[Herpetology • 2025] Deep Cryptic Diversity in the Craugastor podiciferus Species Group (Anura: Craugastoridae) of Isthmian Central America revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear data

 (A) Craugastor aenigmaticus (UCR 22961) from Cerro Arbolado, Puntarenas, CR, (B) C. blairi (SMF 104032) from Fortuna, PA, (C) C. sagui (SMF 104018) from La Nevera, PA,
 (D) C. zunigai (UCR 20389) from Potrero Grande, Puntarenas, CR, (E-F) C. podiciferus (UCR 23155, 23159) from Caribbean slopes of Cerro Kamuk, Limón, CR,
 (J) Craugastor sp. Pico Blanco (UCR 24466) from Escazú, San José, CR, (K) Craugastor sp. Chumacera (UCR 23011) from Chumacera, San José, CR, (L) Craugastor sp. Siola (UCR 23169) from Siola, Limón, CR, 
(M) C. bransfordii from Siquirres, Limón, CR, (O) C. underwoodi from Cascajal, San José, CR, (V) C. rearki from Siquirres, Limón, CR.

in Arias, Crawford, Hertz et Olea,. 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18212

Abstract 

The Craugastor podiciferus Species Group contains eleven species of terraranan frogs distributed from eastern Honduras to eastern Panama. All species have remarkable color pattern polymorphisms, which may contribute to potential taxonomic problems. We performed exhaustive sampling throughout the geographic distribution of the group to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of all named species based on two mitochondrial markers and nuclear ddRAD loci. We also implemented various species delimitation methods to test for the presence of unconfirmed candidate species within the group. Molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that the group contains four major clades. All currently named species are supported by molecular data, yet species richness within the group is clearly underestimated. Species delimitation was discordant between the mitochondrial and nuclear datasets and among analytical methods. Adopting a conservative approach, we propose that the C. podiciferus species group contains at least 12 unconfirmed candidate species. Ancestral area reconstruction showed that the group originated and diversified in the highlands of the Talamancan montane forest ecoregion of Costa Rica and western Panama.

Photographs in life of Craugastor podiciferus species complex.
 (A) Craugastor aenigmaticus (UCR 22961) from Cerro Arbolado, Puntarenas, CR, (B) C. blairi (SMF 104032) from Fortuna, PA, (C) C. sagui (SMF 104018) from La Nevera, PA, (D) C. zunigai (UCR 20389) from Potrero Grande, Puntarenas, CR, 
(E-F) C. podiciferus (UCR 23155, 23159) from Caribbean slopes of Cerro Kamuk, Limón, CR, (G) Craugastor sp. Monte Verde (UCR 24613) from Monte Verde, Puntarenas, CR, (H) Craugastor sp. San Gerardo (CRARC 0247) from San Gerardo, Guanacaste, CR,
(I) Craugastor sp. Fila Costeña (UCR 23028) from Quebradas, San José, CR, (J) Craugastor sp. Pico Blanco (UCR 24466) from Escazú, San José, CR, (K) Craugastor sp. Chumacera (UCR 23011) from Chumacera, San José, CR, (L) Craugastor sp. Siola (UCR 23169) from Siola, Limón, CR, 
 (M) C. bransfordii from Siquirres, Limón, CR, (N) Craugastor sp. Fila Carbon (UCR 23127) from Amubri, Limón, CR, (O) C. underwoodi from Cascajal, San José, CR, (P) Craugastor sp. Quebradas from Fila Costeña, Puntarenas, CR,
(Q) Craugastor sp. Vereh (UCR 23040) from Vereh, Cartago, CR, (R) Craugastor sp. Panama (SMF 104010) from Rambala. PA, (S) C. stejnegerianus (UCR 22976) from Palmar Norte, Puntarenas, CR, (T) C. gabbi (UCR 22998) from San Vito, Puntarenas, CR,
(U) C. persimilis from Siquirres, Limón, CR, (V) C. rearki from Siquirres, Limón, CR, (W) Craugastor sp. Neilly (UCR 22985) from Río Claro, Puntarenas, CR, and (X) Craugastor sp. Quepos (UCR 24612) from Montes de Oca, San José CR.

