Publications by authors named "R A Hitchmough"
Woodworthia is a diverse genus of diplodactylid geckos found in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, with 17 likely species. Despite this diversity, only two species have been formally described: Woodworthia maculata (Gray, 1845) and W. chrysosiretica (Robb, 1980).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe New Zealand endemic gecko genus Hoplodactylus is revised. Two species are recognized: Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) from the North Island and some near-shore islands, and H. tohu n.
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- A comprehensive assessment of reptile extinction risks reveals that 21.1% of reptile species, or 1,829 out of 10,196, are threatened, highlighting the urgent need for conservation strategies amidst global extinction crises.
- Similar to other tetrapods like amphibians, mammals, and birds, reptiles face threats from agriculture, logging, urban development, and invasive species, with forest-dwelling reptiles being at a higher risk than those in arid environments.
- Although some reptile species need immediate action for conservation, broader efforts targeting other tetrapods, such as habitat protection and managing invasive species, could also benefit many reptile species.
Methodological and technological improvements are continually revolutionizing the field of ancient DNA. Most ancient DNA extraction methods require the partial (or complete) destruction of finite museum specimens, which disproportionately impacts small or fragmentary subfossil remains, and future analyses. We present a minimally destructive ancient DNA extraction method optimized for small vertebrate remains.
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