SquamBase—A database of squamate (Reptilia: Squamata) traits

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(4)

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Abstract Motivation I present a database that contains information on multiple key traits for all 11,744 recognised species of squamates worldwide. The encompasses and reasonably comprehensive picture available public knowledge. description the sources rationale leading to assignment each particular trait state species. hope dataset can serve scientific community, promote research understanding group, comparisons with other taxa, assessment conservation needs. Furthermore, gaps in our knowledge squamate become readily apparent will hopefully lead further study even better Main types variables contained Morphological, ecological, life history, geographical conservation‐related traits. Spatial location Global. Time period Late Holocene recent. Major taxa level measurement Squamata, Software format xlsx.

Language: Английский

---

Filling the gaps: herpetological checklist of Mayombe National Park and Cabinda Province (Angola) shed light on one of the most unexplored corners of tropical Central Africa

African Journal of Herpetology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 59

Published: Jan. 5, 2025

The global environmental crisis has reinforced the importance of improving documentation geographical distributions extant species. With this aim, species inventories specific locations or regions are a high priority, especially so in poorly explored areas. Cabinda Province, an Angolan enclave located between Republic Congo and Democratic (DRC), represents one most enigmatic areas Africa. No detailed within its protected (namely, Mayombe National Park) exist. Furthermore, region presents some better preserved remanent primary moist rainforest West Although these forests severely threatened by logging rapid social growth area. Therefore, we provide here first herpetological checklist Park Angola, to shed light on underexplored corner To obtain accurate identification, performed morphological examinations DNA barcoding identifications. As result, recorded total 76 amphibians reptiles area, including four new genera, 19 distribution records for 13 candidate This work also provides novel topotypic genetic material from three reptile (i.e., Agama congica, Panaspis cabindae Atractaspis congica), that may contribute revise solve taxonomic inconsistencies different groups. Finally, identified richness, as well with number habitat specialists, thus indicating more vulnerable extinction. our study allowed us identify special interest conservation amphibians, primarily focus extinction, but knowledge gaps still need further investigation. conclude, not only contributes improved understanding herpetofauna, highlights western slope Central Africa important biodiversity hotspot, centre endemism potential source diversification group land vertebrates.

Language: Английский

---

Generation length of the world's amphibians and reptiles

Ecography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Variation in life histories influences demographic processes, from adaptive changes to population declines leading extinction. Among history traits, generation length offers a critical feature forecast species' trajectories such as (widely used by the IUCN Red List) and adaptability environmental change over time. Therefore, estimates of are crucial monitor stability or predict future highly threatened organisms, particularly amphibians reptiles, which among vertebrates for uncertainty impacts remains high. Despite its importance, reptiles is largely missing. Here, we aim fill this gap modeling lengths amphibians, squamates testudines function species size, climate, phylogeny using generalized additive models phylogenetic least squares. We estimated 5059 (57%) 8722 (73%) 117 (32%) testudines. Our performed well most families (e.g. Bufonidae Lacertidae Colubridae squamates, Geoemydidae testudines) while found high around prediction few families, notably Chamaeleonidae. Species' body size mean temperature were main predictors all groups. Although our not meant substitute robust validated measurements field studies natural museums, they can help reduce existing biases conservation assessments until data comprehensively available.

Language: Английский

---

Inferring the extinction risk of Data Deficient and Not Evaluated Australian squamates

Austral Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract The world is facing a biodiversity crisis, and species are in danger of slipping towards extinction before having their conservation status formally determined. Australian squamates (snakes lizards) form highly diverse (over 1000 species) fauna, with 12% being either Data Deficient or Not Evaluated. We examined attributes categorized as Evaluated compared key traits that linked threatened categories via univariate multivariate models. further used the machine learning model Caetano et al. (2022, PloS Biology, 20, e3001544) to predict putative risk for squamate based on an analysis reptiles globally. found often lacking information drivers threat distribution, but not intrinsic uncertain taxonomy. Deficient, possess similar traits, including small range sizes, insular endemics recently described, indicating they may require some management. Meanwhile, exhibit certain unique relative evaluated species. predicted 21% which three times greater than currently assessed (7%). This indicate larger proportion poorly known more likely be previously thought. Overall, our findings provide important resource management by highlighting missing data, well providing list should prioritized research.

