Herpetology Notes

Climbing a giant tree trunk like cruising on the ground: observations on the climbing behaviour of five roughneck monitors, Varanus rudicollis (Gray, 1845), in Sabah, Borneo

Siew Te Wong — 2026-06-25

Predation on a Clown Rasbora, Rasbora kalochroma, by a Painted Mock Viper, Psammodynastes pictus Günther, 1858

Alfonsus T. E. Saputro — 2026-07-12

Dead Blue Wildebeest legacy: an unexpected opportunistic thermoregulation support for Nile Monitor, Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766), in Kenya

Tom Heijnen — 2026-05-23

Unusual frugivory in the Black River Turtle, Rhinoclemmys funerea (Cope, 1875): consumption of non-native Morinda citrifolia in a Costa Rican swamp forest

Todd Lewis — 2026-05-16

The next missing piece of cannibalism in Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768): a new record of wild predation on a juvenile from Switzerland

Grégoire Meier — 2026-06-10

Beyond the known limit: a maximum size record for the Common Wolfsnake, Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758), from Pune, Maharashtra, India

Mahesh Bilaskar — 2026-07-17

Predation on Ablepharus himalayanus (Günther, 1864) by Herpetoreas platyceps (Blyth, 1855) in Himachal Pradesh, India

Rakeshwar Kapoor — 2026-07-06

Feeding record of a South African Helmeted Terrapin, Pelomedusa galeata (Schoepff, 1792), on African Clawed Frogs, Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802)

Maj Kastelic — 2026-07-17

First record of hypopigmentation in the snake Erythrolamprus mossoroensis (Hoge & Lima-Verde, 1973) in northeastern Brazil

Thabata Cavalcante — 2026-07-03

Predation on Ihering’s Fathead Anole, Enyalius iheringii Boulenger, 1885, by Duméril’s False Coralsnake, Oxyrhopus clathratus Duméril et al., 1854, in southern Brazil

Diogo R. de Oliveira — 2026-07-06

Rotten ready-to-eat: observation of a Malagasy Cat-eyed Snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel, 1837), feeding on the carcass of a Panther Chameleon, Furcifer pardalis (Cuvier, 1829)

Alexandra Negro — 2026-06-10

Mycophagous behaviour by a Spiny Turtle, Heosemys spinosa (Gray, 1831), on a Bridal-veil Stinkhorn Mushroom (Phallus indusiatus)

Alfonsus T.E. Saputro — 2026-06-22

First record of leucism in the Karpathos Salamander, Lyciasalamandra helverseni (Pieper, 1963)

Ari Gitsis — 2026-07-12

Pseudomonas aeruginosa skin infection after long-term captivity of a Dalmatian Wall Lizard, Podarcis melisellensis (Braun, 1877)

Josip Miljković — 2026-05-16

Requiem for Anolis “malkini”: identity with A. triumphalis (Nicholson and Köhler, 2014) and comments on the type locality of A. pentaprion Cope, 1863

Steven Poe — 2026-06-10

Constricting defensive behaviour of the Salmon-bellied Racer, Mastigodryas melanolomus (Cope, 1868), against raptor predation in Costa Rica

José Miguel Chaves-Fallas — 2026-06-10

Clutch splitting and nesting behaviour of the Eastern Malay River Terrapin, Batagur affinis edwardmolli Praschag et al., 2009, in Malaysia

Pelf N. Chen — 2026-05-16

Spontaneous exudation of skin toxin in the Spiny Toad, Bufo spinosus Daudin, 1803, and the Natterjack Toad, Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768)

Jean Muratet — 2026-06-24

Two new records of avian predation on species of wormlizards, genus Ophiodes, in southeastern Brazil

Carlos G.F. de Oliveira — 2026-07-07

Up in the mountains: a new record of the Yellow-bellied Toad, Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758), fills a missing piece of the biogeographical puzzle in central Euboea, Greece

