Sauresia cayemitae, 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 : 227-230

Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov.

Cayemite Four-toed Forest Lizard

(Fig. 83–84)

Sauresia sepsoides — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988:162 (part).

Sauresia sepsoides — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:463 (part).

Celestus sepsoides — Hedges et al., 2019:17 (part).

Sauresia sepsoides — Schools & Hedges, 2021:231 (part).

Sauresia sepsoides — Landestoy et al., 2022: 205 (part).

Holotype. ANSP 38691 , an adult female from 5.0 km South of Pestel , collected by Richard Thomas and Manuel Leal on 25 May 1991.

Paratypes (n=11). Grande’Anse . ANSP 38673 , S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy , Grande Cayemite (helipad-camp), 19 June 2012 ; ANSP 38674–7 , S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy , Grande Cayemite (waypoint 166), 19 June 2012 ; KU 227730–1 , Presqu’ile des Baraderes , ca Grand Boucan, 1971 ; KU 227740–1 , KU 227746 , Ile Grande Cayemite, ca Anse-a-Macon , 1971 ; SBH 274212 , Grande Cayemite (waypoint 166) .

Diagnosis. Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent/irregular flecks/lineate, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent, (5) an adult SVL of 47.8–58.1 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 101–119, (7) midbody scale rows, 31–37, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 15–19, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 84–104, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 11.5–14.0 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.0558 –0.473 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.14–2.90 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 9.65–12.5 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.294– 1.17 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.65–2.73 %, (16) relative head length, 13.0–15.6 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.46–1.78 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.27–2.51 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 5.59–6.24 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 3.11–3.64 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 1.67–2.25 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 2.36–2.65 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 6.02–6.88 %, (24) relative head width, 68.5– 77.1 %, (25) relative frontal width, 71.3–83.1 %, (26) relative nasal height, 0.792 –0.951 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.740–1.02 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 2.86–3.51 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.07–1.30 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 1.88–2.17 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.06–1.46 %. The species stem time is 1.19 Ma and the species crown time is 0.18 Ma (Fig. 4) .

We distinguish Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. from the other species of Sauresia based on a complex of traits. From Sauresia agramma sp. nov., we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the ventral scale rows (101–119 versus 121–127) and the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.02–6.88 versus 6.93–7.86). From S. gracilis sp. nov., we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the relative eye length (2.14–2.90 versus 2.97), the relative head length (13.0–15.6 versus 15.7), the relative postmental width (2.27–2.51 versus 2.76), the relative cloacal width (5.59–6.24 versus 7.18), the relative prefrontal width (3.11–3.64 versus 3.81), the relative largest supraocular width (1.67–2.25 versus 2.44), the relative longest finger length (2.36–2.65 versus 1.96), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.02–6.88 versus 7.63), the relative head width (68.5–77.1 versus 67.6), the relative nasal height (0.792 –0.951 versus 0.998), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.07–1.30 versus 1.82). From S. habichi , we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the ventral scale rows (101–119 versus 122–125), the midbody scale rows (31–37 versus 38–41), and the relative head width (68.5–77.1 versus 77.7–78.6). From S. manicula sp. nov., we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the adult SVL (47.8–58.1 versus 59.6–69.0), the ventral scale rows (101–119 versus 121–129), the total strigae on ten scales (84–104 versus 119–150), the relative postmental width (2.27–2.51 versus 2.13–2.16), and the relative longest finger length (2.36–2.65 versus 2.20–2.21). From S. pangnolae sp. nov., we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the relative prefrontal width (3.11–3.64 versus 3.70–3.83) and the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.02–6.88 versus 6.94–7.46). From S. sepsoides , we cannot distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. based on our standard suite of characters (see Remarks). From S. synoria sp. nov., we distinguish S. cayemitae sp. nov. by the frontal width by the SVL (3.11–3.75 versus 3.78–4.32) (see Remarks).

