New insights into the habitat use and husbandry of crocodile lizards (Reptilia: Shinisauridae) including the conception of new facilities for Vietnamese crocodile lizards Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis in Vietnam and Germany

The Crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus is a popular reptile species in the pet trade and has been regularly kept in terrariums by hobbyists since the 1980s. Recent integrative taxonomic research revealed the Chinese representatives to be morphologically, genetically and ecologically distinct from Vietnamese populations, which occur in alarmingly low population sizes. All extant populations are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade. Thus, it will be crucial to manage the Vietnamese and Chinese subspecies separately as different conservation units, both to maintain their genetic integrity and to adjust appropriate husbandry conditions in the frame of ex situ conservation programmes. For this reason, we provide a topical review of microhabitat use of the newly described subspecies from Vietnam – the Vietnamese crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis – based on recent field work as well as husbandry experiences at the Me Linh Station for Biodiversity in North Vietnam. We further compare our new findings with the data available for the nominate subspecies from China. Based on our current knowledge, we update existing minimum husbandry requirements in Germany and elaborate different husbandry parameters for both subspecies. Furthermore, we introduce new husbandry protocols and facility designs for the Vietnamese subspecies both at Me Linh Station for Biodiversity and at Cologne Zoo, Germany. Recent research revealed that the Chinese representatives of the Crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus are distinct from Vietnamese populations, which occur in alarmingly low population sizes. All extant populations are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade. Both forms must be managed as separate conservation units, to maintain genetic integrity and husbandry conditions should be adjusted to provide appropriate conditions for each subspecies. A topical review of microhabitat use of the newly described subspecies from Vietnam – Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis – is provided based on field work and husbandry experiences at the Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, Vietnam. New findings are compared to the data available for the nominate subspecies from China. Minimum husbandry requirements are updated and the different husbandry parameters for both subspecies are detailed. New husbandry protocols and facility designs are described for the Vietnamese subspecies both at Me Linh Station for Biodivers