35 results on '"Smith, Eric N."'
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2. Sceloporus huichol Flores-Villela & Smith & Campillo-García & Martínez-Méndez & Campbell 2022, sp. nov
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Flores-Villela, Oscar, Smith, Eric N., Campillo-García, Gustavo, Martínez-Méndez, Norberto, and Campbell, Jonathan A.
- Subjects
Sceloporus ,Reptilia ,Phrynosomatidae ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Sceloporus huichol ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Sceloporus huichol sp. nov. Sceloporus torquatus melanogaster Zweifel. 1959. Amer. Mus. Novit. (1953):3–4. Sceloporus sp. Martínez-Méndez & Méndez-de la Cruz. 2007. Zootaxa (1609):53–68. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub: 4E3A7D0C-BB24-4407-9304-F90B589B2F6E Holotype. MZFC �20633 (Fig. 1), adult ♀ from municipality of Bolaños, highway Bolaños-Tuxpan de Bolaños, 2485 m, 21.91774 N, - 103.87735 W, Jalisco, Mexico (Fig. 2). Collected in pine-oak forest by P. Ponce Campos, 13 June 2003, original field number JAC 23414. Paratypes (20). Mexico: Jalisco: Municipality of Bolaños, highway Bolaños-Tuxpan de Bolaños, 2400 m, 21.89802 N, - 103.86037 W, 11 June, 2003 (UTA R-55432, ♀); same data as holotype (MZFC �20634–37, UTA R-55435–36; three ♀, and one ♂; and one ♂, and one ♀, respectively); Jalisco: Municipality of Bolaños, cell phone antenna, 2549 m, 21.89285 N, - 103.86502 W, 13 June, 2003 (UTA R-55433–34, ♀ and ♂, respectively); 7 km N, 6 km W Bolaños, 2345 m, 21.886972 N, - 103.84033 W (ENCB 14315–16, ♀ and ♂, respectively); Nayarit: Sierra Alica, highway Huajimic–Tepic, 1859 m, 21.67361 N, - 104.40736 W, 14 June, 2003 (UTA R-55437, ♀); Nayarit: 9 km SE Huajimic, 21.64458 N, - 104.276374 W (CNAR5819–1, 5819–2, 5819–5, 5819–7, 5819–8, 5819–9, 5819– 12, 5819–13; four ♂ and four ♀). All localities are located in pine-oak forest. Diagnosis. A species of the torquatus group sensu stricto (i.e., clade A of Martínez-Méndez & Méndez-de la Cruz 2007; Wiens et al. 2010), more closely related to S. melanogaster than to any other described species in the group (Martínez-Méndez & Méndez-de la Cruz 2007). This species is characterized by the combination of the following characters: four to five supraocular scales in a single row; large dorsal scales, arranged in 28–30 rows from occiput to base of tail; femoral pores 14–21; ventral scales 42–51; scales around midbody 37–43; maximum snoutvent length (SVL) 105 mm; complete dark nuchal collar, 2.5–6 scales wide, with light paravertebral bands reaching behind the parietal region; white marks on head scales; limbs barred. The new species differs from S. melanogaster by having paravertebral light bands running from nuchal collar reaching behind the parietal region (not forming continuous paravertebral light bands from nuchal collar to the parietal region in S. melanogaster); having white marks on center or edges of head scales and postoccipital region (lacking in S. melanogaster); having 37–43 scales at midbody (S. melanogaster with 31–46 scale rows); maximum SVL for both sexes is 105 mm (S. melanogaster larger, reaching 131 mm SVL in ♂ [MZFC �28087] and 120 mm in ♀ [CNAR �6090]); ♀ S. melanogaster S. torquatus by having always complete nuchal collar, 4–6 scales wide (usually complete nuchal collar, 4–5 scales wide in S. torquatus); usually having white marks on top of head (rarely present in S. torquatus); by having always barred limbs (limbs rarely barred in S. torquatus); maximum SVL 105 mm (S. torquatus larger, ♂ over 111 mm SVL [MZFC 3954] and ♀ over 105 mm SVL [MZFC 3960]). Differing from S. binocularis by having white marks on top of head (lacking in S. binocularis); by having complete dark nuchal collar (incomplete in S. binocularis); possessing more femoral pores 14–21 (12–16 in S. binocularis); more scales around midbody 37–43 (29–36 in S. binocularis); smaller size, maximum SVL for S. huichol sp. nov. 105 mm (120 mm for S. binocularis MZFC 7421). Differs from S. mikeprestoni by having a dark nuchal collar wide of 4–6 scales (3–4 in S. mikeprestoni); by having white marks on top of head (rarely present in S. mikeprestoni); having barred limbs (not barred in S. mikeprestoni). Differs from S. madrensis by having white marks on top of head (rarely present in S. madrensis); having barred limbs (not barred in S. madrensis); by having fewer ventrals 42–51 (44–56 in S. madrensis); more scales around midbody 37–43 (34–41 in S. madrensis) and having more femoral pores 14–21 (13–18 in S. madrensis). Differs from S. bulleri by having white markings on top of head (lacking in S. bulleri); having barred limbs (not barred in S. bulleri); fewer dorsal scales, 28–30 (35–44 in S. bulleri); fewer ventral scales, 40–46 (47–61 in S. bulleri) and by being smaller, SVL 105 mm (116 mm in S. bulleri). Differing from S. insignis by having a wider nuchal collar, 4–6 scales wide (2–3 in S. insignis); fewer dorsal scales, 28–30 (37–47 in S. insignis); fewer ventral scales, 42–51 (54–61 in S. insignis); fewer scales at midbody, 37–43 (40–49 in S. insignis) and being larger, 105 mm SVL (99 mm in S. insignis). Differing from S. jarrovii being larger SVL, 105 mm (89 mm in S. jarrovii); fewer dorsals scales, 28–30 (38–45 in S. jarrovii); having 37–43 scales around midbody (43–58 in S. jarrovii); fewer ventral scales 42–51 (54–64 in S. jarrovii); a wider dark nuchal collar 4–6 scales (2.5– 4 in S. jarrovii); having barred arms and legs (only barred arms in S. jarrovii). Sceloporus huichol sp. nov. differs from all other species in the poinsettii group (i.e., clade B in Martínez-Méndez & Méndez-de la Cruz 2007; Wiens et al. 2010) by having enlarged supraocular scales in a single series, while all others, except S. serrifer Cope and S. macdougalli Smith & Bumzahem, have two series. Sceloporus huichol sp. nov. differs from S. serrifer by having a shorter SVL, 105 mm (112 mm in S. serrifer); having more scales at midbody, 37–43 (29–35 in S. serrifer); having more ventral scales, 42–51 (36–47 in S. serrifer); having more femoral pores, 14–21 (S. serrifer with 8–14); having a wider nuchal collar, 4–6 scales wide (2–4 in S. serrifer); and by having barred limbs (not present in S. serrifer). Sceloporus huichol sp. nov. differs from S. macdougalli by having more ventral scales, 42–51 (34–43 in S. macdougalli); more scales at midbody, 37–43 (31–35 in S. macdougalli); more femoral pores, 14–21 (12–17 in S. macdougalli); by having barred limbs (only arms are barred in S. macdougalli); wider nuchal collar, 4–6 scales wide (narrower, 3–4 scales wide in S. macdougalli); and by having paravertebral bands reaching parietal region (not present in S. macdougalli). Description of holotype. Dorsal head scales smooth, not pitted except for rostral, postrostrals, and internasals; frontal divided, posterior half contacting interparietal, anterior half contacting two prefrontals; prefrontals pentagonal, in contact medially, not separated by frontonasal; three frontonasals; lateral frontonasals broadly contacting median frontonasal, median frontonasal hexagonal, wider than high, lateral frontonasals hexagonal but higher than wide; five total internasals, 3 on right, 2 on left side; 6 scales contacting rostral between anterior supralabials; nasals separated from postrostrals by one scale on both sides; two canthals on each side, anterior smaller; 6–6 superciliaries, all separated from supraoculars by one row of small scales; enlarged supraoculars 4–4; one parietal and one frontoparietal on each side, frontoparietals not in contact medially; scales on side of head pitted, except for some lorilabials and labials; one large subnasal on both sides; one loreal on each side; one preocular larger than loreal on each side; one subocular on each side of head; lorilabials in 2 rows; supralabials 5–5, 4th below middle eye (Fig. 3). Outer row of labiomentals separated from mental; first infralabial contacting mental and first postmental; 6–6 infralabials. Dorsal scales mucronate; median keel stronger on dorsolateral scales; variable serrations on each side of scale point; dorsals 29; ventrals 46, smooth; scales around midbody 40. Femoral pores 17–17, separated medially by seven ventral scale rows; lamellae on fourth toe 20–20. Measurements. SVL 89.3 mm; tail 70.0 mm (regenerated); tibia 20.0 mm; snout to posterior edge of ear 22.3 mm; width of head at level of anterior edge of ear 19.7 mm. Color in preservative. Dorsum of head black, fading towards snout, with cream lines beneath eyes; interparietal black with pale cream dot on center of scale and light edges; five cream marks radiating from interparietal, one on posterior frontal and posterior part of anterior frontal, two extending to lateral side covering parietals, and two radiating upward from posterior corners of base of interparietal (not in center of scales as in S. serrifer); small pale spot on two scales immediately behind interparietal; prefrontals, frontonasals, internasals, and scales in nasal region brown; each supraocular scale dark with small pale dot in center, which is most evident on last posterior supraocular; subnasals, canthals, preoculars and scales below cream, extending to lip, forming line below eye and extending across the tympanum to neck and nuchal collar (Fig. 1); interrupted black band from behind interparietal to nuchal collar forming pattern on neck consisting of a black line (covering about two adjacent half scales) on middorsum of neck and two pale olive-green lateral bands about two scales wide. Nuchal collar black, extending from shoulders to anterior third of dorsum, forming “V”, from two to three and one-third scales wide at widest part on side of neck; posterior margin of dark nuchal collar bordered by cream band about one scale wide from shoulder to side of dorsum, not completely enclosing black nuchal collar; nuchal collar extends 15 scales on dorsum; dorsum almost uniformly olive-green posterior to nuchal collar, first row of scales behind collar slightly paler than other dorsals; fore and hind limbs barred (brown bands on olive green background), ventral surfaces of limbs not barred; venter of head cream with narrow transverse grey bands becoming poorly defined posteriorly; venter of body mostly immaculate cream, including base of tail, except for sides of venter with pale blue belly patches running parallel to body between fore and hind limbs. Color in life (based on paratype UTA R-55437, Fig. 4). Dorsum of head dark brown with cream line beneath eye; interparietal dark brown with pale cream dot from center to posterior end of scale and continuous with pale spot on first two scales behind interparietal (holotype similar); each supraocular scale dark with small pale dot on center of scale; canthal and subocular regions cream, projecting behind head forming “V” shaped mark on sides of head, region behind eye dark brown; black band from behind interparietal to nuchal collar forming pattern on neck consisting of black line (includes vertebral scale row and adjacent half scales on either side) on middle of neck and two pale olive green paravertebral bands about two scales wide. Nuchal collar black, extending from shoulders to anterior third of dorsum, forming “V”, from two to three and one-third of scale wide at widest part; posterior margin of nuchal collar bordered by cream band, one scale wide from shoulder to side of dorsum, not completely enclosing black nuchal collar; nuchal collar not present on venter; dorsal coloration pale brown on center of dorsum, grey on both sides, some dorsal scales with black markings on posterior tip forming irregular, discontinuous black cross bands (five from behind nuchal collar to base of tail); front and hind limbs barred (black bands on grey background), ventral parts of limbs not barred; tail complete, banded with black and cream bands on grey background, background fading towards end of tail with only alternating black and cream bands remaining; venter of head pale grey with cream scattered spots on anterior part; pale bluish mark with cream spots on posterior part reaching anterior part of chest; venter cream from chest to base of tail, sides of venter with patch running parallel to body between front and hind limbs on each side of pale campanula (Smithe, 1975 color No.71). Juvenile coloration (coloration based on paratype UTA R-55432, Fig. 5, color in life). Dorsum of head brown with white dots on center of interparietal, parietals, frontoparietals, supraoculars, anterior frontal, lateral frontonasals and first dorsal scale; posterior frontal covered by white; a white line from canthal crossing eye to temporal region of head, black line running paralleled and above white line; rostral, upper labials, lorilabials, preocular, subocular forming white band on side of head and extending posteriorly to anterior edge of ear opening; five white marks on dorsum of neck, two on sides behind interparietal covering two scales bordered by tiny black lines, one on center of neck one scale wide, and two lateral in front insertion of arms on shoulder similar to others; few scattered white marks on sides of neck not larger than two scales; dorsum of body pale brown, dark nuchal collar bordered anteriorly and posteriorly by white, incomplete at middorsum, nuchal collar no more than four scales wide; dorsum of body with white and black dots scattered from behind nuchal collar to base of tail; fore and hind limbs barred with brown and white bands; tail barred similar to limbs; ventral surfaces of head and body pale bluish, venter of limbs and tail cream. Variation. The variation reported is based on 27 specimens (21 of these are the type and paratypes), of which 13 are adult ♀, eight adult ♂ and six juveniles; three juveniles are ♂ (sex verified by the presence of two large postcloacal scales); the six additional specimens that we examined are all adults. Dorsal anterior head scales pitted, eight specimens with pitted anterior frontal and supraocular scales (CNAR 5819–5, 5819–6, 5819–8, 5819–10, 5819–12, 5819–14, UTA R-55433 and 55437); prefrontals in contact except for nine specimens (ENCB 14315, 14316, CNAR 5819–2, 5819–5, 5819–7, 5819–8, 5819–9, 5819–12, UTA R-55437), six of these with azygous scale separating prefrontals (UTA �R-55437, CNAR 5819–2, 5819–5, 5819–9, ENCB �14315, 14316); one specimen with right frontonasal separated from the central by an azygous scale (UTA R-55437); internasals vary from two to five, arranged one on each side (CNAR 5819–14), two on each side (UTA R-55433, MZFC 20634, CNAR 5819–2, 5819–3, 5819–4, 5819–5, 5819–6, 5819–7, 5819–9, 5819–10), and the remaining irregularly arranged; nasal usually separated from rostral by one or two scales; superciliaries 6–6, only two specimens with 6–5 (UTA R-55437, CNAR 5819–4); one preocular on both sides (CNAR 5819–1, 5819–4, 5819–9, 5819–10, 5819–11, 5819–13, ENCB 14315, 14316), two preoculars on both sides (CNAR 5819–5, CNAR 5819–6, UTA �R-55437), and the remaining irregularly arranged; lorilabials usually in two rows, except for UTA R-55433 with 2–3 rows; supralabials 5–5 on each side, one specimen (CNAR 5819–14) 4–5, three specimens are damaged (CNAR 5819–4, 5819–7, 5819–9); infralabials 6–6 on each side, 6–5 (CNAR 5819–10), 6–7 (CNAR 5819–6), 5–6 (CNAR 5819−8), 7−7(CNAR 5819–1); lamellae under fourth toe 17–21; scale counts vary from: dorsals (28–30); scales around midbody 37–43; ventrals 42–51; femoral pores 14–21; scales between femoral pores 4–8. Measurements. SVL of 20 specimens 61.8–105.4 mm (larger specimen CNAR 5819–4); tail length 94.1–128.0 mm in seven paratypes having complete tail (CNAR 5819–1, 5819–5, 5819–6, 5819–7, 5819–11, MZFC 20634, UTA R-55437); head length 15.0–26.4 mm; head width 14.0–22.2 mm; tibia length 12.8–21.0 mm; SVL in juveniles 31.6–39.6 mm; tail broken in all juveniles; head length 10.5–12.0 mm; head width 7.8–9.5 mm; and tibia length 7.2–9.5 mm. Distribution. Sceloporus huichol sp. nov. inhabits the southern portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental, from San Juan volcano and Sierra de Álica in Nayarit, eastward to Sierra Los Huicholes in northern Jalisco. It occurs in pine-oak forest and is most often found on rocky outcropping and walls between 1859 and 2549 m above sea level. Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of the Wixárika ethnicity, commonly referred to as Huicholes, a native people who have lived in the general area of this new species. Sometimes referred to as the last peyote guardians, who struggle to keep their traditions alive., Published as part of Flores-Villela, Oscar, Smith, Eric N., Campillo-García, Gustavo, Martínez-Méndez, Norberto & Campbell, Jonathan A., 2022, A new species of Sceloporus of the torquatus group (Reptilia: Phrynosomatidae) from West Mexico, pp. 286-296 in Zootaxa 5134 (2) on pages 288-292, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5134.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/6534998, {"references":["Martinez-Mendez, N. & Mendez-de la Cruz, F. R. (2007) Molecular phylogeny of the Sceloporus torquatus species-group (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Zootaxa, 1609, 53 - 68. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1609.1.2","Wiens, J. J., Kuczynski, C. A., Arif, S. & Reeder, T. W. (2010) Phylogenetic relationships of phrynosomatid lizards based on nuclear and mitochondrial data, and a revised phylogeny for Sceloporus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 54, 150 - 161. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2009.09.008","Smithe, F. B. (1975) Naturalist's color guide. Part I. The American Museum of Natural History, New York, 18 pp."]}
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- 2022
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3. A New Species of Anole of the Norops schiedei Group from Western Guatemala (Squamata: Polychrotidae)
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Köhler, Gunther and Smith, Eric N.
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- 2008
4. Hidden in the plain sight: a new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the Rhabdophis himalayanus complex
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Das, Abhijit, Smith, Eric N., Sidik, Irvan, Sarker, Goutam C., Boruah, Bitupan, Patel, Naitik G., and Deepak, V.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Natricidae ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Das, Abhijit, Smith, Eric N., Sidik, Irvan, Sarker, Goutam C., Boruah, Bitupan, Patel, Naitik G., Deepak, V. (2021): Hidden in the plain sight: a new species of Rhabdophis (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the Rhabdophis himalayanus complex. Zootaxa 5020 (3): 401-433, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5020.3.1
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- 2021
5. A new species of blindsnake from Jalisco, Mexico (Squamata: Leptotyphlopidae).
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Flores-Villela, Oscar A., Smith, Eric N., Canseco-Márquez, Luis, and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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SQUAMATA ,SNAKES ,SPECIES ,TAXONOMY ,COLUBRIDAE - Abstract
Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Biologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2022
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6. Case 3850 – Micruridae Dunn, 1931 (Reptilia, Serpentes) and Lineidae McIntosh, 1874 (Nemertea, Pilidiophora): proposed conservation by suppression of Micruridae Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nemertea, Pilidiophora).
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Kajihara, Hiroshi and Smith, Eric N.
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The purposes of this application, under Articles 23.9.3 and 55.3.1 of the Code, are to conserve the current usage of (1) the family-group name MicruridaeDunn, 1931 (Reptilia, Serpentes) for a family (sometimes treated as a subfamily) of New World coral snakes that frequently appear in literature pertaining not only to certain fields of herpetology but also to emergency medical care in Latin America; and (2) the nemertean family-group name LineidaeMcIntosh, 1874, by suppression of their senior homonym/ synonym Micruridae Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nemertea, Pilidiophora). The nemertean taxon Micrurinae was recognised as a subfamily of Lineidae until the early 20th century, but not since at least the 1970s. Afterwards, at the rank of family, Micruridae was used to refer to a differently constituted nemertean taxon in three ecological works published between 1998 and 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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7. Tantilla taeniata
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McCranie, James R. and Smith, Eric N.
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Reptilia ,Tantilla taeniata ,Squamata ,Colubridae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Tantilla ,Taxonomy - Abstract
KEY TO THE HONDURAN SPECIES OF THE TANTILLA TAENIATA SPECIES GROUP AND THE GUATEMALAN SPECIES T. TAENIATA (AS RESTRICTED TO SOUTHEASTERN GUATEMALA BY CAMPBELL 1998 AND HEREIN) 1. A. Pale vertebral stripe confined to vertebral row throughout its length; maximum known total length more than 500 mm..................................... T. impensa B. Pale vertebral stripe variable; maximum known total length less than 450 mm............................................. 2 2. A. Pale vertebral stripe reduced to series of dashes confined to middle of vertebral row.......... T. olŋmpia B. Pale vertebral stripe complete, restricted to vertebral row, or extending onto edges of paravertebral rows................................................................................... 3 3. A. Pale vertebral stripe confined to vertebral scale row on at least anterior half of body.......... T. stenigrammi B. Pale vertebral stripe extending onto edges of paravertebral scale rows throughout its length................ 4 4. A. Ventral surfaces some shade of red............................ 5 B. Ventral surfaces yellow or white................................ 6 5. A. Ventrals 141–152 in males, 150 in known female.............................................................................. T. taeniata B. Ventrals 153–163 in males, 154–161 in females................................................................................ T. psittaca 6. A. Pale nuchal collar divided; ventrals 157 in one male, 155–161 in two females; máximum known total length 273 mm.................................................... T. tritaeniata B. Pale nuchal collar complete; ventrals variable; máximum known total length more than 300 mm........... 7 7. A. Ventrals 169 in one male, 161–178 in two females............................................................................. T. excelsa B. Ventrals 142–158 in both sexes combined.... T. gottei, Published as part of McCranie, James R. & Smith, Eric N., 2017, A Review of the Tantilla taeniata Species Group (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Colubrinae) in Honduras, with the Description of Three New Species, pp. 338-348 in Herpetologica 73 (4) on page 347, DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-16-00080.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7712317, {"references":["Campbell, J. A. 1998. Comments on the identities of certain Tantilla (Squamata: Colubridae) from Guatemala, with the descriptions of two new species. Scientific Papers, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas 7: 1 - 14."]}
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- 2017
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8. Tantilla excelsa McCranie & Smith 2017, sp. nov
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McCranie, James R. and Smith, Eric N.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Colubridae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Tantilla ,Tantilla excelsa ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Tantilla excelsa sp. nov. (Figs. 6, 7) Tantilla taeniata: Wilson and Meyer 1971:32, in part; Wilson 1982:56, in part; Wilson and Meyer 1982:109, in part; Wilson and Meyer 1985:103, in part; Wilson and McCranie 1999:328, in part; McCranie 2011a:227, in part; McCranie 2011b:44, in part; McCranie et al. 2012:623; Wilson and Mata-Silva 2015:457, in part. Holotype. — USNM 579682, an adult male from Lancetilla (15°44 ′ N, 87°27 ′ W), 30 m elevation, department of Atlántida, Honduras, collected 26 February 2011 by Leonel Marineros. Paratypes (n ¼ 3). — UF 157566, an adult female from Compañia Agricola Paradise near Peña Blanca (14°58 ′ N, 88°01 ′ W), 700 m elevation, Cortés, Honduras; UMMZ 58417, an adult female that is dehydrated and has an incomplete tail, from El Progreso (15°24 ′ N, 87°48 ′ W), Yoro, Honduras, 30 m elevation; MCZ 22045, head and anterior portion of body of an adult, from Progreso District, Yoro, Honduras, about 30 m elevation. Diagnosis. — Tantilla excelsa (in preservative) is defined by the following combination of characters: (1) pale middorsal stripe tan, extending length of body and at least half of tail, stripe on vertebral row and adjacent halves of paravertebral rows throughout its length; (2) tan to white lateral stripe occupying adjacent halves of scale rows 3 and 4; (3) ventrolateral area similar in pale color to that of lateral stripe; (4) lower two-thirds anteriorly and about lower third posteriorly of scale row 1 white similar to that of ventrals; (5) lateral edges of ventrals white, no, or very few, dark spots present; (6) ventral and subcaudal surfaces yellow (shortly after death) and white; (7) two females with 161–178 ventrals, single male with 169 ventrals, subcaudals 61 in one female, 70 in male; (8) tail length 23% of total length in one female, 24% in male. Tantilla excelsa can be distinguished from T. taeniata by having 169 ventrals in single male, 161–178 in two females, and by having yellow ventral surfaces in life (vs. 141–152 ventrals in males and 150 in single known female, and ventral surfaces pale purplish pink grading to darker salmon color on posterior two-thirds of body and tail). Tantilla excelsa differs from T. impensa and T. stenigrammi by having the middorsal pale stripe involving all of the vertebral scale row and adjacent thirds of paravertebral scale rows throughout its length (vs. middorsal stripe confined to vertebral row in those two species [on at least anterior half of body in T. stenigrammi]) and having female ventrals numbering up to 178 (vs. to 172 in T. impensa and 159 in female T. stenigrammi). Tantilla excelsa differs from T. olŋmpia in having complete middorsal and lateral pale stripes, with the middorsal stripe extending onto lateral edges of paravertebral rows, and having 169 ventrals and 70 subcaudal scales in single male (vs. those stripes reduced to dashes and spots, respectively; pale middorsal dashes restricted to vertebral row; and 148 ventrals and 49 subcaudals in a male specimen). Tantilla excelsa differs from T. psittaca by having yellow ventral and subcaudal surfaces in life and white to pale yellow in preservative and in having 169 ventrals in single male and 161–178 in two females (vs. those surfaces pink and grading to red in life and pale brown medially and pale brown with pinkish tinge on posterior third of body and under tail in preservative, 153–163 ventrals in males and 154–161 in female specimens). Tantilla excelsa differs from T. tritaeniata in having 169 ventrals in single male and 161–178 ventrals in two females, and having a complete pale nuchal collar (vs. 157 ventrals in single male and 155–161 in females, and pale nuchal collar divided). Description of holotype. —An adult male; TOL 400 mm; SVL 305 mm; TAL 95 mm (23.8% of TOL); HL 9.8 mm; HW 5.5 mm (level of angle of mouth); head barely distinct from neck; snout broadly rounded in dorsal view; eye length 1.3 mm; snout length 3.0 mm, about 2.3 times longer than eye; pupil circular; rostral about 1.1 times wider than high (2.2 X 2.0 mm); internasal length about 0.8 times width (1.1 X 1.4 mm); prefrontal larger than internasal, wider than long (2.2 X 1.5 mm); median prefrontal suture 1.4 mm, about half as long as frontal; frontal with slight anterior extension, Vshaped posteriorly, about 1.0 times longer than wide (2.9 X 2.8 mm), about 1.0 times longer than distance from its anterior edge to tip of snout (2.9 X 2.8 mm); parietal about 1.5 times longer than wide (4.1 X 2.8 mm), median parietal suture length 3.0 mm, about 1.0 times longer than length of frontal (2.9 mm); parietals contacting five nuchal scales; supraocular about 1.6 times longer than wide (2.3 X 1.4 mm), bordering orbit, contacting parietal, upper postocular, preocular, frontal, and prefrontal. Nasal divided, anterior nasal contacting rostral, internasal, and supralabial 1, posterior nasal contacting internasal, prefrontal, preocular, and supralabials 1 and 2, nostril located in central portion of nasal (forming division of nasal); loreal absent; preocular single, about 1.4 times higher than long (0.7 m X 0.5 mm), lower edge contacting supralabials 2 and 3; postoculars 2, upper about 1.5 times larger than lower (upper height 0.6 mm, lower height 0.4 mm); temporals 1 þ 1, anterior temporal 1.5 times longer than high (1.9 X 1.3 mm), posterior temporal 1.8 times longer than high (1.6 X 0.9 mm); supralabials 7, 3 and 4 bordering orbit, 4 and 5 contacting lower postocular, 5 also contacting anterior temporal, 6 contacting anterior temporal, 7 contacting anterior and posterior temporals; infralabials 6– 7, first 2 contacting anterior pair of chinshields on side with 6 infralabials (left side), first 3 contacting anterior pair of chinshields on side with 7 infralabials (right side); infralabial 1 on each side separated medially by contact with anterior chinshield; mental about 1.6 times wider than long (1.4 X 0.9 mm), contacting first pair of infralabials and anterior pair of chinshields; anterior chinshields about 2.4 times longer than wide (2.6 X 1.1 mm), not extending laterally to border of lip; posterior pair of chinshields about 1.7 times longer than wide (1.7 X 1.0 mm), posterior tips separated from each other by two rows of gular scales; four preventral scales between gular 1 and ventral 1; dorsal scales in 15–15–15 transverse rows, smooth throughout, lacking apical pits and supracloacal tubercles; dorsal scales in six rows at level of subcaudal 10; ventrals 169; cloacal scute divided; subcaudals 70, paired; ventrals plus subcaudals 239. Color of holotype in life. —Other than noting the ventral and subcaudal surfaces were yellow (L. Marineros, personal communication), the collector of the holotype did not record color notes of the recently killed specimen. Color of holotype in preservative (Figs. 6, 7). —Dorsal surfaces brown with white nuchal collar, tan middorsal stripe, and white lateral stripe; tan middorsal stripe includes vertebral row and adjacent tips to a third of paravertebral scale rows; tan middorsal stripe narrowing anteriorly on first scale involved in stripe, extending onto tail, fading out at about midlength of tail; tan middorsal stripe beginning on scale 4 posterior to parietals; broader white lateral stripe present, covering adjacent halves of scale rows 3 and 4, bordered above by continuous, thin dark brown line; white lateral stripe beginning on scale 5 posterior to supralabial 7, extending well onto tail to nearly reaching tip; lower twothirds of scale row 1 white anteriorly, grading to white only reaching lower tips of scale row 1 posteriorly on body; about upper third of scale row 1, all of scale row 2, and lower third of scale row 3 same shade of brown as paravertebral rows on about anterior half of body, before reducing width posteriorly; pale nuchal collar complete, not involving posterior tips of parietals, but involving first two scale rows dorsally, pale nuchal collar also involving posterior half of ultimate supralabial plus two scale rows laterally; dorsal surface of head brown, other than dark brown line crossing posterior tips of parietals to connect with lateral dark head bar; white, with dirty white flecking lateral spot involving postnasal, supralabial 1, and anterior half of supralabial 2; larger white spot posterior to eye involving anterior half of anterior temporal, all of supralabial 5, and tips of supralabials 4 and 6; dark brown lateral bar involving posterior half of supralabial 7, adjacent two-thirds of supralabial 6, and all of posterior temporal to connect with dark brown parietal cross-line; lateral dark bar narrowing only slightly dorsally; anterior tip of mental scale and lateral tips of infralabials 1 and 2 with brown flecking; dark brown spot present on infralabial 4 and adjacent edge of infralabial 5, remainder of ventral surface of head white; ventral surfaces of body and tail white for full length, except for variation discussed above. Variation in paratypes. —Two adult female paratypes show the following variation (followed by mean in parentheses): TOL 326 mm in one (UF 157566; UMMZ 58417 has incomplete tail); SVL 251–276 (263.5). mm; TAL 23.0% of TOL in one; ventrals 161–178 (169.5); subcaudals 61 in one; ventrals plus subcaudals 222 in one. All paratypes (including MCZ R22045, a head and anterior portion of body only of an adult) have 7 supralabials on each side, with supralabials 3 and 4 bordering the eye. Available color pattern notes indicate those paratypes were similar overall to the color pattern of the holotype. Distribution and habitat. —Very little is known about the habitats of Tantilla excelsa. The holotype was killed by a worker at the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens during February. The UF specimen was taken after dark as it was crawling on the ground on a coffee farm during May. The UMMZ specimen was collected on 27 March 1923 and possibly came from an insect trap (G. Schneider, personal communication). No data are available for the MCZ paratype other than it was collected in 1925. The Lancetilla Botanical Gardens formerly contained Lowland Moist Forest and lies at 30 m elevation. The coffee farm is in an area formerly containing Premontane Wet Forest and lies at 700 m elevation. The remaining two localities are in Lowland Dry Forest, although more mesic corridors of gallery forest do occur in those areas. Thus, T. excelsa is known to occur at low and moderate elevations (30–700 m) on both sides of the Río Ulúa drainage, and from the vicinity of Lago de Yojoa, Cortés, to the north-northeast in the vicinity of Lancetilla, Atlántida (Fig. 5). Etymology. —The specific name excelsa is an adjective from the Latin excelsus, which in this case means high. The name refers to the relatively high number of ventral scales in this nominal form.
