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Plateau ( Holbrookia lacerata ) and Tamaulipan ( Holbrookia subcaudalis ) spot-tailed earless lizard (STEL) populations have experienced declines in population size and distribution. Both species are considered species of concern and Tamaulipan STEL are being considered for federal threatened status. Even with this heightened concern, little is known about these species. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the most effective and time-efficient methods to survey for STEL, and to determine if a lizard density threshold was required before STEL presence could be detected. We evaluated ten standard reptile search techniques (i.e., pitfall traps, funnel traps, two thermoregulation lures (i.e., rock mounds and cover boards), remote camera surveys, detection dog surveys, quadrant searches, systematic visual searches, environmental DNA sampling, and road cruising) to identify STEL relative abundance within a 1 ha enclosure. The 1 ha enclosure was divided into 100, 10 x 10 m quadrants and each reptile search technique was replicated five times and randomly assigned to a quadrant without replacement. STEL were randomly placed inside the enclosure at known densities of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 lizards per ha and their relative abundance was assessed by each method three times at each STEL density during August – September, 2021. STEL were allowed 6-day acclimation periods before increasing density. Because STEL were translocated to novel habitat, caution in interpretation should be noted. However, STEL were not detected using funnel traps, rock mounds, cover boards, remote cameras, and detector dogs at any density level. Pitfall traps, quadrant searches, and eDNA samples detected few STEL, but only at 40 STEL/ha density. Only systematic visual searches and road cruising yielded STEL detections at multiple densities; however, neither method could reliably predict STEL density. Because our detection rates were low (~7% at any STEL density), road cruising can be more time efficient to survey a larger area. Once locations with STEL have been identified, then systematic visual searches between 1300–1500 hr can be conducted to determine the relative abundance of these elusive species.

We examined the emergence behavior of spot‐tailed earless lizards (STEL; Holbrookia lacerata and H. subcaudalis). Using controlled laboratory and seminatural experiments, we evaluated the effects of UV light, visible light, temperature, and prey activity on STEL emergence timing. Our results revealed that the combination of UV and visible light was the primary trigger for STEL emergence, aligning with peak light intensity and suggesting a physiological adaptation mediated through the parietal eye. In addition, the median time of emergence was 5 min after the initiation of LED and UV lights regardless of the time of day. Peak STEL activity occurred between 14:01 and 16:00 h with nearly 50% of STEL aboveground. This delayed emergence after sunrise allows for rapid thermoregulation, minimizing basking time while reducing predation risk by avoiding periods of peak predator (e.g., birds of prey, diurnal snakes) activity, which typically occurs during early morning and late afternoon hours, which is characteristic of arid systems. Moreover, the timing likely optimizes vitamin D3 synthesis, crucial for metabolic health, and minimizes energy expenditure associated with prolonged thermoregulation. STEL's emergence patterns contrast with sympatric species, typically occurring during midday rather than early morning or late evening hours, suggesting a reliance on unique diel niches. Little is known about STEL's ecology, particularly regarding their diel niche and activity patterns, which likely play a crucial adaptive role in species survival and success. Our findings demonstrate the importance of habitat‐specific light regimes in shaping the behaviors of reptiles and provide a model for understanding adaptive strategies in light‐sensitive species. As habitat degradation and climate change alter light and thermal environments, these behaviors may be disrupted, emphasizing the need for conservation practices that preserve open, sunlit habitats. This study contributes to our understanding of the ecological adaptations of reptiles and informs conservation strategies for species in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Our results of spot‐tailed earless lizards (STEL) light‐dependent emergence behavior not only illustrate adaptation to specific environmental cues, but also offer insights into the resilience and adaptability of reptiles inhabiting arid and semiarid ecosystems. Specifically, our study demonstrates how STEL's reliance on UV light shapes their behavior and suggests that their diel niche specialization reduces predation risks and interspecific competition.

The Department of Beni, in the country of Bolivia, is thought to host a significant level of biodiversity as a result of its tropical, moist, and diverse climate and landscape. However, the biodiversity of Beni is also considered poorly known and understudied due to its inaccessible landscapes, socio-economic challenges, and an overall lack of biodiversity infrastructure. This emphasizes the need for comprehensive species inventories and the development of effective conservation policies and strategies. We conducted an assessment of biodiversity, environmental vulnerability, and conservation status of reptiles documented in Beni. We identified 169 reptile species, spanning three orders and twenty-five families that have been officially documented in Beni. Utilizing the Environmental Vulnerability Score (EVS), we classified these species into high (17.8%), medium (68.1%), and low (14.2%) vulnerability categories, while IUCN categorization revealed 1.8% of reptile species in Beni are classified as vulnerable and 0.6% as near threatened. We found significant differences in ecological drivers of vulnerability among species within all categories (high, medium, low), with habitat specificity and human persecution being significantly higher for high and medium-vulnerability species. Our results demonstrate the intricate vulnerabilities of Beni’s reptiles, highlighting the need for comprehensive, species-specific conservation strategies and planning. Most importantly, our results offer a consolidated framework of information on reptile biodiversity and conservation for researchers, conservationists, and policymakers to use and build upon in the future that will facilitate the development of biodiversity infrastructure not only in the Department of Beni but throughout Bolivia and the Neotropics

We present the first records of Dryophylax hypoconia (Cope, 1860) from Bolivia and discuss its range in South America. These are currently the westernmost records of this species and extends the known western range by ~900 km from the nearest known range boundary. There is a lack of information for D. hypoconia in the scientific literature, which is largely due to limited sampling across South America and taxonomic uncertainties within this taxon. Our report contributes to the distributional knowledge of this species and summarizes available data from the Bolivian portion of its range.

