Prevalence and Distribution of Ranavirus in Amphibians From

Several infectious diseases are threatening amphibian species worldwide and have resulted in massmortality events across the globe. An emerging group of viral pathogens (ranaviruses) are documented to cause die-offs in amphibian populations worldwide, including in several regions of the U.S. Unfortunately, large gaps remain in our understanding of the distribution of this systemic pathogen in the U.S., including within the state of Oklahoma. To address this gap in our understanding, we carried out surveys of this infectious pathogen across 14 sites in seven southeastern Oklahoma counties in spring 2015, screening 17 amphibian species from this region. Using liver and tail tissue samples collected from individual amphibians, we screened for the presence and infection load of ranavirus. Of the 390 samples, 84 (21.5%) tested positive for ranavirus, with infection prevalence varying among species surveyed. Notably, the family Bufonidae had no samples that tested positive for ranavirus, whereas the remaining families had an infection prevalence ranging from 14–50%. Despite an overall infection prevalence of 21.5%, we detected no clinical signs of ranavirosis and all sampled individuals appeared outwardly healthy. These results provide data on the geographic and host distribution of ranavirus in southeastern Oklahoma, as well as the first documented cases of the pathogen in three species of anurans: Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad), G. olivacea (Western Narrow-mouthed Toad), and Pseudacris fouquettei (Cajun Chorus Frog). With widespread ranavirus infection, there is potential for transmission from abundant, widespread species to more vulnerable, state-threatened amphibians

Additions to Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) IV: Resurrection and redescription of Brachymeles burksi

The diversity of Philippine amphibians and reptiles has increased over the last few decades, in part due to re-evaluation of species formerly believed to be widespread. Many of these investigations of widespread species have uncovered multiple closely related cryptic lineages comprising species complexes, each restricted to individual Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complexes (PAICs). One group in particular for which widespread cryptic diversity has been common is the clade of Philippine skinks of the genus Brachymeles. Recent phylogenetic studies of the formerly recognized widespread species Brachymeles bonitae have indicated that this species is actually a complex distributed across several major PAICs and smaller island groups in the central and northern Philippines, with numerous species that exhibit an array of digit loss and limb reduction patterns. Despite the recent revisions to the B. bonitae species complex, studies suggest that unique cryptic lineages still exist within this group. In this paper, we resurrect the species Brachymeles burksi Taylor 1917, for a lineage of non-pentadactyl, semi-fossorial skink from Mindoro and Marinduque islands. First described in 1917, B. burksi was synonymized with B. bonitae in 1956, and has rarely been reconsidered since. Evaluation of genetic and morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements), and comparison of recently-obtained specimens to Taylor’s original description support this species’ recognition, as does its insular distribution on isolated islands in the central portions of the archipelago. Morphologically, B. burksi is differentiated from other members of the genus based on a suite of unique phenotypic characteristics, including a small body size, digitless limbs, a high number of presacral vertebrae, the absence of auricular openings, and discrete (non-overlapping) meristic scale counts. The recognition of this central Philippine species further increases the diversity of non-pentadactyl members of the B. bonitae complex, and reinforces the biogeographic uniqueness of the Mindoro faunal region

Development and validation of an environmental DNA protocol to detect an invasive Caribbean freshwater fish, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

