Background: The White-faced Cuckoo-dove(Turacoena manadensis) is a poorly-known Wallacean endemic with a limited distribution on Sulawesi and its satellites, including the Togian, Banggai and Sula archipelagoes. In 19...Background: The White-faced Cuckoo-dove(Turacoena manadensis) is a poorly-known Wallacean endemic with a limited distribution on Sulawesi and its satellites, including the Togian, Banggai and Sula archipelagoes. In 1900, populations from the Sula archipelago were awarded subspecies status T. manadensis sulaensis based on smaller size and minor differences in plumage; however, this distinction has not been corroborated subsequently, and T. manadensis is considered by most modern sources to be monotypic across its range.Methods: We conducted vocal analysis of the cuckoo-doves' main song using recordings collected from across the taxon's natural range. Descriptive information on the songs was obtained from the recordings using bioacoustic analysis software, after which several statistical methods were used to investigate differences in vocalizations among populations.Results: We report deep bioacoustic divergences in vocal trait pattern from across the cuckoo-doves' range, with birds from Peleng and Taliabu in the east having a different vocal trait pattern from birds from Sulawesi, Buton, and Togian in the west. These patterns agree with changes in landmass that accompanied the sea level fluctuations caused by Pleistocene glacial cycles, and indicate that eastern and western cuckoo-dove populations are at the level of different biological species.Conclusions: We propose that the eastern taxon be elevated to species level as T. sulaensis. Given the rampant degree of habitat destruction in its limited range, this taxonomic change will have important implications on the conservation status of T. sulaensis.展开更多
Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province...Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This find constitutes the westernmost record for the species and extends its range by over 800 km. the species was heretofore only known from apparently isolated mainland new Guinean populations.展开更多
Herpetological surveys of locations in six districts of Timor-Leste(Dili, Baucau, Ermera, Liqui a, Manatuto, Viqueque) during 2010 led to the discovery of a new, high-altitude species of Cryptoblepharus from Ermera Di...Herpetological surveys of locations in six districts of Timor-Leste(Dili, Baucau, Ermera, Liqui a, Manatuto, Viqueque) during 2010 led to the discovery of a new, high-altitude species of Cryptoblepharus from Ermera District, a new country record(Hemidactylus cf. tenkatei), and the recording of two previously unvouchered species(Python r. reticulatus and Liasis m. mackloti). In this article, we summarize these new records and present numerous new district records for Timor-Leste and four records for road-killed snakes seen in West Timor(Indonesia). With the addition of the results from our 2009 survey, the update presented herein increases the confirmed number of amphibian and reptile species for Timor-Leste to 47.展开更多
基金funded by National University of Singapore internal Faculty of Sciences Grant WBS R-154-000-570-133Department of Biological Sciences grant WBS R-154-000-583-651
文摘Background: The White-faced Cuckoo-dove(Turacoena manadensis) is a poorly-known Wallacean endemic with a limited distribution on Sulawesi and its satellites, including the Togian, Banggai and Sula archipelagoes. In 1900, populations from the Sula archipelago were awarded subspecies status T. manadensis sulaensis based on smaller size and minor differences in plumage; however, this distinction has not been corroborated subsequently, and T. manadensis is considered by most modern sources to be monotypic across its range.Methods: We conducted vocal analysis of the cuckoo-doves' main song using recordings collected from across the taxon's natural range. Descriptive information on the songs was obtained from the recordings using bioacoustic analysis software, after which several statistical methods were used to investigate differences in vocalizations among populations.Results: We report deep bioacoustic divergences in vocal trait pattern from across the cuckoo-doves' range, with birds from Peleng and Taliabu in the east having a different vocal trait pattern from birds from Sulawesi, Buton, and Togian in the west. These patterns agree with changes in landmass that accompanied the sea level fluctuations caused by Pleistocene glacial cycles, and indicate that eastern and western cuckoo-dove populations are at the level of different biological species.Conclusions: We propose that the eastern taxon be elevated to species level as T. sulaensis. Given the rampant degree of habitat destruction in its limited range, this taxonomic change will have important implications on the conservation status of T. sulaensis.
文摘Based on four specimens discovered in the collection of the natural History Museum, London, United kingdom, we present a new distribution record for the skink Sphenomorphus oligolepis for seram island, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This find constitutes the westernmost record for the species and extends its range by over 800 km. the species was heretofore only known from apparently isolated mainland new Guinean populations.
基金Financial assistance for equipment and supplies was partially provided by a Title V Grant to Victor Valley CollegePartial financing of student travel was provided by the Associated Student Body at Victor Valley College
文摘Herpetological surveys of locations in six districts of Timor-Leste(Dili, Baucau, Ermera, Liqui a, Manatuto, Viqueque) during 2010 led to the discovery of a new, high-altitude species of Cryptoblepharus from Ermera District, a new country record(Hemidactylus cf. tenkatei), and the recording of two previously unvouchered species(Python r. reticulatus and Liasis m. mackloti). In this article, we summarize these new records and present numerous new district records for Timor-Leste and four records for road-killed snakes seen in West Timor(Indonesia). With the addition of the results from our 2009 survey, the update presented herein increases the confirmed number of amphibian and reptile species for Timor-Leste to 47.