Language: Английский

---

Predicting the potential distribution of the Gila Monster and evaluating the extent of protected natural areas for conservation

Journal for Nature Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 126944 - 126944

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

A protocol for harvesting biodiversity data from Facebook

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(4)

Published: March 28, 2024

The expanding use of community science platforms has led to an exponential increase in biodiversity data global repositories. Yet, understanding species distributions remains patchy. Biodiversity from social media can potentially reduce the knowledge gap. However, practical guidelines and standardized methods for harvesting such are nonexistent. Following privacy protection safeguards, we devised a method extracting distribution records Facebook groups that allow access their data. It involves 3 steps: group selection, extraction, georeferencing record location. We present how structure keywords, search photographs, georeference localities records. further highlight some challenges users might face when suggest solutions. our proposed framework, case study on Bangladesh's biodiversity-a tropical megadiverse South Asian country. scraped nearly 45,000 unique georeferenced across 967 found median 27 per species. About 12% were threatened species, representing 27% all also obtained 56 DataDeficient Bangladesh. If carefully harvested, significantly gaps. Consequently, developing automated tool extract interpret is research priority.

Language: Английский

---

New data and taxonomic changes influence our understanding of biogeographic patterns: A case study in Australian skinks

Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 323(4), P. 317 - 330

Published: April 26, 2024

Abstract Species are the most commonly used unit of biogeography research, and in many conservation schemes. For faunal groups, taxonomy is a constant state flux, with new species being described, our concept existing regularly refined. Using diverse lineage Australian lizards (460+ species), skinks (Family Scincidae), we quantified impacts taxonomic changes over time on understanding richness, endemism beta diversity. We generated surfaces diversity from four editions (1975, 1988, 2000, 2014) an authoritative field guide to understand how shifts, enhanced biogeographic knowledge, influenced inferred patterns skinks. The number recognized skink has increased 2.3‐fold since 1975. Wet Tropics was major hotspot for (mostly locally endemic) additions. Hotspots richness remained broadly similar time, but some important local hotspots shifted. Endemism were weakly associated additions except Tropics. shifts patterns, which not changes, resulted better knowledge distributions through time. hypothesize that effects found generalize across clades regions—especially away research hotspots. suggest impact priorities particular regions groups needed.

Language: Английский

---

Lost lizards: The importance of targeted surveys in filling knowledge gaps for reptile conservation in South Africa

Journal for Nature Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 84, P. 126790 - 126790

Published: Dec. 3, 2024

Language: Английский

---

A standard protocol for harvesting biodiversity data from Facebook

Published: Aug. 27, 2023

1. The expanding use of citizen science platforms has led to an exponential increase in biodiversity data global repositories. Yet, our understanding species distribution remains patchy for most the world. Social media potential reduce knowledge gap. However, practical guidelines and standardised pipelines harvest such sources are still missing. 2. Here, we provide a framework extract records from Facebook groups that allow access their following privacy protection safeguards. actively used moderated some countries share records. We present how structure keywords, search photographs, georeference localities further highlight challenges users might face when extracting suggest solutions.3. Following proposed framework, case study on Bangladesh’s – tropical megadiverse South Asian country. scraped nearly 45,000 unique locality 967 species, with median 27 per species. About 12% were threatened which represent 27% all also obtained 56 Data Deficient species.4. If carefully harvested, social can significantly gaps. Consequently, developing automated tool interpret is essential research priority.

Language: Английский

---

Built for success: Distribution, morphology, ecology and life history of the world's skinks

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Abstract In animals, the success of particular lineages can be measured in terms their number species, extent geographic range, breadth habitats and ecological niches, diversity morphological life‐history traits. Here, we review distribution, ecology, morphology life history skinks, a diverse lineage terrestrial vertebrates. We compared key traits between three subfamilies skinks non‐scincid lizards. There are currently 1743 described species skink, which represent 24% global lizard diversity. Since 2010, 16% descriptions have been skinks. The centres skink Australia, New Guinea, southeast Asia, Oceania, Madagascar central Africa. Compared with lizards, larger distributional ranges, but smaller body sizes. Sexual size dimorphism is rare Almost quarter (23%) exhibit limb reduction or loss, just 3% Skinks more likely to viviparous (34% species) non‐scincids (13%), higher clutch/litter sizes than non‐scincids. Although mature later non‐scincids, longevity similar that exhibited by other groups. Most (88%) active foragers, they carnivorous diurnal cathemeral groups, generally lower field temperatures appears both result them hitting upon winning plan capacity regularly deviate from this adapt ecology (e.g. repeated transitions viviparity) prevailing conditions.

Language: Английский

---