 volunteering for multiple weekends. Over 200 turtles of 10 species were sampled, with the majority of captures (n = 83) being Alabama map turtles (Graptemys pulchra), a historically understudied species. Collected demographic and reproductive data contribute to a better understanding of natural history of G. pulchra and how this and other species exist in an urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica) are a species of conservation concern with a limited distribution in Pennsylvania. We examined nest site fidelity of G. geographica along the Juniata River at Mount Union, the largest reported nesting area in the commonwealth. Nesting habitat included a mitigation area bordering a highway, partitioned by a turtle exclusion fence, and an adjacent pile of coal tailings. A linear grid along the turtle fence allowed us to determine distances between nests of individual females. Our results indicate that female G. geographica at Mount Union exhibit nest site fidelity, as the frequency distribution of distances between nests of individual females was positively skewed, and distances between nests (both within and among seasons) were smaller than distances between randomly selected pairs of nests from different individuals. Females placed different clutches of eggs as close together as 0.30 m. Within-season (first and second clutch) internest distances were significantly smaller than internest distances among years, which increased over time. We also attached radio transmitters to a sample of adult females following nesting to determine the extent of riverine migrations, as long-distance nesting migrations are associated with fidelity to particular nesting sites. Following nesting, 2 females remained in the river near the Mount Union nesting habitat and 3 females moved downstream 4.3–5.6 km, yet all of the turtles returned to their previous nesting areas the following summer. Nest site fidelity can benefit map turtles if the habitat remains stable, results in high nest survivorship, and produces high-quality hatchlings, yet the behavior may be detrimental if it exposes turtles to significant risks such as road mortality or environmental contaminants. Our results indicate that maintaining long-term nesting habitat and ensuring suitable river quality at Mount Union may be essential for the conservation of G. geographica in central Pennsylvania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and Pearl map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) were first separated from the Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) in 1992 under the former name and subsequently recognized as 2 separate species in 2010. The possibility that they should be listed under the Endangered Species Act was raised 7 yrs after separation from G. pulchra, when basking surveys showed that at most sites they were considerably less abundant than 2 sympatric congeners listed as threatened: the Pearl River drainage's ringed sawback (Graptemys oculifera, listed in 1986) and the Pascagoula River drainage's yellow-blotched sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata, listed in 1991). Historical data also indicated that the sympatric species pairs may once have been more similar in abundance. Now, more than 2 decades later, G. gibbonsi and G. pearlensis are candidates for listing. From 2015 to 2018, we surveyed basking turtles in point counts and in jon boat and canoe surveys and conducted trapping at several sites to ascertain the status of the 2 candidate species. Data were also combined with similar data collected between 2006 and 2014. Despite their similarity morphologically and in their basic ecology, 3 important differences are pertinent to the question of whether the 2 candidate species should be federally protected. First, their river systems are geomorphically very different. The medium-size to large tributary streams that the 2 species inhabit are a considerably more prominent feature of the Pascagoula drainage than the Pearl drainage and may insulate populations from potential threats on the main stems. Second, G. gibbonsi inhabited 35% more stream reach, had 22% higher catch per unit effort, and were recorded at 44% higher numbers in point counts and 3% higher numbers in basking density surveys than G. pearlensis. Coarse-scale estimates of each species' global populations suggest that G. gibbonsi is ∼ 1.56 times as abundant as G. pearlensis overall. Third, the reasons for the listing of each species' sympatric sawback congener are very different: G. oculifera of the Pearl drainage was listed primarily due to existing and imminent but as-yet-unrealized habitat modification, while G. flavimaculata of the Pascagoula drainage was listed primarily due to perceived low populations, particularly in upper portions of the drainage, and concerns regarding water quality. We conclude that G. pearlensis warrants conservation protection via a listing as threatened, while G. gibbonsi should be listed either as threatened or as threatened by similarity of appearance. For G. gibbonsi, the former option would recognize a long-term historical decline in its relative abundance suggested by trapping data from the 1950s through 1970s, while the latter would recognize its less imperiled status and protect it from the pet trade while focusing recovery efforts on G. pearlensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its biological importance in shaping both individual fitness and population structure, much remains to be learned about the hatchling emergence ecology of most freshwater turtles. Here, we provide some of the first details on these early life stages for the Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) obtained during 2015–2017 along the lower Wisconsin River, Iowa County, Wisconsin, and integrate our results into related research within the genus Graptemys. Dedicated trail cameras over in situ turtle nests provided otherwise difficult to obtain observational data relevant to natural hatchling emergence without disturbing nests or hatchlings. In contrast to some earlier reports for Graptemys, hatchling emergence was mostly diurnal and synchronous, primarily in the morning soon after soil temperatures began to rise from overnight low values. Data suggest a temperature change model of cueing hatchling emergence, which may represent a local or regional adaptation to reduce nocturnal predation risks, mostly from raccoons (Procyon lotor), or may simply reflect default diurnal hatchling activity patterns when not affected by thermal constraints. Aside from predation, hatchlings on this small study site are affected by vegetative shading, leading to relatively long