scholarly journals A case of leucism in the slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-43
Author(s):  
Holly Harkness
Keyword(s):  
Anguis Fragilis

scholarly journals Age-Dependent Utilization of Shelters and Habitat in Two Reptile Species with Contrasting Intraspecific Interactions

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 995
Author(s):  
Kolanek ◽  
Bury ◽  
Turniak ◽  
Szymanowski
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
The Body ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Active Protection ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Anguis Fragilis ◽  
Coronella Austriaca ◽  
Effective Conservation

Reptiles undergo worldwide decline driven mostly by habitat change. Detailed recognition of factors underlying spatial structure and habitat utilization is therefore a prerequisite of effective conservation of this group. While the body of data on spatial ecology of reptiles is rapidly growing, studies on social factors remain still underrepresented. We studied age-specific patterns of shelter use, range size, and habitat preferences in the context of intraspecific interactions in the smooth snake Coronella austriaca—known to exhibit intraspecific predation—and the limbless lizard slow worm Anguis fragilis—with no such behavior observed. Despite smaller availability of preferred microhabitats, juveniles of smooth snakes occupied habitat and shelters located at the edge of the population range that did not overlap with adults. No such pattern was observed in the slow worm. Our study indicates that intraspecific interactions affect the spatial ecology of squamates. Passive and active protection of habitat must include wide buffers to preserve the poorly detectable young fraction of the population.

On the Morphology and Systematic Position of Echinopharynx, a New Genus of Bursate Nematode from Testudo tabulata

1925 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Gobind Singh Thapar
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
Buccal Capsule ◽  
Systematic Position ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Parasitic Fauna ◽  
Separate Genus ◽  
The Family ◽  
Common Genus ◽  
Anguis Fragilis ◽  
Improved Methods

Our present knowledge of the Strongylid parasites of reptiles is based primarily on Dujardin (1845), who refers all the forms along with those of other vertebrates under a common genus Strongylus, and described four species from the reptilian hosts. Since then our knowledge of parasitic fauna has considerably increased, and von Linstow (1878–89) gave an enlarged list under the same genus from reptiles and also a few under the genus Kalicephalus, Later, with improved methods of Nematode study the forms described were revised, and it was found necessary to split the genus Strongylus, and several groups of a diverse character were recognised. The genus Strongylus was thus split up into several genera, and some of them were removed from the family Strongylidæ. The form Strongylus dispar of Dujardin from the Anguis fragilis was removed into a separate genus, Oswaldocruzia and Strongylus auricularis, with its characters in the absence of buccal capsule and the bifid and trifid distal ends of the spicule seemed more closely allied to Trichostrongylidæ Leiper, and was also removed to the genus Oswaldocruzia.

scholarly journals First record of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum through the non-invasive sampling of Anguis fragilis: complementary morphological and molecular detection

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jones ◽  
D.S. Brown ◽  
E. Harris ◽  
J. Jones ◽  
W.O.C. Symondson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Parasite Fauna ◽  
Ribosomal Gene ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Anguis Fragilis ◽  
The Uk

AbstractRelatively few studies have examined the parasite fauna of British reptiles, partly due to the cryptic nature and low population density of these hosts. Here we examined 12 populations of the slow worm Anguis fragilis which, unlike other UK lizards, occurs at locally high population densities. Morphological examination of non-invasively collected faecal samples revealed the presence of Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum and a second unidentified nematode species. Although previously unrecorded from slow worms in the UK, N. brevicaudatum was present in 38% of animals (mean intensity 70.9, range 1–686). Morphological identification was confirmed by sequencing the 18S ribosomal gene. The use of the species-specific, cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene primers proved an efficient alternative to conventional, microscope screening for parasites, although the original identification of N. brevicaudatum was dependent upon morphological characters. Sequencing also identified the second, smaller nematode as belonging to the Rhabdiasidae family: this species was even more common at a prevalence of 83% (mean intensity 102.8, range 1–2000). While increasing our knowledge of the UK macroparasite fauna, this work demonstrates the benefits of a combined morphological–molecular approach.

Detection and Discrimination of Conspecific Scents by the Anguid Slow-Worm Anguis fragilis

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1565-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adega Gonzalo ◽  
Carlos Cabido ◽  
José Martín ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Anguis Fragilis

Field body temperatures of the lizard Anguis fragilis

1990 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Anguis Fragilis

scholarly journals Spatial capture–recapture analysis of artificial cover board survey data reveals small scale spatial variation in slow-worm Anguis fragilis density

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 170374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedikt R. Schmidt ◽  
Anita Meier ◽  
Chris Sutherland ◽  
J. Andy Royle
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ecological State ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Anguis Fragilis

Vague and/or ad hoc definitions of the area sampled in monitoring efforts are common, and estimates of ecological state variables (e.g. distribution and abundance) can be sensitive to such specifications. The uncertainty in population metrics due to data deficiencies, vague definitions of space and lack of standardized protocols is a major challenge for monitoring, managing and conserving amphibian and reptile populations globally. This is especially true for the slow-worm ( Anguis fragilis ), a cryptic and fossorial legless lizard; uncertainty about spatial variation in density has hindered conservation efforts (e.g. in translocation projects). Spatial capture–recapture (SCR) methods can be used to estimate density while simultaneously and explicitly accounting for space and individual movement. We use SCR to analyse mark–recapture data of the slow-worm that were collected using artificial cover objects (ACO). Detectability varied among ACO grids and through the season. Estimates of slow-worm density varied across ACO grids (13, 45 and 46 individuals ha −1 , respectively). The estimated 95% home range size of slow-worms was 0.38 ha. Our estimates provide valuable information about slow-worm spatial ecology that can be used to inform future conservation management.

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