Plesioptopoma curvidens is a new genus and species of hypoptopomatine loricariid from the upper Rio Paraopeba, a tributary to the Rio São Francisco in southeastern Brazil. Plesioptopoma is attributed to the hypoptopomatines based on five shared synapomorphies, and differs from all remaining members of the subfamily by having the premaxilla and dentary tooth series strongly curved mesially, in such a way that the mesial portion of the tooth series in both sides are turned and run parallel to each other, the caudal peduncle distinctly quadrangular in cross-section, and the anterior margin of the snout devoid of dermal plates.

We describe a new species of Phymaturus from the Sierra La Invernada of San Juan Province, Argentina. The new species shares the apomorphies of the P. palluma group including a fragmented subocular, square nonimbricate superciliaries, rugose and strongly mucronate dorsal caudals, and a midvertebral band of enlarged scales. Within the P. palluma group, the new species can be assigned to the Puna clade, with which it shares a dorsal pattern of small, dispersed brown spots and lack of black reticulations. The new species differs from other members of the Puna clade in several aspects of squamation and body pattern and color. Most notably, the new Phymaturus has a conspicuous yellow scapular spot, lacks a vertebral stripe, and has incomplete dark pigmentation over the dorsal neck. The new species is known only from the region of the type locality, the southernmost (and geographically isolated) extent of the Puna phytogeographic province, where it occurs at high elevations (>3100 m). We provide information on aspects of the natural history, diet, thermal biology, and apparent parental care exhibited by females of the new species.

Describimos una nueva especie de Phymaturus de la Sierra La Invernada de la provincia de San Juan, Argentina. La nueva especie comparte las apomorfías del grupo P. palluma incluyendo una subocular fragmentada, superciliares cuadrangulares no imbricadas, escamas caudales dorsales rugosas y muy mucronadas y una banda mediovertebral de escamas agrandadas. Dentro del grupo P. palluma, la nueva especie se asigna al clado Puna, con el que comparte un patrón dorsal de pequeñas y dispersas manchas marrones y la falta de reticulaciones en negro. La nueva especie se diferencia de otros miembros del clado Puna en varios aspectos de la escamación y el patrón de cuerpo y color. Lo más notable en el nuevo Phymaturus es una mancha escapular amarilla, carece de una franja vertebral, y tiene pigmentación oscura incompleta sobre el dorso del cuello. La nueva especie es conocida sólo de la región de la localidad tipo, la más meridional (y geográficamente aislada) extensión de la provincia fitogeográfica de la Puna, donde se encuentra a gran elevación (>3100 m). Proveemos de información sobre aspectos de la historia natural, la dieta, la biología térmica, y el aparente cuidado parental exhibido por hembras de la nueva especie.

A new species of Rypticus is described from the Bahamas, Bermuda, Florida, and the Caribbean Sea. The species previously has been confused with the spotted soapfish, R. subbifrenatus Gill 1861, with which it shares a similar pattern of dark spotting on the body. The new species differs from R. subbifrenatus in having yellow pigment on the pectoral fin and distal portions of the soft dorsal, caudal, and anal fins in life (pale in preservative); a different configuration of dark spots on the head; usually dark spots on the belly and caudal fin; almost always four dorsal-fin spines; and modally 25 total dorsal-fin elements, 15 pectoral-fin rays, and 23 total caudal-fin rays. The lower jaw typically extends further anteriorly beyond the upper jaw in the new species than in R. subbifrenatus, and the caudal peduncle is usually narrower. The new Rypticus typically inhabits deeper waters than R. subbifrenatus, and is commonly found on vertical slopes and walls vs. shallow, flat areas. The new species likely would have continued to go unnoticed without examination of genetic data, as there was little reason to look further at R. subbifrenatus until DNA barcoding revealed two distinct genetic lineages within the species. The value of DNA barcoding data in systematic studies and the need for increased support of taxonomy are highlighted. A neotype for Rypticus subbifrenatus is designated.

Designation and description of a neotype and geographic variation of the blind snake Rena dimidiata are presented here on the basis of a noted sample, providing a question on its generic identity, and proposing a new taxonomic combination. Rena dimidiata is recognized here as a species of Tricheilostoma, based on putative characters published in a recent paper, additional external traits and hemipenial characters. Morphometric and meristic characters for all species of Tricheilostoma are described herein. Additionally, a new species of Tricheilostoma is described from Espinhaço Range, Brazil.

