New country and departmental records of herpetofauna in Nicaragua PDF
Preview New country and departmental records of herpetofauna in Nicaragua
Short Communications SALAMANDRA 43 1 57-62 RRhheeiinnbbaacchh,, 2200 FFeebbrruuaarryy 22000077 ISSN 0036-3375 New country and departmental records of herpetofauna in Nicaragua Javier Sunyer & Gunther Köhler Abstract. Cochranella spinosa and Mesaspis moreletii are reported for the fi rst time in Nicaragua. Additi- onal localities in Nicaragua are reported for several poorly documented species, including Rhinophrynus dorsalis, Scinax boulengeri, Mesoscincus managuae, Norops carpenteri, Norops tropidonotus, Rhadinaea kinkelini and Tantilla taeniata. Brief ecological fi eld notes are included. Key words.Amphibia, Reptilia, Nicaragua, fi rst records, distribution, ecology. Resumen. Se informa de nuevos y notables reportes de anfi bios y reptiles de Nicaragua. Se colecta por primera vez a Cochranella spinosa (Reserva Indio-Maíz) y a Mesaspis moreletii (Reserva Natural Kilam- bé), ampliando su rango de distribución altitudinal de este último a partir de los 300 m elevación. Se amplia el rango de distribución norte en casi 00 km de Norops carpenteri (Parque Nacional Saslaya). Se documentan nuevas localidades en el Pacífi co para Rhinophrynus dorsalis y Mesoscincus managuae (Re- serva Natural Monte Galán-Las Playitas) y en el noreste del país para Scinax boulengeri (Rancho Alegre, área de amortiguamiento de la Reserva de la Biosfera BOSAWAS). Se documentan nuevas localidades para Norops tropidonotus y Tantilla taeniata (((RRReeessseeerrrvvvaaa NNNaaatttuuurrraaalll KKKiiilllaaammmbbbééé))) yyy RRhhaaddiinnaaeeaa kkiinnkkeelliinnii (Reserva Natural Mirafl or) que tienen su límite de distribución sur en las montañas del norte de Nicaragua. Se in- cluyen breves anotaciones ecológicas. Köhler (200) and Köhler et al. (2004) gre, buff er area of the Reserva de la Biosfera listed all known herpetofauna of Nicaragua BOSAWAS, Dpto. Atlántico Norte; 28 June-2 and stated that many more country records July 2005 (JS) at the Reserva Natural Monte and new species are expected with additional Galán-Las Playitas, Dpto. León. collecting. Recent fi eldwork in Nicaragua has Description of tropical forest formations produced several noteworthy records of am- at the collecting sites: Reserva Natural Monte phibians and reptiles including the fi rst coun- Galán-Las Playitas corresponds to the Low- try records for two species. Brief ecological land Dry Forest formation (Holdridge 967). fi eld notes are included. Morphometric data Rancho Alegre, in the lowlands of the Parque are provided for both new country records. Nacional Saslaya and the Reserva de la Bios- Th e specimens on which this study is fera Indio-Maíz, corresponds to the Lowland based were collected during fi eldwork in Moist Forest formation. Reserva Natural Mi- Nicaragua: 7 July-8 August 998 (GK) at the rafl or corresponds to the Premontane Moist Reserva Natural Kilambé, Dpto. Jinotega; 4- Forest formation and Reserva Natural Kilam- 8 June 2000, 25 April-9 May 200, 23 Sep- bé corresponds to both the Premontane Wet tember- October (GK) and 8 April-3 May Forest and lower portions of the Lower Mon- 2004 (GP and MD) at the Reserva de la Bi- tane Wet Forest formations. osfera Indio-Maíz, Dpto. Río San Juan; 25- Abbreviations used for morphologi- 29 July 2004 (GK) at the Parque Nacional cal characters are: () Morphometrics: SVL Saslaya, Dpto. Atlántico Norte; 3-7 June 2005 (snout-vent length); TL (tail length); HL (JS) at the Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. (head length, from anterior margin of ear Estelí; 0-4 June 2005 (JS) at Rancho Ale- opening to tip of snout); HW (head width, 57 Short Communications distance between oral ricti); AGD (axilla- groin distance); SHL (shank length); FL (foot length); TYP (tympanum length); EYL (eye length); NED (posterior part of nostril to an- terior part of eye distance); IOD (interorbital distance); IND (internasal distance). (2) Pro- portions: range followed by mean value and standard deviation in parentheses. (3) Pho- lidosis: scale number followed by percent- age of occurrence in parentheses. Abbrevia- tions used for collectors are DM (Darwin Manzanares), GK (Gunther Köhler), GP (Guillermo Paiz), JS (Javier Sunyer), LO (Lenin Obando), MD (Matthias Deh- ling), and NT (Norving Torres). Speci- Fig. 1. Rhinophrynus dorsalis (from series SMF mens labelled with SMF numbers are depos- 84869-70, JS 101, JS 254) collected at the Reserva ited in the collections of the Forschungsinsti- Natural Monte Galán-Las Playitas, Dpto. León, tut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frank- Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer. furt a.M., Germany. Specimens labelled with GP, JS and MD fi eld numbers will be depos- ited in the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), Man- agua, Nicaragua. Amphibians Cochranella spinosa(Taylor, 949) Cochranella spinosa was previously known only from north and south of Nicaragua (McCranie & Wilson 2002, Savage 2002). On 4 June 2000, GK collected three adult males (SMF 79753-55) at Boca de San Carlos Fig. 2. Scinax boulengeri (from series SMF 84833- (0°47’26’’N, 84°’70’’W), 20 m elevation. 34, JS 061) collected at Rancho Alegre, Dpto. At- lántico Norte, Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier On 5 June 2000, GK collected an amplect- Sunyer. ant pair (SMF 79756-57) and an adult male (SMF 79758) at Río Sarnoso, ca. km above its confl uence with Río San Juan (0°55’35’’N, 84°7’40’’W), 25 m elevation. On May 200, GK collected a juvenile (SMF 80997) an adult female (MD 9) at Lomas de Tam- and on 23 September 200 two adult males bor (0º47’00’’N, 83º59’6’’W). Between 28 (SMF 82087-88) at Bartola, Quebrada El April and 2 May 2004, GP and NT collect- Gaitán, near “Orange Trail 38” (0º58’37’’N, ed three adult males (SMF 83367-68 and GP 84º20’35’’W), 30 m elevation. On October 65) at Cerro El Bolívar, near Río Machado 200, GK collected two adult males (SMF (0º52’02’’N, 84º0’0’’W). All fi ft een speci- 82089-90) at Bartola, along a stream near mens were collected during night surveys at “Blue 0” (0º58’37’’N, 84º20’35’’W), 30 m the Reserva de la Biosfera Indio-Maíz, Dpto. elevation. On 8 April 2004, MD collected Río San Juan. Morphometrics of our materi- 58 Short Communications al: maximum SVL males 2.3 mm; maximum surrounded by small disturbed Dry Forest SVL females 2.6 mm; SHL/SVL 0.56-0.63 formation patches. (0.60±0.02); FL/SVL 0.40-0.44 (0.4±0.0); HW/SVL 0.33-0.37 (0.35±0.0); HL/SVL Scinax boulengeri(Cope, 887) 0.28-0.36 (0.34±0.02); TYP/EYL 0.3-0.2 Previously, there was a gap of 205 km be- (0.7±0.02); NED/HL 0.8-0.25 (0.20±0.02); tween the northernmost Nicaraguan record IOD/HW 0.27-0.38 (0.37±0.03); IND/HW of Scinax boulengeri and the nearest known 0.6-0.22 (0.9±0.02); modal webbing for- locality in Honduras (McCranie & Wilson mula of hand (webbing between fi ngers I 2002). On 3 June 2005, JS and DM collected and II is vestigial): II 2--3+ III 2--3/4 IV; modal three adult males of this species (SMF 