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The overarching goal of this dissertation to show some patterns and processes involved in the diversification of the New World direct-developing frogs. Extant biodiversity is the result of the interplay between the historical processes of diversification, dispersal (or range shifts), and extinction, understanding mechanisms that drive these processes is essential in evolutionary biology. The lineage-specific phylogenetic baggage of species impinges particularities or trends that may ultimately affect their survival, extinction, and diversification. Moreover, the most important mechanisms generating and maintaining species diversity vary depending on the taxonomic, spatial and temporal scale over which they are quantified. The spatial mechanism could be understood at regional scales, the variation in the timing and rate of lineage diversification, and ecological factors, including the current and past expanse of suitable habitat. Whereas at local scales, biotic interactions and trait evolution in community assembly appear to be the most influential. Another way to assess the mechanism underlying the diversification process is by recognizing their characteristics, both intrinsic, e.g., body size, morphological adaptations, or genomic features, and extrinsic, e.g., microhabitat, environmental variation, or range size, both factors play a role in the survival or extinction of the lineage members and are required to understand extant diversity, the diversification process and its current distribution. Our aim is to explore the systematics, biogeography, and phlylogeography at different taxonomic levels of one of the most diverse groups of tetrapods: New World direct-developing frogs.
This book includes all 14 articles contributed to the Special Issue "Systematics and Conservation of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles” in the journal Diversity, originally published in 2019 and 2020.
The fourth edition of the textbook Herpetology covers the basic biology of amphibians and reptiles, with updates in nearly every conceptual area. Not only does it serve as a solid foundation for modern herpetology courses, but it is also relevant to courses in ecology, behavior, evolution, systematics, and morphology. Examples taken from amphibians and reptiles throughout the world make this book a useful herpetology textbook in several countries. Naturalists, amateur herpetologists, herpetoculturists, zoo professionals, and many others will find this book readable and full of relevant natural history and distributional information. Amphibians and reptiles have assumed a central role in research because of the diversity of ecological, physiological, morphological, behavioral, and evolutionary patterns they exhibit. This fully revised edition brings the latest research to the reader, ranging over topics in evolution, reproduction, behavior and more, allowing students and professionals to keep current with a quickly moving field. Heavily revised and updated with discussion of squamate (lizard and snake) taxonomy and new content reflected in current literature Includes increased focus on conservation biology in herpetology while retaining solid content on organismal biology of reptiles and amphibians Presents new photos included from authors' extensive library
Most of the islands of the Caribbean have long histories of herpetological exploration and discovery, and even longer histories of human-mediated environmental degradation. Collectively, they constitute a major biodiversity hotspot – a region rich in endemic species that are threatened with extinction. This two-volume series documents the existing status of herpetofaunas (including sea turtles) of the Caribbean, and highlights conservation needs and efforts. Previous contributions to West Indian herpetology have focused on taxonomy, ecology and evolution, particularly of lizards. This series provides a unique and timely review of the status and conservation of all groups of amphibians and reptiles in the region. This volume introduces the issues particularly affecting Caribbean herpetofaunas, and gives an overview of evolutionary and taxonomic patterns influencing their conservation. Chapters focus on groups that have been relatively neglected in the Caribbean: amphibians and snakes. A major chapter describes the problem of invasive species of amphibians and reptiles in the West Indies. Three chapters then deal with islands of the Wider Caribbean that share many of the same problems but fall outside the West Indies biogeographic region: the Atlantic islands of the Bermuda group; the Dutch continental shelf islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, and the Neotropical islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The book will be useful to biologists and conservationists working in or visiting the Caribbean, and internationally as a summary of the current situation in this diverse and important region.
