Oedipina kasios, Mccranie, James R., Vieites, David R. & Wake, David B., 2008

Mccranie, James R., Vieites, David R. & Wake, David B., 2008, Description of a new divergent lineage and three new species of Honduran salamanders of the genus Oedipina (Caudata, Plethodontidae), Zootaxa 1930, pp. 1-17 : 11-13

Oedipina kasios sp. nov.

Muralla Worm Salamander Figure 5

Oedipina cyclocauda (part). McCranie & Wilson 2002, McCranie & Castañeda 2007.

Holotype. MVZ 232825, an adult female, from near Quebrada Pinol, 15°07’N, 86°44’W, Parque Nacional La Muralla, 1190 m a.s.l., Dept. Olancho, Honduras, collected 19 July 2001 by C. Sheehy, J. H. Townsend, and L. D. Wilson.

Paratypes (5). USNM 343455–56, confluence of quebradas Pinol and Las Cantinas, 15°09’N, 86°43’W, Parque Nacional La Muralla, 950 m a.s.l., Dept. Olancho, Honduras; MVZ 232826, same data as for holotype, except 1230 m a.s.l.; USNM 530580, Cerro de Enmedio, 15°06’N, 86°41’W, Parque Nacional La Muralla, 1780 m a.s.l., Dept. Olancho, Honduras; USNM 343457, Quebrada de la Escaleras, 15°12’W, 86°41’W, Parque Nacional La Muralla, 950 m a.s.l., Dept. Olancho, Honduras.

Referred material (1). USNM 530581 (juvenile), same data as paratype USNM 530580.

Diagnosis. A small (maximum known size 46.8 mm SL) species distinguished from Oedipina cyclocauda of Costa Rica (the species with which this population was previously tentatively identified in McCranie & Wilson 2002 and McCranie & Castañeda 2007) by having the tail nearly rectangular in cross section throughout its length (versus nearly round for most or all of its length in O. cyclocauda ; McCranie pers. obs., also see Taylor 1952); from O. quadra by having fewer maxillary teeth, silver white dorsolateral spots and flecks visible to the unaided eye in life, and a smaller maximum SL; from all described Honduran species of the subgenus Oedipina ( O. ignea , O. stuarti and O. taylori by its much smaller size (or inferred smaller size, see below); from the third new species described herein by inferred smaller size and better defined digits; from all described Honduran species of the subgenus Oedopinola ( O. elongata , O. gephyra and O. tomasi ) by having 19–20 costal grooves. In addition to these features this species is distinct from all others that have been studied in having phylogenetically distinct mtDNA haplotypes ( Fig. 1 ).

Description. This is a small, slender species; adult SL for three males is 35.7–37.5, x = 36.9 mm; for three females 33.0–46.8, x = 40.6 mm. The head is small, narrow, dorsally flattened, with a broadly rounded snout. SL averages 12.5 times head width in three males (12.1–12.8) and 12.9 in three females (12.2–13.4). SL averages 6.6 times head length in three males (6.5–6.7) and 7.3 in three females (6.5–8.2). Nostrils are small but conspicuous under magnification. Nasolabial protuberances are weakly developed in males and inconspicuous in females. Eyes are small and barely extend beyond the lateral margins of the head and are directed frontolaterally. Male mental glands are not evident. The suborbital groove does not intercept the lip line. There are 1–2 slightly enlarged premaxillary teeth in males that lie anteriorly near the lip line. There are 4–5 premaxillary teeth in females that are located well within the mouth and in line with the small maxillary teeth. Maxillary teeth number 26–38 (x = 33.3) in three males and 30–38 (x = 34.3) in three females. Vomerine teeth are 10–15 (x = 12.3) in three males and 16–18 (x = 17.3) in three females; the small teeth are in an arched series. There are 19–20 costal grooves between the small limbs with a limb interval of 13 in three males and 10.5– 13.0 in three females. Hands and feet are tiny, narrow and elongated. Digit I is fused with digit II and digit IV is fused with digit III on the forelimbs, with 1.0–1.5 segments (phalanges) of digit III free between digits II– III on the forelimbs. Digit I is fused with digit II and digit V is fused with digit IV on the hind limbs, with 1.5– 2.0 segments on both sides of digit III free on the hind limbs ( Fig. 3 ). Protruding digital tips are acutely rounded to bluntly rounded and bear weak subdigital pads. Digits on the forelimbs in order of decreasing length are III–II–IV–I; digits on the hind limbs are III–II–IV–V–I. The tail is nearly rectangular in cross section, tapering on distal one-third of its length, and long (1.6–1.8+ times SL in three).

