Josiah H. Townsend

Cryptic diversity in disjunct populations of Middle American Montane Pitvipers: a systematic reassessment of Cerrophidion godmani

Jadin, R.C., Townsend, J.H., Castoe, T.A. & Campbell, J.A. (2012). Cryptic diversity in disjunct populations of Middle American Montane Pitvipers: a systematic reassessment of Cerrophidion godmani. —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 455–470.

Two New Sympatric Species of Leaf-Toed Geckos (Gekkonidae: Phyllodactylus) from the Balsas Region of the Upper Marañon Valley, Peru

Abstract Two new species of the genus Phyllodactylus are described based on material collected in the southern portion of Departamento de Amazonas, Peru. Both species are well differentiated from all other South American Phyllodactylus based on characteristics of their morphology. In the case of one species, its large adult size and lack of well-defined rows of strongly keeled scales differentiate it from other Phyllodactylus, whereas in the second species, the presence of an enlarged postanal scale is diagnostic. Both species were collected in the xeric Balsas region of the upper Marañon Valley, and exhibit some similarities to other assemblages of sympatric Phyllodactylus in South America. The Balsas region is an area of endemism that warrants further attention from systematists and conservation biologists.

A New Species of Centipede Snake in the Tantilla taeniata Group (Squamata: Colubridae) from Premontane Rainforest in Refugio De Vida Silvestre Texíguat, Honduras

Abstract A new species of Tantilla is described from Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat in northern Honduras. The new species is allocated to the Tantilla taeniata group, which currently contains 20 of the 63 species in the genus, but it differs from all congeners on the basis of its dorsal body pattern and scutellation. The new species has a pale mid-dorsal stripe composed of narrow spots, confined to the mid-dorsal row, and a lateral coloration of pale spots on each of rows 1, 2, and 4 with dark brown pigment on the lateral edges of the ventrals. The new species appears to have no close affinities within the T. taeniata group. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat is one of the most important cloud and premontane rain forest reserves in eastern nuclear Central America with respect to evolution, species endemism, and conservation. Nonetheless, areas of this reserve are seriously imperiled, especially on the leeward side due to continuing illegal logging and forest clearing for subsistence agriculture. Resumen Una nueva especie de Tantilla es descrita para el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat en el Norte de Honduras. Se le asigna al grupo de T. taeniata, que actualmente contiene 20 de las 63 especies en el género, pero difiere de todos los congéneres en el patrón de coloración y conteo de escamas. El patrón dorsal del cuerpo de la nueva especie consiste en una línea dorso central pálida confinada a la hilera dorso central, compuesta por manchas estrechas y una coloración lateral de manchas pálidas en cada una de las hileras 1, 2 y 4 con pigmento marrón oscuro en los bordes laterales de las escamas ventrales. La nueva especie parece no tener ninguna relación dentro del grupo de T. taeniata. El Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat es una de las reservas más importantes de bosque lluvioso premontano y bosque nublado en Centro América Nuclear Oriental con respecto a la evolución, el endemismo de especies y la conservación. Sin embargo, las áreas de esta reserva se encuentran en peligro, especialmente en el lado de sotavento debido a la continua tala ilegal y tala para la agricultura de subsistencia.

Cryptic diversity in Chortís Highland moss salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Nototriton) revealed using mtDNA barcodes and phylogenetics, with a new species from eastern Honduras

The systematic study of Central American moss salamanders has been a challenge to researchers due to their cryptic nature and subsequent difficulty in sampling. In an effort to elucidate relationships among moss salamanders from the Chortís Highlands, we quantified intra- and interspecific variation using data from the mitochondrial genes 16S (the amphibian barcoding gene), cytochrome b (cyt b; widely used in phylogenetic studies of neotropical salamanders), and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI, the universal metazoan barcoding gene). All three loci exhibit a bimodal ‘barcoding gap’ between ranges of intra- and interspecific variation, demonstrating unambiguous species boundaries with respect to the mitochondrial loci. A barcoding approach and Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of the mtDNA dataset revealed that the nominal species N. barbouri represents a species complex, with two of three populations assigned to this taxon being paraphyletic with respect to a sample from the type locality. These data also revealed an undescribed species from eastern Honduras, and confirmed the identity of allopatric populations of N. lignicola and N. limnospectator. Sequence data from cyt b presented an analytical challenge due to a high level of substitution saturation at the third codon position for some samples. Phylogenetic analyses of the entire dataset including and omitting the third position of cyt b resulted in conflicting results with respect to the position of the new species and N. tomamorum. Based on the molecular data, supplemented with data from external morphology and osteology, we formally describe a new species from Sierra de Agalta.

Morphological Variation in Geophis nephodrymus (Squamata: Colubridae), with Comments on Conservation of Geophis in Eastern Nuclear Central America

Abstract Six species of Geophis occur in eastern Nuclear Central America: G. damiani, G. dunni, G. fulvoguttatus, G. hoffmanni, G. nephodrymus, and G. rhodogaster. These species are assigned to two species groups: the dubius group and the sieboldi group. Geophis nephodrymus is a species endemic to an isolated cloud forest locality in northwestern Honduras and was recently described based on a single specimen. Subsequently, an additional 16 specimens of G. nephodrymus were collected, demonstrating considerable morphological variation. This variation is characterized using features of morphology and color pattern. A key to the species of Geophis from eastern Nuclear Central America is provided. Of these six species, two meet the IUCN criteria for designation as Critically Endangered and two more as Endangered.