84833- webbing formula of feet: I -2 II -2+ III -2+ 34 and JS 06; Fig. 2) at Rancho Alegre, Dpto. IV 2- V. Atlántico Norte, at 3º39’47’’N, 85º0’39’’W, 285 m elevation. All three frogs were calling Rhinophrynus dorsalis Duméril & Bibron, facing downward between 20:5 and 2:00 h, 84 on vegetation ca. m above lentic water be- Rhinophrynus dorsalis was previously known hind the Santa Teresita del Niño Jesus prima- from pine savannas on the Atlantic versant of ry school on the property of Francisca López Nicaragua from Dpto. Atlántico Norte (Du- Góngora. Th is represents the fi rst record of ellman 97) and recorded from dry forest this species for Dpto. Atlántico Norte. on the Pacifi c versant based on a photograph of an individual from León Viejo, Dpto. León (Villa 984). Between 30 June and 2 July 2005, JS and DM collected four adult R. dor- salis (SMF 84869-70, JS 0 and JS 254; Fig. ) at the Reserva Natural Monte Galán-Las Play- itas, Dpto. León, at 2º2’4’’N, 86º34’2’’W, 85 m elevation. All four specimens were found between :00 and 3:00 h burrowed between 5 and 40 cm beneath the surface in a small banana plantation on the property of Julio Marín near the shore of a volcanic lagoon Fig. 4. Rhadinaea kinkelini (SMF 84759) collected at Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. Estelí, Nicara- gua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer. Fig. 3. Mesaspis moreletii (from series JS 134, JS 138, JS 282) collected at the Reserva Natural Ki- Fig. 5. Tantilla taeniata (SMF 84760) collected at El lambé, Dpto. Jinotega, Nicaragua. Photograph by Diamante, Reserva Natural Kilambé, Dpto. Jinote- Javier Sunyer. ga, Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer. 59 Short Communications Reptiles raguan record of this species. Also, its known range of altitudinal distribution is increased Mesaspis moreletii (Bocourt, 87) by almost 200 m – the species is now known Mesaspis moreletii (Fig. 3) has been included to occur from 305 to above 3000 m (Köh- in various checklists for Nicaragua (Tihen ler 2003). 949, Peters & Donoso-Barros 970, Vil- la 983, Villa et al. 988, Ruiz 996, Ruiz Mesoscincus managuae (Dunn, 933) & Buitrago 2003). However, the presence of In Nicaragua, Mesoscincus managuae was this species in Nicaragua has not been sup- previously known from four localities in ported by any voucher specimens (Köhler Dptos. Managua, Granada and Chinandega 2003). On 2 July 2005, JS collected two ju- (Reeder 990, Köhler 200). On 29 June veniles of this species: (JS 34) at 3º35’20’’N, 2005, JS and DM collected one juvenile (JS 85º43’33’’W, 440 m elevation and (JS 38) at 93) and one adult (SMF 8476) of this species 3º35’0’’N, 85º43’04’’W, 330 m elevation. On at the Reserva Natural Monte Galán-Las Play- 2 August 2005, JS collected an adult male of itas, Dpto. León, at 2º2’4’’N, 86º34’2’’W, 85 this species (JS 282) at 3º35’07’’N, 85º42’7’’W, m elevation. Th e juvenile was found at :5 h 305 m elevation. All three specimens were under a fallen termite nest in disturbed for- collected at the Reserva Natural Kilambé, est on the property of Julio Marín. Th is repre- Dpto. Jinotega. One (JS 34) was found ac- sents the fi rst record of this species for Dpto. tive on ground level at 7:30 h in a deforested León. area on the property of José Gómez and an- other (JS 38) was found at 2:30 h, .5 m high Norops carpenteri (Echelle, Echelle & on a mossy tree trunk in primary cloud for- Fitch, 97) est. JS 282 was found at 6:30 h while basking In Nicaragua, Norops carpenteri was previ- at ground level in a transition area between ously known from three localities in Dptos. old pasture and cloud forest. Morphometrics Matagalpa and Río San Juan (Köhler 200). of our material: SVL adult male 7 mm; TL/ On 26 July 2004, GK collected one subadult SVL .57-.79 (.68±0.); HL/SVL 0.20-0.24 of this species (SMF 8393) in Parque Nacion- (0.22±0.0); SHL/SVL 0.