ScienceDaily: Frog and Reptile News

Life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

Scientists provide important new details of how climate change will affect species interactions.

Lovelorn frogs bag closest crooner

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:51:51 EDT

What lures a lady frog to her lover? Good looks, the sound of his voice, the size of his pad or none of the above? After weighing up their options, female strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) bag the closest crooner they can. This seemingly short-sighted strategy turns out to be the optimal mate choice strategy for these colorful frogs.

Frogs, salamanders and climate change

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns can lead to declines in southeastern frog and salamander populations, but protecting ponds can improve their plight.

Climate change may have little impact on tropical lizards: Study contradicts predictions of widespread extinction

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Climate change may have little impact on many species of tropical lizards, contradicting a host of recent studies that predict their widespread extinction in a rapidly warming planet.

Frog once imported for pregnancy testing brought deadly amphibian disease to U.S.

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:43:43 EDT

African frogs, originally imported for early 20th century pregnancy tests, carried a deadly amphibian disease to the US, according to new findings. African Clawed Frogs have long been suspected of spreading a harmful fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The earliest known case of the fungus was found in these frogs in their native South Africa. Now scientists have found the first evidence of the disease among introduced feral populations in the US.

Biologist maps the family tree of all known snake and lizard groups

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:22:22 EDT

Biologists have created the first large-scale evolutionary family tree for every snake and lizard around the globe.

Cannibal tadpoles key to understanding digestive evolution

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

A carnivorous, cannibalistic tadpole may play a role in understanding the evolution and development of digestive organs, according to new research.

Madagascar tortoise trafficking rages out of control

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Illegal trafficking of two critically endangered tortoise species from Madagascar has reached epidemic proportions.

Midwestern frogs decline, mammal populations altered by invasive plant, studies reveal

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

Researchers have discovered a new culprit contributing to amphibian decline and altered mammal distribution throughout the Midwest region -- the invasive plant European buckthorn.

Amphibians living close to farm fields are more resistant to common insecticides

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Amphibian populations living close to agricultural fields have become more resistant to a common insecticide and are actually resistant to multiple common insecticides, according to two recent studies.

The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Although many amphibians have been reported to live or spend part of their life underground, the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica, has never been reported dwelling in subterranean habitats until now. A new study marks the first record of all life stages of the species from a drainage gallery of Serra da Estrela Natural Park in Portugal.

Sea turtles benefiting from protected areas

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Nesting green sea turtles are benefiting from marine protected areas by using habitats found within their boundaries, according to a new study that is the first to track the federally protected turtles in Dry Tortugas National Park.

Molecular role of gene linked to blood vessel formation uncovered

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:55:55 EDT

Researchers have discovered that disrupting a gene that acts as a regulatory switch to turn on other genes can keep blood vessels from forming and developing properly.

Turtle genome analysis sheds light on turtle ancestry and shell evolution

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:48:48 EDT

From which ancestors have turtles evolved? How did they get their shell? New data provides evidence that turtles are not primitive reptiles but belong to a sister group of birds and crocodiles. The work also sheds light on the evolution of the turtle’s intriguing morphology and reveals that the turtle’s shell evolved by recruiting genetic information encoding for the limbs.

A beautiful species of tree iguana redescribed 179 years after its discovery

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

The tree iguana, Liolaemus nigromaculatus, was the second species of the genus Liolaemus to be described and the nominal species of the group nigromaculatus. However, since its description, no scientific study further clarified the identity of this engaging species or its type locality. A recent study by Chilean biologists clarifies the mysteries around this tree iguana, characterizing the species and its dwelling areas.

Frog-like robot will help surgeons

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:47:47 EDT

Researchers are using the feet of tree frogs as a model for a tiny robot designed to crawl inside patients' bodies during keyhole surgery.

One extinct turtle less: Turtle species in the Seychelles never existed

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

The turtle species Pelusios seychellensis regarded hitherto as extinct never existed. Scientists discovered this based on genetic evidence.

Painted turtle gets DNA decoded

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:40:40 EDT

Scientists have decoded the genome of the western painted turtle, one of the most abundant turtles on Earth, finding clues to their longevity and ability to survive without oxygen during long winters spent hibernating in ice-covered ponds.

