Conservation status and threats for African reptiles

Tolley, Krystal A.; Alexander, Graham J.; Branch, William R.; Bowles, Philip; Maritz, Bryan

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.04.006

Cited by 57 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…The distribution and diagnosis of N. melanoleuca and N. subfulva in the Congo Basin also remain insufficiently resolved. Because Central Africa is one of the most poorly sampled regions in Africa by herpetologists for a variety of reasons (Tolley et al, 2016;Greenbaum, 2017), extensive fieldwork efforts will be required to fill in gaps in sampling and improve understanding of the geographic distribution of these cobras.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Wüster

Chirio

Trape

et al. 2018

Zootaxa

897

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Cobras are among the most widely known venomous snakes, and yet their taxonomy remains incompletely understood, particularly in Africa. Here, we use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences and morphological data to diagnose species limits within the African forest cobra, Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca. Mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal deep divergences within this taxon. Congruent patterns of variation in mtDNA, nuclear genes and morphology support the recognition of five separate species, confirming the species status of N. subfulva and N. peroescobari, and revealing two previously unnamed West African species, which are described as new: Naja (Boulengerina) guineensis sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich & Wüster, from the Upper Guinea forest of West Africa, and Naja (Boulengerina) savannula sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wüster, a banded form from the savanna-forest mosaic of the Guinea and Sudanian savannas of West Africa. The discovery of cryptic diversity in this iconic group highlights our limited understanding of tropical African biodiversity, hindering our ability to conserve it effectively.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Wüster

Chirio

Trape

et al. 2018

Zootaxa

897

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“…Our analyses reveal both important challenges and promising opportunities for global viper conservation. Worryingly, the risk of extinction for vipers is higher than expected (e.g., Böhm et al, 2013;Tolley et al, 2016) and the gaps in our knowledge of taxonomic status and even basic biology limit our application of prioritisation indices to many species and undoubtedly our ability to conserve vipers in general. Moreover, the spatial arrangements of priority hotspots (independent of the index adopted) include multiple, isolated, idiosyncratically-distributed clusters for which generalised planning is likely to be challenging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying global priorities for the conservation of vipers

Maritz

Penner

Martins

et al. 2016

Biological Conservation

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Vipers are among the most misunderstood and persecuted animals. They occupy most terrestrial ecosystems around the world, often at high population densities. However, certain aspects of their biology (e.g., low fecundity and slow growth) have resulted in vipers being disproportionately threatened by extinction. Despite increased extinction risk, relatively little is known about viper biology, severely limiting the development and implementation of conservation initiatives. Here, we review the conservation status of vipers globally, map species richness, and develop three indices (one reactive; one proactive; one combined index emphasising irreplaceable species facing severe threats) to identify species for which conservation action should be prioritised. Moreover, we map species richness weighted by each index to identify regions for conservation prioritisation. We ranked prioritisation scores for all species for which data were available. In doing so we identify species for which valuable data are missing and that should be prioritised for research. We additionally show that 17 species, currently listed as Not Assessed or Data Deficient by the IUCN, score sufficiently high on our Threat Index to be considered as Threatened in the future. We identify multiple regions for which viper conservation action should be prioritised. These areas broadly correlate with species richness patterns, suggesting that species richness may be an effective proxy for conservation planning. Finally, we discuss the major gaps in knowledge, as well as the major threats facing vipers.

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“…These processes result in habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and are the primary contributors to biodiversity loss worldwide (Driver et al, 2005;Lötter, 2010), particularly for reptiles (Branch, 1988;Böhm et al, 2013). While the conservation plight of charismatic taxa such as large mammals and birds are widely publicized and addressed by conservation bodies, smaller, cryptic fauna such as reptiles are often neglected (Tolley et al, 2016). Only 46% of reptiles have been risk-assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The desolation of Smaug: The human-driven decline of the Sungazer lizard ( Smaug giganteus )

Parusnath

Little

Cunningham

et al. 2017

Journal for Nature Conservation

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The Sungazer (Smaug giganteus) is a threatened lizard species endemic to the Highveld grasslands of South Africa. The species faces risks from habitat loss and fragmentation, and illegal harvesting for traditional medicine and the pet trade. Despite these threats, the current conservation status of the species was poorly validated. We visited 79 Sungazer populations recorded in 1978 to assess population change since the initial surveys, and surveyed an additional 164 sites to better define the distribution and estimate the current population size. We interrogated all known historical trade data of the species. One-third of Sungazer populations have been extirpated over the past 37 years. The distribution includes two allopatric populations, with the smaller Mpumalanga population experiencing a significantly higher decline. The species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 34 500 km 2 , and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 1149 km 2. The interpreted distribution is 17 978km 2 , and just under 60% remains untransformed grassland. We estimate a population size of 677 000 mature individuals, down 48% from the estimated historical population, prior to commercial agricultural development. A total of 1194 live Sungazers were exported under permit from South Africa between 1985 and 2014, with a significant increase in numbers exported over the last decade. Without any evidence of captive breeding, we believe that these animals are all wild-caught. Based on the AOO, level of decline, fragmentation within the distribution and suspected level of exploitation, we recommend classification of the species as Vulnerable under IUCN Red List Criteria A2acd and B2ab(ii-v). The establishment of a protected area network, genetic research and further investigations into the pet and traditional medicine trades are urgently needed.

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Conservation status and threats for African reptiles

Cited by 57 publications

References 38 publications

Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Identifying global priorities for the conservation of vipers

The desolation of Smaug: The human-driven decline of the Sungazer lizard ( Smaug giganteus )

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