Taxiarchis Danelis — 2026-06-10

Secret rendezvous and love bites: first report of courtship behaviour in blue Malayan Coralsnakes, Calliophis bivirgatus flaviceps (Cantor, 1839)

Ruirong Choo — 2026-05-07

A cost-efficient open-source 3D printed harness for GPS logger use in small terrestrial turtles

Jeffery Haney — 2026-05-14

First record of Gekko cf. albofasciolatus from Palawan Island, the Philippines

Kseniia M. Prondzynska — 2026-05-31

Behavioural plasticity and use of indigenous flora by the invasive Gold Dust Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda (Boettger, 1880), on Réunion Island

Grégory Deso — 2026-07-03

Survival of Narrow-mouthed Toad, Kaloula borealis (Barbour, 1908), tadpoles before and after flooding of a river in South Korea

Min Seock Do — 2026-06-24

Distribution and microhabitat use of naturalised Common Chameleons, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758), in Malta

Kristyl Farrugia — 2026-05-16

The Common Chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, was introduced to Malta in the mid-19th century and is now fully naturalised, yet detailed ecological information for the Maltese archipelago remains very limited. This study provides the first integrated assessment of its spatial and seasonal distribution, microhabitat use, and age-related patterns of variation using systematic field surveys across 13 sites. Abundance varied markedly among regions, with northern sites supporting the highest densities, likely reflecting greater availability of semi-natural and suburban vegetation. Seasonal differences in abundance were minimal, although winter surveys indicated reduced detectability. Chameleons showed strong associations with coniferous vegetation and mid-height perches (101–300 cm), with seasonal shifts consistent with thermoregulatory demands. Ontogenetic patterns indicated partial niche partitioning, with smaller individuals occupying lower and occasional peripheral branches, while larger individuals used higher and more central positions. Overall, the species’ adaptability to fragmented landscapes and human-modified habitats explains its successful establishment in Malta, while emphasising the importance of maintaining tree-rich green spaces for long-term population persistence.

A longevity record of the Japanese Gecko, Gekko japonicus (Duméril & Bibron, 1836), in the wild

Taisei Komatsubara — 2026-05-31

New locality for the Juniper Skink, Ablepharus kitaibelii Cocteau, 1833 in Serbia: expanding its known range and connecting it with the Croatian population

Aleksandar M. Urošević — 2026-07-12

Herpetofauna in stingless bee hives (Meliponini) managed in a Brazilian Amazon forest fragment: predation or shelter?

Richardson Ferreira Frazão — 2026-07-17

Predation of an Asian grassfrog, Fejervarya cf. limnocharis, by an Asian forest scorpion (genus Heterometrus) in Central Myanmar

Soe Thandar Aung — 2026-05-13

Oh snap: observations of heterospecific predation and cannibalism in the Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Jordyn Williams — 2026-05-31

Nectar feeding and external pollen loads in Podarcis lusitanicus Geniez et al., 2014: evidence for trophic niche expansion in an Atlantic island ecosystem

Ane Navarro-Ayensa — 2026-05-23

An unusual colour morph of Rana dalmatina Fitzinger in Bonaparte, 1838 from the Czech Republic

Daniel Jablonski — 2026-07-08

Sky-island microendemism of a Chilean coastal mountain lizard: a new record for Liolaemus frassinettii Núñez, 2007 broadens its range in three dimensions

Jorge Mella-Romero — 2026-05-22

Survivors of St. Croix: limb loss and abnormal tail regeneration in Anolis acutus Hallowell, 1856

Nicole Stevens — 2026-05-30

Maximum body size in Central American River Turtles, Dermatemys mawii Gray, 1847

Donald T. McKnight — 2026-05-13

Behavioural observations of the Caylloma Smooth-throated Lizard, Liolaemus annectens Boulenger, 1901, following snowfall events in the highlands of southern Peru