Getting under the shell of the turtle genome

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:57:57 EDT

The genome of the western painted turtle, one of the most widespread, abundant and well-studied turtles in the world, has been sequenced. The data show that, like turtles themselves, the rate of genome evolution is extremely slow; turtle genomes evolve at a rate that is about a third that of the human genome and a fifth that of the python, the fastest lineage analyzed.

Peru surprises with two new amazing species of woodlizards

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:52:52 EDT

Two new beautifully coloured woodlizard species from the genus Enyalioides have been discovered during expeditions to the unexplored jungles of Cordillera Azul National Park in the Peruvian Andes. Woodlizards Enyalioides are represented by as little as ten currently recognized species that occur on both sides of the Andes.

Scientists discover reasons behind snakes' 'shrinking heads'

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:04:04 EDT

Scientists have uncovered how some sea snakes have developed 'shrunken heads' -- or smaller physical features than their related species.

Scientists produce cloned embryos of extinct frog

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:10:10 EDT

As part of a "Lazarus Project" to try to bring the Australian gastric-brooding frog back from extinction scientists have succeeded in producing early stage cloned embryos containing the DNA of the frog, which died out 30 year ago. Gastric-brooding frogs were unique in incubating their young in their stomachs.

What do American bullfrogs eat when they're away from home? Practically everything

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:16:16 EDT

A control program on southern Vancouver Island provided the carcasses of over 5,000 adult and juvenile invasive alien American bullfrogs. Examination of their stomach contents confirms that bullfrogs eat virtually any organism that can fit into their large mouths, whether it be under water, at the surface, on land, even when it can defend itself with stingers, spines, or claws. So native ecosystems beware!

Sri Lankan snake study reveals new species, rich biodiversity in island country

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:49:49 EDT

Alex Pyron's expertise is in family trees. Who is related to whom, who begat whom, how did they get where they are now. But not for humans: reptiles.

Deadly fungus detected in Southeast Asia's amphibian trade

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:38:38 EST

Scientists have revealed in a new study, for the first time, the presence of the pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians sampled in Singapore. And the American bullfrog may be a central player in the spread of the disease.

Lizards facing mass extinction from climate change

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:03:03 EST

Climate change could see dozens of lizard species becoming extinct within the next 50 years, according to new research. The often one-directional evolutionary adaptation of certain lizard species' reproductive modes could see multiple extinctions as the global temperature increases.

Biting back: Snake venom contains toxic clotting factors

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:38:38 EST

The powerful venom of the saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus contains both anticoagulants and coagulants according to a new study. These may be a source of potent drugs to treat human disease. The saw-scaled viper family Echis, responsible for most snake attacks on humans, are recognizable by the ‘sizzling’ noise they make, produced by rubbing together special serrated scales, when threatened. Echis venom causes coagulopathy, which can result in symptoms ranging from lack of blood clotting, hemorrhage, renal failure and stroke.

Leatherback sea turtle could be extinct within 20 years at last stronghold in the Pacific Ocean

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 EST

An international team led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has documented a 78 percent decline in the number of nests of the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) at the turtle's last stronghold in the Pacific Ocean.

Nesting site protection 'key to save turtles from climate change'

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:16:16 EST

International marine scientists warned it will be vital to protect key marine turtle nesting grounds and areas that may be suitable for turtle nesting in the future to ensure that the marine reptiles have a better chance of withstanding climate change.

In tiny Amazon frogs, males observed extracting oocytes from females killed in mating struggles

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:25:25 EST

Sex is a risky business for many animals. Those who take part in 'explosive breeding' -- where many males gather and compete for a small number of females over a few days -- have it particularly tough. Males can become exhausted from the competition and search for a scarce mate, or from trying to dislodge other males from receptive females. The females themselves can be unintentionally crushed, drowned or simply exhausted under the weight of their many suitors.

Slithering towards extinction: Reptiles in trouble

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:53:53 EST

Nineteen percent of the world's reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction, according to new research. The study is the first of its kind summarising the global conservation status of reptiles. More than 200 world renowned experts assessed the extinction risk of 1,500 randomly selected reptiles from across the globe.

