- reptile conservation

WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
REPTILES
& AMPHIBIANS • 22(4):150–152 • DEC
IRCF REPTILES &IRCF
AMPHIBIANS
• VOL15,
NO 4 • DEC 2008 189
2015
IRCF
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
C O N S E R V AT I O N A N D N AT U R A L H I S T O R Y
T A B L E
O F
C O N T E N T S
A New Trophic Resource in the Diet of the
Saw-tailed Curlytail, Leiocephalus carinatus
(Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in Cuba
FEATURE ARTICLES
 Chasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin:
On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer
190
 The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada:
A Hypothetical Excursion ............................................................................................................................Robert W. Henderson
198
RESEARCH ARTICLES
 The Texas Horned Lizard in Central and Western Texas ....................... Emily Henry, Jason Brewer, Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry
204
 The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) in Florida
Anaisa Brian
Cajigas
Gandia,
Javier
Torres,
and
Orlando
J. Torres
.............................................
J. Camposano,
Kenneth
L. Krysko,
Kevin M.
Enge,
Ellen M. Donlan,
and Michael Granatosky
212
Department of Animal and Human Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba ([email protected])
CONSERVATION ALERT
 World’s Mammals in Crisis .............................................................................................................................................................
 More Than Mammals ......................................................................................................................................................................
 The “Dow Jones Index” of Biodiversity ...........................................................................................................................................
T
220
223
225
he Saw-scaledHCurlytail
carinatus) is a polyW; NAD27), on the Hicacos Peninsula, Matanzas Province,
U S B A N D(Leiocephalus
RY

Captive
Care
of
the
Central
Netted
Dragon
.......................................................................................................
Shannon
Plummer 226
typic species naturally distributed in the Bahamas, Cuba,
an adult male Leiocephalus
carinatus
was photographed feedand the Cayman and
ing on discarded rice and black beans (a dish called congrí in
P R Swan
O F I L EIslands, and which has been introduced in southeastern Kraig
Florida
Powell
2009).
Cuba; Fig. 1). The lizardMichael
approached
the food carefully, with
Adler: A(Henderson
Lifetime Promotingand
Herpetology
................................................................................................
L. Treglia 234
In Cuba, the species is widespread (Rodríguez-Schettino et
tail raised and curled, and apparently very much aware of the
COMMENTARY
al. 2013) and common,
inhabiting rocky coasts, “mogotes”
camera (Fig. 1A). Nevertheless, it quickly began to eat (Fig.
 The Turtles Have Been Watching Me ........................................................................................................................ Eric Gangloff 238
(peculiar limestone outcrops in western Cuba), and areas
1B). Food recognition appeared initially to be by sight, posBOOK REVIEW
near human settlements
around old buildings and roadsides
sibly also by scent once at close range, and finally by taste and
 Threatened Amphibians of the World edited by S.N. Stuart, M. Hoffmann, J.S. Chanson, N.A. Cox,
(Rodríguez-Schettino 1999).
This
very
cautious,
diurnally
texture as indicated by useRobert
of the
which was slightly
R. Berridge, P. Ramani, and B.E. Young ..............................................................................................................
Powelltongue,
243
active lizard exhibits an agility that belies its stocky build. In
protruded (Fig. 1A).
Summaries
Research
Reports .................................
245
CONSERVATION
RESEARCH
REPORTS:mm
Cuba, males reach snout-vent
lengths
of 98.5–109.1
andof Published
Conservation
Arthropod
abundance
varies seasonally
in tropical envi NATURAL HISTORY RESEARCH REPORTS: Summaries of Published Reports on Natural History ................................. 247
females 90.9–100.9
mm
(Rodríguez-Schettino
1999).
ronments
(i.e.,
more
abundant
during
the
rainy season;
 NEWBRIEFS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 248
 EDITORIAL
251
The trophic spectrum
ofINFORMATION
this species.....................................................................................................................................................
is very wide. It
Wolda 1980; Tanaka and Tanaka 1982).
This could result
 FOCUS ON CONSERVATION: A Project You Can Support ............................................................................................... 252
feeds on many invertebrates,
including insects and arachin limited energy availability for insectivorous reptiles, espenids (Sampedro et al. 1979; Schoener et al. 1982; de Armas
cially during the dry season when food and water are scarce,
1987; Fong and Garcés 2002), centipedes (Sampedro et al.
potentially triggering behaviors like those reported herein.
1979; de Armas 1987), crustaceans
(de
Armas
1987),
and
However,
we have no evidence of L. carinatus rejecting this
Back Cover. Michael Kern
Front Cover. Shannon Plummer.
snails (Sampedro et al. 1979). It also
smallmovertekind
food during
the rainy season. A more parsimonious
Totatof
et velleseque
audant mo
Totatconsumes
et velleseque audant
estibus inveliquo is
velique
estibus inveliquo velique
rerchil
brates, and both cannibalism and heterospecific
saurophagy
explanation
thatrerchil
L. carinatus is an omnivorous, opportuerspienimus, quos accullabo. Ilibus
quos accullabo. Ilibus
have been reported (Schoener et al.
