ACTA HERPETOLOGICA 是一本向世界各地的学者开放的期刊，它提供了一个新的网站，用于展示和讨论两栖动物和爬行动物研究领域的最新成果，包括现存的和灭绝的。作为 SOCIETAS HERPETOLOGICA ITALICA (S.H.I.) 的官方期刊，ACTA HERPETOLOGICA 发表原创作品——扩展文章、简短笔记和书评——主要是英文版，涉及两栖动物和爬行动物的生物学和多样性。

Acta Herpetologica is an open-access journal for scholars worldwide, dedicated to showcasing and discussing the latest findings in the field of amphibian and reptile research, including both extant and extinct species. As the official journal of the Societas Herpetologica Italica (S.H.I.), Acta Herpetologica publishes original works—extended articles, short notes, and book reviews—primarily in English, covering the biology and diversity of amphibians and reptiles.

《Acta Herpetologica》是一本面向全球学者的开放期刊，致力于展示和讨论两栖动物及爬行动物研究领域的最新成果，包括现存和灭绝的物种。作为意大利爬行动物学会（SOCIETAS HERPETOLOGICA ITALICA, S.H.I.）的官方期刊，《Acta Herpetologica》主要发表原创研究，包括扩展文章、简短笔记和书评，内容主要以英文为主，涵盖两栖动物和爬行动物的生物学及多样性。

Acta Herpetologica

Amphibian populations worldwide are experiencing significant declines, highlighting a critical aspect of the broader biodiversity crisis. Approximately 43% of all amphibian species are facing extinction due to factors such as habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and emerging diseases. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) represents one of the major threats, because it is particularly dangerous for European salamanders. Southern Europe is especially vulnerable due to the presence of numerous endemic salamander species. Despite the risks, few studies have screened Italian salamanders for Bsal. We conducted a Bsal screening on 44 Golden Alpine Salamanders (Salamandra atra aurorae) from the Vezzena plateau in the Trentino-Alto Adige region (Northern Italy). Our molecular analysis of skin swabs revealed no presence of Bsal in any of the 44 specimens examined. Additionally, no macroscopic signs of Bsal-related skin damage were observed. The absence of Bsal in our samples is encouraging, suggesting that the investigated sites are currently unaffected by this pathogen. This finding aligns with other studies reporting no evidence of Bsal in Italy. Future research should explore the factors contributing to the absence of Bsal and the effectiveness of current conservation practices. While our findings are reassuring, the threat of Bsal remains a critical concern. Continued vigilance and enhanced conservation efforts are essential to protect salamander diversity and ensure the long-term survival of these important amphibian populations.

Antonio Romano

Emma Centomo

Lorenzo Dondero

Elena Grasselli

Paolo Pedrini

Luca Roner

Screening for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in a population of Golden Alpine Salamanders at the edge of their distribution range

在分布范围边缘的金色高山蝾螈种群中筛查蛙壶菌

Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrates globally, and their conservation status continues to decline. In the updated Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA2), the use of IUCN Criterion E, which projects extinction risks through quantitative models, highlighted southern Europe as a hotspot for salamander extinction risk due to the risk of invasion by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). In particular, for five Italian salamander species, risk categories were elevated significantly based on Criterion E, from Vulnerable or lower to Endangered or Critically Endangered. This increased reliance on Criterion E raises concerns regarding its treatment of uncertainty, as these projections depend heavily on assumptions about Bsal spread, environmental suitability, and host dynamics. Limited exploration of alternative scenarios and reliance on extreme parameter values ​​may result in inflated extinction risk estimates. We emphasize the need for improved documentation of uncertainty and integration of diverse expert opinions in extinction risk assessments, to balance proactive conservation planning with robust scientific methodology.

Stefano Canessa

Dino Biancolini

Mattia Iannella

Ilaria Bernabò

Daniele Salvi

Leonardo Vignoli

Enrico Lunghi

Andrea Costa

Edoardo Razzetti

Gentile Francesco Ficetola

Uncertain future and uncertain projections: assessing extinction risks in European salamanders from projected chytrid fungus invasion using IUCN Criterion E

不确定的未来与不确定的预测：利用IUCN标准E评估欧洲蝾螈在拟议壶菌入侵下的灭绝风险

Measuring the potential effects of future climate changes on the spatio-temporal variance of optimal conditions for seasonal species is a key conservation issue. This study assesses the impact of climate change on the spatial and temporal patterns of optimal conditions for activity in two burrowing frogs, Smilisca fodiens and S. dentata. Ecological Niche Modeling was used to implement niche seasonality models, with calibration performed during the peak activity (July). These models were then transferred to current and future conditions for the remainder of the year, predicting future scenarios up to 2070 with an intermediate trajectory greenhouse gas concentration of 4.5 W/m2. Climate change transferability was assessed for four potential scenarios: 1) high precipitation and low temperature, 2) high precipitation and high temperature, 3) low precipitation and low temperature, and 4) low precipitation and high temperature. We examined the impact across future projected areas and analyzed geographic change trends based on latitude, longitude, and elevation. For both species, the best scenario would involve increased precipitation in the future. However, the worst-case would be a combination of reduced precipitation and higher temperatures. Due to large area loss, northern populations of S. fodiens may be highly vulnerable. Concerning S. dentata, the outlook is worrisome, with all known populations experiencing losses in most months. Area gains may not help either species since they tend to occur at elevations above their known ranges. Using a seasonal approach in spatio-temporal analysis enhances comprehension of the behavioral adaptations of seasonal species and their vulnerability to current and future climatic variations

