[Herpetology • 2023] Caecilia wilkinsoni • A New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Pacific Lowlands of Colombia, with Comments on the Status of C. tenuissima Taylor, 1973

Caecilia wilkinsoni

Fernández-Roldán & Lynch, 2023

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.2 

 Researchgate.net/publication/370125501

  

Abstract

We here describe a new species of the genus Caecilia from the Pacific lowlands of Colombia that was mistaken in previous literature as C. tenuissima, but which has more primary and secondary grooves than that species (among other differences). The description of Caecilia wilkinsoni sp. nov. restricts the known distribution of C. tenuissima to Guayaquil, Ecuador, re-establishing its status as an endemic species. We comment on the type locality of C. tenuissima, the current condition of its holotype, and on the distributions of the Caecilia that inhabit the Pacific region of Colombia.

Key words: biodiversity, caecilians, Chocó, Ecuador, Pacific lowlands

Caecilia wilkinsoni sp. nov.

Juan David Fernández-Roldán and John D. Lynch. 2023. A New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Pacific Lowlands of Colombia, with Comments on the Status of C. tenuissima Taylor, 1973. Zootaxa. 5270(2); 194-206. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.2

  Researchgate.net/publication/370125501_A_new_species_of_Caecilia_from_the_Pacific_lowlands_of_Colombia

[Herpetology • 2023] Caecilia yaigoje • A New Caecilia (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Colombian Amazon

Caecilia yaigoje 

 Fernández-Roldán; Medina-Rangel & Lynch, 2023

 DOI: 10.1643/h2021107 

 twitter.com/IchsAndHerps

 

We here describe a new Caecilia from Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis, Taraira, Vaupés, Colombia, near the Brazilian border. Although this new species is only represented in collections by three specimens, it is recognizable from all other congeners by virtue of its head shape, its dentition, its counts of primary and secondary grooves, its oval dermal scales, and its small terminal shield. Although its phylogenetic relationships are unknown, it seems most similar to C. museugoeldi from French Guyana.

Holotype of Caecilia yaigoje (IAvH 5114).
 (A–B) General view of the body in dorsal and ventral view; scale bar equals 6 mm. (C, E, G) Head, collars, and first primary grooves in lateral, dorsal, and ventral view. (D, F, H) Terminus, last grooves, and vent in lateral, dorsal, and ventral view.

Scale bar equals 3.5 mm.

Caecilia yaigoje, new species 

Etymology.—This species is named after Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis, the first P.N.N. to be entirely designated as a protected area in response to the wishes and petitions of its native human inhabitants who believe in the conservation of the Amazon jungle and oppose any mining activities carried out in this region of Colombia. The specific epithet is used as a noun in apposition.

 Juan David Fernández-Roldán; Guido Fabian Medina-Rangel and John D. Lynch. 2023. A New Caecilia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Colombian Amazon. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 111(2); 241–247. DOI: 10.1643/h2021107

  twitter.com/IchsAndHerps/status/1649015990015913984

[Herpetology • 2023] Caecilia atelolepis, A. epicrionopsoides & A. macrodonta • On the Identities of Caecilia degenerata Dunn, 1942 and of C. corpulenta Taylor, 1968 (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) with Descriptions of Three New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 from the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia

A) Caecilia atelolepis sp. nov.;  B) C. degenerata;
C) C. epicrionopsoides sp. nov.;  D) C. orientalis 

 Fernández-Roldán, Lynch & Medina-Rangel, 2023

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5227.2.3

 Researchgate.net/publication/366867851 

Photographs A, B) by J. D. Lynch, C) by Juan Carlos Sánchez-Nivicela, and D) by Mariela Osorno-Muñoz.

Abstract

The Central portion of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia is currently reported to harbor two species of Caecilia distributed at comparable elevations on opposite versants of these Mountains. These are C. corpulenta, known from Virolín, Santander, at 1700–2000 m on the western slopes of the Cordillera Oriental and C. degenerata, known from Garagoa, Boyacá, and Choachí and Fomequé, Cundinamarca, at 1800–2100 m on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental. Both species have dermal scales and lack secondary grooves, and have been subjected to misidentifications by herpetologists studying the Gymnophiona of the Eastern Andes of Colombia. Our results indicate that only the latter species is found in Colombia and the former is restricted to Peru, leaving those populations previously referred to C. corpulenta and those distinct from C. degenerata pending names. We here present an account for C. degenerata based on material from Choachí and Fómeque, Cundinamarca, as well as descriptions of three new species from the Cordillera Oriental and adjacent Venezuela: Caecilia atelolepis sp. nov., C. epicrionopsoides sp. nov., and C. macrodonta sp. nov. We also provide additional morphological information for the recently described C. pulchraserrana.

