Amphibian Biology and Husbandry
Extant amphibians comprise three lineages– salamanders (Urodela or Caudata), frogs and toads (Anura), and caecilians (Gymnophiona, Apoda, or Caecilia)–which contain more than 6,000 species. Fewer than a dozen species of amphibians are commonly maintained in laboratory colonies, and the husbandry requirements for the vast majority of amphibians are poorly known. For these species, a review […]
Predator-recognition training: a conservation strategy to increase postrelease survival of hellbenders in head-starting programs
For species with declining populations, captive rearing with subsequent release into natural habitats (“head-starting”) is often used as part of a conservation strategy. One challenge to head-starting programs is that head-started individuals can suffer high rates of postrelease predation. Head-starting programs are currently being established for hellbenders (Cryptobrancus alleganeinsis), large aquatic salamanders that are experiencing […]
Innate Predator Recognition and the Problem of Introduced Trout
Innate predator recognition typically only occurs when there is an evolutionary history between predator and prey. Predator introductions thus can pose a substantial threat to native fauna that rely heavily on inherent identification of predators. In permanent aquatic habitats prey often encounter a variety of predatory and non-predatory fish species, and the ability to distinguish […]