Measurements (in millimeters), limb interval and tooth counts of the male holotype. Head width 3.2; snout to gular fold (head length) 5.1; head depth at posterior angle of jaw 1.7; eyelid width 0.8; eyelid length 1.2; eye to nostril 0.5; anterior rim of eye to snout 1.2; horizontal orbital diameter 0.6; interorbital distance 2.4; distance separating eyelids 1.2; nostril diameter 0.2; snout projecting beyond mandible 0.3; distance from eye to distal end of postorbital groove 1.4; snout to posterior angle of vent (SL) 41.9; snout to anterior angle of vent 39.2; snout to forelimb 7.9; axilla to groin 28.4; limb interval 12; shoulder width 2.2; tail length 76+ (tip removed for tissue sample); tail width at base 1.8; tail depth at base 1.9; forelimb length (to tip of longest digit) 3.3; hind limb length 3.5; forelimb foot width 0.6; hind limb foot width 0.8; free length of longest digit on hind limb 0.1. Numbers of teeth: premaxillary 5; maxillary 35; vomerine 16.

Coloration of the holotype in alcohol. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are medium brown with a grayish tinge on the body and tail. Tiny white spots or flecks are present on the lateral surface of the body. Costal grooves on the body and tail are pale brown. Ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are slightly paler brown than the dorsal surfaces and without a grayish tinge. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of the limbs are the same as for the body, except that the soles of all four feet are pale brown to cream. Tiny, generally pale brown iridophores are visible throughout under magnification, except on the soles of the feet.

Color variability. The paratypes closely resemble the holotype in coloration, except that one (USNM 530580) is slightly darker brown overall and some (i.e., MVZ 232826) have more tiny white spots or flecks on the lateral surface of the body. McCranie & Wilson (2002:152) described the color in life of two males (USNM 343455–56) as: “all dorsal surfaces Grayish Brown (20), although that of head a slightly paler shade of brown; dorsolateral surface of body with silver-white flecks visible to unaided eye; ventral and subcaudal surfaces similar to dorsal surface of head.” Those same authors also described color in life of a female (USNM 530580) as: “all dorsal surfaces Jet Black (89), although that of head a slightly paler shade of black; dorsolateral surface of body with numerous scattered olive-green and white flecks visible to unaided eye; ventral and subcaudal surfaces Dark Neutral Gray (83), except chin somewhat paler; iris black.”

Habitat and distribution. Salamanders of this species were collected from 950–1780 m elevation in the Premontane Wet Forest and Lower Montane Wet Forest formations of Holdridge (1967). All specimens were taken in pristine broadleaf forest ranging from partial to complete canopy cover. Most were found under rotten logs, but two were inside a rotten log that also contained four Nototriton lignicola . All known localities are within Parque Nacional La Muralla in northwestern Olancho ( Fig. 4 ).

Comments. The specimen referred to this species is a juvenile and was not useful in preparing the description.

Etymology. The specific name kasios is Greek for sister and is used in reference to this species being the sister species of Oedipina quadra in our phylogenetic analysis. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum likelihood phylogram. Upper values represent ML bootstrap supports, while lower numbers represent Bayesian posterior probabilities (times 100). Values lower than 50 % were not included. Species described as new are highlighted in gray. Asterisks for species of Oedipina indicate specimens from Honduras.

FIGURE 3. Schematic drawings of dorsal views of the limbs of Oedipina. From left to right, right hand and right foot of holotype of O. leptopoda (MVZ 167772), right foot of holotype of O. quadra (MVZ 257761), right foot of holotype of O. kasios (MVZ 232825). All drawings are at the same scale.

FIGURE 4. Map showing the collecting localities of Oedipina quadra, O. kasios, and O. leptopoda. The open circle represents a literature record (see McCranie 2006 b).

FIGURE 5. Adult male paratype of Oedipina kasios (USNM 343456). Photograph by J. R. McCranie.