Key words: biodiversity, caecilians, dentition, squamation, taxonomy

General body views in life of
A) Caecilia atelolepis sp. nov. ICN 43525; B) C. degenerata ICN 58465;
C) C. epicrionopsoides sp. nov. ICN 58434; D) C. orientalis ISCA 4208.

Photographs A, B) by J. D. Lynch, C) by Juan Carlos Sánchez-Nivicela, and D) by Mariela Osorno-Muñoz.

  Caecilia atelolepis sp. nov., 

C. epicrionopsoides sp. nov., 

 C. macrodonta sp. nov.   

Juan David Fernández-Roldán, John D. Lynch and Guido Fabian Medina-Rangel. 2023. On the Identities of Caecilia degenerata Dunn, 1942 and of C. corpulenta Taylor, 1968 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) with Descriptions of Three New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 from the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia. Zootaxa. 5227(2); 205-228. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5227.2.3

  Researchgate.net/publication/366867851_On_the_identities_of_Caecilia_degenerata_and_C_corpulenta_with_descriptions_of_three_new_species

[Herpetology • 2022] Caecilia goweri • A New Species previously confused with Caecilia pachynema (Günther, 1859) (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia

Caecilia goweri

Fernandez & Lynch, 2022

 

 DOI: 10.22201/fc.25942158e.2021.02.278  

 Researchgate.net/publication/356640869

Abstract

Caecilia pachynema is a distinctively colored species known from western Ecuador and supposedly from a remote population in the northern Cordillera Central of Colombia. Previously it had been detected that the Colombian populations of "C. pachynema’’ were likely an undescribed species. Material gathered over the past twenty years allows us to describe this new species and restrict the known distribution of C. pachynema to Ecuador.

 Keywords: Caecilians, Fossorial, Neotropical, Sexual dimorphism, Taxonomy

Head of Caecilia goweri (MHUA 8115) in (A) dorsal, (B) lateral, and (C) ventral views, in life.

Photographs by Dr. Juan Manuel Daza of MHUA.

Holotype of Caecilia goweri (MHUA 3241)
 (A) Ventral and (B) dorsal views, respectively, of whole specimen; scale bar equals 8 mm. (C) Lateral view of the head and (D) ventral view of the terminus and phallodeum; scale bar equals 3 mm.

Juan David Fernandez and John D. Lynch. 2022. A New Species previously confused with Caecilia pachynema (Günther, 1859) (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia.   Amphibians and Reptiles: Diversity and Natural History. DOI: 10.22201/fc.25942158e.2021.02.278

  Researchgate.net/publication/356640869_A_NEW_SPECIES_PREVIOUSLY_CONFUSED_WITH_Caecilia_pachynema_FROM_THE_CORDILLERA_CENTRAL_OF_COLOMBIA

     

[Herpetology • 2019] Caecilia pulchraserrana • A New Species of Caecilia (Gymnophiona, Caeciliidae) from the Magdalena Valley Region of Colombia

Caecilia pulchraserrana

Acosta-Galvis, Torres & Pulido-Santacruz, 2019

  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.884.35776

Abstract

A new species of the genus Caecilia (Caeciliidae) from the western foothills of the Serranía de los Yariguíes in Colombia is described. Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. is similar to C. degenerata and C. corpulenta but differs from these species in having fewer primary annular grooves and a shorter body length. With this new species, the currently recognized species in the genus are increased to 35. Mitochondrial DNA sequences, including newly sequenced terminals representing two additional, previously unanalyzed species, corroborate the phylogenetic position of the new species within Caecilia and the monophyly of the genus. This analysis also included newly sequenced terminals of Epicrionops aff. parkeri (Rhinatrematidae) and trans-Andean Microcaecilia nicefori (Siphonopidae). Evidence was found for the non-monophyly of the family Siphonopidae and the siphonopid genera Microcaecilia and Siphonops. The implications of these results for caecilian systematics are discussed and the status of the trans-Andean populations of Caecilia degenerata is commented upon.