I.S. and C.D.S. contributed to study conception and design. I.S. secured funding for assay development, testing, and field survey work. I.S., K.-A.B., and S.B. conducted field surveys in Jamaica; I.S. and J.L.W. oversaw collection of positive and negative control samples in Oklahoma. Assay design was undertaken by E.D.H. DNA extractions, in vitro assay tests, and assessment of assay performance was overseen by S.N.S. Data analysis and summary of qPCR screening results was performed by S.N.S. and C.D.S., with contributions from J.L.W. The first draft of the manuscript was written by S.N.S., with contributions and reviews by C.D.S., I.S., J.L.W., E.D.H., K.-A.B., and S.B. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.We describe the development and validation of a qPCR assay to detect Poecilia reticulata, a highly invasive species of freshwater fish invasive to the Caribbean islands, through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. Originating from Trinidad, this species is invasive and detrimental to countless native tropical fish communities. A qPCR assay, consisting of a set of primers and a fluorescent probe, amplifying a 214 base pair target region of the mitochondrial Cytochrome B gene was designed for P. reticulata from existing DNA sequence data. The assay was assessed for target specificity, with no evidence of amplification in closely related or sympatrically distributed non-target species. In vitro tests indicate that the assay consistently detects P. reticulata down to concentrations of 2.0 × 10−5 ng/μl. The developed assay provides a new, practical tool for monitoring freshwater habitats throughout the Caribbean, allowing for early and rapid detection of invasive fish species of conservation concern.This research was supported by the University of Oklahoma, the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, and the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Research was conducted in accordance with field permits in Jamaica (NEPA#18/27) and the University of Oklahoma Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols R17-031 and R19-006. The authors thank M. Gordon, H. Bennett, E. Bennett and S.-M. Bennett-Monroe for field and laboratory assistance. Funding support for this work was provided by the University of Oklahoma and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to C.D.S and I.S.Ye

Taxonomic revision of the semi-aquatic skink Parvoscincus leucospilos (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), with description of three new species

Siler, Cameron D., Linkem, Charles W., Cobb, Kerry, Watters, Jessa L., Cummings, Sean T., Diesmos, Arvin C., Brown, Rafe M. (2014): Taxonomic revision of the semi-aquatic skink Parvoscincus leucospilos (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), with description of three new species. Zootaxa 3847 (3): 388-412, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3847.3.

Redescription of the rare Philippine false gecko Pseudogekko brevipes (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) and description of a new species

Davis, Drew R., Watters, Jessa L., Köhler, Gunther, Whitsett, Collin, Huron, Nicholas A., Brown, Rafe M., Diesmos, Arvin C., Siler, Cameron D. (2015): Redescription of the rare Philippine false gecko Pseudogekko brevipes (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) and description of a new species. Zootaxa 4020 (2): 357-374, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4020.2.

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FIGURE 3 in Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) III: a new species from Tablas Island

FIGURE 3. Photograph of lateral and ventral views of head of preserved holotype of Brachymeles dalawangdaliri sp. nov. (CAS 137149). Photographs taken by JLW and MLP.Published as part of Davis, Drew R., Geheber, Aaron D., Watters, Jessa L., Penrod, Michelle L., Feller, Kathryn D., Ashford, Alissa, Kouri, Josh, Nguyen, Daniel, Shauberger, Kathryn, Sheatsley, Kyra, Winfrey, Claire, Wong, Rachel, Sanguila, Marites B., Brown, Rafe M. & Siler, Cameron D., 2016, Zootaxa 4132 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/25893

FIGURE 2 in Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: a new species from the northern Philippines

FIGURE 2. Illustration of head of Brachymeles ilocandia sp. nov. (PNM 9819, holotype) in dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. Taxonomically diagnostic head scales are labeled as follows: C, chin shield; F, frontal; FN, frontonasal; FP, frontoparietal; IL, infralabial; IP, interparietal; L, loreal; M, mental; N, nasal; Nu, nuchal; P, parietal; PF, prefrontal; PM, postmental; PO, preocular; PSO, presubocular; R, rostral; SC, supraciliary; SL, supralabial; SN, supranasal; and SO, supraocular. Roman numerals indicate scales in the supraocular series, with Arabic numbers indicating scales in the supraciliary series. Illustrations by MLP and CDS.Published as part of Siler, Cameron D., Davis, Drew R., Freitas, Elyse S., Huron, Nicholas A., Geheber, Aaron D., Watters, Jessa L., Penrod, Michelle L., Papeș, Monica, Amrein, Andrew, Anwar, Alyssa, Cooper, Dontae, Hein, Tucker, Manning, Annalisa, Patel, Neeral, Pinaroc, Lauren, Diesmos, Arvin C., Diesmos, Mae L., Oliveros, Carl H. & Brown, Rafe M., 2016, Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: a new species from the northern Philippines, pp. 15-29 in Zootaxa 4132 (1) on page 20, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/26674