Catalogue of Herpetological types in the collection of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore

The Raffles Museum ofBiodiversity Research, which incorporates the Zoological Reference Collection at the National University of Singapore, contains the largest zoological reference collection in south-east Asia. Being the inheritor of the collections of the old Raffles Museum, and subsequently, the National Museum, it is a respository of historical specimens collected by pioneering south-east Asian biologists including R. Hanitsch, J. C. Moulton, F. N. Chasen and M. W. F. Tweedie. Name-bearing types of some of the older specimens appeared in papers authored by M. A. Smith and W. Hennig, among others. In the catalogue of herpetological types compiled here, types ofseven amphibian and 13 reptile species are indicated, comprising a total of 48 type material (nine holotypes, 27 paratypes and 12 syntypes)

A new Bufo (Anura: Bufonidae) from the peat swamps of Selangor, West Malaysia

A new species of the genus Bufo is described from the peat swamps of North Selangor, West Malaysia. B. kumquat, new species, is a member of the B. biporcatus group (sensu Inger, 1972), differentiable from its members in showing the following combination of characters: small adult male body size (SVL to 27.5 mm); first two fingers subequal; tip of toe In reaches median subarticular tubercle of toe IV; preparatoid crest absent; internarial distance greater than tympanum diameter; metatarsal tubercle elongate; subarticular tubercle not enlarged; parotoid gland elongated; outer carpal tubercle oval; breeding males lacking nuptial pads; tympanum pigmented; vocal sac yellow with scattered dark grey pigmentation; flanks with scattered dark pigmentation, lacking a distinct dark band; and dorsum pale yellow with scattered dark pigments

Two new species of Dibamus (Squamata: Dibamidae) from Borneo

Two new species of Dibamus are described from Sabah, east Malaysia (Borneo), one each from the highlands of Mendolong, Sipitang District, and the other from the lowland rainforests of Danum Valley, Lahad Datu District. The new highland species from Mendolong, Dibamus ingeri, differs from all congeneric species in the following combination of characters: SVL 96.0 mm; body relatively stout, body width 4.7% SVL, postoculars two; midbody scale rows 20; subcaudals 36; frontonasal divided; incomplete rostral sutures, preanal pores absent; nuchal collar starts from back of head, and relatively short tail (14.8% SVL). The new lowland species from Danum Valley, Dibamus vorisi, differs from all congeneric species in the following combination of characters: SVL to 90.1 mm; body relatively slender, body width 3.9% SVL, postoculars two; midbody scale rows 20; subcaudals 33 in a male, 11 in a female; frontonasal entire; nasal suture complete; labial suture absent; preanal pores absent; nuchal collar absent; pale body band situated in the anterior half of body, and a relatively short tail (14.2% SVL in a male; 6.1% SVL in a female)

EXTRACTION OF BACULA FROM TANNED GIBBON SKINS

ABSTRACT. -Bacula or penis bones are thought to be of great potential importance for the classification of gibbons (Hylobatidae), but not enough specimens have been available for study to either support or reject this view. Because we found that bacula are often well preserved in tanned skins of museum specimens, we developed an easy and safe method to extract these fragile bones from such skins. Our method, described here, may be applied to other mammals as well. In addition, the method is of some value for sexing tanned skins of juvenile gibbons of the Hylobates concolor group. Sex determination is difficult in these gibbons and hitherto, there has been no reliable method for sexing tanned skins of these animals

New Species of Anomochilus from Borneo (Squamata: Anomochilidae)

A new species of Anomochilus is described from Gunung Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo). The new species is diagnosed from the only two other known species in the genus by the combination of the following character states: SVL to 509 mm; an azygous parietofrontal; paravertebrals 269; transverse body rows 17 : 19 : 17; midventrals 258–261; subcaudals 7–8; dorsum unpatterned dark brown, except for pale flecks, one scale wide, on paravertebral region; large pale blotches absent on dorsum; flanks without light line; and a pair of large pale blotches present on either side of venter. A dichotomous identification key to the three currently known species of Anomochilus is provided. With three species of Anomochilus known for Borneo, the island is the center of diversification of this genus of presumably fossorial and cryptozoic snakes

Denial of long-term issues with agriculture on tropical peatlands will have devastating consequences

Non peer reviewe

Cortical brain abnormalities in 4474 individuals with schizophrenia and 5098 control subjects via the enhancing neuro Imaging genetics through meta analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium

BACKGROUND: The profile of cortical neuroanatomical abnormalities in schizophrenia is not fully understood, despite hundreds of published structural brain imaging studies. This study presents the first meta-analysis of cortical thickness and surface area abnormalities in schizophrenia conducted by the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Schizophrenia Working Group. METHODS: The study included data from 4474 individuals with schizophrenia (mean age, 32.3 years; range, 11-78 years; 66% male) and 5098 healthy volunteers (mean age, 32.8 years; range, 10-87 years; 53% male) assessed with standardized methods at 39 centers worldwide. RESULTS: Compared with healthy volunteers, individuals with schizophrenia have widespread thinner cortex (left/right hemisphere: Cohen's d = -0.530/-0.516) and smaller surface area (left/right hemisphere: Cohen's d = -0.251/-0.254), with the largest effect sizes for both in frontal and temporal lobe regions. Regional group differences in cortical thickness remained significant when statistically controlling for global cortical thickness, suggesting regional specificity. In contrast, effects for cortical surface area appear global. Case-control, negative, cortical thickness effect sizes were two to three times larger in individuals receiving antipsychotic medication relative to unmedicated individuals. Negative correlations between age and bilateral temporal pole thickness were stronger in individuals with schizophrenia than in healthy volunteers. Regional cortical thickness showed significant negative correlations with normalized medication dose, symptom severity, and duration of illness and positive correlations with age at onset. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the ENIGMA meta-analysis approach can achieve robust findings in clinical neuroscience studies; also, medication effects should be taken into account in future genetic association studies of cortical thickness in schizophrenia