Photos by E. Arias (A, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, N, Q, S, T, W, and X), Andreas Hertz (B,C, and R), Eduardo Boza-Oviedo (D and O), Brian Kubicki (H, M, U, and V), and Raby Nuñez (P).

Conclusions: 

The diversity within the Craugastor podiciferus Species Group is vastly underestimated, as revealed by the presence of several undescribed species recovered from the phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses. An exhaustive morphological review of the genetic lineages may show morphological characteristics that would allow for the differentiation of the molecular lineages. Comprehensive studies are needed on habitat use, acoustics, behavior, and other data to corroborate and better understand the taxonomy of all lineages revealed here.

Based on our mitochondrial and nuclear analyses, morphological evidence, and previous information we recovered 23 lineages, 11 with names and 12 unconfirmed candidate species. Based on our results, we propose the following changes:

• We restrict C. podiciferus to populations of Cordillera Volcánica Central from Costa Rica and the Cordillera de Talamanca of Costa Rica and western Panama. In the Cordillera de Talamanca, C. podiciferus is restricted to the Caribbean slopes.

 •Craugastor polyptychus is referred to as a junior synonym of C. bransfordii.

 • Craugastor rearki is resurrected to include wide-ranging populations from the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras.

 • Craugastor lauraster is referred to as a junior synonym of the older name, C. rearki.

Finally, we want to highlight the need to continue exploring remote areas in the ICA, especially in the Talamanca Mountain Range. The fieldwork performed in this area has resulted in the discovery of several new species or new records for the region. Therefore, more fieldwork and laboratory work are necessary to improve the knowledge of biodiversity in this region to perform informed strategies of conservation.

Erick Arias, Andrew J. Crawford, Andreas Hertz and Gabriela Parra Olea​. 2025. Deep Cryptic Diversity in the Craugastor podiciferus Species Group (Anura: Craugastoridae) of Isthmian Central America revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear data. PeerJ. 13:e18212. DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18212

[Entomology • 2016] Psaironeura angeloi • A New Species of Damselfly (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from Central and South America

 Psaironeura angeloi

Tennessen, 2016

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4078.1.5 

 Researchgate.net/publication/293636616

Photo by K.J. Tennessen. 

Abstract

Psaironeura angeloi sp. nov. (Holotype male deposited in FSCA: ECUADOR, Esmeraldas Province, small stream 5.6 km NW of Lita, 00.893°N 78.510°W, 4.II.1997, KJT leg.) is described and illustrated based on specimens from Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, bringing the total number of species in the genus to five. The new species is closely related to P. remissa (Calvert), a Mexican/northern Central American species with broad, foliate male cerci, but is distinct in that the long flagella of the genital ligula lack a small sharp spine unique to P. remissa, labrum and clypeus are orange-red, and the back of the head is mostly pale in both males and females. In life, the eyes of the new species are bright red in males versus green and black in P. remissa.

Keywords: Odonata, Psaironeura, Protoneuridae, Zygoptera, new species, Central America, South America

Male of  Psaironeura angeloi sp. nov. perched along small stream, near Chindul, in Manabí Province, Ecuador.

Photo by K.J. Tennessen. 

Kenneth J. Tennessen. 2016. Psaironeura angeloi, A New Species of Damselfly (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) from Central and South America. Zootaxa. 4078(1):28-  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4078.1.5  

Researchgate.net/publication/293636616_Psaironeura_angeloi_a_new_species_of_damselfly_from_Central_and_South_America

[Botany • 2022] Deamia funis (Cactaceae) • A New Species from Nicaragua

Deamia funis Hammel & S. Arias, 

in Hammel & Arias, 2022.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.576.2.8

Abstract

Deamia funis sp. nov. (Cactaceae) from Nicaragua, in the Mesoamerican region, is described and illustrated based on morphological data. The new species is characterized by its often long, dangling (ropey), and relatively narrow, multiribbed stems with relatively small flowers like those of D. chontalensis, but with the stigma exerted among or slightly beyond the anthers as occurs in D. montalvoae and D. testudo.