-0.2 (0.±0.0); al Saslaya, Dpto. Atlántico Norte, on the trail HL/HW .33-.53 (.44±0.0); HW/SVL from Salto Labú to El Revenido at 320 m el- 0.5-0.6 (0.6±0.0); AGD/SVL 0.49-0.53 evation. Th e specimen was collected during (0.5±0.02). Pholidosis of our material follow- the daytime on the forest fl oor in primary ing Veselý & Köhler (200): postmentals: rain forest. Th is represents the northernmost (00%); postnasals: 2 (83%), (7%); prefron- record of this species (ca. 00 km NE from tals: 2 (00%); postloreal in contact with su- nearest known locality) and the fi rst record pralabial: Yes (00%); postcanthal in contact for Dpto. Atlántico Norte. with prefrontal: No (00%); frontonasal in contact with frontal: No (00%); number of Norops tropidonotus (Peters, 863) lowest secondary temporals in contact with In Nicaragua, Norops tropidonotus was previ- lowest anterior temporal: 2 (67%), (33%); ously known from two localities in the Dpto. dorsals at midbody: 8 (00%); ventrals at Estelí (Köhler 200). Between 7 and 0 July midbody: 2 (00%); transverse rows of dor- 998, GK collected one adult male and two sals: 50 (67%), 5 (33%); number of supralabi- adult females of this species (SMF 84734-36) als to mideye: 6 (00%); lamellae on fourth at El Diamante, Reserva Natural Kilambé, toe: 7 (50%), 8 (7%), 20 (33%); anterior sub- Dpto. Jinotega, at 3º36’5’’N, 85º44’20’’W, labial in contact with: fi rst infralabial (7%), 090 m elevation. Th e three specimens were second infralabial (66%), third infralabial found active at 8:25, 3:30 and 4:30 h in a cof- (7%). Th is represents the fi rst defi nite Nica- fee plantation near a dirt road of the Finca 60 Short Communications “La Concepción” on the property of Juana Jarquín Cavarría and Henry Marin, Universi- Ma Salinas. One contains a palpable egg dad Región Autónoma Costa Caribe del Atlántico (SMF 84734). Th is represents the fi rst record Norte, Nicaragua (URACCAN-IREMADES) pro- vided all logistics in the Dpto. Atlántico Norte. We of this species for Dpto. Jinotega. are especially grateful to Tomás Navarro (Mira- fl or), Julio Marín (Monte Galán-Las Playitas), Rhadinaea kinkeliniBoettger, 898 Salomón Alfredo Torres Rojas, Alvaro and In Nicaragua, Rhadinaea kinkelini was previ- Aniceto Velázquez Rivera, Edilio and Maxi- ously known from three localities in Dptos. miliano Pérez Bucardo (Kilambé), Angel Ló- Matagalpa and Jinotega (Köhler 200). On pez and Marcelo Herrera (Rancho Alegre) for 4 June 2005, JS and DM collected an adult accommodation in the fi eld and guiding us to ex- female of this species (SMF 84759; Fig. 4) in cellent study sites. JS was supported by the DAAD the Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. Estelí, at (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). 