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9. Tantilla stenigrammi McCranie & Smith 2017, sp. nov
- Author
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McCranie, James R. and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Tantilla stenigrammi ,Reptilia ,Squamata ,Colubridae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Tantilla ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Tantilla stenigrammi sp. nov. (Figs. 3, 4) Tantilla taeniata: McCranie 2011a:227, in part; McCranie 2011b:44, in part. Holotype. — University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) R-52591 (Field No. ENS 10897), a subadult female from Cuaca (15°23 ′ 01.75 ′′ N, 86°12 ′ 41.22 ′′ W;. datum ¼ WGS 84 in all cases), 895 m elevation, department of Olancho, Honduras, collected 3 February 2005 by Eric N Smith, Jorge A. FerrariCastro, Jorge Murillo, C. Chavez, Arturo Sosa, and John H. Malone. Paratype (n ¼ 1). — UNAH 3032, an adult male with an incomplete head and tail, from about 20 km E of Gualaco, Olancho, Honduras, at beginning of a foot trail (15°02 ′ N, 85°54 ′ W) leading to Cerro La Picucha, 1180 m elevation. Diagnosis. — Tantilla stenigrammi is defined, following Campbell (1998), by the following combination of characters: (1) middorsal stripe Warm Buff to Pale Horn Color (Color 118, 92), extending length of body and most of tail, confined to vertebral row on at least anterior half of body, extending onto adjacent edges of paravertebral scale rows posteriorly on body; (2) Buff-Yellow (Color 53) lateral stripe occupying adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4; (3) ventrolateral area similar in pale color to that of lateral stripe; (4) lower half to two-thirds of scale row 1 colored similarly to that of ventrals; (5) lateral edges of ventrals immaculate white (in preservative), no dark spots present; (6) ventral and subcaudal surfaces Pearl Gray (in life; Color 81) to white (in preservative); (7) female with 159 ventrals, male with 164 ventrals; (8) tail incomplete in both. Tantilla stenigrammi can be distinguished from T. taeniata by having the pale middorsal stripe confined to the vertebral row on at least anterior half of body and in having pale gray ventral surfaces in life (vs. pale middorsal stripe also extending onto paravertebral rows throughout its length and ventral surfaces pale purplish pink grading to darker salmon color on posterior two-thirds of body and under tail in T. taeniata). It further differs from T. taeniata in having more ventral scales (164 vs. 141–152 in males, and 159 vs. 150 in females). Tantilla stenigrammi differs from T. psittaca and T. tritaeniata by having the middorsal pale stripe confined to the vertebral row on at least anterior half of body (vs. middorsal stripe involving all of vertebral scale. and adjacent third to half of paravertebral scale rows throughout its length in those two species); further from T psittaca by having pale gray ventral and subcaudal surfaces in life and white in preservative (vs. those surfaces being pink and grading to red in life and pale brown medially and pale brown with pinkish tinge on posterior third of body and under tail in preservative), and further from T. tritaeniata in having a complete nuchal collar and the pale lateral stripe covering adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4 (vs. nuchal collar divided and pale lateral stripe including adjacent halves to two-thirds of scale rows 3 and 4). Tantilla stenigrammi differs from T. impensa in having 159 ventrals in the female, the pale middorsal stripe extending onto adjacent edges of paravertebral scale rows only posteriorly on the body, the pale brown lateral stripe covering adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4, and by having a pale brown crossbar on the internasals that is bordered on the posterior edge by a dark brown cross-line (vs. 164–172 ventrals in females, the pale middorsal stripe confined to vertebral row throughout its length, pale lateral stripe including adjacent halves to twothirds of scale rows 3 and 4, and those head surfaces same ground color as remainder of head). Tantilla stenigrammi differs from T. olŋmpia in having complete middorsal and lateral pale stripes, in having a pale internasal crossbar, and having distinct pale large spots on the lateral surface of the head (vs. those body pale stripes reduced to dashes and spots, respectively, no internasal crossbar, and those lateral pale areas on head absent to indistinct). Description of holotype. —A subadult female; TOL 173 mm plus tail tip; SVL 137 mm; TAL 36 mm plus tail tip (20.8% plus tail tip of TOL); HL 4.6 mm; HW 3.4 mm (level of angle of mouth); head barely distinct from neck; snout broadly rounded in dorsal view; eye length 1.1 mm; snout length 2.2 mm, about 2.0 times longer than eye; pupil circular; rostral about 1.2 times wider than high (1.2 X 1.0 mm); internasal length about three-quarters of width (0.8 X 1.1 mm); prefrontal much larger than internasal, wider than long (1.3 X 0.9 mm); median prefrontal suture 0.9 mm, nearly half as long as frontal; frontal with slight anterior extension, V-shaped posteriorly, about 1.3 times longer than wide (2.1 X 1.6 mm), 1.3 times longer than distance from its anterior edge to tip of snout (2.1 X 1.6 mm); parietal about 1.6 times longer than wide (3.0 X 1.9 mm), median suture length 1.6 mm, about 0.8 times frontal length; parietals contacting seven nuchal scales; supraocular about 1.8 times longer than wide (1.6 X 0.9 mm), bordering orbit, contacting parietal, upper postocular, preocular, and prefrontal. Nasal divided, anterior nasal contacting rostral, internasal, and first supralabial, posterior nasal contacting internasal, prefrontal, preocular, and first and second supralabials, nostril located in central portion of nasal (forming division of nasal); loreal absent; preocular single, as high as long (both dimensions 0.5 mm), lower edge contacting supralabials 2 and 3; postoculars 2, upper about same size as lower (height of both 0.5 mm); temporals 1 þ 1, anterior temporal 1.1 times longer than high (1.0 X 0.9 mm), posterior temporal 1.6 times longer than high (1.3 X 0.8 mm); supralabials 7, 3rd and 4th bordering orbit, 4th and 5th contacting lower postocular, 5th and 6th contacting anterior temporal, and 7th contacting anterior and posterior temporals; infralabials 6, first 3 contacting anterior pair of chinshields, infralabial 1 on each side separated medially by contact with anterior chinshield; mental 1.7 times wider than long (1.2 X 0.7 mm), contacting first pair of infralabials and anterior pair of chinshields; anterior chinshields 2.1 times longer than wide (1.9 X 0.9 mm), not extending laterally to border of lip; posterior pair of chinshields 1.9 times longer than wide (1.3 X 0.7 mm), posterior tips separated from each other by one gular scale; three preventral scales present between gular and ventral 1; dorsal scales in 15–15–15 transverse rows, smooth throughout, lacking apical pits and supracloacal tubercles; dorsal scales in eight rows at level of subcaudal 10; ventrals 159; cloacal scute divided; subcaudals 64 plus tail tip (an estimated 5–10 subcaudal scales missing), paired; ventrals plus subcaudals 223 plus tail tip. Ventrals Subcaudals TAL/TOL n SpeciesMales/FemalesMalesFemalesMalesFemalesMalesFemalesMaximum TOL T. excelsa 3/1169161–178706124%23%400 mm T. gottei 6/1142–15814762–677024–26%26%367 mm T. impensa 9/12161–171164–17268–7264–7221–24%21–25% ~ 725 mm T. olŋmpia 1/0148—49—21%—338 mm T. psittaca 4/3153–163154–16163–73—24–25%—413 mm T. stenigrammi 1/1164159————173 mmþ T. taeniata 9/1141–15215060–705923–27%23%415 mm T. tritaeniata 1/2157155–161—59–65—23–24%273 mm Color of holotype in life (Fig. 3). —Coloration of freshly euthanized holotype (UTADC 8752–53): dorsum of head Olive-Brown (28), transforming to Sepia (219) along scale margins; anterior portion of rostral, supralabial 1, and nasals Sepia; posterior portion of rostral, internasal, and interparietal areas Grayish Horn Color (91); two Pale Horn Color (92) lateral spots on head, first occupying postnasal, lower edge of prefrontal, anterior tip of preocular, and most of supralabials 1 and 2, second lateral spot located posterior to eye and occupying most of lower postocular, lower borders of upper postocular and parietal, part of supralabials 4 and 6 and all of supralabial 5, and anterior half of anterior temporal; nuchal collar Warm Buff (118) dorsally to Pale Horn Color laterally, with Sepia anterior and posterior borders, collar about two dorsal scales long and occupying posterior tips of parietal and secondary temporal, and posterior third of supralabial 7; dorsum of body Hair Brown (119A), turning Sepia alongside all pale body stripes and toward nuchal collar; middorsal stripe Warm Buff, occupying only vertebral scale row anteriorly on body, extending onto adjacent edges of paravertebral scale rows posteriorly on body, beginning one and a half scales posterior to nuchal collar, stripe extending onto tail to reach tip, occupying adjacent halves of two most-middorsal scale rows; lateral body stripe on each side Buff-Yellow (53), occupying adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4, beginning three scales posterior to nuchal collar, pale stripe on tail occupying second dorsal scale row and ending about 10 scales anterior to tip; underside of head mostly Pearl Gray (81), but Smoke Gray (44) toward mouth, and mental and buccal borders of infralabials 1–4 Sepia; venter of body, including anal plate, Pearl Gray, Smoke Gray toward sides, underside of tail Pearl Gray; ventral coloration extends to middle of dorsal scale row 1 on body, occupying all of dorsal scale row 1 on tail. Color of holotype in preservative (Fig. 4). —Dorsal surfaces brown with white nuchal collar and white middorsal and lateral stripes; pale middorsal stripe confined to vertebral row on at least anterior half of body, and extending onto adjacent edges of paravertebral rows posteriorly on body, with lateral tips of each vertebral scale dark brown; pale middorsal stripe not narrowing anteriorly on first scale involved in stripe; pale middorsal stripe extending onto tail, fading out at about a third of its length until becoming poorly visible at about midlength of tail; pale middorsal stripe beginning on 4th scale posterior to parietals; pale lateral stripe present on adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4, bordered above by continuous, thin dark brown line; pale lateral stripe beginning on 5th scale posterior to ultimate (7th) supralabial, extending well onto tail; lower two-thirds of scale row 1 white; upper third of scale row 1, all of scale row 2, and lower third of scale row 3 same shade of brown as paravertebral rows; pale nuchal collar complete, involving posterior tips of parietals plus one and one-half scale rows dorsally, pale nuchal collar also involving posterior third of ultimate supralabial plus one scale row laterally; dorsal surface of head generally brown; off-white crossbar involving upper tip of rostral and both internasals, crossbar bordered posteriorly by dark brown cross-line involving posterior tips of internasal scales; lateral tips of each parietal scale white, contacting off-white line following parietal suture; anterior lateral white spot involving lower tips of prefrontals, postnasal, posterior two-thirds of supralabial 1, and all but posterior edge of supralabial 2; larger lateral white spot also present posterior to eye, involving all of supralabial 5 and anterior edge of supralabial 6, extending dorsally to cover about anterior half of anterior temporal; dark brown lateral bar covering posterior half of anterior temporal, all of posterior temporal, and posterior three-quarters and anterior two-thirds of supralabials 6 and 7, respectively; dark brown lateral bar extending dorsally to lateral third of parietal, not narrowing dorsally; about anterior half of mental and lateral tips of infralabials 1 and 2 dark brown, small portions of infralabials 3 and 4 with brown spots, remainder of ventral surface of head white; ventral surface of body white for full length, white pigment also extending onto lower tips of scale row 1 on body; subcaudal surface white, except upper tips of subcaudal scales dark brown. Variation in paratype. —The paratype is an adult male that lacks part of its head and most of its tail, thus no measurements were taken, nor was the color pattern recorded by JRM when examined. Data and photographs in preservative provided by J.E. Mérida (26 December 2016), however, indicate that it has 164 ventrals and a narrow vertebral stripe anteriorly on the body and extending onto adjacent edges of paravertebral scale rows posteriorly on body; thus, similar to that of the holotype. Distribution and habitat. —The holotype of Tantilla stenigrammi was found at 1630 h beside the school in Cuaca, Olancho (Fig. 5). The specimen was under a root mat on the buttress of a fallen tree about 1 m above ground, and that site located between a soccer field and secondary vegetation. The historic habitat of Cuaca was pine–oak forest (Premontane Moist Forest of Holdridge [1967]) along the flanks of Montaña de Botaderos in a transition zone between pine– oak forest and broadleaf rainforest (Premontane Wet Forest). The highest elevations of the Botaderos Mountains contain remnants of closed-canopy broadleaf rainforest (Lower Montane Wet Forest), usually referred to as ‘‘cloud forest.’’ The paratype was found dead during the day near the start of a foot trail in pine–oak forest (Premontane Moist Forest) along the lower flanks of the Sierra de Agalta. That trail also passes through Premontane Wet Forest, before ultimately entering Lower Montane Wet Forest as it gains altitude. Thus, both specimens of Tantilla stenigrammi were found in similar, formerly forested areas, and at similar elevations (895 and 1180 m) in north-central and central Olancho in east-central Honduras. Both localities are in low mountains on both sides of the upper drainage of the Río Sico Tinto (also called Río Negro) that forms the Agalta Valley (Fig. 5). Remarks. —A photograph of the holotype (UTA R-52591) of Tantilla stenigrammi was previously published in McCranie et al. (2006; as T. taeniata). Etymology. —The specific epithet, stenigrammi, is a Greek substantive used as an adjective and meaning narrow-lined, derived from the Greek adjective stenos (narrow) and the Greek noun grammi (line), in allusion to the narrow middorsal stripe that is characteristic of the species., Published as part of McCranie, James R. & Smith, Eric N., 2017, A Review of the Tantilla taeniata Species Group (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Colubrinae) in Honduras, with the Description of Three New Species, pp. 338-348 in Herpetologica 73 (4) on pages 339-342, DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-16-00080.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7712317, {"references":["McCranie, J. R. 2011 a. The Snakes of Honduras: Systematics, Distribution, and Conservation. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, USA.","McCranie, J. R. 2011 b. A new species of Tantilla of the taeniata species group (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae, Colubrinae) from northeastern Honduras. Zootaxa 3037: 37 - 44.","Campbell, J. A. 1998. Comments on the identities of certain Tantilla (Squamata: Colubridae) from Guatemala, with the descriptions of two new species. Scientific Papers, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas 7: 1 - 14.","Holdridge, L. R. 1967. Life Zone Ecology, revised edition. Tropical Science Center, Costa Rica.","McCranie, J. R., J. H. Townsend, and L. D. Wilson. 2006. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Honduran Mosquitia. Krieger Publishing Company, USA."]}
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10. Tantilla gottei McCranie & Smith 2017, sp. nov
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McCranie, James R. and Smith, Eric N.
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Reptilia ,Tantilla gottei ,Squamata ,Colubridae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Tantilla ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Tantilla gottei sp. nov. (Figs. 8, 9) Tantilla taeniata: Wilson and Meyer 1971:32, in part; Wilson 1982:56, in part; Wilson and Meyer 1982:109, in part; Wilson and Meyer 1985:103, in part; Wilson and McCranie 1999:328, in part; McCranie 2011a:227, in part; McCranie 2011b:44, in part; Wilson and Mata-Silva 2015:457, in part. Holotype. — ROM 19996, an adult female from El Picacho (14°07 ′ N, 87°11 ′ W), a zoological park located near Tegucigalpa, 1280 m elevation, department of Francisco Morazán, Honduras, collected 12 December 1986 by Jorge Porras. Paratypes (n ¼ 4). — UNAH 5394, an adult male from Galeras (13°55 ′ N, 86°59 ′ W) about 5 km north of Güinope, 860 m elevation, El Paraíso, Honduras; MCZ R49886, a juvenile male from El Zamorano (14°00 ′ N, 87°01 ′ W), 800 m elevation, Francisco Morazán, Honduras; UNAH 3903, 4833, a subadult male and an adult male, respectively, from Tegucigalpa (centered at about 14°06 ′ N, 87°12 ′ W), 930– 1000 m elevation, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. Referred specimens (n ¼ 2). — UNAH 6141, a dehydrated specimen, from Tegucigalpa (centered at about 14°06 ′ N, 87°12 ′ W), 930–1000 m elevation, Francisco Morazán, Honduras; UNAH 1765 from Alauca (13°51 ′ N, 86°41 ′ W), 500 m elevation, El Paraíso, Honduras. Diagnosis. — Tantilla gottei is defined by the following combination of characters: (1) middorsal stripe pale cream (in preservative), extending length of body and most of tail, on vertebral row and adjacent third of paravertebral rows; (2) pale cream (in preservative) lateral stripe occupying adjacent third of scale row 3 and lower three-quarters of scale row 4; (3) ventrolateral area white as is that of lateral stripe (in preservative); (4) lower two-thirds of scale row 1 colored similarly to that of ventrals; (5) lateral edges of ventrals white, except some dark spots present (in preservative); (6) ventral and subcaudal surfaces yellow (in life) and white (in preservative); (7) female with 147 ventrals, male ventrals 142–158, subcaudals 70 in female, 62–67 in males; (8) female tail length 26% of total length, 24–26% in males. Tantilla gottei most closely resembles T. taeniata in having low numbers of ventral scales, but differs in having yellow ventral surfaces in life, and by having a pale brown internasal crossbar that is confluent with the pale lateral spot anterior to the eye, (vs. ventral surfaces pale purplish pink grading to darker salmon color on posterior two-thirds of body and tail in life, and in lacking a internasal crossbar). Tantilla gottei differs from T. impensa, T. olŋmpia, and T. stenigrammi by having the middorsal pale stripe involving all of vertebral scale row and adjacent third to half of paravertebral scale rows (vs. middorsal stripe confined to vertebral row in those three species, with that of T. olŋmpia also reduced to a series of dashes; but that stripe also extends onto adjacent edges of paravertebral scale rows posteriorly on body in T. stenigrammi). Tantilla gottei differs further from T. impensa and T. stenigrammi in having 142–152 ventrals in both sexes combined (vs. ventrals 161–172 in T. impensa, and 159 in one T. stenigrammi), and further from T. impensa in having 204–217 ventral plus subcaudal scales in both sexes combined (vs. 233–240). Tantilla gottei differs further from T. olŋmpia in having 62–70 subcaudals in both sexes combined and having a complete pale lateral stripe (vs. 49 subcaudals and pale lateral stripe reduced to dots in T. olŋmpia). Tantilla gottei differs from T. excelsa in having 142–152 ventrals and 204–217 ventral plus subcaudal scales in both sexes combined and having a pale brown internasal crossbar that is confluent with the pale lateral spot anterior to the eye (vs. 161–178 ventrals and 222–239 ventral plus subcaudal scales, and internasal crossbar absent). Tantilla gottei differs from T. psittaca by having yellow ventral and subcaudal surfaces in life and cream in preservative and in having 142–152 ventrals and 204–217 ventrals plus subcaudals in both sexes combined (vs. those surfaces pink and grading to red in life and pale brown medially and pale brown with pinkish tinge on posterior third of body and under tail in preservative, and 153–163 ventrals and 216–234 ventrals plus subcaudals). Tantilla gottei differs from T. tritaeniata in having 142–152 ventrals in both sexes combined and having a complete pale nuchal collar (vs. 155–161 ventrals and pale nuchal collar divided). Description of holotype. —A subadult female; TOL 367 mm; SVL 270 mm; TAL 97 mm (26.4% of TOL); HL 10.8 mm; HW 5.6 mm (between level of angle of mouth and eye); head barely distinct from neck; snout broadly rounded in dorsal view; eye length 1.4 mm; snout length 3.3 mm, about 2.4 times longer than eye; pupil circular; rostral about 1.4 times wider than high (2.2 X 1.6 mm); internasal length about 0.7 times of width (1.1 X 1.6 mm); prefrontal about 1.7 times larger than internasal (1.9 X 1.1 mm), as wide as long (both dimensions 1.9 mm); median prefrontal suture 1.6 mm, about 0.5 times as long as frontal (1.6 X 3.5 mm); frontal with slight anterior extension, V-shaped posteriorly, about 1.3 times longer than wide (3.5 X 2.7 mm), about 1.1 times longer than distance from its anterior edge to tip of snout (3.1 mm); parietal about 1.5 times longer than wide (4.4 X 3.0 mm), median suture length 2.8 mm, about 0.8 times length of frontal; parietals contacting six nuchal scales; supraocular about 1.9 times longer than wide (2.6 X 1.4 mm), bordering orbit, contacting parietal, upper postocular, preocular, and prefrontal. Nasal divided; anterior nasal contacting rostral, internasal, and supralabial 1; posterior nasal contacting internasal, prefrontal, preocular, and supralabials 1 and 2; nostril located in central portion of nasal (forming division of nasal); loreal absent; preocular single, not higher than long (1.3 X 1.4 mm), lower edge contacting supralabials 2 and 3; postoculars 2, upper about same size as lower (height of both scales 0.9 mm); temporals 1 þ 1, anterior temporal 1.3 times longer than high (1.8 X 1.4 mm), posterior temporal 1.3 times longer than high (1.9 X 1.5 mm); supralabials 7, 3 and 4 bordering orbit, 4 and 5 contacting lower postocular, 5 contacting anterior temporal and lower postocular, 6 contacting anterior temporal, and 7 contacting anterior and posterior temporals; infralabials 6, 1–4 contacting anterior pair of chinshields, first infralabial on each side separated medially by contact with anterior chinshield; mental about 0.9 times as wide as long (1.8 X 1.9 mm), contacting first pair of infralabials and anterior pair of chinshields; anterior chinshields about 1.6 times longer than wide (2.2 X 1.4 mm), not extending laterally to border of lip; posterior pair of chinshields about 1.7 times longer than wide (1.7 X 1.0 mm), posterior tips separated from each other by one gular scale; four preventral scales present between gular and first ventral; dorsal scales in 15–15–15 transverse rows, smooth throughout, lacking apical pits and supracloacal tubercles; dorsal scales in six rows at level of 10th subcaudal; ventrals 147; cloacal scute divided; subcaudals 70, paired; ventrals plus subcaudals 217. Color of holotype in life. —Nothing was recorded on color in life of the holotype, other than that the ventral and subcaudal surfaces were yellow (J. Porras, personal communication). Color of holotype in preservative (Figs. 8, 9). —Dorsal surfaces brown with pale cream nuchal collar and pale cream middorsal and white lateral stripes; pale middorsal stripe on vertebral row and adjacent third of paravertebral rows; pale middorsal stripe slightly narrowing anteriorly on first scale involved in stripe; pale middorsal stripe extending onto tail to nearly its tip; pale middorsal stripe beginning on fifth scale posterior to parietals; pale lateral stripe present on upper two-thirds of scale row 3 and lower three-quarters of scale row 4, bordered above by continuous, thin dark brown line on upper quarter of scale row four and below by incomplete dark brown line on lower third of scale row 3; pale lateral stripe beginning on scale 5 posterior to supralabial 7, extending well onto tail; lower two-thirds of scale row 1 cream; upper third of scale row 1 and all of scale row 2 same shade of brown as dorsal ground color; pale nuchal collar complete, involving posterior tips of parietals plus ~ 1.5 scale rows dorsally, pale nuchal collar also involving posterior third of ultimate supralabial plus one scale row laterally; dorsal surface of head generally brown, except distinct pale brown crossbar involving most of internasals and anterior third of prefrontals, pale crossbar confluent with pale cream lateral spot anterior to eye; lateral pale spot involving postnasal, supralabial 1, and anterior third of supralabial 2; larger pale cream spot also present posterior to eye, involving all of supralabial 5, anterior edge of supralabial 6, and posterior half of supralabial 4, pale spot extending dorsally to cover about anterior half of anterior temporal, and lower postocular; dark brown lateral bar covering posterior twothirds of anterior temporal, all of posterior temporal, and posterior three-quarters and anterior two-thirds of supralabials 6 and 7, respectively; dark brown lateral bar continuous with dorsal surface of head color; dark brown mottling and tiny spots present on mental and first infralabial, respectively; dark brown spot also present on anterior tips of infralabial four; ventral surface of head pale cream; ventral surface of body cream for full length, pale pigment also extending onto lower tips of scale row 1 on body; subcaudal surface cream, except upper tips of subcaudal scales dark brown. Variation in paratypes. —The four male paratypes show the following variation: TOL 165–343 mm (mean ± 1 SD, 265.8 ± 75.1 mm); SVL 125–254 mm (199.5 ± 54.9 mm); TAL 24–26% of TOL; ventrals 142–158 (147.3 ± 4.1); subcaudals 62–67 (64.0 ± 2.2); and ventrals plus subcaudals 204–215 (211.3 ± 5.0). Some of the paratypes were recorded to have slightly narrower pale lateral stripes than the holotype, with those variations involving the adjacent thirds of scale rows 3 and 4. Distribution and habitat. —Almost nothing is known about the habitats of Tantilla gottei, except the low montane habitats where this species was collected are in pine forest in the south-central portion of Honduras (Premontane Moist Forest of Holdridge 1967), with one exception. That exception is a single locality in Lowland Dry Forest (Holdridge 1967). The holotype was collected alive by a worker on the grounds of the El Picacho Zoo during December. One paratype (MCZ R49886) was collected during May. The known elevational range is 500–1280 m. The known geographical distribution of Tantilla gottei is from the upper Río Choluteca drainage, in the vicinity of the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, east- and southeast-ward to the south-central portion of the department of El Paraíso (Fig. 5) along the middle portion of the Río Choluteca. Anthropogenic alteration of forest habitats in recent times has further isolated these localities. In addition, most of those surviving pine forests are burned on an annual basis. Those repeated burnings serve to have a permanent drying effect on those burned areas. Therefore, T. gottei should be considered an endangered species. Etymology. —The name gottei is a patronymic noun honoring Steve W. Gotte, a long-time friend of the first author, who also made several field trips with JRM to Honduras. Steve has also been a long-term employee of the US Department of Interior at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and most recently in Suitland, Maryland., Published as part of McCranie, James R. & Smith, Eric N., 2017, A Review of the Tantilla taeniata Species Group (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Colubrinae) in Honduras, with the Description of Three New Species, pp. 338-348 in Herpetologica 73 (4) on pages 344-346, DOI: 10.1655/Herpetologica-D-16-00080.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7712317, {"references":["Wilson, L. D., and J. R. Meyer. 1971. A revision of the taeniata group of the colubrid snake genus Tantilla. Herpetologica 27: 11 - 40.","Wilson, L. D., and J. R. Meyer 1982. The snakes of Honduras. Milwaukee Public Museum Contributions in Biology and Geology 6: 1 - 159.","Wilson, L. D., and J. R. Meyer. 1985. The Snakes of Honduras, 2 nd edition. Milwaukee Public Museum, USA.","Wilson, L. D., and J. R. McCranie. 1999. The systematic status of Honduran populations of the Tantilla taeniata group (Serpentes: Colubridae), with notes on other populations. Amphibia-Reptilia 20: 326 - 329.","McCranie, J. R. 2011 a. The Snakes of Honduras: Systematics, Distribution, and Conservation. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, USA.","McCranie, J. R. 2011 b. A new species of Tantilla of the taeniata species group (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae, Colubrinae) from northeastern Honduras. Zootaxa 3037: 37 - 44.","Wilson, L. D., and V. Mata-Silva. 2015. A checklist and key to the snakes of the Tantilla clade (Squamata: Colubridae), with comments on taxonomy, distribution, and conservation. Mesoamerican Herpetology 2: 418 - 498.","Holdridge, L. R. 1967. Life Zone Ecology, revised edition. Tropical Science Center, Costa Rica."]}
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- 2017
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11. Not withering on the evolutionary vine: systematic revision of the Brown Vine Snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Oxybelis) from its northern distribution.
- Author
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Jadin, Robert C., Blair, Christopher, Orlofske, Sarah A., Jowers, Michael J., Rivas, Gilson A., Vitt, Laurie J., Ray, Julie M., Smith, Eric N., and Murphy, John C.
