Panolopus semitaeniatus, 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 : 212-217

Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov.

Haitian Half-striped Forest Lizard

(Fig. 77–78)

Panolopus costatus — Schools & Hedges, 2021:230 (part).

Panolopus costatus leionotus — Schools & Hedges, 2021:230 (part).

Panolopus costatus — Landestoy et al., 2022:205 (part).

Holotype. ANSP 38569 , an adult female from the summit of Morne Boeuf, Artibonite Department, Haiti, collected by S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy, and Marcos Rodriguez on 23 November 2011 (19.07239, -72.25021; 1,780 m).

Paratypes (n=7). HAITI. Artibonite. ANSP 38570–72 , S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy, and Marcos Rodriguez, the summit of Morne Boeuf, 23 November 2011 ; MCZ R-51434, Anthony Curtiss, Trou Farbour, 1–30 November 1942 ; SBH 269891–2 , 269895 , S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy, and Marcos Rodriguez, Morne Boeuf, 23 November 2011 .

Diagnosis. Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area absent/present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent/present, (5) an adult SVL of 84.1–109 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 81–101, (7) midbody scale rows, 36–41, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 34–51, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 156–204, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 30.4–37.0 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.666 –0.826 %, (12) relative eye length, 3.38–3.77 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 20.8–25.6 %, (14) relative ear width, 1.47–1.90 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.67–1.72 %, (16) relative head length, 16.3–17.9 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.65–1.75 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.50–3.10 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 8.22–9.65 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 4.38–4.81 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 2.59–2.96 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 5.17–6.72 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 6.69–7.42 %, (24) relative head width, 63.8–74.6 %, (25) relative frontal width, 71.0–76.5 %, (26) relative nasal height, 1.04–1.18 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.654 –0.844 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 4.61–5.61 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.80–1.98 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.45–2.71 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.46–1.62 %. The species stem time is 0.74 Ma and the species crown time is 0.01 Ma (Fig. 4).

FIGURE 77. (A–F) Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. (ANSP 38569, holotype), SVL 84.1 mm. FIGURE 78. Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. (ANSP 38570, SBH 269890), in life. From the summit of Morne Boeuf, Artibonite Department, Haiti. Photo by SBH.

Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. has a smaller relative head width (58.8–63.8) than all other species of the genus. From Panolopus aenetergum , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the total strigae on ten scales (174–204 versus 267), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 26.8), the relative forelimb length (21.3–23.8 versus 20.6), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 1.29), the relative mental width (1.69–2.09 versus 1.63), the relative cloacal width (8.08–8.23 versus 7.60), the relative prefrontal width (4.38–4.94 versus 4.15), the relative largest supraocular width (2.59–3.32 versus 2.49), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 4.83), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.64–7.90 versus 8.40), the relative head width (58.8– 63.8 versus 76.4), the relative frontal width (63.6–76.5 versus 88.2), and the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 1.08). From P. aporus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 1.06–1.88), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 2.01–2.40), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 71.4– 83.2), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 4.69–5.44), the relative width of canthal iii (1.80 versus 1.85–1.96), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.56–1.78). From P. chalcorhabdus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 1.26–1.65), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.85–2.24), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 65.0–76.3), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.739 –0.854), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 4.93–5.62), the relative width of canthal iii (1.80 versus 1.98–2.05), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.70–2.01). From P. costatus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the total lamellae on one hand (34–46 versus 49–58), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.78–2.26), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.3–76.8), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 5.08–5.50), the relative width of canthal iii (1.80 versus 1.82–1.90), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.58–1.74). From P. curtissi , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 20.8–28.1), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.666 –0.808 versus 0.393 –0.587), the relative forelimb length (21.3–23.8 versus 15.1–20.5), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 3.59–4.54), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.3–78.1), and the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.708–1.19). From P. diastatus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 21.5–27.4), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.666 –0.808 versus 0.00–0.614), the relative forelimb length (21.3–23.8 versus 16.2– 20.1), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.667–1.43), the relative cloacal width (8.08–8.23 versus 7.15–8.06), the relative largest supraocular width (2.59–3.32 versus 1.88–2.57), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 3.48–4.87), and the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 69.4–74.8). From P. emys , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 99.0–113), the total strigae on ten scales (174–204 versus 238–311), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.756–1.75), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 2.10– 2.37), the relative cloacal width (8.08–8.23 versus 8.24–8.96), the relative prefrontal width (4.38–4.94 versus 3.99– 4.36), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 71.1–78.7), and the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.696 –0.981). From P. hylonomus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 59.3– 76.5), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 22.8–28.2), the relative forelimb length (21.3– 23.8 versus 17.1–20.7), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.72–2.28), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 73.8–76.4), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.690–1.13), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.80 versus 1.95–2.03). From P. lanceolatus sp. nov., we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.770–1.35), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.78–2.28), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.0–77.6), and the relative nasal height (1.08 versus 0.904–1.06). From P. lapierrae sp. nov., we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the total strigae on ten scales (174–204 versus 228–231), the relative forelimb length (21.3–23.8 versus 18.5–20.6), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.929–1.58), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.86–2.06), the relative cloacal width (8.08–8.23 versus 8.55–8.81), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 4.49–4.55), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 77.7–78.1), and the relative frontal width (63.6–76.5 versus 77.6–79.0). From P. leionotus , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 86.3–105), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.79–2.36), the relative largest supraocular width (2.59–3.32 versus 1.94–2.50), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 67.3–82.9), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.750–1.33), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.59–2.01). From P. marcanoi , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.96– 2.38), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.4–77.9), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 4.68–5.82), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.64–1.96). From P. melanchrous , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 93.2–124), the total lamellae on one hand (34–46 versus 47– 58), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.3–83.6), the relative nasal height (1.08 versus 0.897 –0.952), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.680 –0.856), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 4.89–5.59). From P. neiba , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.75–2.23), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 67.9–78.4), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.713 –0.885), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.67–1.92). From P. nesobous , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the total lamellae on one hand (34–46 versus 50–59), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 35.1), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 1.39–1.60), the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 2.26–2.38), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 6.19–6.33), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.64–7.90 versus 7.91–10.0), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 71.2–76.4), and the relative frontal width (63.6–76.5 versus 60.8–63.5). From P. oreistes , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.558–1.79), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 66.1–85.0), the relative nasal height (1.08 versus 0.878–1.06), and the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.737 –0.978), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.61 versus 5.01–5.63). From P. psychonothes , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the relative rostral height (2.41–2.63 versus 1.80–2.32), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 68.4–78.6), the relative nasal height (1.08 versus 1.12–1.32), the relative angled subocular height (0.654 versus 0.803 –0.952), the relative angled subocular width (2.62 versus 2.01–2.44), and the relative nasal width (1.51 versus 1.68–1.94). From P. saonae , we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 90.9–98.3), the total strigae on ten scales (174–204 versus 212–284), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 26.5–29.8), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.666 –0.808 versus 0.517 –0.630), the relative eye length (3.27–3.61 versus 3.06–3.20), the relative forelimb length (21.3–23.8 versus 19.0–20.2), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 0.880–1.35), the relative mental width (1.69– 2.09 versus 1.52), the relative postmental width (2.50–2.97 versus 2.43), the relative prefrontal width (4.38–4.94 versus 4.14), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 5.01), and the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 73.5). From P. unicolor sp. nov., we distinguish P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. by the SVL (77.4–84.1 versus 67.6), the total lamellae on one hand (34–46 versus 48), the total strigae on ten scales (174–204 versus 144), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (30.4–34.6 versus 36.8), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.666 –0.808 versus 0.533), the relative ear width (1.90–2.30 versus 1.6), the relative cloacal width (8.08– 8.23 versus 7.61), the relative longest finger length (5.17–6.05 versus 6.65), the relative head width (58.8–63.8 versus 70.8), and the relative frontal width (63.6–76.5 versus 58.2).

Description of holotype. ANSP 38569. An adult female; SVL 84.1 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, 107 mm (127% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 46.6 mm (55.4% SVL); forelimb length 17.9 mm (21.3% SVL); hindlimb length 23.6 mm (28.1% SVL); head length 13.7 mm (16.3% SVL); head width 10.2 mm (12.1% SVL); head width 74.5% head length; diameter of orbit 2.84 mm (3.38% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 1.60 mm (1.90% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 1.52 mm (1.81% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 25.5 mm (30.3% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.56 mm (0.666% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 5.69 mm (6.77% SVL); longest finger length 4.35 mm (5.17% SVL); largest supraocular width 2.18 mm (2.59% SVL); cloacal width 6.91 mm (8.22% SVL); mental width 1.42 mm (1.69% SVL); postmental width 2.10 mm (2.50% SVL); prefrontal width 3.68 mm (4.38% SVL); frontal width 76.5% frontal length; nasal height 0.91 mm (1.08% SVL); angled subocular height 0.55 mm (0.654% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 3.88 mm (4.61% SVL); canthal iii width 1.51 mm (1.80% SVL); angled subocular width 2.20 mm (2.62% SVL); nasal width 1.27 mm (1.51% SVL); rostral 2.27X 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 a slightly concave posterior margin, wider than long, bordered by posterior internasals, 1 st loreals, 1 st and 2 nd median oculars, and the frontal; frontal much longer than wide; a pair of frontoparietals (left fused with frontal), 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 approximately as wide as long; parietal separated from supraoculars by 1 st –3 rd temporals and frontoparietal (left)/1 st and 2 nd temporals and frontoparietal (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 –4th supralabials (left)/(right); 2 nd loreal shorter than 1st, wider than high (left)/(right), excluded from contact with supraocular by canthal iii (left)/(right); 2 nd 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 median oculars (left)/(right), 1 st and 2 nd contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 1 upper preocular (left)/(right); an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 6 (left)/5 (right) temporals; 1 (left)/2 (right) suboculars; posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular small (right); 10 supralabials (left)/(right), 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); 10 infralabials (left)/(right), 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields, followed by 1 unpaired chin shield (right); 1 st pair in contact with one another anteriorly, posteriorly separated by one scale; 2 nd –4 th pairs separated by 1–3 scales; 93 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 100 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 37 scales around midbody; 5 digits; finger lengths 3>4>2>5>1; 11 lamellae under longest finger (left); 45 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 4>3>5>2>1; 17 (left)/18 (right) lamellae under longest toe; dorsal body and caudal scales striate, some with a very faint median keel; smooth ventral scales; 204 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head deep brown with darker brown mottling; lateral surfaces of head grading from deep brown to gray-white with darker brown eye masks and dark brown mottling on every surface; dorsal surfaces of the body are deep brown with two dark brown longitudinal paramedian lines end before the forearms, entire dorsum covered in irregular dark brown spots; dorsal surface of tail the same as the body with the dark brown dots arranged into lines; lateral areas dark brown with some small irregular off-white dots; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown, with dark gold mottling; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to gray-white with dark brown mottling; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are pale gray with dark brown mottling that is most apparent by the forelimbs and sides of body, disappears on the tail, which is dark gray.

Variation. The majority of the examined material resembles the holotype with a dorsal pattern of irregular dots or flecks. In some specimens these markings are arranged into broken chevrons. MCZ R-51434 is unique in lacking a dorsal pattern. The majority of the examined material has patternless heads except for ANSP 38572 , which has darker outlines on heads scale borders, and the holotype, which has irregular, dark markings on its head scales. All specimens except for MCZ R-51434 have markings in the longitudinal paramedian area. These markings range from dots in series to broken longitudinal paramedian lines to complete longitudinal paramedian lines. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1 .

Distribution. Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. is known from on and near Morne Boeuf in central Haiti at elevations of 160–1780 m (Fig. 49). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 990 km 2.

Ecology and conservation. SBH and team visited Morne Boeuf by helicopter for about 24 hours on 23 November 2011. The specimens were collected in and around rotting logs near the summit of Morne Boeuf. No standing primary forest remained at the time of collection, but it appeared to have been cut down only within a decade or two prior to the visit, and logs from large trees were still present on the rocks and ground. We consider the conservation status of Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. to be Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat of habitat destruction (deforestation) from agriculture and charcoaling. 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. Captive-breeding programs should be considered.

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

Etymology. The species name ( semitaeniatus ) is a feminine adjective derived from the Latin semi (half) and taenia (ribbon, stripe), hence half-striped, referring to the majority of specimens displaying broken longitudinal paramedian lines or dots in the longitudinal paramedian series as opposed to complete longitudinal paramedian lines.

Remarks. Upon collection, several animals of this species were identified as Panolopus leionotus . Others were more generally referred to as P. costatus , with no subspecies designation. One, MCZ R-51434, was referred to as P. costatus curtissi . Additional museum specimens collected from this region and catalogued as P. costatus or P. curtissi should be examined to determine if they are members of P. semitaeniatus sp. nov.

Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. is 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 P. leionotus . Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. diverged from its closest relative 0.74 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). We recognize P. semitaeniatus sp. nov. as a distinct species based on the multiple morphological characters that separate it from its closest relative ( P. leionotus ). Panolopus semitaeniatus sp. nov. was recovered as conspecific with Panolopus leionotus and Panolopus neiba in our ASAP analysis.