Pseudoeurycea cafetalera, Cruz, Gabriel, Murrieta-Galindo, Rene & Wake, David B., 2010

Cruz, Gabriel, Murrieta-Galindo, Rene & Wake, David B., 2010, A new species of Pseudoeurycea from the cloud forest in Veracruz, México, Zootaxa 2725, pp. 57-68 : 61-64

Pseudoeurycea cafetalera sp. nov.

Coffee Grove Salamander, Salamandra de cafetal Figure 2A, 2 C–2H.

Pseudoeurycea cephalica: Parra-Olea (2002) . Table 1 (voucher: IBH14343) Holotype. Colección Nacional de Anfibios y Reptiles IBH14341, an adult female from Rancho dos Puentes, 6.0 km (by road) north of entrance to Huatusco, Veracruz, México (19° 11.13' N, 96° 57.72' W, 1322 m elevation) ( Fig. 1 ), collected by Sean M. Rovito on November 17, 2009.

Paratypes. Seven specimens. Two males: IBH14344, same data as holotype; IBH14349, from Las Cañadas, 5.4 km NW of center of Huatusco, Veracruz, México (19° 11.42' N, 96° 59.30' W, 1367 m elevation), collected by J. C. Winfield-Pérez. Five females: IBH14338-14340, Zoncolco, Veracruz, México (18º 46.4' N, 97º 07.61' W, 1600 m elevation); IBH14343, same locality as holotype, collected by GPO, DBW, M. García-París and J. Hanken; IBH14346, 3.5 km SW La Raya, road to Trincheras, Veracruz, México.

Referred specimens. Three juveniles: IBH 14337, same data as holotype; IBH 14345, Zoncolco, Veracruz, México (18º 46.4' N, 97º 07.61' W, 1600 m elevation); MVZ 196052, La Joya, Veracruz, México (19° 36.65´N, 97° 1.63´W, 2125 m elevation).

Diagnosis. A medium sized species of Pseudoeurycea ; distinguished from all other members of the genus Pseudoeurycea (except P. cephalica group) by the combination of: stout body, long stout legs, shorter digits, more webbed hands and feet with first and fourth fingers barely emerging from membrane. Distinguished from members of P. bellii group by lack of reddish spots on dorsum. Distinguished from its two sister taxa P. quetzalanensis and P. cephalica in the following characters: from P. quetzalanesis by its larger size (mean SL = 45 mm for males and 50 mm for females of P. cafetalera vs. 36 mm for males and 38 mm for females of P. quetzalanensis ), longer limbs (adpressed limbs separated by -1–1.5 costal interspaces in females and they meet or are separated by 0.5 costal interspace in males of P. cafetalera ; for P. quetzalanensis , separated by 1– 2.5 for females and 0.5–1 for males), and wider feet (mean FW = 4.8 mm for females and 4.6 mm for males of P. cafetalera vs. 3.0 mm and 3.2 mm for females and males, respectively, of P. quetzalanensis ). It differs from the other closely related species P. cephalica by its broader head (mean HW = 8.5 mm and 7.7 mm for females and males, respectively, of P. cafetalera and 7.1 mm and 6.9 mm for females and males, respectively, of P. cephalica ), and more maxillary and vomerine teeth in females (mean MT = 62 in P. cafetalera vs. 56 in P. cephalica ; mean VT = 32 in P. cafetalera vs. 27 in P. cephalica ). It differs from other members of the P. cephalica group ( P. galeanae and P. scandens ) in being smaller; P. galeanea can reach 70 mm SL and P. scandens can reach 71 mm SL ( Taylor, 1941; Walker, 1955). It also differs from these species in coloration; P. galeanae has large whitish spots on the tail, especially near the base, which are not present in P. cafetalera , and P. scandens has a uniform dark belly while P. cafetalera can have light grey flecks on the belly. Finally, P. scandens has longer legs with longer truncate digits ( Walker 1955), and P. galeanae has more maxillary teeth ( Taylor, 1941).

Description. A medium sized species; SL in 2 adult males 42.8–48.1 mm (mean = 45.5 mm), in 6 females 43.1–59.8 mm (mean = 49.9 mm), with robust habitus; head relatively broad, 0.16–0.18 SL in both males and females, snout broadly rounded in females and squared in males; neck region ill-defined, only slightly narrower than head. Parotoid glands not evident. Costal grooves 13, counting one each in axilla and groin. Limbs relatively long; digits relatively short and stout for Pseudoeurycea , bearing small subterminal pads; fifth toe much shorter than fourth. Digits in order of decreasing length: fingers 3-2-4-1; toes 3-4-2-5-1; basal webbing present. Tail missing in many specimens; when present, 0.69–0.76 (mean = 0.79) SL in females and 0.75 in males; tail stout, tapering rather abruptly toward tip. Maxillary teeth small, 45–53 (mean 49) in males, 58–73 (mean 62.5) in females; premaxillary teeth 3–4 (mean 3.5) and enlarged in adult males, 6–12 (mean 9.3) and smaller in females; vomerine teeth in long rows, 24 in males, 25–43 (mean 31.8) in females.

