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The Department of Beni, in the country of Bolivia, is thought to host a significant level of biodiversity as a result of its tropical, moist, and diverse climate and landscape. However, the biodiversity of Beni is also considered poorly known and understudied due to its inaccessible landscapes, socio-economic challenges, and an overall lack of biodiversity infrastructure. This emphasizes the need for comprehensive species inventories and the development of effective conservation policies and strategies. We conducted an assessment of biodiversity, environmental vulnerability, and conservation status of reptiles documented in Beni. We identified 169 reptile species, spanning three orders and twenty-five families that have been officially documented in Beni. Utilizing the Environmental Vulnerability Score (EVS), we classified these species into high (17.8%), medium (68.1%), and low (14.2%) vulnerability categories, while IUCN categorization revealed 1.8% of reptile species in Beni are classified as vulnerable and 0.6% as near threatened. We found significant differences in ecological drivers of vulnerability among species within all categories (high, medium, low), with habitat specificity and human persecution being significantly higher for high and medium-vulnerability species. Our results demonstrate the intricate vulnerabilities of Beni's reptiles, highlighting the need for comprehensive, species-specific conservation strategies and planning. Most importantly, our results offer a consolidated framework of information on reptile biodiversity and conservation for researchers, conservationists, and policymakers to use and build upon in the future that will facilitate the development of biodiversity infrastructure not only in the Department of Beni but throughout Bolivia and the Neotropics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract--Parotoid glands in two species of toads, Ollotis nebulifer and Anaxyrus speciosus were expressed using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Toads were euthanized at various time stages following gland expression. Of the [...]

The article details the diet and behavior of the Spirit Ground Snake (Psomophis genimaculatus), a small nonvenomous colubrid found in diverse habitats from Bolivia to Brazil and Argentina, highlighting its primarily frog and lizard diet and its diurnal, terrestrial, and semiarboreal nature.

The article reports an observed anomaly in an adult female Micrurus lemniscatus, found in Trinidad, Bolivia, where the third and fourth triads lacked the typical red ring, exhibiting a unique irregular red spot instead.

The article focuses on observing an adult female Oxybelis fulgidus capturing and beginning to ingest an adult blue-winged parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius) in the upper canopy of a pacay tree in Bolivia, shedding light on its diet which primarily consists of birds and lizards.

The article focuses on the diet of Mastigodryas boddaerti, a medium-sized nonvenomous colubrid snake found in tropical habitats of South America, particularly in Bolivia.

Previous studies have explored spatial ecology and habitat use of alligators and other crocodilian species. However, few studies have explored these characteristics in urban environments. We studied an alligator population that occurred in an urban-influenced ecosystem, a habitat that has received little scientific attention. Our objectives were to determine spatial ecology and habitat use of American alligators within this urban system and to provide a template of methodology and analytical techniques that can be used by urban biologists, planners and researchers in order to assess and study urban crocodilian populations. We recorded 653 observations of alligators and their locations during 19 alligator surveys at an encounter rate of 0.6 alligators per km/survey. Results indicated that alligators exhibited clustering patterns of distribution. Thirteen different wetland types occurred within our survey area, but alligators were only observed in 10 of the 13. We found few differences in habitat use among size classes. We observed little segregation between adult and subadult size classes. However, there was spatial segregation between hatchlings and all other size classes, presumably due to female nest site selection. Alligators of all size classes seemingly avoided areas of high human activity; therefore, urbanization can influence alligator distribution and habitat use within wetland ecosystems. We provide methods and information that can be incorporated into future research and management of urban crocodilian populations. Utilizing this information, biologists can identify potential target areas for implementing management strategies, identify habitat and nesting areas, and mitigate human–alligator conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the relationship between cranial morphology and total body length in American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), focusing on the accuracy of estimating body size from head size measurements. Topics discussed include the consistency of morphometric relationships across different alligator size classes and sexes, the impact of cranial changes on gape size and prey capture, and recommendations for improving size estimation methods.

Several species of large Pleistocene tortoises (generaHesperotestudoandGopherus) occurred in the southern region of the United States (Texas) and fragmentary skeletal remains are commonly encountered. In some cases, fossil tortoises can be identified using single carapace or plastron bones, however, there can be ambiguity when identifying to species level. Additionally, non-mature specimens may be problematic to differentiate. To further quantify the identification of two genera of large Pleistocene tortoises, nuchal and neural bones (n = 58) from the collection sites in South Texas were examined and measured. Scatter plots, based on length, width and thickness measurements and ratios were developed for both nuchal and neural elements. The analysis supports the ability to differentiate between large species of late Pleistocene tortoises (HesperotestudoandGopherus) from South Texas based not only on diagnostic descriptions but also by different suites of measurements. These measurements and ratios may also be useful for identification and separation of additional genera/species of tortoises throughout North America, both extinct and extant. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses a study of the use of time of night as a technique for conducting American alligator nighttime surveys. Topics covered include the effect of time of night on the alligator detectability and the estimated relative density of American alligators from the surveys, the differences in alligator relative density by month due to the differences in alligator behavior, and the increase in detection rates during the breeding season in the month of May.

