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Journal ArticleDOI

Reptiles from the Indian Peninsula in the Museum of Comparative Zoology.

01 Mar 1950-American Midland Naturalist-Vol. 43, Iss: 2, pp 509
About: This article is published in American Midland Naturalist.The article was published on 1950-03-01 and is currently open access. It has received 33 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Peninsula.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans, and the absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche.
Abstract: Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world’s lizard species. The body size‐frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

175 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1968

109 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Jan 2014
TL;DR: Scolecophidians are the most ancient (deeply-branching) group of living snakes and their relationships track plate tectonics better than any other vertebrate group.
Abstract: The evolutionary history and taxonomy of worm-like snakes (scolecophidians) continues to be refined as new molecular data are gathered and analyzed. Here we present additional evidence on the phylogeny of these snakes, from morphological data and 489 new DNA sequences, and propose a new taxonomic framework for the family Typhlopidae. Of 257 named species of typhlopid snakes, 92 are now placed in molecular phylogenies along with 60 additional species yet to be described. Afrotyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa and contains three genera: Afrotyphlops, Letheobia, and Rhinotyphlops. Asiatyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed in Asia, Australasia, and islands of the western and southern Pacific, and includes ten genera: Acutotyphlops, Anilios, Asiatyphlops gen. nov., Cyclotyphlops, Grypotyphlops, Indotyphlops gen. nov., Malayotyphlops gen. nov., Ramphotyphlops, Sundatyphlops gen. nov., and Xerotyphlops gen. nov. Madatyphlopinae subfam. nov. occurs only in Madagascar and includes one genus: Madatyphlops gen. nov. Typhlopinae occurs in the New World and includes four genera: Amerotyphlops gen. nov., Antillotyphlops gen. nov., Cubatyphlops gen. nov., and Typhlops. Scolecophidians are the most ancient (deeply-branching) group of living snakes and their relationships track plate tectonics better than any other vertebrate group. Molecular data reveal large numbers of undescribed species, inferring that the true species diversity of these snakes is greatly underestimated.

79 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...Indotyphlops loveridgei (Constable 1949) Typhlops loveridgei...

    [...]

  • ...…hypsobothrius Indotyphlops jerdoni (Boulenger 1890) Typhlops jerdoni Indotyphlops khoratensis (Taylor 1962) Typhlops khoratensis Indotyphlops lankaensis (Taylor 1947) Typhlops lankaensis Indotyphlops lazelli (Wallach & Pauwels 2004) Typhlops lazelli Indotyphlops loveridgei (Constable 1949)…...

    [...]

04 Nov 2003
TL;DR: The discovery of seven new species of the gekkonid lizard genus Cyrtodactylus suggests that each hill range, as well as isolated peaks, may be expected to harbor endemic species of geckos.
Abstract: Seven new species of the gekkonid lizard genus Cyrtodactylus are described on the basis of material collected by the Myanmar Herpetological Survey. These include four small to moderately sized species with relatively short digits and three larger species with long, slender digits. Among the smaller forms two are allied to C. khasiensis; one from the Ayeyarwady delta and adjacent lowlands, the other from higher elevations in the Chin Hills. The remaining small species, from Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (Sagaing Division) and Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range (Rakhine State) are probably most closely allied to C. consobrinoides. The large-bodied forms include the apparent sister species of C. slowinskii, from far northwestern Myanmar, and two other, distinctive species from Mon State and Shan State, respectively. A dichotomous key to the sixteen species of Cyrtodactylus known from Myanmar is presented. The discovery of seven new species of the genus suggests that each hill range, as well as isolated peaks, may be expected to harbor endemic species of geckos. The collections of the Myanmar Herpetological Survey in areas to the west of the Ayeyarwady River complement historical collections derived chiefly from areas to the south (the former Lower Burma) and to the west of the central arid zone.

67 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...…Wells, 2002; C. feae (Boulenger, 1893), C. jarujini Ulber, 1993, C. loriae (Boulenger, 1898), C. louisiadensis (de Vis, 1892), C. malcolmsmithi (Constable, 1949), C. novaeguineae (Schlegel, 1844), C. papilionoides Ulber and Grossmann, 1991, C. tiomanensis Das and Lim, 2000, C. tuberculatus…...

    [...]