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SQUAMATA ,REPTILES ,SNAKES ,BAYESIAN analysis ,REVISIONS - Abstract
The genus Oxybelis currently is composed of four taxa despite numerous studies suggesting and describing multiple taxa within the O. aeneus complex. Here, we utilize a multilocus molecular dataset (i.e., cyt b, ND4, 12S, 16S, cmos, PRLR, 3663 bp) to conduct phylogenetic analyses to assess the evolutionary history of Oxybelis. Our molecular analyses find three major lineages of Oxybelis (i.e., O. aeneus complex, O. brevirostris, O. fulgidus complex) with a sister relationship between O. brevirostris and the O. aeneus complex to the exclusion of the O. fulgidus complex. More specifically, O. aeneus appears to harbor at least five taxa currently unrecognized while O. fulgidus was found to be paraphyletic with respect to O. wilsoni, suggesting cryptic diversity and novel taxa in that clade as well. Additionally, we use morphological data in concert with our molecular analyses and the literature to support removing Oxybelis microphthalmus Barbour and Amaral, 1926; Oxybelis potosiensis Taylor, 1941; and Dryophis vittatus Girard, 1854 from the synonymy of O. aeneus. Finally, we describe two new species from Central America and northern South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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12. Redescription Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and Phylogeny of the Prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N., and Grismer, L. Lee
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N., Grismer, L. Lee (2016): Redescription Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and Phylogeny of the Prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus. Zootaxa 4107 (4): 517-540, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4107.4.3
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- 2016
13. Cyrtodactylus lateralis Werner
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N., and Grismer, L. Lee
- Subjects
Cyrtodactylus lateralis ,Reptilia ,Cyrtodactylus ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner) Gymnodactylus lateralis Werner 1896: 11. Holotype female (ZMB 12029, Fig. 1, 2, examined) from ���Sumatra.��� [herein traced to Binjai, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia]. Gymnodactylus lateralis Werner: Werner 1900: 499; Barbour 1912: 80; De Rooij 1915: 7. Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner): Kluge 1993: 8; Manthey and Grossmann 1997: 223; R��sler 2000: 66; Teyni�� et al. 2010: 33. Referred specimens examined (19). Seven males (MZB 13171, MZB 13173; UTA 62916, UTA 62919 ���62921) and six females (MZB 13172, MZB 13174 ���13176, MZB 18330, UTA 62917 ���62918) from trail up SE slope of Gunung Seulawah Agam, Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, 685���1065 m collected 30 July and 1 August 2015 by M. B. Harvey and E. Wostl and one female (UTA 62915) from Gunung Batee Meucica, Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, 5.26157 �� N, 95.54176 �� E, 498 m collected 1 August 2015 by G. C. Sarker and I. Sidik; two males (ZMB 65273 ���65274) and two females (ZMB 65271 ���65272) from Gurah, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, collected January 1997 by C. Sch��fer and W. Grossmann (traced to a village of the same name in Kecamatan Peukan Bada, Kabupaten Aceh Besar). One female (ZMB 49125) from Ketambe, Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, collected March 1990 by W. Denzer, C. Steiof and U. Manthey. Diagnosis. A large species of Cyrtodactylus reaching 100 mm SVL (LSUHC 12579) and distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body robust; limbs and digits moderate in length; (2) tail prehensile; intact tails 0.97���1.22 times longer than body; (3) tubercles extending from frontal region and supraorbital skin to cover most of tail, 16���20 irregular longitudinal rows of tubercles at midbody, 21���28 irregular transverse rows between limbs; (4) dorsal antebrachium and brachium tuberculate; (5) tubercles on tail extending to 90 % of its length; (6) 51���66 ventrals in a transverse row at midbody; (7) conical, spinose tubercles in ventrolateral fold; (8) subcaudals not transversely enlarged; (9) moderate longitudinal sulcus in precloacal region of males; (10) 9���13 precloacal pores in males (0���15) pore primordia in females), femoral pores absent, precloacal pores sunken into precloacal sulcus; pore secretions red; (11) greatly enlarged precloacal pore-bearing scales present; (12) ventral surface of thighs entirely granular or granular except for 2���13 (count combined for both sides) widely spaced enlarged femoral scales; (13) 18���24 lamellae under fourth toe; (14) cloacal tubercles 1���2 on each side, usually in contact with one another; (15) dorsum gray to brown with dark brown markings; venter pale pink, immaculate or with diffuse, darkly pigmented scales forming no obvious pattern; (16) labials pale, contrasting with darker facial band; occiput with few large blotches; postocular stripe brown, edged dorsally by thin black line then by pale pigmented scales; (17) 5���6 transverse, usually broken bands on body; 7���9 bands on tail; caudal bands complete ventrally though faint. Comparisons. Cyrtodactylus lateralis is very similar to C. durio. Cyrtodactylus lateralis has rounded to subpyramidal tubercles in the temporal region, on the occiput, and on the neck, whereas tubercles in these areas are noticeably larger and distinctly spinose in C. durio. We scored three new specimens of C. durio for the same characters used in the description of C. lateralis. Ranges of meristic and mensural characters of C. durio overlap those of C. lateralis, however extremes of three characters were slightly higher or lower than those of C. lateralis. The three specimens of C. durio (data for KU 173086 followed by KU 173087 then LSUHC 12579 vs. ranges [mean �� standard deviation, sample size] for C. lateralis) had slightly fewer tubercles at midbody (17, 15, and 15 vs 16���20 [18 �� 1, n = 13]), slightly fewer lamellae under finger IV (15, 17, and 17 vs. 16���20 [18 �� 1, n = 14]), and a slightly larger orbit (diameter of orbit 27.8 %, 28.7 %, and 26.5 % of head length vs. 20.6���27.6 % [25.4 �� 1.6, n = 16]) than the series of C. lateralis. All specimens of C. durio lack enlarged subfemoral scales, whereas 70 % of C. lateralis had these scales. Cyrtodactylus lateralis, C. brevipalmatus, C. durio, C. elok, and C. stresemanni are the only Sunda Shelf species with a spinose, prehensile tail. Unlike C. stresemanni (characters in parentheses), C. lateralis has 16���20 tubercles across midbody (13), a transversely banded dorsum (wide, dark brown chevrons on flanks separated by undulating pale vertebral stripe), and small irregular blotches on the occiput (large, dark triangular occipital mark). Unlike C. brevipalmatus and C. elok, C. lateralis has a precloacal sulcus (absent), spinose tubercles in the ventrolateral fold (tubercles absent from fold), 51���66 ventrals (35���49), and caudal whorls of six tubercles separated by granular scales ventrolaterally (caudal whorls of four tubercles; ventrolateral tubercles separated by lanceolate scales forming ventrolateral fringe). Description. Characteristics of the holotype placed in brackets follow those of all specimens examined. Large Cyrtodactylus reaching at least 93 mm SVL in females [77 mm], 82 mm in males; smallest specimen subadult female, 62.1 mm SVL; body robust, accounting for 38���49 % (45.6 �� 3.7, n = 7) of SVL in males, 43.0��� 53.9 % (48.2 �� 3.8, n = 8) [49.4 %] of SVL in females; tail 0.99���1.14 (n = 8) [0.97] times longer than body and accounting for 49.3���55.1 % (51.8 �� 2.3, n = 8) [49.3 %] of total length; head triangular in dorsal view, much wider than body and distinct from neck; head 28.9 ���34.0% (30.8 �� 1.7, n = 7) of SVL, 63.9���78.9 % (70.2 �� 6.1, n = 7) as wide as long, and 36.2���43.2 % (38.8 �� 2.6 n = 7) as deep as wide in males and 28.5���33.4 % (31.0 �� 1.7, n = 9) [30.1 %] of SVL, 64.3���71.6 % (69.4 �� 2.7, n = 9) [64.3 %] as wide as long, and 38.0��� 46.2 % (41.6 �� 2.8, n = 9) [41.1 %] as deep as wide in females. Rostral wider than or about as wide as mental (96.8���126.81 %, 106.8 �� 8.5, n = 17, of width of mental) [103.2 %], posteriorly forming border of nostril; dorsal margin of rostral notched medially by shallow groove; rostral groove bifurcating slightly ventral to center of nostril; rostral bordered posteriorly by four (50 %, n = 16), five (31 %), six (6 %), or seven (13 %) postrostrals [rostral irregular in holotype; rostral partially fragmented into two large plates just anterior to straight row of 5 postrostrals; short, bifurcating groove below these large irregular plates; rostral of ZMB 49125 also irregular, postrostral series fused to rostral, large diamond-shaped plate partially fractured within rostral in front of fused postrostrals]; internarial region narrow, 10.4���18.8 % (15.7 �� 2.0, n = 17) [17.6 %] as wide as head, 55.6���70.3 % (63.8 �� 4.5, n = 17) [60.9 %] as wide as narrowest point between orbits; narrowest point between orbits 18.7���28.9 % (24.5 �� 2.7, n = 17) [28.9 %] as wide as head; deep depression occupying most of prefrontal and frontal areas; prefrontal-frontal depression bordered laterally by raised canthal and circumorbital ridges, bordered posteriorly by slightly arched, transverse ridge located just behind orbits; central parietal region slightly depressed; scales on dorsal snout granular, rounded, smooth, subequal in size, about as large as tubercles in parietal regions and distinctly smaller than granules between eyes; tubercles extending to frontal region and supraorbital skin; tubercles on dorsal surface of head subpyrimidal and smooth, much smaller than those on body, those in occipital region surrounded by seven or eight granular scales; few tubercles around back of head subconical; dorsal body tubercles unicarinate, circular, slightly projecting from dorsum, about ten times as large as dorsal granules, 16���20 (18 �� 1, n = 13) [18] longitudinal rows at midbody including tubercles in ventrolateral folds, 21���28 (23 �� 2, n = 13) [27] irregular transverse rows between limbs; dorsal tubercles on flanks like those middorsally or attenuated into conical tubercles; dorsal granules smooth. Nostril oval, directed postero-laterally and somewhat dorsally; bordered by rostral, postrostral, supranasal, postnasals, and narrow antero-dorsal process of first supralabial; supranasal rounded to rhomboidal, about four times as large as adjacent postnasals; postnasals granular, 5���7 (6 �� 1, n = 19) [5 / 5]; snout length 36.7���41.2 % (39.3 �� 1.4, n = 16)[39.4 %] of head length and distance from orbit to nostril accounting for 71.2���78.4 % (74.1 �� 2.0, n = 17) [75.3 %] of snout length; loreal region sloping, concave just behind nostril; lips flared; loreals granular, juxtaposed; 19���25 (21.9 �� 2, n = 21) [21 / 21] loreals between nasal and anterior border of orbit; lorilabials in front of orbit flat, plate-like, enlarged relative to other loreals (1.5���2 times as large as loreals above them, but much smaller than supralabials); eye separated from supralabials by one or two longitudinal rows of tiny granules; diameter of orbit 20.6���27.6 % (25.4 �� 1.6, n = 16) [26.3 %] of head length; temporal region with granular scales separating rounded to subpyrimidal, smooth or weakly keeled tubercles; distance from posterior border of orbit to anterior border of auditory meatus 23.6���31.3 % (29.0 �� 1.9, n = 16) [30.9 %] of head length; skin fold overlapping dorsal edge of auditory meatus; auditory meatus elliptical, it���s greatest diameter vertical or directed posterodorsally less than 20 �� to vertical, positioned at posterior end of head and with its dorsal margin at same level as rictus; greatest diameter of auditory meatus 17.7���39.6 % (25.6 �� 5.8, n = 17) [25.5 %] of diameter of orbit; smallest diameter of auditory meatus 60���70 % smaller than greatest diameter; external ear canal deep; supralabials 8���12 (10 �� 1, n = 21) [9 / 10] to center of orbit; total enlarged supralabials 10���14 (12 �� 1, n = 21) [11 / 12], last separated by 2���5 small granular scales from rictus (13���17 total supralabials to rictus) [15 / 16]; first supralabial with anterodorsal extension reaching nostril and separating lorilabials from rostral; remaining supralabials subrectangular with rounded dorsal edges, reducing in size to anterior border of orbit where one or two supralabials somewhat longer than rest. Mental triangular; infralabials 7���9 to center of orbit (8 �� 1, n = 22) [7 / 7], 9���13 (10 �� 1, n = 22) [10 / 10] total enlarged infralabials to rictus; first pair of postmentals in contact medially, length of their contact about half as long as mental; second pair of postmentals as long as first pair but extending medially only one-half to two-thirds as far, separated from one another medially by 2���7 (6 �� 1, n = 17) [5] small granular scales bordering first pair of postmentals; sublabial row decreasing in size posteriorly, not differentiated from adjacent gulars at level of eye; gulars small, smooth, granular, nonimbricate, much smaller than ventrals; in front of pectoral girdle, gulars grading into progressively larger, imbricate scales; scale of chest like ventrals; ventrals smooth, imbricate, flat, circular, about three-fourths as wide as tubercles on dorsum at midbody; ventrals in transverse row at midbody 51���66 (55 �� 3) [59]; ventrolateral skin fold distinct, containing long spinose tubercles separated by granular scales intermixed with smaller spinose tubercles, subpyrimidal tubercles, and smooth rounded tubercles (Fig. 2); tubercles of ventrolateral fold lacking keels. Tail cylindrical, though somewhat flattened dorsally and ventrally, with distinct lateral sulcus proximally for about two-thirds its length; caudal tubercles 2���3 times as large as those on body, heavily keeled, and projecting, separated from one another by granular scales; caudal tubercles on about 90 % of intact tails, disposed in six longitudinal rows and in regular whorls, one tubercle of each whorl below lateral sulcus on each side; 2���3 tubercles in irregular transverse row between successive whorls on proximal one-third to one-half of tail; tubercles between whorls same shape but only one-half to one-third as large as tubercles forming whorls; size and distribution of tubercles at base of tail like posterior body; subcaudals smooth, flat, homogenous, imbricate, 2���3 times as large as granules on sides of tail; each subcaudal about as long as wide; transversely enlarged subcaudal plates absent; cloacal tubercles rounded, smooth, one (7 %, n = 27) or two (93 %) on each side, contacting one another (80 %, n = 25 paired tubercles) or separated from one another by a single granular scale (20 %) [2 / 2 cloacal tubercles contacting one another on each side of holotype]. Tubercles of limbs keeled, subpyramidal, largest same size as those on dorsum; tuberculation of brachium variable, almost entirely granular to as tuberculate as antebrachium [brachium of holotype tuberculate, but not as heavily tuberculate as antebrachium]; antebrachium tuberculate; antebrachial tubercles about six times as large as granular scales between them; granules and tubercles grading to dorsal patch of about seven rows of large juxtaposed scales covering distal antebrachium and proximal hand; ventral surfaces of brachium covered in smooth, slightly imbricate, homogenous granules; tubercles extending across postaxial and ventral surfaces of antebrachium to approximate position of radius, then transitioning to granular scales on preaxial side of antebrachium; scales on palm juxtaposed to slightly imbricate; lamellae under finger I 8���9 [8], under finger II 12���16 [13], under finger III 15���19 [16], under finger IV 16���20 [17], under finger V 13���16 [14]; one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto palm at base of digits. Thigh, shank, and postaxial half of dorsal foot (at base of toes IV���V) tuberculate; tubercles of leg subpyrimidal, unicarinate, largest about same size as those on dorsum, about six times as large as small granular scales between them; tubercles on thigh decreasing in size postaxially, grading to tiny granular scales on postaxial edge of thigh (no sharp transition along postaxial edge of thigh); ventral thigh entirely granular (30 %, n = 23) or granular except for row of 1���7 (3���13 total count including both sides; 70 % of the time; Fig. 3) flat enlarged subfemoral scales [ventral thigh entirely granular in holotype, lacking enlarged subfemoral scales]; enlarged subfemoral scales separated from one another by gaps occupied by granular scales; gaps between subfemorals increasing in width distally; sole covered in flat, juxtaposed to weakly imbricate, rounded scales; lamellae under toe I 8���10 [10], under toe II 11���16 [13], under toe III 16���19 [16]; under toe IV 18���24 [19], under toe V 17���20 [18]; one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto sole at base of toes II���V, three or four extending onto sole at base of toe I. Scales of precloacal region forming patch (Fig. 2, 3) of enlarged, smooth, imbricate scales grading to smaller ventrals anteriorly and small imbricate scales edging vent posteriorly; males with parallel series of 9���13 total precloacal pores; pore-bearing series of males sunken into shallow longitudinal sulcus; same scales of females with 0���15 pore primordia lacking secretions [no detectable pore or pore primordia in holotype]; females lacking longitudinal sulcus; scales flanking pore-bearing scales smaller than pore-bearing scales anteriorly, subequal to them posteriorly; both sexes with pair of post-cloacal slits; males with post-cloacal ossicle in wall of each slit. Coloration. In life (based on field notes of M.B. Harvey and photos of all specimens collected by the summer 2015 expedition to Aceh), Cyrtodactylus lateralis resembles tree bark. This species has a gray, light brown, or reddish brown ground coloration overlain by diffuse, fine darker speckling in addition to bold, dark brown blotches and pale areas largely devoid of speckling (Fig. 4). Dorsal tubercles are the same color as adjacent scales. Dorsally, a few, small, dark brown blotches mark the parietal and occipital regions; however, the rest of the dorsal head is usually devoid of solid dark brown blotches [holotype faded to cream with light brown markings]. The supraciliaries are suffused with orange; they may be almost entirely orange in young specimens, whereas brown pigment obscures the orange supraciliary pigment in older individuals. A wide band extends from the rostral to the eye and continues as a postocular stripe to the arm. The facial band is always weakly defined and may be quite diffuse in some specimens [loreal region of holotype brownish]. Behind the eye, weak, thin, and often broken black pinstripes edge the postocular band dorsally and ventrally [postocular band with black pinstripes extending above and slightly behind arm]. Several rows of temporals above the black pinstripe are cream, pale gray, or pale yellow. These pale temporals form a band behind the eye that breaks up into subcircular spots at the back of the head and on the neck. The labials are also pale, almost immaculate to heavily mottled but always contrasting with the facial band and gular skin [bands of melanophores covering supralabials 5���6, anterior portion of 7, and 8���9 on left/ 1���2 and 9���10 on right; chin diffusely speckled with melanophores]. In specimens with mottled labials, subcircular cream, pale gray, or pale yellow spots, each about as large as a supralabial, mark the labial series. The iris is grayish tan or tan, heavily reticulated with black lines. The ciliary body is only slightly lighter than the iris and indistinct. The tongue is white and lacks the black ventral patch described for some congeners (Harvey et al. 2015); the buccal epithelium is pink. Cyrtodactylus lateralis has a broken V-shaped mark on the nape, one narrow band on the neck, 5���6 [5] bands on the body, and 7���9 (8 �� 1) [7] bands on the tail. Bands on the neck and body usually break up into oval blotches, and pale areas separate the bands middorsally and on the upper flanks. Bands on the body usually have a ���butterflylike��� shape [Fig. 1, 4, see also plate 1, figure 4 of Werner, 1896]. The lower flanks are darkly pigmented and frequently sharply contrast with a pale ventrolateral fold or a fold of the same color with pale yellow or cream spinose tubercles [fold of holotype like flanks, covered in melanophores but with large spinose tubercles of fold white and lacking melanophores]. Caudal bands are square to rectangular, narrower than the pale intersp, Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N. & Grismer, L. Lee, 2016, Redescription Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and Phylogeny of the Prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus, pp. 517-540 in Zootaxa 4107 (4) on pages 520-527, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/256578, {"references":["Werner, F. (1896) Zweiter Beitrag zur Herpetologie der indo-orientalischen Region. Verhandlungen der Zoologische- Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 46, 6 - 24. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 19752","Werner, F. (1900) Reptilien und Batrachier aus Sumatra. Zoologische Jahrbucher. Abteilung fur Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 13, 479 - 508.","Barbour, T. (1912) A contribution to the zoogeography of the East Indian islands. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 44, 1 - 203, pls. 1 - 8.","De Rooij, N. de (1915) The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. I. Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosauria. E. J. Brill, Leiden, xiv + 384 pp.","Kluge, A. G. (1993) Gekkonoid Lizard Taxonomy. International Gecko Society, San Diego, 245 pp.","Manthey, U. & Grossmann, W. (1997) Amphibien & Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur und Tier Verlag, Munster, 512 pp.","Rosler, H. (2000) Kommentierte Liste der rezent, subrezent und fossil bekannten Geckotaxa (Reptilia: Gekkonomorpha). Gekkota, 2, 28 - 153.","Teynie, A., David, P. & Ohler, A. (2010) Notes on a collection of amphibians and reptiles from Western Sumatra (Indonesia), with the description of a new species of the genus Bufo. Zootaxa, 2416, 1 - 43.","Harvey, M. B., O'Connell, K. A., Barraza, G., Riyanto, A., Kurniawan, N. & Smith, E. N. (2015) Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the southern Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra and an estimation of their phylogeny. Zootaxa, 4020, 495 - 516. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4020.3.5","Cameron, P. (1906) A new genus of Cryptinae (Ichneumonidae) from Sumatra. The Entomologist, 39, 196 - 197. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 1560","Grismer, L. L. (2008) On the distribution and identification of Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Smith, 1923 and Cyrtodactylus elok Dring, 1979. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 65, 177 - 179.","Grismer, L. L. (2011) Lizards of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and their Adjacent Archipelagos. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 728 pp.","Grismer, L. L., Anuar, S., Quah, E., Muin, M. A., Onn, C. K., Grismer, J. L. & Ahmad, N. (2010) A new spiny, prehensile-tailed species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia with a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on morphology. Zootaxa, 2625, 40 - 52.","Linkem, C. W., McGuire, J. A., Hayden, C. J., Mohammed, I. S., Bickford, D. P. & Brown, R. M. (2008) A new species of bent-toe gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Sulawesi Island, eastern Indonesia. Herpetologica, 64, 224 - 234. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1655 / 07 - 040.1"]}
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- 2016
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14. Cyrtodactylus lateralis
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N., and Grismer, L. Lee
- Subjects
Cyrtodactylus lateralis ,Reptilia ,Cyrtodactylus ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Phylogeny of Cyrtodactylus lateralis and other Prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus Currently, the Reptile Database lists 206 species of Cyrtodactylus (Uetz & Ho��ek 2015). Systematists face considerable challenges when trying to identify derived morphological characters in this diverse gekkonid radiation. On the basis of morphology, Grismer et al. (2010) proposed a phylogeny of Cyrtodactylus with spinose prehensile tails. These authors constructed their tree using parsimony and polarized a small matrix of characters by treating all other congeners as outgroups. In their phylogeny, Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus and C. elok form a clade and share digital webbing, a square tail, and a caudal fringe. Cyrtodactylus spinosus, C. stresemanni, and C. durio form a second clade and share spinose tubercles in the ventrolateral fold on the body. Within the second clade, Cyrtodactylus durio and C. stresemanni are sister species and share enlarged, ventrolateral caudal tubercles. The authors argued that a prehensile tail is a synapomorphy of these five species. Using their methods (Table 1), we add Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner), C. interdigitalis Ulber, C. nuaulu Oliver et al., and C. serratus Kraus to this morphological phylogeny (Fig. 6). Ulber (1993) compared C. interdigitalis to C. brevipalmatus and C. elok and noted that, unlike these two species, C. interdigitalis has a round rather than square tail. All three species share digital webbing and a ventrolateral fringe. The ventrolateral fringe consists of a distinctive row of enlarged conical tubercles separated by smaller lanceolate tubercles. The enlarged tubercles are the ventrolateral components of caudal whorls, whereas the smaller conical tubercles are the only enlarged scales separating the whorls dorsally. All three species lack spinose tubercles in the ventrolateral fold on the body. Ulber (1993) did not mention whether C. interdigitalis coils its tail at rest, however we have seen photos of specimens from Laos exhibiting this behavior. Based on this combination of traits, we add C. interdigitalis to the morphological phylogeny of Grismer et al. (2010) and place C. interdigitalis as the sister species to a clade containing C. elok and C. brevipalmatus (Fig. 6). We refer to this group of three species as the ���mainland SE Asian clade��� of prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus, because these species occur in Laos, Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. In their phylogeny, Grismer et al. (2010) placed Cyrtodactylus durio as the sister species to C. stresemanni with C. spinosus sister to the C. durio + C. stresemanni clade. They note that C. spinosus lacks ventrolateral caudal tubercles, but did not explain how they scored this character. We count tubercles in the middle of the tail: C. lateralis, C. durio, and C. stresemanni have six spinose tubercles per caudal whorl throughout most of the tail (the count will be higher close to the body and lower distally), whereas C. spinosus has only 4 (also noted by Linkem et al. 2008). We add C. lateralis to the C. durio + C. stresemanni Clade, because C. durio and C. lateralis are identical for the characters used to construct the morphological phylogeny (Table 1). Cyrtodactylus nuaulu and C. serratus, both from east of Wallace���s Line, have conical tubercles in the ventrolateral fold, ventrolateral caudal tubercles, and tails with whorls of six spinose tubercles extending for most of the length of the tail. On the basis of morphology, we infer that the tails of these two species are prehensile, even though neither description mentions whether the species coils its tail in a manner similar to C. spinosus and the Sunda Shelf species. The unique holotype of C. serratus was collected in the Star Mountains of New Guinea in 1987 and Kraus (2007) provided no information about its behavior or natural history. All adults of the type series of C. nuaulu were collected on trees and vines, 50���200 cm aboveground on Seram (Oliver et al. 2009). Based on these observations, we add C. nuaulu and C. serratus to the clade containing C. stresemanni, C. durio, and C. lateralis. We refer to this clade as the ���insular clade��� of prehensile-tailed geckos, because most of the species occur on islands. Of the five species of the insular clade, only C. durio occurs on the mainland. We have shown that some distinctive characters originally suggesting a close relationship between Cyrtodactylus durio and C. stresemanni are also found in C. serratus and C. nuaulu. Although the specimen has faded with age, the dorsal pattern of the holotype of C. stresemanni remains well-defined (R��sler & Glaw 2008, their figure 7). The specimen has two pairs of elongate blotches on the flanks separated by a wide, pale vertebral stripe. This dorsal pattern is unlike that of any other Sunda Shelf Cyrtodactylus, however it resembles patterns in the type series of C. nuaulu (compare especially to MZB 2325 in Oliver et al. 2009, their figure 2), C. spinosus (see especially MZB 7029 with ���less complete��� chevrons, Linkem et al. 2008: 228), and C. serratus (Kraus 2007, his figure 1 A). All four species share a wide pale vertebral stripe and few (2���3 between limbs) large, dark-brown chevron-shaped blotches. The vertebral stripe may be interrupted by the chevrons medially or divide the chevrons as it does in the holotypes of C. serratus and C. stresemanni and some paratypes of C. spinosus (MZB 7029) and C. nuaulu (MZB 2329). Although the dark triangular blotch on the nape of C. stresemanni might at first appear to ally it with C. elok and C. brevipalmatus, C. nuaulu, C. serratus, and C. spinosus have triangular blotches on their napes as well. Cyrtodactylus durio and C. lateralis unequivocally lack the distinctive color pattern of C. stresemanni and the three other species. Like C. brevipalmatus, C. elok, and C. interdigitalis, C. durio and C. lateralis are banded species lacking a pale vertebral stripe. To determine polarity of the distinctive color pattern of the Wallacean and Papuan species, we reviewed recent descriptions and revisions of Cyrtodactylus from across the distribution of the genus. We were unable to find other species with a pale vertebral stripe and 2���3 dark brown chevrons. C. zugi Oliver has two large brown chevrons, but lacks a vertebral stripe. The pattern of the Wallacean and Papuan prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus is most likely derived, however, its distribution is not congruent with the morphological phylogeny regardless of polarity. If derived, the pattern is a synapomorphy of the insular clade, with a reversal to the banded pattern in C. durio and C. lateralis. If the pattern is primitive, a banded pattern would have to evolve twice: once leading to the mainland SE Asia clade and once leading to a clade containing C. durio and C. lateralis. Prior to this study, molecular data were available for only two of the eight species of prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus. Wood et al. (2012) confirmed the suspicions of Ulber (1993) that C. elok is closely related to C. interdigitalis, and these two species are sister taxa in Clade F of their phylogeny. We obtained ND 2 and COI sequences for four of our new specimens of C. lateralis and an ND 2 sequence of the holotype of C. durio. Our maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses recovered similar topologies with minor differences in support for each gene. Relatively few sequences of the COI gene were available on GenBank (Appendix 1), however we were able to place Cyrtodactylus elok and C. lateralis within a phylogeny containing 34 additional congeners and Gekko gekko as an outgroup. Our Maximum Likelihood tree contained few mainland species and had low support for most nodes. Nonetheless, we found no evidence of a close relationship between C. elok and C. lateralis using the COI sequences. In this small matrix of species, C. elok and C. lateralis were placed near the base of the phylogeny and had uncorrected genetic distances greater than 19 % to other species in the phylogeny (Table 2). Our ND 2 matrix included Cyrtodactylus durio, C. elok, C. interdigitalis, C. lateralis, 83 additional congeners, 26 gecko species as near outgroups, and Anolis carolinensis as a distant outgroup. We only discuss the region of the tree containing prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus and have collapsed several clades in figure 6 to make the phylogeny easier to read. The base of the tree, including C. angularis, C. tibetanus, outgroups, and a clade of the Myanmar species, is not shown. Overall, our ND 2 phylogenies had high bootstrap support and posterior probabilities; it showed substantial congruence with the phylogeny of Wood et al. (2012). As for the COI gene, we found no evidence of a close relationship between Cyrtodactylus lateralis and C. elok using the ND 2 gene (Fig. 6). We found that C. elok and C. interdigitalis are closely related and belong to a clade containing the C. pulchellus Group, a large radiation of 18 Australo-Papuan species, and the mainland species C. oldhami, C. tygroides, C. hontreensis, C. intermedius, and C. peguensis. This result agrees with that of Wood et al. (2012), although they found the C. pulchellus Group to be sister to the C. elok + C. interdigitalis clade, whereas we found the mainland species to be sister to this pair. Nonetheless, C. elok and C. interdigitalis have relatively long branch lengths and an uncorrected genetic distance of 22.9 % from one another (Table 2). In contrast, Cyrtodactylus lateralis belongs to a large clade of mostly Sunda Shelf and Philippine species. Cyrtodactylus lateralis is sister to C. durio and their ND 2 sequences have diverged by 11.7 %. These two species have yet to show any clear affinitiess to three clades in the crown clade of figure 6, and we show all four lineages as an unresolved polytomy. The distant relationship of C. lateralis to the C. elok + C. interdigitalis clade is also reflected in high uncorrected genetic distances between C. lateralis and C. elok (27.6 %) and C. lateralis and C. interdigitalis (26.7 %)., Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Wostl, Elijah, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N. & Grismer, L. Lee, 2016, Redescription Cyrtodactylus lateralis (Werner) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and Phylogeny of the Prehensile-tailed Cyrtodactylus, pp. 517-540 in Zootaxa 4107 (4) on pages 527-531, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4107.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/256578, {"references":["Uetz, P. & Hosek, J. (Eds.) (2015) The Reptile Database. Available from: http: // www. reptile-database. org (accessed 1 October 2015)","Grismer, L. L., Anuar, S., Quah, E., Muin, M. A., Onn, C. K., Grismer, J. L. & Ahmad, N. (2010) A new spiny, prehensile-tailed species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia with a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on morphology. Zootaxa, 2625, 40 - 52.","Ulber, T. (1993) Bemerkungen uber cyrtodactyline Geckos aus Thailand nebst Beschreibungen von zwei neuen Arten (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Mitteilungen aus dem Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin. Zoologisches Museum und Institut fur Spezielle Zoologie, 69, 187 - 200. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1002 / mmnz. 19930690202","Linkem, C. W., McGuire, J. A., Hayden, C. J., Mohammed, I. S., Bickford, D. P. & Brown, R. M. (2008) A new species of bent-toe gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Sulawesi Island, eastern Indonesia. Herpetologica, 64, 224 - 234. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1655 / 07 - 040.1","Kraus, F. (2007) A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from western Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa, 1425 (1), 63 - 68. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1425.1.8","Oliver, P., Edgar, P., Mumpuni, Iskandar, D. T. & Lilley, R. (2009) A new species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus: Gekkonidae) from Seram Island, Indonesia. Zootaxa, 2115, 47 - 55.","Rosler, H. & Glaw, F. (2008) A new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Malaysia including a literature survey of mensural and meristic data in the genus. Zootaxa, 1729, 8 - 22.","Wood, P. L. Jr., Heinicke, M. P., Jackman, T. R. & Bauer, A. M. (2012) Phylogeny of bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus) reveals a west to east pattern of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65, 992 - 1003. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2012.08.025"]}