Amphibian study shows how biodiversity can protect against disease

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:23:23 EST

The richer the assortment of amphibian species living in a pond, the more protection that community of frogs, toads and salamanders has against a parasitic infection that can cause severe deformities, including the growth of extra legs, according to a new study.

The amazing amphibians and reptiles of the Philippine island Luzon

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:16:16 EST

Renewed interest in exploring the unique fauna of the northern Philippines has produced a series of notable discoveries, drawing attention to the astonishingly high level of species diversity in this small island archipelago. A recent categorization of the amphibians and reptiles of the Luzon Island offers insight into the unexpected variety of fascinating species that occur there and no where else in the world.

Tourists face health risks from contact with captive sea turtles

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:02:02 EST

Tourists coming into contact with sea turtles at holiday attractions face a risk of health problems, according to new research.

DNA reveals mating patterns of critically endangered sea turtle

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:24:24 EST

New research into the mating habits of a critically endangered sea turtle will help conservationists understand more about its mating patterns. Female hawksbill turtles mate at the beginning of the season and store sperm for up to 75 days to use when laying multiple nests on the beach. New research also reveals that these turtles are mainly monogamous and don’t tend to re-mate during the season.

Bioelectric signals can be used to detect early cancer

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:08:08 EST

Biologists have discovered a bioelectric signal that can identify cells that are likely to develop into tumors. The researchers also found that they could lower the incidence of cancerous cells by manipulating the electrical charge across cells' membranes.

Global warming beneficial to ratsnakes

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:20:20 EST

Speculation about how animals will respond to climate change due to global warming led researchers to conduct a study of ratsnakes at three different latitudes -- Ontario, Illinois, and Texas. His findings suggest that ratsnakes will be able to adapt to the higher temperatures by becoming more active at night.

Genetic matchmaking saves endangered frogs

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:29:29 EST

What if Noah got it wrong? What if he paired a male and a female animal thinking they were the same species, and then discovered they were not the same and could not produce offspring? As researchers from the Smithsonian's Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project race to save frogs from a devastating disease by breeding them in captivity, a genetic test averts mating mix-ups.

Major source of evolutionary differences among species uncovered

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:41:41 EST

Researchers have uncovered a genetic basis for fundamental differences between humans and other vertebrates that could also help explain why humans are susceptible to diseases not found in other species.

Around two queries a week to UK poisons service concern . . . snakebites

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:34:34 EST

Snakebite injuries account for around two phone queries every week to the UK National Poisons Information Service, a newly published audit finds.

New dinosaur: First freshwater mosasaur discovered

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:39:39 EST

A new dinosaur species discovered in Hungary is the first known example of a mosasaur that lived in freshwater river environments similar to modern freshwater dolphins, according to new research.

Prehistoric ghosts revealing new details: Synchrotron helps identify previously unseen anatomy preserved in fossils

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:17:17 EST

Scientists have used synchrotron-based imaging techniques to identify previously unseen anatomy preserved in fossils. Their work on a 50-million-year-old lizard skin identified the presence of teeth (invisible to visible light), demonstrating for the first time that this fossil animal was more than just a skin moult. This was only possible using some of the brightest light in the universe, X-rays generated by a synchrotron.

Cane toads can be stopped

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:09:09 EST

It may be possible to stop the spread of can toads into new areas of Australia, according to new research.

Frog-in-bucket-of-milk folklore leads to potential new antibiotics

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:08:08 EST

Following up on an ancient Russian way of keeping milk from going sour -- by putting a frog in the bucket of milk -- scientists have identified a wealth of new antibiotic substances in the skin of the Russian Brown frog.

Asteroid that killed the dinosaurs also wiped out the 'Obamadon'

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:08:08 EST

The asteroid collision widely thought to have killed the dinosaurs also led to extreme devastation among snake and lizard species, according to new research -- including the extinction of a newly identified lizard named Obamadon gracilis.

From clawed spiders to deep-sea sharks: 137 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2012

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:16:16 EST

In 2012, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 137 new relatives to our family tree, enriching our understanding of the complex web of life on Earth and strengthening our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species include 83 arthropods, 41 fishes, seven plants, four sea slugs, one reptile, and one amphibian. They were described by more than a dozen Academy scientists along with several dozen international collaborators.

