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| Oedipina capitalina
Solís, Espinal, Valle, O’Reilly, Itgen & Townsend, 2016
SALAMANDRA. 52(2) |
Abstract
We review the taxonomy and distribution of Oedipina stuarti in Honduras. Based on uncertainty related to the type locality, we restrict the taxon to the holotype, which we posit originated from a mine in the northern portion of the Department of Valle, Honduras. We subsequently describe a new species of Oedipina from Distrito Central, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras, based on newly collected material as well as one specimen previously designated as a paratype of O. stuarti. The new species is differentiated from all other members of the genus by having 19 costal grooves, 20 trunk vertebrae, 27–38 maxillary teeth, and 20–24 vomerine teeth, as well as by its phylogenetic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis suggests this species to be most closely related to O. ignea, O. motaguae, and O. stenopodia, three other members of the subgenus Oedipina known to inhabit dry deciduous forest habitats in Guatemala and Honduras.
Key words: Amphibia, subgenus Oedipina, Oedipina sp. n., Francisco Morazán, Honduras, morphology.
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| Figure 2. Adult male holotype of Oedipina capitalina sp. n. (CM 158386). Photo by MRE.
Figure 4. Juvenile paratypes of Oedipina capitalina sp. n.; A) UNAH 5670. B) CM 158387. Photos by MRE.
Figure 5. Adult female paratype of Oedipina capitalina sp. n. (CM 158388). Photo by MWI.
Solís, Espinal, Valle, O’Reilly, Itgen & Townsend. 2016. SALAMANDRA. 52(2)
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Distribution and natural history: O. capitalina sp. n. is known only from type locality, a suburban homestead yard adjacent to a heavily degraded headwater stream near the top of Cerro Grande in the central portion of the Departamento de Francisco Morazán (Fig. 7). This locality lies in the upper portion of the Choluteca Valley on the northern side of Tegucigalpa at 1,220 m a.s.l.. This denuded area lies within the Premontane Dry Forest formation (Holdridge 1967, Townsend & Wilson 2010) and likely supported both dry forest and pine-oak forest habitat prior to its being denuded. Specimens were collected during the day in June and September from underneath rotten logs and dead vegetation.
Etymology: The specific name “capitalina” is a Honduran colloquialism that refers to a female inhabitant of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. This name is given in reference to the type locality’s proximity to the largest city in the country and is used as a noun in apposition.
José Mario Solís, Mario R. Espinal, Rony E. Valle, Carlos M. O’Reilly, Michael W. Itgen and Josiah H. Townsend. 2016. On the Taxonomy of Oedipina stuarti (Caudata: Plethodontidae), with Description of A New Species from Suburban Tegucigalpa, Honduras. SALAMANDRA. 52(2); 125–133.
Resumen. Revisamos la taxonomía y distribución de Oedipina stuarti, especie endémica de Honduras. Basados en la incertidumbre relacionada con la localidad tipo, restringimos el taxón del holotipo, lo cual postulamos su origen a partir de una mina en la parte norte del departamento de Valle, Honduras. Posteriormente Describimos una nueva especie de Oedipina del Distrito Central, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras, basado en el material recién colectado, así como un ejemplar previamente asignado como paratipo de O. stuarti. La nueva especie se diferencia de todos los demás miembros del género en tener 19 surcos costales, 20 vértebras, 27–34 dientes maxilares, y 20 dientes vomerinos, como también por sus relaciones filogenéticas. El análisis filogenético sugiere que esta especie está más estrechamente relacionada con O. ignea, O. motaguae, y O. stenopodia, otros tres miembros del subgénero Oedipina, habitantes conocidos del bosque caducifolio seco, hábitat en Guatemala y Honduras.