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- 2016
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15. Cyrtodactylus psarops Harvey, O'Connell, Barraza, Riyanto, Kurniawan & Smith, 2015, sp. nov
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Reptilia ,Cyrtodactylus psarops ,Cyrtodactylus ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Cyrtodactylus psarops sp. nov. Harvey, O���Connell, Barraza, Riyanto, Kurniawan & Smith Holotype. An adult female (MZB 9699; field number ENS 14612, Fig. 1) from Gunung Tanggamus, above Gisting, 5.424 �� S, 104.692 �� N, 1163 m, Kabupaten Tanggamus, Lampung Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, collected June 11, 2013, by M. B. Harvey, E. N. Smith, and field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Paratypes (14). Four males (MZB 9686���9687, MZB 9700, UTA R- 61589) and one unsexed juvenile (UTA R- 61579) from forest above Ngarip, 5.280��� 5.284 �� S, 104.557��� 104.558 ��E, 1318���1419 m; four females (UTA R- 61580���61581, MZB 9690���9691) and one male (UTA R- 61590) from forest NE of Ngarip, 5.298- 5.314 �� S, 104.528 ���104.546, 950��� 1065 m; one male (MZB 9697) and two females (UTA R- 61582���61583) from Gunung Tanggamus, above Gisting, 5.422��� 5.424 �� S, 104.692��� 104.695 �� N, 1016���1163 m, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia; and one female (MZB 9700) from Gunung Pesagi (known locally as ���Masagi���), Remanan Jaya, Muara dua, Sumatera Selatan Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. M. B. Harvey, E. N. Smith, and field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA collected the paratypes on 9���17 June 2013. Diagnosis. A medium-size species of Cyrtodactylus reaching 82 mm SVL and distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body moderately robust; limbs and digits relatively long; (2) tail 1.06���1.35 times longer than body; (3) subpyramidal, weakly keeled tubercles extending from frontal region and supraorbital skin to base of tail, 23���26 irregular longitudinal rows of tubercles at midbody, 28���38 irregular transverse rows between limbs; (4) dorsal antebrachium and often brachium tuberculate; (5) tubercles on tail restricted to basal third; (6) 38���49 ventrals in a transverse row at midbody; (7) subcaudals not transversely enlarged; (8) deep, subtriangular depression in precloacal region of males; (9) 28���32 femoral and precloacal pores in males, arrayed in a continuous series (fewer pore primordia usually present in females), precloacal pores sunken into precloacal depression; (10) scale at anterior apex of pore-bearing scales greatly enlarged, sunken into precloacal depression in males, superficial in females; (11) pore-bearing series sharply transitioning to tiny granular scales of postaxial surface of thigh; (12) 18���22 lamellae under fourth toe; (13) cloacal tubercles usually single; (14) dorsal pattern of brown blotches edged first in dark brown to black then in pale gray or brown; at least some tubercles on flanks yellow to pale cream; (15) labials charcoal or dark brown with yellow or cream spots; occiput with few large blotches; long postocular stripe extending beyond arm onto flank; (16) 7���9 transverse, irregular or broken bands on body; 10���13 regular bands on tail, mostly complete ventrally. Description. Medium-size Cyrtodactylus reaching at least 82 mm SVL in females, 74 mm in males; smallest juvenile 42 mm SVL; body moderately robust, accounting for 64.9���74.3 % (n = 6) of SVL in males, 70.1���74.3 % (n = 8) of SVL in females; tail 1.06���1.35 (1.21 �� 0.10, n = 6) times longer than body and accounting for 51.6���57.4 % (54.7 �� 2.2, n = 6) of total length; head triangular in dorsal view; head 25.7���35.1 % (29.1 �� 3.2, n = 6) of SVL, 57.8���63.2 % (61.2 �� 2.2, n = 6) as wide as long, and 33.7 ���44.0% (37.7 �� 4.5, n = 6) as deep as wide in males and 27.3���29.8 % (28.7 �� 0.8, n = 8) of SVL, 54.5���62.4 % (58.4 �� 2.8, n = 8) as wide as long, and 31.7���40.6 % (36.6 �� 3.1, n = 8) as deep as wide in females. Rostral narrower than mental to as wide as mental (67.6 ���100.0%, 85.2 �� 8.7, n = 15, of width of mental), posteriorly forming border of nostril; dorsal margin of rostral deeply notched medially by shallow groove; rostral groove bifurcating slightly ventral to center of nostril; rostral bordered posteriorly by three (60 %, n = 15), four (27 %, n = 15), or five (13 %, n = 15) postrostrals; postrostral at midline projecting into posterior margin of rostral, except in UTA R- 61582 where posterior margin of rostral straight; internarial region narrow, 16.8���22.6 % (19.3 �� 1.8, n = 15) as wide as head; distance between anterior margins of orbit 30.3���38.6 % (35.3 �� 2.5, n = 15) as wide as head; shallow, key-hole shaped depression occupying most of prefrontal, frontal, and parietal areas (depression bordered laterally by slightly raised canthal, circumorbital, and supratemporal ridges and thickened skin at occiput); scales on dorsal snout granular, subpyrimidal, smooth, subequal in size, about as large as tubercles in parietal regions and distinctly smaller than granules between eyes; tubercles extending to frontal region and supraorbital skin; tubercles on dorsal surface of head subpyrimidal and smooth, much smaller than those on body, each surrounded by seven or eight granular scales; dorsal body tubercles unicarinate, oval, slightly projecting from dorsum, about five times as large as dorsal granules, 23���26 (23 �� 2, n = 14) longitudinal rows at midbody including scales in ventrolateral folds, 28���38 (33 �� 3, n = 14) irregular transverse rows between limbs; dorsal granules smooth. Nostril oval, directed postero-laterally and somewhat dorsally; bordered by rostral, postrostral, supranasal, nasal, and narrow antero-dorsal process of first supralabial; supranasal rounded to rhomboidal, about three times as large as adjacent postnasals; postnasals 5���7 (6 �� 1, n = 14); snout length 34.5���42.6 % (38.1 �� 2.1, n = 15) of head length and distance from orbit to nostril accounting for 73.4���80.3 % (77.0 �� 2.0, n = 15) of snout length; loreal region sloping; lips somewhat flared; 16���22 (20 �� 2, n = 15) loreals between nasal and anterior border of orbit; lorilabials in front of orbit flat, plate-like, enlarged relative to other loreals (1.5���3 times as large as loreals above them, but much smaller than supralabials); eye separated from supralabials by one or two longitudinal rows of tiny granules; diameter of orbit 19.0��� 25.7 % (23.3 �� 2.0, n = 15) of head length; temporal region with granular scales separating large, rounded, smooth or weakly keeled tubercles; distance from posterior border of orbit to anterior border of auditory meatus 24.1���33.5 % (29.3 �� 2.4, n = 15) of head length; auditory meatus deep, elliptical, directed postero-dorsally at about 40 �� to vertical, positioned at posterior end of head and with its ventral margin at same level as rictus; smallest diameter of auditory meatus 60���70 % smaller than greatest diameter; enlarged supralabials 9���12 (11 �� 1, n = 16), last separated by 1���5 small granular scales from rictus (12���16 total supralabials; 8���10 from center of orbit to rostral); first supralabial with antero-dorsal extension reaching nostril and separating lorilabials from rostral; remaining supralabials subrectangular with rounded dorsal edges, reducing in size to rictus. Mental triangular; infralabials 8���11 (10 �� 1, n = 16; 6���8 from center of orbit); pair of postmentals in contact medially; second pair of postmentals oval to squarish, about half as wide as first pair, separated from one another medially by 6���11 (9 �� 1, n = 15) small granular scales bordering first pair of postmentals; sublabial row decreasing in size posteriorly, not differentiated from adjacent gulars at level of eye; gulars small, smooth, granular, nonimbricate, much smaller than ventrals; in front of pectoral girdle, gulars grading into progressively larger, imbricate scales; scale of chest like ventrals; ventrals smooth, imbricate, flat, circular, about as wide as tubercles on dorsum; ventrals in transverse row at midbody 38���49 (44 �� 4, n = 13); ventrolateral skin fold distinct, containing tubercles. Tail subcylindrical, though somewhat flattened dorsally and ventrally; tubercles restricted to 16.0��� 24.9 % (19.1 �� 3.1, n = 6) of intact tails; distribution of tubercles at base of tail like dorsal body, distally tubercles not projecting and arrayed in 3���6 verticils; verticils separated by 6���9 small scales along dorsal midline; tubercles on tail not extending to ventral side, although some scales of verticils may be slightly enlarged relative to other subcaudals; subcaudals flat, homogenous, 1.5���2 times as large as scales on sides of tail; each subcaudal about as long as wide; transversely enlarged subcaudal plates absent; cloacal tubercles rounded, smooth, single, slightly smaller than dorsal tubercles; tip of tail capped by granular scales. Brachium covered in small, homogenous, weakly keeled scales; brachial tubercles usually present (67 %, n = 15); antebrachium tuberculate; antebrachial tubercles subpyrimidal, unicarinate, about four times as large as granular scales between them, slightly smaller than those on dorsum; ventral surfaces of brachium and antebrachium covered in smooth, slightly imbricate, homogenous scales; scales on palm and dorsal surface of hand smooth, imbricate; scales under finger I 8���11 (n = 15 for all digits), under finger II 13���15, under finger III 14���18, under finger IV 16���19, under finger V 13���16 (all counts excluding ungual scale); one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto palm at base of digits. Thigh, shank, and postaxial half of dorsal foot (at base of toes IV���V) tuberculate; tubercles of leg subpyrimidal, unicarinate, about same size as those on dorsum, about five times as large as small granular scales between them; preaxial and ventral surface of thigh covered in rounded, flat, imbricate scales; ventral thigh with enlarged row of pore-bearing scales and similarly enlarged row of scales anterior to pore-bearing row; this doubled row of scales arranged in an inverted V with its apex at midline of belly; abrupt transition to tiny granules on postaxial surface of thigh; postfemoral granules only one-fifth to one-sixth size of pore-bearing scales; sole covered in flat, imbricate, rounded scales; scales under toe I 8���11 (n = 15), under toe II 13���15, under toe III 16���20; under toe IV 18���22, under toe V 17���21; one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto sole at base of digits. Arrangement of pore-bearing scales sexually dimorphic; both sexes with single, greatly enlarged scale at apex of pore-bearing series (Fig. 2); apical scale twice as long as wide, with single pore or pore primordium at its posterior end; apical scale superficial in females and juveniles, sunken into precloacal depression of males; total pores 28���32 (30 �� 2, n = 6) in males; pore rows of males continuous, extending onto thighs; pore primordia present (75 %, n = 8) or absent (25 %) in females; when present, total pore primordia 13���29 (20 �� 6, n = 6); in two specimens distal primordia separated by gaps of 2 / 4 and 3 / 3 (right/left) scales on thigh; in specimens without gaps, primordia extending for short distance onto thigh (50 %, n = 6) or restricted to body (50 %). Coloration. In life (based on field notes of M.B. Harvey and photos of all specimens in the type series), Cyrtodactylus psarops has a gray, greenish gray, or greenish brown ground coloration with brown markings widely edged in black. On the flanks, tubercles edging the brown dorsal markings are frequently bright yellow, sharply contrasting with the adjacent color. Anastomosing brown and pale yellow markings cover the dorsal snout. The supraciliaries are also yellow with some black areas. The rostral, mental, narial region, and labials are mostly charcoal to black, and the labials are marked by widely spaced, distinctive yellow spots. Dorsally, several large subcircular blotches cover the parietal area. A wide postocular stripe extends beyond the arm onto the flank. A transverse nuchal band may partially fuse to the postocular stripe, although the two markings are usually separate from one another. The iris is reddish brown, edged in black and with a black reticulum. The ciliary body is only slightly lighter than the iris and indistict. In Cyrtodactylus psarops, the distal third of the tongue is black above and below, whereas the rest of the tongue is pink. Cyrtodactylus psarops (Fig. 3) has one band on the neck, 7���9 (8 �� 1, n = 15) bands on the body, and 10���13 (11 �� 1, n = 6) bands on the tail. Bands on the neck and body frequently break up into subcircular blotches. Bands on the tail are narrower than the pale interspaces at the base of the tail but longer than the interspaces distally. Distally, the caudal interspaces become increasingly more pale. Ventrally the caudal bands are continuous (i.e., the tail is ringed). Regenerated tails are entirely tan above and below. The brachium, antebrachium, thigh, and shank each bears three to four bands. Banding extends onto the hand and foot, although the digits are mostly charcoal or dark brown. Except for the tail, the venter is pale pink to purple. Palms and soles are heavily melanic, whereas the porebearing scales are distinctly paler than scales around them. Adult males have a distinctive chalky white, semilunar area anterior and lateral to the precloacal depression. This chalky area extends to the groin. Etymology. This species��� name psarops is a noun in apposition derived from the Greek words psaros, meaning speckled, and ops, meaning face. The new name alludes to the characteristic yellow speckling of the labials and snout in this species. Standard English name. Speckle-faced Bent-toed Geckos. Standard Indonesian name. Cicak Jari Lengkung Muka Bintik. Distribution and natural history. We collected most of the type specimens from humid forest, coffee plantations, and adjacent secondary growth on Gunung Tanggamus and mountains surrounding Ngarip, a small town in the southern Bukit Barisan Range, Lampung, Sumatra (Fig. 4). Cyrtodactylus psarops extends into adjacent Sumatera Selatan at Gunung Pesagi. We encountered most specimens on the forest floor at night (19:00��� 21: 10 hrs), however this species readily ascends into low vegetation. We found UTA R- 61581 about 2 m aboveground on the stem of a plant at the forest edge and MZB 9702 about 1 m aboveground on a dead tree in a coffee plantation. Cyrtodactylus psarops occurs between 950���1419 m, however, its elevational range may be broader. We did not visit sites at higher or lower elevations in the vicinity of the type locality., Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia & Smith, Eric N., 2015, Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Southern Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra and an estimation of their phylogeny, pp. 495-516 in Zootaxa 4020 (3) on pages 498-503, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/240877
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- 2015
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16. Cyrtodactylus semicinctus Harvey, O'Connell, Barraza, Riyanto, Kurniawan & Smith, 2015, sp. nov
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Reptilia ,Cyrtodactylus semicinctus ,Cyrtodactylus ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Cyrtodactylus semicinctus sp. nov. Harvey, O���Connell, Barraza, Riyanto, Kurniawan & Smith Holotype. An adult male (MZB 9703, collector���s tag ENS 14958, Fig. 5) from montane forest on a trail above Kayu Aro, leading to the top of Mt. Kerinci, Kabupaten Kerinci, Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, 1905 m, 1.74159 �� S, 101.26015 ��E, collected on 24 June 2013 by M. B. Harvey and K. A. O���Connell. Paratypes (7). Two males (MZB 9695, 9696), four females (MZB 9694, UTA R- 61576, 61577, 61588), and one unsexed juvenile (MZB 9701) collected from the same trail as the holotype, 1752���2006 m, on 21 June 2014 by M. B. Harvey, E. N. Smith, and other members of the summer 2013 field party. Diagnosis. A medium size species of Cyrtodactylus reaching 89 mm SVL and distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body moderately robust; limbs and digits relatively long; (2) tail 1.05���1.19 times longer than body; (3) subpyramidal, weakly keeled tubercles extending from parietal region and supraorbital skin to base of tail, 24���27 irregular longitudinal rows of tubercles at midbody, 29���35 irregular transverse rows between limbs; (4) dorsal antebrachium tuberculate, brachium lacking tubercles; (5) tubercles on tail restricted to basal third; (6) 33���44 ventrals in a transverse row at midbody; (7) subcaudals not transversely enlarged; (8) deep, subtriangular precloacal depression in males; (9) 36���38 femoral and precloacal pores in males, arrayed in a continuous series (fewer pore primordia usually present in females), sunken into precloacal depression; (10) scale at anterior apex of pore-bearing scales greatly enlarged, sunken into precloacal depression in males, superficial in females; (11) pore-bearing series sharply transitioning to tiny granular scales of postaxial surface of thigh; (12) 19���22 lamellae under fourth toe; (13) cloacal tubercles 2 / 2 or 3 / 3 contacting one another; (14) dorsal pattern of brown blotches widely edged in black; tubercles on flanks yellow to pale cream; (15) labials mostly yellow; wide U-shaped band around occiput to loreal region; (16) 5���7 transverse, irregular or broken bands on body; 9���11 regular bands on tail, incomplete ventrally, except near distal tip of some specimens. Description. Medium-size Cyrtodactylus reaching at least 89 mm SVL in females, 75 mm in males; smallest juvenile 36 mm SVL; body moderately robust, accounting for 69.9���72.9 % (n = 3) of SVL in males, 70.1���74.3 % (n = 4) of SVL in females; tail 1.05���1.19 (1.10 �� 0.05, n = 5) times longer than body and accounting for 51.4���54.4 % (52.4 �� 1.2, n = 5) of total length; head triangular in dorsal view; head 27.1���30.1 % of SVL, 62.4���71.1 % as wide as long, and 37.6���40.3 % as deep as wide in males (n = 3) and 25.7���29.9 % of SVL, 58.7���72.3 % as wide as long, and 32.7���37.1 % as deep as wide in females (n = 4). Rostral narrower than mental (76.7���99.5 %, 89.5 �� 8.6, n = 8, of width of mental), posteriorly forming border of nostril; dorsal margin of rostral deeply notched medially by shallow groove; rostral bordered posteriorly by three (50 %, n = 8), four (38 %, n = 8), or five (12 %, n = 8) postrostrals; postrostral at midline projecting into posterior margin of rostral; internarial region narrow, 17.2���21.1 % (19.5 �� 1.4, n = 8) as wide as head; distance between anterior margins of orbit 29.2���39.6 % (34.8 �� 3.9, n = 8) as wide as head; shallow, key-hole shaped depression occupying most of prefrontal, frontal, and parietal areas (depression bordered laterally by slightly raised canthal, circumorbital, and supratemporal ridges and thickened skin at occiput); scales on dorsal snout granular, subpyrimidal, smooth, subequal in size, and slightly larger than granules of frontal and parietal regions; tubercles extending to parietal region and on supraorbital skin but absent from snout and depressed areas between eyes; tubercles on dorsal surface of head subpyrimidal and smooth, much smaller than those on body, each surrounded by seven or eight granular scales; dorsal body tubercles unicarinate, oval, slightly projecting from dorsum, about five times as large as dorsal granules, 24���27 (25 �� 1, n = 8) longitudinal rows at midbody including scales in ventrolateral folds, 29���35 (32 �� 2, n = 8) irregular transverse rows between limbs; dorsal granules smooth. Nostril oval, directed postero-laterally and somewhat dorsally; bordered by rostral, postrostral, supranasal, nasal, and narrow antero-dorsal process of first supralabial; supranasal rounded, about twice as large as adjacent postnasals; postnasals 4���6 (5 �� 0, n = 16); snout length 37.3���44.7 % (40.8 �� 2.1, n = 8) of head length and distance from orbit to nostril accounting for 68.1���77.6 % (72.7 �� 2.8, n = 8) of snout length; loreal region sloping; lips flared; 16���23 (18 �� 2, n = 8) loreals between nasal and anterior border of orbit; lorilabials in front of orbit flat, plate-like, enlarged relative to other loreals (1.5���2 times as large as loreals above them, but much smaller than supralabials); eye separated from supralabials by one or two longitudinal rows of tiny granules; diameter of orbit 20.8���26.6 % (23.4 �� 2.0, n = 8) of head length; temporal region with granular scales separating large, subpyrimidal, and keeled tubercles; distance from posterior border of orbit to anterior border of auditory meatus 27.0��� 33.3 % (29.7 �� 2.3, n = 8) of head length; auditory meatus deep, narrowly elliptical, directed postero-dorsally at about 30 �� to vertical, positioned at posterior end of head and with its ventral margin at same level as rictus; smallest diameter of auditory meatus 60���70 % smaller than greatest diameter; enlarged supralabials 8���11 (10 �� 1, n = 15), last separated by 2���4 small granular scales from rictus (10���15 total supralabials; 7���9 from center of orbit to rostral); first supralabial with antero-dorsal extension reaching nostril and separating lorilabials from rostral; remaining supralabials subrectangular with rounded dorsal edges, reducing in size to rictus. Mental triangular; infralabials 8���10 (9 �� 1, n = 15; 6���7 from center of orbit); pair of postmentals in contact medially; second pair of postmentals squarish, about half as wide as first pair, separated from one another medially by 6���8 (7 �� 1, n = 8) small granular scales bordering first pair of postmentals; sublabial row decreasing in size posteriorly; gulars small, smooth, granular, nonimbricate, much smaller than ventrals; gulars grading into progressively larger, imbricate scales just in front of pectoral girdle; scale of chest like ventrals; ventrals smooth, imbricate, flat, circular, slightly smaller than tubercles on dorsum, but much smaller than dorsal granules; ventrals in transverse row at midbody 33���44 (38 �� 5, n = 6); ventrolateral skin fold distinct, containing tubercles. Tail subcylindrical, though somewhat flattened dorsally and ventrally; tubercles restricted to 17.2���23.3 % of intact tails (n = 2); distribution of tubercles at base of tail like dorsal body, distally tubercles not projecting and arrayed in 1���5 verticils; verticiles separated by 5���7 small scales along dorsal midline; tubercles on tail not extending to ventral side, although some scales of verticils may be slightly enlarged relative to other subcaudals; subcaudals flat, homogenous, two or three times as large as scales on sides of tail; each subcaudal about as long as wide; transversely enlarged subcaudal plates absent; in specimens with regenerated tails, subcaudals just proximal to regenerated portion enlarged: about half again as long as scale row proximal to them; cloacal tubercles rounded, smooth, two (88 %, n = 16) or three (12 %, n = 16, both counts of three in one specimen: UTA R- 61577), in contact with one another, half again as large as dorsal tubercles; tip of tail capped by granular scales. Brachium covered in small, homogenous, weakly keeled scales; brachial tubercles absent; antebrachium tuberculate; antebrachial tubercles subpyrimidal, unicarinate, about four times as large as granular scales between them, slightly smaller than those on dorsum; ventral surfaces of brachium and antebrachium covered in smooth, slightly imbricate, homogenous scales; scales on palm and dorsal surface of hand granular, smooth, weakly (ventrally) to moderately (dorsal surface) imbricate; scales under finger I 8���10 (n = 8 for all digits), under finger II 12���15, under finger III 15���17, under finger IV 16���18, under finger V 12���15 (all counts excluding ungual scale); one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto palm at base of digits. Thigh, shank, and postaxial half of dorsal foot (at base of toes IV���V) tuberculate; tubercles of leg subpyrimidal, unicarinate, about same size as those on dorsum, about five times as large as small granular scales between them; preaxial and ventral surface of thigh covered in rounded, flat, imbricate scales; ventral thigh with enlarged row of pore-bearing scales and similarly enlarged row of scales anterior to pore-bearing row; this doubled row of scales arranged in an inverted V with its apex at midline of belly; abrupt transition to tiny granules on postaxial surface of thigh; postfemoral granules only one-fifth to one-sixth size of pore-bearing scales; sole covered in flat, imbricate, rounded scales; scales under toe I 8���11, under toe II 12���15, under toe III 17���19; under toe IV 19��� 22, under toe V 17���20; one or two scales widened and similar to lamellae extending onto sole at base of digits. Arrangement of pore-bearing scales sexually dimorphic; both sexes with single, greatly enlarged scale at apex of pore-bearing series; apical scale twice as long as wide, with single pore or pore primordium at its posterior end; apical scale superficial in females and juveniles, sunken into precloacal depression in males; total pores 36 and 38 in two adult males (SVL 75 mm and 68 mm, respectively), only 14 in small male (SVL 55 mm) perhaps due to ontogenetic differences; two females (SVL 51 mm and 89 mm, respectively) with 17 and 19 pore primordia, one lacking primordia (SVL 83 mm); in both sexes pores and/or primordia extending onto thigh. Coloration. In life, Cyrtodactylus semicinctus has a light gray, greenish tan, or dull orange ground coloration with brown to reddish brown markings widely edged in black (MZB 9695 was in the process of shedding and its ground coloration was gray rather than orange or greenish tan). Narrow markings are entirely black. The dorsal tubercles are a paler shade than the dorsal ground color. On the flanks, even some of the tubercles within dark markings are this pale color, so that the flanks appear to be densely speckled. A yellow wash covers the labials, rostral, and supraciliary scales. These yellowish scales are mostly immaculate, although small, irregular black blotches mark the narial and internarial region and sometimes extend ventrally onto the rostral and or first supralabial. Dorsally, the head usually has one to three poorly defined blotches in the parietal region and a sharp black line edging the gray to yellow supraciliaries medially. This species has a distinctive U-shaped marking extending from the loreal regions around the occiput. The marking begins a short distance behind the nasal just above the enlarged series of lorilabials and widens just in front of the eye. Behind the eye and around the occiput, a slightly more narrow pale band edges the U-shaped band dorsally and accentuates it. The iris is reddish brown to greenish bronze, edged in black and with a black reticulum. The ciliary body is only slightly lighter than the iris and indistict. Cyrtodactylus semicinctus (Fig. 6) has one band on the neck, 5���7 (6 �� 1, n = 8) bands on the body, and 9���11 (10 �� 1, n = 5) bands on the tail. Bands on the neck and body are jagged, irregular, and frequently broken on the flanks. When broken, blotches on the flanks may fuse with one another, sometimes to produce long sinuous markings. In particular, the band on the neck usually breaks up into blotches. However, the band on the neck does not fuse to the U-shaped nuchal band. Bands on the tail are slightly longer than the pale interspaces. Except near the distal tip of the tail of some specimens, the bands are not continuous ventrally (i.e., the tail is banded, not ringed; all specimens have at least the basal one-third of the tail not regenerated and none have ringed tails). Distally, the caudal interspaces become increasingly more pale. Regenerated tails are entirely black or mostly black with few scattered cream scales. The brachium, antebrachium, thigh, and shank each bears two or three jagged, irregular bands. Except for the tail, the venter is mostly rose pink to grayish purple. Palms and soles are a darker shade of the same ground color, whereas the pore-bearing series are distinctly paler than scales around them. Some scales at the edges of the venter are the same color as the dorsal ground coloration. They form a diffuse reticulum against the rose pink to grayish purple ground color. This diffuse, greenish tan to orange reticulum is restricted to the lateral edges of the belly and pre- and postaxial margins of the ventral limbs, but extends across the entire gular region. The cloacal tubercles are greenish tan or orange. Ventrally, intact tails are tessellated with charcoal and elements of the dorsal ground coloration. Etymology. This species��� name semicinctus is a masculine adjective derived from the Latin noun cinctum, meaning girdle or belt, and prefix semi, meaning partial or incomplete. The name alludes to the incomplete caudal rings of this species. Standard English name. Kerinci Bent-toed Geckos. Standard Indonesian name. Cicak Jari Lengkung Kerinci. Distribution and natural history. This species is known only from the type locality. We collected the entire type series between 1752���2006 m along a trail above the tiny hamlet of Kayu Aro. The trail extends through apparently pristine forest to the top of Mt. Kerinci and is frequented by hikers. Field parties collected Cyrtodactylus semicinctus on the forest floor at night (1950���2340 hrs) and we found most specimens around tree trunks. In field notes, Harvey noted that UTA R- 61576 emitted a faint ���baaap��� when first grasped and a louder ���raaank��� when struggling as the senior author collected color notes., Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia & Smith, Eric N., 2015, Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Southern Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra and an estimation of their phylogeny, pp. 495-516 in Zootaxa 4020 (3) on pages 503-507, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/240877
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- 2015
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17. Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Southern Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra and an estimation of their phylogeny
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Gekkonidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Harvey, Michael B., O'Connell, Kyle A., Barraza, Gabriel, Riyanto, Awal, Kurniawan, Nia, Smith, Eric N. (2015): Two new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Southern Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra and an estimation of their phylogeny. Zootaxa 4020 (3): 495-516, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.5
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- 2015
18. Pseudocalotes guttalineatus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith, new species
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Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle, and Smith, Eric N.
