The seventh species of the newt genus in Thailand: a new species (Urodela, Salamandridae) from Tak Province, northwestern Thailand.

A new species of the crocodile newt genus from Doi Soi Malai located at Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province, northwestern Thailand is described based on molecular and morphological evidence, and named as The new species is the seventh recorded species of the genus reported in Thailand. It differs morphologically from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: head longer than wide; snout blunt or truncate; sagittal ridge on head narrow, short and distinct; dorsolateral bony ridges on head pronounced and rough; parotoids distinct; vertebral ridge prominent, wide and not segmented; 14-16 distinct, rounded and isolated rib nodules but posterior nodules connected; tips of fore- and hind limbs overlapping when adpressed along the body. The body background color is black, while the color markings are orange.

A new species of the genus (Urodela, Salamandridae) from western Thailand.

We describe a new species of the newt genus from Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province, western Thailand based on molecular and morphological evidence and named here as The new species is assigned to the subgenus Tylototriton and differs from other species in having dark-brown to blackish-brown body and limbs, truncate snout, prominent antero-medial ends of the expansion of the dentary bones, laterally protruding quadrate regions, indistinct and small rib nodules, a well-segmented vertebral ridge, and rough dorsolateral bony ridges, which are steeper anterior, and curved medially at the posterior ends. The molecular data show that differs from sensu stricto by a 5% genetic sequence divergence of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 region gene. The new species and are both endemic to Thailand, distributed along the Northwest Thai (Dawna) Uplands of Indochina.

Two New Species of Ansonia from Thailand (Anura: Bufonidae).

The taxonomic status of two populations of stream toads of the genus Ansonia from Thailand, previously suspected to be specifically distinct on the basis of molecular data, are assessed using morphological and additional genetic data. In mtDNA phylogeny, each of the two Thai lineages, one from Pilok Subdistrict, Kanchanaburi, and another from Phuket Island, are separated from other congenerics from the Thai-Malay Peninsula by large genetic distances, comparable with those observed between other species in the genus. Although each of the two lineages is superficially similar to other species morphologically, they are distinguishable in several morphological traits and are considered to represent valid, independently evolving species.

A new tree frog of the genus Gracixalus from Thailand (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae).

We report a new tree frog of the genus Gracixalus from western Thailand and describe it as a new species Gracixalus seesom based on results of morphological and molecular analyses. The new species is a small-sized Gracixalus (male snout-vent length ca. 22 mm) and is morphologically similar to G.

Two new species of Tylototriton from Thailand (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae).

Three morphological groups are found in a salamandrid newt Tylototriton shanjing from Thailand. We describe two of them as new species, one from northern and the other from northeastern Thailand, based on molecular and morphological data, however we could not make a taxonomic decision on the remaining one group because of the lack of voucher specimens and sufficient genetic data. The northern species differs morphologically from all known congeners by having the combination of orange to reddish brown markings, narrow and sharply protruding dorsolateral bony ridges on head, weakly segmented vertebral ridge, and long and high tail.

Hepatic metallothionein and Glutathione-S-Transferase responses in two populations of rice frogs, Fejervarya limnocharis, naturally exposed to different environmental cadmium levels.

Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and metallothionein are important biomarker endpoints in studying the effect of Cd exposure. The purpose of this research was to study the correlation between hepatic GST and metallothionein with hepatic Cd in wild Fejervarya limnocharis exposed to environmental Cd. Results showed that frogs from contaminated sites had significantly higher hepatic metallothionein (3.

Phylogenetic relationships among Hoplobatrachus rugulosus in Thailand as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences of the cytochrome-b gene (Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae).

A fragment (564 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b (Cyt-b) gene was studied for 73 individual rice field frogs (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) from 18 geographical locations (populations) within Thailand. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of 12 haplotypes, with five haplotypes being represented in two or more populations, and the other seven being population-distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor joining analyses all placed the 12 haplotypes into two distinct and well-separated clades with high bootstrap support, reflecting the high sequence divergences between the clades (25.

Systematic relationships of Oriental tiny frogs of the family Microhylidae (Amphibia, Anura) as revealed by mtDNA genealogy.

We estimated the genealogical relationships and assessed systematic relationships among 45 out of 89 named species and four unnamed taxa from 11 of 14 genera of the Oriental microhylids from 1767 bp sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genes 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. Monophyly was rejected for the subfamily Microhylinae, and our data reveal four well-supported clades whose relationships to each other are unresolved: (A) Microhyla, Calluella, and Glyphoglossus, (B) Chaperina, (C) Kaloula, Phrynella, and Metaphrynella, and (D) Micryletta. They were genetically as divergent from each other as from another Oriental subfamily Kalophryninae, and could be recognized as distinct subfamilies.

Reproductive Mode of (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices.

Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of (Anura: Ranidae) caught in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand.

Phylogenetic relationships of megophryid frogs of the genus Leptobrachium (Amphibia, Anura) as revealed by mtDNA gene sequences.