Irbin B. Llanqui — 2026-05-21

Fisherman’s trash, cobra’s treasure: first evidence of scavenging by a Brown Forest Cobra, Naja subfulva Laurent, 1955, in Mozambique

Avelino R. Miguel — 2026-06-14

All you can eat: predation of a giant earthworm by the Smooth-Horned Frog, Proceratophrys cristiceps (Müller, 1884), in the Caatinga biome

Juliana Zina — 2026-06-14

First observation of an Eastern Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille in Sonnini & Latreille, 1802), inhabiting a crayfish burrow in South Carolina, USA

Zackary A. Graham — 2026-06-14

Range extension and species assignment of a rediscovered population of the Black Salamander complex (genus Aneides) in California, USA, based on morphological and molecular evidence

Cort Glosli — 2026-05-17

First report on the advertisement call characteristics of the Beautiful Frog, Phrynella pulchra Boulenger, 1887, from Sumatra, Indonesia

Rouland Ibnudarda — 2026-07-06

Evidence for homing in Bufo gargarizans Cantor, 1842 from a radiotelemetry study in the Republic of Korea

Seung-Min Park — 2026-05-21

A cost-effective basking trap design for invasive turtle management

Shaquille Matthys — 2026-07-17

Updated distribution and new locality records of the Caspian Bent-toed Gecko, Tenuidactylus caspius (Eichwald, 1831), in Armenia

Kseniia M. Prondzynska — 2026-07-03

First sightings of axanthism in the Lacertidae, observed in the Greek endemic Erhard’s Wall Lizard, Podarcis erhardii (Bedriaga, 1882)

Rory Mendelow — 2026-01-07

Predation on the Indian House Gecko, Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppell, 1835, by the huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria in Kolkata, India

Saheba Khatun — 2026-01-07

First report of flavinistic albinism in Calamaria schmidti Marx & Inger, 1955

Oliver Christopher — 2026-01-07

New and recurrent morphological abnormalities in amphibians from northwest Mexico

Héctor A. Castro-Bastidas — 2026-01-16

A rare record of a midge biting Nidirana shyhhuangi Lin et al., 2025 in Taiwan

JhYu You — 2026-01-16

The largest Eastern Newts, Notophthalmus viridescens (Rafinesque, 1820), are found at high elevation in North Carolina

Hayleigh R. Locke — 2026-01-28

First records of axanthism in African Reed Frogs (genus Hyperolius) and an updated checklist of axanthic amphibians

Gregory Jongsma — 2026-02-01

Arboreal behaviour in Ocellated Lizards, Timon lepidus (Daudin, 1802): can trees play a role in species conservation?

Przemysław Zdunek — 2026-02-01

First case of erythristic Common Frog, Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758, in Latvia

Alessandro Di Marzio — 2026-02-04

Caudal regeneration in introduced and native populations of the Italian Wall Lizard, Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810), in California, USA, and Taormina, Italy, with reports of tail bifurcation

Alyssa Head — 2026-02-04

Yellow is the new green: abnormal colouration of Pelophylax sp. in Latvia and Lithuania

Alessandro Di Marzio — 2026-02-04

Postprandial refuge selection strategy in the Montpellier Snake, Malpolon monspessulanus (Hermann, 1804), in a human-altered landscape

Grégory Deso — 2026-02-04

First record of fossorial foam nesting in the Forest Green Treefrog, Zhangixalus arboreus (Okada and Kawano, 1924) in Japan

Masaya Miyata — 2026-02-12

Where giants meet: the first photographic record of the Asian Water Monitor, Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768), on Komodo Island, Indonesia, with notes on natural history

Zichen Qiao — 2026-02-11

First record of the Southern White-lipped Mud Turtle, Kinosternon (Cryptochelys) leucostomum postinguinale (Cope, 1887), in Manabí Province, Ecuador