Keywords: Amphibia, Caecilia degenerata, Epicrionops, Microcaecilia, paraphyly, phylogeny, Siphonopidae, South America, taxonomy, tropical humid forest

Figure 3. Holotype of Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov.
Adult female, IAvH-Am-1548. A, B Lateral views of body C dorsal D ventral E lateral views of head F Frontal view of cephalic region, the arrow indicates the narial plug G dorsal and H lateral views of caudal region I ventral view of vent.

Figure 4. Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. in life.
A Adult female, paratype, IAvH-Am-15488, TL= 232 mm B adult female, paratype, IAvH-Am-15488, TL= 232 mm C adult female, holotype, IAvH-Am-15487, TL= 206 mm D–E adult female. paratype, UIS-MHN-A-6575, TL= 195 mm.

Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov.

Type Locality: (Fig. 1) Colombia, Santander Department, El Carmen de Chucurí Municipality, vereda La Belleza, Cascajales River, .., 789 m a.s.l.

Diagnosis: Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the combination of having 100–104 dorsally incomplete primary annular grooves, a small size (195–232 mm), lips and ventral margin of upper jaw with a pink-orange (salmon) color (Fig. 4), and lacking secondary annular grooves and dermal scale pockets.

Distribution and natural history: Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. is currently known from two adjacent, relictual tropical wet forest localities on the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia (Serranía de los Yariquíes; Fig. 1) at elevations between 731–789 m a.s.l. The Serrania of the Yariguies corresponds to an isolated mountain range that is part of the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia (Fig. 1). Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. is a fossorial species associated with marshy areas surrounded by secondary vegetation at the forest edge (Fig. 6). The specimens were collected during the dry season in very wet soils lacking rocks (i.e., bogs; Fig. 6), in a slightly inclined area (nearly 5°of slope) covered with vegetation of the family Heliconiaceae (Heliconia spp., Fig. 6).

Figure 6. Habitat of Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. in the Serranía de los Yariguíes in Santander Department, El Carmen de Chucurí Municipality, vereda La Belleza, Cascajales River, .., 789 m a.s.l.. A View showing standing water in marshy area B Transitional change of wetter (right) to drier (left) microhabitat.

Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. was obtained during the initial 10 minutes of removal with a hoe.We extracted the first specimen in intermediate substrates between marshy and dry areas; after 40 minutes of excavation in these selected areas, we obtained four additional specimens. Using these same criteria, when moving two kilometers above the original point, an area with similar characteristics was located and within 20 minutes we collected two additional specimens. Caecilia pulchraserrana sp. nov. was collected on black sandy soils with high organic matter content. These caecilians move quickly under the substrate, so once the first specimen is detected it is important to quickly create channels to surround and block them from escaping.

Etymology: The specific epithet is formed from the Latin pulchra (nominative feminine singular of pulcher), meaning beauty, and the Spanish adjective serrana (feminine singular of serrano), from the sierra or serranía. This specific name refers to the type locality of the species: vereda La Belleza (beauty in English) in the western foothills of the Serranía de Los Yariguíes. The specific name was chosen using a citizen science approach. First, scientists and inhabitants of the El Carmen de Chucurí municipality gathered a list of possible names for the new species. Then, the list of potential names and their meanings was shared with the local people, who voted to choose their preferred name.

 Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis, Mauricio Torres and Paola Pulido-Santacruz. 2019. A New Species of Caecilia (Gymnophiona, Caeciliidae) from the Magdalena Valley Region of Colombia. ZooKeys. 884: 135-157. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.884.35776

[Herpetology • 2018] Caecilia museugoeldi • A New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from French Guiana

Caecilia museugoeldi

Maciel & Hoogmoed, 2018 
Photo: Riley Nelson (BYU) museu-goeldi.br

Abstract

 We describe a new species of the genus Caecilia from French Guiana. The new species differs from most species of the genus in the numbers of primary and secondary grooves. Color pattern, body shape, presence of subdermal scales, and number of teeth separate Caecilia museugoeldi sp. nov. from the other species of the genus. This new taxon is the first of the genus described in 33 years. 

Keywords: South America. Amazon. Taxonomy. Caecilian. 

Holotype of Caecilia museugoeldi sp. nov. in life, dorsal view of the body.

 Photo: Riley Nelson (BYU).

Figure 1. Holotype of Caecilia museugoeldi sp. nov. in life. Left, dorsal view of the body. Right, ventral view of the body. Photos: Riley Nelson (BYU).

 Caecilia museugoeldi sp. nov.