Predation of a Tree Snail Drymaeus multilineatus (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) by Iguana iguana (Reptilia: Iguanidae) on Key Biscayne, Florida

Abstract Iguana iguana is a well-established introduced species in southern Florida, including a large population on Key Biscayne. In its native range, I. iguana is known to be almost strictly herbivorous. Juveniles are often reported to be somewhat omnivorous, but prey items are rarely identified. The tree snail Drymaeus multilineatus is common in southern Florida, where it is found on stems and leaves and in edificarian habitats. The examination of I. iguana stomachs from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, resulted in the discovery of D. multilineatus in two lizards, including 12 snails in one juvenile I. iguana. The large and rapidly growing I. iguana populations in southern Florida may have the potential to devastate some highly localized native species of tree snails.

A relict lineage and new species of green palm-pitviper (Squamata, Viperidae,Bothriechis) from the Chortís Highlands of Mesoamerica

A new species of palm-pitviper of the genus Bothriechis is described from Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat in northern Honduras. The new species differs from congeners by having 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody, a bright green dorsal coloration in adults, the prelacunal scale fused to the second supralabial, and in representing a northern lineage that is sister to Bothriechis lateralis, which is distributed in Costa Rica and western Panama and is isolated from the new taxon by the Nicaraguan Depression. This represents the 15th endemic species occurring in Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat, one of the richest herpetofaunal sites in Honduras, itself being the country with the highest degree of herpetofaunal endemism in Central America. We name this new species in honor of a Honduran conservationist slain in fighting against illegal logging, highlighting the sacrifices of rural activists in battling these issues and the critical importance of conservation in these areas.

Biogeography and conservation of the herpetofauna of the Upland Pine-Oak Forests of Honduras

Wilson, L.D. & Townsend, J.H. Biogeography and conservation of the herpetofauna of the Upland Pine-Oak Forests of Honduras. Biota Neotrop. Jan/Apr 2007 vol. 7, no. 1 http://www.biotaneotropica.org. br/v7n1/pt/abstract?inventory+bn02307012007 ISSN 1676-0603. The upland pine-oak forest herpetofauna constitutes the smallest segment distributed in the major habitat types in Honduras, due to its occurrence at moderate elevations in relatively inhospitable environments, compared to more mesic habitats in the country. This segment, however, is subject to considerable environmental threat as a consequence of annual burning and logging. Of the 356 herpetofaunal species known from Honduras, 105 are known from these habitats. These forests occur throughout much of the mountainous interior of Honduras. They are subject to the Intermediate Dry climate. Four salamanders, 27 anurans, four turtles, 29 lizards, and 41 snakes comprise the herpetofauna. These species are partitioned into restricted, widespread, and peripheral distributional categories. They can be allocated to eleven broad distributional categories, with most belonging to the category containing species whose ranges extend from somewhere in Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to somewhere in South America. The large majority are terrestrial forest inhabitants, arboreal forest inhabitants, terrestrial pondside species, or terrestrial forest pondside species. Most species are judged common, with the next largest group considered to be of infrequent occurrence, and the smallest group of rare occurrence. Upland pine-oak forest species are distributed among four ecophysiographic areas, with the greatest number of species being found in the Southeastern Uplands. Construction of a CBR diagram illustrates that the herpetofaunas of the Northwestern and Northeastern Uplands, the Northeastern Uplands and Southeastern Uplands, and the Southeastern Uplands and Southwestern Uplands are about equally related to one another. The greatest significance of the upland pineoak forest herpetofauna lies in the relatively high percentage of members presently possessing stable populations, indicating their apparent greater ability to resist anthropogenic habitat disturbance. Few species currently have populations in decline, but about a third lack sufficient data to characterize their population status, indicating the need for considerable additional fieldwork before their conservation issues can be properly addressed.

New Species of Cloud Forest Anolis (Squamata: Polychrotidae) in the crassulus Group from Parque Nacional Montana de Yoro, Honduras

Abstract A new species of the Anolis crassulus group is described from the cloud forests of Parque Nacional Montaña de Yoro, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras. This species is distinguished from other members of the A. crassulus group by hemipenial morphology and characteristics of pholidosis. Apparently restricted to a single cloud forest site in central Honduras, the new species qualifies as Critically Endangered under IUCN red list criteria. Se describe una nueva especie del grupo Anolis crassulus de los bosques nublados del Parque Nacional Montaña de Yoro, Departamento de Francisco Morazán, Honduras. Esta especie se distingue de otros miembros del grupo A. crassulus por la morfología de los hemipenes y características de escutelación. Aparentemente se encuentra restringido a un unico sitio del bosque nublado en Honduras central, la nueva especie se encuentra en la categoría En Peligro Crítico, bajo los criterios de la Lista Roja de la UICN.

A new species of snake of the Geophis dubius group (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae) from the Sierra de Omoa of northwestern Honduras

ABSTRACT A new member of the dubius species group of the colubrid genus Geophis is described. This new species differs from the nine other described members of the group in a variety of features of scutellation and color pattern. The new species inhabits the cloud forest of Parque Nacional El Cusuco, located in the Sierra de Omoa of northwestern Honduras. RESUMEN Se describe un nuevo miembro del grupo de especies dubius del género Geophis. La nueva especie se distingue de los nuevos otros miembros del grupo en una variedad de características de escamación y patrón de color. La nueva especie vive en el bosque nublado del Parque Nacional El Cusuco, localizado en la Sierra de Omoa de Honduras noroccidental.