Moira L. M. Wiedebusch — 2026-02-11

Adult aggression toward hatchlings in Yellow Land Iguanas, Conolophus subcristatus (Gray, 1831), on Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galápagos

Jorge Carrión-Tacuri — 2026-02-11

A frog-eat-frog novelty: first record of “reverse age-class cannibalism” in the Arabian Toad, Sclerophrys arabica (Heyden, 1827), from King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, Saudi Arabia

Mohammad A. Abdulhakeem — 2026-02-24

Consumption of a Rough Earthsnake, Virginia striatula (Linnaeus, 1766), by a Green Sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, in Brazos County, Texas, USA

Rose C. Blanchard — 2026-02-26

Predation of Ameivula nigrigula (Arias et al., 2011) and Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) by Jaguarundi cats, Herpailurus yagouaroundi (Saint-Hilaire, 1803), in the Caatinga morphoclimatic domain, Brazil

Gabriela Felix-Nascimento — 2026-02-26

Courtship and mating behaviour of the Kenyan Rock Agama, Agama lionotus elgonis Lönnberg, 1922, and a new locality record in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

Przemysław Zdunek — 2026-02-26

Observation of limb abnormalities in Indirana chiravasi Padhye et al., 2014 from the Western Ghats region of Goa, India

Shubham Rane — 2026-02-26

Predation of the threadsnake Epictia borapeliotes (Vanzolini, 1996) by Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira) in Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil

Alice C.B. de Souza — 2026-02-26

First record of the non-native Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle Mauremys sinensis (Gray, 1834) on Rhodes Island, Greece

Konstantinos Kalaentzis — 2026-02-26

First record of symmetrical red stripes on a Common European Toad, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), from Germany

Anika Sander — 2026-02-26

Polymelia in a Ladakh Toad, Bufotes latastii (Boulenger, 1882): a case of complex skeletal anomaly

Кsenia A. Matushkina — 2026-03-04

A brief overview of the natural history of the recently described, miniaturised leaf chameleon, Brookesia nana Glaw et al., 2021, from Sorata Forest, northeastern Madagascar

Jeanneney Rabearivony — 2026-03-04

First live photographic records of Sumatran Mud Snake, Sumatranus albomaculata (Duméril et al., 1854) and Simeulue Pitviper, Trimeresurus kirscheyi (Vogel et al., 2022)

Marcus Lucassen — 2026-03-06

First report of direct development in Raorchestes malipoensis Huang et al., 2023 from southeast Yunnan under laboratory conditions

Junkai Huang — 2026-03-17

One species or two? How many Trapelus species occur in Morocco?

Aristea Paraskevopoulou — 2026-03-18

First record of Dennys’s Treefrog, Zhangixalus dennysi (Blanford, 1881), from Bolikhamxai Province, Laos

Yukio Ichioka — 2026-04-20

Backing out: dead-end tunnels reveal capacity for reverse concertina movement in Cornsnakes, Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Bizaya Gurung — 2026-04-10

Carnivory by a Gecarcinus ruricola (Linnaeus, 1758) on a hatchling Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) on Saba, Dutch Caribbean

Matthijs P. van den Burg — 2026-03-17

First record of the Burmese Whipping Frog, Polypedates mutus (Smith, 1940), from Manipur State, India, with the description of its tadpole

Yumkham S. Devi — 2026-03-22

Predation of the Japanese Keelback, Hebius vibakari (Boie, 1826), by the Ussuri Pitviper, Gloydius ussuriensis (Emelianov, 1929) in South Korea, with remarks on prey size

Yucheol Shin — 2026-04-06

First record of the Green Whipsnake, Chironius exoletus (Linnaeus, 1758), preying on an egg clutch of the Orange-legged leaf frog, Pithecopus hypochondrialis (Daudin, 1800)

Jhorran O. de Souza — 2026-04-14

Crazy little thing called love: interspecific amplexus and early hybrid embryogenesis in two treefrogs (genus Dendropsophus) in Brazil