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Pseudocalotes ,Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Agamidae ,Pseudocalotes guttalineatus ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Pseudocalotes guttalineatus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith new species (Fig. 6) Holotype. An adult female (MZB 9796) from montane forest above Ngarip, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, 5.28 °S, 104.56 ° E, 1391 m, collected 10 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Paratypes. Thirteen specimens (MZB 9652, 9765, 9792 –9795, 9801, UTA 60536, 60540–60543, 60554) from the same mountain as the holotype, 1341–1521 m, collected 10–12 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Two specimens (UTA 60500 –60501) from Maura Dua, Remanan Jaya, Gunung Pesagi (localy known as Masagi), Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia, 4.91 °S, 104.13 °E, 1574–1643 m, collected 17 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Diagnosis. A species of Pseudocalotes reaching at least 316 mm (95 mm SVL) and distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) discrete interparietal absent (2) canthals 5–7, usually six; (3) enlarged, heavily keeled to subpyramidal nuchal, posttemporal, posttympanic, and postrictal scales present; (4) gulars medium-sized with sharp transition to smaller scales on well-developed gular pouch; (5) antehumeral skin fold absent; (6) 6–7 enlarged, heavily keeled scales in dorsolateral series between limbs, extending onto neck as short row of closely spaced scales; (7) scales on lower flanks feebly keeled and homogenous (8) 45–55 scales around midbody (9) dorsal crest of projecting scales, extending to tail of male and midbody of females; (10) ventrals smaller than dorsals; (11) subdigital lamellae at base of Toe III modified: prominent preaxial keels pointed; postaxial keels absent or greatly reduced; (12) dorsum green with dorsolateral series of pale grayish blue, heavily keeled scales; (13) venter light green, without pale ventrolateral stripe between limbs; (14) gular region with grayish blue lines evident when gular pouch extended; (15) tongue and floor of mouth yellow-orange, throat black. Comparisons. Pseudocalotes guttalineatus can be distinguished from other agamids on Sumatra by its clearly visible tympanum, enlarged row of scales below orbit bordering supralabials, absence of skin folds, broad separation of dorsal and nuchal crests, heterogenous dorsal squamation, tail about twice as long as SVL, keeled subdigital lamellae, dorsals larger than ventrals, absence of large spines in the nuchal and postorbital regions, relatively narrow head, yellow-orange buccal epithelium, black throat, and other characters of external morphology described in the differential diagnosis of Pseudocalotes ( Hallermann & Böhme 2000, as expanded by Mahony 2010). Pseudocalotes guttalineatus is most similar to P. cybelidermus with which it has been found in microsympatry. Unlike P. cybelidermus (characters in parentheses), P. guttalineatus lacks an interparietal (present) and has relatively small gulars numbering 23–31 (Fig. 4; relatively large gulars, 17–25) from the preaxial margin of the arm to the mental, homogenous and weakly keeled dorsals below the dorsolateral row of heavily keeled scales (dorsals on lower flanks heterogenous, with scattered heavily keeled scales among feebly keeled scales, Fig. 5), and ventrals smaller than dorsals (larger). Of the 15 species of Pseudocalotes recognized before this study, only P. tympanistriga has been reported from Sumatra. Unlike P. tympanistriga (characters in parentheses), P. guttalineatus has a serrate dorsal crest in males extending onto the base of the tail (nuchal crest projecting, but dorsal crest of low, heavily keeled scales), a gap of 4–8 scales between the nuchal and dorsal crests (2–3 scales), flanks with six or seven enlarged keeled scales in a single dorsolateral row between limbs (four or five), much more developed preaxial than postaxial keels on subdigital lamellae at the base of the third toe (preaxial and postaxial keels equally developed), and yellow-orange tongue (cream). Most other congeners appear to be restricted to high elevations and are unlikely to be discovered on Sumatra. Unlike the new species, Pseudocalotes austeniana, P. kakhienensis, and P. kingdonwardi have well-developed antehumeral folds and dorsals that are strongly heterogenous in size and shape. With 45–55 scales around midbody, P. guttalineatus has more scales around midbody than P. flavigula (Smith 1924; 37–40) and fewer scales around midbody than P. andamanensis (57–62), P. brevipes (Werner 1904; 65–80), P. khaonanensis Chan-ard et al. 2008 (72–75) P. microlepis (Boulenger 1888; 65–72), P. poilani (56–60), P. saravacensis Inger & Stuebing 1994 (68), and P. ziegleri Hallermann et al. 2010 (57–64). Unlike P. laurutensis Hallermann & McGuire 2001 (characters in parentheses), the new species has 5–7 canthals (four), a projecting dorsal crest (scales keeled but not projecting), a bright green dorsum with a dorsolateral row of contrasting pale spots (dorsum tan-yellow with slight greenish cast), and a light green gular pouch with grayish blue stripes in males (yellow central spot flanked by plum-colored patches). Unlike P. floweri (Boulenger 1912) the new species has a serrate dorsal crest (low, denticulate) relatively low subdigital keels at the base of Toe III (subdigital lamellae with blade-like lateral extensions), a dorsolateral series of enlarged, heavily keeled scales between the limbs (absent), and modified posttympanic and postrictal scales (absent). Unlike P. dringi Hallermann & Böhme 2000, P. guttalineatus has greatly reduced or absent postaxial keels at the base of Toe III (subdigital lamellae bicarinate at base of Toe III), a serrate dorsal crest of projecting scales (scales of dorsal crest not projecting, crest formed by keels of scales), and a gular pouch covered in green scales separated by pale grayish blue skin (gular sac with “an oval blue black ocellus enclosing a pinkish purple patch,” Hallermann & Böhme 2000, p. 200). Description. Males reaching at least 315.7 mm (SVL 95.3 mm, n = 5) and females 275.8 mm (SVL 188.0 mm, n = 10) in length; smallest juvenile 128.4 mm (SVL 39.4 mm); SVL 29.3–31.8 % (30.8 ± 0.8, n = 15) and tail 68.2–70.7 % (69.2 ± 0.8, n = 15) of total length; tail 2.14–2.41 X (2.24 ± 0.09, n = 15) as long as SVL; distance from axilla to groin accounting for 46.4–53.7 % (50.3 ± 2.3, n = 16) of SVL; head 65.5–76.8 % (71.0 ± 2.8, n = 16) as wide as long, accounting for 20.3–26.6 % (22.9 ± 1.8, n = 16) of SVL; snout subacuminate in dorsal view and in profile, sloping upward at about 25 ° to horizontal (Fig. 7); dorsal head scales imbricate, smooth on snout, keeled posteriorly; rostral wider than mental, about three times as wide as tall, contacting first supralabial and five (81 %, n = 16), six (13 %, n = 16), or seven (6 %, n = 16) small postrostrals; postrostral series separating nasal from rostral (no small scale intercalated between nasal and rostral); in prefrontal region, 2–3 larger scales at midline followed by pair of laterally positioned enlarged scales in front of orbits (arrangement of enlarged scales forming an inverted Y); scales of frontal and parietal region small, keeled; key-hole shaped depression in interparietal region better developed in larger specimens due to hypertrophy of the jaw muscles; parietal eye not visible; discrete interparietal scale not differentiated (one specimen, UTA 60542, has a long narrow scale in the center of the parietal region that may be a differentiated interparietal); supranasal scale single, elongate; circumorbital scales 9–13 (11 ± 1, n = 32) distinctly enlarged, roughly pentagonal or hexagonal, fractured into smaller scales where they contact canthal series; canthals keeled, usually 6 (84 %, n = 32), infrequently 5 (13 %, n = 32) or 7 (3 %, n = 32); supraciliaries 5–8 (6 ± 1, n = 32), elongate except for last one or two; 1 / 1 large rounded scale behind supraciliaries at dorso-posterior edge of orbit; angulate, keeled scale of temporal region interrupted by 2 / 2 larger scales with noticeably higher keels; single subpyramidal and heavily keeled posttemporal scale on neck just behind bulge produced by hypertrophy of the jaw muscles; second similarly enlarged and heavily keeled nuchal scale present (69 %, n = 16) or absent (31 %, n = 16), positioned dorsal and posterior to posttemporal scale and in fourth row of paravertebrals, separated from subpyramidal postemporal scale by one or two small dorsals. Nasal trapezoidal, contacting first and second supralabial (28 %, n = 32), first supralabial only (66 %, n = 32), or separated from supralabials by row of small scales (6 %, n = 32); nostril large, circular, directed laterally, positioned at dorsal edge in center of nasal with its upper margin contributing to canthus; distance from posterior border of nostril to anterior ocular angle 36.2–48.1 %(42.3 ± 2.7, n = 16) of head length; loreal region vertical; scales of loreal region weakly keeled; eye 19.3–29.5 % (22.2 ± 2.5, n = 16) of head length; palpebrals granular, showing noteworthy differentiation in two places: (1) second row of palpebrals above eye with 4–6 heavily keeled scales in center, and (2) patch of thin scales, cream with melanic centers forming opaque window in lower eyelid; lower margin of orbit separated from supralabials by one small and one larger row of scales; large subocular scale row bordering supralabials; row of two (22 %, n = 32) or three (78 %, n = 32) distinctly enlarged, keeled, roughly hexagonal scales between external auditory meatus and orbit (when only two present, divided scale present where first scale found in specimens with three of these scales); external auditory meatus subcircular, shallow, 15.2–20.7 % (17.7 ± 1.5, n = 16) as long as head and 61.3–94.4 % (80.4 ± 9.7, n = 16) as long as ocular aperture, its distance from orbit 21.0–29.0% (25.5 ± 2.1, n = 16) of head length; tympanic membrane clearly visible, opaque where it attaches to extracolumella, its antero-ventral one-fourth to three-fourths semitransparent; scales surrounding meatus small, granular; prominent posttympanic subpyramidal scale separated from meatus by three scales and positioned above similar large postrictal subpyramidal scale; in most specimens, postrictal scale one scale row removed from meatus and positioned directly above it. Supralabials smooth, nine (47 %, n = 32) or ten (53 %, n = 32); infralabials smooth, seven (3 %, n = 32), eight (56 %, n = 32), nine (38 %, n = 32) or ten (3 %, n = 32); two (22 %, n = 32), three (47 %, n = 32), or four (31 %, n = 32) enlarged postmentals contacting infralabials; thereafter, sublabial scales separating enlarged postmentals from infralabials; first pair of postmentals in contact medially (38 %, n = 8) or separated medially by single small gular (62 %, n = 8); gulars keeled, 23–31 (28 ± 2, n = 16) from posterior tip of mental to preaxial margin of arm; gular pouch well developed, longitudinal; scales at distal end of gular pouch about one-fourth size of large gulars lateral to them. Nuchal crest consisting of 10–12 (11 ± 1, n = 16) elongate scales, longer scales separated from one another by low scales similar to paravertebral series; dorsal crest prominent in males, consisting of flattened, triangular scales (posterior to midbody, elongate scales of crest only slightly projecting in females), 24–34 (29 ± 3, n = 16) scales to posterior margin of thigh and some separated from one another by small scales of paravertebral series that meet one another medially; scales of dorsal crest separated from nuchal crest by gap of 4–8 (6 ± 1, n = 16) low, keeled dorsals; dorsals larger than ventrals, paravertebral two or three longitudinal rows pointing posteriorly and upward, remaining dorsals directed downward and posteriorly; orientation of scales on neck same as that between limbs; scales of flanks feebly keeled, homogenous except for single dorsolateral row of widely spaced, heavily keeled scales located in seventh row of dorsals below dorsal crest; dorsolateral keeled scales six (63 %, n = 30) or seven (37 %, n = 30) between limbs, separated from one another by 1–8 (usually 3–5) scales; dorsolateral series of heavily keeled scales extending in front of arm with about four large keeled scales separated from one another by 1–2 scales; heavily keeled scales absent from lower flanks; some specimens with single heavily keeled scale on lower neck in front of arm; scales around midbody 45–55 (49 ± 3, n = 16); no sharp transition to ventrals so that ventrals in a transverse row not countable; ventrals heavily keeled, noticeably smaller in area between arms, 45–54 (49 ± 3, n = 16) from preaxial edge of arm to preaxial edge of leg; preanal scales keeled, similar to, though somewhat smaller than ventrals, 7–10 (8 ± 1, n = 16) from preaxial edge of leg to vent; scales around vent unspecialized; scales around base of tail (counted five subcaudals behind vent) 15–20 (17 ± 2, n = 16); except for very short rictal fold, folds and pockets absent. Scales of brachium, antebrachium, thigh, and shank imbricate, keeled; some scales on postaxial border of antebrachium with more prominent mucrons than those on preaxial border; on thigh, enlarged scale with more developed, somewhat blade-like, keel positioned slightly postaxial to middorsal in center of thigh (some specimens with similar scale contacting this modified scale and positioned more postaxial and medial to it); this modified scale of thigh also much larger than all other scales on dorsal surface of thigh; palmar scales tiny, keeled with spinose mucrons; palmar subdigital lamellae multicarinate with spinose mucrons at base of fingers, bicarinate distally, 22–28 (25 ± 2, n = 16) under Finger IV; plantar scales heavily keeled, mucronate, imbricate, those proximal to Toes III–IV noticeably larger than other plantar scales; pedal subdigital lamellae bicarinate, their keels similar except at base of Toe III where preaxial keels prominent and postaxial keels absent or greatly reduced; subdigital lamellae 26–32 (29 ± 2, n = 16) under Toe IV, divided longitudinally under proximal phalangeal articulation of Toes III and IV, entire under all other phalangeal articulations; single subdigital and single supradigital ungual lamellae contacting one another on all fingers and toes; ungual lamellae much longer than other subdigital lamellae; supradigital scales proximal to supradigital ungual lamella 4 on all fingers and toes; lamellae under all distal phalanges bicarinate; in relative length, Finger III> IV> II> V> I and Toe IV> III> V> II> I; when adpressed, tip of claw on Toe V closely approaching proximal phalangeal articulation of Toe IV but not passing it; leg relatively long, 46.4–53.7 % (50.3 ± 2.3, n = 16) as long as SVL; length of foot accounting for 36.9 –42.0% (39.6 ± 1.7, n = 15) of length of leg. Scale surfaces covered in macrohoneycomb; scale organs lenticular, single and positioned subterminally atop keel on body, more numerous and also concentrated on keels on head; bristled sense organs single, positioned below distal tip of keel, well developed on all scales of digits and present on most ventral surfaces of body, limbs, and tail, absent from dorsal body and head; at least some ventral scales with both types of sense organs on same scale; callous glands, pigmented generation glands (sensu Maderson & Chiu 1970; see also Harvey et al. 2014), and femoral and precloacal pores absent. Coloration: In life [based on color notes taken in field by MBH from an adult male (UTA 60536) and an adult female (MZB 9796), supplemented by color photos of most specimens of type series], roof of mouth and throat black, tongue and skin medial to labials yellow-orange except for flesh-colored epithelium adjacent to teeth; iris yellow-gold; ciliary ring pale yellow, thin, indistinct; skin between scales of gular pouch pale grayish blue; scales of gular pouch green distally and grayish blue proximally so that pouch appearing green when retracted and grayish blue with oblique green lines when extended; dorsolateral row of heavily keeled scales pale grayish blue, contrasting with green scales adjacent to them; distinct light blue-green postfemoral stripe on proximal half of thigh, extending onto base of tail; venter brighter shade of green than dorsum from tip of snout onto base of tail, but broken by pale blue V-shaped mark anterior to chest; tail green proximally grading to brown distally or with alternating light and dark green bands basally of light bluish green alternating with green or bluish green, grading to brownish green and dark brown distally; when present, proximal bands only about one-fourth as long as distal band; darker caudal bands 10–12 (11 ± 1, n = 5), however difficult to count in most specimens due to fading, absence of bands on base of tail, or fusion of bands distally. Postfemoral stripe of female edged in black; female lacking blue pigment in gular region and pale blue V-shaped mark in front of chest. In preservative, the green pigment has faded to dull grayish blue and the sky blue pigment of the dorsolateral series and modified scales of the neck has faded to cream. All specimens in the type series have blackened flanks. Etymology. The new name guttalineatus is an adjective derived from the Latin nouns gutta, meaning drop or spot, and lineatus, meaning lined. The new name refers to the dashed, bluish gray line on the neck and upper flanks of Pseudocalotes guttalineatus. Standard English Common Name. Dash-lined False Garden Lizard. Distribution and Natural History. Pseudocalotes guttalineatus occurs in sympatry with P. cybelidermus in humid montane forests of the Bukit Barisan Range of Lampung and Sumatera Selatan, Sumatra. This lizard is locally abundant on the mountains above Ngarip and at Maura Dua. Specimens were sleeping in low vegetation (below 2 m above the ground). Although we found all specimens between 1341–1625 m, coffee plantations replaced forest below this elevational range, and we did not sample areas above it. Although normally green in life, Pseudocalotes guttalineatus apparently can turn to various shades of brown, presumably in order to match its environment or temperament. One juvenile (MZB 9652, SVL 39.4 mm, Fig. 8) was brown when photographed alive, then turned green after being sacrificed for fixation. We did not record this specimen’s coloration upon capture, although, as we recall, all specimens of this species found sleeping in the forest were green and most remained this color after capture. Similarly, U
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19. Three new species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle, and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Agamidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle, Smith, Eric N. (2014): Three new species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia. Zootaxa 3841 (2): 211-238, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3841.2.3
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- 2014
20. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith, new species
- Author
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Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle, and Smith, Eric N.
- Subjects
Pseudocalotes ,Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Agamidae ,Pseudocalotes cybelidermus ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Pseudocalotes cybelidermus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith new species (Fig. 1 ���2, 6) Holotype. An adult male (MZB 9767) from montane forest at Maura Dua, Remanan Jaya, Gunung Pesagi (locally known as Masagi), Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia, 4.91 ��S, 104.13 ��E, 1574 m (Fig. 3), collected 17 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Paratypes. Six specimens (MZB 9650, 9760, 9799, UTA 60549 ���60551) from the same mountain as the holotype, 1474���1643 m, collected 17 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Eight specimens (MZB 9766, 9769, 9800, UTA 60537 ���60539, 60552- 60553) from montane forest above Ngarip, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, 5.28 ��S, 104.56 �� E, 1376���1521 m, collected 10���12 June 2013 by field parties from BC, MZB, UB, and UTA. Diagnosis. A species of Pseudocalotes reaching at least 310 mm (94 mm SVL) and distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) discrete interparietal present (2) canthals five or six; (3) enlarged, heavily keeled to subpyramidal nuchal, posttemporal, posttympanic, and postrictal subpyramidal scales present; (4) gulars relatively large with sharp transition to smaller scales on well developed gular pouch; (5) antehumeral skin fold absent; (6) 6���8 enlarged heavily keeled scales in dorsolateral series between limbs, extending onto neck as short row of closely spaced scales; (7) scales on lower flanks heterogenous: slightly enlarged, heavily keeled scales scattered among smaller feebly keeled scales (8) 51���65 scales around midbody (9) dorsal crest of pointed, projecting scales extending to tail; (10) at midbody, ventrals larger than dorsals; (11) subdigital lamellae at base of Toe III modified: preaxial keels pointed, prominent; postaxial keels absent or greatly reduced; (12) dorsum bright green with dorsolateral series of white or bluish white, heavily keeled scales; (13) venter light green with prominent ventrolateral bluish white line between legs; (14) gular pouch light green laterally and sky blue medially, its skin purplish blue so that it appears to have oblique purplish blue lines when only partially extended; (15) tongue and floor of mouth yellow-orange, throat black. Comparisons. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus can be distinguished from other agamids (characters in parentheses) on Sumatra by its clearly visible tympanum, absence of skin folds, relatively narrow head, broad separation of nuchal and dorsal crests, heterogenous dorsal squamation, tail about twice as long as SVL, keeled subdigital lamellae, absence of large spines in the nuchal and postorbital regions, single row of enlarged scales between the orbit and supralabials, orange buccal epithelium, black throat, and other characters of external morphology described in the differential diagnosis of Pseudocalotes of Hallermann & B��hme (2000) as expanded by Mahony (2010). Pseudocalotes cybelidermus is most similar to P. guttalineatus with which it occurs in microsympatry. Unlike P. guttalineatus (characters in parentheses), P. cybelidermus has an interparietal scale, 2��� 3 X as long as scales surrounding it (interparietal scale not differentiated); relatively large gulars laterally (Fig. 4), numbering 17���25 (relatively small, 23���31) from the preaxial margin of the arm to the mental; enlarged, heavily keeled scales on flanks (Fig. 5) below the dorsolateral series (dorsals on lower flanks homogenous, feebly keeled); ventrals larger than dorsals at midbody (smaller) and fewer ventrals (33���43 from the preaxial edge of the arm to the preaxial edge of the leg, compared to 45���54 in P. guttalineatus); usually more scales around midbody (51���65 compared to 45���55 in P. guttalineatus); and prominent bluish white ventrolateral stripes (absent). Of the 15 species of Pseudocalotes recognized before this study, only P. tympanistriga Gray, 1831, has been reported from Sumatra (Dring 1979; Hallermann & B��hme 2000). Unlike P. tympanistriga (characters in parentheses), P. cybelidermus has a projecting, serrate dorsal crest in males extending onto the base of the tail (nuchal crest projecting, but dorsal crest of low, enlarged, heavily keeled scales), a gap of 4���7 scales between the nuchal and dorsal crests (2���3 scales), flanks with 6���8 enlarged keeled scales in a single dorsolateral row between limbs (four or five), additional enlarged keeled scales on the lower flanks (scales on lower flanks homogenous), much more developed preaxial than postaxial keels on subdigital lamellae at the base of the third toe (preaxial and postaxial keels equally developed), and an orange tongue (cream). Ventrals larger than the dorsals, a serrate dorsal crest extending onto the base of the tail, and an enlarged and heavily keeled postrictal scale (Fig. 1) will distinguish P. cybelidermus from all congeners. Species of Bronchocela have ventrals larger than dorsals, however, species in this genus have an antehumeral fold and much longer tails than P. cybelidermus. The eggs of P. cybelidermus are oval shaped, whereas those of Bronchocela are fusiform (Diong & Lim 1998; Hallermann & B��hme 2000). Description. Males reaching at least 310.0 mm (SVL 93.7 mm, n = 8) and females 251.8 mm (SVL 79.7 mm, n = 5) in length; smallest juvenile 72 mm (SVL 25 mm, n = 2); SVL 30.2���32.7 % (31.3 �� 0.7, n = 13) and tail 67.3���69.8 % (68.7 �� 0.7, n = 13) of total length; tail 2.05���2.31 X (2.20 �� 0.07, n = 13) as long as SVL; distance from axilla to groin accounting for 43.5���52.2 % (47.7 �� 2.4, n = 13) of SVL; head 60.5���76.2 % (69.7 �� 4.3, n = 12) as wide as long, accounting for 22.0��� 27.2 % (24.3 �� 2.0, n = 12) of SVL; snout subacuminate in dorsal view and in profile, sloping upward at about 30 �� to horizontal; dorsal head scales imbricate, keeled; rostral wider than mental, about three times as wide as tall, contacting postrostral series and first supralabials; postrostrals small, usually five (80 %, n = 15), rarely four (7 %, n = 15) or six (13 %, n = 15); postrostral series separating nasal from rostral; occasionally (20 %, n = 30), extra scale intercalated between postrostral and nasal; in prefrontal region, 2���3 larger scales at midline followed by pair of laterally positioned enlarged scales in front of orbits (arrangement of enlarged scales forming an inverted Y); scales of frontal and parietal region small, keeled; key-hole shaped depression in interparietal region better developed in larger specimens due to hypertrophy of the jaw muscles; interparietal scale heptagonal, about twice as long as wide, usually with two parallel keels, distinctly flatter and 2��� 3 X as long as small scales surrounding it; parietal eye not visible; supranasal scale single, elongate; circumorbital scales 9���13 (11 �� 1, n = 30) distinctly enlarged, roughly pentagonal or hexagonal, fractured into smaller scales where they contact canthal series; canthals keeled, 5 (37 %, n = 30) or 6 (63 %, n = 30); supraciliaries 4���7 (usually 5, n = 30), elongate except for last one or two; 1 / 1 large swollen and heavily keeled to subpyramidal scale behind supraciliaries at dorso-posterior edge of orbit, broadly contacting last circumorbital; angulate, keeled scale of temporal region interrupted by 3���5 larger scales with noticeably higher keels in line with scale at dorso-posterior border of orbit or slightly below that position; one (45 %, n = 16) or two (55 %, n = 16) enlarged, subpyramidal to heavily keeled posttemporal scales on neck just behind bulge produced by hypertrophy of the jaw muscles, first of these in line with enlarged temporals; similar enlarged modified nuchal scale separated from posttemporal scales by 1���3 small dorsals and positioned closer to nuchal crest in 4 th��� 6 th paravertebral row. Nasal trapezoidal, separated from supralabials by small lorilabials (7 %, n = 30) or contacting first (70 %, n = 30) or first and second (23 %, n = 30) supralabials; nostril large, oval, directed laterally, positioned at dorsal edge in center of nasal with its upper margin contributing to canthus; distance from posterior border of nostril to anterior ocular angle 36.4���43.7 % (39.6 �� 2.3, n = 11) of head length; loreal region vertical; scales of loreal region weakly keeled; eye 15.8���27.8 % (22.2 �� 4.0, n = 10) of head length; palpebrals granular, showing noteworthy differentiation in two places: (1) second row of palpebrals above eye with 4���7 heavily keeled scales in center, and (2) patch of thin scales, cream with melanic centers forming opaque window in lower eyelid; lower margin of orbit separated from supralabials by one small and one larger row of scales; large subocular scale row bordering supralabials; row of one (3 %, n = 30), two (43 %, n = 30), three (50 %, n = 30) or four (3 %, n = 30) distinctly enlarged, keeled, roughly hexagonal scales between tympanum and orbit, followed by one or two smaller though similarly heavily keeled scales above tympanum; tympanum subcircular, superficial (i.e., not sunken into external auditory meatus), 12.7���16.3 % (15.3 �� 1.1, n = 10) as long as head and 51.7���103.3 % (71.3 �� 17.2, n = 10) as long as ocular aperture, its distance from orbit 21.5���27.1 % (24.5 �� 1.9, n = 10) of head length; tympanic membrane clearly visible, opaque where it attaches to extracolumella, its antero-ventral one-fourth to one-eighth semitransparent, though heavily speckled with melanophores; scales surrounding meatus small, weakly keeled, triangular; prominent posttympanic subpyramidal scale (doubled on both sides of some specimens) separated from tympanum by three or four scales and positioned above similar much larger, heavily keeled postrictal scale. Supralabials weekly keeled, seven (1 %, n = 30), eight (43 %, n = 30), nine (43 %, n = 30) or ten (10 %, n = 30); infralabials smooth, seven (30 %, n = 30), eight (60 %, n = 30), or nine (10 %, n = 30); two (7 %, n = 30), three (20 %, n = 30), four (60 %, n = 30), or five (13 %, n = 30) enlarged postmentals contacting infralabials; thereafter, sublabial scales separating enlarged postmentals from infralabials; first pair of postmentals in contact medially (100 %, n = 8); gulars feebly keeled, 17���25 (20 �� 2, n = 15) from posterior tip of mental to preaxial margin of arm; gular pouch well developed, longitudinal; scales of distal edge of gular pouch much smaller than very large gulars at level of tympanum (only about one-tenth size of large gulars lateral to them). Nuchal crest consisting of 9���13 (10 �� 1, n = 15) elongate scales separated from one another by much smaller, short scales, similar in size to paravertebrals; dorsal crest prominent in males, serrate with all scales projecting; scales of dorsal crest flattened, triangular, 26���33 (30 �� 2, n = 15) to posterior margin of thigh; posterior to midbody, scales of crest only slightly projecting in females; both nuchal and dorsal crests low in juveniles; scales of dorsal crest not separated from one another by small scales of paravertebral series except as occasional anomalies; scales of dorsal crest separated from nuchal crest by gap of 4���7 (6 �� 1, n = 15) low, keeled dorsals; dorsals smaller than ventrals, paravertebral three or four longitudinal rows pointing posteriorly and upward, remaining dorsals directed downward and posteriorly (Fig. 5); orientation of scales on neck same as that between limbs; scales of flanks feebly keeled, heterogenous with some enlarged heavily keeled scales scattered among smaller feebly keeled scales; dorsolateral row of widely spaced, heavily keeled scales located in eighth or ninth row of dorsals below dorsal crest; dorsolateral keeled scales usually six (64 %, n = 28) or seven (32 %, n = 28), rarely 8 (4 % each, n = 28) between limbs, separated from one another by 2���7 feebly keeled dorsals; dorsolateral series of heavily keeled scales extending in front of arm as 2���6 large keeled scales contacting one another or separated by one or two smaller, weekly keeled scales (one specimen with five scales separating the first keeled scales of series from two others); all specimens with single spinose or heavily keeled and enlarged scale on lower neck in front of arm; scales around midbody 51���65 (58 �� 4, n = 15); no sharp transition to ventrals so that ventrals in a transverse row not countable; ventrals smaller in area between arms, 33���43 (39 �� 3, n = 15) from preaxial edge of arm to preaxial edge of leg; preanal scales keeled, similar to, though somewhat smaller than ventrals, 7���10 (8 �� 1, n = 15) from preaxial edge of leg to vent; scales around vent unspecialized; scales around base of tail (counted five subcaudals behind vent) 15���22 (18 �� 2, n = 15); except for very short rictal fold, folds and pockets absent. Scales of brachium, antebrachium, thigh, and shank imbricate, keeled; on thigh, two enlarged scales with more developed, somewhat blade-like, keels positioned slightly postaxial to middorsal, larger of two in center of thigh, second one positioned more postaxial and distal to it; keels on dorsal surface of thigh pointing distally, except for these two enlarged scales where keels point about 15 �� postaxial to distal; palmar scales very small, keeled with spinose mucrons; palmar subdigital lamellae bicarinate with spinose mucrons, proximal two or three divided or multicarinate at bases of Fingers III���V, 22���29 (25 �� 2, n = 15) under Finger IV; plantar scales heavily keeled, mucronate, imbricate, those proximal to Toes III���IV noticeably larger than other plantar scales; pedal subdigital lamellae bicarinate, their keels similar except at base of Toe III where preaxial keel much larger than postaxial keel and postaxial keels entirely absent on some lamellae in this region; digital lamellae 24���30 (27 �� 2, n = 15) under Toe IV, divided longitudinally under proximal phalangeal articulations of Toes III and IV, entire under all other phalangeal articulations; subdigital lamellae subequal in size and bicarinate under distal phalanges of all fingers and toes; on each digit, single subdigital and single supradigital ungual lamellae contacting one another; ungual lamellae much longer than other subdigital lamellae; proximal to the ungual scales, supradigital scales four; in relative length, Finger III> IV> II> V> I and Toe IV> III> V> II> I; when adpressed, tip of claw on Toe V not reaching proximal phalangeal articulation of Toe IV; leg relatively long, 43.5���52.2 % (47.9 �� 2.4, n = 14) as long as SVL; length of foot accounting for 36.9 ���41.0% (38.6 �� 1.3, n = 13) of length of leg. Scale surfaces covered in macrohoneycomb; scale organs lenticular, single and positioned subterminally atop keel on body (dorsal and ventral surfaces), more numerous and also concentrated on keels on head; prominent bristled sense organs single, positioned below distal tip of keel, well developed on scales of digits, distal antebrachium and shank, and base of tail, absent from dorsal body and head; at least some scales with both types of sense organs on same scale; callous glands, pigmented generation glands (sensu Maderson and Chiu, 1970), and femoral and precloacal pores absent. Coloration: In life, head, body, limbs, and tail bright green with darker markings; few scales (without regular pattern) on head and body dark brown; scales of gular pouch green grading to sky blue with green apexes medially; skin of pouch bright purplish blue so that throat appears to have oblique purplish blue stripes when pouch partially extended; postrictal and posttympanic modified scales partially to almost entirely bluish white; most of tympanum same shade of green as rest of head and body, its antero-ventral margin bluish white; eyelids yellow green, contrasting with green on side of head; iris uniform light gold with pale ciliary ring; buccal epithelium orange; throat and roof of mouth black; dorsolateral series of heavily keeled scales green proximally, their keels, distal edges, and apexes white to sky blue; heavily keeled scales of dorsolateral series on neck mostly or entirely green; bluish white ventrolateral stripe one scale row wide, extending from arm to leg usually present; bluish white postfemoral stripe, extending from middle of thigh onto base of tail above cloaca; some heavily keeled scales along postaxial margin of antebrachium with bluish white keels and apexes; digits banded dark and light green; limbs apparently capable of developing bands; limbs, tail, and vertebral region capable of color change to shades of brown; caudal bands 11���15 (13 �� 1, n = 9), indistinct near base of tail and becoming bold distally; caudal bands dark and light green to black and light green proximally, usually darker bands grading to brown with black edging and light green bands grading to grayish cream, often with black blotch positioned vertebrally in center of band; ventral head, body, limbs, and proximal portion of tail distinctly lighter shade of green than dorsum; soles and palms charcoal. In preservative, dorsum faded to light bluish gray and venter pale blue; bluish white markings still evident; lower flanks blackened in all specimens; proximal caudal bands difficult to distinguish. Etymology. The new name cybelidermus is an adjective derived from the Greek words kybelion, meaning blue-violet, and derma, meaning skin. The new name alludes to the striking blue-violet skin between scales of the gular pouch in Pseudocalotes cybelidermus. Standard English Name. Purple-throated False Garden Lizard. Distribution and Natural History. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus occurs sympatrically with P. guttalineatus in humid montane forests of the Bukit Barisan Range of Lampung and Sumatera Selatan, Sumatra. We found the type series in low vegetation above 1300 m, where P. cybelidermus is locally quite abundant. The specimens come from a relatively narrow elevational range (1376���1643), however we were unable to survey areas above 1700 m on the mountains where these lizards occur and areas below 1300 were heavily cultivated. At lower elevations in trees along trails and roads through coffee plantations, we frequently encountered Bronchocela cristatella, and this similar lizard may replace P. cybelidermus and P. guttalineatus ecologically at lower elevations or in disturbed areas. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus can change some or all of its dorsum to shades of brown. During one photography session, the limbs, tail, and vertebral area of the body of MZB 9760 (Fig 2) turned brown with distinct bands along the entire length of the legs. Another specimen (UTA 60552) developed bold black bands. The dorsal surface of this specimen���s head and upper half of the face also da, Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle & Smith, Eric N., 2014, Three new species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia, pp. 211-238 in Zootaxa 3841 (2) on pages 214-220, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3841.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/252328, {"references":["Hallermann, J. & Bohme, W. (2000) A review of the genus Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae), with description of a new species from West Malaysia. Amphibia-Reptilia, 21 (2), 193 - 210. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1163 / 156853800507372","Mahony, S. (2010) Systematic and taxomonic revaluation of four little known Asian agamid species, Calotes kingdonwardi Smith, 1935, Japalura kaulbacki Smith, 1937, Salea kakhienensis Anderson, 1879 and the monotypic genus Mictopholis Smith, 1935 (Reptilia: Agamidae). Zootaxa, 2514, 1 - 23.","Gray, J. E. (1831) A synopsis of the species of the class Reptilia. In: Griffith, E. E. & Pidgeon, E. (Eds.), The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, by the Baron Cuvier, Member of the Institute of France, with Additional Descriptions of all the Species Hitherto Named, and of many not before Noticed. Vol. 9. Whittaker, Teacher, and Co., London, England, pp. 1 - 110.","Dring, J. C. M. (1979) Amphibians and reptiles from northern Trengganu, Malaysia, with descriptions of two new geckos: Cnemaspis and Cyrtodactylus. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Zoology), 34, 181 - 241.","Maderson, P. F. A. & Chui, K. W. (1970) Epidermal glands in gekkonid lizards: evolution and phylogeny. Herpetologica, 26, 233 - 238."]}
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21. Pseudocalotes rhammanotus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith, new species
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Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle, and Smith, Eric N.