Description of holotype. ANSP 38691. An adult female; SVL 58.1 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, 58.0 mm (99.8% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 39.0 mm (67.1% SVL); forelimb length 7.29 mm (12.5% SVL); hindlimb length 11.7 mm (20.1% SVL); head length 8.02 mm (13.8% SVL); head width 5.91 mm (10.2% SVL); head width 73.7% head length; diameter of orbit 1.49 mm (2.56% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.41 mm (0.706% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 0.30 mm (0.516% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 7.80 mm (13.4% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.09 mm (0.155% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 3.90 mm (6.71% SVL); longest finger length 1.33 mm (2.29% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.31 mm (2.25% SVL); cloacal width 3.51 mm (6.04% SVL); mental width 0.85 mm (1.46% SVL); postmental width 1.42 mm (2.44% SVL); prefrontal width 1.90 mm (3.27% SVL); frontal width 73.0% frontal length; nasal height 0.46 mm (0.792% SVL); angled subocular height 0.43 mm (0.740% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 2.04 mm (3.51% SVL); canthal iii width 0.62 mm (1.07% SVL); angled subocular width 1.22 mm (2.10% SVL); nasal width 0.73 mm (1.26% SVL); rostral 1.88X as wide as high, visible from above, not in contact with nasals, in contact with 1st supralabial and anterior internasal (left)/(right); anterior internasals are narrower than posterior ones; frontonasals and prefrontal fused into a single large plate with a straight posterior margin, much wider than long, bordered by posterior internasals, canthal iii, 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 just posterior to 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, canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and 3 rd –4 th supralabials (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 lower preocular (left)/(right); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular, anterior superciliary, upper and lower preoculars, posterior internasal, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (left)/1 st median ocular, anterior superciliary, upper and lower preoculars, posterior internasal, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals,(right); 10 (left)/11 (right) median oculars, 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 1 upper preocular (left)/(right); an irregular anterior superciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 6 temporals (left)/(right); 2 suboculars (left)/(right); posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular(s) small (left)/ (right); 9 (left)/10 (right) supralabials, 5 (left)/6 (right) to level below center of eye; 9 (left)/6 (right) infralabials, 9 (left)/6 (right) to level below center of eye; mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields; 1 st pair in contact with one another; 2 nd –4 th pairs separated by 1–2 scales; 115 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 116 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 37 scales around midbody; 4 digits; finger lengths 3>2>4>1; 7 (left)/ 6 (right) lamellae under longest finger; 19 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 3>2>4>1; 12 (left)/(right) lamellae under longest toe; keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 84 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head medium brown, covered in darker brown mottling; lateral surfaces of head grading from medium brown to cream with darker brown mottling, especially on the labial scales and around the eye; dorsal surfaces of the body are medium brown with darker areas in the center of the scales giving a lineate appearance; dorsal surface of tail dark brown, patternless; lateral areas grade from dark brown to cream; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are medium brown, patternless; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to an orange-cream, patternless; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are orange-cream with darker brown mottling under the chin and tail.

Variation. Roughly half of the examined material has a dorsal pattern of multiple longitudinal paramedian lines that extend down the dorsum. The other half of examined material lacks a dorsal pattern. ANSP 38673 also shows some irregular flecks on its dorsum. KU 227746 has a patternless head, whereas all other specimens have darker outlines on their internasal scales and ANSP 38673 and ANSP 38677 both have irregular darker areas on their head. All specimens lack dots arranged in bars in their lateral areas. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1 .

Distribution. Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. is known from Ile Grande Cayemite and the north-central coast of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti at elevations of 40–350 m (Fig. 80). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 210 km 2.

Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are associated with this species. We consider the conservation status of Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. to be Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat from habitat destruction caused by agriculture and charcoaling. Haiti, in general, 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.

FIGURE 83. (A–F) Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. (ANSP38691, holotype), SVL 58.1 mm.

Reproduction. A litter size of two was recorded in this species (SBH, field data).

Etymology. The species name cayemitae is a Latin, feminine, genitive noun, in reference to the presence of this species on Grande Cayemite Island, Haiti.

Remarks. Previously, this species was considered to be a member of Sauresia sepsoides . Additional material in museum collections currently catalogued as S. sepsoides from in or near the distribution of S. cayemitae sp. nov. should be examined to determine if they represent additional material of Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov.

FIGURE 84. (A–B) Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. (ANSP 38673, SBH 274050), in life. From Grande Cayemite, Grand’Anse Department, Haiti. Photos by SBH.

Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. and S. synoria sp. nov. cannot be morphologically separated based on our standard suite of characters; however, they can be separated by the frontal width by the SVL (3.11–3.75 [n=7] versus 3.78–4.32 [n=2]). Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. and S. sepsoides cannot be distinguished based on our suite of morphological characters; however, these species are not each other’s closest relative, are genetically distinct from one another (Fig. 3), and have been diverged for 4.98 My (Fig. 4). In addition, Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. possesses guanine at site 108 of the CytB gene while Sauresia sepsoides possesses adenine. Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. also possesses thymine at site 141 of the CytB gene while Sauresia sepsoides possesses adenine. Future studies should examine additional characters to morphologically diagnose Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. and S. sepsoides .

Sauresia cayemitae 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 S. habichi . Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), S. cayemitae sp. nov. is separated from S. habichi by 1.19 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). We recognize it as a distinct species because of the multiple morphological traits that separate it from S. habichi . Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. was recovered as conspecific with Sausesia habichi in our ASAP analysis.