....

Etymology The name of the species is in honor of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil and is a noun in apposition. The Museu Goeldi is an institution which was established 151 years ago and is the oldest scientific institution in Brazilian Amazonia, which has steadily promoted studies of biodiversity, zoology, botany, archeology, geology, paleontology, hydrology, anthropology, ethnology, podology and linguistics of the area. Despite its important role in obtaining and dispersing knowledge about the biodiversity of the Amazonian basin in its broadest sense, the museum has recently been confronted with serious budgetary problems that should be solved for the long term in an acceptable way by the ministry that is responsible for the museum.  

Ecological observations In the same area where the specimen was collected, two other species of Gymnophiona were obtained as well, viz., Caecilia tentaculata and Rhinatrema bivittatum (Guerin-Menéville, 1838). All specimens were found crossing the road through rainforest at night. 

 Adriano Oliveira Maciel and Marinus Steven Hoogmoed. 2018.  A New Species of Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from French Guiana [Uma nova espécie de Caecilia Linnaeus, 1758 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) da Guiana Francesa]. Bol. Mus. Para. Emílio Goeldi. Cienc. Nat., Belém. 13(1); 13-18.

museu-goeldi.br/editora/bn/artigos/cnv13n1_2018/new(maciel).pdf

 twitter.com/ZOOL_UFPA_MPEG/status/992441480852770816

Nova espécie de "cobra-cega" na Guiana Francesa | Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi:  museu-goeldi.br/portal/content/nova-esp-cie-de-cobra-cega-na-guiana-francesa  via @museugoeldi

 museu-goeldi.br/editora/naturais/

Resumo: Descrevemos uma nova espécie do gênero Caecilia da Guiana Francesa. A nova espécie difere da maioria das espécies do gênero no número de sulcos primários e secundários. Padrão de cor, forma do corpo, presença de escamas subdermais e número de dentes separam Caecilia museugoeldi sp. nov. das outras espécies do gênero. Este novo táxon é o primeiro do gênero descrito em 33 anos. 

Palavras-chave: América do Sul. Amazônia. Taxonomia. Cecília

[Herpetology • 2013] Microcaecilia marvaleewakeae • A New Species of Microcaecilia (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) from the Guianan region of Brazil

Microcaecilia marvaleewakeae  Maciel & Hoogmoed, 2013

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3693.3.9

Abstract

We describe a new species of Microcaecilia from the Guianan region of Brazil, based on a series of eight specimens from the states of Pará and Amazonas. Microcaecilia marvaleewakeae sp. nov. is very similar to M. taylori, but differs from it in having more primary annuli, more secondary grooves, and more secondary grooves that completely encircle the body. The new species also seems to have a relatively shorter and thinner head than M. taylori, but additional specimens of the new species are necessary to check this. A brief discussion of the taxonomy of M. taylori is presented.

Microcaecilia marvaleewakeae  Maciel & Hoogmoed, 2013

photo: Kawashita Ribeiro 

 Adriano Oliveira Maciel and Marinus Steven Hoogmoed. 2013. A New Species of Microcaecilia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) from the Guianan region of Brazil.
  Zootaxa. 3693(3); 387-394.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3693.3.9 

ResearchGate.net/publication/280117195_A_new_species_of_Microcaecilia_Amphibia_Gymnophiona_Siphonopidae_from_the_Guianan_region_of_Brazil

[Herpetology • 2009] Brasilotyphlus guarantanus • A Second Species of Brasilotyphlus (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

 Brasilotyphlus guarantanus 

 Maciel, Mott & Hoogmoed, 2009 

Abstract

Brasilotyphlus is rediagnosed in light of the discovery of a second species of the genus, Brasilotyphlus guarantanus sp. nov., in the municipality of Guarantã do Norte, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The new species differs from B. braziliensis mainly in annular counts, having 151–170 primaries and at most 2 secondaries (instead of 142–147 primaries and 23–36 secondaries). 

Key words: Amazonia, Brazil, Brasilotyphlus, Brasilotyphlus guarantanus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A Brasilotyphlus with maximum known total length of 305 mm; 47–76.1 times the width at midbody. Primary folds 151–170, secondary folds 0–2. The first nuchal collar is distinct dorsally and ventrally, the second is partly fused below with the first body collar. Two paired anal papillae may be present either side of midline just anterior of the vent. A weak vertical keel is present on the terminal part of the body of most specimens (in 27 of the type specimens). Maxillary teeth may reach the level of the posterior border of the choanae or extend slightly beyond them. Dermal scales present in folds in the posterior part of the body.