Keywords: brevistyly, floral morphology, taxonomy

Deamia funis, reproductive characters (A–D from Stevens & Montiel 39242, E from Stevens & Calero 44070). A. Side-view of flower on specimen. B. Side-view of flower in life. C. Front-view of flower in life (arrow at stigma). D. Close-up of base of flower in life. E. Submature fruit, in life.

Photos: A, Hammel; B–D, Montiel; E, Chamorro.

Deamia funis, vegetative characters.
 A–C. Habitat and habit (Stevens & Montiel 33938). D. Close-up of stem showing cracks in epidermal wax (Stevens & Montiel 39242).

Photos: all Montiel.

Deamia funis Hammel & S. Arias sp. nov. 

Diagnosis:— In its flowers Deamia funis is outwardly similar to D. chontalensis, but has stamens (1.5–3 vs. 0.4–0.7 cm long) and styles (6–8 vs. 2–2.2 cm long) much longer, and with the stigma exerted among or slightly beyond the anthers (vs. the brevistylous flowers of the latter), furthermore, its stems are less than half the diameter of those of the latter, and with more ribs; the stems are similar to those of D. montalvoae, but the flowers are smaller, less than 1/2 (mostly 1/3) as long as in that species.

Etymology:— The epithet refers to the long, dangling, rope-like stems common in this species when found growing on horizontal branches of trees.

Barry Hammel and Salvador Arias. 2022. A New Species of Deamia (Cactaceae) from Nicaragua. Phytotaxa. 576(2); 220-226. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.576.2.8

Resumen: Deamia funis sp. nov. (Cactaceae) de Nicaragua, en la región de Mesoamérica, se describe con base en datos morfológicos y se ilustra. La especie nueva se caracteriza por sus tallos a menudo largos y péndulos (como mecate), relativamente angostos y multicostillados, con las flores relativamente pequeñas parecidas a las de D. chontalensis, pero con el estigma exerto entre o algo más allá de las anteras como ocurre en D. montalvoae y D. testudo. 

[Botany • 2021] Carpotroche caceresiae (Achariaceae) • A New Species of Carpotroche from Honduras and Nicaragua

 

Carpotroche caceresiae D. Santam.,  

in Santamaría-Aguilar, Coronado, Liesner & Monro, 2021. 

  twitter.com/AlexMonro

Abstract

 Carpotroche caceresiae, a newly delimited species from the Caribbean drainage of Honduras and Nicaragua, is described and illustrated and its extinction threat assessed as Near Threatened (NT) according to IUCN criteria. Carpotroche caceresiae has previously been confused with C. platyptera, a species characterized by a densely pubescent lower leaf surface and red fruits lacking crests between the wings; in contrast, C. caceresiae has sparsely pubescent lower leaf surface and green fruits with crests between the wings. Carpotroche crassiramea and C. glaucescens, typified with Costa Rican material, and hitherto included in the synonymy of C. platyptera, are treated here as distinct morphological identities; a list of the specimens examined and referred to these names are provided. 

Keywords: Carpotroche platyptera, Flacourtiaceae, Herbaria, Malphigiales, Mesoamerica, Taxonomy, Ecuador 

Carpotroche caceresiae D. Santam. A, hermaphrodite flowers; B, branch with hermaphrodite flower and fruits, insent stem and fruits).
Carpotroche longifolia Benth. C, hermaphrodite flowers; D, flowers on the stem; E, fruits showing conspicuously lacerated wings.

Images by Indiana Coronado 

(A–B, from I. Coronado and A. Fernández 4408, B inset from I. Coronado and A. Fernández 4736-A); and Robin Foster (C–E).

. Carpotroche caceresiae D. Santam.
A, leaf and margin detail; B, fruits.

 Illustration by Isler. F. Chinchilla,

A from a image of the specimen I. Coronado et al. 1953 (MO); 

B of photography I. Coronado et al. 4636.

Carpotroche caceresiae D. Santam., sp. nov. 

This new species is morphologically similar to Carpotroche longifolia (Poepp.) Benth. with respect to its whitish to greenish fruits that are longitudinally winged and possessing numerous crests between the wings, and the leaves, whose abaxial surface is short-pubescent. Carpotroche caceresiae can be distinguished from C. longifolia by the wings of the fruit having an entire or weakly sinuate margin (vs. deeply lacerate).

Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores (1971–2016).

Courtesy by Michelle Meola.

Eponymy: This species is named in memory and recognition of the bravery of Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores (1971–2016), one of 123 environmental activists assassinated in retaliation for their opposition to environmental destruction and loss of indigenous land in Honduras, between 2009 and 2016 (Global Witness, 2017). Berta Cáceres (Fig. 7), in particular, was murdered because of her opposition to the Agua Zarcas hydroelectric project. She won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015.

Daniel Santamaría-Aguilar, Indiana M. Coronado, Ronald L. Liesner and Alexandre K. Monro. 2021. A New Species of Carpotroche (Achariaceae) from Honduras and Nicaragua. Harvard Papers in Botany. 26(2); 455–469. DOI: 10.3100/hpib.v26iss2.2021.n12 

 huh.harvard.edu/files/herbaria/files/26_2_455_santamariua-aguilar_etal.pdf

  twitter.com/AlexMonro/status/1472210124538322948

[Herpetology • 2019] Epictia rioignis • A Century of Waiting: Description of A New Epictia Gray, 1845 (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae) based on Specimens housed for more than 100 years in the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna (NMW)

Epictia rioignis

 Koch​​, Martins​ & Schweiger, 2019

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7411

Abstract 

We describe a new species of Epictia based on eight specimens from Nicaragua collected and housed in the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna for more than a century. The species differs from the congeners by the combination of external morphological characters: midtail scale rows 10; supralabials two, anterior one large and in broad contact with supraocular; infralabials four; subcaudals 14–19; middorsal scale rows 250–267; supraocular scales present; frontal scale distinct; striped dorsal color pattern with more or less triangular dark blotches on each scale; small white blotch in anterior part of dorsal surface of rostral present in five out of six specimens (two further specimens are lacking their heads); terminal spine and adjacent scales white. Eidonomic species separation from other Epictia spp. is also supported by a few qualitative and quantitative differences in vertebrae count and morphology. The new species is putatively assigned to the Epictia phenops species group based on external morphological characters and distribution.

Figure 2: Holotype of Epictia rioignis sp. nov. (NMW 15446:6). (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral or lateral views.

Epictia rioignis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Epictia rioignis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) midbody scale rows 14; (2) midtail scale rows 10; (3) supralabials two, anterior one large and in broad contact with supraocular; (4) infralabials four; (5) subcaudals 14–19; (6) middorsal scale rows 250–267; (7) total number of precloacal vertebrae 231–248; (8) supraocular scales present; (9) frontal scale distinct, not fused with rostral; (10) striped dorsal color pattern with more or less triangular dark blotches on each scale; (11) upper half of eyes visible in dorsal view; (12) some caudals in posterior part of tail are fused in 50% of the specimens; (13) small white blotch in anterior part of dorsal surface of rostral present in about 83% of the specimens; (14) terminal spine and adjacent scales white.  

Figure 4: Comparison of lateral views of the heads of holotype (NMW 15446:6, A) and paratypes of Epictia rioignis sp. nov. (B–F).
 (A) Holotype (NMW 15446:6). (B) Paratype (NMW 15446:2). (C) Paratype (NMW 15446:4). (D) Paratype (NMW 15446:5). (E) Paratype (NMW 15446:7). (F) Paratype (NMW 15446:8).

Photos: Alice Schumacher & Josef Muhsil.

Figure 1: Drawings of the head of the holotype of Epictia rioignis sp. nov. (NMW 15446:6). (A) Lateral, (B) dorsal and (C) ventral views.

Etymology: The specific epithet is an agglutination of the Latin nomen “ignis” which means fire and the proper noun “Rio” as an acronym for the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. This name was chosen in honour to the Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro/UFRJ, Brazil’s oldest scientific institution with the largest South American collections of zoology, anthropology, geology and paleontology. Many of the precious collections pertaining to the zoology department (mostly invertebrates), anthropology, geology and paleontology were completely destroyed in the disastrous fire in its main building on September 2nd 2018. Due to historical neglection of this institution from the Brazilian government, added with substantial funding decrease in the past 5 years the museum did not receive sufficient money to fullfil basic safety standards—such as fire protection. The description of this new species, with specimens housed in a scientific collection for more than 100 years highlights one of the several importances of zoological collections in housing relevant material to understand the diversity of life, and also reinforce that such collections are timeless treasures for science. Such collections should receive strong attention in government investments as they contribute to the global development of science.