times to first emergence periods (mean, 82.3 d), low mean nest temperatures (25.9°C), and a likely male-biased sex ratio. These findings highlight the value of hatchling emergence studies in revealing important influences on population viability and in guiding appropriate habitat management in conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its importance to individual fitness and population dynamics, the dispersal behaviors of most neonate freshwater turtles after nest emergence are poorly known. We studied the initial dispersal tendencies of neonate Ouachita map turtles (Graptemys ouachitensis) exiting natural nests during 2015–2017 along the Wisconsin River, Wisconsin. Overall, dispersal was nonrandom, and hatchlings largely oriented toward the nearest substantial vegetative cover, a woodland north of the nesting area. However, variation sometimes occurred in routes taken among hatchlings within a clutch. Directional changes within an individual's dispersal track, including route reversals, were also observed. As our work appears to be the first to use standalone trail cameras as a primary data-gathering tool for a hatchling dispersal study, it highlights the potential benefits and limitations of this technique for similar research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most species remain unknown to science and might go extinct before we recognize their existence. Although specimens belonging to many of these unknown taxa may already be housed in scientific collections, they can remain 'shelved' for years bearing the wrong name or without a formal name. We investigate factors underlying variation in time lag between collection and description dates for 2356 reptile species described worldwide between 1992 and 2017. We modelled the time to description using biological and sociological variables in a time-to-event analysis. Time lag between collection and description varied from zero to 155 years (median = 5). More than one-quarter of species involved specimens 'shelved' for 12 years or more. The time lag was shorter when the collector of the holotype – specimen serving as the name-bearer of the species – was an author of the description, while taxonomic revisions uncovered species with longer time lags. Unknown species collected by non-taxonomists and 'shelved' in scientific collections remained incorrectly identified for a much longer time. Taxonomic revisions are crucial to reverse this trend and improve benefits of the collecting performed by non-taxonomists. Our findings reveal the kinds of preserved reptile specimens that most likely represent unknown species in scientific collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new parareptile from the Cisuralian Pedra de Fogo Formation of north-eastern Brazil is described. Karutia fortunata gen. et sp. nov. is the first Gondwanan member of Acleistorhinidae, a clade previously known only from North America but thought to be closely related to the Russian Lanthanosuchidae. A re-examination of parareptile phylogeny indicates that lanthanosuchids are not closely related to acleistorhinids. These results are more congruent both stratigraphically and biogeographically than the previous 'lanthanosuchoid' position for acleistorhinids, as they eliminate a 15 Ma ghost lineage within parareptiles, leaving Acleistorhinidae as an exclusively Pennsylvanian/Cisuralian clade from western Pangaea. Karutia fortunata contributes to our knowledge of the early Permian diversity of Parareptilia in Gondwana, a clade previously represented only by the mesosaurid inhabitants of the Irati-Whitehill epicontinental sea in the southern portion of the supercontinent. The new parareptile joins captorhinids in the amniote record of the Pedra de Fogo Formation, improving our picture of the inland tetrapod fauna of the southern hemisphere during the Cisuralian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The lack of information on the occurrence of species in a region limits the understanding of the composition and structure of the local community and, consequently, restricts the proposition of effective measures for species conservation. In this study, we researched the reptiles in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (DBBR), Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. We analyzed the parameters of the local community, such as richness, composition, and abundance of species. We conducted samplings from August 2017 to January 2019, through active search. We performed the samplings in nine standard plots of 250 meters in length. All individuals located in the plots or occasionally on the trails were registered. To evaluate sample effort to characterize the reptile community, we performed an accumulation curve of species, and to update the DBBR reptile list, we used as secondary data specimens deposited in collections and previously published studies. Considering primary and secondary data, we recorded 38 species, one chelonia, 13 lizards, and 24 snakes. Our study showed a richness of 15 additional species to the previous list of reptiles, increasing by about 40% the known richness to the area. We concluded that the DBBR holds a high richness of reptile species, representing 12% of the richness of reptiles of the Atlantic Forest and with a considerable number of endemic species in this biome. This suggests that the DBBR is an important forest fragment constituting a reservoir of the biodiversity of the reptiles of the Atlantic Forest.

The genera Iguanaand Ctenosaurabelong to the Iguanidae family, and populations of most species of these genera have decreased due to anthropogenic effects. The natural history of most species of this family is poorly known, including Ctenosaura similis. Therefore, this study documents some ecological aspects of the species, such as its feeding habits, and habitat and microhabitat use in a population on Isla Contoy in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The data showed that even though C. similisis distributed throughout the island, individuals more commonly use human construction (buildings) of Parque Nacional Isla Contoy (PNIC) and mangrove areas. Microhabitats most used by all age classes and sexes were rocks and trees. The diet of the species is omnivorous; however, the frequency of prey type consumed changes with the age of the individuals (hatchlings, juveniles, and adults), as well as with the season of the year. The practice of cannibalism by some individuals is also reported, as well as coprophagy and scavenging. This work provides general information on the life history of C. similis, complementing the scarce information that is currently available.

