Michael Cota - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Michael Cota
Herpetology Notes, Mar 4, 2021
FIGURE 8. Dewlap coloration in male Pseudocalotes drogon sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9497; photograph by L. ... more FIGURE 8. Dewlap coloration in male Pseudocalotes drogon sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9497; photograph by L. Lee Grismer), P. larutensis (LSUDPC 9400; photograph by L. Lee Grismer), P. khaonanensis (LSUDPC 9910; photograph by Micheal Cota), and female P. rhaegal sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9488; photograph by Mohd. A. Muin).
FIGURE 3. Lateral view of the head of Pseudocalotes viserion sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9909) from Genting ... more FIGURE 3. Lateral view of the head of Pseudocalotes viserion sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9909) from Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia illustrating descriptive scale characteristics. Photograph by Kurt Orion.
A herpetofauna survey was carried out in Khao Nan National Park, northern Nakhon Si Thammarat, Th... more A herpetofauna survey was carried out in Khao Nan National Park, northern Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, betwen April 2006 and May 2007, ad documented 67 species of reptiles and 31 species of amphibians. Records of interesting species for this area include Ansonia sp., Ingerana sp., Limnonectes sp., Larutia sp., Ramphotyphlops sp. and Pareas sp. We herewith provide notes on the natural histories of some amphibians and reptiles in this study.
FIGURE 9. Type series of Psedocalotes rhaegal sp. nov. from Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pa... more FIGURE 9. Type series of Psedocalotes rhaegal sp. nov. from Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia and habitat at the type locality. Upper left: LSUHC 12179, photograph by L. Lee Grismer. Upper right: LSUHC 12000, photograph by L. Lee Grismer. Lower left: LSUHC 12178, photograph by Mohd A. Muin. Lower right: Montane forest microhabitat at Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
<i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> sp. nov. Viserion's False Garden Lizard Figs. 3, 6,... more <i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> sp. nov. Viserion's False Garden Lizard Figs. 3, 6, 10 <b>Holotype.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12227 collected on 26 March 2015 by Evan S. H. Quah at 1000 hrs crossing the radar tower road at Ulu Kali at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (03° 26.166 N 101 ° 47.021 E; 1754 m in elevation). <b>Paratype.</b> Adult male LSUHC 12141 found dead on the radar tower road at Ulu Kali at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (03° 26.12 N 101 ° 47.345 E; 1750 m in elevation) by L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood, Jr., Hayden R. Davis, Matthew L. Murdoch, Brandon R. Burch, and Anthony J. Cobos. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> can be separated from all other species of <i>Psuedocalotes</i> by having a combination of three postrostrals; 10 circumorbitals; four or five canthals; 5–7 superciliaries; rostral and nasal in contact; supralabials contacting nasal; six or seven supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; two or three postmentals; three enlarged chinshields; 47 or 48 smooth, flat, gular scales; weak transverse gular and antehumeral folds; two enlarged scales between the ear and eye; an enlarged upper and lower posttemporal; an enlarged supratympanic; no enlarged postrictals; 7–9 nuchal crest scales lacking gaps and not extending beyond midbody; weakly keeled and plate-like scales on flanks; 35–38 scales around midbody; ventrals smaller than dorsals; 22 or 23 subdigital lamellae on fourth finger; 26 or 27 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; preaxial scales on third not modified; subdigital lamellae not unicarinate; HW/HL 0.62; no white marking below the eye; dewlap in males yellow; and no elbow or knee patches. These characters or a subset of them are scored across all species in Table 3. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult female SVL 71 mm; head relatively large, triangular in lateral and dorsal profile; HW/HL 0.62; HL/SVL 0.30; interorbital and frontal regions flat; snout not elongate but convex, sloped anteriorly, canthus rostralis sharp, compo [...]