With a wide variety of habitats ranging from southeastern swamps to western deserts, Texas is home to numerous species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. Each area of Texas has a particular set of species that has evolved there over thousands of years. Indeed, most amphibians are not very mobile, and many live their entire lives within a few square meters. This makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation and habitat destruction. Texas Amphibians is the only field guide focused exclusively on the state’s frogs, toads, and salamanders. It presents brief, general accounts of the two orders and fifteen families. Then it identifies each of the seventy-two species in detail, including size, description, voice (if applicable), similar species, distribution (with maps), natural history, reproduction, subspecies (if applicable), and comments and conservation information. Color photographs illustrate the species. The book also includes a general introduction to amphibian natural history, conservation, observation and collection, maintenance in captivity, museum and preserved specimens, and scientific and common names, as well as scientific keys to Texas salamanders and frogs and a generic key to amphibian larvae. This wealth of information, compiled by a team of experts who collectively have over a century of experience in field herpetology, will increase our appreciation for amphibians and the vital role they play as an early indicator of threats to the quality of the environment that we all share.
This exceptional tome should find its way into the libraries of serious herpetologists, tropical biologists, and developmental biologists. Included in this book are- A molecular phylogeny of the family Hemiphractidae- A thorough osteological analysis- A review of external morphological features- An overview of the evolution of reproductive modes- A biogeographic synthesis- Keys to genera and species- Diagnosis and thorough description of each species of marsupial frog- Colored physiographic maps depicting species distributions
An expansive and detailed review of the biology of Caribbean amphibians, considering their threats, conservation and outlook in a changing world. Amphibians are the group of vertebrates undergoing the fastest rate of extinction; it is urgent that we understand the causes of this and find means of protecting them. This landmark illustrated volume brings together the leading experts in the field. As well as offering an overview of the region as a whole, individual chapters are devoted to each island or island-group and the measures used to protect their amphibians through legislation or nature reserves. The biological background of insular biogeography, including its methods, analysis and results, is reviewed and applied specifically to the problems of Caribbean amphibians – this includes a re-examination of patterns and general ideas about the status of amphibians in the Anthropocene. The Conservation and Biogeography of Amphibians in the Caribbean offers an important baseline against which future amphibian conservation can be measured in the face of climate change, rising sea level and a burgeoning human population. Covers over 300 species.
Intellectually rich, intensely personal, and beautifully written, Tracks and Shadows is both an absorbing autobiography of a celebrated field biologist and a celebration of beauty in nature. Harry W. Greene, award-winning author of Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature, delves into the poetry of field biology, showing how nature eases our existential quandaries. More than a memoir, the book is about the wonder of snakes, the beauty of studying and understanding natural history, and the importance of sharing the love of nature with humanity. Greene begins with his youthful curiosity about the natural world and moves to his stints as a mortician's assistant, ambulance driver, and army medic. In detailing his academic career, he describes how his work led him to believe that nature’s most profound lessons lurk in hard-won details. He discusses the nuts and bolts of field research and teaching, contrasts the emotional impact of hot dry habitats with hot wet ones, imparts the basics of snake biology, and introduces the great explorers Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. He reflects on friendship and happiness, tackles notions like anthropomorphism and wilderness, and argues that organisms remain the core of biology, science plays key roles in conservation, and natural history offers an enlightened form of contentment.
Most of the islands of the Caribbean have long histories of herpetological exploration and discovery, and even longer histories of human-mediated environmental degradation. Collectively, they constitute a major biodiversity hotspot – a region rich in endemic species that are threatened with extinction. This two-volume series documents the existing status of herpetofaunas (including sea turtles) of the Caribbean, and highlights conservation needs and efforts. Previous contributions to West Indian herpetology have focused on taxonomy, ecology and evolution, particularly of lizards. This series provides a unique and timely review of the status and conservation of all groups of amphibians and reptiles in the region. This volume provides regional accounts of the islands of the West Indies biogeographic region: Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; The British Virgin Islands; The Cayman Islands; The Commonwealth of Dominica; The Dominican Republic; The Dutch Windward Islands of St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten; The French West Indies; Grenada; The Grenadines; Jamaica; Martinique; Puerto Rico; St. Vincent; The Turks and Caicos Islands; The United States Virgin Islands. Each account discusses the conservation problems of the herpetofauna and their solutions, in a region made up of islands of diverse ecology and political systems. The book will be useful to biologists and conservationists working in or visiting the Caribbean, and internationally as a summary of the current situation in the region.