By investigating genealogical relationships, we estimated the phylogenetic history and biogeography in the megophryid genus Leptobrachium (sensu lato, including Vibrissaphora) from southern China, Indochina, Thailand and the Sundaland. The genealogical relationships among the 30 named and unnamed taxa were estimated using 2009 bp of sequences from the mitochondrial DNA genes 12S rRNA, tRNA(val), and 16S rRNA using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. The genus Leptobrachium was a well-supported monophyletic group that contained two major clades.

Cadmium accumulation in two populations of rice frogs (Fejervarya limnocharis) naturally exposed to different environmental cadmium levels.

Contaminant accumulation analysis is important in the study of sentinels. This research determined cadmium accumulation and bioconcentration factors of whole organism, liver, kidney, ovary and testis of Fejervarya limnocharis exposed to different environmental cadmium levels. Frogs from contaminated sites had significantly higher hepatic (1.

Phylogenetic relationships of Ansonia from Southeast Asia inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences: systematic and biogeographic implications (Anura: Bufonidae).

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and estimated the history of species diversification and biogeography in the bufonid genus Ansonia from Southeast Asia, a unique organism with tadpoles adapted to life in strong currents chiefly in montane regions and also in lowland rainforests. We estimated phylogenetic relationships among 32 named and unnamed taxa using 2461bp sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, tRNA(val), and 16S rRNA genes with equally-weighted parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods of inference. Monophyletic clades of Southeast Asian members of the genus Ansonia are well-supported, allowing for the interpretation of general biogeographic conclusions.

Genetic divergences and phylogenetic relationships among the Fejervarya limnocharis complex in Thailand and neighboring countries revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear genes.

To clarify the genetic divergence in the F. limnocharis complex from Thailand and neighboring countries and to elucidate the phylogenetic problems of this taxon, we analyzed partial sequences of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes and the nuclear CXCR4, NCX1, RAG-1, and tyrosinase genes. The F.

Evolutionary relationships and reproductive isolating mechanisms in the rice frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) species complex from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan, inferred from mtDNA gene sequences, allozymes, and crossing experiments.

The rice frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) species complex is widely distributed, from India to Japan, and most prevalently in Southeast Asia. Conspicuous morphological variation has been reported for this species complex throughout its distribution range. In the present study, we used mtDNA gene sequence and allozyme analyses to infer evolutionary affinities within this species complex using eight populations (Sri Lanka; Bangkok and Ranong in Thailand; Taiwan; and Hiroshima, Okinawa, Ishigaki and Iriomote in Japan).

Genetic relationships and reproductive-isolation mechanisms among the Fejervarya limnocharis complex from Indonesia (Java) and other Asian countries.

In order to elucidate the genetic relationships and reproductive-isolation mechanisms among the Fejervarya limnocharis complex from Indonesia and other Asian countries, allozyme analyses and crossing experiments were carried out using 208 individuals from 21 localities in eight Asian countries. The allozyme analyses revealed that 17 enzymes examined were controlled by genes at 27 loci, and that 7.9 phenotypes were produced by 5.

Gonadotropin and estrogen responses in freshwater turtle (Chrysemys picta) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

As a result of chemical waste disposal on the Massachusetts Military Reservation, a Superfund site on Cape Cod, MA, contaminated groundwater plumes have formed. These plumes are of concern due to the widespread use of groundwater wells as a drinking water source by the local population. Prior observations on a sentinel species Chrysemys picta field-trapped from ponds on Cape Cod suggested deficits in reproductive processes including lower levels of vitellogenin, estradiol-17beta, oviduct weights, and oocyte numbers in females and lower testicular weight and sperm count in males.

Phylogenetic relationships of Oriental torrent frogs in the genus Amolops and its allies (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae).

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among 20 species of Oriental torrent frogs in the genus Amolops and its allies from China and Southeast Asia based on 1346-bp sequences of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes. Oriental species of the tribe Ranini form a monophyletic group containing 11 clades (Rana temporaria + Pseudoamolops, R. chalconota, four clades of Amolops, Meristogenys, three clades of Huia species, and Staurois) for which the phylogenetic relationships are unresolved.

A new Ansonia from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae).

A new species of torrent-dwelling bufonid frog of the genus Ansonia is described from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand. Ansonia kraensis is morphologically similar to Malaysian A. malayana, but differs from it in ventral coloration and larval morphology.

Taxonomic relationships within the pan-oriental narrow-mouth toad Microhyla ornata as revealed by mtDNA analysis (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae).

A molecular phylogenetic survey was conducted using mtDNA sequences of 12S and 16S rRNA, and cyt-b genes to examine taxonomic relationships among populations of the Pan-Oriental microhylid, Microhyla ornata, from India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, China, Taiwan, and the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan. Two discrete clades are recognized within this species, one consisting of populations from India and Bangladesh, and the other encompassing the remaining populations. In the latter clade, populations from the Ryukyu Archipelago are clearly split from the rest (populations from Taiwan and the continent) with considerable degrees of genetic differentiations.