Efficient managing practices require an understanding of the root distribution of crop in walnut (Juglans regia)-crop intercropping systems, a field study was conducted in the Loess Plateau of China to examined the vertical distribution and horizontal variation of roots for soybean (Glycine max) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) grown with walnut trees. Crop roots were sampled to 60 cm depth at five distances from the tree row using stratified digging method. The results showed that 72.7% of total root length density (RLD) for intercropped soybean distributed in the 0-10 cm soil layer and sole soybean roots in the first soil layer were determined to 54.3% of total RLD. The RLD of intercropped peanut primarily located in the 0-10 cm soil layer, reaching the average of 52.8 cm dm-3 for the five distances from the tree row. While the maximum RLD of 62.1 cm dm-3 for sole peanut was achieved in the 10-20 cm soil layer. The RLDs of both intercropped soybean and peanut increased with distance from the tree row, but the corresponding values at 1-1.5 m and 1.5-2 m from the tree row were significantly less than those at other distances. In addition, although the depths of root vertical barycenter (RVB) for both intercropped soybean and peanut tend to move downward with distance from the tree row, they were always shallower than sole soybean and peanut. Greater proximity to the tree row reduced crop roots and, furthermore, compelled crop roots to highly concentrate in the upper soil layer (0-10 cm), especially within the range of 1-2 m from the tree row. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the tagging techniques to be used in research on crocodilians and American alligators and have included passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Topics discussed include using the tag applicator T-Bar anchor fish tag reported by Dell; negative effect of aquatic vegetation on the visibility of tags; and recapture of alligators who have been tagged with tail tags.

The article offers information of the Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus also known as Yellow-bellied Liophis, is a medium sized terrestrial or semi-aquatic colubrid that is widely distributed across South America from southeastern Venezuela and eastern Guyana across Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

We present a significant range extension of Xenopholis werdingorum from Bolivia. There is a dearth of information on this recently described species, and this account significantly contributes to knowledge of its geographic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Group and communal feeding behaviors in Engystomops petersi; and mentions observation provides specific insights into the diet and feeding behaviors of E. petersi.

Facilities that maintain and extract venom from venomous snakes were located worldwide. Information concerning numbers, distribution, years in operation, ownership (private or government), facilities open to the public for display of animals or educational programs, number of snakes and species maintained, prevalence of captive breeding programs, venom extraction frequency, and occupational hazards was collected. A total of 34 facilities in 21 countries were located. Information (all or in part) was obtained on 32 of these facilities. Forty-four percent of the facilities existed in countries as the sole venom extraction enterprise. The length of time they have been in operation ranged from 1 to over 90 years and are 56% private and 44% government owned. Thirty-five percent of the facilities are open to the public for display of animals or educational purposes. Most facilities maintained animal totals between 50 and 1500. However, the number of species maintained at these facilities varied greatly, ranging from 1 to 70. The majority of facilities have some type of captive breeding program, with some reporting as high as 80% of their total animals captive born. While some facilities maintain both exotic and native species, most (68%) house native species only. The majority of the facilities reported that venom was collected or "extracted" from snakes on 14 to 30 day intervals. Occupational hazards of employees regarding accidental envenomation or "snakebite" varied. Envenomation frequencies at facilities ranged from zero to as high as one accident every eight months. Only one death was reported due to an envenomation accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Imantodes cenchoa (Blunt-headed Treesnake): Reproduction" reports on the reproductive biology of this neotropical snake, highlighting inconsistencies in the timing of its reproductive cycle.

The article discusses the feeding behavior of Leptophis ahaetulla (Parrot Snake) arboreal neotropical snake.

We present the first records of Tropidurus chromatops Harvey & Gutberlet, 1998 from the Beni Department (Bolivia) and extend this species' distribution to western Bolivia by approximately 256 km in a straight line to the Beni Floodplains ecoregion. Likewise, we contribute information on some aspects of the natural history, altitude of occurrence, and the geographic distribution of T. chromatops in the Department of Beni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]