The gut microbiota helps the host to absorb nutrients and generate immune responses that can affect host behavior, development, reproduction, and overall health. However, in most of the previous studies, microbiota was sampled mainly using feces and intestinal contents from mammals but not from wild reptiles. Here, we described the bacterial profile from five different gastrointestinal tract (GIT) segments (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and cloaca) of three wild Rhabdophis subminiatus using 16S rRNA V4 hypervariable amplicon sequencing. Forty‐seven bacterial phyla were found in the entire GIT, of which Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were predominant. The results showed a significant difference in microbial diversity between the upper GIT segments (esophagus and stomach) and lower GIT segments (large intestine and cloaca). An obvious dynamic distribution of Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes was observed, which mainly existed in the lower GIT segments. Conversely, the distribution of Tenericutes was mainly observed in the upper GIT. We also predicted the microbial functions in the different GIT segments, which showed that microbiota in each segments played an important role in higher membrane transport and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Microbes in the small intestine were also mainly involved in disease‐related systems, while in the large intestine, they were associated with membrane transport and carbohydrate metabolism. This is the first study to investigate the distribution of the gut microbiota and to predict the microbial function in R. subminiatus . The composition of the gut microbiota certainly reflects the diet and the living environment of the host. Furthermore, these findings provide vital evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of gut diseases in snakes and offer a direction for a model of energy budget research.

Animal gut microbiota begins to colonize after birth and is functionally indispensable for maintaining the health of the host. It has been reported that gender and age influence the composition of the intestinal microbiome. However, the effects of gender and age on the intestinal microorganism of forest musk deer (FMD) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between the structure and composition of fecal microbiota of male and female forest musk deer with age. Here, Illumina Miseq 300PE sequencing platform targeting 16S rRNA V3–V4 hypervariable region applied to define the fecal microbiota of male and female FMD with two age groups, juvenile (age 1–2 years) and adult (age 4–10 years). Alpha diversity index did not show significant difference in bacterial diversity between the males and females or among age groups. The intestinal microbiota of FMD was dominated by three phyla, the Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes regardless of gender and different ages. Higher proportions of Proteobacteria were found in adult male and juvenile female individuals. The composition of Bacteroidetes was stable with the gender and age of FMD. Interestingly, the relative abundance of genera Clostridiales and Bacteroidales were higher in the juvenile FMD. Conversely, proportions of Pseudomonas and Lachnospiraceae were abundant in the adult FMD. Higher proportions of Ruminococcaceae, Dore, and 5-7N15 were found in the juvenile male groups. They may reflect the different immune resistance of male and female individuals at different stages of development. This study explored the fecal microbiota composition of forest musk deer in relation to gender and age, which may provide an effective strategy for developing intestinal microecological preparations and potential musk deer breeding.

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Tao He (2019) The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Rhabdophisadleri (Squamata: Colubridae), Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 4:1, 423-425, ABSTRACTThe study has determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Rhabdophis adleri. The mitogenome was 17,505 bp in size, containing 26.33% T, 27.08% C, 33.38% A, and 13.21% G, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, as well as 2 Dloop regions. The gene arrangement, nucleotide composition, and the codon usage pattern of the mitochondrial genome of R. adleri were alike in other alethinophidian snakes. The phylogenetic reconstruction analyses yielded similar topologies, having been expressed that R. adleri can strongly be placed within Colubridae. ARTICLE HISTORY

2019) The complete mitochondrial genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis for Rhabdophishimalayanus (Squamata: Colubridae), Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 4:1, 705-706, ABSTRACTRhabdophis himalayanus listed as a vulnerable species has been included in the IUCN Red List. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of this kind of snake is first reported. The genome is 17,149 bp in length, containing 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 2 D-loop regions. The mitochondrial genome order, nucleotide composition, and codon usage pattern of it are similar to other snakes. The phylogenetic results indicating that R. himalayanus can be firmly placed in the family Colubridae, under the genus Rhabdophis. ARTICLE HISTORY