Variation in <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> Smith (1924) described <i>Pseudocal... more Variation in <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> Smith (1924) described <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> from a single specimen collected from the mossy forest along Brinchang Trail in Cameron Highlands (Fig. 13). Smith's (1924) description was rather brief but was significantly augmented by Grismer (2011) with the examination of another specimen collected from Brinchang Trail (ZRC 2.5162) reported by (Leong 2001) and an additional specimen from Tanah Rata (FMNH 143903). Meristic variation among five of the six known specimens is presented in Table 5. The color pattern in <i>P. flavigula</i> is quite variable (Fig. 12). The dark, dorsal bands range from brown to black and from to distinct and diffuse to barely visible. The light-colored upper lip, lateral throat and proximal section of the brachium can range from immaculate white to lime-green and it may or may not extend onto the anterior portion of the flanks. There is considerable variation in ove...
<i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> sp. nov. Rhaegal's False Garden Lizard Figs. 5, 6, 8... more <i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> sp. nov. Rhaegal's False Garden Lizard Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9 <b>Holotype.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12178 collected on 18 March 2015 by L. Lee Grismer, Evan S. H. Quah, Shahrul Anuar, Mohd A. Muin, Perry L. Wood, Jr., Hayden R. Davis, Matthew L. Murdoch, Brandon R. Burch, and Anthony J. Cobos at 2030 hrs at Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (04° 43.283 N 101 ° 23.129 E; 1411 m in elevation). <b>Paratypes.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12179 bears the same locality collecting data as the holotype. Adult female LSUHC 12000 bears the same collecting locality and collectors but was collected on 4 September 2014. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is differentiated from all other <i>Psuedocalotes</i> by having the combination of a convex rostrum; 6–8 postrostrals; an interparietal; nine or 10 circumorbitals; five canthals; 7–10 superciliaries; one or two scales between the rostral and nasal scales; eight or nine supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; 11 or 12 postnasal-suborbital scales; four postmentals; 4–6 chinshields; 40–45 smooth, wide, gular scales; no transverse gular fold; weak antehumeral fold; three or four enlarged scales between the ear and eye; an enlarged upper and lower posttemporal; an enlarged supratympanic; no enlarged postrictals; no large scales bordering the upper margin of the ear opening or in the pretympanic region; 6–8 enlarged nuchal crest scales not separated by a gap; enlarged vertebral scales extending to base of tail; weakly keeled, non-plate-like scales on flanks; 52–58 scales around midbody; midventrals smaller than dorsals; 19–21 subdigital lamellae on fourth finger; 22–26 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; preaxial scales on third toe enlarged and rounded; subdigital lamellae not unicarinate; HW/HL 0.50–0.54; HL/SVL 0.28–0.30; no elbow or knee patches; and female dewlap bearing a purple base. These characters or a subset of them are scored across all species in Table 3. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult fem [...]
The Varanus acanthurus brachyurus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed ... more The Varanus acanthurus brachyurus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by H. J. Buys in July 2010. This particularly attractive specimen was seen scurrying between spinifex clusters around flat-lying topography at midday near Cloncurry, Queensland. It sprinted between flat rocks scattered across the open landscape depicted in the figure below, taking cover under them in an effort to evade the photographer. Varanus acanthurus brachyurus occupies arid terrain dominated by very old meta-morphosed schistose rocks that erode away, breaking off in sheets and piling in odd arrangements that fill with fine rock fragments and soil. These conditions provide a suitable means for burrow construction. Vara-nus acanthurus brachyurus are often seen from a distance on rock outcrops observing their surroundings. InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid res...
The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance... more The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, an international research journal of varanid biology and husbandry, and is available online through the IVIG website.
InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group i... more InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, a quarterly journal of varanid biology and husbandry, and is available online through the IVIG website.