The partial skeleton of a small tetrapod, collected from the lower Buchenstein Formation (uppermost Illyrian, Anisian Middle Triassic) of Piz da Peres (Northern Dolomites, Italy) is described. Incomplete ossification of some bones indicate that the specimen is a juvenile. Its absolute size and proportions, along with several skeletal structures show striking similarities with a juvenile specimen of Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi from the slightly younger Prosanto Formation (Switzerland), a taxon known also from the Anisian/Ladinian Besano Formation (Italy and Switzerland). The finding may suggest that during the middle-late Anisian the basins of the Northern Dolomites, of the Besano Formation and Prosanto Formation shared not only several taxa of fishes but also the emerged lands nearby had a similar reptilian fauna.

The Pedra de Fogo Formation in the Parnaíba Basin of northeastern Brazil hosts a recently discovered lacustrine fauna and provides the only known record of the Captorhinidae in South America. Here, new captorhinid remains from this unit are described. Two partial mandibles, including one formerly ascribed to the genus Captorhinus, are here referred to Captorhinikos sp. a genus previously described from North America. The natural mould of a large mandible probably represents a new taxon within the captorhinid subclade Moradisaurinae, and a small skull roof is regarded as Captorhinidae indet. Captorhinids are generally considered to have been herbivores or omnivores. The Pedra de Fogo captorhinids likely played an important ecological role as primary consumers in the palaeoenvironment of this geological unit, which is also known for its extensive record of petrified forests. The new finds reinforce the close relationships between the continental faunas of palaeotropical western Gondwana and palaeoequatorial North America during the Cisuralian.

Tetrapod remains are extremely rare in the early Carnian (Late Triassic) Calcare del Predil Formation on the Italian side of the Julian Alps (Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region), which yielded the Raibl fossil assemblage including the famous "Raibl ichthyofauna". A new tanystropheid archosauromorph, Raibliania calligarisi, is here named based on a partial skeleton found in this formation along the Prasnig Brook. The new taxon is similar to Tanystropheus, sharing with it the very elongated cervical vertebrae, but is characterized by the presence of relatively large button-like teeth; apex of the neural spines not transversely thickened; articular facets on the upper corners of the neural spines of the dorsal vertebrae; short and distally pointed pleurapophyses of the second and last 'lumbar' vertebra; ilium with a long preacetabular process bearing a robust and transversely thick tuberosity and a medial ridge bordering the entire ventral part of the iliac blade; and pubis with a cranial process. Tanystropheids lived in the present day Alps and Prealps of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region from the late Anisian to the mid-late Norian and were an important component of the coastal reptile faunas, although they were less common than eusauropterygians and placodonts during the early Carnian. Tanystropheids with extremely elongated cervical vertebrae are reported in this area from the upper Anisian to the lower Carnian.

Information is given on new findings of five rare and endangered species of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting the Primorsky Krai: Onychodactylus fischeri, Pelodiscus maackii, Takydromus wolteri, Oocatochus rufodorsatus and Hebius vibakari. New locations are presented for the studied amphibians and reptiles. For the first time, Onychodactylus fischeri is reported here for the Partizanky Ridge, thus expanding its known habitat range in the south-western direction. Data on Takydromus wolteri, Oocatochus rufodorsatus and Hebius vibakari findings in western Primorsky Krai are provided for the first time. Habitat borders of Takydromus wolteri in the northern part of its distribution has been updated in various directions: to the west (Khankaysky District), north (Krasnoarmeysky District) and northeast (Olginsky District). The current model of habitat range and breeding places of Khankaysky population of Pelodiscus maackii has been demonstrated, taking into account submerging sandy spits on the western coast of Lake Khanka in 2014–2017. Rivers flowing into Khanka from the western site were shown to play an important role for inhabitance and reproduction of this species. Detailed information on distribution of Hebius vibakari in Primorsky Krai is given for the first time. This species is indicated to be common and sometimes numerous in the south and central parts of Primorsky Krai. The current state of this species' population was researched at locations indicated previously in the references. Some Protected Areas were analysed in the way they protect rare species of the Far Eastern herpetofauna. Hebius vibakari occurs consistently in the State Nature Reserve «Ussuriysky», State Nature Reserve «Kedrovaya Pad» and National Park «Land of the Leopard». Within their borders, the National Park «Bikin» and National Park «Udegeyskaya Legenda» are shown to have no effect on conserving populations of Pelodiscus maackii and Oocatochus rufodorsatus inhabiting basins of the River Bikin and River Bolshaya Ussurka. Their populations are distributed to the west of the national parks. Organising new Protected Areas is urgent for the Primorsky Krai in its western part (River Komissarovka basin) and in its south-eastern part (Livadiysky Ridge).

The paper summarises available data on the species diversity of helminths in reptiles of the National Park «Samarskaya Luka» (Russia). Helminths of seven species of reptiles were examined in the region in 1996–2016. Thirty helminth species were noted in snakes and lizards: 19 trematodes, one cestode, nine nematodes and one acanthocephalan. Natrix natrix with 20 helminth species and N. tessellata with 14 helminth species were proven to have the richest helminth fauna. The fauna of helminths was less diversified in Lacerta agilis (seven species) and Anguis fragilis (four species).No helminths were detected in Coronella austriaca, Vipera berus and Elaphe dione. The fish nematode parasite Camallanus truncatus was registered in reptiles for the first time. Six species of helminths were discovered in reptiles of Russia for the first time: the trematodes Neoglyphe sobolevi, Prosotocus confusus, nematodes Strongyloides mirzai, Streptocara crassicauda, larvae, Physaloptera clausa, larvae and acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus lucii. In addition, three species of parasites were found for the first time in reptiles of the Volga basin fauna. These are nematodes of Anguis fragilis – Entomelas entomelas, E. dujardini, Oxysomatium brevicaudatum. The mesocercaria of the trematode Alaria alata found in Natrix natrix and N. tessellata has epizootological importance as a causative agent of alariosis in carnivores and with regards to cause a potential zoonosis.