Measurements (in mm), limb interval and tooth counts of the holotype. HW 9.7; HD 4.8; eyelid length 4.1; eyelid width 2.2; anterior rim of orbit to snout 3.2; interorbital distance 3.2; distance between outer corners of eyes 8.3; snout to forelimb 16.8; ND 0.3; distance between external nares 2.6; projection of snout beyond mandible 0.5; SG 13.1; Sh-W 8.3; SL 59.8; snout to anterior angle of vent 54.4; AG 31.6; TL 45.6; tail depth at base 5.8; tail width at base 5.5; FLL 14.8; width of hand 4.5; HLL 16.4; FW 5.5; length of longest (third) toe 2.0; length of fifth toe 0.8. LI 1.5. Numbers of teeth: premaxillary 12; maxillary 65; vomerine 43.

Coloration (in life) of the holotype ( Fig. 2A ). Dorsum and dorsal surface of head solid dark chocolate brown. Grey specks on snout, mostly pale grey above eyes. Iris dark brown. Sides of head mostly brown with some grey speckling, with proportion of grey increasing toward back of head and mouth. Dorsal surface of tail same color as dorsum at insertion of hindlimbs, transitioning gradually to medium reddish brown at tip. Sides of body dark brown above midline, with some pale grey flecks, and pale grey mottled with dark brown below midline. Dorsal surface of limbs lighter reddish brown (similar to dorsal surface of tail); dorsal surface of feet brown with grey specks as on lateral surface of body. Gular region, lateral and ventral surfaces of tail, and underside of limbs light grey with brown speckles throughout. Venter dark brown with very small grey flecks. Underside of feet solid brown.

Coloration (in alcohol) of the holotype. Dorsum and dorsal surface of head and limbs dark brown. Dorsal surface of tail solid medium red-brown. Small grey flecks above eyes, with larger grey flecks along labial surfaces, on rostrum and on sides of head below jaw. Sides of body mostly dark brown with few grey specks above midline and mostly grey with some dark brown specks below midline. Lateral and ventral surfaces of tail grey mottled with lighter brown compared to dorsum. Gular region and underside of limbs mostly pale grey mottled with some dark grey-brown. Venter slate grey with small specks of light grey throughout. Underside of feet slate grey.

Color variation. Paratype IBH14344 has a mostly grey venter, composed of tiny specks on a dark brown background. Dark brown blotches present on sides and at base of tail, at boundary between lateral and ventral coloration. Several lichen-like pale orange-brown blotches on dorsum. Lighter brown dorsal coloration compared to holotype. Almost no grey color above eyes. Other specimens lack gray mottling on ventrolateral surface and gular region, with underside of feet and ventral surface of tail light brown and light brownish color on rostrum and labial surfaces.

Distribution. This species is known from the vicinity of the type locality near Huatusco, Veracruz, north to La Joya where it occurs in sympatry with P. cephalica , and from the northern Sierra de Zongolica near the locality of Zoncolco, 49 km south-southwest of the type locality ( Fig. 1 ). The species is presumed to occur in cloud forest to the south of Huatusco between Huatusco and Zoncolco, but appears not to occur on Cerro Chicahuaxtla and other well-collected sites near the city of Cordoba.

Natural history. Pseudoeurycea cafetalera appears to be a terrestrial species, like most members of its genus. It has been found under logs and in leaf litter in cafetal habitat with adjoining forest ( Fig. 2 B). Cooccurring species of salamanders at the type locality include Bolitoglossa platydactyla , Chiropterotriton chiropterus , Parvimolge townsendi , and Thorius pennatulus .

Etymology. This species is named for the coffee grove (cafetal) habitat where it is found. It is one of only three species of Pseudoeurycea (along with P. quetzalanensis and P. l i n e o l a) that has been found in this habitat so far.

Phylogenetic results. The 16S phylogeny ( Fig. 3 ) provides strong support for the monophyly of Pseudoeurycea cafetalera (BS = 99, PP = 100). The P. cephalica group, which contains P. cafetalera , is also well supported (BS = 84, PP = 98) and is the sister clade to the P. bellii group (BS = 99, PP = 100). The relationship of P. cafetalera as the sister taxon to P. cephalica + P. quetzalanensis has little support (BS = 62, PP = 70). The divergence between P. cafetalera and P. cephalica ranged from 4.5–6.0% (mean = 5.4%), and the divergence between the two populations (Huatusco and Zongolica) of P. cafetalera is 2.6%. The divergence between P. cafetalera and P. quetzalansis ranged from 5.0–5.8% (mean = 5.6%). The divergence between P. cafetalera and P. cephalica + P. quetzalanensis (4.4–6.0%, mean = 5.4%) is comparable to that between other species of Pseudoeurycea ( Fig. 3 ). Sequence divergence within the P. cephalica group was as high as 10.1% (between P. galeanae and P. cafetalera ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of species of the Pseudoeurycea cephalica complex in central México. Symbols: Black squares – P. cephalica; White stars – P. quetzalanensis; White circle with black star – P. cafetalera type locality; Black circles – other P. cafetalera localities; white cross – Pseudoeurycea cf cafetalera from Teocelo; white triangle – approximate type locality of P. praecellens. Overlapping balck circle and black square indicate sympatry between P. Cafetalera and P. Cephalica at La Joya, Veracruz.

FIGURE 3. Phylogeny from Bayesian analysis of 16 S rRNA gene. Maximum likelihood bootstrap values shown above branches, posterior probabilities (multiplied by 100) from Bayesian analysis shown below branches.

FIGURE 2. A) Holotype of Pseudoeurycea cafetalera (IBH 14341). B) Forest habitat on edge of cafetal at type locality. C) Ventral and D) dorsal views of preserved holotype. E) Right hand and F) left foot of preserved holotype. G) Lateral, H) dorsal, and I) ventral views of head of preserved holotype.