On the Cover: Varanus caerulivirens Varanus caerulivirens is a poorly-studied member of the V. in... more On the Cover: Varanus caerulivirens Varanus caerulivirens is a poorly-studied member of the V. indicus complex, indigenous to the northern Moluccas, Indonesia. To date, few observations of this species have been made by scientists in the field, and documentation of its ecology have been limited until now (Weijola, this issue). The V. caerulivirens depicted on the cover and inset of this issue were photographed by Valter Weijola.The specimen to the left was photographed basking on a fallen tree trunk at Air Mangga, Obi Island, at ca. 600 m elev., on 2 January 2009 at ca. 1130 h. The specimen below was photographed around 1000 h on 8 December 2008 near Tetawang, Halma-hera. InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone wi...
On the Cover: Varanus prasinus The Varanus prasinus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue... more On the Cover: Varanus prasinus The Varanus prasinus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue is a captive-bred female currently residing at Bristol Zoo Gardens (UK). Hatched in 2007, this female was radiographed in 2013 by the zoo's veterinary department during a health screening due to concerns that it was experiencing reproductive complications (cover & left). Although clearly gravid, as evidenced by the six eggs visible in the radiograph, the female made no attempt at nesting and gestation was well past 40 days since the first observed copulation. No signs of blockage were obvious, and the female ended up scattering the eggs throughout the enclosure over the next couple of days. As only five eggs were found, a follow-up radiograph was performed to The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the I...
On the Cover: Varanus dumerilii The captive-bred Varanus dumerilii depicted on the cover and inse... more On the Cover: Varanus dumerilii The captive-bred Varanus dumerilii depicted on the cover and inset of this issue were hatched on 12 June 2014 in the collection of Ben Aller (USA). Five live offspring from an original clutch of 10 eggs emerged after 163 days of incubation; two eggs from the clutch proved to be non-viable, and three contained dead, fully-developed embryos. The offspring resulting from this breeding represent a fifth generation of captive-bred V. dumerilii, and the twenty second clutch of V. dumerilii eggs hatched by Ben Aller to date. Photographs courtesy of Chad Lane. BIAWAK The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, an international re...
On the Cover: Varanus panoptes panoptes The Varanus p. panoptes depicted on the cover and inset o... more On the Cover: Varanus panoptes panoptes The Varanus p. panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed in Townsville, Queensland on March 2008 by David Lynam lynam_fam@optusnet.com.au. The monitor was first seen around 0800 h on a sand ridge just above a swamp area, standing on its hind legs while looking into the lower branches of a tree. The monitor maintained a bipedal stance for ca. 2 minutes before it casually walked off. The temperature at the time of the observation was ca. 27 C.
The Varanus panoptes panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by B... more The Varanus panoptes panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by Bruce Thomson at Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, Queensland on 25 November 2008. While observing aquatic birds along the shore of the lake at around 1400 h, a sub-adult V. p. panoptes (ca. 1 m in total length) was seen foraging along the water's edge. At ca. 45 m from the edge of the lake, the monitor began digging, then quickly located a clutch of freshwater turtle eggs, presumably Chelodina longicollis. The V. p. panoptes consumed about six eggs over the course of 20 minutes, until it was disturbed by the photographer and left the area. No additional V. p. panoptes were seen the day of the observation. Varanus varius and V. gouldii are also present in the area. The International Varanid Interest group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IV...
This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Gri... more This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Grismer, L. Lee, Quah, Evan S. H., Wood, Perry L., Anuar, Shahrul, Muin, Abdul, Davis, Hayden R., Murdoch, Matthew L., Grismer, Jesse L., Cota, Michael, Cobos, Anthony J. (2016): Dragons in the mist: three new species of Pseudocalotes Fitzinger (Squamata: Agamidae) from the sky island archipelago of Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa 4136 (3): 461-490, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4136.3.3
FIGURE 13. Mossy forest habitat of Pseudocalotes flavigula at Brinchang Trail, Cameron Highlands,... more FIGURE 13. Mossy forest habitat of Pseudocalotes flavigula at Brinchang Trail, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Photograph by L. Lee Grismer.