Mariana Routh — 2026-04-23

First records of the Chaco Racer, Philodryas psammophidea Günther, 1872, in the Cerrado of Paraguay

Matías Silvera — 2026-04-10

Wild Royal Pythons, Python regius (Shaw, 1802), in Senegal react variably to threats from potential chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) predators

Joseph H. Furman — 2026-04-23

Post-hatching parental care by a wild male Crocodylus porosus Schneider, 1801 in Australia

David White — 2026-03-19

A new dietary item during the juvenile stage of the Black Spiny-Tail Iguana, Ctenosaura similis (Gray, 1831)

Eric E. Flores — 2026-03-18

First record of predation on the Amazonian Motmot, Momotus momota (Linnaeus, 1766), by the Paraguayan Rainbow Boa, Epicrates crassus Cope, 1862, in the Brazilian Cerrado

Carlos G. F. de Oliveira — 2026-03-31

Extending the known range of the Crowned Leafnosed Snake, Lytorhynchus diadema (Duméril et al., 1854), in Jordan’s Eastern Desert

Ehab Eid — 2026-03-18

Female release calls and male distress calls in the Southern Xinjiang Toad, Bufotes pewzowi (Bedriaga, 1898), from Uzbekistan

Vishal Kumar Prasad — 2026-07-05

Amphibian vocalisations play a critical role in behavioural ecology, with release calls functioning as signals to deter undesired mating attempts and distress calls serving to mediate conflicts and signal imminent threats. Here, we provide the first description of female release calls and male distress calls of Bufotes pewzowi from Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Female release calls exhibited variability in both temporal and spectral properties, diverging from the release calls of males in other toad species. Male distress calls displayed similarities in temporal call property to those of Rhinella granulosa. Our study highlights the paucity of data on release and distress calls within the Family Bufonidae and the challenges in making comprehensive comparisons. Our findings contribute to an understanding of anuran communication and highlight the necessity for further research to elucidate the complexities of toad vocal behaviour.

Genetic and acoustic characteristics of African Reed Frogs (genus Hyperolius) in the Kaffa area, south-western Ethiopia

Abeje Kassie — 2026-07-01

The taxonomy and distribution of African Reed Frogs (genus Hyperolius) in sub-Saharan Africa remain subjects of ongoing debate. Currently, only four species have been reported from Ethiopia, and this genus remains one of the least studied in the country. The aim of this study was to characterise Hyperolius species in the Kaffa area of south-western Ethiopia using molecular and acoustic data. We conducted opportunistic and standardised visual encounter surveys, together with acoustic surveys. Species were identified using morphology and call characteristics and were validated through genetic barcoding based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences. Three Hyperolius species were identified in the study area: Hyperolius kivuensis, H. howelli, and H. viridiflavus. The uncorrected p-distances showed that intraspecific genetic distance was < 0.01 for each of the three species. Call analyses revealed significant differences among the three species in peak frequency and delta time. Despite growing interest in Ethiopian batrachofauna, more than 75 species in Ethiopia still lack formal call descriptions and genetic comparisons. This study helps fill this knowledge gap and improves our taxonomic understanding of Ethiopian anuran diversity.

