01323nas a2200169   4500008004100000245016600041210006900207260001400276300001000290490000700300520072400307100002101031700002401052700002201076700002001098856003501118       2004                        eng d00aThe caecilian amphibian Scolecomorphus kirkii Boulenger as prey of the burrowing asp Atractaspis aterrima Gunther: trophic relationships of fossorial vertebrates0 acaecilian amphibian Scolecomorphus kirkii Boulenger as prey of t  cJune 2004  a83-870 v423 aA report is given of an adult caecilian, Scolecomorphus kirkii, found in the gut of a specimen of the snake Atractaspis aterrima from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Both predator and prey are largely fossorial in soil, and their ecology is poorly known, such that this is the first reported predator of any scolecomorphid caecilian. The caecilian was ingested head first and much of the flesh from the anterior of the specimen had been digested. The prey/predator mass ratio is 0.48. This value is substantially higher than reported for A. aterrima from West Africa, and refutes the notion that this species feeds only on small prey. Most reported predators of caecilians are snakes, and a brief review is presented.1 aGower, David, J.1 aRasmussen, Jens, B.1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aWilkinson, Mark  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20040032171301219nas a2200157   4500008004100000245009600041210006900137260001400206300001200220490000700232520070500239100002200944700002200966700001900988856005401007       2004                        eng d00aA new species of Callulina (Anura: Microhylidae) from the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania0 anew species of Callulina Anura Microhylidae from the West Usamba  cJune 2004  a219-2240 v383 a<p>The description of the species Callulina kreffti was based on specimens collected in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. Successive collecting has shown this species to be widely distributed through the Eastern Arc Mountains. Advertisement calls from populations in the type locality of Callulina kreffti were compared with calls from populations in the West Usambara Mountains. Analysis of the calls suggested that these two populations of Callulina represent two separate taxa. Subsequent morphological and molecular investigations indicated that these two populations are distinct. Herein, we describe a new Callulina species on the basis of call, morphology and molecular sequences.</p>
1 aDe Sa, Rafael, O.1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aChanning, Alan  uhttps://africanamphibians.myspecies.info/node/18501679nas a2200169   4500008004100000245016300041210006900204260001800273300001200291490000700303520107600310100002101386700002201407700002501429700002001454856003501474       2004                        eng d00aNiche separation and comparative abundance of Boulengerula boulengeri and Scolecomorphus vittatus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) in an East Usambara forest, Tanzania0 aNiche separation and comparative abundance of Boulengerula boule  cDecember 2004  a183-1900 v533 aThe ecology of the sympatric caecilians Boulengerula boulengeri and Scolecomorphus vittatus was studied in Nilo Forest Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Three sampling methods (timed digging, pitfall trapping and casual visual encounter surveys of the forest floor) yielded 85 B. boulengeri, found only by digging soil, and 23 S. vittatus, mostly collected above ground. The difference between these taxa in the proportions of captures above and below ground is statistically significant and is taken to indicate different ecologies. B. boulengeri is interpreted as predominantly a burrower in soil, and S. vittatus as an animal spending more time than B. boulengeri above ground. Niche separation appears to be correlated with some morphological differences. The vast majority of all vertebrate specimens dug from the top 300 mm of soil were B. boulengeri, and this species appears to be more abundant than S. vittatus in East Usambara forest soils. As an abundant endogeic animal, B. boulengeri may play an important role in the ecology of forest soils.1 aGower, David, J.1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aMoncrieff, Clive, B.1 aWilkinson, Mark  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20050011925502006nas a2200145   4500008004100000245008100041210006900122300001000191490000700201520154000208100002201748700001801770700001801788856005401806       2004                        eng d00aHerpetofauna of Mahenge Mountain, Tanzania: a window on African biogeography0 aHerpetofauna of Mahenge Mountain Tanzania a window on African bi  a71-760 v393 aMahenge Mountain is part of the Eastern Are Mountains in Tanzania. It is bordered by the Kilombero flood plain to the west and forms a continuous mountain block with the Mbarika to the south, lying close to the Udzungwa and Southern Highland Mountain blocks. The amphibian fauna of the forests of Mahenge Mountain has not been investigated until recent fieldwork carried out in the Sali Forest Reserve that has revealed a diverse forest fauna. In this study new records are reported, details of habitats are given and a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Mahenge Mountain are provided. In addition, biogeographical analyses were carried out to investigate patterns of spatial turnover in species. This was achieved by calculating the standard similarity index between the amphibian assemblages of the highland Mahenge Mountains (>850 m) and the lowland Kilombero floodplain (<400 m). The results show significant differences (62%) between the two areas, reflecting large