Consultant and Forensic Specialist in Herpetology, with a focus on species identification of living crocodylia, manufactured hides and products, conservation and wildlife law enforcement.
The forensic science identification of crocodilian hides and products is an immense task that req... more The forensic science identification of crocodilian hides and products is an immense task that requires the efforts of the forensic science examiner. Positive identifications of reptilian species must be made for use in litigation against traffickers in hides and products of protected species. Two example cases of identification and litigation are presented, and methods of identification are enumerated.
Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 2009
... Particularly favored localities were Tayo Bay and coast, Ngkeklau coast, and Airai coast. ...... more ... Particularly favored localities were Tayo Bay and coast, Ngkeklau coast, and Airai coast. ... the Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; 1982 Sept 1930; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ...
The distribution and relationships among populations of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus and Caiman y... more The distribution and relationships among populations of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus and Caiman yacare were investigated throughout Brazil. Caiman c. crocodilus inhabits the drainages of the Rio Solimões/Rio Amazonas, Araguaia, Araguari, Itapicuru, Paranaiba, Negro, Tapajos, Tocantins, Xingú, and the rivers draining to the Atlantic Ocean on the northern coast of Brazil. It does not occur in the Rio Saõ Francisco. Caiman yacare is endemic to the Rio Mamoré, Rio Guaporé, Rio Paraguai and Rio Paranã river systems and all of their lowland drainages. The northernmost limit for C. yacare lies between Costa Marques (12°25'S, 64°10'W) and Guajara Mirim, Pacaas Novos on the Rio Mamoré (10°55'S, 65°15'W). Small populations of apparently hybrid individuals were observed in the upper Rio Acré, the Rio Abunã, the upper Rio Madeira, and the Rio Mamoré between Guajara Mirim and Abunã. Caiman c. crocodilus and C. yacare populations are geologically separated and morphologically dist...
Investigations were conducted throughout the Amazonian regions of Brazil to determine the distrib... more Investigations were conducted throughout the Amazonian regions of Brazil to determine the distribution and status of Caiman c. crocodilus populations. Observations were made on the occurrence of Melanosuchus niger populations. Population data for river and lake/pond habitats are reported for 39 localities. Data suggest Caiman populations may be depleted in many regions. Melanosuchus populations are fragmented and have been extirpated from eight localities which had recent populations. Amazonian caiman populations are subject to increased human predation, environmental contamination with heavy metals, habitat modification, and lack of effective protection for wild populations.
... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localizaci... more ... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localización: Investigación y ciencia, ISSN 0210-136X, Nº 260, 1998 , págs. 48-55. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso ...
... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localizaci... more ... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localización: Investigación y ciencia, ISSN 0210-136X, Nº 260, 1998 , págs. 48-55. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso ...
A number of authors have recently suggested that the best approach for identifying units of conse... more A number of authors have recently suggested that the best approach for identifying units of conservation is to follow a systematics model of character analysis (Amato, 1991; Cracraft, 1991; Vogler and DeSalle, 1994). This approach necessitates the use of an operational, typological, evolutionary species concept. The use of the phylogenetic species concept has the utility and philosophical logic appropriate for this task. Additionally, there is a large body of literature that uses this framework, along with a parsimony based character analysis to identify patterns of phylogeny (Cracraft, 1983; Nelson and Platnick, 1981; Nixon and Wheeler, 1990). While we advocate this approach, we recognize that one of its limiting factors is sample size. We propose that by selective direct sequencing plus rapid sampling of variable target characters by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of specific sites, sufficiently large numbers of individuals can be accurately, inexpensively, and quickly surveyed for diagnostic characters. This procedure is demonstrated by a survey of variable nucleotide sites in the Caiman crocodilus complex.
The Identification of Living Crocodilians. Peter Brazaitis, Dennis A Merritt New York Zoological ... more The Identification of Living Crocodilians. Peter Brazaitis, Dennis A Merritt New York Zoological Society, 1974.