Herpetology Notes, Mar 4, 2021
FIGURE 8. Dewlap coloration in male Pseudocalotes drogon sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9497; photograph by L. ... more FIGURE 8. Dewlap coloration in male Pseudocalotes drogon sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9497; photograph by L. Lee Grismer), P. larutensis (LSUDPC 9400; photograph by L. Lee Grismer), P. khaonanensis (LSUDPC 9910; photograph by Micheal Cota), and female P. rhaegal sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9488; photograph by Mohd. A. Muin).
FIGURE 3. Lateral view of the head of Pseudocalotes viserion sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9909) from Genting ... more FIGURE 3. Lateral view of the head of Pseudocalotes viserion sp. nov. (LSUDPC 9909) from Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia illustrating descriptive scale characteristics. Photograph by Kurt Orion.
A herpetofauna survey was carried out in Khao Nan National Park, northern Nakhon Si Thammarat, Th... more A herpetofauna survey was carried out in Khao Nan National Park, northern Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, betwen April 2006 and May 2007, ad documented 67 species of reptiles and 31 species of amphibians. Records of interesting species for this area include Ansonia sp., Ingerana sp., Limnonectes sp., Larutia sp., Ramphotyphlops sp. and Pareas sp. We herewith provide notes on the natural histories of some amphibians and reptiles in this study.
FIGURE 9. Type series of Psedocalotes rhaegal sp. nov. from Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pa... more FIGURE 9. Type series of Psedocalotes rhaegal sp. nov. from Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia and habitat at the type locality. Upper left: LSUHC 12179, photograph by L. Lee Grismer. Upper right: LSUHC 12000, photograph by L. Lee Grismer. Lower left: LSUHC 12178, photograph by Mohd A. Muin. Lower right: Montane forest microhabitat at Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
<i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> sp. nov. Viserion's False Garden Lizard Figs. 3, 6,... more <i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> sp. nov. Viserion's False Garden Lizard Figs. 3, 6, 10 <b>Holotype.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12227 collected on 26 March 2015 by Evan S. H. Quah at 1000 hrs crossing the radar tower road at Ulu Kali at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (03° 26.166 N 101 ° 47.021 E; 1754 m in elevation). <b>Paratype.</b> Adult male LSUHC 12141 found dead on the radar tower road at Ulu Kali at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (03° 26.12 N 101 ° 47.345 E; 1750 m in elevation) by L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood, Jr., Hayden R. Davis, Matthew L. Murdoch, Brandon R. Burch, and Anthony J. Cobos. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Pseudocalotes viserion</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> can be separated from all other species of <i>Psuedocalotes</i> by having a combination of three postrostrals; 10 circumorbitals; four or five canthals; 5–7 superciliaries; rostral and nasal in contact; supralabials contacting nasal; six or seven supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; two or three postmentals; three enlarged chinshields; 47 or 48 smooth, flat, gular scales; weak transverse gular and antehumeral folds; two enlarged scales between the ear and eye; an enlarged upper and lower posttemporal; an enlarged supratympanic; no enlarged postrictals; 7–9 nuchal crest scales lacking gaps and not extending beyond midbody; weakly keeled and plate-like scales on flanks; 35–38 scales around midbody; ventrals smaller than dorsals; 22 or 23 subdigital lamellae on fourth finger; 26 or 27 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; preaxial scales on third not modified; subdigital lamellae not unicarinate; HW/HL 0.62; no white marking below the eye; dewlap in males yellow; and no elbow or knee patches. These characters or a subset of them are scored across all species in Table 3. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult female SVL 71 mm; head relatively large, triangular in lateral and dorsal profile; HW/HL 0.62; HL/SVL 0.30; interorbital and frontal regions flat; snout not elongate but convex, sloped anteriorly, canthus rostralis sharp, compo [...]