Etymology: The name of the species refers to the type-locality, Guarantã do Norte, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

 Adriano Oliveira Maciel, Tamí Mott and Marinus Steven Hoogmoed. 2009. A Second Species of Brasilotyphlus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from Brazilian Amazonia. Zootaxa. 2226; 19-27.

ResearchGate.net/publication/280880320_A_second_species_of_Brasilotyphlus_Amphibia_Gymnophiona_Caeciliidae_from_Brazilian_Amazonia

academia.edu/1900644/A_second_species_of_Brasilotyphlus_Amphibia_Gymnophiona_Caeciliidae_from_Brazilian_Amazonia

Resumo: A diagnose do gênero Brasilotyphlus é redefinida a partir da descoberta de uma segunda espécie desse gênero, B. guarantanus sp. nov., no município de Guarantã do Norte, estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. A nova espécie difere de B. braziliensis principalmente nas contagens de anéis corporais, possuindo entre 151 e 170 primários e no máximo dois secundários, enquanto B. braziliensis tem de 142 a 147 primários e 23 a 36 secundários

http://www.museudezoologia.ufv.br/bichodavez/edicao22.htm

[Herpetology • 2004] Indotyphlus maharashtraensis • A New Species of Indotyphlus Taylor (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Western Ghats, India

Indotyphlus maharashtraensis  

 Giri, Gower & Wilkinson, 2004 

Abstract

A new species of Indian caeciliid caecilian, Indotyphlus maharashtraensis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona), is described based on a series of 12 specimens from the northern Western Ghats of the State of Maharashtra. This species differs from the only other species in the genus, I. battersbyi, in having fewer primary annuli, many more primary annuli bearing secondary annular grooves, and in the presence of a modified subterminal region that has a depressed preanal strip extending anteriorly from around the vent. A key to the species of Indotyphlus is provided.

Key words: caecilians, Gegeneophis, herpetology, Indotyphlus battersbyi, South Asia, systematics

FIGURE 2. Photographs of Indotyphlus maharashtraensis, showing whole adult (upper) and lateral view of head of same specimen (lower left) in life, and ventral view of terminus of paratopotype male BNHS 4223 in preservation (lower right). 

Diagnosis: An Indotyphlus differing from I. battersbyi in having secondary annular

grooves present anterior to the 100th primary annulus behind the nuchal collars, and in

having a depressed preanal strip (longer in adult males) anterior to the disc surrounding the vent.

Etymology: The species is named for Maharashtra, the Indian State within which the type locality lies.

V. Giri, D.J. Gower and M. Wilkinson. 2004. A New Species of Indotyphlus Taylor (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) from the Western Ghats, India. Zootaxa. 739: 1-19.  

http://bmnh.org/PDFs/VG_04_indo.pdf

[Herpetology • 2015] Microcaecilia butantan • A New Species of Microcaecilia Taylor 1968 (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) from northern Brazil

Microcaecilia butantan Wilkinson, Antoniazzi & Jared, 2015

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3905.3.8

Abstract

A new species of siphonopid caecilian, Microcaecilia butantan sp. nov., is described based on four specimens from Belterra, in the State of Pará, Brazil. The new species differs from all other Microcaecilia in having a combination of more than 135 primary annuli and long premaxillary-maxillary tooth series that extend posteriorly beyond the choanae. Some specimens were dug from soil in a cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) plantation suggesting that this form of agriculture provides an environment suitable for at least some caecilians.

Keywords: caecilians, South America, systematics, taxonomy

FIGURE 2. Microcaecilia butantan sp. nov.
(A) Specimen in life dorsal view. Bar = 5 mm. (B) Specimen in life ventral view. Bar = 5 mm. (C) Habitat at type locality.

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honour of the Instituto Butantan, which enabled the discovery of the species through the Butantan na Amazônia (Butantan in Amazon) project. To promote stability the species epithet is considered to be noun in apposition for nomenclatural purposes.

Suggested English name. Butantan microcaecilia.

Wilkinson, Mark, Marta M. Antoniazzi & Carlos Jared. 2015. A New Species of Microcaecilia Taylor 1968 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) from Brazil.
Zootaxa. 3905(3): 425–431. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3905.3.8 
 http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2015/f/zt03905p431.pdf