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Pseudocalotes ,Pseudocalotes rhammanotus ,Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Agamidae ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Pseudocalotes rhammanotus Harvey, Hamidy, Kurniawan, Shaney & Smith new species (Fig. 9) Holotype. An adult female (MZB 10804) from montane forest along the ridge of a mountain south of Danau Ranau (= Lake Ranau), Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, 4.9394 �� S, 103.85292 �� E, 1237 m, 1954 hrs, 17 June 2013, found by Elijah Wostl, accompanied by other field party members from BC, UB, and UTA. Diagnosis. A species of Pseudocalotes reaching at least 196 mm (67.9 mm SVL) and distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) discrete interparietal present; (2) canthals six; (3) enlarged, heavily keeled to subpyramidal posttemporal and posttympanic scales present; postrictal modified scale absent; (4) gulars relatively small, homogenous, no transition to small scales on poorly developed gular pouch; (5) short antehumeral fold with noticeably smaller scales below it (Fig. 7); (6) dorsolateral row of six heavily keeled scales; dorsolateral series reduced to single scale on neck; (7) scales on lower flanks feebly keeled and homogenous (8) 51 scales around midbody (9) dorsal crest of projecting scales extending to base of tail; all projecting scales of crest separated by medial contact between scales of paravertebral series; (10) ventrals smaller than dorsals; (11) subdigital lamellae at base of Toe III bicarinate with preaxial and postaxial keels equally developed; (12) dorsum brown and green, banded in unique holotype; (13) ventral body white with small brown spots densest laterally; (14) gular pouch white medially grading to dirty brown laterally; (15) tongue cream, throat black. Comparisons. Pseudocalotes rhammanotus can be distinguished from other agamids on Sumatra by its clearly visible tympanum, enlarged row of scales below the orbit bordering the supralabials, relatively wide gap between the dorsal and nuchal crests, heterogenous dorsal squamation, tail about twice as long as SVL, keeled subdigital lamellae, dorsals larger than ventrals, absence of large spines in the nuchal and postorbital regions, relatively narrow head, and other characters of external morphology described in the differential diagnosis of Hallermann & B��hme (2000; see also Mahony 2010). Three other congeners occur on Sumatra. Of these, Pseudocalotes rhammanotus is most similar to P. tympanistriga. However, unlike P. tympanistriga (characters in parentheses), P. rhammanotus has an antehumeral fold with noticeably smaller scales below it (fold and transition to smaller scales in this region absent), 6 / 6 heavily keeled scales between the limbs (4 or 5), a wide nuchal gap of 7 scales (narrow, 2 or 3 scales), fewer vertebrals (20 vs. 24 ���31, 27 �� 3, n = 5), vertebrals that project from the dorsum (vertebrals enlarged with upturned tips but without entire scale projecting from dorsum), fewer subdigital lamellae (24 vs. 26 ���32, 28 �� 3, n = 5), and fewer infralabials (8 vs. 9���11). Unlike P. cybelidermus and P. guttalineatus (characters in parentheses), P. rhammanotus lacks an enlarged, postrictal modified scale (present, slightly ventral and posterior to border of auditory meatus); has much smaller gulars covering most of the throat without any transition to smaller scales medially on the gular pouch (large scales laterally, transitioning to small granular scales medially on the gular pouch; Fig. 4); 36 gulars from the preaxial margin of the arm to the mental (31 or fewer gulars); only 20 projecting scales making up the dorsal crest (24���34), because medial contact between scales of the paravertebral series separates each vertebral from the one behind it (similar separation limited to posterior body in P. guttalineatus, absent in P. cybelidermus except as apparent anomalies); only a single heavily keeled scale in the dorsolateral series in front of the arm (four or five); a poorly developed longitudinal skin fold of smaller scales spanning the area between the posterior margin of the jaw and anterior margin of the scapula (fold and transition to smaller scales in this region absent); subequal keels on the bicarinate lamellae at the base of Toe III (preaxial keel much more developed, postaxial keel absent on some lamellae, very low on others); and cream tongue (yellow-orange). Like Pseudocalotes rhammanotus and P. tympanistriga, P. dringi, P. khaonanensis, and P. saravacensis lack modified subdigital lamellae at the base of Toe III. Although reported to have bicarinate subdigital lamellae at the base of Toe III, P. flavigula actually lacks or has greatly reduced postaxial lamellae similar to P. cybelidermus and P. guttalineatus. With 51 scales around midbody, P. rhammanotus has more midbody scales than P. flavigula (38���40) and fewer than either P. khaonanensis (72���75) or P. saravacensis (68). Unlike P. dringi, P. rhammanotus has six canthals (five), heavily keeled gulars (smooth), projecting scales forming the dorsal crest (described as ���very low dorsal crest formed by the keeled but not enlarged middorsal scale row��� in the original description), and an antehumeral fold (antehumeral fold absent). Like P. rhammanotus, P. austeniana, P. kakhienensis, and P. kingdonwardi have antehumeral folds, however the dorsals of these species are strongly heterogenous in size and shape. All remaining species of Pseudocalotes have modified lamellae at the bases of their third toes. Description of Holotype. Adult female 195.6 mm (SVL 67.9 mm) in length; SVL 34.7 % and tail 65.3 % of total length; tail 1.88 X as long as SVL; distance from axilla to groin accounting for 48.2 % of SVL; head 66.4 % as wide as long, accounting for 22.4 % of SVL; snout subacuminate in dorsal view and in profile, sloping upward at about 20 �� to horizontal (Fig. 7); dorsal head scales imbricate, smooth on snout, keeled posteriorly; rostral not visible from above, wider than mental, about three times as wide as tall, contacting first supralabials (though very narrowly on left side) and five small postrostrals; postrostral series separating nasal from rostral; in prefrontal region, five noticeably enlarged scales in line down center of head; scales of frontal and parietal region small, keeled; key-hole shaped depression in interparietal region poorly developed, enclosed posteriorly by high keels of U-shaped parietal series; parietal eye not visible; interparietal scale narrow, diamond-shaped; supranasal scale single, elongate; circumorbital scales 9 / 10, distinctly enlarged, roughly pentagonal or hexagonal, contacting canthal series laterally; canthals keeled, 6 / 6; supraciliaries 6 / 7, first three elongate, others shorter; 1 / 1 large subpyramidal scale behind supraciliaries and at end of circumorbital series; small angulate scales of temporal region ending posteriorly in 2 / 2 larger scales with noticeably higher keels; single subpyramidal posttemporal scale on neck just behind bulge produced by hypertrophy of the jaw muscles, not followed posteriorly by similar enlarged scales. Nasal trapezoidal, contacting supralabials 1���2 / 1���2; nostril large, oval, directed laterally, positioned at dorsal edge in center of nasal with its upper margin contributing to canthus; distance from posterior border of nostril to anterior ocular angle 42.1 % of head length; loreal region slightly sloping; scales of loreal region smooth; eye 22.4 % of head length; palpebrals granular; second row of palpebrals above eye with 2 / 3 larger, heavily keeled scales in center; large subocular scale row bordering supralabials; row of 2 / 2 distinctly enlarged, roughly hexagonal, keeled scales between external auditory meatus and orbit; external auditory meatus subcircular, shallow, 17.1 % as long as head and 76.5 % as long as ocular aperture, its distance from orbit 24.3 % of head length; tympanic membrane clearly visible, opaque throughout, though darker where it attaches to extracolumella; scales surrounding meatus small, granular; prominent post-tympanic subpyramidal scale separated from meatus by four scales; similar large postrictal modified scale absent from both sides. Supralabials smooth, 9 / 9; infralabials smooth, 8 / 8; 4 / 5 enlarged postmentals contacting infralabials, thereafter, sublabial scales separating enlarged postmentals from infralabials; first pair of postmentals separated medially by single small gular; gulars keeled, 36 from posterior tip of mental to preaxial margin of arm; gular pouch poorly developed, longitudinal; scales in center of gular pouch same size as gulars lateral to it; lateral-most four longitudinal rows of gulars wider than rest, about 2��� 3 X as large as small gulars covering most of throat. Nuchal crest consisting of 8 elongate scales, all except first two separated from one another by low scales similar to paravertebral series; dorsal crest prominent, extending onto base of tail, consisting of transversely narrow scales (though still will the lateral portions of the scales flat against the back) with tall, pointed mucrons and keels, 20 scales to posterior margin of thigh; all scales of dorsal crest separated from one another by medial contact between small scales of paravertebral series or individual flat keeled scales similar to paravertebrals; scales of dorsal crest separated from nuchal crest by gap of 7 low, keeled dorsals; dorsals larger than ventrals, paravertebral two or three longitudinal rows pointing posteriorly, remaining dorsals directed downward and posteriorly; on neck, dorsals much smaller than those between limbs; upper four rows of dorsals on neck pointed dorsally and posteriorly, five rows below them pointed posteriorly, and remaining rows pointed downward and posteriorly; scales of flanks feebly keeled, homogenous except for single dorsolateral row of widely spaced, heavily keeled scales located in sixth row of dorsals below dorsal crest; dorsolateral keeled scales 6 / 6 between limbs, separated from one another by 3���7 scales; in front of arm, dorsolateral series continued by only 1 / 1 dorsolateral heavily keeled scale; heavily keeled scales absent from lower flanks; single heavily keeled scale on lower neck in front of arm absent; scales around midbody 51; ventrals heavily keeled, without sharp transition from scales on flanks, noticeably smaller in front of axilla, 60 from preaxial edge of arm to preaxial edge of leg; preanal scales keeled, similar to, though smaller than ventrals, seven from preaxial edge of leg to vent; scales around vent unspecialized; scales around base of tail (counted five subcaudals behind vent) 16; rictal fold very short; short longitudinal antehumeral skin fold spanning distance between posterior tip of jaw and anterior border of scapula, marking transition to smaller scales below fold. Scales of brachium, antebrachium, thigh, and shank imbricate, keeled; some scales on middorsal and postaxial border of antebrachium modified: their keels pointed outward and blade-like toward distal tip of scales; single, similar scale with pointed blade-like keel positioned slightly postaxial to middorsal in center of thigh; this modified scale of thigh also much larger than all other scales on dorsal surface of thigh and with its large keel pointing slightly more posterior than the scales proximal and distal to it; palmar scales tiny, keeled with spinose mucrons; palmar subdigital lamellae multicarinate with spinose mucrons at base of fingers, bicarinate distally, 21 / 21 under Finger IV; plantar scales heavily keeled, mucronate, imbricate, those proximal to Toes III���IV noticeably larger than other plantar scales; pedal subdigital lamellae bicarinate except under Toe IV where 2 / 2 basal lamellae bicarinate and 2 / 2 lamellae distal to those (i.e., under proximal phalanx of Toe IV) with single keel; pre- and postaxial keels of bicarinate lamellae similar under all digits; preaxial and postaxial keels of subdigital lamellae at base of Toe III subequal; subdigital lamellae 23 / 24 under Toe IV, divided longitudinally under proximal phalangeal articulation of Toes III and IV, entire under all other phalangeal articulations; single subdigital and single supradigital ungual lamellae contacting one another on all fingers and toes; ungual lamellae much longer than other subdigital lamellae; supradigital scales proximal to supradigital ungual lamellae 4 on all fingers and toes; in relative length, Finger III = IV> II> V> I and Toe IV> III> V> II> I; when adpressed, tip of claw on Toe V slightly passing proximal phalangeal articulation of Toe IV; leg relatively long, 48.2 % as long as SVL; length of foot accounting for 36.6 % of length of leg. Scale surfaces covered in macrohoneycomb; scale organs lenticular, single and positioned subterminally atop keel on body, more numerous and also concentrated on keels on head; bristled sense organs single, positioned below distal tip of keel, on digital and at least some scales of ventral surface (distribution difficult to determine since stratum corneum missing from most scale of ventral surface); callous glands, pigmented generation glands (sensu Maderson & Chiu 1970; Harvey et al. 2012), and femoral and precloacal pores absent. Coloration: In life, dorsal surface of head reticulated green and brown, becoming mostly brown on sides of head; labials and skin of tympanum noticeably brighter green than other scales on side of head, though each labial with diffuse brown pigment as well. Scales of nuchal and dorsal crests green and brown with distinctive, almost black apexes; dorsolateral series of heavily keeled scales with distinct pale green tips contrasting with rest of scale; about four diffuse Etymology. The new name rhammanotus is an adjective derived from the Greek nouns rhamma meaning suture and notos meaning back. In Pseudocalotes rhammanotus, scales of the paravertebral series separate all scales of the dorsal crest and remind one of sutures along the back of this species. Standard English Common Name. Stitched-back False Garden Lizard. Distribution and Natural History. When collected, the holotype of Pseudocalotes rhammanotus was sleeping on a leaf about 1.2 m above the ground in primary, upper montane rainforest just below a ridge line. For approximately three hours, E. Wostl, G. Barraza, C. Franklin, Kadafi, and M. B. Harvey searched forests at the type locality without encountering additional specimens of this species. We spent most of this time on the drier side of the mountain, and apparent scarcety of this species may be due to its preference for more humid environments just over the ridgeline from where we found the holotype. When threatened, P. rhammanotus darkens in color and gapes its mouth exposing the sharply contrasting creamcolored tongue and black throat. We dissected the left side of the holotype to determine reproductive condition. Each oviduct contains a single large, oval egg with a thick fibrous shell that has not yet calcified (dimensions of egg from left oviduct 17.3 X 6.8 mm; clutch size two). The left ovary contains one large and subcircular yellow egg (largest diameter 4.8 mm) and four small cream-colored eggs (0.7���1.5 mm). ......continued on the next page Nuchal crest 4���11 (8 �� 3, n = 5) 8 9���13 (10 �� 1, 10��� 12 (11 �� 1 8���10 (9 �� 1, 7��� 13 (12 �� 2, n = 15) n = 16) n = 11) n = 6) ......continued on the next page P. cybelidermus P. flavigula P. poilani P. f l o w e r i P. microlepis P. brevipes (n = 1) (n = 2) (n = 2) (n = 2) (n = 10) ......continued on the next page While describing these new species, we discovered several new characters and unreported variation in other characters. Dring (1979) noticed that some species of Pseudocalotes have highly modified subdigital lamellae on Toe III. He illustrated the third toes of P. f l ow er i and P. dringi and first recognized Sundaland and Indochinese groups based on this character. In the Indochinese group represented by Pseudocalotes brevipes, P. f l o w e r i, P. microlepis, and P. poilani, pronounced and pointed preaxial keels extend from the base of the toe beyond the proximal phalangeal articulation, whereas the postaxial keels are absent or very reduced on the same scales. In contrast, Toe III of P. tympanistriga and P. rhammanotus has bicarinate subdigital lamellae, with well-developed preaxial and postaxial keels on all subdigital scales. One specimen in our sample (UTA 60544) of P. tympanistriga exhibits a slight modification at the proximal phalangeal articulation where the scales have divided unequally, postaxial keels are absent, and a small keeled scale on the postaxial side overlaps the position where the postaxial keel should be. With the discovery of more species of Pseudocalotes, researchers have described various conditions intermediate between the two character states recognized by Dring (1979). Hallermann & McGuire (2001, p. 264) described and illustrated a third state for this character in P. larutensis. This species lacks postaxial keels and has ���moderately enlarged and pointed preaxial keels, restricted to the base of the toe.��� Later, Hallermann et al. (2010, p. 34) made a distinction between ���pointed and triangular��� keels in P. b rev i pe s, P. m i c ro l ep i s, and P. ziegleri and ���blade-like��� keels in P. f l o w e r i and P. poilani. Pseudocalotes cybelidermus and P. guttalineatus resemble P. larutensis in having slightly modified subdigital lamellae at the base of Toe III. Although thought to have bicarinate lamellae (e.g., Hallermann & McGuire 2001), P. flavigula also has an intermediate condition. Lamellae at the base of Toe III in FMNH 14903 are not bicarinate: they lack postaxial keels. The preaxial keels of this species appear subtriangular, but they are low and do not convey much of a serrated appearance to the base of the toe when viewed in profile., Published as part of Harvey, Michael B., Hamidy, Amir, Kurniawan, Nia, Shaney, Kyle & Smith, Eric N., 2014, Three new species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from southern Sumatra, Indonesia, pp. 211-238 in Zootaxa 3841 (2) on pages 226-235, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3841.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/252328, {"references":["Hallermann, J. & Bohme, W. (2000) A review of the genus Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae), with description of a new species from West Malaysia. Amphibia-Reptilia, 21 (2), 193 - 210. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1163 / 156853800507372","Mahony, S. (2010) Systematic and taxomonic revaluation of four little known Asian agamid species, Calotes kingdonwardi Smith, 1935, Japalura kaulbacki Smith, 1937, Salea kakhienensis Anderson, 1879 and the monotypic genus Mictopholis Smith, 1935 (Reptilia: Agamidae). Zootaxa, 2514, 1 - 23.","Maderson, P. F. A. & Chui, K. W. (1970) Epidermal glands in gekkonid lizards: evolution and phylogeny. Herpetologica, 26, 233 - 238.","Harvey, M. B., Ugueto, G. N. & Gutberlet, R. L. Jr. (2012) Review of teiid morphology with a revised taxonomy and phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata). Zootaxa, 3459, 1 - 156.","Dring, J. C. M. (1979) Amphibians and reptiles from northern Trengganu, Malaysia, with descriptions of two new geckos: Cnemaspis and Cyrtodactylus. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Zoology), 34, 181 - 241.","Hallermann, J. & McGuire, J. A. (2001) A new species of Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from Bukit Larut, West Malaysia. Herpetologica, 57 (3), 255 - 265. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1163 / 156853800507372","Hallermann, J., Truong, N. O., Orlov, N. & Ananjeva, N. (2010) A new species of the genus Pseudocalotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from Vietnam. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 17 (1), 31 - 40. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1163 / 156853800507372","Manthey, U. & Denzer, W. (2000) Description of a new genus, Hypsicalotes gen. nov. (Sauria: Agamidae) from Mt. Kinabalu, North Borneo, with remarks on the generic identity of Gonocephalus schultzewestrumi Urban, 1999. Hamadryad, 25 (1), 13 - 20.","Harikrishnan, S. & Vasudevan, K. (2013) Rediscovery of Calotes andamanensis Boulenger, 1891, and assessment of its generic allocation (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae). Herpetozoa, 26, 3 - 13.","Uetz, P. (2014) The Reptile Database. Available from: http: // reptile-database. reptarium. cz / (accessed 2 February 2014)","Das, A., & Das, I. (2007) Rediscovery of Mictopholis austeniana (Annandale, 1908) (Squamata: Agamidae). Current Herpetology, 26 (1), 45 - 47. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.3105 / 1345 - 5834 (2007) 26 [45: romaas] 2.0. co; 2"]}
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22. Systematic Composition of the Eutropis Multifasciata (Kuhl 1820) Species Complex (Squamata: Scincidae) and Designation of a Neotype.
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THASUN AMARASINGHE, A. A., PANUPONG THAMMACHOTI, CAMPBELL, PATRICK D., HALLERMANN, JAKOB, HENKANATHTHEGEDARA, SUJAN M., SURANJAN KARUNARATHNA, D. M. S., AWAL RIYANTO, SMITH, ERIC N., and INEICH, IVAN
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SPECIES ,SKINKS ,SQUAMATA - Abstract
The tricarinate skink Scincus multifasciatus was described by Kuhl in 1820, without the subsequent designation of a type specimen or specific type locality. In 1930, Mertens assigned the type locality as Java, Indonesia, but still with no type specimen. Therefore, in order to stabilize the name with a recognized type specimen, we designate a neotype for Eutropis multifasciata from western Java, and we accept Merten's type locality assignment. We examined all the available synonym type voucher specimens of E. multifasciata and associated subspecies deposited in museum collections throughout Europe, Indonesia, and India. Examination of the types of E. m. balinensis and E. m. tjendikianensis show nearly identical to the forma typica. Hence, we synonymize both subspecies to E. multifasciata. We compared the holotypes of E. macrophthalma (type locality: Java) and E. grandis (type locality: Sulawesi). Interestingly, the two species are morphologically and genetically nearly identical, and there are no diagnostic characters for their separation. Thus, we synonymize E. grandis with E. macrophthalma. The two type specimens of E. macrophthalma reached Europe from Java, through commercial animal trade, hence their type locality "Java" is suspicious. Eutropis macrophthalma has never been recorded from Java and the two type specimens probably originated in Sulawesi, from which museum vouchered specimens with precise locality are known. We consider E. macrophthalma to be a Sulawesi endemic, and conclude that the recorded type locality, Java, is erroneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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23. A New Species of Long-glanded Coralsnake of the Genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from Dinagat Island, with Notes on the Biogeography and Species Diversity of Philippine Calliophis and Hemibungarus.
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BROWN, RAFE M., SMART, UTPAL, LEVITON, ALAN E., and SMITH, ERIC N.
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CORAL snakes ,SPECIES diversity ,BIOGEOGRAPHY ,SQUAMATA ,NUCLEOTIDE sequence - Abstract
We describe a new species of coralsnake from northern Dinagat Island, southeastern Philippines. The discovery of this new species comes as a surprise because it is phenotypically distinct from all other Philippine coralsnakes and has a close phylogenetic affinity to the blue coralsnakes of the Sunda Shelf. The new species is distinguished from all Philippine and other Southeast Asian taxa by its large body size and ventral scale counts; its black head and neck; an alternating, broadly banded color pattern of black and off-white; and a bright orange tail. We use DNA sequence data to investigate the phylogenetic placement of the new species and that of several other populations of Philippine coralsnakes with respect to other Southeast Asian and Australasian elapids. Our results corroborate the uniqueness of the new species with respect to all other Philippine and Sundaic taxa, including the species most closely related to it: Calliophis bivirgatus, C. bilineatus, C. philippinus, and C. suluensis. We summarize phylogenetic, biogeographic, and phenotypic character data that substantiate the elevation of Philippine species of Calliophis (formerly considered subspecies of C. intestinalis: C. bilineatus, C. philippinus, and C. suluensis) and Hemibungarus (formerly subspecies of H. calligaster: H. calligaster, H. gemianulis, and H. mcclungi) to the level of full species. The allopatric distributions of these taxa emphasize the systematic and biogeographical significance of the newly discovered taxon: a poorly understood and independent colonization of the Philippine Archipelago by elapid snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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24. A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the west coast of peninsular India
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Smith, Eric N., Ogale, Hemant, and Giri, Varad B.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Elapidae ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Smith, Eric N., Ogale, Hemant, Giri, Varad B. (2012): A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the west coast of peninsular India. Zootaxa 3437: 51-68, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.211535
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- 2012
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25. Calliophis castoe Smith, Ogale & Giri, 2012, sp. nov
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Smith, Eric N., Ogale, Hemant, and Giri, Varad B.
