[Herpetology • 2013] Myersiohyla chamaeleo & M. neblinaria • Two New Species of Myersiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Cerro de la Neblina, Venezuela, with comments on other species of the genus

Myersiohyla chamaeleo & M. neblinaria 

Faivovich, McDiarmid & Myers, 2013

DOI: 10.1206/3792.1 

ABSTRACT

Two new species of Myersiohyla are described from the 1984–1985 Cerro de la Neblina Expedition in southern Venezuela, together with notes on the genus and a test of its monophyly, which has been challenged in recent studies. The inclusion of new sequences results in a monophyletic Myersiohyla that is better supported than in earlier analyses. One of the new species is similar to M. inparquesi, with which it has been confused previously. This newly described species has, like M. inparquesi, a tadpole with a dorsoventrally flattened body and the largest labial toothrow formula so far reported for anuran larvae (16/21). It differs from M. inparquesi in larval characters, adult coloration, and vocalization. The other new species is unique in having a color pattern composed of stellate melanophores over a greenish ground color. Comments on the holotype of M. loveridgei provide details overlooked in previous references to this rare species and stress the need to establish diagnostic characters that might differentiate it from M. aromatica. Furthermore, we report one specimen not assigned to any species from Huachamacary Tepui, only 25 km from the type locality of M. loveridgei. So far, all studied species of Myersiohyla have relatively large (2.8–3.2 mm), yolky ovarian eggs, a character state shared with several other frogs in Cophomantini (Hyloscirtus, Aplastodiscus, the Hypsiboas benitezi species group), and likely a plesiomorphic character state for the tribe. We report and illustrate the occurrence of a mental gland in some species of Myersiohyla and present a short discussion on odorous volatile secretions reported in some species of this genus.

The following species are described or discussed herein: Myersiohyla chamaeleo new species, p. 8, M. neblinaria new species, p. 25, M. loveridgei (Rivero), p. 38, Myersiohyla species inquirenda, p. 40, and M. kanaima (Goin and Woodley), p. 42. Following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the nominal type species of Myersiohyla is changed from Hyla inparquesi to Myersiohyla neblinaria (p. 42).

Julián Faivovich, Roy W. McDiarmid and Charles W. Myers. 2013. Two New Species of Myersiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Cerro de la Neblina, Venezuela, with comments on other species of the genus. American Museum Novitates. 3792: 1-63.  DOI: 10.1206/3792.1

ResearchGate.net/publication/259384508_Two_new_species_of_Myersiohyla_(Anura_Hylidae)_from_Cerro_de_la_Neblina_Venezuela_with_comments_on_other_species_of_the_genus 

César L. Barrio-Amorós; Josefa Celsa Señaris; Ross D. Macculloch; Amy Lathrop; Juan M. Guayasamin and William E. Duellman. 2011. Distribution, Vocalization and Taxonomic Status of Hypsiboas roraima and H. angelicus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae). Pap. Avulsos Zool. (São Paulo). 51(2). DOI: 10.1590/S0031-10492011000200001

[Herpetology • 2015] The Gerrhonotine Genus Coloptychon (Sauria: Anguidae)

An adult male Isthmian Alligator Lizard, Coloptychon rhombifer, from Cerro San Juan de Rincón, Cantón de Osa, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica, elev. 500 m. For a century, this enigmatic anguid lizard was known from only three specimens. Although more individuals have been found, the lizard is largely a mystery. Its habits in the wild, diet, reproductive behavior, and osteology remain unknown. When approached closely, Coloptychon is prone to bite defensively.

photo: César L. Barrio-Amorós

Abstract

We discuss the provenance, history, and literature pertaining to the poorly known lizard Coloptychon rhombifer (Anguidae: Gerrhonotinae). We include English translations of both the original description of this species by Peters (1876) and the first extensive re-description by Bocourt (1878) from the German and French, respectively. We report on six recently discovered individuals, increasing the total number known to 13. We also discuss habitat and distribution, ontogenetic variation in color and pattern, and provide pertinent observations of captive behavior.