Distribution and natural history: Epictia rioignis is currently known exclusively from its type series, from Corinto, Nicaragua.

Conclusions: 

The biodiversity of scolecophidians worldwide is greatly underestimated and often unexpected (Wallach, 2016). Although most of the systematic changes in Epictia spp. have arisen from molecular studies (or at least provided a start point for additional taxonomical arrangements, see Wallach, 2016), morphological studies including both external morphology and internal anatomy are very important for systematic clarification of this group (present study). Even if molecular studies have aided on the identification of cryptic species, this study shows that the morphological analysis of collection specimens still reveals novel data for threadsnakes. This further emphasizes the importance of zoological collections in housing specimens that still allow description of new taxa based on specimens collected more than a century ago.

Claudia Koch​​, Angele Martins​ and Silke Schweiger. 2019. A Century of Waiting: Description of A New Epictia Gray, 1845 (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae) based on Specimens housed for more than 100 years in the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna (NMW). PeerJ. 7:e7411. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7411

   

[Herpetology • 2016] A Taxonomic Revision of the Norops tropidonotus complex (Squamata, Dactyloidae), with the Resurrection of N. spilorhipis (Álvarez del Toro and Smith, 1956) and the Description of Two New Species; Norops wilsoni & N. mccraniei

Norops wilsoni & N. mccraniei 

Köhler, Townsend & Petersen, 2016mesoamericanherpetology.com

Abstract 

We describe two new species of anoles from Honduras, which previously have been referred to as Norops tropidonotus by different authors: Norops mccraniei sp. nov. from the Chortís Highlands of Honduras, El Salvador, northern Nicaragua, and eastern Guatemala; and Norops wilsoni sp. nov. from the Atlantic slopes of the Cordillera Nombre de Dios (departments of Atlántida and Colón). Furthermore, we resurrect Anolis tropidonotus spilorhipis Álvarez del Toro and Smith, 1956 from synonymy with Norops tropidonotus. These four species are similar in external morphology, but differ by molecular distances, phylogenetic relationships, and in hemipenial morphology, as well as in subtle differences in several scalation and morphometric characters. Each of the six species in the N. tropidonotus complex exhibits a parapatric to allopatric distribution pattern.

Key Words: Cryptic species, DNA barcoding, hemipenial morphology, Nuclear Central America, 16S

Gunther Köhler, Josiah H. Townsend and Claus Bo P. Petersen. 2016. A Taxonomic Revision of the Norops tropidonotus complex (Squamata, Dactyloidae), with the Resurrection of N. spilorhipis (Álvarez del Toro and Smith, 1956) and the Description of Two New Species. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3: 8–41.

http://www.mesoamericanherpetology.com/uploads/3/4/7/9/34798824/kohler_et_al_mar_2016.pdf

facebook.com/JosiahTownsend

Resumen: Se describen dos especies nuevas de anolis de Honduras, que anteriormente se han referido como Norops tropidonotus por diferentes autores: Norops mccraniei sp. nov. de las Chortís Highlands de Honduras, El Salvador, el norte de Nicaragua y el este de Guatemala; y Norops wilsoni sp. nov. de la vertiente Atlantica de la Cordillera Nombre de Dios (departamentos de Atlantida y Colón). Ademas, revalidamos Anolis tropidonotus spilorhipis Álvarez del Toro y Smith, 1956 de la sinonimía con Norops tropidonotus. Estas cuatro especies son similares en su morfología externa, pero difieren entre si por distancias moleculares, relaciones filogenéticas, en la morfología de los hemipenes, y además en diferencias sutiles en varios caracteres de escamación y morfometría. Cada una de las seis especies en el complejo de N. tropidonotus exhibe un patrón parapátrico a alopátrico de distribución.

Palabras Claves: ADN, códigos de barras, especies crípticas, morfología del hemipene, Centroamérica Norte, 16S