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Calliophis ,Reptilia ,Calliophis castoe ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Elapidae ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Calliophis castoe sp. nov. (Figs. 1���7) Callophis nigrescens (Phipson 1887: 245, 248, Carwar [Karwar], Bombay Presidency specimen; Vidal 1890: 65 ���66, in part, North Kanara specimen) Hemibungarus nigrescens variety khandallensis (Wall 1913: 638, in part, Karwar specimen) Hemibungarus nigrescens (Wall 1928: 22, 35, in part) Hemibungarus nigrescens variety A (Wall 1928: 36, Karwar specimen) Holotype. BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay, Maharashtra, India) 3461, an adult male from Amboli, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India, [ca. 715 m] (ca. 15.958790 �� N 73.994686 �� E), collected 12 September 2009 by Hemant Ogale (Figs. 3 ���4, 6��� 7). Paratypes (2). BNHS 2191, an adult male from Karwar, Karwar [Uttara Kannada district], Karnataka, India, [ca. 15 m] (ca. 14.804947 �� N 74.133317 �� E), collected between 1880 and 1887 by G. Vidal (1907 date of collection in BNHS catalogue in error, specimen reported by Phipson in 1887 and Vidal in 1890) (Fig. 5). BNHS 3474, a subadult female from Ambe Ghat, South Goa district, Goa, India, 295 m (15.06400�� N 74.16578 �� E), collected 30 June 2010 by Ravindra Bhambure, Harish Kulkarni, and Varad B. Giri (Fig. 2). Referred digital photo (1). UTADC (Digital Collection, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America) 6738 ��� 45, photos of adult male from Dicholi (Bicholim), North Goa district, Goa, India, ca. 10 m (ca. 15.59 �� N 73.95 �� E), photographed on 29 July 2009 by Hemant Ogale (Fig. 1). Diagnosis. A medium (536���540 mm TL, mature males), brownish, terrestrial coralsnake in which the tail comprises 12.4 ���14.0% of the TL in the two known male vouchered specimens and 12.0% in the known female. The maxilla bears 4 maxillary teeth behind the fang, the dentary 10, the palatine 9 and the pterygoid 2. It has sublabial-chin-shield contact variable, usually 7 supralabials (8 on one side of one specimen), 6 / 6 infralabials, two postoculars, 240���254 ventrals, a divided anal, 45���53 divided subcaudals, dorsal scale rows arranged in 13 rows along entire body, and a color pattern of a wide parietal orange band, an unpatterned vinaceous-brown dorsum, a white lower lip, and Salmon Color to Flame Scarlet ventral and lateral areas (from neck to tail). The new species can be distinguished from all Asian and American coralsnakes, except for Sinomicrurus japonicus (S. j. boettgeri [Fritze, 1894], S. j. japonicus [G��nther, 1868], S. j. takarai [Ota, Ito & Lin, 1999]) and some Calliophis maculiceps (G��nther, 1868), in having the highest number of maxillary teeth behind the fang, four on each side. The species of coralsnakes with the next highest counts are C. beddomei Smith, 1943 and C. nigrescens G��nther, 1862 with two or three, S. hatori (Takahashi, 1930) and S. sauteri (Steindachner, 1913) with two, C. maculiceps with one, two and rarely four, and some populations of S. macclellandii (Reinhardt, 1844) with none, one, or two teeth. Sinomicrurus japonicus can have from 3 to 5 maxillary teeth behind the fang. The new species can additionally be distinguished from all species of Asian coralsnakes (Calliophis Gray, 1835 [Maticora Gray, 1835] and Sinomicrurus Slowinski, Boundy & Lawson 2001), except some C. beddomei, in lacking contact between the preocular and nasal, allowing the prefrontal and third supralabial to touch. Calliophis bibroni (Jan, 1858) also has the prefrontals touching the supralabials but lacks preoculars and has a banded body pattern. Calliophis castoe also differs from all other Indian coralsnakes, including C. beddomei and with the exception of some individuals of S. macclellandi, in having an unpatterned body, no dark pigmentation on the last supralabial, and a wide post-temporal light band. Calliophis beddomei has a pattern of dorsal spots adjacent to a middorsal stripe, never being dorsally unicolored. Calliophis nigrescens usually has a striped pattern but occasionally (variety C. n, khandallensis [Wall, 1913]) has an obscured pattern that seems unicolored black. Nevertheless, these always have a dark stripe or spot covering part of the last supralabial and a dark nuchal band fused or very close to the head cap, both never the case in C. castoe. The underside of the tail differs between C. castoe and C. nigrescens, being uniformly orange in the former and red with white-bordered scales in the later. Some specimens of C. melanurus (Shaw, 1802) have a nearly unicolored dorsal pattern, but always possess two tail bands, absent in the new species, and the nuchal band and the head cap are broadly fused (widely separated in the new species). The new species can be further distinguished from other coralsnakes. From species in the C. melanurus group, according to Smith et al. (2008) (C. haematoetron Smith, Manamendra-Arachchi & Somaweera, 2008, C. melanurus, and C. maculiceps), the new species differs in lacking a bluish ventral tail color and melanized tail base muscles and associated tissues. It can also be distinguished from C. melanurus, in having more supralabials (6 vs. 7 or 8) and subcaudal scales (24���37 vs. 45���53). From C. maculiceps it can also be distinguished by its high number of ventrals (240���254 vs. 169���222) and subcaudals (45���53 vs. 20���31). From C. bibroni it can be distinguished by having a preocular (vs. no preocular), two postoculars (vs. 1), no tail bands (vs. 3���9), a divided anal (vs. single), and higher ventral (240���254 vs. 220���234) and subcaudal counts (45���53 vs. 26���37). Besides differing in dentition, color pattern and head scalation the new species differs from C. nigrescens in having relatively higher subcaudal counts (45���53 vs. 29���48) and fewer pterygoid teeth (2 vs. 5���8). Calliophis beddomei also has more pterygoid teeth (2 vs. 4). Calliophis castoe differs from C. gracilis Gray, 1835 in possessing fewer ventral scales (240���254 vs. 303���320), more subcaudal scales (45���53 vs. 21���23), a unicolored dorsal pattern (vs. large and paired paravertebral spots and 5���7 well-defined stripes), and a venter with no bands (vs. numerous regularly spaced wide bands). From the long-glanded coralsnakes Calliophis bivirgata (Boie, 1827) and C. intestinalis (Laurenti 1768), previously in the genus Maticora (see Slowinski et al. 2001), the new species differs in having a venom gland that is confined to the temporal region (vs. extending behind the head), a Harderian gland with a moderately developed posterior extension (vs. enlarged posterior extension, larger than the eyeball), and a unicolored dorsum (vs. striped). From species in the genus Sinomicrurus, i.e., S. hatori, S. japonicus, S. kelloggi (Pope, 1928), S. macclellandi, and S. sauteri (sensu Slowinski et al. 2001), the new taxon differs in possessing no protuberant sclerified tail tip, and a Harderian gland with a moderately developed posterior extension (vs. no extension). It can further be distinguished from S. hatori, S. japonicus, and S. sauteri in having no pattern of stripes, and from S. kelloggi and S. macclellandi in having no white band anterior to the nuchal band. Etymology. It is a pleasure for us to name this beautiful coralsnake after Todd A. Castoe, a talented and prolific scientist, and a partner in the study of coralsnake and pitviper systematics. The first author has worked on venomous snakes with him and shared ���coralsnake trips��� to Colombia, M��xico and India. During a trip to India, we first examined and realized the uniqueness of the species herein described. Because the Latin word castus means pure, the specific epithet is also reminiscent of the unmarked dorsum characteristic of the species. Suggested English name. Castoe���s coralsnake Description of holotype and variation. Features of the adult male holotype are followed in parentheses by variation of the adult male and subadult female paratypes. Total length 536 mm (540, 313); tail length 75 mm (67, 38); head length 8.0 mm (10.0, 6.5) from anterior edge of rostral to posterior end of mandible; head width 6.1 mm (5.6, 3.7) at broadest point; head slightly distinct from neck; snout 3.4 mm (3.4, 2.3) from front of rostral to anterior edge of eye; eye 0.2 (0.2, 0.2) times length of snout; pupil round; rostral 1.3 (1.4, 1.2) times wider than high; internasals 1.1 (1.1, 1.4) times wider than long, contacting only the nasals laterally; length of internasal suture 1.1 times diameter of eye (1.3, 0.9); prefrontals slightly wider than long (as wide as long, slightly wider than long), in contact laterally with nasal, third supralabial, preocular, and supraocular; prefrontal suture 1.8 (2.0, 1.5) times diameter of eye; frontal 1.6 (1.5, 1.4) times longer than wide; supraoculars 1.6 (1.4, 1.6) times longer than wide; parietals 2.1 (2.1, 2.3) times longer than wide; parietal suture 0.6 (0.7, 0.6) times length of parietals, 0.9 (1.1, 1.1) times longer than frontal; 1 +0 temporals and one posttemporal, shields touching parietal laterally, large and elongated; temporal 2.3 (2.1, 2.5) times longer than wide; single preocular, 1.0 (1.4, 1.2) times longer than wide, lanceolate (rhomboidal), with apex rostrally, located mostly above line between center of eye and posterior border of naris; two postoculars, of about the same size, upper and lower, reaching beyond upper (or just reaching) and lower borders of eye, respectively; no loreal, preocular and nasal not in contact, prefrontal touching third supralabial; 7 / 7 (8 / 7 [higher count due to what appears to be a scale split due to injury], 7 / 7) supralabials, seventh largest and longest, first in contact with anterior nasal, second in contact with both nasal plates; third in contact with posterior nasal, prefrontal, preocular, and fraction of orbit; fourth below orbit and contacting lower postocular, fifth in contact with lower postocular and temporal, sixth in contact with temporal, and seventh in contact with temporal and posttemporal; mental 1.5 (1.4, 1.2) times as broad as long; anterior chin-shields 2.0 (2.1, 1.8) times longer than wide; posterior chin-shields 2.0 (2.6, 2.6) times longer than wide; 6 / 6 infralabials, first pair in contact behind mental, second small, second and third touching anterior chin-shields, fourth largest and contacting anterior and posterior chin-shields and first sublabial, fifth and sixth contacting sublabials; first sublabial touching chinshields (or not, in adult paratype); 2 (2, 2) gulars and 1 (1, 2) preventrals at midline between posterior chin-shields and first ventral; with few tubercles on head scales, concentrated anteriorly; dorsals in 13 rows, smooth, unreduced; apical pits absent; ventrals 240 (254, 254); anal divided; preanal single; subcaudals 53 (45, 46), paired; tail complete, tip round; no anal ridges or tubercles; no umbilical scar noticeable. Dentition of paratype BNHS 2191 examined in detail: maxillae bearing one fang 1.1 mm long, arising below supralabials 2 and 3, slanted backward; four posterior maxillary teeth on each side, first at about one fang length behind fang and largest, caudally smaller, slanted backward, below supralabials 3���5; 9 / 9 palatine teeth; 2 / 2 pterygoid teeth; 10 / 10 dentary teeth, decreasing in size from front to rear. Holotype also with four posterior maxillary teeth on right side, other teeth bearing bones not examined. Head glands examined on right side of holotype by reflecting head skin (UTADC 6733 ��� 34, Fig. 6): granular gland situated under rostral shield; salivary gland developed under supralabials 1���3; nasal gland occupying area below prefrontal shields (prefrontal shields, posterior nasal, and preocular), 1.18 mm wide, 1.93 mm long, rhomboid; Harderian gland under anterolateral portion of parietal (and posterior of supraocular, upper postocular, and anterior area of temporal), 1.41 mm long, 0.80 mm wide, triangular, apex caudal, with a moderate posterior extension; venom gland triangular (rounded anteriorly and posteriorly), corners at middle of border between fourth and fifth supralabial, middle and back of sixth supralabial, and middle of temporal at level of middle of eye, 1.45 mm wide, 2.70 mm long, not inflected ventrally and confined to head; venom duct 2.73 mm in length; infralabial gland bordering mouth under lateral tips of mental to middle of fifth infralabial, with two areas differentiated, one anterior and longer, and one posterior under the fourth and fifth infralabials; the anterior infralabial area is 3.11 mm in length, overlapping with the posterior infralabial area of 1.59 mm in length; salivary, nasal, Harderian and infralabial glands yellowish and of irregular texture (granular), venom gland whitish and smooth; m. adductor mandibulae externus superficialis (AES) forming a continuous loop, from upper parietal surface above and behind Harderian gland to insertion on compound bone. Left hemipenis of holotype exposed in situ, slightly bifurcated, spinous, reaching level of subcaudal 6; hemipenis and associated muscles (m. retractor penis magnus, m. propulsor, and subvertebral and medial hypaxial musculature) and m. constrictor sacculi ani not covered by melanic epymisium; spines numerous, present throughout the length of the organ, from base (level of subcaudal 1) to tip, spines slightly larger at level of third and fourth subcaudal; cloacal scent glands oval, ending at level of subcaudal 2. Right hemipenis of holotype, removed, fully everted and partially expanded (Fig. 7, UTADC 6733 ��� 34), is bilobed, about 6.2 mm in length, and 1.3 mm in width, at apices. The organ includes a pedicel with tiny spines for the first 1.5���2 mm. Between 1.5 mm and the tips of the lobes there are spines all around the hemipenis. At midhemipenis there are 17 spines around the organ. Spines diminish in size distally, from about 0.4 mm at about 2 mm from the base to about 0.1 mm near the tips. The hemipenis bifurcates 0.3 mm before the terminus and the sulcus spermaticus bifurcates approximately 0.1 mm before the hemipenial furcation. The sulcus spermaticus is bordered at the base (sinistrally) by a flap-like fold, is centripetal, and terminates distally on each lobe. There are no grooves, flounces, papillae, or calyces. Hemipenes of male paratype BNHS 2191 exposed in situ and dissected, differ from those of holotype in being relatively larger, reaching level of subcaudal 7 and also bifurcating at this level; also without any melanic epymisium; level of insertion of m. retractor penis magnus not examined; spines also numerous, throughout the length of the organ; cloacal scent glands slender and dessicated, difficult to examine. Color (Figs. 1���5). Holotype, coloration of recently killed specimen as recorded with a Nikon D 90 digital camera, UTADC 6724 ��� 31: Dorsum of head and body Dusky Brown (19), turning Burnt Sienna (132) towards sides of body, with no dorsal bands or blotches over body; dark color extending to upper half of scale row 2, on body, and one half scale more in neck area; Dusky Brown (19) color on top of head extends as suborbital and temporal markings, restricted to rostronasal, circumorbital, frontal, and anterior and medial parietal surfaces; small dark markings covering part of lower edge of seventh supralabial, on right side, and upper edge of fourth infralabials; chin and area between supralabials 2 and 3 Pale Horn Color (92); subtemporal surface Chamois (123 D) to Yellow Ocher (123 C), turning whitish Pale Horn ventrally; head band interrupted by interparietal Dusky Brown (19) coloration, band occupying posterolateral surface of parietal, posttemporal, posterior labials, and first two rows of lower neck scales, Spectrum Orange (17) above, Chamois (123 D) to Yellow Ocher (123 C) laterally, whitish Pale Horn ventrally; body flanks, first two scale rows, Salmon Color (106) anteriorly to Flame Scarlet (15) posteriorly; no spots on ventral scales; body venter Salmon Color (106), anteriorly, to Flame Scarlet (15), towards anal plate; underside of tail and first row of dorsal scales on tail Burnt Orange (116), slightly darker near vent. Referred specimen, in life, as recorded with a Nikon D 90 digital camera, UTADC 6738 ��� 45 (Fig. 1): Similar to holotype; Dorsum of head, neck, and tail Dusky Brown (19) to Warm Sepia (221 A); dorsum of body Deep Vinaceous (4), slightly darker and brownish middorsally, with no dorsal bands or blotches; dark color extending to upper half of scale row 2, on body, and one more scale on tail area; Warm Sepia (221 A) color on top of head extends as suborbital and temporal markings, restricted to rostronasal, circumorbital, frontal, and anterior and medial parietal surfaces; chin and area between supralabials 2 and 3 pale Flesh Color (5); Dusky Brown (19) interparietal mark not interrupting posterior half of head band; subtemporal and posttemporal surfaces Spectrum Orange (17), turning Vinaceous (3) ventrally; body flanks, first two scale rows, Vinaceous (3) anteriorly to Flame Scarlet (15) posteriorly; no spots on ventral scales; first row of dorsal scales on tail Burnt Orange (110), slightly darker near vent. Subadult female paratype (BNHS 3474) coloration, in life, as recorded with a Nikon D 300 S digital camera, UTADC 6831 ��� 32 (Fig. 2): Dorsum of head and body Burnt Sienna (132), turning Raw Umber (223) towards sides of body, with no dorsal bands or blotches over body; dark color extending to upper half of scale row 2, on body, and one half scale more in neck area; Burnt Sienna (132) color on top of head extends as suborbital and temporal markings, restricted to rostronasal, circumorbital, frontal, and anterior and medial parietal surfaces; small dark markings covering part of upper edge of third and fourth infralabials, on right side; underside of head Pink (7); subtemporal and middle of third infralabial surface Chamois (123 D), turning Pale Horn ventrally; head band interrupted partially by interparietal Burnt Sienna (132) coloration, band occupying posterolateral surface of parietal, posterior surface of temporal, posttemporal, posterior labials, and first two rows of lower neck scales, Chamois (123 D) above, Pale Horn ventrally; body flanks, first two scale rows, Warm Buff (118) to Vinaceous (3), towards venter; no spots on ventral scales; body venter Vinaceous (3) anteriorly, Deep Vinaceous (4) at midbody, Salmon Color (106) at posterior third of body, to Spectrum Orange (17), before anal plate; anal plate Pale Horn Color (92); tail venter Spectrum Orange (17). Holotype in preservative (Figs. 3���4): Dorsum Sepia (119), with Pale Horn Color (92) markings on head; chin Pearl Gray (81); body venter Beige (219 D) anteriorly, turning Vinaceous Pink (221 C) posteriorly; underside of tail Vinaceous Pink (221 C), anal plates slightly lighter. Male paratype, after more than 100 years in preservative (Fig. 5): Dorsum Antique Brown (37), darker above, with Pale Horn Color (92) markings on head; chin Pearl Gray (81); body venter Drab-Gray (119, Published as part of Smith, Eric N., Ogale, Hemant & Giri, Varad B., 2012, A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the west coast of peninsular India, pp. 51-68 in Zootaxa 3437 on pages 53-63, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.211535, {"references":["Phipson, H. M. (1887) The poisonous snakes of the Bombay Presidency. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 2, 244 - 250.","Vidal, G. W. (1890) A list of the venomous snakes of Kanara; with remarks as to the imperfections of existing records of the distribution of snakes, and facts and statistics showing the influence of Echis carinata on the death-rate of the Bombay Presidency. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 5, 64 - 71.","Wall, F. (1913) Varieties of Hemibungarus nigrescens and Hydrophis torquatus. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 22, 638 - 639.","Wall, F. (1928) The Poisonous Terrestrial Snakes of our British Indian Dominions (including Ceylon) and how to recognize them. With symptoms of snake poisoning and treatment. Fourth edition, Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay, 173 pp.","Fritze, A. (1894) Die Fauna der Liu-Kiu-Insel Okinawa. Zoologische Jahrbucher, Abteilung fur Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 7 (5), 852 - 926.","Gunther, A. (1868) Sixth account of new species of snakes in the collection of the British Museum. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology, (4) 1, 413 - 429.","Ota, H., Ito, A. & Lin, J. - T. (1999) Systematic review of the Elapid snakes allied to Hemibungarus japonicus (Gunther, 1868) in the East Asian Islands, with description of a new subspecies from the central Ryukyus. Journal of Herpetology, 33 (4), 675 - 687.","Smith, M. A. (1943) The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia Volume III. - Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London, 584 pp.","Gunther, A. (1862) On new species of snakes in the collection of the British Museum. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology, (3) 9, 124 - 132.","Takahashi, S. (1930) Synopsis of the terrestrial snakes of Japan [in Japanese]. Shunyo-do, Tokyo, 310 pp.","Steindachner, F. (1913) Uber zwei neue Schlangenarten aus Formosa. Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe, 50, 218 - 220.","Reinhardt, J. T. (1844) Description of a new species of venomous snake, Elaps macclellandi. Calcutta Journal of Natural History and Miscellany of the Arts and Sciences in India, 4, 532 - 534.","Gray, J. E. (1835) Illustrations of Indian Zoology; Chiefly Selected from the Collection of Major-General Hardwicke, Vol. II. (parts XI - XX). Adolphus Richter and Co. & Parbury, Allen, and Co., London, Pls. 1 - 102.","Slowinski, J. B., Boundy, J. & Lawson, R. (2001) The phylogenetic relationships of Asian coral snakes (Elapidae: Calliophis and Maticora) based on morphological and molecular characters. Herpetologica, 57 (2), 233 - 245.","Jan, G. (1858) Plan d'une iconographie descriptive des ophidiens et description sommaire de nouvelles especes des serpents. La Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Paris (2) 10, 438 - 449, 514 - 527.","Shaw, G. (1802) General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. Printed for G. Kearsley, London Vol. 3, Amphibia, 615 pp.","Smith, E. N., Manamendra-Arachchi, K., & Somaweera, R. (2008) A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa, 1847, 19 - 33.","Boie, F. (1827) Bemerkungen uber Merrem's Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien. Marburg. 1820. Erste Lieferung: Ophidier. Isis von Oken, 20 (10), col. 508 - 566.","Laurenti, J. N. (1768) Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena et Antidota Reptilium Austriacorum. Vienna, Joan. Thomae, 214 pp, Pls. I - V.","Pope, C. H. (1928) Seven new reptiles from Fukien Province, China. American Museum Novitates, 320, 1 - 6.","Yadav, S. R. & Sardesai, M. M. 2002. Flora of Kolhapur District. Shivaji University, Kolhapur, India.","Jog, S. K. (2009) Sahyadris - flora and ethnobotany. Report, William L. Brown Fellowship 2007 - 2008. Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, 34 pp.","Champion, H. G. & Seth, S. K. (1968) A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. Government of India Press, New Delhi, 404 pp.","Champion, H. G. (1936) A preliminary survey of the forest types of India and Burma. Indian Forest Record (New Series), 1, 1 - 286."]}
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- 2012
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26. Cerrophidion
- Author
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Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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Reptilia ,Cerrophidion ,Squamata ,Viperidae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
CERROPHIDION CAMPBELL & LAMAR, 1992 Type species: Bothriechis godmanni G��nther, 1863, by subsequent designation of Campbell & Lamar (1992). Etymology: The generic name comes from the Spanish cerro, meaning mountain, an allusion to the habitat, and the Greek ophidion, meaning small snake (Campbell & Lamar, 1992). Content: The genus Cerrophidion contains three species: Cerrophidion godmani, Cerrophidion petlalcalensis, and Cerrophidion tzotzilorum. These species occur in pine-oak and cloud forests from Veracruz (Mexico) southward through the highlands of Central America to Panama (Campbell, 1985; Campbell & Lamar, 2004: maps 79, 80) with a vertical distribution from c. 1400���3491 m. Common name: Middle American montane pitvipers. Definition and diagnosis: Rostral wider than high, front surface flat; three preoculars, upper largest, entire, and squarish, lower forming posterior border of pit and excluded from orbit; single, large, flat, plate-like supraocular above eye; seven to 11 supralabials; eight to 12 infralabials; canthals and internasals relatively large and flat; two to seven intersupraoculars; crown of head covered with variably sized, flat or keeled scales; keeling prominent in parietal area; second supralabial discrete from prelacunal; supralabial and subocular series in contact or separated by single row of scales; 19���23 (mode 21) middorsal dorsal scale rows; mid-dorsal scales at midbody moderately slender and pointed; 120���150 ventrals; 22���36 undivided subcaudals; tail spine straight, moderately long. Lateral edge of nasal broadly expanded, bone roughly quadrangular; frontal bones mostly flat, dorsal surface with slightly elevated margins, longer than wide; postfrontal large, not reaching frontal; transverse distance of postfrontal greater than its distance along parietal bone; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming low to moderately distinct raised ridge continuing posteriorly on parietal as low ridge; junction between parietal and prootic rounded to almost flat; squamosal extending to level posterior to posterior edge of exoccipital; ectopterygoid about same length as expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to the articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft gradually tapering posteriorly; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular to sometimes rounded; three to five palatine teeth; seven to 18 pterygoid teeth; eight to 16 dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending just posterior to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid in C. godmani, but not reaching this far back in congeners; maxillary fang relatively short, being about equal in length to height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of about middle of supralabial 5 or suture between supralabials 5���6 (mostly after Campbell & Lamar, 2004)., Published as part of Robert C. Jadin, Eric N. Smith & Jonathan A. Campbell, 2011, Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic, pp. 943-958 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 on page 953, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00748.x, http://zenodo.org/record/269862
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27. Mixcoatlus Jadin, Smith & Campbell, 2011, GEN. NOV
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Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Viperidae ,Animalia ,Mixcoatlus ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Type species: Agkistrodon browni Shreve, 1938, by present designation. Etymology: The generic name is derived from the N��huatl word Mixcoatl, meaning ���cloud serpent,��� a god of the Aztecs and several Mesoamerican civilizations. The name alludes to the restriction of this clade to high elevations. The gender of this name is masculine. Content: The genus Mixcoatlus contains Mixcoatlus barbouri, Mixcoatlus browni, and Mixcoatlus melanurus. Similar to Ophryacus, Mixcoatlus is a pitviper genus endemic to the highlands of southern Mexico. Mixcoatlus barbouri and M. browni are restricted to highland humid pine-oak and cloud-forest habitats of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero, Mexico (Fig. 6), whereas M. melanurus occurs in highland arid tropical scrub, high deciduous forest, and seasonally dry pine-oak forest in southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca (Campbell & Lamar, 2004: map 83). This limited distribution of southern Mexico makes this genus the most restricted of New World pitvipers. Common name: Mexican montane pitvipers Definition and diagnosis: Rostral broader than high, front surface flat to moderately concave (M. melanurus); preoculars two (M. barbouri and M. browni) or three (M. melanurus), upper preocular largest and squarish. In M. melanurus, middle preocular separate from supralacunal, lower forming posterior border of pit and excluded from orbit; single, large, flat, platelike supraocular above eye (M. barbouri and M. browni) or two to three supraoculars along dorsal margin of eye including supraocular horn (single scale above eye forming flattened horn, dorsoventrally compressed in cross section, occupying most of dorsal margin of orbit, tip broadly rounded; adjacent scales along dorsal ocular margin slightly modified, projecting slightly or not); seven to 14 supralabials (usually eight in M. barbouri and M. browni and 11 in M. melanurus); lip margin strongly scalloped in M. melanurus; eight to 13 infralabials; canthals and internasals relatively large, flat to rounded; crown of head covered with relatively large, flat scales with keeling beginning in parietal area (M. barbouri, M. browni) or covered by small keeled scales (M. melanurus); intersupraoculars one (M. browni), three to four (M. barbouri), or nine to 13 (M. melanurus); second supralabial discrete from prelacunal (these scales may be separated by two rows of small subfoveals in M. melanurus); supralabial and subocular series in contact (M. barbouri, M. browni) or separated by two to four rows of small, roundish scales (M. melanurus); one to two postoculars; 17���21 middorsal scale rows; mid-dorsal scales at midbody moderately slender and pointed in M. barbouri and M. browni and broad and obtusely rounded in M. melanurus; keel generally extending to tip of scale or nearly so, apical pits not apparent; free portion of apex of dorsal scales moderate in extent; 129���148 ventrals in M. barbouri and M. browni, 137���169 in M. melanurus; subcaudals undivided, 26���35 in M. barbouri and M. browni and 42���64 in M. melanurus; tail spine straight or distally curved upwards, moderately long. In M. barbouri and M. browni dorsum usually with ill-defined zigzag stripe bordered narrowly with black, sometimes broken into discrete blotches; 25���28 dark brown lateral body blotches; dorsal ground colour reddish brown. In M. melanurus dorsum with zig-zag pattern; ground colour reddish brown, olive brown, or grey; dorsal scales usually finely mottled or speckled with black, although this pattern may be apparent only under microscopic examination. In M. barbouri and M. browni lateral edge of nasal bone expanded into roughly triangular shape; frontal bones mostly flat, dorsal surface with slightly elevated margins, longer than wide; postfrontal moderate in size, reaching frontal; transverse distance of postfrontal about equal to its distance along parietal bone; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming moderately distinct raised ridge continuing posteriorly on parietal to about level posterior to quadrate; junction between parietal and pro-otic rounded; squamosal extending posteriorly to level about equal to posterior edge of exoccipital; ectopterygoid much shorter than expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to the articulation with ectopterygoid), with flat shaft gradually tapering posteriorly; dorsal edge of palatine rounded. Three palatine teeth; ten to 12 pterygoid teeth; eight to 12 dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth not extending posterior to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid; maxillary fang relatively short, being about equal in length to height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of about middle of supralabial 5. In M. melanurus frontal bones with concave dorsal surface, strongly elevated margins, moderately longer than wide; postfrontals relatively small, not contacting frontal, comprising considerably less of dorsal perimeter of orbit than parietals; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming distinct flat shelf not continuing onto the parietal as a raised ridge; junction between parietal and pro-otic irregular, not particularly angular; anterior portion of ectopterygoid possessing shallow depression on medial side accommodating attachment of ectopterygoid retractor muscle; ectopterygoid noticeably longer than expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft tapering posteriorly; apex of choanal process positioned at about midlength on palatine, process greatly reduced in height, apex broadly rounded; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular; three palatine teeth, seven to ten pterygoid teeth, seven to nine dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid; maxillary fang relatively short, only slightly longer than height of maxilla, at rest extending to level of suture between supralabials 6���7 or supralabial 7; splenial and angular bones separate; haemapophyses separate distally. The highland isolation of Mixcoatlus results in its allopatry to most species of pitvipers. However, these three species are sympatric with O. undulatus throughout parts of their range but are distinguished by morphological features listed above. Additionally, M. barbouri and M. browni may be broadly sympatric with Crotalus intermedius and Crotalus ravus but are distinguished from these species by not having a rattle at the end of their tail., Published as part of Robert C. Jadin, Eric N. Smith & Jonathan A. Campbell, 2011, Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic, pp. 943-958 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 on pages 951-953, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00748.x, http://zenodo.org/record/269862
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28. Ophryacus
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Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Viperidae ,Animalia ,Ophryacus ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
OPHRYACUS COPE, 1887 Type species: Trigonocephalus [Atropos] Jan, 1859, by monotypy. undulatus Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Greek ophrys, meaning brow, and the Latin acus, meaning pointed, obviously in reference to the distinctive supraocular spine-like scale. Content: The genus Ophryacus contains only O. undulatus confined to the highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental (Hidalgo, Veracruz, Puebla), the Mesa del Sur (Oaxaca), and the Sierra Madre del Sur (Oaxaca, Guerrero), where it occurs in pine-oak and cloud forest (Campbell & Lamar, 2004: map 84). Common name: Mexican horned pitviper. Definition and diagnosis: Rostral broader than high, moderately to distinctly concave; three preoculars, upper largest and undivided, middle not fused with supralacunal, lower small, somewhat excluded from margin of orbit; three to four supraoculars along dorsal margin of eye including supraocular spine; ten to 13 supralabials; lip margin not scalloped; nine to 14 infralabials; single scale above eye forming long, relatively slender spine, slightly compressed to subcircular in cross section, not occupying most of dorsal margin of orbit, tip pointed; adjacent scales along dorsal ocular margin often also modified, projecting slightly; canthals and internasals often raised into short spines or with especially high keels; scales in the supraocular region small and keeled; ten to 20 (usually 12���18) intersupraoculars; top of head covered with small scales, most having tubercular keels; second supralabial usually separated from prelacunal by single small subfoveal; subocular and supralabial series separated by two to four rows of small, roundish scales; 21 mid-dorsal scale rows; middorsals at midbody not noticeably broad, obtusely rounded; keel generally extending to tip of scale or nearly so, apical pits not apparent; free portion of apex of dorsal scales moderate in extent, barely overlapping contiguous scale; interstitial epidermal fold at cranial end of scale well developed; 157���178 ventrals; 37���57 subcaudals, divided; tail spine straight, about as long as preceding two to three subcaudals, pointed or obtusely rounded. Frontal bones with concave dorsal surface, strongly elevated margins, moderately longer than wide; postfrontals moderate in size, not contacting frontal, comprising about equal amount of dorsal perimeter of orbit as parietals; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming distinct flat shelf continuing onto parietal as a raised ridge; junction between parietal and pro-otic irregular, not particularly angular; anterior portion of ectopterygoid possessing a shallow depression on medial side accommodating attachment of ectopterygoid retractor muscle; ectopterygoid noticeably longer than expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft tapering posteriorly; apex of choanal process positioned at about midlength on palatine, process moderately reduced in height, apex broadly rounded; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular; zero to one (usually zero) palatine teeth, seven to ten pterygoid teeth, seven to nine dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid; maxillary fang relatively short, only slightly longer than height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of suture between supralabials 7 and 8; splenial and angular bones fused; haemapophyses in contact distally. Dorsum with zig-zag pattern; ground colour olivebrown, green, or grey, sometimes orange or yellow pigment present; dorsal scales usually finely mottled or speckled with black. NATURAL HISTORY OF M. BARBOURI AND M. BROWNI Similar to Ophryacus, Mixcoatlus is a pitviper genus endemic to the highlands of southern Mexico. Mixcoatlus appears to be found only in the western portion of the Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero (M. barbouri and M. browni) and north-western Oaxaca and south-eastern Puebla (M. melanurus), making it the most restricted genus of New World pitviper (Fig. 6 and map 83 in Campbell & Lamar, 2004, respectively). Mixcoatlus barbouri and M. browni are probably sympatric throughout much of their ranges, possess the same type locality (Omilteme, Guerrero), and have been found near each other in the western part of their ranges. Additionally, Crotalus intermedius omiltemanus, C. ravus, and O. undulatus have also been found near Omilteme and other highland areas in Guerrero, making their sympatry with M. barbouri and M. browni likely (Davis & Dixon, 1959; Campbell & Lamar, 2004). The highest confirmed elevation records for M. barbouri and M. browni are 2608 m (MZFC 21432) and 3296 m (KU 182762), respectively. Campbell (1988) provides a detailed description of M. barbouri and M. browni habitat in the Sierra Madre del Sur and states that the higher elevations are dominated by pine-oak forest and cloud forest. Although it has been suggested that M. barbouri and M. browni inhabited cloud forest almost exclusively, observations of this species at lower elevations (Davis & Dixon, 1959; Campbell, 1988; this study) suggest that these species also occurs in upper pine-oak forest where it interdigitates with cloud forest. Additionally, two individuals of M. browni, one found in fir-pineoak forest (UTA R-4450) and the other ���in bunchgrass on the sparsely wooded southern slope of Cerro Teotepec (KU R-182762)���, suggests that this species ���at least inhabits several recognizable vegetation associations��� (Campbell, 1988: 8). Campbell (1988) also provides an investigation of the locality records for most of the specimens of M. barbouri and M. browni. Both M. barbouri and M. browni are diurnal and are usually found basking, under cover, or moving during the day. While photographing a live M. browni, R. C. J. and E. N. S. observed an individual wrapping its tail around the hook to prevent falling (e.g. Fig. 4). This same behaviour was also observed in the field in two other individuals. Although its tail is more prehensile than such terrestrial genera as Cerrophidion and Atropoides, we have no compelling evidence that M. browni is highly arboreal. It does ascend into low vegetation; J. A. C. observed one specimen coiled on top of a stump about 1.5 m above the ground and another in a low, woody shrub about 1.0 m high. Few M. barbouri and M. browni have been kept in captivity. One specimen of M. barbouri (UTA R-15558) was kept for more than ten years (Campbell, 1988). An adult M. barbouri (MZFC 21432) and two M. browni (MZFC 21431 & UTA R-56265) were kept in captivity for several months. The M. barbouri was quite active and readily ate domestic white mice, whereas one adult (MZFC 21431) and one juvenile (UTA R-56265) M. browni required force feeding (A. Carbajal, pers. comm.). Specimens and scats of both M. barbouri and M. browni have contained rodent hair as well as the lizard Mesaspis gadovii (Campbell, 1988). Mesaspis gadovii probably constitutes a large portion of the diet for these two pitvipers because of the great abundance of this lizard (Campbell, 1988). Two specimens of M. browni (MZFC 21431 & UTA R-56264) were captured within a few metres of Me. gadovii. Although only a few diet items have been identified, the diet of M. barbouri and M. browni probably includes lizards, orthopterans, and mammals, similar to that of Cerrophidion species, with less of their diet consisting of birds and amphibians (Campbell, 1988; Campbell & Sol��rzano, 1992; Campbell & Lamar, 2004; Jadin, 2007, 2010). Sceloporus adleri is abundant at these high elevations, representing another potential prey item. Many specimens of Thorius and Pseudoeurycea were collected in the vicinity of M. browni. A plethodontid salamander was found in the stomach of Cerrophidion petlalcalensis (L��pez-Luna, Vogt & de la Torre-Loranca, 1999) and M. barbouri and M. browni may also consume them. Of the 32 specimens of M. [Agkistrodon] browni and M. [Cerrophidion] barbouri examined in this study, 15 were M. barbouri and the other 17 specimens allocatable to M. browni (see Appendix S1 for details). We are aware of only three museum specimens not examined by us: MZFC 2880 and 2882 and a recently collected M. browni (field number JAC 27714)., Published as part of Robert C. Jadin, Eric N. Smith & Jonathan A. Campbell, 2011, Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic, pp. 943-958 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 on pages 954-955, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00748.x, http://zenodo.org/record/269862
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29. Ophryacus COPE 1887
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Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Viperidae ,Animalia ,Ophryacus ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
OPHRYACUS COPE, 1887 Type species: Trigonocephalus [Atropos] undulatus Jan, 1859, by monotypy. Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Greek ophrys, meaning brow, and the Latin acus, meaning pointed, obviously in reference to the distinctive supraocular spine-like scale. Content: The genus Ophryacus contains only O. undulatus confined to the highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental (Hidalgo, Veracruz, Puebla), the Mesa del Sur (Oaxaca), and the Sierra Madre del Sur (Oaxaca, Guerrero), where it occurs in pine-oak and cloud forest (Campbell & Lamar, 2004: map 84). Common name: Mexican horned pitviper. Definition and diagnosis: Rostral broader than high, moderately to distinctly concave; three preoculars, upper largest and undivided, middle not fused with supralacunal, lower small, somewhat excluded from margin of orbit; three to four supraoculars along dorsal margin of eye including supraocular spine; ten to 13 supralabials; lip margin not scalloped; nine to 14 infralabials; single scale above eye forming long, relatively slender spine, slightly compressed to subcircular in cross section, not occupying most of dorsal margin of orbit, tip pointed; adjacent scales along dorsal ocular margin often also modified, projecting slightly; canthals and internasals often raised into short spines or with especially high keels; scales in the supraocular region small and keeled; ten to 20 (usually 12–18) intersupraoculars; top of head covered with small scales, most having tubercular keels; second supralabial usually separated from prelacunal by single small subfoveal; subocular and supralabial series separated by two to four rows of small, roundish scales; 21 mid-dorsal scale rows; middorsals at midbody not noticeably broad, obtusely rounded; keel generally extending to tip of scale or nearly so, apical pits not apparent; free portion of apex of dorsal scales moderate in extent, barely overlapping contiguous scale; interstitial epidermal fold at cranial end of scale well developed; 157–178 ventrals; 37–57 subcaudals, divided; tail spine straight, about as long as preceding two to three subcaudals, pointed or obtusely rounded. Frontal bones with concave dorsal surface, strongly elevated margins, moderately longer than wide; postfrontals moderate in size, not contacting frontal, comprising about equal amount of dorsal perimeter of orbit as parietals; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming distinct flat shelf continuing onto parietal as a raised ridge; junction between parietal and pro-otic irregular, not particularly angular; anterior portion of ectopterygoid possessing a shallow depression on medial side accommodating attachment of ectopterygoid retractor muscle; ectopterygoid noticeably longer than expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft tapering posteriorly; apex of choanal process positioned at about midlength on palatine, process moderately reduced in height, apex broadly rounded; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular; zero to one (usually zero) palatine teeth, seven to ten pterygoid teeth, seven to nine dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid; maxillary fang relatively short, only slightly longer than height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of suture between supralabials 7 and 8; splenial and angular bones fused; haemapophyses in contact distally. Dorsum with zig-zag pattern; ground colour olivebrown, green, or grey, sometimes orange or yellow pigment present; dorsal scales usually finely mottled or speckled with black., Published as part of Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N. & Campbell, Jonathan A., 2011, Unravelling a tangle of Mexican serpents: a systematic revision of highland pitvipers, pp. 943-958 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 (3) on page 954, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00748.x, {"references":["Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. Venomous reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. 2 vols. Ithaca, NY: Comstock Publishing Associates."]}
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30. Cerrophidion CAMPBELL & LAMAR 1992
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Jadin, Robert C., Smith, Eric N., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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Reptilia ,Cerrophidion ,Squamata ,Viperidae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
CERROPHIDION CAMPBELL & LAMAR, 1992 Type species: Bothriechis godmanni Günther, 1863, by subsequent designation of Campbell & Lamar (1992). Etymology: The generic name comes from the Spanish cerro, meaning mountain, an allusion to the habitat, and the Greek ophidion, meaning small snake (Campbell & Lamar, 1992). Content: The genus Cerrophidion contains three species: Cerrophidion godmani, Cerrophidion petlalcalensis, and Cerrophidion tzotzilorum. These species occur in pine-oak and cloud forests from Veracruz (Mexico) southward through the highlands of Central America to Panama (Campbell, 1985; Campbell & Lamar, 2004: maps 79, 80) with a vertical distribution from c. 1400–3491 m. Common name: Middle American montane pitvipers. Definition and diagnosis: Rostral wider than high, front surface flat; three preoculars, upper largest, entire, and squarish, lower forming posterior border of pit and excluded from orbit; single, large, flat, plate-like supraocular above eye; seven to 11 supralabials; eight to 12 infralabials; canthals and internasals relatively large and flat; two to seven intersupraoculars; crown of head covered with variably sized, flat or keeled scales; keeling prominent in parietal area; second supralabial discrete from prelacunal; supralabial and subocular series in contact or separated by single row of scales; 19–23 (mode 21) middorsal dorsal scale rows; mid-dorsal scales at midbody moderately slender and pointed; 120–150 ventrals; 22–36 undivided subcaudals; tail spine straight, moderately long. Lateral edge of nasal broadly expanded, bone roughly quadrangular; frontal bones mostly flat, dorsal surface with slightly elevated margins, longer than wide; postfrontal large, not reaching frontal; transverse distance of postfrontal greater than its distance along parietal bone; posterolateral edges of dorsal surface of parietals forming low to moderately distinct raised ridge continuing posteriorly on parietal as low ridge; junction between parietal and prootic rounded to almost flat; squamosal extending to level posterior to posterior edge of exoccipital; ectopterygoid about same length as expanded, flattened base of pterygoid (posterior to the articulation with ectopterygoid) with flat shaft gradually tapering posteriorly; dorsal surface of parietal roughly triangular to sometimes rounded; three to five palatine teeth; seven to 18 pterygoid teeth; eight to 16 dentary teeth; pterygoid teeth extending just posterior to level of articulation of pterygoid with ectopterygoid in C. godmani, but not reaching this far back in congeners; maxillary fang relatively short, being about equal in length to height of maxilla; fang at rest extending to level of about middle of supralabial 5 or suture between supralabials 5–6 (mostly after Campbell & Lamar, 2004).