Three morphotypes of the fifth metatarsal (MttV), one of the most informative bones of the postcranium, have been described herein from the Early Triassic karst deposits of the Czatkowice locality (Southern Poland). Two of them have been assigned to a basal archosauriform Osmolskina czatkowicensis and a basal lepidosauromorph, Sophineta cracoviensis, respectively, while one is undetermined saurian. Two morphological categories of the hooked fifth metatarsals recognized from this assemblage account for two different solutions to the problem of improvement of locomotion. A strongly inflected (sensu Robinson 1975) MttV shaft consists of two parts, a distal one lying on the ground in a plantigrade manner and a proximal one bent at an angle to get align with the ventral surface of the crus and proximal tarsus. In contrast, a straight shaft of the hooked MttV, suggests its subvertical life position and thus a digitigrade foot stance. The hooking of the fifth metatarsal, that is currently accepted saurian synapomorphy, appeared in phylogeny in a primitive state referred to herein as a neckless type: with neither a neck-shaped articular protrusion for the fourth distal tarsal nor a directly medial orientation of the articular facet. A derived long-necked type with protruding arricular part and more directly medial orientation of the articular facet appeared, at various stages of further phylogeny. A strong plantar–dorsal inflexion of the fifth metatarsal associated with a protrusion of lateral plantar tubercle, dates from a directly pre-lepidosaurian stage of evolution.

This paper summarizes knowledge on the Neogene–Quaternary terrestrial fossil record from the Middle Kura Basin accumulated over a century and aims to its integration into the current research. This fossil evidence is essential in understanding the evolution of the Eurasian biome, since this territory is located at the border of Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. The general biostratigraphic framework suggests existence of two major intervals of the terrestrial fossil record in the area, spanning ca. 10–7 Ma and ca. 3–1 Ma, and points to an important hiatus between the late Miocene and late Pliocene. General aspects of the paleogeographic history and fossil record suggest that the biogeographic role of the Middle Kura Basin has been changing over geological time from a refugium (Khersonian) to a full-fledged part of the Greco-Iranian province (Meotian–Pontian). The dynamic environmental changes during the Quaternary do not depict this territory as a refugium in its general sense. The greatest value of this fossil record is the potential to understand a detailed history of terrestrial life during demise of late Miocene Hominoidea in Eurasia and early Homo dispersal out of Africa. Late Miocene record of the Middle Kura Basin captures the latest stage of the Eastern Paratethys regression, and among other fossils counts the latest and the easternmost occurence of dryopithecine, Udabnopithecus garedziensis, while the almost uninterrupted fossil record of the late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene covers the time interval of the early human occupation of Caucasus and Eurasia.

In recent years, great attention has been paid to many Podarcis species for which the observed intra-specific variability often revealed species complexes still characterized by an unresolved relationship. When compared to other species, P. siculus underwent fewer revisions and the number of species hidden within this taxon may have been, therefore, underestimated. However, recent studies based on genetic and morphological data highlighted a marked differentiation of the populations inhabiting the Western Pontine Archipelago. In the present work we used published genetic data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) from 25 Podarcis species to provide a multilocus phylogeny of the genus in order to understand the degree of differentiation of the Western Pontine populations. In addition, we analyzed new morphometric traits (scale counts) of 151 specimens from the main islands of the Pontine Archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis revealed five principal Podarcis groups with biogeographic consistency. The genetic distinctiveness of the Podarcis populations of the Western Pontine Islands is similar or even more ancient than those observed in numerous other pairs of Podarcis sister species. In the light of these evidences we raise the Western Pontine lizards to specific rank; thus they should be referred to as Podarcis latastei.

Las colisiones de vehículos con reptiles son una de las causas más importantes de pérdida de biodiversidad originadas por la construcción y funcionamiento de infraestructura vial. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la mortalidad de reptiles en carreteras del piedemonte de los llanos orientales colombianos. Se analizaron eventos de colisión estableciendo puntos críticos, tasas de atropellamiento y su relación con el tipo de cobertura. Se realizaron recorridos entre abril y septiembre de 2015 en tres tramos de dos carreteras nacionales del departamento del Meta. Se utilizó un vehículo a velocidad media de 40 km/h y se registraron eventos de colisiones de automóviles con reptiles, documentando ubicación, identificación y cobertura asociada. Se utilizaron estimadores y pruebas de similitud para diversidad de especies. Se identificaron puntos críticos y tasas de colisión mediante mapas de calor e índices kilométricos de atropellamiento. Se registraron 204 eventos de colisión para 33 especies de reptiles con tasas de colisión entre 0,019 y 0,042 colisiones/km/día y se identificaron 30 puntos críticos de atropellamiento. Las tasas de colisión calculadas presentan una relación inversa con el tipo de cobertura ya que la presencia de bosques, matorrales y humedales está relacionada con menor cantidad de colisiones. Estos hallazgos representan una herramienta importante para implementar estrategias de prevención y mitigación de atropellamientos de fauna en la Orinoquia colombiana.