Variation in <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> Smith (1924) described <i>Pseudocal... more Variation in <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> Smith (1924) described <i>Pseudocalotes flavigula</i> from a single specimen collected from the mossy forest along Brinchang Trail in Cameron Highlands (Fig. 13). Smith's (1924) description was rather brief but was significantly augmented by Grismer (2011) with the examination of another specimen collected from Brinchang Trail (ZRC 2.5162) reported by (Leong 2001) and an additional specimen from Tanah Rata (FMNH 143903). Meristic variation among five of the six known specimens is presented in Table 5. The color pattern in <i>P. flavigula</i> is quite variable (Fig. 12). The dark, dorsal bands range from brown to black and from to distinct and diffuse to barely visible. The light-colored upper lip, lateral throat and proximal section of the brachium can range from immaculate white to lime-green and it may or may not extend onto the anterior portion of the flanks. There is considerable variation in ove...
<i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> sp. nov. Rhaegal's False Garden Lizard Figs. 5, 6, 8... more <i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> sp. nov. Rhaegal's False Garden Lizard Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9 <b>Holotype.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12178 collected on 18 March 2015 by L. Lee Grismer, Evan S. H. Quah, Shahrul Anuar, Mohd A. Muin, Perry L. Wood, Jr., Hayden R. Davis, Matthew L. Murdoch, Brandon R. Burch, and Anthony J. Cobos at 2030 hrs at Robinson Falls, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia (04° 43.283 N 101 ° 23.129 E; 1411 m in elevation). <b>Paratypes.</b> Adult female LSUHC 12179 bears the same locality collecting data as the holotype. Adult female LSUHC 12000 bears the same collecting locality and collectors but was collected on 4 September 2014. <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Pseudocalotes rhaegal</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is differentiated from all other <i>Psuedocalotes</i> by having the combination of a convex rostrum; 6–8 postrostrals; an interparietal; nine or 10 circumorbitals; five canthals; 7–10 superciliaries; one or two scales between the rostral and nasal scales; eight or nine supralabials; seven or eight infralabials; 11 or 12 postnasal-suborbital scales; four postmentals; 4–6 chinshields; 40–45 smooth, wide, gular scales; no transverse gular fold; weak antehumeral fold; three or four enlarged scales between the ear and eye; an enlarged upper and lower posttemporal; an enlarged supratympanic; no enlarged postrictals; no large scales bordering the upper margin of the ear opening or in the pretympanic region; 6–8 enlarged nuchal crest scales not separated by a gap; enlarged vertebral scales extending to base of tail; weakly keeled, non-plate-like scales on flanks; 52–58 scales around midbody; midventrals smaller than dorsals; 19–21 subdigital lamellae on fourth finger; 22–26 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe; preaxial scales on third toe enlarged and rounded; subdigital lamellae not unicarinate; HW/HL 0.50–0.54; HL/SVL 0.28–0.30; no elbow or knee patches; and female dewlap bearing a purple base. These characters or a subset of them are scored across all species in Table 3. <b>Description of holotype.</b> Adult fem [...]
The Varanus acanthurus brachyurus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed ... more The Varanus acanthurus brachyurus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by H. J. Buys in July 2010. This particularly attractive specimen was seen scurrying between spinifex clusters around flat-lying topography at midday near Cloncurry, Queensland. It sprinted between flat rocks scattered across the open landscape depicted in the figure below, taking cover under them in an effort to evade the photographer. Varanus acanthurus brachyurus occupies arid terrain dominated by very old meta-morphosed schistose rocks that erode away, breaking off in sheets and piling in odd arrangements that fill with fine rock fragments and soil. These conditions provide a suitable means for burrow construction. Vara-nus acanthurus brachyurus are often seen from a distance on rock outcrops observing their surroundings. InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid res...
The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance... more The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, an international research journal of varanid biology and husbandry, and is available online through the IVIG website.
InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group i... more InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, a quarterly journal of varanid biology and husbandry, and is available online through the IVIG website.
