Abel Batista

FOUR NEW SPECIES OF ANOLES (GENUS ANOLIS) FROM THE SERRANÍA DE TABASARÁ, WEST-CENTRAL PANAMA (SQUAMATA: POLYCHROTIDAE)

We describe four new species of anoles (genus Anolis) from the Serranía de Tabasará, west-central Panama. Two of the new species are most similar in external morphology to a cluster of Central American species that are short-legged (fourth toe of adpressed hindlimb reaches only to tympanum), have a single elongated prenasal scale, smooth ventral scales, and slender habitus, often delicate. They differ from the other species in this cluster by hemipenial morphology and scalation characteristics. One of the new species appears to be most similar to A. pachypus and A. tropidolepis from which it differs by male dewlap coloration and its very small dorsal head scales. The fourth new species appears to be most similar to A. laeviventris from which it differs by its multicarinate head scales, lack of heterogeneous flank scalation, and an overall green coloration.

Two new fringe-limbed frogs of the genus Ecnomiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Panama

Forest canopy-dwelling frogs are usually among the rarest anuran species observed in the neotropical forest, mainly because they fall outside of the scope of the standard search methods used by herpetologists. During field explorations undertaken in western and eastern Panama in recent years, we discovered two species belonging to the genus Ecnomiohyla, which showed significant differences in genetic distances (16S mtDNA gene) and morphological characteristics different from any known Ecnomiohyla species. The first specimen originates from the Serranía de Jingurudó, Darién province, southeastern Panamá, and is described herein as E. bailarina sp. nov., and the second specimen was found at Santa Fe National Park, Veraguas province, central-western Panama, and is described as E. veraguensis sp. nov. We provide a detailed description of both new species, including comparisons of morphological and molecular characters of almost all members of the genus in lower Central America, as well as an identification key for the entire genus.

Evidence For The Recognition Of Two Species Of Anolis Formerly Referred To As A. Tropidogaster (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

Based on differences in hemipenial morphology, male dewlap coloration, pholidosis, and 16S mtDNA, we recognize two species of anoles related to what was formerly referred to as Anolis tropidogaster: Anolis tropidogaster Hallowell 1856 and A. gaigei Ruthven 1916. The hemipenis in A. tropidogaster is large, bulbous, and bilobed whereas it is small, thin, and unilobed in A. gaigei; the male dewlap is almost uniform purplish red, sometimes with a paler orange central area in A. tropidogaster versus orange yellow with a darker orange central area in A. gaigei; and—aside from more subtle differences in several pholidotic characteristics—in male A. gaigei there is a pair of greatly enlarged postcloacal scales which is absent in A. tropidogaster. In the western part of its geographic range, A. gaigei has been confused with another anole species, A. polylepis Peters 1873, from which it can be readily distinguished by its strongly keeled ventral scales (smooth in A. polylepis).

A new species of Dactyloa from eastern Panama, with comments on other Dactyloa species present in the region

Giant anoles of the genus Dactyloa have been considered to be represented in eastern Panama by six species. In this contribution, we describe a seventh species that is restricted to the Majé, San Blas, Darién, and Piedras-Pacora mountain ranges. The new species resembles D. ibanezi, D. limon, and D. purpurescens in external morphology but differs from these species in dewlap coloration, dorsal color pattern, morphometrics, and scalation. The recognition of the new species is further supported by DNA barcoding (genetic distances >2.7% in 16S and >7.8% in COI between the new species and all other species of Dactyloa). We discuss the taxonomic identity of D. purpurescens, and, based on morphological evidence, we place D. chocorum in the synonymy of the former species. An identification key for all 11 Dactyloa species occurring in Panama is provided.

Revision of the genus Lepidoblepharis (Reptilia: Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in Central America, with the description of three new species

Based on morphological and molecular data, we describe three new species of the genus Lepidoblepharis with granular dorsals from Panama (Lepidoblepharis emberawoundule sp. nov., Lepidoblepharis rufigularis sp. nov., and Lepidoblepharis victormartinezi sp. nov.). The results of our molecular analyses confirm the existence of five deeply differentiated genealogical lineages among Panamanian Lepidoblepharis. We present detailed descriptions of their morphology, including some new valuable scalation characters (ventral and subfemoral escutcheon) and hemipenes, as well as comparisons with the other two species of the genus known to occur in Panama (L. sanctaemartae and L. xanthostigma) and their South American congeners. Last, we provide an updated identification key for the genus Lepidoblepharis in Central America.

Distribution extension for Anolis pseudokemptoni Köhler, Ponce, Sunyer & Batista, 2007 (Reptilia: Squamata: Dactyloidae), a microendemic species in the Serranía de Tabasará of the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé of western Panama

We report new localities for Anolis pseudokemptoni Kohler, Ponce, Sunyer & Batista, 2007, along the Serrania de Tabasara in the Comarca Ngobe-Bugle of western Panama. These records extend the known geographic distribution of this lizard about 6 km eastward and 9 km northwestward, as well as the known vertical distribution approximately 470 m lower and 380 m higher. We also provide photos of specimens from different localities and comment on their morphology. No population of this Panamanian microendemic species, which is classifiable as Critically Endangered, lives inside a protected area.

Figure 12 In Evidence For The Recognition Of Two Species Of Anolis Formerly Referred To As A. Tropidogaster (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

FIGURE 12. Habitat of Anolis gaigei (a) near Santo Domingo, Los Santos, Panama, 40 masl; (b) at Finca La Providencia, near Ponuga, Veraguas, Panama, 20 masl.