Notes on the Recent Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt, with a List of the Species recorded from that Kingdom

A synoptic review of the Amphibians of Iran: bibliography, taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, conservation status, and identification key to the eggs, larvae, and adults

This study provides an illustrated account, a comprehensive update of the systematics, and a bibliography of the 15 species of anurans in five families, eight genera; and of the six species of urodeles in two families, four genera in Iran. Bufonidae, with eight species, is the most diverse family; Salamandridae has five species and Ranidae has four species. This study also presents updated identification keys for the eggs, larvae, and metamorphosed amphibians of Iran. We designated specimen NMW 19855.1 as neotype of Pelophylax persicus (Schneider, 1799) comb. nov.. Along with distribution maps obtained from all the reliable localities and museum specimens known at this time, the modelled habitat of species, and for the first time, the National Red List of amphibians based on the IUCN red list categories and criteria. Based on our evaluation we propose to categorize Bufo eichwaldi, Paradactylodon persicus, Neurergus derjugini, and N. kaiseri as Vulnerable at National Red List, and to move Bufotes (Calliopersa) luristanicus, B. (C.) surdus, Firouzophrynus olivaceus, and Rana pseudodalmatina from the category of Least Concern (LC) to Near Threatened (NT). The National Red List of amphibians that we propose has significant implications for endangered species management and conservation. Forty-one percent of amphibian species in Iran are endemic to the country, and more than forty percent of the Iranian amphibians are at risk of extinction. Zagros Mountain forest and Hyrcaniain forests have more than 80% (i.e. 18 species) of the diversity of Iranian amphibians. A considerable amount of scientific literature published on Iranian amphibians in Persian language is not easily accessible to researchers outside Iran. This monograph attempts to remedy the situation and provides broader access to international herpetology. We recognize that taxonomy is always in a state of flux, and the names and synonymies used here reflect our current view.

When colour patterns reflect phylogeography: new species of Dasypeltis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Boigini) from West Africa

Six colour phases are currently known in the genus Dasypeltis in West Africa, three in the D. scabra complex and three in the D. fasciata complex. Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that all correspond to distinct species. D. parascabra sp. nov. is described from wet savannah areas of Guinea and Ivory Coast. D. latericia is given full specific rank. The validity of D. sahelensis, D. gansi and D. confusa - three species recently described on the basis of colour pattern and biogeography - is confirmed. D. fasciata is confined to rain forest areas of West and Central Africa. D. scabra is absent from West Africa.

Patterns of variation in the phalangeal formulae of land tortoises (Testudinidae): Developmental constraint, size, and phylogenetic history

Documentation of variation in phalangeal formulae in land tortoises combined with ontogenetic information from turtles in general were used, in a phylogenetic context, to infer the potential effect of size and developmental constraints upon patterns of morphological variation. A sample of 201 specimens and published illustrations of 37 tortoise species were examined, representing all but one living genera and most species of the Testudinidae. Specimens were either articulated dry skeletons or preserved animals that were x-rayed. The patterns of digital and phalangeal loss in tortoises were predicted from developmental studies of the manus and pes in other turtles. If a digit is lost, it is the first digit, which is the last one to develop. If a digit has a single phalanx, it is usually the fifth digit. The primitive phalangeal formula for land tortoises is probably 2-2-2-2-1, the most common pattern found in living testudinid species. The presence of a second phalanx in the fifth digit evolved independently many times and usually in large tortoises. Such additions were interpreted as instances of peramorphosis. Many small tortoises have a full complement of digits (five) and phalanges (two in each digit); nevertheless, phalangeal and digital loss is associated with small size. Small and medium size tortoises exhibit greater variation in phalangeal number than do large tortoises. We hypothesize that epigenetic processes, and not simply adaptation, played a major role in the evolution of the variation in phalangeal formulae in tortoises.