deinvere
Armas
1987; erspienimus,
nistic
that
exploits whatever resources are available in
aut dolorspecies
apicto invere
pe dolum
aut 1982;
dolor apicto
pe dolum
maionsequat
fugiatis
eumque
Martínez and Rodríguez-Schettinofugiatis
1987;
Fong eumque
and Garcés
order
tomaionsequat
obtain the
greatest amount of energy with the least
moditia erere nonsedis ma sectiamoditia erere nonsedis ma sectiatur
2002). In addition, these lizards consume
vegetable matepossible
expense. Consumption of immobile, energetically
ma derrovitae voluptam, as quos
tur ma derrovitae voluptam, as
accullabo.
rial (Sampedro et al. 1979; Schoener
et al. 1982; de Armas
rich food like rice and beans would appear to be an ideal sce1987; Fong and Garcés 2002), mainly fruits (Sampedro et
nario, the probability of which is enhanced by the frequently
al. 1979). Fong and Garcés (2002) found shed skin in the
reported association of this species with humans.
alimentary bolus, which is common for lizards (e.g., Perera
1985; de Armas 1987; Martínez and Fernández 1994; Sifers
Acknowledgements
et al. 2001). Individuals also have been reported eating food
We thank Raimundo López-Silvero for information and phofor animals kept in the Havana Zoological Park and cooked
tographs. We also thank the management of the protected
chicken eggs (Rodríguez-Schettino 1999). Martínez and
area “Varahicacos,” particularly its director Daniel Fajardo,
Moreno (2003) observed individuals “consuming sweets and
for technical and logistical support.
remains of human food at tourist places, gardens, and yards
of houses” (translated from Spanish), but they did not specify
Literature Cited
de
Armas,
L.F.
1987.
Notas
sobre
la alimentación de Leiocephalus carinatus cayensis
what type of food. Herein we report the exploitation of a new,
(Sauria: Iguanidae). Poeyana 350:1–7.
human-made trophic resource.
Fong, G.A. and G. Garcés. 2002. Composición y variación estacional de la dieta de
On 20 February 2012, at 0931 h at the biological station
Leiocephalus carinatus (Sauria: Iguanidae) en Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Boletín
de la Sociedad Herpetológica Mexicana 10(2):29–34.
in the Protected Area “Varahicacos” (23.19457 N, -81.15384
Copyright © 2015. Anaisa Cajigas Gandia. All rights reserved.
150
CAJIGAS ET AL.
IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 22(4):150–152 • DEC 2015
Fig. 1. An adult male Saw-scaled Curlytail (Leiocephalus carinatus) in Varahicacos, Cuba approaching (A) and eating (B) rice and black
beans (a dish called congrí in Cuba). Photographs by Raimundo López-Silvero.
151
CAJIGAS ET AL.
Henderson, R.W. and R. Powell. 2009. Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and
Amphibians. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Rodríguez-Schettino, L., C.A. Mancina, and V. Rivalta González. 2013. Reptiles
of Cuba: Checklist and geographic distributions. Smithsonian Herpetological
Information Service (144):1–96.
Martínez, M. and I. Fernández. 1994. Hábitat y alimentación de Leiocephalus
cubensis cubensis (Iguania: Tropiduridae) en una localidad de Ciudad de La
Habana, Cuba. Ciencias Biológicas 26:21–30.
IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 22(4):150–152 • DEC 2015
Sampedro Marín, A., V. Berovides Álvarez, and O. Torres Fundora. 1979. Hábitat,
alimentación y actividad de dos especies de Leiocephalus (Sauria: Iguanidae)
en dos localidades de la región suroriental de Cuba. Ciencias Biológicas 3:129–
139.
Martínez-Reyes M. and L. Rodríguez-Schettino. 1987. Canibalismo en Leiocephalus
carinatus (Gray) (Sauria: Iguanidae). Miscelánea Zoológica 29:1–2.
Martínez-Reyes, M. and L.V. Moreno García. 2003. Lagartos habitantes de los suelos, pp. 90–97. In: L. Rodríguez-Schettino (ed.), Anfibios y Reptiles de Cuba.
UPC Print, Vaasa, Finlandia.
Schoener, T.W., J.B. Slade, and C.H. Stinsor. 1982. Diet and sexual dimorphism
in the very catholic lizard genus Leiocephalus of the Bahamas. Oecologia
53:160–169.
Perera, A. 1985. Datos sobre la dieta de Cyclura nubila (Sauria: Iguanidae) en los
alrededores de Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba. Poeyana 291:1–12.
Sifers, S.M., M.L. Yeska, Y.M. Ramos, R. Powell, and J.S. Parmerlee, Jr. 2001.
Anolis lizards restricted to altered edge habitats in a Hispaniolan cloud forest.
Caribbean Journal of Science 37:55–62.
Rodríguez-Schettino, L. 1999. The Iguanid lizards of Cuba. University Press of
Florida. Gainesville.
Tanaka, L.K. and S.K. Tanaka. 1982. Rainfall and seasonal changes in arthropod
abundance on a tropical oceanic island. Biotropica 14:114–123.
Rodríguez-Schettino, L. 1999. Systematic accounts of the species, pp. 115–123. In:
L. Rodríguez Schettino (ed.), The Iguanid Lizards of Cuba. University Press
of Florida, Gainesville.
Wolda, H. 1980. Seasonality of tropical insects. Journal of Animal Ecology 49:277–
290.
152