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31. Calliophis haematoetron Smith, Manamendra-Arachchi & Somaweera, 2008, sp. nov
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Smith, Eric N., Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum, and Somaweera, Ruchira
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Calliophis ,Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Elapidae ,Chordata ,Calliophis haematoetron ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Calliophis haematoetron sp. nov. (Figs. 1���3) Calliophis melanurus (Taylor 1950: 583���585, in part, described specimens) (Bahir 1999: 22���24, in part) Calliophis melanurus sinhaleyus (Deraniyagala 1951: 147���148, in part, referred specimens of new taxon, at least specimens 12���13 on table 2) (Das & De Silva 2005: 57, in part) Calliophis sp. (Somaweera 2006: 154���155) English name: Blood-bellied coralsnake Holotype ��� WHT (The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka) 1621, an adult female from Wasgomuwa National Park, [Central Province], Sri Lanka, ca. 90 m (ca. 7.648056 �� N 80.93583 �� E), collected 7 June 1997 by Mohomed M. Bahir and Sampath Nanayakkara (figs. 1���3). Paratypes (2) ��� USNM (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., United States of America) 120334 ��� 120335, young male and adult female, respectively, from Clodagh Estate, Rattota, Matale [Central Province], Sri Lanka, ca. 570 m (ca. 7.521667 �� N 80.68472 �� E), collected on 2 July 1944 by Herbert G. Deignan (fig. 2). Diagnosis ��� A small (152���414 mm TL, young male and mature female, respectively), brownish, terrestrial coralsnake in which the tail comprises 10.5 % of the TL in the known male and 8.0��� 8.6 % in the two known females. It has no sublabial-chin-shield contact, 6 supralabials, 6 infralabials, 2 postoculars, 225���239 ventrals, a divided anal, 29���35 divided subcaudals, dorsal scale rows arranged in 13 rows along entire body, and a color pattern consisting of 13���22 lateral body blotches and 2���3 tail bands (including one band in the cloacal region). The new species can be distinguished from the only other known Sri Lankan Calliophis, C. melanurus, in having a frontal that is about equal in length or slightly shorter (vs. longer) than the interparietal suture, a first sublabial that does not touch the second pair of chin-shields (vs. broad contact with second pair of chinshields), a relatively unpigmented head (vs. capped with black from rostrum to nuchal collar), no light spots posterolateral to the parietals, numerous bands on the dorsum of the body (13���22 vs. none; excluding nuchal collar and cloacal and tail bands), a blood-red body venter (vs. orange or yellow through most of the length), and in having red pigment lateral to blue coloration under the tail (vs. no red on tail). The new species can be distinguished from all other coralsnakes, except C. melanurus and Calliophis maculiceps (G��nther, 1858), by its melanized tail base internal musculature, hypaxial, and associated epimysial and perimysial tissues (i.e., asulcate layer of hemipenis, m. propulsor, m. retractor penis magnus, and homologous muscles in females). The new species can be distinguished from all other Calliophis species in nearby India, C. beddomei (Smith, 1943), C. bibroni (Jan, 1858), C. melanurus, and C. nigrescens (G��nther, 1862). From C. beddomei it differs in having fewer supralabials (6 vs. 7), first sublabials not touching the second pair of chin-shields, a pale head with light-brown subocular and cheek blotches (vs. head with melanic color, covering the snout and continuing caudally as a narrow interparietal line joining the dark collar and as lateral stripes from above the eye to the corner of the mouth), a body pattern of complete and incomplete bands and a few lateral anterior blotches (vs. pattern of paradorsal and lateral blotches separated by faint and broken medial stripe), a colorful venter (vs. immaculate light colored, including tail), and tail bands (vs. no bands, only small blotches). From C. bibroni it differs in having fewer supralabials (6 vs. 7), a light colored (vs. dark) snout, a preocular (vs. no preocular), two postoculars (vs. 1), 2 or 3 tail bands (vs. 4���6), thin dark bands on the body that are up to 2 scales wide (vs. usually 3���4 scales wide), a divided anal (vs. single), and higher ventral scute counts (males 225 vs. 219; females 232���239 vs. 222���227). It differs from C. nigrescens in having a first sublabial that does not contact the second pair of chin-shields (vs. broad contact), having 6 supralabials (vs. 7), dark subcaudal markings (vs. unmarked), and a dorsal pattern of bands (vs. striped, with longitudinal blotches, or unicolored). The new species differs from Calliophis gracilis Gray, 1835 in possessing fewer ventral scales (225���239 vs. 303���320), more subcaudals (29���35 vs. 21���23), 2 maxillary teeth posterior to fangs (vs. none), a dorsal pattern of narrow bands (vs. large and paired paravertebral spots and 5���7 well-defined stripes), and a venter with no bands (vs. numerous regularly spaced wide bands). From C. maculiceps it can be distinguished by its high number of ventrals (225���239 vs. 169���222), more subcaudals (29���35 vs. 20���31), lack of postocular stripes, the first sublabial not touching the second pair of chin-shields (vs. broadly touching), and a frontal that is shorter or about equal to the length of the interparietal suture (vs. longer). From the long-glanded coralsnakes Calliophis bivirgata (Boie, 1827) and Calliophis intestinalis (Laurenti, 1768), previously known as members of a the genus Maticora Gray, 1834 (see Slowinski et al. 2001), the new species differs in having a venom gland that is confined to the temporal region (vs. extending behind the head), a Harderian gland with a moderately developed posterior extension (vs. enlarged posterior extension, larger than the eyeball), pterygoids of moderate size and with 4 teeth (vs. reduced in size and with 2, 1, or no teeth), and a dorsal pattern of bands (vs. stripes). Additionally, the new species can be distinguished from C. bivirgata in lacking a bright red venter, head and tail dorsum, and from C. intestinalis in lacking a venter without bars and a blue (vs. red) subcaudal coloration. From species in the genus Sinomicrurus Slowinski, Boundy & Lawson, 2001, i.e., S. hatori (Takahashi, 1930), S. japonicus (G��nther, 1868), S. kelloggi (Pope, 1928), S. macclellandi (Reinhardt, 1844), and S. sauteri (Steindachner, 1913) (sensu Slowinski et al. 2001), the new taxon differs in possessing no protuberant sclerified tail tip, 6 (vs. 7) supralabials, and a Harderian gland with a moderately developed posterior extension (vs. no extension). It can further be distinguished from S. hatori, S. japonicus, and S. sauteri in having no pattern of stripes, and from S. kelloggi and S. macclellandi in having no white band anterior to the nuchal band. From snakes in the genus Hemibungarus Peters, 1862, namely Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann, 1834), that had previously been considered coralsnakes (e.g., Slowinski et al. 2001), the new species differs in having 13 dorsal scale rows (vs. 15), 1 + 2 temporals (vs. 2 + 2 or 2 + 3), more subcaudals (32���35 vs. Hemibungarus calligaster is now placed in the tribe Hemibungarini, and the genus Calliophis and the rest of the Asian and American coralsnakes in the tribe Calliophini, based on hemipenial and molecular data (Castoe et al. 2007). Etymology ��� The specific name, haematoetron, is derived from the Greek adjective haematodes (bloody), and the Greek noun etron (belly) meaning ���bloody belly��� in reference to the bright-red venter of this ���beautiful snake��� (= Calliophis). Description of holotype and variation ��� Features of the adult female holotype are followed in parentheses by variation of the young male and the mature female paratypes, respectively. Total length 371 mm (152, 414); tail length 32 mm (16, 33); head length 6.9 mm (4.8, 9.5) from anterior edge of rostral to posterior end of mandible; head width 5.8 mm (3.1, 5.3) at broadest point; head slightly distinct from neck; snout 2.0 mm (1.5, 2.7) from front of rostral to anterior edge of eye; eye 0.3 (0.4, 0.4) times length of snout; pupil round; rostral 1.4 (1.3, 1.8) times wider than high; internasals 2.0 (1.2, 1.3) times wider than long, contacting only the nasals laterally; length of internasal suture slightly more than half diameter of eye (half in female paratype); prefrontals as wide as long, in contact laterally with nasal, preocular, and supraocular; prefrontal suture 1.4 (1.0, 1.3) times diameter of eye; frontal 1.3 (1.5, 1.5) times longer than wide; supraoculars 1.4 (1.3, 1.8) times longer than wide; parietals twice as long as wide (2.0, 1.8); parietal suture 0.6 times length of parietals, 1.2 (1.1, 0.9) times longer than frontal; 1 +0 temporals and one posttemporal, shields touching parietal laterally large and elongated; temporal 1.9 (2.2, 1.9) times longer than wide; single preocular, 1.6 (1.5, 1.4) times longer than wide, triangular, with apex rostrally, located above line between center of eye and posterior border of naris; two postoculars, upper slightly wider than lower, reaching beyond upper and lower borders of eye, respectively; no loreal, preocular and nasal in contact; 6 / 6 supralabials, sixth largest and longest, first in contact with anterior nasal, second in contact with both nasal plates; third in contact with posterior nasal, preocular, and one sixth of orbit; fourth below orbit and contacting lower postocular, fifth in contact with lower postocular and temporal, and sixth in contact with temporal; mental 1.7 (1.9, 1.7) times as broad as long; anterior chin-shields 2.1 (2.1, 2.0) times longer than wide; posterior chin-shields 2.3 (1.9, 2.0) times longer than wide; 6 / 6 infralabials, first pair in contact behind mental, second small, second and third touching anterior chin-shields, fourth largest and contacting anterior and posterior chin-shields, fifth and sixth contacting sublabials; first sublabial not touching chin-shields; 2 (2, 1) gulars and 2 (3, 4) preventrals at midline between posterior chin-shields and first ventral; with few tubercles on head scales, concentrated anteriorly; dorsals in 13 rows, smooth, unreduced; apical pits absent; ventrals 239 (225, 232); anal divided; preanal single; subcaudals 32 (35, 29), paired; tail complete, tip round; no anal ridges or tubercles; male with umbilical scar on ventrals 161���163. Dentition of paratypes examined, characteristics of male followed by variation of female, in parentheses: maxillae bearing one fang 0.50 mm long (1.1 mm), arising below suture of supralabials 2 and 3, slanted backward; two posterior maxillary teeth on each side, first largest, 0.13 mm long (0.15 mm), close to each other (0.13, 0.10 mm), slanted backward, below suture of supralabials 4 and 5, first at 1 mm from base of fang (1.2 mm); 6 / 6 palatine teeth (7 / 6); 4 / 4 pterygoid teeth (6 / 5); 9 / 9 dentary teeth, decreasing in size from front to rear. Head glands visible through transparent head shields of young male and when reflecting head skin of female paratype (skin detached prior to our examination; characteristics of male followed by variation of female, in parentheses): salivary gland developed under supralabials 1���3; nasal gland occupying area below prefrontal shields (prefrontal shields, posterior nasal, and preocular); Harderian gland under anterolateral portion of parietal (and posterior supraocular and upper postocular), 0.68 mm long (1.00 mm), 0.60 mm wide (0.90 mm), triangular, apex caudal, with a moderate posterior extension; venom gland triangular (rounded posteriorly), corners at middle of fourth supralabial (middle of third supralabial), middle of sixth supralabial (tip of temporal), and middle of temporal at border with parietal, 0.78 mm wide (1.95 mm), 1.88 mm long (4.85 mm), not inflected ventrally and confined to head; infralabial gland bordering mouth under lateral tips of mental to fifth infralabial, area differentiated, darker and more granular under fourth infralabial; in male, salivary, nasal, Harderian and infralabial glands yellowish and of irregular texture (granular), venom gland whitish and smooth; m. adductor mandibulae externus superficialis (AES) forming continuous loop, from upper parietal surface above Harderian gland to insertion on compound bone; in both specimens, granular glands situated under the rostral; in female, slender gland evident under lower edge of supralabials five and six. Hemipenes of male exposed in situ but not dissected or cut, single (unbifurcated), relatively smooth, reaching level of subcaudal 10; each hemipenis and associated m. retractor penis magnus covered in a melanic epimysium, asulcate layer; m. retractor penis magnus inserts first to vertebrae at level of subcaudal 32; m. propulsor also with external melanized epymisium; no spines or papillae evident through transluscent tissue (after removing the melanic sheath); subvertebral and medial hypaxial musculature in tail with melanized internal epymisial covering; cloacal scent glands oval, ending at levels of subcaudals 3 (left) and 4 (right). In female paratype, tail subvertebral and medial hypaxial musculature and associated epimysial and perimysial connective tissues melanized; external epymisial tissue covering m. propulsor and basal and medial section of m. constrictor sacculi ani melanized. Color (Fig. 1) ��� Holotype in life: Dorsum of head and body Burnt Sienna (132), turning Drab-Gray (119 D) towards venter; Jet Black (89) dorsal bands and blotches, those anterior finely edged with Pale Pinkish Buff (121 D); Jet Black irregular diffuse reticulation on top of head and suborbital and cheek markings; dark cheek marking covering almost all sixth supralabial and continuing through lower edge of temporal and posttemporal towards black collar; eye surrounded by dark pigment; 22 primary bands on body (crossing midline or not), about 1.5���2 scales wide; five small middorsal blotches anteriorly and small diffuse and scattered blotches posteriorly; three dorsal bands on tail; scales on second dorsolateral row with dark centers; tip of tail light colored; no spots on ventral scales; venter of body to anal plate and first row of dorsal scales on tail Gem Ruby (110) red; underside of tail True Blue (168 A), except for last two subcaudals which are Gem Ruby and Pearl Gray (81); 19 subcaudals blotched with Jet Black. Holotype in preservative: Drab Gray dorsally and ventrally; head markings Warm Sepia (221 A) to Sepia (119); nuchal band and dorsal body and tail bands and blotches Sepia; faint middorsal stripe Warm Sepia; dark subcaudals Jet Black. Male paratype in preservative similar to holotype, differs in having 13 body dorsal bands, two tail dorsal bands, a Light Drab (119 C) overall coloration, Dark Drab (119 B) chin, Sepia (219) bands and blotches, 12 subcaudals with dark lateral coloration (tail ventrally almost immaculate), and only faint suborbital and cheek blotches. Female paratype in preservative more similar in color and pattern to preserved holotype than to male paratype; differs from holotype in possessing 17 body dorsal bands and two tail dorsal bands. Habitat, distribution and natural history (Figs. 4���7) ��� The two known localities for Calliophis haematoetron lie in two different types of forest. The holotype was collected at Wasgomuwa National Park, a tropical dry (mixed) evergreen forest, whereas the paratypes from Clodagh Estate, Rattota, come from an originally tropical moist semi-evergreen forest locality. Nowadays, however, no significant forest remnants of the latter formation remain (Gunatilleke & Gunatilleke, 1990). The recorded altitudinal range of the new species is ca. 90��� 570 m. The moment of capture and associated defensive behavior of the holotype was described by Bahir (1999): ���Running my hand under the thick layer of brown leaves on the forest floor, I uncovered a long, brown snake, almost 40 cm (rather more than a foot) long. Immediately I disturbed it, it turned the underside of its tail up displaying a stunningly spectacular blue which instinctively had me letting go. As I tried to grasp it in my hand again, it turned its belly up at me all the while keeping its head concealed and the right way up, displaying a bright red underside.��� Bahir (1999) also stated that ���it moves with incredible stealth and speed through leaf litter.��� The female paratype, collected 2 July, has yolked oviductal eggs with soft shells, two anteriorly in the left oviduct (anterior 22 mm, posterior 27 mm), and one posterior, in the right oviduct (30 mm). Egg deposition presumably happens later during the month of July. Endoparasite (Fig. 8) ��� The adult female paratype contained a single encysted nematode in the abdominal cavity; this larval individual endoparasite appears to belong to the family Spiruridae, a member of the superfamily Dracunculoidea Cameron, 1934. It possesses a long and relatively thin body, a rounded cephalic end with a cuticular shield and cephalic papillae, a reduced buccal capsule, an esophagus consisting of short muscular and long glandular parts, and an intestine that is straight and tubular (Skryabin 1984). Numerous species of Spiruridae infect the mesentery, coelomic cavity, and blood vessels of snakes. This nematode could not be assigned to a lower taxonomic rank because it is in a larval stage and diagnostic features have not yet developed. The specific identity of this Spiruridae found in Calliophis haematoetron remains to be corroborated. Relationships ��� Calliophis haematoetron is probably closely related to the lowland Calliophis with blue tail venters namely, C. melanurus from India and Sri Lanka and C. maculiceps from southern Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and northern peninsular Malaysia. These species share melanized musculature and tissues at the base of the tail, blotching in some of the subcaudals, tail bands (usually two), and a body venter with red or orange, particularly towards the anal plate., Published as part of Smith, Eric N., Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum & Somaweera, Ruchira, 2008, A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the Central Province of Sri Lanka, pp. 19-33 in Zootaxa 1847 on pages 21-29, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.183338, {"references":["Taylor, E. H. (1950) A brief review of Ceylonese snakes. University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 33 (2) (14), 519 - 603.","Bahir, M. M. (1999) Scaring the enemy-The slender coral snake. Sri Lanka Nature, September, 22 - 24.","Deraniyagala, P. E. P. (1951) Some new races of the snakes Eryx, Callophis, and Echis. Spolia Zeylanica, 26 (2), 147 - 150.","Das, I. & De Silva, A. (2005) A Photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Sri Lanka. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd., London, 144 pp.","Somaweera, R. (2006) The Snakes of Sri Lanka. Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo, 270 pp.","Smith, M. A. (1943) The Fauna of British India Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia Volume III. - Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London, 584 pp.","Slowinski, J. B., Boundy, J. & Lawson, R. (2001). The phylogenetic relationships of Asian coral snakes (Elapidae: Calliophis and Maticora) based on morphological and molecular characters. Herpetologica, 57 (2), 233 - 245.","Castoe, T. A., Smith, E. N., Brown R. F. & Parkinson, C. L. (2007) Higher-level phylogeny of Asian and American coralsnakes, their placement within the Elapidae (Squamata: Serpentes), and the systematic affinities of the enigmatic Asian coralsnake Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann, 1834). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society of London, 151, 809 - 831.","Gunatilleke, I. A. U. N. & Gunatilleke, C. V. S. (1990) Distribution of floristic richness and its conservation in Sri Lanka. Conservation Biology, 4 (1), 21 - 31.","Skryabin, K. I. (1984). Key to Parasitic Nematodes. Vol. 4. Camallanata, Rhabdiata, Tylenchata, Trichocephalata, Dioctophymata, and distribution of parasitic nematodes in different hosts. United States Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation, Washington, D. C. by Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 1097 p."]}
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- 2008
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32. Higher-level phylogeny of Asian and American coralsnakes, their placement within the Elapidae (Squamata), and the systematic affinities of the enigmatic Asian coralsnake Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann, 1834)
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Castoe, Todd A., Smith, Eric N., Brown, Rafe M., and Parkinson, Christopher L.
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Reptilia ,Squamata ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Elapidae ,Chordata ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Castoe, Todd A., Smith, Eric N., Brown, Rafe M., Parkinson, Christopher L. (2007): Higher-level phylogeny of Asian and American coralsnakes, their placement within the Elapidae (Squamata), and the systematic affinities of the enigmatic Asian coralsnake Hemibungarus calligaster (Wiegmann, 1834). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (4): 809-831, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00350.x, URL: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00350.x
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- 2007
33. Higher-level phylogeny of Asian and American coralsnakes, their placement within the Elapidae (Squamata), and the systematic affinities of the enigmatic Asian coralsnake Hemibungarus calligaster (.
- Author
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CASTOE, TODD A., SMITH, ERIC N., BROWN, RAFE M., and PARKINSON, CHRISTOPHER L.
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SNAKES , *ELAPIDAE , *PHYLOGENY , *ANIMAL morphology , *SQUAMATA - Abstract
The snake family Elapidae contains over 60 genera (about 300 species) of highly venomous snakes. About one-third of the alpha-taxonomic diversity of the Elapidae comprises coralsnakes: a major radiation of colourful venomous snakes including six genera distributed in Asia and the Americas. In this study, we examine molecular phylogenetic and descriptive morphological evidence for the placement of the monotypic coralsnake genus Hemibungarus ( H. calligaster (Wiegmann)) among the elapids, and clarify the relationships among genera traditionally referred to as ‘coralsnakes’. We use two mitochondrial gene fragments (ND4 and cyt- b) and a nuclear gene fragment (c-mos) to estimate relationships among elapids and other colubroid snakes, based on parsimony and likelihood methods, as well as Bayesian phylogenetic methods incorporating complex partitioned models of nucleotide evolution. As different phylogenetic methods provided alternativee results, we include an extensive examination of molecular phylogenetic analyses to facilitate a transparent and thorough exploration of the data. Additionally, we highlight external morphological and hemipenial characters that appear to further support molecular hypotheses for the placement of Hemibungarus, and relationships among the Elapinae. Owing to conflicting descriptions of morphological characters in the literature, and the unavailable of comparative morphological data for certain key species, we include detailed descriptions of the hemipenes of Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider), B. fasciatus (Schneider), Calliophis nigrescens Günther, Dendroaspis polylepis (Günther), H. calligaster (Wiegmann), Naja naja (Linnaeus) and Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor). We present evidence that Asian and American coralsnakes ( Calliophis, Sinomicrurus, Micruroides, Micrurus and Leptomicrurus) form an exclusive clade, distantly related to Hemibungarus. Thus, despite long-held beliefs of systematic affinities based on morphology and colour pattern, our results suggest that Hemibungarus is not (phylogenetically) a coralsnake, but instead shares an exclusive common ancestor with Afro-Asian elapine genera ( Elapsoidea, Dendroaspis and Ophiophagus). Results of our molecular phylogenetic analyses also support the recognition of two primary clades of elapids corresponding to the subfamilies Elapinae and Hydrophiinae. Additionally, we provide evidence that the Elapinae consists of two main clades: (1) coralsnakes s.s. ( Calliophis, Sinomicrurus, Micruroides, Micrurus, Leptomicrurus), and (2) the remaining genera of Afro-Asian species, including cobras, kraits, mambas and Hemibungarus. We suggest a new classification for these two elapine clades: Calliophini for the coralsnakes ( Calliophis, Sinomicrurus, Micrurus, Micruroides and Leptomicrurus), and Hemibungarini for the remaining Afro-Asian elapine species, including Hemibungarus. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 151, 809–831. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2007
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34. A New Species of Tantilla (Squamata: Colubridae) of the calamarina Group from Volcán Ceboruco, Nayarit, Mexico.
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Canseco-Márquez, L., Smith, Eric N., Ponce-Cmpos, P., Flores-Vllela, O., and Campbell, Jonathan A.
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TANTILLA calamarina , *SQUAMATA , *SNAKES , *ZOOGEOGRAPHY - Abstract
A new species of Tantilla is described from a single specimen obtained from Volcán Ceboruco, southern Nayarit, Mexico. The new species closely resembles other species of the Tantilla calamarina group. With the addition of the taxon described herein, the calamarina group now contains seven species, T. calamarina, Tantilla cascadae, Tantilla coronadoi, Tantilla deppei, Tantilla sertula, Tantilla vermiformis, and the new species described herein. Collectively, members of the group are distributed along the Pacific versant of Middle America in three disjunct regions: (1) from northern Sinaloa to Guerrero, including the Tres Marlas Islands; (2) the Balsas Basin of Morelos, Puebla, Distrito Federal, and the State of Mexico; and (3) from El Salvador to northwestern Costa Rica. We provide a small list of specimens collected in the highlands of Nayarit, and report Lithobates psilonota, Ambystoma rosaceum, Elgaria kingi, Plestiodon lynxe and Rhadinaea hesperia for the first time from the state. We report the second specimen of T. sertula, known previously only from the holotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2007
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35. Isolation, characterization, cloning and expression of an alpha-neurotoxin from the venom of the Mexican coral snake Micrurus laticollaris (Squamata: Elapidae)
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Carbajal-Saucedo, Alejandro, López-Vera, Estuardo, Bénard-Valle, Melisa, Smith, Eric N., Zamudio, Fernando, de Roodt, Adolfo R., and Olvera-Rodríguez, Alejandro
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NEUROTOXIC agents , *CORAL snakes , *MICRURUS (Reptiles) , *SQUAMATA , *AMINO acid analysis , *NICOTINIC acetylcholine receptors , *GENE expression , *RECOMBINANT toxins - Abstract
Abstract: A new member of short chain α-neurotoxic protein family from venom of the Mexican coral snake, Micrurus laticollaris, was characterized. This protein, named MlatA1, possesses 61 amino acids with 8 conserved cysteine residues, sharing 30–91% sequence identity with other fully sequenced Micrurus toxins. MlatA1 (LD50i.v. = 0.064 mg/kg) antagonizes with both fetal and adult nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) as well as α-7 neuronal nAChR in a dose-dependent way. Specific rabbit anti-Mlat serum (titer higher than 18,000) does not show any protective ability against this toxin, nevertheless it was able to recognize protein bands in six out of twelve Micrurus venoms showing the existence of two distinct antigenic groups for α-neurotoxins in North American coral snakes species. The MlatA1 gene was cloned and used to produce recombinant toxin (rMlatA1) that was recognized by rabbit anti-native toxin but was depleted of toxic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
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- 2013
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