An eosauropterygian skeleton found in the Middle Triassic (upper Anisian) Gutenstein Formation of the Fatric Unit (Demänovská dolina Valley, Low Tatra Mountains, Slovakia) represents the earliest known occurrence of marine tetrapods in the Western Carpathians. The specimen represents a partly articulated portion of the postcranial skeleton (nine dorsal vertebrae, coracoid, ribs, gastral ribs, pelvic girdle, femur and one zeugopodial element). It is assigned to the Pachypleurosauria, more precisely to the Serpianosaurus–Neusticosaurus clade based on the following combination of features: (1) small body size; (2) morphology of vertebrae, ribs and femur; (3) tripartite gastral ribs; and (4) microanatomy of the femur as revealed by μCT. Members of this clade were described from the epicontinental Germanic Basin and the Alpine Triassic (now southern Germany, Switzerland, Italy), and possibly from Spain. This finding shows that pachypleurosaur reptiles attained a broader geographical distribution during the Middle Triassic, with their geographical range reaching to the Central Western Carpathians. Pachypleurosaurs are often found in sediments formed in shallow, hypersaline carbonate-platform environments. The specimen found here occurs in a succession with vermicular limestones in a shallow subtidal zone and stromatolitic limestones in a peritidal zone, indicating that pachypleurosaurs inhabited hypersaline, restricted carbonate ramps in the Western Carpathians.

The Volga basin is one of the most industrially-developed regions of Russia with a high degree of anthropogenic impact on natural ecosystems. Human influence negatively affects the species diversity and number of animals, including reptiles. There are no endemic species in the reptile fauna of the Volga basin. The herpetofauna of the region makes up 25% of the reptile fauna of Russia (Dunaev and Orlova 2017). We began to study the fauna of reptiles and their distribution in the Volga basin in 1988. Although we registered 20 reptile species in the Volga basin to date, apparently this is not a complete list of species in the region (Bakiev et al. 2004, Bakiev et al. 2009a, Bakiev et al. 2015, Kirillov et al. 2020). The distribution of reptiles in this region is not fully understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Together with the rest of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece acted as a refuge for thermophilic amphibians and reptiles during the Quaternary Glaciations. In this work we provide new herpetological data on the latest Early Pleistocene locality of Kaiafas, in western Peloponnese. The site yielded one indeterminate salamandrid urodelan (Salamandridae indet.), one tree frog (Hyla gr. H. arborea), one indeterminate testudinid (Testudinidae indet.), at least two lacertid lizards (Lacertidae indet. A and B), one scincid lizard (Ophiomorus sp.), one anguid lizard (Pseudopus sp.), and one indeterminate "colubrine" snake ("Colubrinae" indet.). This assemblage is indicative of a surrounding environment with water bodies, wooded areas, and possibly loose soils with rocks and stones. In spite of being based on few remains, the study of the amphibians and reptiles from Kaiafas resulted in the identification of the first fossil of Ophiomorus known worldwide. Moreover, the two lacertid taxa displayed very peculiar morphological features which are either previously unknown or rare in that clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sauropterygia, one of the main clades of Mesozoic marine reptiles, diversified shortly after the Permo-Triassic biotic crisis and afterwards remained one of the major components of Early Triassic and later Mesozoic marine ecosystems. On the other hand, actual specimens of marine reptiles of Olenekian age are still rare in the fossil record, coming only from a few localities worldwide. Here we describe associated remains of a larger marine reptile of around 4 m body length, with nothosauroidean affinities from the Sulphur Mountain Formation exposed at the L cirque locality of Wapiti Lake area in British Columbia. Although the specimen records only scattered parts of the posterior vertebral column, some gastral ribs and most notably, the proximal portion of one hind limb together with a fan-shaped ischium, it represents one of the oldest records of Sauropterygia and larger representatives of aff. Nothosauroidea specifically, as well as the northernmost occurrence of such animals in the Triassic. As such, the new specimen is important for understanding the biogeography and early evolution of the group and that of Sauropterygia, in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil turtles are one of the least studied clades in regard to endocranial anatomy. Recently, the use of non-invasive technologies, such as radiographic computed tomography (CT), increased the knowledge of the neuroanatomy of several extinct and extant taxa. Here, we provide the description of the nasal cavity, cranial endocast, and inner ear of the stem turtle Naomichelys speciosa based on digital 3D reconstructions. This terrestrial form is characterized by a nasal cavity with anteroposteriorly elongated vestibulum and a large cavum nasi proprium, traits typically related to terrestrial habits. The large olfactory region of the cavum nasi proprium suggests that olfaction was probably the most important sense for this species. Our description of N. speciosa adds novel information to the knowledge of endocranial anatomy in early turtle evolution and provides an important foundation for future analyses and comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colour pattern influences behaviour and affects survival of organisms through perception of light reflectance. Spectrophotometric methods used to study colour optimise precision and accuracy of reflectance across wavelengths, while multiband photographs are generally used to assess the complexity of colour patterns. Using standardised photographs of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), we compare how colours characterised using point measurements (using the photographs, but simulating spectrophotometry) on the skin differ from colours estimated by clustering pixels in the photograph of the lizard's body. By taking photographs in the laboratory and in the field, the experimental design included two 2-way comparisons. We compare point vs. colour clustering characterisation and influence of illumination in the laboratory and in the field. We found that point measurements adequately represented the dominant