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Short Communications SALAMANDRA 45 3 186-190 Rheinbach, 20 August 2009 ISSN 0036-3375 Three new country records of reptiles from Nicaragua Javier Sunyer, Josiah H. Townsend, Larry David Wilson, Scott L. Travers, Lenin A. Obando, Guillermo Páiz, Daniel M. Griffith & Gunther Köhler Abstract. We collected Kinosternon angustipons, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus and Adelphicos quadrivirgatum for the first time in Nicaragua. We include brief descriptions and ecological notes for the three new country records. Key words. Reptilia, distribution, ecology, Kinosternon angustipons, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus, Adel- phicos quadrivirgatum, Nicaragua. Resumen. Colectamos Kinosternon angustipons, Cnemidophorus lemniscatus y Adelphicos quadrivirgatum por primera vez en Nicaragua. Incluimos breves descripciones y comentarios ecológicos para los tres nuevos registros. In recent years, there have been several addi- ry, Bosawas constitutes the largest single pro- tions to the known herpetofauna of Nicara- tected area in Nicaragua (SETAB-MARENA gua (Köhler et al. 2004, Köhler & Sunyer 2002). We conducted surveys at a number of 2006, Sunyer & Köhler 2007), and more sites in the core zone along the Lakus River, are expected as research continues in the which demarcates the northern portion of country. Here we report the presence of one the political boundary between the Depart- snake hitherto unknown from Nicaragua and ment of Jinotega and the RAAN. From 8–2 the first voucher specimens for one lizard and June, we worked at a site called Kulum Ki- one turtle species. tang in an expansive stretch of pristine low- From 2 May to 8 June 2003, we visited the land broadleaf forest. This site is the starting Cayos Miskitos Marine Reserve in the North- point for a foot trail which leads out of the ern Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). core zone to Musuwás, a Mayangna commu- This reserve is bordered in the north by Hon- nity to the southeast, and is only occasion- duras and in the east by the Caribbean Sea ally used by local Mayangna and Miskitu for and includes coastal mainland, offshore keys, transit and hunting. From 8–23 July 2007, we and adjacent submarine platforms (MARE- surveyed the Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge NA-CBA et al. 2004). We surveyed several near the community of Papaturro. Located mainland coastal areas around the commu- between the southern edge of Lake Nicara- nities of Barra de Wawa, Karata, Layasiksa, gua and Costa Rica, this refuge is the west- Dakura, Bismuna, and Cabo Gracias a Dios. ernmost of seven protected areas that consti- From 22–23 May 2003, we explored the beach tute the Biosphere Reserve of Southeastern at Barra de Cabo Viejo in an area contain- Nicaragua (previously referred to as SI-A- ing relatively undisturbed mangrove forests. PAZ). At night, we travelled in a motorboat From 9–23 June 2007, we visited Bosawas along the Papaturro River, a short, slow riv- Biosphere Reserve, an internationally recog- er that drains into the southern part of Lake nised protected area bordered on its north- Nicaragua. This portion of Lake Nicaragua, ern side by the Coco or Wangki River, which the largest freshwater body in Central Amer- forms the boundary with Honduras. Cover- ica, possesses a distinctive mixture of both ing approximately 4% of the national territo- Pacific and Atlantic versant herpetofaunal © 2009 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V. (DGHT) htt1p8:/6/www.salamandra-journal.com Short Communications species (JS pers. observ.). In Los Guatuzos, forests that are not seasonally flooded have been cleared for cattle ranching and agricul- ture, except for a few isolated patches. In con- trast, seasonally flooded forests are generally less disturbed and rarely visited by people. All three aforementioned localities are within the Lowland Moist Forest formation (Holdridge 967), characterised by a high mean annual temperature (>24 ºC) and high mean annual precipitation (2000–4000 mm) with marked wet and dry seasons. Specimens were deposited in the Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt a.M., Germany (SMF) and the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Centroamerica- na, Managua, Nicaragua (UCA). We