Alondra Encarnación-Luévano

José Jesús Sigala-Rodríguez

Gustavo E. Quintero-Díaz

Marcelo Silva-Briano

Octavio Rojas-Soto

The Effect of Climate Change on Spatio-Temporal Activity in Burrowing Frogs of the Smilisca Group

气候变化对掘穴蛙属时空活动的影响

The European Leaf-toed Gecko, Euleptes europaea, a rock-dwelling nocturnal gecko characteristic of Mediterranean Islands, is facing local extinctions and population decline at the margins of its range. Population monitoring through artificial retreat-sites (ARS) was implemented on French’s Grand Rouveau and If islands to study the effects of management measures. We used Generalized Linear Models to identify: (i) the environmental variables (such as substrate, vegetation, and exposure to wind and sun) influencing the maximum number of individuals observed in ARS (studied in both islands); and (ii) the factors influencing ARS daily use (occupancy), including individual attributes such as age and weight, external temperature, and disturbance (Grand Rouveau only). The maximum number of geckos appeared to be determined by the thermal properties of ARS, as mediated by exposure to the dominant wind and sunlight, rather than by the structure of the habitat and nearby vegetation. An individual gecko’s presence in an ARS was positively related to its presence in the same ARS on the previous day and negatively related to its age, to the temperature of the previous night, and the number of days of disturbance. These results provide insights into the factors governing the selection and use of ARS by the European leaf-toed gecko and open perspectives on the use of ARS for the monitoring and conservation of this and other elusive terrestrial reptiles.

Julie Quessada

Vincent Rivière

Marc Cheylan

Alban Guillaumet

Selection and daily occupancy of artificial retreat-sites by a declining Mediterranean island specialist, the European leaf-toed gecko Euleptes europaea.

地中海岛屿特有种欧洲叶趾壁虎（Euleptes europaea）的衰退及其对人工避难所的选择与日常占用

Vipera walser is a recently assessed species of North-Western Italian Alps, that has been regarded as an isolated population of V. berus until 2016, when it has been identified as a separate taxonomical unit according to molecular markers. Due to its restricted and fragmented range and the potential threat of climate change in mountain systems, it complies with the IUCN criteria to be classified as EN. In order to investigate, in part, the health status of this taxon, we have performed blood smears to describe whether a haematological parameter such as leukocytes is consistent with those of more widespread viperids of the Italian peninsula. Overall, we sampled 20 Walser’s Vipers across the species range and characterised leukocyte formula. We found that lymphocytes were the most common (~ 70% of total leukocytes). Eosinophils and heterophils were less abundant, while neutrophils and monocytes are the least represented. Our data is in accordance with that of other European viperids

Abbreviation	Acta Herpetol.
Journal Impact	0.45
Quartiles(Global)	ZOOLOGY(Q4)

ISSN	1827-9635, 1827-9643
h-index	20

Publication Information	Publisher: Firenze University Press，Publishing cycle: Semiannual，Journal Type: journal，Open Access Journals: Yes
Basic data	Year of publication: 2009，Proportion of original research papers: 100.00%，Self Citation Rate:0.00%， Gold OA Rate: 100.00%
Average review cycle	网友分享经验：平均6.0个月
Average recruitment ratio	网友分享经验：容易

Acta Herpetologica

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Screening for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in a population of Golden Alpine Salamanders at the edge of their distribution range

Uncertain future and uncertain projections: assessing extinction risks in European salamanders from projected chytrid fungus invasion using IUCN Criterion E

The Effect of Climate Change on Spatio-Temporal Activity in Burrowing Frogs of the Smilisca Group

Selection and daily occupancy of artificial retreat-sites by a declining Mediterranean island specialist, the European leaf-toed gecko Euleptes europaea.

Leukocyte formula of the Walser’s Viper (Vipera walser)

Screening for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in a population of Golden Alpine Salamanders at the edge of their distribution range

Uncertain future and uncertain projections: assessing extinction risks in European salamanders from projected chytrid fungus invasion using IUCN Criterion E

The Effect of Climate Change on Spatio-Temporal Activity in Burrowing Frogs of the Smilisca Group

Selection and daily occupancy of artificial retreat-sites by a declining Mediterranean island specialist, the European leaf-toed gecko Euleptes europaea.

Leukocyte formula of the Walser’s Viper (Vipera walser)