colour of the lizard. Where colour patterning influenced measurement geometry, image analysis outperformed point measurement with respect to stability between technical replicates on the same animal. The greater colour variation derived from point measurements increased further under controlled laboratory illumination. Both methods revealed lateral colour asymmetry in sand lizards, i.e. that colours subtly differed between left and right flank. We conclude that studies assessing the impact of colour on animal ecology and behaviour should utilise hyperspectral imaging, followed by image analysis that encompasses the whole colour pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Identify nematodes of the digestive tract of the lizard Sceloporus variabilis. Methodology In different localities in the Altas Montañas region, 11 individuals of S. variabilis were collected and a range of morphological characteristics measured. Their intestines were dissected to identify the nematodes present. Results Were identified 17 nematodes belonging to the Oxyuridae family, present in the lizard S. variabilis. Not found differences in the frequency of nematodes between sexes and localities. Implications Identification of nematodes in S. variabilis is basic information for the knowledge of the parasite-host relationship. Conclusions The nematodes of the Oxyuridae family may cause mechanical symptoms in S. variabilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caucasian rock lizards of the genus Darevskia are unique taxa, including both bisexual and parthenogenetic species. The parthenogenetic species have originated as a result of natural hybridisation between females and males of different bisexual species. The species involved in interspecific hybridisation are called parental. However, sympatric zones (SZ) of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the Caucasus are still poorly studied, although they are very important for understanding the role of hybrid individuals of different origin in reticulate evolution. This paper presents the location of the SZs of parthenogenetic and their parental bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories of Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We summarised the locations of the SZs identified from 1957 to the present, based on our field survey data gathered in 2018-2019 and records from publications and museum collections. This dataset includes 39 SZs of three types: SZ of parental bisexual species, SZ of parental species with unisexual species and SZ of the parthenogenetic species. For each zone, species composition, geographical and altitudinal distribution are presented. New records expand our knowledge of the geographical and altitudinal distribution of SZs in these species and provide additional data for understanding the mechanisms of reticulate evolution and hybridogeneous speciation in the past, present and future. New information: The new records, including geographical and altitudinal distributions of three types of SZs, are presented, which expand the previously-known list to 39 locations of contact zones for parthenogenetic and its bisexual parental species of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and the adjacent territories of Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herpetology collection of the Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum (EWNHM) represents one of the oldest and largest institutional collections in the Republic of Korea. The specimens deposited in the EWNHM represent a major historical collection of the native herpetofauna, both in species diversity and time span. However, the full inventory of the herpetology collection has never been conducted and thus the collection has received little attention from researchers. Here, the first full account of the herpetology specimens held at the EWNHM is provided, with voucher information for all documented specimens to make the collection accessible for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the currently recognized species of Alopoglossus , the Amazonian Alopoglossus angulatus has the widest distribution. We here analyse variation in scutellation and morphometrics of A. angulatus by examining 785 specimens of Alopoglossus. We also analyse intra- and interspecific genetic structure and differentiation using two mitochondrial (Cytb and ND4) and two nuclear (SNCAIP and PRLR) genes from 97 samples. Both morphological and molecular analyses are based on specimens and samples from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru and Suriname. Our results reveal A. angulatus as a monophyletic group composed of eight independently evolved lineages: A. angulatus s.s. plus three revalidated species plus two newly described species plus two putative species. We provide descriptions of all taxa, except for the putative species, including the first description of the neotype of A. angulatus and redescriptions of resurrected junior synonyms. Illustrations, diagnoses and geographical distribution maps are provided. Gene and species trees are also provided. The two new taxa recognized in this paper, along with the revalidation of three taxa, increase the total number of known species of Alopoglossus from nine to 14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genera Iguana and Ctenosaura belong to the Iguanidae family, and populations of most species of these genera have decreased due to anthropogenic effects. The natural history of most species of this family is poorly known, including Ctenosaura similis. Therefore, this study documents some ecological aspects of the species, such as its feeding habits, and habitat and microhabitat use in a population of Isla Contoy in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The data showed that even though C. similis is distributed throughout the island, individuals more commonly use human construction (buildings) of Parque Nacional Isla Contoy (PNIC) and mangrove areas. Microhabitats most used by all age classes and sexes were rocks and trees. The diet of the species is omnivorous; however, the frequency of prey type consumed changes with the age of the individuals (hatchlings, juveniles, and adults), as well as with the season of the year. The practice of cannibalism by some individuals is also reported, as well as coprophagy and scavenging. This work provides general information on the life history of C. similis, complementing the scarce information that is currently available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