provide Fig. 2. Male Cnemidophorus lemniscatus from Ca- brief descriptions and ecological notes for yos Miskitos Marine Reserve, Northern Atlantic the three new records. Autonomous Region, Nicaragua (UCA 567). Pho- to: O. Arróliga. Fig. 3. Male Adelphicos quadrivirgatum from Bo- sawas Biosphere Reserve, Jinotega Department, Nicaragua (SMF 87169). Photo: J. Sunyer. Kinosternon angustipons Legler, 965 On 22 July 2007, we collected a specimen of Kinosternon angustipons (SMF 8768) from the Papaturro River, near its confluence with the Sahíno River, approximately 0.5 km be- fore the confluence of the Papaturro River and Lake Nicaragua, Río San Juan Depart- ment (.0227º N, 85.053º W, 40 m elevation). Fig. 1. Male Kinosternon angustipons from Los The area is surrounded by permanent fresh- Guatuzos Wildlife Reserve, Río San Juan Depart- ment, Nicaragua (SMF 87168); (a) dorsal view; (b) water marshes characterised by tall emer- ventral view. Photo: J. Sunyer. gent grasses and a lack of trees. SMF 8768 187 Short Communications was found at night in the middle of the Pap- also made a personal report of the existence aturro River while actively swimming on the of this species at “Panaloya, north of the Co- surface, apparently alerted by our oncoming cibolca Lake” (= Lake Nicaragua). However, motorboat and flashlights. It ceased activity the presence of this species in Nicaragua has once it reached some emergent vegetation ap- not been previously supported by a voucher proximately .5 m from the shore. Despite the specimen. Therefore, SMF 8768 constitutes waves caused by our boat and the presence of the first definitive specimen of K. angustipons lights directed at the turtle, it did not attempt collected in Nicaraguan territory, and repre- to escape by diving or climbing onshore. sents the northwestern-most record of this Other turtle species that we collected or pho- species, with a range extension of approxi- tographed in this stretch of the Papaturro mately 30 km NE from the nearest locality River include Chelydra serpentina, Trache- in Costa Rica (Savage 2002). mys venusta, Kinosternon leucostomum, and K. scorpioides. SMF 8768 is an adult male Cnemidophorus lemniscatus (Linnaeus, (carapace length 00 mm) with the following 758) characteristics: carapace smooth, unkeeled, On 22 May 2003, we collected two specimens notched posteriorly; plastron reduced, dou- of this species at the Playa de Barra de Cabo ble-hinged, emarginated posteriorly, with Viejo (4.9222º N, 83.2653º W, 3 m elevation), eleven plastral shields; length of bridge 7.3% .5 km SE of La Aduana, RAAN. Both speci- of carapace length; axillary and inguinal mens (UCA 566–67) were encountered as ac- shields in contact, separating pectorals from tive during the day while basking at ground any contact with marginals; upper margin of level in the transitional area between sandy jaw smooth; three pairs of chin barbels; toes beach and mangrove forest, where a mixture webbed; definite patches of opposable thigh of mangrove forest, sporadic low grass, and and calf spines; tip of tail soft, extending well coastal debris were present. Although we col- beyond margin of carapace. Colouration in lected only two specimens, approximately a life (Fig. ): carapace dark brown; plastron dozen other C. lemniscatus were seen in the golden yellow; head dark brown dorsally, tan area. UCA 567, an adult male (snout-vent to cream laterally and ventrally, without con- length 63 mm), has the following character- trasting markings. istics: tail length 30 mm; 4 supraoculars; 4 Legler (965:623) described Kinosternon parietals; 7 supralabials; 7 infralabials; cen- angustipons based on 4 specimens collected tral gular scales not greatly enlarged; ventral in Costa Rica and Panama and stated that the scales large, in 8 transverse rows; enlarged geographic range for this species is “approx- scales on the dorsolateral surfaces of the up- imately from the delta of the Río San Juan per arms; right hemipenis partially everted. (the boundary between Nicaragua and Costa Colouration in life (Fig. 2): 4 longitudinal Rica) to Almirante, Bocas del Toro, Panama.” dark stripes on brown background on body; He subsequently described the range as ex- several yellow dots on lateral surfaces of tending “from the mouth of the San Juan Riv- body; green colouration on chin and anterior er in