No abstract

-Findings of abnormally pigmented amphibian individuals provide interesting insights on intraspecific phenotypic variability as well as on variation among populations inhabiting different habitats. Amphibian coloration is determined by chromatophores (specific epidermal cells), and a variety of abnormalities related to them have been reported. In this study we reported cases of albinism and leucism in six species of Italian amphibians, including some endemic species. For some taxa, like Hydromantes sarrabusensis, H. flavus, H. supramontis and Bufo viridis, we describe the first observations of albinism and leucism.Key words: Speleomantes, Rana, newt, Salamandra, chromatophores, tadpoles.Riassunto -Casi di albinismo e leucismo negli anfibi in Italia: nuove osservazioni.Studi sulla pigmentazione anomala degli anfibi forniscono spunti interessanti sulla loro variabilità fenotipica intraspecifica e sulla variazione tra popolazioni che abitano diversi habitat. La colorazione degli anfibi è determinata dai cromatofori (specifiche cellule epidermiche) e in letteratura vengono segnalate diverse anomalie relative a queste specifiche cellule. In questo studio abbiamo descritto casi di albinismo e leucismo in sei specie italiane di anfibi, tra cui alcune endemiche. Per alcuni taxa, come Hydromantes sarrabusensis, H. flavus, H. supramontis e Bufo viridis, descriviamo per la prima volta osservazioni di albinismo e leucismo.

The banded wattle-eye bird species, BWE ( Platysteira laticincta) is rare, endangered, and endemic to the Bamenda Highlands, Western Cameroon. Kilum–Ijim Community Forest is its last stronghold. Little is known about BWE’s distribution and habitat requirements—the present baseline study aimed at reducing this knowledge gap. Bird occurrence—using call playback technique—and vegetation variables were recorded in 50-m radius sampling plots placed in the altitude range 2,100 to 2,800 m. The BWE occurred at 43 (35%) of 123 plots mostly within Kilum sector of the Community Forest, at altitude range 2,168 to 2,707 m. The log-odds of BWE occurrence significantly (a) increased with canopy height, herb relative abundance, bare soil relative abundance, and shrub relative abundance and (b) decreased with altitude and understory height. These results suggest that the BWE may prefer forest areas at lower altitude with more bare ground and denser undergrowth cover. The implications for BWE conservation are discussed.