3º4’50’’N, 86º5’27’’W, 325 m elevation. Th e snake was found at 0:30 h under a medium- References sized log in transition zone between a dis- turbed forest and a pasture. Th is represents Duellman, W. E. (97): Th e burrowing toad, the fi rst record of this species for Dpto. Es- Rhinophrynus dorsalis, on the Caribbean low- telí. lands of Central America. – Herpetologica, 27: 55–56. Tantilla taeniata(Bocourt, 883) Holdridge, L. R. (967): Life zone ecology. Re- In Nicaragua, Tantilla taeniata was previ- vised edition. - San José, Costa Rica (Trop. Sci. ously known from three localities in Dptos. Center), 206 pp. Estelí and Matagalpa, and from an unknown Jansen, M. & G. Köhler (2002): Biogeografi sche locality in Dpto. Zelaya (Jansen & Köh- Analyse der Herpetofauna von ausgewählten ler 2002, Köhler 200), now divided into Hochlandgebieten Nicaraguas. – Salamandra, Dptos. Atlántico Norte and Atlántico Sur. On 38 (4): 269–286. 0 July 998, GK collected a juvenile of this Köhler, G. (200): Anfi bios y reptiles de Nicara- species (SMF 84760; Fig. 5) at El Diamante, gua. – Off enbach (Herpeton), 208 pp. Reserva Natural Kilambé, Dpto. Jinotega, at Köhler, G. (2003): Reptiles of Central America. 3º36’5.3’’N, 85º44’20.2’’W, 090 m eleva- – Herpeton Verlag, Off enbach, 367 pp. tion. Th e snake was active at 4:45 h on the Köhler, G.,A. Z. Quintana, F. Buitrago & H. wooden fl oor of the house of the Finca “La Diethert (2004): New and noteworthy re- Concepción” on the property of Juana María cords of amphibians and reptiles from Nicara- Salinas. Th is represents the fi rst record of this gua. – Salamandra, 40 (): 5–24. species for Dpto. Jinotega. McCranie, J. R. & L. D. Wilson (2002): Th e am- phibians of Honduras. – Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, 625 pp. Acknowledgements Peters, J. A. & R. Donoso Barros (970): Cata- logue of the Neotropical Squamata. Part II. Li- Collecting and exportation permits were provided zards and Amphisbaenians. – Smithsonian In- by Bayardo Quintero, Milton G. Camacho stitution, Washington, 293 pp. Bonilla and Arcadio Choza López, Ministerio Reeder, T. W. (990): Eumeces managuaeDunn. del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales (MARE- – Catalogue of American Amphibians and NA), Managua, Nicaragua. Darwin Manzana- Reptiles, 467: -2. res, Lenin Obando, Dorian and Miguel An- Ruiz, G. A. (996): Claves preliminares para reco- gel Guatemala assisted in the fi eld. Pedrari- nocer a los reptiles de Nicaragua. –CEDAPRO- as Dávila and Enrique Sampson, Universidad DE, Managua, 88 pp. Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN- León), provided all logistics in Dpto. León. Iván Ruiz, G. A.& F. Buitrago (2003): Guía ilustrada 61 Short Communications de la herpetofauna de Nicaragua. – ARAUCA- Veselý, M. & G. Köhler (200): Zur Kenntnis RIA-MARENA-AECI, 33 pp. von Mesaspis moreletii (Bocourt 87) in El Savage, J. M. (2002): Th e amphibians and repti- Salvador. – Salamandra, 37 (3): 85–92. les of Costa Rica. A herpetofauna between two Villa, J. D. (983): Nicaraguan fi shes, amphibians continents, between two seas. – University of and reptiles: checklist and bibliography. – Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, London, 934 pp. Centroamericana, Managua, 53 pp. Tihen, J. A. (949): A review of the lizard genus Villa, J. D. (984): Rhinophrynus dorsalis: Distri- Barisia. – University of Kansas Science Bulle- bution. – Herpetological Review, 5 (2): 52. tin, 33 (3): 27–256. Villa, J. D.,L. D. Wilson & J. D. Johnson (988): Middle American herpetology. – University of Missouri Press, Columbia, 3 pp. Manuscript received: 4 August 2006 Authors’ addresses: Javier Sunyer, Gunther Köhler, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Sen- ckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany, E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected]; and (JS) Gabinete de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN-León), Nicaragua. 62
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