The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


Volume 6, Number 3, July 1996 Volume 6, Number 3, July 1996


pdf 01. Behavioural interactions between a rare male phenotype and female unisexual Lepidodactylus lugubris

1322 downloads

Open Access

pp.69-73

Authors: Susan G. Brown And Susan Murphy-walker

Abstract: A rare male phenotype of the unisexual gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris, was captured on the University of Hawaii, Hilo campus. The male was housed with females in different stages of their reproductive cycles. Observations were made of interactions between the male and individual females. The male approached females with either no evidence of egg development or small, probably ovarian, eggs more often than females with larger, probably oviductal, eggs; and was observed neck-biting and moving on top of females although no intromissions or copulations were observed. Female geckos were more aggressive than the male; the male was less likely to approach females that reacted to his approaches aggressively. Although it seemed that the male was attempting to court the female geckos, we do not know if courtship attempts failed because of the male or female behaviour. Sperm were present in the testes and epididymis. However, all motile sperm appeared to be headless, suggesting that the male was infertile


pdf 02. Effects of temperature and body weight on gastric evacuation rates of alpine newt (Triturus alpestris) larvae

848 downloads

Open Access

pp.75-81

Authors: Robert Schabetsberger, Susanne Brozek, Karl Entacher , Christian Jersabek And Alfred Goldschmid

Abstract: We present different polynomial functions to describe gastric evacuation rates of alpine newt larvae in relation to temperature and body dry weight. Gastric evacuation rates increased with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing body weight during early development. Gastric evacuation rates measured in the laboratory were low compared to those estimated under field conditions.


pdf 03. Hibernation sites of the toads Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita in a river floodplain

1037 downloads

Open Access

pp.83-86

Authors: Wilbert Bosman, Jan J. Van Gelder And Henk Strijbosch

Abstract: Closed drift fences, bow-nets and a telemetric system were used to study hibernation sites of two toad species in a floodplain. Both species hibernated terrestrially. Bufo bufo hibernated in meadows, thickets and woods/bushes on sand or clay in the higher as well as the lower parts of the floodplain. Bufo calamita clearly preferred sandy habitats in the higher parts where heaps of brick-debris were specially used. Both species selected their hibernation sites based on characteristics of vegetation and substrate, rather than in relation to the risk of flooding.


pdf 04. Sexual maturity in a population of the lacertid lizard Podarcis bocagei

927 downloads

Open Access

pp.87-93

Authors: Pedro Galán

Abstract: The attainment of sexual maturity by males and females of the lacertid lizard Podarcis bocagei was studied in a population from NW Spain (La Corufia province). Two methods were used. The first method involved capture, marking and recapture of marked hatchlings in a study plot. The second method examined the development of sexual organs through dissection of lizard samples from the same locality. Sexual maturity was attained at a minimum size (females: 44-45 mm; males: 46-51 mm snout-vent length), not a minimum age. Some individual and seasonal variation was observed in this minimum size, which decreased as the reproductive season progressed. Slightly fewer than half of the individuals from a given cohort (50.0%- 44.4% in males and 47.1%-44.4% in females, from samples of 1989 and 1990 cohorts respectively) attained the minimum size and reproduced towards the end of the next reproductive period (at 11-12 months of age). The mature yearling individuals were those that hatched from the first clutches of the preceding year, most of them in July. By their second autumn, all specimens from the previous year's cohort had exceeded the sexual maturity-threshold size



pdf 06. Advertisement calls of three glass frogs from the Andean forests (Amphibia Anura Centrolenidae)

912 downloads

Open Access

pp.97-99

Authors: Rafael Márquez , Ignacio De La Riva , And Jaime Bosch


pdf 07. Home range area of the lizard Podarcis hispanica atrata

865 downloads

Open Access

pp.100-102

Authors: John G. Swallow And Aurora M. Castilla




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IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

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