Herpetofauna richness in urban and fragmented green spaces of Panama City

Marcelo Mack-Prado — 2026-07-12

Urbanisation is a global process that fragments and degrades habitats, threatening biodiversity. Amphibians and reptiles are vulnerable to these changes, but urban green spaces can serve as refugia. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity and composition of herpetofaunal assemblages in five sites in Panama City: Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), Albrook, Corozal, Campus Octavio Méndez Pereira - Universidad de Panamá (UP), and Reserva Natural Cerro Ancón (RNCA). Sampling was conducted at five sites from January 2023 to January 2024. At each site, two linear transects, 200 m long and 3 m wide on each side, were established. A total of 29 species (nine amphibians and 20 reptiles) were recorded, with the highest richness in the PNM (27 species) and the lowest in Albrook (12). Widespread species such as Rhinella horribilis and Anolis auratus were found in all sites, while others, for example Rhinella centralis, were only recorded at a single site. The cluster analysis showed that the PNM and Corozal are the most similar sites in richness (Sj = 0.76), while Albrook segregated from the rest with a similarity value below Sj = 0.4. Although PERMANOVA and NMDS analyses using fragment area (ha) and isolation distance (km) were not significant, likely due to a small sample area (n = 5), the observed patterns suggest that larger forest fragments, such as the PNM (232 ha), act as important reservoirs. The results demonstrate the importance of urban green spaces for herpetofauna conservation, providing scientific evidence for urban planning in Panama City.

Seasonal overland dispersal of the Suriname Toad, Pipa pipa (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Peruvian Amazon

Brian Crnobrna — 2026-05-30

The Suriname toad (Pipa pipa) is a highly aquatic species with cryptic habits, making field observations rare. Despite its presumed dependency on permanent waterbodies, overland dispersal of the species remains poorly understood. We investigated P. pipa movement patterns at an oxbow lake in the Peruvian Amazon using pitfall traps deployed in November 2012 (early wet season) and April 2013 (late wet season). A total of 18 captured indicated directional movement between permanent water and seasonal wetlands. Nine individuals migrated from permanent water to seasonally flooded areas as they became inundated, then returned to permanent water as these wetlands dried. Pitfall traps facing opposing directions caught no individuals, confirming movement directionality. This represents the largest number of P. pipa encounters documented at a single site, providing evidence for regular terrestrial activity in this species. Our findings suggest that seasonal hydrological changes drive overland dispersal, exhibiting patterns akin to amphibian migration. We highlight the utility of pitfall trapping for studying P. pipa populations and provide a foundation for future studies on its dispersal ecology.

From fear to admiration: traditional and local knowledge about rattlesnakes (genus Crotalus) in Zacatecas, Mexico

Jesús L. Lara-Galván — 2026-07-07

Numerous misconceptions and myths about rattlesnakes persist in Mexico, and both the negative perceptions of these snakes as threats to human safety and their traditional uses have contributed to their persecution. We therefore investigated how local residents perceive and utilise rattlesnakes while also working to dispel widespread misinformation about rattlesnake biology, behaviour, and ecology. For this purpose, 240 semi-structured surveys were conducted in 48 localities in Zacatecas State. Most of the interviewees had experienced at least one encounter with a rattlesnake, mainly in summer afternoons, on highways, asphalt roads, and dirt roads. Medicinal use emerged as the main reason why rattlesnakes are hunted because respondents believe that they are useful in the treatment of various ailments, including cancer, allergies, heart disease, rheumatism, muscle fatigue, and joint pain. We present the most common myths related to rattlesnakes in Zacatecas and highlight people’s interest to learn more about these organisms and their conservation.

Finding Vipera pontica: morphological evidence of a possible hybrid between V. kaznakovi Nikolsky, 1909 and V. ammodytes transcaucasiana Boulenger, 1913 from central Georgia

Bas Raaijmakers — 2026-06-10

Vipera pontica was originally described from two juvenile specimens from northeastern Turkey and has long been considered taxonomically enigmatic. Recent genomic studies suggest that these snakes represent a sporadic hybrid between V. kaznakovi and V. ammodytes transcaucasiana. We here report on an adult viper with an intermediate phenotype, part V. kaznakovi and part V. ammodytes transcaucasiana, observed in the Kura Valley of central Georgia within a known contact zone between the two other taxa. This snake combined diagnostic traits of both V. kaznakovi and V. ammodytes transcaucasiana, including an upturned but hornless snout, fragmented head scalation, intermediate ventral and subcaudal counts, a mixed dorsal zigzag pattern, and a bicoloured tail tip. This observation is the first documented adult resembling V. pontica and the first such record from Georgia, extending the known occurrence of this putative hybrid form approximately 150 km to the east of the type locality. Our findings support the interpretation of V. pontica as a rare hybrid arising in narrow parapatric overlap zones rather than a distinct evolutionary lineage, and this taxon therefore belongs in the synonymy of both V. kaznakovi and V. ammodytes transcaucasiana.