William Roy Branch (1946–2018) was the most prolific Africa-based herpetologist of his era. His 659 herpetological contributions, spanning 47 years, include field and photographic guides, taxonomic revisions, phylogenies, ecological studies, annotated checklists, conservation assessments, type catalogues, notes on natural history, geographical distribution and snakebite, book reviews, editorials, obituaries, tributes and prefaces. Bill authored eight book titles, including his monumental Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa (1988, revised in 1998), The Dangerous Snakes of Africa with Steve Spawls (1995, revised in 2020) and Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles of Africa (2008). He edited the Red Data Book – Reptiles and Amphibians (1988) and was a co-editor of its successor, the Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (2014). In addition to a corpus of faunal and systematic works, the topics of his publications also include reptile husbandry, karyology, snake hemipenes, snake venom, reptile diets and reproduction. Appendices presented here include a detailed bibliography of his herpetological publications; a chronological list of all the reptile and amphibian taxa he described; and details of patronyms named in his honour. Bill described 68 new taxa comprising 51 species (37 lizards [18 geckos], 7 chelonians, 4 snakes, 3 frogs), 15 genera (14 lizards, 1 snake), one subfamily (Platysaurinae) and one family (Xenodactylidae). Additional species bearing his name are expected to be published within the next few years. He was the most productive South Africa-based author of reptile names (65) in the modern era. As of 2020, he had been honoured by seven patronyms (one lizard, three snakes and one frog species, and a lizard and snake genus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scaled Sandveld Lizard Nucras scalaris Laurent, 1964 is a poorly known lacertid endemic to north-eastern Angola and is only known from the type series collected more than half a century ago. The original description provided a comprehensive morphological description, but there was a lack of information regarding its evolutionary relationships and habitat associations. A recent discovery of N. scalaris from Cusseque, Bié Province, on the central Angolan plateau provided the opportunity to address some knowledge gaps of this species. A phylogenetic analysis confirmed its distinctiveness at the species level. Despite a limited dataset, the analysis suggests that N. scalaris is sister to N. broadleyi rather than N. lalandii, the latter having been assumed to be the sister species, because of morphological similarity between them. The new record of N. scalaris represents a range extension of more than 350 km to the southwest and extends the elevation range to 1 570 m above sea level, compared to previous known localities at about 1 300 m above sea level (Alto Cuílo and Alto Chicapa, in Lunda Sul Province). The specimen also provides new information on live coloration, as well as the habitat association of grassy shrubland that is dominated by geoxylic suffrutices (the so-called 'underground forests') characteristic of the Angolan Miombo Woodlands. This new information raises the question whether poor survey data have led to an under-estimation of faunal diversity in this peculiar and overlooked vegetation type, and reinforces the need for further surveys which could highlight the importance of this habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial skeleton of a small tetrapod, collected from the lower Buchenstein Formation (uppermost Illyrian, Anisian Middle Triassic) of Piz da Peres (Northern Dolomites, Italy) is described. Incomplete ossification of some bones indicate that the specimen is a juvenile. Its absolute size and proportions, along with several skeletal structures show striking similarities with a juvenile specimen of Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi from the slightly younger Prosanto Formation (Switzerland), a taxon known also from the Anisian/Ladinian Besano Formation (Italy and Switzerland). The finding may suggest that during the middle-late Anisian the basins of the Northern Dolomites, of the Besano Formation and Prosanto Formation shared not only several taxa of fishes but also the emerged lands nearby had a similar reptilian fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaks are an edentulous dietary modification present in numerous forms in turtles, birds, cephalopods, and some actinopterygian fishes today. Beaks have a rich fossil record and have independently evolved at least nine times over the past 300 million years in early reptiles, dinosaurs and their relatives, and crocodile and mammal relatives. Here, we focus on the earliest evolution of beaks in the reptile fossil record during the Triassic Period (252-201.5 million years ago). We analyze the phylogenetic distribution of Triassic beaks and review their morphologies to create a framework to estimate beak similarity. With this, we describe a unique fossil beak (PVSJ 427) from the Late Triassic Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan, Argentina, and place it in our similarity analysis alongside other vertebrate clades from the Triassic Period, or with Triassic origins. PVSJ 427 is a small iron-rich cast fossil that is triangular with a concave midline shelf, rounded lateral walls, and an anterior point. No clear synapomorphies are present in PVSJ 427, and as such, its phylogenetic position is not inferred herein. Some remnants of bone are recognizable in thin sections of PVSJ 427, indicating that it likely represents a bony beak replaced by minerals. The morphology of PVSJ 427 is most similar to the predentary, an edentulous element restricted to ornithischian dinosaurs, although this specimen is approximately three times larger than the earliest known ornithischian predentaries. Regardless of phylogenetic position, PVSJ 427 reflects an early evolution of a predentary-like beak and indicates that this animal was ecologically convergent with the earliest ornithischian dinosaurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Gymnophthalmidae is a highly diverse Neotropical lizard clade. Although multiple phylogenetic and taxonomic studies have reshaped our understanding of gymnophthalmid systematics and diversity, many groups remain understudied. This is the case for the cercosaurine genus Echinosaura , which includes eight species of small riparian lizards distributed across lower Central America and northern South America. