Kind granddaughters of angry grandmothers: The effect of domestication on vocalization in cross-bred silver foxes

a b s t r a c t The genetic basis of the effects of domestication has previously been examined in relation to morphological, physiological and behavioural traits, but not for vocalizations. According t

Larval morphology and complex vocal repertoire of Rhacophorus helenae (Anura: Rhacophoridae), a rare flying frog from Vietnam

Vassilieva, Anna B., Gogoleva, Svetlana S., Poyarkov, Nikolay A. (2016): Larval morphology and complex vocal repertoire of Rhacophorus helenae (Anura: Rhacophoridae), a rare flying frog from Vietnam. Zootaxa 4127 (3): 515-536, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4127.3.

Two new species of Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae) from the Annamite mountains in southern Vietnam

Vassilieva, Anna B., Galoyan, Eduard A., Gogoleva, Svetlana S., Poyarkov, Nikolay A. (2014): Two new species of Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Microhylidae) from the Annamite mountains in southern Vietnam. Zootaxa 3796 (3): 401-434, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3796.3.

A new species of the genus Theloderma Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Tay Nguyen Plateau, central Vietnam

A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloderma auratum sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species based on a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) bony ridges on head absent; (2) smooth skin completely lacking calcified warts or asperities; (3) pointed elongated tapering snout; (4) vocal opening in males absent; (5) vomerine teeth absent; (6) males of small body size (SVL 21.8–26.4 mm); (7) head longer than wide; ED/SVL ratio 13%–15%; ESL/SVL ratio 16%–20%; (8) small tympanum (TD/EL ratio 50%–60%) with few tiny tubercles; (9) supratympanic fold absent; (10) ventral surfaces completely smooth; (11) webbing between fingers absent; (12) outer and inner metacarpal tubercles present, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle single, medial, oval in shape; (13) toes half-webbed: I 2–2¼ II 1½–2¾ III 2–3¼ IV 3–1½ V; (14) inner metatarsal tubercle present, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (15) iris bicolored; (16) dorsal surfaces golden-yellow with sparse golden-orange speckling or reticulations and few small dark-brown spots; (17) lateral sides of head and body with wide dark reddish-brown to black lateral stripes, clearly separated from lighter dorsal coloration by straight contrasting edge; (18) ventral surfaces of body, throat, and chest greyish-blue with indistinct brown confluent blotches; (19) upper eyelids with few (3–5) very small flat reddish superciliary tubercles; (20) limbs dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally brown with small bluish-white speckles. The new species is also distinct from all congeners in 12S rRNA to 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences (uncorrected genetic distance P>8.9%). Advertisement call and tadpole morphology of the new species are described. Our molecular data showed Theloderma auratum sp. nov. to be a sister species of Th. palliatum from Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam

Nocturnal chats of farmed animals: non-rutting vocalisations of male Iberian red deer, Cervus elaphus hispanicus

[Context] Captive environment may inhibit the emission of some call types by non-domesticated farm and zoo animals; so, their complete vocal repertoires remain unknown. Automated acoustic recording might help fill this gap of knowledge.[Aim] The aim of this study was to describe vocalisations of farmed Iberian red deer, Cervus elaphus hispanicus, stags out of the autumnal rutting period (in summer and in winter) applying the manual and automated acoustic recording.[Methods] In this pilot study, automated audio recording of undisturbed animals followed with spectrographic analysis showed hidden parts of social acoustic communication in farmed male Iberian red deer in non-breeding period.[Key results] We detected three call types (roars, contact calls and bellows). Stag contact calls and bellows were described in the first time in red deer. Non-rutting roars were acoustically similar with rutting roars reported for wild-living Iberian red deer stags but of lower-frequency than were stag rutting roars recorded on the same farm in previous studies. Stag contact calls were reminiscent of hind contact calls recorded on the same farm in previous studies, but lower in frequency and shorter. Stag bellows were acoustically similar with bellows of male domestic cattle.[Conclusion] This study reveals previously unknown parts of male red deer vocal repertoire.[Implications] The lack of certain components of behavioural and vocal repertoire may indicate potential welfare problems in farmed and zoo animals.Peer reviewe

Molecular, morphological and acoustic assessment of the genus Ophryophryne (Anura, Megophryidae) from Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species

Asian Mountain Toads (Ophryophryne) are a poorly known genus of mostly small-sized anurans from southeastern China and Indochina. To shed light on the systematics within this group, the most comprehensive mitochondrial DNA phylogeny for the genus to date is presented, and the taxonomy and biogeography of this group is discussed. Complimented with extensive morphological data (including associated statistical analyses), molecular data indicates that the Langbian Plateau, in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam, is one of the diversity centres of this genus where three often sympatric species of Ophryophryne are found, O. gerti, O. synoria and an undescribed species. To help resolve outstanding taxonomic confusion evident in literature (reviewed herein), an expanded redescription of O. gerti is provided based on the examination of type material, and the distributions of both O. gerti and O. synoria are considerably revised based on new locality records. We provide the first descriptions of male mating calls for all three species, permitting a detailed bioacoustics comparison of the species. We describe the new species from highlands of the northern and eastern Langbian Plateau, and distinguish it from its congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular and acoustic characters. The new species represents one of the smallest known members of the genus Ophryophryne. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 700–2200 m a.s.l. We suggest the species should be considered Data Deficient following IUCN’s Red List categories