Loricaria coximensis, new species, is described from the Rio Paraguay basin, in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. It is distinguished from all other species of Loricaria, except L. holmbergi, L. lundbergi, L. parnahybae, and L. pumila by having abdominal plates confined to the pre-anal shield and posterior median abdominal area, usually loosely joined or separated by naked areas, pectoral girdle mostly naked, with isolated plates near base of pectoral fins and posterior to gill opening vs. abdominal plates well developed and tightly arranged across the entire median abdominal area, including the pectoral girdle. It is distinguished from these other four species by meristic counts and several morphometric proportions, particularly a broader head (19.4–21.3% SL vs. 14.1–19.1% SL). Loricaria coximensis becomes the third described paedomorphic species of Loricaria, along with L. nickeriensis and L. pumila, based on its small adult size (<100 mm SL), reduced number of lateral dermal plates, and incomplete abdominal plate development. The new species is presently known only from a limited section of the Rio Coxim, which has been severely impacted by a hydroelectric dam and widespread conversion of land for agriculture.

We investigated diversity in the Amolops marmoratus species complex within Myanmar using both molecular and morphological characters from recently collected specimens. Based on congruence between multivariate analyses of quantitative morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide variation in the 16S ribosomal gene conducted on 43 out of 182 frogs examined, we recognize A. marmoratus for specimens from the states of Mon and Shan and northern Tanintharyi Division and designate a neotype for this species; resurrect A. afghanus (Günther, 1858) from synonymy with A. marmoratus for specimens from the northern state of Kachin and designate a lectotype for this species; recognize A. panhai for specimens from Tanintharyi, a new country record; and describe a new species for specimens from the western states of Chin and Rakhine, and Sagaing Division.

The New World genus Cathorops in the family Ariidae (Sea Catfishes) includes species that inhabit estuarine and coastal waters as well as freshwaters, playing an important role in Neotropical coastal and estuarine fisheries. The relatively conserved external morphology coupled with the marked sexual dimorphism and ontogenetic variation makes it difficult to recognize and diagnose the species. One of the major problems concerns the nomenclatural and geographical limits of C. spixii, described from tropical Brazil and often treated as the only coastal marine species in the genus from the Western Atlantic. Examination of types of nominal species as well as comprehensive collections of non-types from Caribbean and Atlantic South America, lead us to conclude that C. spixii is restricted to Brazil and that C. nuchalis is a valid species, ranging from Venezuela to Guyana. The nominal species Arius laticeps, Arius nigricans, and Arius variolosus are synonyms of C. nuchalis, C. spixii, and C. arenatus, respectively. We also describe a new species in the Cathorops mapale species group from Colombia and Venezuela.

Mustelus felis Ayres, 1854, is shown to be a senior synonym of the triakid shark Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855. Conditions exist, however, to allow “reversal of precedence” of the two names, as provided by Article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Thus, Triakis semifasciata Girard, 1855, is regarded as valid, qualifying as a nomen protectum, while the name Mustelus felis Ayres, 1854, is recognized as invalid, qualifying as a nomen oblitum.

Seasonal aphagia (a lack of feeding) can occur if foraging and reproduction occasionally result in conflicting demands on an individual, such that one activity takes precedence over the other. We tested the hypothesis that female and male Crotalus cerastes (Sidewinders) exhibit seasonal aphagia during the reproductive season. We examined the stomach contents of preserved specimens to assess variation in the feeding rates of C. cerastes. Non-reproductive females fed during the early and late stages of the active season, but reproductive females only ate during the first half of the active season. Female Sidewinders fed throughout the early vitellogenic phases of the reproductive cycle, but exhibited a tendency to reduce or cease feeding during the later stages of the cycle (gestation). Prey consumption during early reproductive stages can provide valuable energetic resources for sustaining a female's subsequent breeding activities. However, the physical burden of offspring mass and the concomitant decrease in locomotor efficiency can reduce a female's foraging efficiency in the later phases of the reproductive cycle. Male C. cerastes displayed a trend to feed more frequently during the reproductive season, perhaps because enhancing their energy reserves allows males to travel longer distances and maximize encounter rates with females. The discovery of this intersexual variation in feeding patterns of C. cerastes underscores the importance of descriptive ecological studies to elucidate distinct patterns of life history evolution.