Blood parasite infections in the Carniolan Lizard, Zootoca carniolica (Mayer et al., 2000)

Giulia Simbula — 2026-06-30

Blood parasites play a crucial role in shaping host ecology and fitness in reptiles, yet their occurrence in many lacertid species remains poorly documented. We here report the first evidence of blood parasites in Zootoca carniolica, a recently recognized oviparous species, from Slovenia. Fifty adult lizards (25 males, 25 females) were sampled from a population at an elevation of 1300 m in Pokljuka, Slovenia, during the summer of 2021. Blood smears were analysed to determine parasite prevalence and intensity, and the relationships of parasite data with host body size, sex, and seasonality. Overall, 52% of individuals were infected. A distinct sex-specific pattern in parasite infection was found: in males, body size was positively correlated with parasite prevalence, likely reflecting increased exposure to potential parasite vectors through enhanced social interactions and movement in bigger males. In females, larger individuals exhibited higher parasite intensity, possibly due to trade-offs between reproductive investment and immune function, or cumulative parasite exposure with age. Additionally, females showed a significant seasonal decline in parasite intensity from July to August, which is potentially linked to reproductive cycles, environmental factors, or physiological condition. On the other hand, it might also reflect a body size effect since larger females were found in July. These findings highlight the complex interactions between host traits, seasonality, and parasite dynamics in a high-elevation lizard population, contributing to our understanding of host-parasite interactions in European lacertids.

New subfossil bones of a Réunion Giant Tortoise, Cylindraspis indica (Schneider, 1783), from a lava tunnel under a mid-elevation windward rainforest on Réunion Island

Arnaud Rhumeur — 2026-06-10

We report the discovery of subfossil remains of a juvenile Réunion Giant Tortoise, Cylindraspis indica, in a lava tunnel beneath remnant mid-elevation native tropical rainforest on Réunion Island. Located at an elevation of 726 m in the Plaine des Grègues managed forest, this find is the highest fossil record of the species on the island. For the first time, these remains provide paleontological confirmation of historical accounts from the 17^th–18^th century reporting tortoises in upland areas. These specimens also highlight the potential of submontane and montane lava tubes as paleontological archives. Radiocarbon dating yielded an age of 665 ± 30 BP with 95.4% probability, corresponding to AD 1296–1399 and indicating that the specimen predates permanent human settlement (ca. 1665) by approximately three centuries. Although palynological analyses were unsuccessful, flora inventories revealed a diverse assemblage of native fleshy-fruited trees, suggesting that C. indica may have played a crucial role as megafaunal seed disperser. Beyond its paleontological significance, this discovery thus lends legitimacy to rewilding experiments involving functional analogues of extinct tortoises.

Behaviour to avoid saltwater sites during spawning in Buergeria japonica (Hallowell, 1861)

Takashi Haramura — 2026-03-17

The use of spawning sites by female amphibians can strongly influence the rate of egg survival. Coastal areas are risky environments for amphibian breeding because the rate of egg survival falls drastically with increased water salinity. Buergeria japonica is an anuran species that breeds in coastal environments but avoids spawning in sites with increased salinity. The aim of this study is to understand the behavioural sequence of how this frog avoids saltwater sites. To address this question, I recorded spawning behaviour in a laboratory experiment. Although amplectant pairs randomly visited and entered fresh and saltwater sites, they rapidly left saltwater sites after entering the water. The amount of time spent in saltwater sites prior to exiting the water declined with increasing water salinity. The selection of a spawning site was determined by gravid females only because each male was clasping onto the back of the female and did not contribute to the locomotion of amplectant pairs. This result suggests that female B. japonica are able to quickly determine the salinity level of potential breeding sites. Together, all adaptive responses allow this species to persist in a coastal environment, in which salinity of breeding sites varies greatly.

