Papers by Wolfgang Denzer
Zootaxa
Several specimens from historical collections made in Yunnan (PR China) were found to be inconsis... more Several specimens from historical collections made in Yunnan (PR China) were found to be inconsistent with hithertoknown species of Japalura. Two species are described as new: Japalura brevicauda spec. nov. and Japalura yulongensisspec. nov. Diagnostic features for the new species are compiled and a key to closely related species is produced. The geographical distribution of these species is outlined and discussed.
Zootaxa
The genus Japalura Gray, 1853 s. l. currently comprises 34 species (Japalura n=7; Cristidorsa Wan... more The genus Japalura Gray, 1853 s. l. currently comprises 34 species (Japalura n=7; Cristidorsa Wang, Deepak, Datta-Roy, Lin, Jiang, Che…
Journal of breath research, Jan 12, 2018
Breath acetone concentrations were measured in 141 subjects (aged 19-91 yrs, mean=59.11yrs standa... more Breath acetone concentrations were measured in 141 subjects (aged 19-91 yrs, mean=59.11yrs standard deviation=12.99yrs), male and female, undergoing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), having been referred to clinic on suspicion of type 2 diabetes. Breath samples were measured using an ion-molecule-reaction mass spectrometer, at the commencement of the OGTT, and after 1 and 2hrs. Subjects were asked to observe the normal routine before and during the OGTT, which includes an overnight fast and ingestion of 75g glucose at the beginning of the routine. Several groups of diagnosis were identified: type 2 Diabetes Mellitus positive (T2DM), n=22; impaired glucose intolerance (IGT), n=33; impaired fasting glucose (IFG), n=14; and reactive hypoglycaemia (RHG), n=5. The subjects with no diagnosis (i.e. normoglycaemia) were used as a control group, n=67. Distributions of breath acetone are presented for the different groups. There was no evidence of a direct relationship between blood gluc...
Zootaxa, 2016
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) de... more The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September...
We analyzed four papers on agamid lizards by self-proclaimed Australian herpetologist Raymond Hos... more We analyzed four papers on agamid lizards by self-proclaimed Australian herpetologist Raymond Hoser with respect to the presentation of diagnostic characters as well as their taxonomic and nomenclatural merits. In most cases the taxonomic concepts were lifted from earlier phylogenetic publications and the diagnoses were copied from other authors. Copied text in Hoser's diagnostic section within the analyzed papers amounts to a staggering 83% for Draconinae, 82% for Amphibolurinae, 77% for Laudakia and 78% for Uromastycinae, respectively. We found a number of plagiarized paragraphs, sometimes half a page long. Hoser hardly ever makes any effort to attribute statements to the original author and in some cases he even omitted to cite the relevant source. With respect to nomenclature, we found that Hoser proposed names that were preoccupied or unavailable, that a nomen oblitum was resurrected incorrectly, nomina nuda were produced, a type locality was restricted incorrectly and a questionable holotype was designated for a new species. With respect to taxonomy, we found examples of wrong diagnoses, falsely attributed species, omission of taxa and a lack of understanding or misinterpretation of previously published taxonomic studies on agamid lizards. Furthermore relevant literature on taxonomy and nomenclature has been overlooked or disregarded.
The type specimen of Gonocephalus mjobergi Smith, 1925 has been re-examined. A remarkable charact... more The type specimen of Gonocephalus mjobergi Smith, 1925 has been re-examined. A remarkable character, longitudi- nal folds in the gular region has been discovered which is unique among agamids of the genus Gonocephalus Kaup. G. mjober- gi has been compared to members of the genera Ptyctolaemus and Mantheyus and it is concluded that these genera form a mono- phyletic group and G. mjobergi is referred to as "Gen. A." mjobergi until further material becomes available.