Anuran amphibian populations worldwide are in decline due to a variety of factors including habitat destruction, climate change, disease, introduction of non-native species, and environmental contamination. We conducted a laboratory trial with Incilius nebulifer (synonym: Bufo nebulifer) to determine at what level salinity negatively affects hatching and metamorphosis, and how exposure to salinity during development affects metamorph characteristics that influence adult fitness. Embryos exhibited 95.5–99.5% hatching success at salinities of 0, 2, and 4 parts per thousand (ppt); 74.4% success at 6 ppt; and no hatching at 8 or 10 ppt. Salinity affected hatching success and larval survival, and we found linear trends between higher salinity and lower fractions of hatched embryos and living larvae. The odds of hatching were about the same for 0, 2, and 4 ppt, significantly lower for 6 ppt, and zero for 8 and 10 ppt. The odds of survival to metamorphosis were significantly lower in 6 ppt relative to 0, 2, and 4 ppt combined. Time to metamorphosis, mass, and hind limb length of recent metamorphs showed significant differences among treatment groups, with salinity having large effects on these variables. Development time was longer, mass was lower, and hind limb length was shorter in the 0 and 2 ppt treatments compared to 4 or 6 ppt. We showed that salinity affected the survival of early life stages of Incilius nebulifer and characteristics that have been linked to adult fitness. Our study suggests that low levels of salinity may affect the survival and fitness of other anurans.

Namaqua Dwarf Adders (Bitis schneideri) are small viperids that inhabit sandy coastal habitats within the Succulent Karoo Biome in southern Africa. Their ecology, and the faunal ecology within the region in general, is poorly documented, hampering effective conservation planning for this biodiversity hotspot. We used radio telemetry to investigate the spatial ecology of a population of B. schneideri. We measured mean daily displacement (MDD) of 19 male and 18 female snakes during the austral spring, summer, and winter. We also compared mean squared displacement from center of activity range (MSD), a measure of home range area, for males and females between the three seasons. Finally, we compared MDD of another 60 individuals collected using mark–recapture techniques. In general, snakes did not move great distances. Males moved further during spring (47.3 ± 3.9 m.day⁻¹) than during summer (3.3 ± 4.5 m.day⁻¹) or winter (3.0 ± 5.0 m.day⁻¹). Female MDD did not vary significantly across spring (6.4 ± 4.6 m.day⁻¹), summer (2.7 ± 3.7 m.day⁻¹), or winter (0.8 ± 6.5 m.day⁻¹), nor was it different from the MDD of males during summer and winter. MDD in the mark–recapture group did not differ among adult males, adult females, or juveniles. Home range area estimates varied between sexes and within seasons, generally corresponding to patterns shown for MDD. Overall mean home range size was larger in males (0.85 ± 0.09 ha) than females (0.10 ± 0.09 ha). Our data suggest that gene flow in Bitis schneideri is likely to be facilitated through the movement of male snakes during spring. However, the relatively short distances over which males range (even the most mobile males are sedentary compared to other species), and the apparent lack of any significant dispersal in juveniles, implies that the species may be vulnerable to fragmentation at relatively fine spatial scales. Thus, conservation management of the Succulent Karoo, the biome to which the species is restricted, should be aimed at minimizing habitat fragmentation.

To determine the potential impacts of the Cuban terrestrial Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, on native invertebrates in Hawaii, we conducted a stomach content analysis of 427 frogs from ten study sites on the island of Hawaii. At each site, we also collected invertebrates with two sampling methods, leaf litter collection and sticky traps, to determine if diets were representative of the available resources. Dominant prey items consisted of Hymenoptera: Formicidae (32.4% of total diets), Acari (19.2%), and Collembola (17.4%). Non-native invertebrate categories comprised 43.2% of their diet (Amphipoda, Isopoda, and Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate orders that contain native species in Hawaii found most often in the stomachs included Acari (mites; 19.2%), Araneae (spiders; 3.1%), Collembola (springtails; 17.4%), and Psocoptera (booklice; 2.3%), although it is unknown whether native species of these groups were present in the stomach samples. Eleutherodactylus planirostris predominantly consumed leaf litter invertebrates and selected proportionately more Formicidae than was available in the environment. A total population density of 12,500 frogs ha⁻¹ was estimated at one study site. With this density estimate and number of prey consumed, E. planirostris may consume 129,000 invertebrates ha⁻¹ night⁻¹ at some sites. This research highlights the need to understand the direct and indirect effects of predation by E. planirostris on invertebrates in Hawaii.