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Echinosaura , including DNA data for all species of the genus for the first time. To rigorously test the relationships of all Echinosaura , we have assembled the largest molecular dataset of cercosaurine lizards to date. Our analysis refutes the monophyly of Echinosaura , with E. apodema and E. sulcarostrum not closely related to the remaining species. To remedy the polyphyly of Echinosaura , we describe two new genera for E. apodema and E. sulcarostrum. Morphological distinctiveness and biogeography further support these taxonomic changes. In light of our phylogenetic results, we review the species-level taxonomy of the redefined Echinosaura based on morphological and genetic variation. We resurrect E. centralis and designate a neotype given the absence of type and topotypic material. In addition, we provide taxonomic accounts for each species and analyse their patterns of geographic distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last species list of the European herpetofauna was published by Speybroeck, Beukema and Crochet (2010). In the meantime, ongoing research led to numerous taxonomic changes, including the discovery of new species-level lineages as well as reclassifications at genus level, requiring significant changes to this list. As of 2019, a new Taxonomic Committee was established as an official entity within the European Herpetological Society, Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH). Twelve members from nine European countries reviewed, discussed and voted on recent taxonomic research on a case-by-case basis. Accepted changes led to critical compilation of a new species list, which is hereby presented and discussed. According to our list, 301 species (95 amphibians, 15 chelonians, including six species of sea turtles, and 191 squamates) occur within our expanded geographical definition of Europe. The list includes 14 non-native species (three amphibians, one chelonian, and ten squamates). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrapod remains are extremely rare in the early Carnian (Late Triassic) Calcare del Predil Formation on the Italian side of the Julian Alps (Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region), which yielded the Raibl fossil assemblage including the famous "Raibl ichthyofauna". A new tanystropheid archosauromorph, Raibliania calligarisi, is here named based on a partial skeleton found in this formation along the Prasnig Brook. The new taxon is similar to Tanystropheus, sharing with it the very elongated cervical vertebrae, but is characterized by the presence of relatively large button-like teeth; apex of the neural spines not transversely thickened; articular facets on the upper corners of the neural spines of the dorsal vertebrae; short and distally pointed pleurapophyses of the second and last 'lumbar' vertebra; ilium with a long preacetabular process bearing a robust and transversely thick tuberosity and a medial ridge bordering the entire ventral part of the iliac blade; and pubis with a cranial process. Tanystropheids lived in the present day Alps and Prealps of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region from the late Anisian to the mid-late Norian and were an important component of the coastal reptile faunas, although they were less common than eusauropterygians and placodonts during the early Carnian. Tanystropheids with extremely elongated cervical vertebrae are reported in this area from the upper Anisian to the lower Carnian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reptiles show a remarkable diversity of sex determination mechanisms and sex chromosome systems, derived from different autosomal pairs. The origin of the ZW sex chromosomes of Lacerta agilis, a widespread Eurasian lizard species, is a matter of discussion: is it a small macrochromosome from the 11-18 group common to all lacertids, or does this species have a unique ZW pair derived from the large chromosome 5? Using independent molecular cytogenetic methods, we investigated the karyotype of L. agilis exigua from Siberia, Russia, to identify the sex chromosomes. FISH with a flow-sorted chromosome painting probe derived from L. strigata and specific to chromosomes 13, 14, and Z confirmed that the Z chromosome of L. agilis is a small macrochromosome, the same as in L. strigata. FISH with the telomeric probe showed an extensive accumulation of the telomere-like repeat in the W chromosome in agreement with previous studies, excluding the possibility that the lineages of L. agilis studied in different works could have different sex chromosome systems due to a putative intra-species polymorphism. Our results reinforce the idea of the stability of the sex chromosomes and lack of evidence for sex-chromosome turnovers in known species of Lacertidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pedra de Fogo Formation in the Parnaíba Basin of northeastern Brazil hosts a recently discovered lacustrine fauna and provides the only known record of the Captorhinidae in South America. Here, new captorhinid remains from this unit are described. Two partial mandibles, including one formerly ascribed to the genus Captorhinus, are here referred to Captorhinikos sp. a genus previously described from North America. The natural mould of a large mandible probably represents a new taxon within the captorhinid subclade Moradisaurinae, and a small skull roof is regarded as Captorhinidae indet. Captorhinids are generally considered to have been herbivores or omnivores. The Pedra de Fogo captorhinids likely played an important ecological role as primary consumers in the palaeoenvironment of this geological unit, which is also known for its extensive record of petrified forests. The new finds reinforce the close relationships between the continental faunas of palaeotropical western Gondwana and palaeoequatorial North America during the Cisuralian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following list contains supplements (new types, discussions or changes to the type status) and corrections (typos or additions of missing words or numbers) to the recent type catalogue of the Herpetological Collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, NMW; Gemel et al. 2019). The specimens are divided into the classes "Amphibia" and "Reptilia" and are arranged alphabetically within their orders/suborders. Abbreviations and acronyms can be found in the recent type catalogue (Gemel et al. 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]