Evolutionary Systematics
Lophyrus spinosus Duméril & Duméril, 1851 has been considered synonymous with Bronchocela marmora... more Lophyrus spinosus Duméril & Duméril, 1851 has been considered synonymous with Bronchocela marmorata Gray, 1845 since its original description. The name-bearing type of Lophyrus spinosus is the specimen collected by Hombron and Jacquinot (MNHN 6896) by original designation and the holotype by monotypy of Bronchocela marmorata is the specimen deposited under NHMUK 1946.8.11.16. Accordingly, these two scientific names do not share name-bearing types. Prior to the original descriptions of Lophyrus spinosus and Bronchocela marmorata Hombron & Jacquinot (1843) published a plate depicting Lophyrus spinosus, but only naming the species in French. The nomenclatural implications of this publication are discussed. Our comparison of the holotypes reveals that these two species are not identical. Therefore we resurrect Lophyrus spinosus from its synonymy with Bronchocela marmorata and show that the specimen collected by Hombron and Jacquinot actually belongs to the genus Hypsilurus. Duméril and ...
Zootaxa
Currently three different species are recognized within the Southeast Asian agamid genus Hydrosau... more Currently three different species are recognized within the Southeast Asian agamid genus Hydrosaurus: H. amboinensis (Schlosser, 1768) from Ambon, Seram, Sulawesi and New Guinea, H. pustulatus (Eschscholtz, 1829) from the Philippines and H. weberi Barbour, 1911 from Halmahera and adjacent islands. Historically, two additional species were described from the island of Sulawesi, but were synonymized with H. amboinensis more than a century ago and have been treated as such in most subsequent publications. In order to revise the taxonomy and diversity of these enigmatic agamid lizards, we examined the corresponding type specimens and additional material originating from Sulawesi and compared them to photographs of live specimens from field trips. Due to differences in colour pattern and scalation characters, we resurrect the taxa celebensis Peters, 1872 and microlophus Bleeker, 1860 from the synonymy of H. amboinensis, which in turn is restricted to the central Moluccas and New Guinea. ...
Zootaxa
We provide a list of type specimens of chameleons present in the collection of the Natural Histor... more We provide a list of type specimens of chameleons present in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London for the first time, including their associated collection numbers. Currently the collection contains 54 primary types (29 holotypes, two lectotypes and 23 syntype series plus two syntypes where the type status is in doubt) as well as numerous secondary types for 12 species (nine paratype and three paralectotype series). Type material present in the collection represents 39 valid chamaeleon taxa.
Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(... more Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed
Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(... more Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) de... more The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed
Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(... more Note The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed
Zoosystematics and Evolution, 2016
Specimens of Hypsilurus spp. corresponding to sequences deposited on GenBank were re-examined. Th... more Specimens of Hypsilurus spp. corresponding to sequences deposited on GenBank were re-examined. The voucher specimens relating to GenBank sequences were tracked down and their species status confirmed. Sequences reported in earlier publication as H. "bruijnii" and H. "nigrigularis" turned out to be those of H. magnus and H. schultzewestrumi instead. Further confusion surrounded specimens of H. modestus, H. dilophus and H. papuensis. Based on these results a new phylogenetic tree was constructed and the genus name Lophosaurus Fitzinger, 1843 was resurrected.
Zootaxa, 2015
The generic assignment of the draconine lizard Gonocephalus robinsonii from the highlands of West... more The generic assignment of the draconine lizard Gonocephalus robinsonii from the highlands of West-Malaysia has been uncertain since the original description. Here we present a study based on morphology, previously published karyotype data and molecular phylogenetics using 16S rRNA sequences to evaluate the systematic status of G. robinsonii. As a result we describe Malayodracon gen. nov. to accommodate the species.
Journal of biological research (Thessalonikē, Greece), 2016
Identification of microorganisms in positive blood cultures still relies on standard techniques s... more Identification of microorganisms in positive blood cultures still relies on standard techniques such as Gram staining followed by culturing with definite microorganism identification. Alternatively, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or the analysis of headspace volatile compound (VC) composition produced by cultures can help to differentiate between microorganisms under experimental conditions. This study assessed the efficacy of volatile compound based microorganism differentiation into Gram-negatives and -positives in unselected positive blood culture samples from patients. Headspace gas samples of positive blood culture samples were transferred to sterilized, sealed, and evacuated 20 ml glass vials and stored at -30 °C until batch analysis. Headspace gas VC content analysis was carried out via an auto sampler connected to an ion-molecule reaction mass spectrometer (IMR-MS). Measurements covered a mass range from 16 to 135 u including CO2...
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Papers by Wolfgang Denzer