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Thomas Ziegler

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 507-552 - MONOGRAPH

    Vera L. Hecht, Cuong T. Pham, Tao T. Nguyen, Truong Q. Nguyen, Michael Bonkowski & Thomas Ziegler
    First report on the herpetofauna of Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, northeastern Vietnam

    ABSTRACT
    A total number of 76 species of amphibians and reptiles were recorded during recent field surveys from the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve in Bac Giang Province, northeastern Vietnam, comprising one caecilian species, one newt species, 34 species of anurans, 18 species of lizards, and 22 species of snakes. Thirty species are reported for the first time from Yen Tu Nature Reserve as well as for Bac Giang Province. Among the recorded species, five are currently known only from Vietnam. A high level of species diversity and endemism of the herpetofauna underlines the importance of biodiversity conservation in this nature reserve, which covers a major part of the remaining lowland evergreen forest in northeastern Vietnam.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (2): 301-326

    Liza Nemes, Randall Babb, Wayne Van Devender, Khoi Vu Nguyen, Quyet Khac Le, Thanh Ngoc Vu, Anna Rauhaus, Truong Quang Nguyen & Thomas Ziegler
    First contribution to the reptile fauna of Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam

    ABSTRACT
    Based on recent field surveys, we provide a first preliminary list of reptiles from Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, comprising 35 recorded species, including 16 species of lizards (Agamidae: 6, Gekkonidae: 2, Lacertidae: 1, Scincidae: 6, Anguidae: 1), 18 species of snakes (Xenodermatidae: 1, Colubridae: 14, Viperidae: 3), and 1 species of turtle (Geoemydidae: 1). The taxonomic status of Fimbrios cf. klossi from Quang Ngai needs further examination.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (2): 285-300

    Vinh Quang Luu, Truong Quang Nguyen, Cuong The Pham, Kien Ngoc Dang, Thanh Ngoc Vu, Sladjana Miskovic, Michael Bonkowski & Thomas Ziegler
    No end in sight? Further new records of amphibians and reptiles from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

    ABSTRACT
    We report 11 new records of amphibian and reptile species and subspecies on the basis of newly collected specimens from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam: Ingerophrynus macrotis, Limnonectes gyldenstolpei, Babina chapaensis, Theloderma corticale, T. stellatum, Scincella rufocaudata, Oligodon cinereus pallidocinctus, Parahelicops annamensis, Rhynchophis boulengeri, Sinomicrurus macclellandii and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus. The record of T. corticale from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is the southernmost record generally known, that of T. stellatum the northernmost record within Vietnam, and, most remarkably, the finding of Limnonectes gyldenstolpei represents the first country record for Vietnam. In addition, we report the second known specimen and the first adult male of Sphenomorphus tetradactylus, a species recently described based on a single female only. At time, 151 species of amphibians and reptiles are known from Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, including 50 species of amphibians, 12 species of turtles, 31 species of lizards, and 58 species of snakes. In addition, an updated list of the local herpetofauna is provided, including recent taxonomic or nomenclatural changes.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 14 (3): 0481-0483

    Runa Schwabe & Thomas Ziegler
    Evidence of natural cannibalism in the slow worm, Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata Anguidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.3.481.483

    ABSTRACT
    Cannibalistic behavior in the slow worm, Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata Anguidae), has only been documented in a few cases. The oldest report dates back more than a century, but all detailed observations available to us refer to cases under captive conditions. Herein we report about a natural case of cannibalism in the slow worm from Germany. An adult individual was observed regurgitating a previously ingested juvenile headfirst in cultural landscape east of Cologne.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (1): 0003-0017

    Hai Ngoc Ngo, Tan Van Nguyen, Tien Quang Phan, Truong Quang Nguyen & Thomas Ziegler
    The herpetofauna of Hon Khoai Island, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.1.3.17

    ABSTRACT
    We provide the first checklist of the herpetofauna from Hon Khoai Island, Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam, comprising two species of amphibians, eleven species of lizards, and six species of snakes. The herpetofauna of Hon Khoai Island harbors a high level of conservation concern with one species endemic to Vietnam, two species listed on appendices I and II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), one globally endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List and three nationally threatened species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book and two in the Governmental Decree. This study not only fills a gap in the biodiversity knowledge of Hon Khoai Island but also underlines the urgent need of conservation measures for the herpetofauna, in particular for the endangered endemic Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica).