Wetmorena orosaura, Schools & Hedges, 2024

Schools, Molly & Hedges, Blair, 2024, A new forest lizard fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Diploglossidae, Celestinae), Zootaxa 5554 (1), pp. 1-306 : 270-274

Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov.

Denfer Earless Forest Lizard

(Fig. 103–104)

Wetmorena haetiana haetiana — Schools & Hedges, 2021:232 (part).

Wetmorena haetiana haetiana — Landestoy et al., 2022: 205 (part).

Holotype. ANSP 38725 , an adult male from Morne D’Enfer (southwestern edge of plateau), Sud-Est Department, Haiti, collected by S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy, and Marcos Rodriguez on 21 November 2011 (18.330052, -72.37095; 1,433 m).

Paratypes (n=3) HAITI. Sud-Est. ANSP 38723–4 , SBH 269864, same locality and data as the holotype .

Diagnosis. Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of lineate/irregular dots, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent, (5) a maximum SVL of 59.6–68.0 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 110–125, (7) midbody scale rows, 33–41, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 22–26, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 92–98, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 18.6–19.7 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.206 –0.285 %, (12) relative eye length, 3.04–3.56 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 16.9–17.2 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.00 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.85–2.31 %, (16) relative head length, not applicable, (17) relative mental width, 1.61–1.93 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.31–2.68 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 6.69–6.88 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 3.85–4.11 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 2.27–2.39 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 3.86–4.46 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, not applicable, (24) relative head width, not applicable, (25) relative frontal width, 80.0–84.6 %, (26) relative nasal height, 1.07–1.16 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 1.22–1.45 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 3.37–3.91 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.14–1.26 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.21–2.47 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.50–1.95 %. The species stem time is 2.76 Ma and the species crown time is 0.41 Ma (Fig. 4).

Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. has a larger relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6–19.7) and relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2) than all other species of the genus. From Wetmorena agasepsoides , we distinguish W. orosaura sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (lineate/irregular dots versus absent), the adult SVL (59.6–68.0 versus 49.1–58.6), the midbody scale rows (33–41 versus 27–31), the total lamellae on one hand (22–26 versus 14–17), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6–19.7 versus 9.44–11.2), the relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2 versus 8.05–9.58), the relative ear width (0.00 versus 0.292 –0.634), the relative postmental width (2.31–2.68 versus 1.75–2.30), the relative cloacal width (6.69–6.88 versus 4.69–6.57), the relative prefrontal width (3.85–4.11 versus 2.77–3.35), the relative largest supraocular width (2.27–2.39 versus 1.66–2.07), the relative longest finger length (3.86–4.46 versus 1.44–2.01), the relative nasal height (1.07–1.16 versus 0.712 –0.933), the relative angled subocular height (1.22–1.45 versus 0.851–1.09), the relative distance between the eye and naris (3.37–3.91 versus 2.25–3.27), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.14–1.26 versus 0.481 –0.970). From W. haetiana , we distinguish W. orosaura sp. nov. by the adult SVL (59.6–68.0 versus 78.3–102), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6–19.7 versus 13.0–18.2), the relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2 versus 12.4–15.7), and the relative longest finger length (3.86–4.46 versus 2.65–3.63). From W. mylica , we distinguish W. orosaura sp. nov. by the adult SVL (59.6–68.0 versus 76.0–98.2), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6–19.7 versus 9.62–15.5), the relative eye length (3.04–3.56 versus 2.13–2.97), the relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2 versus 10.5–14.3), the relative longest finger length (3.86–4.46 versus 2.43–2.95), and the relative frontal width (80.0–84.6 versus 84.8–114). From W. obscura sp. nov., we distinguish W. orosaura sp. nov. by the total lamellae on one hand (22–26 versus 20–21), the total strigae on ten scales (92–98 versus 73–83), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6–19.7 versus 13.8– 16.2), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.206 –0.285 versus 0.295 –0.426), the relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2 versus 13.6–16.3), the relative width of canthal iii (1.14–1.26 versus 0.835 –0.980), and the relative angled subocular width (2.21–2.47 versus 1.82–2.17). From W. surda , we distinguish W. orosaura sp. nov. by the total lamellae on one hand (22–26 versus 18–21), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (18.6– 19.7 versus 10.7–14.4), the relative eye length (3.04–3.56 versus 2.07–2.83), the relative forelimb length (16.9–17.2 versus 11.3–13.9), the relative largest supraocular width (2.27–2.39 versus 1.73–2.06), the relative longest finger length (3.86–4.46 versus 2.12–2.98), and the relative nasal height (1.07–1.16 versus 0.828–1.06).