We present a new departmental record for Erythrolamprus taeniogaster (Jan, 1863) and discuss the species' distribution in Bolivia and South America. There is a lack of consolidated and updated information on museum specimens and associated locality data for this species from Bolivia. This is largely because of changes in taxonomy that are not broadly reflected in contemporary literature and from limited sampling in this part of South America. This information improves knowledge of this species' distributional status and summarizes known and available data from the Bolivian portion of its range.

Different sources of information indicate the possible presence of Teratohyla midas (Lynch & Duellman, 1973) in Bolivia; however, none of them confirm this scenario. Here we confirm the presence of T. midas in the northern Bolivian Amazon (Pando Department) and extend the geographical distribution of the species to include Bolivia. Likewise, we contribute information on some aspects of this species' behavior and natural history.

American alligators ( ) are maintained in zoos, aquaria, and farms for educational, research, and production purposes. The standard of veterinary medical care and welfare for captive reptiles requires managing pain and discomfort under conditions deemed painful in mammals. While analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetic data for several reptile species are published, data with respect to analgesic efficacy in crocodilians are clearly lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in alligators. Female American alligators (  = 9; 57 months of age) were exposed to mechanical noxious stimuli at multiple anatomic sites using von Frey filaments ranging in size from 1.65 to 6.65 grams-force, and their behavioral reactions recorded. In order to evaluate analgesic efficacy, hydromorphone (0.5 mg/kg SC) was administered in the axillary region to the same alligators and the mechanical noxious stimuli were repeated and behaviors recorded. Administration of hydromorphone contributed to a range from 62 to 92% reduced avoidance reactions to mechanical noxious stimuli for two anatomic sites (i.e., naris and lateral mandible, respectively). Alligators did not appear to experience clinically relevant respiratory depression, hypothermia, or other adverse reactions. Therefore, hydromorphone shows promise as an analgesic option to be administered under painful conditions in American alligators.

We present novel distributional information on the little-known snake species Dryophylax chaquensis (Bergna & Álvarez, 1993) in Bolivia, including the first record from Cochabamba Department. Our record extends the distribution of this species towards the Bolivian Inter-Andean Dry Forests by approximately 63 km to the west (in a straight line) from the nearest known locality in Vallegrande, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. We comment on the biogeographic distribution, altitude of occurrence, and aspects behavior and natural history of D. chaquensis in Bolivia.

We present country records and a list of voucher specimens for Mussurana bicolor (Peracca, 1904) (Serpentes, Colubridae) from Bolivia. There is scarce information on museum specimens and locality data from Bolivia for this species in the scientific literature. Additionally, we discuss two newly collected specimens from the Llanos de Moxos, a floodplain in the Beni Department. This account contributes to the knowledge of the northwestern distributional status of M. bicolor and summarizes available data for Bolivia.

Texas tortoises ( ) are a Texas-state threatened species. Translocation is often suggested as a mitigation option; however, disease status and the potential for spread must be considered prior to such efforts. infection of the upper respiratory tract is a concern within tortoise populations, which requires monitoring so translocation efforts do not inadvertently spread the disease. We determined and compared the prevalences of in Texas tortoises from donor and recipient sites in southern Texas prior to translocation, treated -infected tortoises with danofloxacin, and developed alternate treatments for Texas tortoises. We collected 171 and 23 Texas tortoises from a 270-ha and a 100-ha donor site and recipient site, respectively. We began a regimen of danofloxacin (6 mg/kg body weight injected subcutaneously every other day for 30 days) for tortoises with clinical signs (  = 20). We noted an additional 10 tortoises began displaying clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) after translocation, so we designed a trial to test tulathromycin (5 mg/kg body weight given intramuscularly once/week for 7 weeks) or oxytetracycline (8 mg/kg body weight given subcutaneously once/day for 14 days) as treatments for symptomatic tortoises. Within the donor and recipient sites, 56 (32.7%) and 8 (34.8%), respectively, had antibody titers suggestive of past exposure. Eighteen tortoises from the donor site (10.5%) and 2 from the recipient site (8.7%) displayed clinical signs (i.e., clear serous nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and palpebral edema) consistent with Mycoplasmal URTD upon initial collection, even though all polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were negative for active shedding of . We ceased treatment after the first dose of danofloxacin due to adverse reactions, which only began to subside after 72 h from the initial dose. Neither tulathromycin or oxytetracycline caused the clinical signs of URTD to subside after a 50-day treatment period. is a persistent issue facing Texas tortoises. Stressors, such as translocation, can cause -seropositive tortoises to display clinical symptoms of URTD, which can abate without treatment, once the stressor subsides. Danofloxacin, the recommended treatment for infection in tortoises, is too potent for Texas tortoises.