Nicaragua to the region of Almirante, part of arms and legs. UCA 566, a juvenile Bocas del Toro, Panama” (Legler 966:8), (snout-vent length 32 mm), has the following despite the absence of confirmed records characteristics: tail length 80 mm; 4 supraoc- from Nicaraguan territory. Since then, K. an- ulars; 4 parietals; 7 supralabials; 7 infralabi- gustipons has consistently been recognised as als; central gular scales not greatly enlarged; part of the Nicaraguan herpetofauna (Iver- ventral scales large, in 8 transverse rows; en- son 980, 986, 992, Villa 983, Villa et larged scales on the dorsolateral surfaces of al. 988, Köhler 200, 2003, Ruiz & Buit- the upper arms; 6 longitudinal dark stripes rago 2003). Ruiz & Buitrago (2003:9) along body. 188 Short Communications Cnemidophorus lemniscatus was known pale yellow with occasional dark pigment on to occur both north and south of Nicaragua the exterior margins (almost exclusively near (Köhler 2003), and it was expected to be cloaca); paired subcaudals pale yellow with found along the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua dark pigment on both inner and outer mar- (Savage 2002:57). As with Kinosternon an- gins, so that a midventral dark brown stripe gustipons, C. lemniscatus has been included is present in the subcaudal region. in various checklists of Nicaraguan herpeto- SMF 8769 constitutes the first country fauna (Villa 983, Villa et al. 988, Ruiz record of Adelphicos quadrivirgatum for Nic- 996, Ruiz & Buitrago 2003) but the pres- aragua. It represents a range extension of ap- ence of this species has not been supported proximately 40 km S from the nearest locality by voucher specimens (Köhler 200, 2003). in Honduras and is the southernmost record UCA 566–67 constitute the first definitive for this genus (McCranie et al. 2006). specimens of C. lemniscatus collected in Nicaragua, and represent a range extension of approximately 55 km SE from the nearest Acknowledgements locality in Honduras and approximately 730 We thank B. Q. Guatemala, I. O. Gasteazo- km NW from the nearest locality in Panama ro, M. G. Camacho, L. Díaz, R. Salvador, A. (Köhler 2003, McCranie et al. 2006). Choza, C. R. Mejía, E. Duarte and A. Lorío, Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales Adelphicos quadrivirgatum Jan, 862 (MARENA), Managua, Nicaragua, for collect- On 2 June 2007, we collected a specimen of ing and exportation permits. Special thanks to A. this semifossorial snake (SMF 8769) at Ku- Gómez, I. Garbayo, A. Medina, O. Arróliga, lum Kitang (4.3292º N, 84.9375º W, 80 m R. Aguilar, R. Picado, F. López, S. Charly, J. elevation), Jinotega Department. The snake Lewis, and I. Carmona who actively assisted in the field. N. Torres (FUNDAR) and G. Rodrígu- was encountered at daytime underneath a ez (Amigos de la Tierra) provided all logistics in rotten log (approximately 30 cm in diameter) Los Guatuzos. MARENA/CBA provided all lo- in primary rain forest. Inside a larger log ad- gistical and financial support in Cayos Miskitos. jacent to the one containing the Adelphicos Research in Bosawas was supported by the Asso- quadrivirgatum, we also found an adult spec- ciation of Zoos and Aquariums’ Conservation En- imen of the caecilian Gymnopis multiplicata. dowment Fund and the Saint Louis Zoo’s Field Re- SMF 8769 is a subadult male (snout-vent search for Conservation Program. The indigenous length 25 mm) with the following charac- association KUNASPAWA provided logistical sup- teristics: tail length 56 mm; single elongate port in Bosawas. JHT was supported by an NSF GK-2 Fellowship from the University of Florida loreal scale between postnasal and eye; 7 su- SPICE Program. JS was supported by the DAAD pralabials, third and fourth bordering the (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). We eye; 7 infralabials, first pair of infralabials in are grateful to J. B. Iverson for some background contact posterior to mental, second and third information and J. R. McCranie for helpful sug- infralabials greatly reduced; anterior pair of gestions to improve the manuscript. chin shields greatly enlarged; dorsal scales in 5 rows throughout the body, smooth; 28 ventrals; 46 subcaudals; cloacal scute divided; References hemipenes partially everted, small, unilobate, with spines on apex and folds on surface of Holdridge, L. R. (967): Life zone ecology. Re- truncus. Colouration in life (Fig. 3): a broad vised edition. – Tropical Science Center, San brown middorsal stripe and four dark brown José, Costa Rica, 206 pp. longitudinal stripes on pale brown back- Iverson, J. B. (980): Kinosternon angustipons. – ground on body; head brown to dark brown; Catalogue of American Amphibian and Rep- supralabials and chin pale yellow; ventrals tiles, 262: -2. 