On the Cover: Varanus caerulivirens Varanus caerulivirens is a poorly-studied member of the V. in... more On the Cover: Varanus caerulivirens Varanus caerulivirens is a poorly-studied member of the V. indicus complex, indigenous to the northern Moluccas, Indonesia. To date, few observations of this species have been made by scientists in the field, and documentation of its ecology have been limited until now (Weijola, this issue). The V. caerulivirens depicted on the cover and inset of this issue were photographed by Valter Weijola.The specimen to the left was photographed basking on a fallen tree trunk at Air Mangga, Obi Island, at ca. 600 m elev., on 2 January 2009 at ca. 1130 h. The specimen below was photographed around 1000 h on 8 December 2008 near Tetawang, Halma-hera. InternAtIOnAl VArAnId Interest GrOup www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone wi...
On the Cover: Varanus prasinus The Varanus prasinus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue... more On the Cover: Varanus prasinus The Varanus prasinus depicted on the cover and inset of this issue is a captive-bred female currently residing at Bristol Zoo Gardens (UK). Hatched in 2007, this female was radiographed in 2013 by the zoo's veterinary department during a health screening due to concerns that it was experiencing reproductive complications (cover & left). Although clearly gravid, as evidenced by the six eggs visible in the radiograph, the female made no attempt at nesting and gestation was well past 40 days since the first observed copulation. No signs of blockage were obvious, and the female ended up scattering the eggs throughout the enclosure over the next couple of days. As only five eggs were found, a follow-up radiograph was performed to The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the I...
On the Cover: Varanus dumerilii The captive-bred Varanus dumerilii depicted on the cover and inse... more On the Cover: Varanus dumerilii The captive-bred Varanus dumerilii depicted on the cover and inset of this issue were hatched on 12 June 2014 in the collection of Ben Aller (USA). Five live offspring from an original clutch of 10 eggs emerged after 163 days of incubation; two eggs from the clutch proved to be non-viable, and three contained dead, fully-developed embryos. The offspring resulting from this breeding represent a fifth generation of captive-bred V. dumerilii, and the twenty second clutch of V. dumerilii eggs hatched by Ben Aller to date. Photographs courtesy of Chad Lane. BIAWAK The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in monitor lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, an international re...
On the Cover: Varanus panoptes panoptes The Varanus p. panoptes depicted on the cover and inset o... more On the Cover: Varanus panoptes panoptes The Varanus p. panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed in Townsville, Queensland on March 2008 by David Lynam lynam_fam@optusnet.com.au. The monitor was first seen around 0800 h on a sand ridge just above a swamp area, standing on its hind legs while looking into the lower branches of a tree. The monitor maintained a bipedal stance for ca. 2 minutes before it casually walked off. The temperature at the time of the observation was ca. 27 C.
The Varanus panoptes panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by B... more The Varanus panoptes panoptes depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed by Bruce Thomson at Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, Queensland on 25 November 2008. While observing aquatic birds along the shore of the lake at around 1400 h, a sub-adult V. p. panoptes (ca. 1 m in total length) was seen foraging along the water's edge. At ca. 45 m from the edge of the lake, the monitor began digging, then quickly located a clutch of freshwater turtle eggs, presumably Chelodina longicollis. The V. p. panoptes consumed about six eggs over the course of 20 minutes, until it was disturbed by the photographer and left the area. No additional V. p. panoptes were seen the day of the observation. Varanus varius and V. gouldii are also present in the area. The International Varanid Interest group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus-bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IV...
This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Gri... more This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Grismer, L. Lee, Quah, Evan S. H., Wood, Perry L., Anuar, Shahrul, Muin, Abdul, Davis, Hayden R., Murdoch, Matthew L., Grismer, Jesse L., Cota, Michael, Cobos, Anthony J. (2016): Dragons in the mist: three new species of Pseudocalotes Fitzinger (Squamata: Agamidae) from the sky island archipelago of Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa 4136 (3): 461-490, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4136.3.3
FIGURE 13. Mossy forest habitat of Pseudocalotes flavigula at Brinchang Trail, Cameron Highlands,... more FIGURE 13. Mossy forest habitat of Pseudocalotes flavigula at Brinchang Trail, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Photograph by L. Lee Grismer.