Description of holotype. ANSP 38725. An adult male; SVL 68.0 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life midway, regenerated, 46.0 mm (67.6% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 41.0 mm (60.3% SVL); forelimb length 11.5 mm (16.9% SVL); hindlimb length 17.0 mm (25.0% SVL); head width 8.50 mm (12.5% SVL); diameter of orbit 2.07 mm (3.04% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.00 mm (0.00% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 0.00 mm (0.00% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 13.4 mm (19.7% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.14 mm (0.206% SVL); longest finger length 2.89 mm (4.25% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.59 mm (2.34% SVL); cloacal width 4.55 mm (6.69% SVL); mental width 1.13 mm (1.66% SVL); postmental width 1.79 mm (2.63% SVL); prefrontal width 2.62 mm (3.85% SVL); frontal width 80.0% frontal length; nasal height 0.79 mm (1.16% SVL); angled subocular height 0.83 mm (1.22% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 2.43 mm (3.57% SVL); canthal iii width 0.83 mm (1.22% SVL); angled subocular width 1.68 mm (2.47% SVL); nasal width 1.13 mm (1.66% SVL); rostral 2.31X as wide as high, visible from above, not in contact with nasals, in contact with 1 st supralabial and anterior internasal (left)/(right); anterior internasals are narrower than posterior ones; frontonasals and prefrontal fused into a single large plate with an irregular posterior margin, much wider than long, bordered by posterior internasals, 1 st loreals, 1 st median oculars, and the frontal; frontal longer than wide; a pair of frontoparietals, separated by the posterior prolongation of the frontal and the interparietal plate; interparietal plate smaller than parietals and separating them, posteriorly touching the interoccipital, which is wider than long; parietal separated from supraoculars by 1 st and 2 nd temporals and frontoparietal (left)/(right); nasal single; nostril above suture between 1 st and 2 nd supralabials (left)/(right); 1 postnasal (left)/(right); 2 loreals (left)/(right); 1 st loreal higher than wide (left)/(right), in contact with postnasal, posterior internasal, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, 1 st median ocular, canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and 3 rd supralabial (left)/(right); 2 nd loreal shorter than 1 st, higher than wide (left)/(right), excluded from contact with supraocular by canthal iii (left)/(right); final loreal posteriorly bordering the upper and lower preoculars (left)/(right); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular, anterior supraciliary, upper preocular, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (left)/(right); 10 (left)/9 (right) median oculars, 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 2 upper preoculars (left)/(right); an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/ (right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 5 temporals (left)/(right); 2 suboculars (left)/(right); posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular small (left)/(right); 9 supralabials (left)/(right), 5 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); 10 infralabials (left)/(right), 5–6 (left)/5 (right) to level below center of eye; mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields, followed by 1 pair of reduced chin shields; 1 st pair in contact with one another anteriorly, posteriorly separated by one scale; 2 nd –5 th pairs separated by 1–6 scales; 110 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 124 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 40 scales around midbody; 4 digits; finger lengths 3>2>4>1; 7 lamellae under longest finger (left)/(right); 24 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 3>2>4>1; 10 (left)/11 (right) lamellae under longest toe; keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 98 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head gray-brown with darker brown areas on scale borders; lateral surfaces of head grading from gray-brown to muted gray-brown with cream spots around the labial scales; dorsal surfaces of the body are gray-brown with darker brown spots arranged in broken longitudinal paramedian lines and other irregular dark brown spots down the length of the back; dorsal surface of tail the same gray-brown as the body with darker brown spots; lateral areas grade from dark brown to faded gray with cream spots arranged in lines; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown with some bronze spots; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to muted gray-brown; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are muted gray-brown with large, irregular cream spots down the length.

FIGURE 103. (A–F) Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. (ANSP 38725, holotype), SVL 68.0 mm.

Variation. The majority of the material examined resembles the holotype in having irregular dots that extend along the entire dorsum. SBH 269864 has a reduced dorsal pattern that appears almost lineate. ANSP 38724 has a patternless head, whereas all other specimens have darker outlines on their head scales. ANSP 38723 has dark, irregular areas on its head scales in addition to darker outlines on the scale borders.All specimens have dots arranged in bars in the lateral line except for SBH 269864. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. is known only from the type locality on Morne D’Enfer, the western extension of the Massif de la Selle of Haiti, at an elevation of 1433 m (Fig. 95). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 90 km 2.

FIGURE 104. (A–B) Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. (ANSP 38723, SBH 269904), in life. From Morne D’Enfer, southwestern edge of plateau, Sud-Est Department, Haiti. Photos by SBH.

Ecology and conservation. This species occurs within La Visite National Park, but tree-cutting in the park continues unabated ( Hedges et al. 2018) and therefore no current protection exists for this species. No ecological data are associated with Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. We consider the conservation status of Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat from habitat destruction resulting from agriculture and charcoaling. Haiti is heavily deforested with <1% of the nation’s primary forest remaining ( Hedges et al. 2018). Secondary threats to this species include predation from introduced predators, including the mongoose and black rats. Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations and threats to the survival of the species.

Reproduction. No data on reproduction are available for this species.

Etymology. The species name ( orosaura ) is a feminine noun derived from the Greek oros (mountain) and saura (lizard), referring to the distribution of the species on Morne D’Enfer (Fig. 95).

Remarks. We recognize W. orosaura sp. nov. as a full species based on genetic and morphological distinctiveness. Additional surveys of the area and of specimens in museum collections catalogued as W. haetiana should be examined to determine if they are this species.

Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. was included in our genetic dataset and has significant support in both Bayesian and ML likelihood analyses at the crown node of the species and the stem node that places it as the closest relative to W. haetiana . Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. diverged from W. haetiana 2.76 Ma (Fig. 4), consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. occurs within 9 km of W. haetiana localities and may be sympatric with that species. Wetmorena orosaura sp. nov. was recognized as a distinct species by our ASAP analysis.