189 Short Communications Iverson, J. B. (986): A checklist with distribution territorial del Municipio de Waspam. – Mana- maps of the turtles of the world. – Paust Prin- gua, Nicaragua, 84 pp. ting, Richmond, Indiana, USA, 283 pp. McCranie, J. R., J. H. Townsend & L. D. Wil- Iverson, J. B. (992): A revised checklist with son (2006): The amphibians and reptiles of distribution maps of the turtles of the world. the Honduran Mosquitia. – Krieger Publishing – Richmond, Indiana, USA (privately printed), Company, Malabar, Florida, USA, 29 pp. 363 pp. Ruiz, G. A. (996): Claves preliminares para re- Köhler, G. (200): Anfibios y reptiles de Nicara- conocer a los reptiles de Nicaragua. – CEDA- gua. – Herpeton, Offenbach, Germany, 208 pp. PRODE, Managua, Nicaragua, 88 pp. Köhler, G. (2003): Reptiles of Central America. Ruiz, G. A. & F. Buitrago (2003): Guía ilustrada – Herpeton, Offenbach, Germany, 367 pp. de la herpetofauna de Nicaragua. – ARAUCA- Köhler, G., A. Z. Quintana, F. Buitrago & H. RIA-MARENA-AECI, Managua, Nicaragua, Diethert (2004): New and noteworthy re- 33 pp. cords of amphibians and reptiles from Nicara- Savage, J. M. (2002): The amphibians and repti- gua. – Salamandra, 40(): 5-24. les of Costa Rica. A herpetofauna between two Köhler, G. & J. Sunyer (2006): A new species continents, between two seas. – University of of rain frog (genus Craugastor) of the fitzinge- Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 934 pp. ri group from Río San Juan, southeastern Ni- SETAB-MARENA (2002): Consensuado básico caragua. – Senckenbergiana biologica, 86(2): de la Reserva de Biosfera Bosawas, Nicaragua. 26-266. – Secretaria Técnica de Bosawas, Ministerio Legler, J. M. (965): A new species of turtle, ge- del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales, Mana- nus Kinosternon, from Central America. – Uni- gua, Nicaragua, 23 pp. versity of Kansas Publications of the Museum Sunyer, J. & G. Köhler (2007): New country and of Natural History, 5: 65-625. departmental records of herpetofauna in Nica- Legler, J. M. (966): Notes on the natural histo- ragua. – Salamandra, 43: 5-20. ry of a rare Central American turtle, Kinoster- Villa, J. D. (983): Nicaraguan fishes, amphibians non angustipons Legler. – Herpetologica, 22: and reptiles: checklist and bibliography. – Uni- 8-22. versidad Centroamericana, Managua, Nicara- MARENA-CBA, Consorcio BRLingenierie, VEGA gua, 53 pp. Environmental Services & Wildlife Conserva- Villa, J. D., L. D. Wilson & J. D. Johnson (988): tion Society (2004): Elaboración de planes de Middle American herpetology. – University of manejo de las áreas protegidas de Cerro Silva, Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri, USA, 3 Wawashan y Cayos Miskitos y ordenamiento pp. Manuscript received: 17 July 2008 Authors’ addresses: Javier Sunyer (corresponding author) and Gunther Köhler, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; also Javier Sunyer and Lenin A. Obando, Gabinete de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN-León), León, Nicaragua; Josiah H. Townsend, School of Natural Resources and Environment, and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7800, USA; Larry David Wilson, Department of Bi- ology, Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus, Miami, Florida, 33176-3393, USA, current address: 16010 S. W. 207th Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33187, USA; also Josiah H. Townsend and Larry David Wilson, Instituto Regional de Biodiversidad (IRBio), Centro Zamorano de Biodiversidad, Escuela Agrícola Pana- mericana Zamorano, Honduras; Scott L. Travers, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7800, USA; Guillermo Páiz, Amigos de la Tierra-España, Altamira DÈste, de la Vicky 2 cuadras al Sur, 1 cuadra al Este, 1 cuadra al Sur, casa 313, Managua, Nicaragua; and Daniel M. Griffith, Biodiversity of Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Saint Louis Zoo, Managua, Nicaragua. 190