01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: The contents of the reptile type collection of the Zoological Survey of India, headquartered in Calcutta, with several regional stations in the country, which incorporates the holdings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Indian Museum, are listed.
Abstract: The contents of the reptile type collection of the Zoological Survey of India, headquartered in Calcutta, with several regional stations in the country, which incorporates the holdings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Indian Museum, are listed. The annotated list includes original citations, registration numbers, nature of type and present status of every taxon, with additional remarks where necessary. In all, 556 primary and secondary types are present, including 289 name-bearing types (comprising 27 Chelonii, 152 Sauria and 110 Serpentes). A list of types that were not located, including those erroneously mentioned as being in the collection, is also included. K e y w o r d s : Zoological Survey of India, systematic collection, reptiles, type specimens, type catalogue.

61 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans, and the absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche.
Abstract: Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world’s lizard species. The body size‐frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

175 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1968

109 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Jan 2014
TL;DR: Scolecophidians are the most ancient (deeply-branching) group of living snakes and their relationships track plate tectonics better than any other vertebrate group.
Abstract: The evolutionary history and taxonomy of worm-like snakes (scolecophidians) continues to be refined as new molecular data are gathered and analyzed. Here we present additional evidence on the phylogeny of these snakes, from morphological data and 489 new DNA sequences, and propose a new taxonomic framework for the family Typhlopidae. Of 257 named species of typhlopid snakes, 92 are now placed in molecular phylogenies along with 60 additional species yet to be described. Afrotyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed almost exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa and contains three genera: Afrotyphlops, Letheobia, and Rhinotyphlops. Asiatyphlopinae subfam. nov. is distributed in Asia, Australasia, and islands of the western and southern Pacific, and includes ten genera: Acutotyphlops, Anilios, Asiatyphlops gen. nov., Cyclotyphlops, Grypotyphlops, Indotyphlops gen. nov., Malayotyphlops gen. nov., Ramphotyphlops, Sundatyphlops gen. nov., and Xerotyphlops gen. nov. Madatyphlopinae subfam. nov. occurs only in Madagascar and includes one genus: Madatyphlops gen. nov. Typhlopinae occurs in the New World and includes four genera: Amerotyphlops gen. nov., Antillotyphlops gen. nov., Cubatyphlops gen. nov., and Typhlops. Scolecophidians are the most ancient (deeply-branching) group of living snakes and their relationships track plate tectonics better than any other vertebrate group. Molecular data reveal large numbers of undescribed species, inferring that the true species diversity of these snakes is greatly underestimated.

79 citations

04 Nov 2003
TL;DR: The discovery of seven new species of the gekkonid lizard genus Cyrtodactylus suggests that each hill range, as well as isolated peaks, may be expected to harbor endemic species of geckos.
Abstract: Seven new species of the gekkonid lizard genus Cyrtodactylus are described on the basis of material collected by the Myanmar Herpetological Survey. These include four small to moderately sized species with relatively short digits and three larger species with long, slender digits. Among the smaller forms two are allied to C. khasiensis; one from the Ayeyarwady delta and adjacent lowlands, the other from higher elevations in the Chin Hills. The remaining small species, from Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (Sagaing Division) and Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range (Rakhine State) are probably most closely allied to C. consobrinoides. The large-bodied forms include the apparent sister species of C. slowinskii, from far northwestern Myanmar, and two other, distinctive species from Mon State and Shan State, respectively. A dichotomous key to the sixteen species of Cyrtodactylus known from Myanmar is presented. The discovery of seven new species of the genus suggests that each hill range, as well as isolated peaks, may be expected to harbor endemic species of geckos. The collections of the Myanmar Herpetological Survey in areas to the west of the Ayeyarwady River complement historical collections derived chiefly from areas to the south (the former Lower Burma) and to the west of the central arid zone.

67 citations

01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: The contents of the reptile type collection of the Zoological Survey of India, headquartered in Calcutta, with several regional stations in the country, which incorporates the holdings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Indian Museum, are listed.
Abstract: The contents of the reptile type collection of the Zoological Survey of India, headquartered in Calcutta, with several regional stations in the country, which incorporates the holdings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Indian Museum, are listed. The annotated list includes original citations, registration numbers, nature of type and present status of every taxon, with additional remarks where necessary. In all, 556 primary and secondary types are present, including 289 name-bearing types (comprising 27 Chelonii, 152 Sauria and 110 Serpentes). A list of types that were not located, including those erroneously mentioned as being in the collection, is also included. K e y w o r d s : Zoological Survey of India, systematic collection, reptiles, type specimens, type catalogue.

61 citations