Key Words: Coloptychon rhombifer, Chiriquí, Costa Rica, Gerrhonotinae, Gerrhonotus, Panama

William W. Lamar, César L. Barrio-Amorós, Quetzal Dwyer, Juan G. Abarca and Roel De Plecker. 2015. The Gerrhonotine genus Coloptychon (Sauria: Anguidae). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 2(1); 88-104.

http://mesoamericanherpetology.com/uploads/3/5/0/0/3500871/lamar_et_al_paper.pdf

 academia.edu/12339888/The_Gerrhonotine_genus_Coloptychon_Sauria_Anguidae_

[Herpetology • 2015] Five New Species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Coastal Cloud Forest of the Península de Paria, Venezuela

Image 3. Pristimantis nubisilva sp. nov. from the Península de Paria in northeastern Venezuela.
(C) Calling male from the Las Melenas area (specimen not collected). (D) Individual from Cerro Humo, showing the red dorsal tuberculation present in some frogs (specimen not collected).
Image 8. Specimens of Pristimantis hoogmoedi sp. nov. from the Península de Paria in northeastern Venezuela, photographed in life.
(A) Male paratype (CVULA 7440, SVL = 34.3mm), illustrating the relatively plain dorsal patterning with irregular brown markings and the red iris. (B) Female paratype (CVULA 7434, SVL = 41.6mm), illustrating the ‘extravagant’ orange-brown patterned phenotype.
Image 12. Pristimantis geminus sp. nov. from the Península de Paria in northeastern Venezuela in life.
 (A) Male holotype (USNM [CMD 341], SVL = 20.8mm), illustrating paired scapular spots and associated tubercles. (C) Male and female P. geminus from Cerro Patao in axillary amplexus (MBLUZ 381–82). The male illustrates the dark brown striped phenotype, showing scapular tubercles and the conical tubercle on the upper eyelid. In these individuals, the coloration is particularly vibrant, perhaps owing to the reproductive activity.

DOI: 10.11609/JoTT.o4197.7047-88

Abstract

 Fieldwork in the cloud forest of Venezuela’s remote Península de Paria in 2001 resulted in the collection of several specimens that could unquestionably be classified as members of the genus Pristimantis. Subsequent analysis of comparative material in museum collections brought the total number of specimens to 44, and these collectively represent five new species. Two of these species, P. geminus sp. nov. and P. nubisilva sp. nov., have phenotypes remarkably similar to the Trinidadian P. urichi, supporting a prediction that Pristimantis from easternmost Venezuela may have given rise to Trinidadian forms. Pristimantis hoogmoedi sp. nov. is easily identified by its large size and red eyes. Two of the species, P. longicorpus sp. nov. and P. pariagnomus sp. nov., are very distinct morphologically but are known only from the holotypes. The former is characterized by an elongate body form supported by relatively short limbs, whereas the latter has very distinctive hand morphology and is likely the smallest Venezuelan frog. Chromosome banding studies of P. nubisilva sp. nov. and P. hoogmoedi sp. nov. revealed chromosome numbers of 2n = 36 and 2n = 26, respectively, with an unusual submetacentric fusion chromosome 11;18 in some males of the former and a unique meiotic pairing of chromosomes in males of the latter. All five species can be readily distinguished by their osteology, such as by the extent of the sphenethmoid and features on the roof of the mouth, as well as by the shape and rearrangement of mesopodial elements. The unexpectedly high diversity of Pristimantis in this region, along with high endemism of amphibians and reptiles in general, underscores the position of the Península de Paria as a center for frog biodiversity in Venezuela. The similarity of these Paria species to Pristimantis from Trinidad, Tobago and the central Cordillera de la Costa represents a tangible piece of evidence for the close biogeographic link of the anuran fauna of these landmasses.

Keywords: Biogeography, chromosomes, new species, osteology, Península de Paria, Pristimantis, taxonomy, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela

Image 17. Uncollected specimen of Pristimantis pariagnomus sp. nov. from Cerro Humo on the Península de Paria in northeastern Venezuela. Based on several characteristics, this individual can unequivocally be referred to the new species, particularly by the morphology of its fingers. © Mayke De Freitas
Image 18. Male holotype (MHNLS 14456, SVL = 13.0mm) of Pristimantis pariagnomus sp. nov. in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views.

  Kaiser, H., C.L. Barrio-Amorós, G.A. Rivas, C. Steinlein & M. Schmid. 2015. Five New Species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the coastal cloud forest of the Península de Paria, Venezuela. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7(4): 7047–7088. DOI: 10.11609/JoTT.o4197.7047-88

http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/ZooPrintJournal/2015/April/o419717iv157047-7088.pdf

ResearchGate.net/publication/275041998_Five_new_species_of_Pristimantis_(Anura_Strabomantidae)_from_the_coastal_cloud_forest_of_the_Pennsula_de_Paria_Venezuela