Background Conservation strategies are urgently needed for tropical turtles that are increasingly threatened by unsustainable exploitation. Studies conducted exclusively in temperate zones have revealed that typical turtle life history traits (including delayed sexual maturity and high adult survivorship) make sustainable harvest programs an unviable strategy for turtle conservation. However, most turtles are tropical in distribution and the tropics have higher, more constant and more extended ambient temperature regimes that, in general, are more favorable for population growth. Methods To estimate the capacity of temperate and tropical turtles to sustain harvest, we synthesized life-history traits from 165 predominantly freshwater turtle species in 12 families (Carettochelydae, Chelidae, Chelydridae, Dermatemydidae, Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Kinosternidae, Pelomedusidae, Platysternidae, Podocnemididae, Staurotypidae and Trionychidae). The influence of climate variables and latitude on turtle life-history traits (clutch size, clutch frequency, age at sexual maturity, and annual adult survival) were examined using Generalized Additive Models. The biological feasibility of sustainable harvest in temperate and tropical species was evaluated using a sensitivity analysis of population growth rates obtained from stage-structured matrix population models. Results Turtles at low latitudes (tropical zones) exhibit smaller clutch sizes, higher clutch frequency, and earlier age at sexual maturity than those at high latitudes (temperate zones). Adult survival increased weakly with latitude and declined significantly with increasing bioclimatic

Cyrtodactylus batik is a new species described on the basis of seven specimens collected from Mount Tompotika, in the Balantak Mountains, eastern peninsula of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. This large Cyrtodactylus (up to 115 mm snoutvent length), differs from all other congeners by the combination of striking velvety black dorsal coloration with four irregular dark bands and yellow markings, enlarged tubercles not differently colored from other parts of the dorsum except on the flanks, and the absence of precloacal and femoral pores. The new species, together with C. wallacei and C. jellesmae appear to form an exclusive lineage in Sulawesi.

Abstract:In response to the recent rediscovery of Barbourula kalimantanensis, which is currently the only known lungless frog, a number of biologically important aspects of the species were examined and its taxonomy and conservation status was reviewed. Based on the species' ecological requirements, habitat restrictions and recent severe habitat loss, we propose to change the conservation status of Endangered B2ab(iii) to Vulnerable B1ab(iii) and earmark the species as a conservation flagship for the region and for Indonesia.