It has been proposed that limits on habitat availability and the risk of dispersal may have been a driver for the evolution of social behavior in the Egernia group of lizards. To test this hypothesis we sampled 46 individual Egernia striolata from trees in the Pilliga National Park, Australia, where retreat sites appeared abundant and often unoccupied. We collected genetic data at seven microsatellite loci from each individual and show that individuals within the same aggregation were highly related to each other, and that this was significantly different from random (mean 0.208 ± 0.400 SD, P  =  0.002). From the geographic distribution of relatedness and parentage analysis we infer that adults can show high levels of site fidelity, and their offspring delayed dispersal from their natal tree. We have therefore provided evidence for kin-based sociality in habitat with abundant retreat sites, thus indicating that limitations on habitat availability are not necessary for social aggregations in this species.

Reproductive behaviors and sound production of the Yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) are described from in-situ observations by divers as well as synchronous underwater audio-video recordings at a spawning aggregation off Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The highest abundances of M. venenosa estimated from underwater visual surveys were detected in March and April, five to nine days after the full moon (DAFM). Four distinct color phases were observed for M. venenosa; two of these were unique to the spawning aggregation and one, the white-headed phase, was exhibited during interactions with other conspecifics corresponding to courtship displays. Variations in color phases during fish interactions and group formation coupled with sounds preceded spawning, which occurred near sunset. Low-frequency (<150 Hz) sounds produced by M. venenosa were variable yet they were classified into two types, pulsed and tonal. Both types of sounds were associated with reproductive behaviors although not linked to spawning rushes. These sounds were most frequent between 1800 and 2100 h, peaked the eighth DAFM, and ceased between 11–13 DAFM. Temporal patterns in sound production suggest that peak reproduction occurred in April followed by a smaller aggregation in May of 2010. The association of passive acoustics with reproductive behaviors for M. venenosa provides a tool to help identify spawning aggregation sites and monitor spawning stock abundance to evaluate the effectiveness of management and conservation efforts for this Near Threatened grouper.

Several species of nocturnal gecko are known for their acoustic behavior in social contexts. The nocturnal house gecko, Gekko japonicus, was believed to be mute, except when threatened. We conducted behavioral encounter experiments involving same-sex and heterosexual pairs of G. japonicus. We also conducted two control experiments, chemical and blank, to confirm that acoustic behaviors are induced in the presence of conspecifics. Characteristic calls emitted by this gecko were recorded, providing the first evidence that G. japonicus uses acoustic signals for social communication. Geckos tended to call more frequently after the first physical contact with an opponent than before contact. In both control experiments, no gecko emitted calls. Whereas most characteristics of calls were similar to those reported for other gekkonid species, call intensity in this experiment was low. Males emitted calls toward both males and females, whereas females emitted calls almost exclusively toward other females. Several call variables differed significantly between intra- and intersexual calls. Our study demonstrated that G. japonicus uses acoustic signals in social contexts over short distances.

We used radiotelemetry and recapture to monitor survival and body condition of 36 captive-reared Ozark Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) released at two sites on the North Fork of the White River, Missouri, from May 2008 to August 2009. At the end of our study 16 salamanders were alive, 13 had died, and the fate of seven could not be determined. Captive-reared hellbenders released at a site with densely arranged boulders exhibited approximately 1.5-fold higher annual survival (0.7467; daily survival  =  0.9992 ± 0.0004 95% CI) than hellbenders released at a site where boulders were patchily distributed (0.4816; daily survival  =  0.9980 ± 0.0007 95% CI). When compared to log-transformed length–mass relationships developed for wild hellbenders from the same river in the 1970s, mean body condition of hellbenders at the patchy boulder site was about average at the end of the study (mean residual distance  =  −0.0273 ± 0.0234 SE, n  =  7; range  =  −0.1375–0.0486), while mean body condition of hellbenders at the dense boulder site was above average (mean residual distance  =  0.0423 ± 0.0402 SE; n  =  8; range  =  −0.0374–0.1088). In addition to lower survivorship and body condition, a greater proportion of hellbenders at the patchy site accrued physical abnormalities (6 of 13 vs. 2 of 14), carried leech parasites (9 of 16 vs. 4 of 14), and carried the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (3 of 11 vs. 1 of 13). A ‘site only’ model of survival was most supported, though additional supported models suggested increased mass at release may have increased daily survivorship. While more work is needed to determine the impact of translocation on long-term population dynamics of Ozark Hellbenders, our study demonstrated that about half of a translocated population of captive-reared hellbenders can survive while maintaining or increasing in body condition during their first year post-release, given release sites are well selected.