The forensic science identification of crocodilian hides and products is an immense task that req... more The forensic science identification of crocodilian hides and products is an immense task that requires the efforts of the forensic science examiner. Positive identifications of reptilian species must be made for use in litigation against traffickers in hides and products of protected species. Two example cases of identification and litigation are presented, and methods of identification are enumerated.
Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 2009
... Particularly favored localities were Tayo Bay and coast, Ngkeklau coast, and Airai coast. ...... more ... Particularly favored localities were Tayo Bay and coast, Ngkeklau coast, and Airai coast. ... the Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; 1982 Sept 1930; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ...
The distribution and relationships among populations of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus and Caiman y... more The distribution and relationships among populations of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus and Caiman yacare were investigated throughout Brazil. Caiman c. crocodilus inhabits the drainages of the Rio Solimões/Rio Amazonas, Araguaia, Araguari, Itapicuru, Paranaiba, Negro, Tapajos, Tocantins, Xingú, and the rivers draining to the Atlantic Ocean on the northern coast of Brazil. It does not occur in the Rio Saõ Francisco. Caiman yacare is endemic to the Rio Mamoré, Rio Guaporé, Rio Paraguai and Rio Paranã river systems and all of their lowland drainages. The northernmost limit for C. yacare lies between Costa Marques (12°25'S, 64°10'W) and Guajara Mirim, Pacaas Novos on the Rio Mamoré (10°55'S, 65°15'W). Small populations of apparently hybrid individuals were observed in the upper Rio Acré, the Rio Abunã, the upper Rio Madeira, and the Rio Mamoré between Guajara Mirim and Abunã. Caiman c. crocodilus and C. yacare populations are geologically separated and morphologically dist...
Investigations were conducted throughout the Amazonian regions of Brazil to determine the distrib... more Investigations were conducted throughout the Amazonian regions of Brazil to determine the distribution and status of Caiman c. crocodilus populations. Observations were made on the occurrence of Melanosuchus niger populations. Population data for river and lake/pond habitats are reported for 39 localities. Data suggest Caiman populations may be depleted in many regions. Melanosuchus populations are fragmented and have been extirpated from eight localities which had recent populations. Amazonian caiman populations are subject to increased human predation, environmental contamination with heavy metals, habitat modification, and lack of effective protection for wild populations.
... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localizaci... more ... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localización: Investigación y ciencia, ISSN 0210-136X, Nº 260, 1998 , págs. 48-55. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso ...
... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localizaci... more ... El comercio del caimán. Autores: Peter Brazaitis, Myrna E. Watanabe, George Amato; Localización: Investigación y ciencia, ISSN 0210-136X, Nº 260, 1998 , págs. 48-55. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso ...
A number of authors have recently suggested that the best approach for identifying units of conse... more A number of authors have recently suggested that the best approach for identifying units of conservation is to follow a systematics model of character analysis (Amato, 1991; Cracraft, 1991; Vogler and DeSalle, 1994). This approach necessitates the use of an operational, typological, evolutionary species concept. The use of the phylogenetic species concept has the utility and philosophical logic appropriate for this task. Additionally, there is a large body of literature that uses this framework, along with a parsimony based character analysis to identify patterns of phylogeny (Cracraft, 1983; Nelson and Platnick, 1981; Nixon and Wheeler, 1990). While we advocate this approach, we recognize that one of its limiting factors is sample size. We propose that by selective direct sequencing plus rapid sampling of variable target characters by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of specific sites, sufficiently large numbers of individuals can be accurately, inexpensively, and quickly surveyed for diagnostic characters. This procedure is demonstrated by a survey of variable nucleotide sites in the Caiman crocodilus complex.
The Identification of Living Crocodilians. Peter Brazaitis, Dennis A Merritt New York Zoological ... more The Identification of Living Crocodilians. Peter Brazaitis, Dennis A Merritt New York Zoological Society, 1974.
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