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| Bolitoglossa awajun Cusi, Gagliardi-Urrutia, Carvalho-Brcko, Wake & von May, 2020. Awajun Salamander | Salamandra Awajún || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4834.3.3 |
Abstract
We examine the phylogenetic relationships among salamanders of the genus Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) distributed in the Amazonian basin of northern Peru and southern Ecuador and assess species diversity based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. We infer a molecular phylogeny using sequences from two mitochondrial (Cytb, 16S) and two nuclear genes (RAG–1, POMC). We find two well-supported subclades, one including [B. altamazonica + B. peruviana] + B. awajun sp. n., and the other including Bolitoglossa sp. Ituxi + Bolitoglossa sp. Jurúa. Ecuadorian lineages form divergent clades from the Peruvian lineages. Accordingly, Ecuadorian populations previously assigned to Bolitoglossa peruviana sensu lato are treated as members of a Bolitoglossa equatoriana species complex. A newly defined Bolitoglossa altamazonica species complex contains only populations from the Amazonian rainforest of Peru. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses confirm the phylogenetic placement of B. altamazonica and B. peruviana, and support recognition of a related new species of Bolitoglossa. The uncorrected genetic distances between the new species and B. altamazonica are 6.5% for Cytb and 4.9% for 16S; and the uncorrected genetic distances between the new species and B. peruviana are 8.0% for Cytb and 3.9% for 16S. Additionally, analyses of nuclear gene sequences show no haplotype sharing between the new species and closely related species. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) Standard length mean 37.7 mm in males (range 32.0–42.2; n=5) and 41.4 mm in females (range 34.9–48.2; n=6); (2) in life, dorsal coloration uniformly brown with a dark brown triangular marking between the eyes or some irregular light cream spots or patches on the head, back and flanks; (3) iris pale golden; (4) in preservative, dark brown venter with cream mottlings or moderate-sized blotches on the gular region, belly, cloacal region and tail; (5) tips of third finger and third toe protuberant and pointed with nearly complete webbing on the hands and feet; (6) 11–26 maxillary teeth and 8–24 vomerine teeth. Given that the syntypes of B. altamazonica are lost, we designate a neotype for B. altamazonica from Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Loreto department, Peru. Newly collected specimens from ~30 km NE from Moyobamba (type locality of B. peruviana) provide a better understanding of B. peruviana and enable us to show that it is the sister taxon of B. altamazonica. The new species is known from pre-montane forests in Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area, Cordillera Azul National Park and Shucshuyacu, San Martin department, Peru at 485–1311 m elevation, ~75 km SE from Moyobamba. Bolitoglossa awajun sp. n. is the fourth endemic species of salamander from Peru.
Keywords: Amphibia, Bolitoglossa awajun sp. n., subgenus Eladinea, morphometrics, DNA sequences, Amazonia
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| FIGURE 7. Adults of Bolitoglossa awajun sp. n. in life. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view of the paratype CRBIIAP AR001122. Dorsal (C) and dorsolateral (D) view of the paratype CRBIIAP AR001125. Both preserved specimens are from Cordillera Escalera RCA. Photos by Giussepe Gagliardi. |
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| FIGURE 6. Holotype of Bolitoglossa awajun sp. n. (CRBIIAP AR001123) in preservative. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view of body, dorsal (C) and lateral (D) view of head, ventral view of right hand (E) and right foot (F), and buccal cavity (G) on ventral view. Photos by Juan C. Cusi. |
Bolitoglossa awajun sp. n.
Suggested English name: Awajun salamander
Suggested Spanish name: Salamandra Awajún
Etymology: The specific epithet awajun refers to the Peruvian ethnic group known as “Awajún” or “Aguaruna” native inhabitants of Amazonian rainforests in Loreto, Amazonas, San Martin and Cajamarca departments. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.
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| FIGURE 14. Distribution map of the specimens recognized as Bolitoglossa cf. altamazonica in Amazonia and Andes from Peru. Type localities for B. altamazonica, B. peruviana, B. digitigrada, B. awajun sp. n., B. palmata, B. equatoriana and B. caldwellae are shown. Furthermore, localities of the subclades defined by Elmer et al. (2013) and samples of Bolitoglossa sp. Ituxi, Bolitoglossa sp. Jurúa, Bolitoglossa sp. from Teniente López, Loreto (KU 222111) and B. altamazonica from Colombia-Brasil are represented. In arrows, the records of highest elevation of Bolitoglossa cf. altamazonica in Peru. Map by Juan C. Cusi. |
Juan C. Cusi, Giussepe Gagliardi-Urrutia, Isabela Carvalho-Brcko, David B. Wake and Rudolf von May. 2020. Taxonomic Status of the Neotropical Salamanders Bolitoglossa altamazonica and Bolitoglossa peruviana (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae), with the Description of A New Species from Northern Peru. Zootaxa. 4834(3); 365–406. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4834.3.3