altitudinal turnover in species between the widespread lowland fauna and the montane fauna. This is further emphasized by a comparison of transects in lowland Mozambique and highland Zimbabwe, which has a comparable similarity index measure of 54%, impressive when comparing the difference in distance and altitude between the two transects. The reasons for this marked lowland-highland differentiation in Tanzania are poorly understood. Concern is raised for the preservation of this highland endemic fauna in the light of continuing habitat destruction.1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aPoynton, J.C.1 aMariaux, Jean  uhttps://africanamphibians.myspecies.info/node/22201259nas a2200157   4500008004100000245010800041210006900149260001300218300001000231490000700241520069800248100001800946700002100964700002200985856009401007       2008                        eng d00aA new giant species of Arthroleptis (Amphibia: Anura) from the forests of the Nguru Mountains, Tanzania0 anew giant species of Arthroleptis Amphibia Anura from the forest  cDec 2008  a63-740 v573 aSpecimens of Arthroleptis attaining a body length of nearly 58 mm have been collected above 1790 m a.s.l. on the Nguru Mountains, part of the Eastern Arc mountain chain of Tanzania. In body size this material slightly surpasses the other giant Eastern Are high-altitude species A. tanneri and A. nikeae, and differs in the proportions of the foot, and patterning of the chin. The Nguru material is referred to a new species which qualifies as being critically endangered on account of its apparently limited geographical range. A clade including the three giant Arthroleptis species seems likely, showing parallels with several other isolated forest-dwelling Eastern Arc high-altitude anurans.1 aPoynton, J.C.1 aMenegon, Michele1 aLoader, Simon, P.  u<Go to ISI>://PREV200900220385file://localhost/Users/Breda/Desktop/export-id012093332.ris01642nas a2200169   4500008004100000245012100041210006900162260001600231300001200247520107300259100002101332700002201353700002101375700002001396700002101416856003501437       2007                        eng d00aReproduction in brevicipitid frogs (Amphibia : Anura : Brevicipitidae) - Evidence from Probreviceps m. macrodactylus0 aReproduction in brevicipitid frogs Amphibia Anura Brevicipitidae  cSep 10 2007  a726-7333 aAn egg clutch of the Tanzanian brevicipitid frog, Probreviceps m. macrodactylus, is described for the first time. The single clutch consists of 32 eggs and 21 infertile, jelly-filled capsules, tightly bound together by a thin, tough outer layer. The infertile capsules are concentrated toward the top of the clutch. The eggs were found in a dry season, and were perhaps likely to hatch at the onset of the short rains. The specific identification is confirmed through analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Eggs are yolky and large, about 8 mm in diameter (including capsule), suggesting that P. m. macrodactylus has a direct mode of development. The embryos observed were in an early developmental stage and showed the early division of the brain and anlagen of three pairs of visceral arches. Brevicipitid reproduction and development are poorly known, but a review of the existing literature and parsimonious optimization of simple characters onto a phylogenetic framework suggest that direct development is a derived condition characterizing the whole clade.1 aMüller, Hendrik1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aNgalason, Wilirk1 aHowell, Kim, M.1 aGower, David, J.  u<Go to ISI>://PREV20080002080002135nas a2200217   4500008004100000245007500041210006900116260001600185300001200201490000800213520150600221100001801727700002101745700002001766700002201786700001501808700002101823700001801844700002001862856003501882       2007                        eng d00aGlobal patterns of diversification in the history of modern amphibians0 aGlobal patterns of diversification in the history of modern amph  cJan 16 2007  a887-8920 v1043 aThe fossil record of modern amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and caecilians) provides no evidence for major extinction or radiation episodes throughout most of the Mesozoic and early Tertiary. However, long-term gradual diversification is difficult to reconcile with the sensitivity of present-day amphibian faunas to rapid ecological changes and the incidence of similar environmental perturbations in the past that have been associated with high turnover rates in other land vertebrates. To provide a comprehensive overview of the history of amphibian diversification, we constructed a phylogenetic timetree based on a multigene data set of 3.75 kb for 171 species. Our analyses reveal several episodes of accelerated amphibian diversification, which do not fit models of gradual lineage accumulation. Global turning points in the phylogenetic and ecological diversification occurred after the end-Permian mass extinction and in the late Cretaceous. Fluctuations in amphibian diversification show strong temporal correlation with turnover rates in amniotes and the rise of angiosperm-dominated forests. Approximately 86% of modern frog species and > 81% of salamander species descended from only five ancestral lineages that produced major radiations in the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary. This proportionally late accumulation of extant lineage diversity contrasts with the long evolutionary history of amphibians but is in line with the Tertiary increase in fossil abundance toward the present.1 aRoelants, Kim1 aGower, David, J.1 aWilkinson, Mark1 aLoader, Simon, P.1 aBiju, S.D.1 aGuillaume, Karen1 aMoriau, Linde1 aBossuyt, Franky  u<Go to ISI>://PREV200700290016