Age structure and body size of Southern Banded Newts, Ommatotriton vittatus (Gray, 1835), in a pristine pond in the coastal mountains of Lattakia, Syria

Diaa Alkhayer — 2026-03-17

The Southern Banded Newt (Ommatotriton vittatus) is widely distributed across Syria, yet its demographic and life-history traits remain largely unexplored. This study provides the first skeletochronological assessment of Ommatotriton vittatus in Syria, focusing on age structure, growth, and sexual maturity, using a dataset of thirty-six individuals (15 males, 21 females). Maximum ages reached seven years in males and eight years in females, although the age distribution did not differ significantly between sexes. Mean snout–vent lengths were 62.2 mm and 58.0 mm, for males and females respectively, with males being significantly larger. Both sexes attained sexual maturity at two years, a markedly earlier age than reported for other Ommatotriton populations. This accelerated development likely reflects favourable environmental conditions and high habitat quality at the study site. The findings establish the first demographic baseline for O. vittatus in Syria and contribute to understanding how local ecological factors shape amphibian life-history strategies in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Population size and nocturnal activity of Cyprus Grass Snakes, Natrix natrix moreotica (Bedriaga, 1882), in an arid island environment

Marilena Stamatiou — 2026-03-18

Grass Snakes (Natrix spp.) constitute the most widespread snake taxon in the Eurasian continent. While research on Grass Snakes is historically robust, there is a lack of data for the distribution, population trends and estimates, and ecology of Natrix natrix inhabiting the island of Cyprus, often accredited on its elusive nature. The Grass Snake population in the Troodos Mountains has garnered the most attention in the past, while the vulnerable lowland population in the southeast of the island remains relatively understudied. It is assumed that this latter population is small, highly fragmented and inhabits habitats that face severe anthropogenic pressures. These threats are exacerbated by prolonged drought and heat waves. Population monitoring and estimates of the number of individuals per life stage are needed to inform and support the long-term conservation of lowland N. natrix populations in Cyprus. We estimated the number of individuals in two lowland areas and highlight the usefulness of nocturnal instead of diurnal transect surveys. Lastly, we recommend ways to move forward with monitoring the lowland population of the species in order to aid its long-term survival.

Population size and microhabitat features of the crocodile newt Tylototriton pasmansi Bernardes et al., 2020 in northern Vietnam

Dung Van Tran — 2026-04-23

Pasman's Crocodile Newt (Tylototriton pasmansi) is endemic to tropical broadleaf forests in northern Vietnam. Information regarding its population size, distribution, and habitat characteristics remains extremely limited, and its IUCN Red List status is Data Deficient. This study was conducted in Xuan Son National Park and Phu Canh Nature Reserve, Phu Tho Province, to estimate population sizes and identify relevant habitat features of the species. We found newt habitats based on community interviews and then conducted capture-mark-recapture surveys. The results showed that the population size of these newts was quite small, with only an estimated 70 and 236 individuals at the examined sites in Xuan Son National Park and Phu Canh Nature Reserve, respectively. The microhabitat of T. pasmansi primarily comprises small, shallow ponds with minimal water flow and muddy bottoms at elevations of around 1000 m, characterized by a wide pH range. This is the first study estimating the population size of a newt species in Vietnam. As climate change intensifies, habitat monitoring and improvements, such as the establishment of breeding pools, along with education of local residents are needed to prevent local extinctions of this interesting species.

Natural history observations of the Knysna Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion damaranum (Boulenger, 1887): thermal extremes and feeding on flora

Krystal A. Tolley — 2026-04-20