Rapid test to save lives of snakebite victims

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:21:21 EST

A new test to detect snake venom won the first place on the winner's podium at this year's Göttingen Innovation Competition. The rapid test, developed by scientists from the biotechnology company miprolab GmbH and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in collaboration with researchers from Myanmar, indicates in 20 minutes if a patient has been envenomed by a certain species of snake. The use of such tests could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year, especially in developing countries.

Travels in northeastern Brazil: Unfolding the reptile fauna of Lençóis Maranhenses

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:35:35 EST

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park contains a dune field measuring about 120,000 hectares in the Amazonian transition with Cerrado and Caatinga. In this peculiar Brazilian ecosystem, which reptiles would you expect to encounter most frequently? In order to answer a question like this, biologists spent 235 days in fieldwork, and eventually produced the first list of reptile species in the park.

A rather thin and long new snake crawls out of one of Earth's biodiversity hotspots

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:15:15 EST

A team of Ecuadorian and American scientists have discovered a new species, belonging to a neotropical group of remarkably long arboreal (tree-dwelling) snakes: the blunt-headed vine snakes, from the Choco biodiversity hotspot in northwestern Ecuador. DNA data suggest that the closest relative of the new species lives on the other side of the Andes.

Orsini's viper: Alternates between reproducing and growing, year-by-year

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:41:41 EST

Orsini’s viper, a rare and protected species at risk of extinction in France, has an original reproductive strategy. In alternate years, it switches between reproductive and non-reproductive behavior. This strategy has recently been uncovered.

Rapid changes in climate don't slow some lizards

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:43:43 EST

One tropical lizard's tolerance to cold is stiffer than scientists had suspected. A new study shows that the Puerto Rican lizard Anolis cristatellus has adapted to the cooler winters of Miami. The results also suggest that this lizard may be able to tolerate temperature variations caused by climate change.

Vision stimulates courtship calls in the grey tree frog

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:46:46 EST

Male tree frogs like to 'see what they're getting' when they select females for mating, according to a new study. This research is among the first to test the importance of vision on male mating behaviors in a nocturnal anuran (frog or toad).

Fossils and genes brought together to piece together evolutionary history

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:27:27 EST

Scientists have reviewed recent studies that have used modern genetic techniques to shed light on fossils, and vice versa.

Huge deposit of Jurassic turtle remains found in China

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:12:12 EDT

"Bones upon bones, we couldn't believe our eyes," says one paleontologist. He was describing the spectacular find of some 1800 fossilized mesa chelonia turtles from the Jurassic era in China's northwest province of Xinjiang.

Unique sea snake found in museum

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:59:59 EDT

The pristine jungle and the deep seas are full of undiscovered biological species -- but they can be found in museums as well. In a formalin-filled jar in Copenhagen Natural History Museum, a new snake species has recently been discovered.

Climate change may alter amphibian evolution

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:55:55 EDT

Most of the more than 6,000 species of frogs in the world lay their eggs in water. But many tropical frogs lay their eggs out of water. This behavior protects the eggs from aquatic predators, such as fish and tadpoles, but also increases their risk of drying out. A researcher has discovered that climate change in Panama may be altering frogs' course of evolution.

Local wildlife is important in human diets in central Africa, experts say

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:12:12 EDT

Animals like antelope, frogs and rodents may be tricky to catch, but they provide protein in places where traditional livestock are scarce. According to the authors of a new paper, meat from wild animals is increasingly important in central Africa.

How flick knife thumbs help Japan's rare fighting frogs

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:01:01 EDT

Combat-ready spikes which shoot from fingers sounds like the weaponry of a comic book hero, but a Japanese scientist has found exactly this in a rare breed of frog. The discovery reveals how the Otton frog uses spikes which protrude from a false thumb for both combat and mating.

Extreme 'housework' cuts the life span of female Komodo dragons

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:29:29 EDT

Researchers have found that female Komodo dragons live half as long as males on average, seemingly due to their physically demanding "housework" such as building huge nests and guarding eggs for up to six months.

Soft-shelled turtles urinate through mouth

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:06:06 EDT

Turtles spend most of their lives in water, but why do these air breathing animals immerse their heads in puddles for hours at a time when their watery homes dry up? Researchers have discovered that the animals have to rinse their mouths with water in order to excrete urea: the animals are effectively urinating through their mouths.