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JOHN VALENTINE LYAKURWA

Assistant Lecturer , College Of Natural And Applied Sciences
Education:

• PhD student in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Dar es Salaam • MSc. in Life Sciences (Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management) - The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology- 2019 • Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Sciences and Con

Teaching:

  • Chordate Zoology
  • Herpetology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Biochemistry

Research:

Research interests: Ecology, systematics and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles. Most areas in Tanzania are poorly surveyed for amphibians and reptiles, and it is estimated that only 60% of the country’s herpetofauna have been described.

Projects:

  • EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) Fellowhisp under the Zoological Society of London 2020-2022
  • Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust fund, 2014
  • Worldwide Fund for Nature (Prince Bernhard Scheme for Nature Conservation), 2015

Publications:

  1. Lyakurwa J.V., Ngalason W., Liedtke H.C, and Loader S.P. (in pres). Predation of Hyperolius burgessi eggs by Myrmicaria ants and the land snail Lissachatina cf. zanzibarica. Herpetology Notes
  2. Lyakurwa J.V. (2022). Natural History notes: Trachylepis striata (Striped Skink). Diet. Herpetological Review 53(2), pp 330-331
  3. Liedtke H-C, Lyakurwa JV, Lawson LP, Menegon M, Garrido-Priego M, Larson JG, Mariaux J, Ngalason W, Channing A, Owen NR, Bittencourt-Silva GB, Wilkinson M, Loader SP (In press). 30 years of amphibian surveys in the Ukagurus Mountains of Tanzania reveals new species, while others are in decline. Accepted for publication by African Journal of Herpetology.
  4. Sewell T.R., van Dorp L., Ghosh P.N, Wierzbicki C., Caroe C., Lyakurwa J.V., Tonelli E., Bowkett A., Marsden S., Cunningham A., Garner T.W.J., Gilbert T.P, Weldon C. & Fisher M.C (in press). Archival  mitogenomes uncover the role of the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis lineage BdCAPE in extinction of the wild Kihansi Spray Toad. Submitted for publication
  5. Loader S.P., Liedtke H.C., Menegon M., Lyakurwa J.V. and J.C. Poynton (in press). Molecular and morphological variation in the Tanzanian snouted forest frogs Probreviceps (Amphibia: Brevicipitidae) with the description of two new species. Under review by Acta herpetologica
  6. Menegon M., Lyakurwa J.V., Loader S.P. & Tolley K.A. (in press). Cryptic diversity in pygmy chameleons (Chamaeleonidae: Rhampholeon) of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, with description of six new species. Under Review by Acta herpetologica
  7. Menegon M., Lyakurwa J. and Loader S. (2020). The Amphibians of the Tanzanian Forests.  A freely downloadable visual guide. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350820277_Amphibians_of_the_Tanzanian_forests?fbclid=IwAR3QgP9DvWt-LQh4C0cZLUXfQ9QrFCuU1KGsx6cTHDpjSmN62glyoOB14k4
  8. Lyakurwa J.V. (2020). First observation of the vervet monkeys Chlorocebus pygerythrus feeding on seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum along the Tanzanian coast. Journal of East African Natural History. 109(1): 43–47
  9. Summay, G.W., K.E. Lyakurwa, J.V. Lyakurwa. T.J. Lanoy and C.Werema (2020). The reptiles of Mkomazi National Park, Tanzania: an updated checklist with some aspects of biogeography. Journal of East African Natural History 108(2): 81–98
  10. Summay G.W., J.V. Lyakurwa, K.E.Lyakurwa, T. Lanoy, R.Okick (2019). Assessing herpetofauna diversity in Mkomazi National Park. Proceedings of the 12th TAWIRI scientific conference, December 2019, Arusha international conference center, Tanzania.
  11. Lyakurwa J.V           and Kachungwa J.L. (2020). Natural History notes: Afrixalus fornasini (Fornasini’s Spiny Reed Frog). Interspecific Amplexus. Herpetological Review 51(1)
  12. Lyakurwa, J.V., Howell, K.M., Munishi, L.K., Treydte, A.C. (2019): Uzungwa Scarp Nature Forest Reserve; a unique hotspot for reptiles in Tanzania. Acta Herpetologica. 14. doi: 10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-25008.
  13. Lyakurwa J.V. (2019). Natural History notes: Leptopelis flavomaculatus (Brown-backed Tree Frog). Interspecific Amplexus. Herpetological Review 50(4), pp 760-76
  14. Lyakurwa J.V. (2017). Reptiles of the Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve: An Updated Checklist with Notes on Dagger-Tooth Vine Snake Xyelodontophis uluguruensis. Journal of East African Natural History 106(2): 57–65
  15. Lyakurwa J.V. (2017). Natural History notes: Hemidactylus mabouia (Tropical House Gecko). Cannibalism. Herpetological Review 48(3), pp 646
  16. Lyakurwa J.V. (2017). Natural History notes:  Lygodactylus capensis (Cape Dwarf Gecko). Dermatophagy. Herpetological Review 48(3), pp 652
  17. Lyakurwa J.V. and Thomas S.M. (2017).  Natural History Notes, PTYCHADENIDAE.  Ptychadena anchieta (Bocage 1867) Achieta’s Ridged Frog/Plain Grass Frog. PREDATION. African Herp News 65: 30-32
  18. Tonelli E., Bowkett A.E., Menegon M., Lyakurwa J.V., Loader S.P., W. E. Harris, S.J. Marsden (2017). Uncovering the outstanding amphibian diversity and endemism of the Udzungwa escarpment. Proceedings of the eleventh TAWIRI scientific conference, 6th – 8th December 2017, Arusha international conference center, Tanzania.
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