Pleurodeles poireti ( Gervais, 1835 )

Carranza, Salvador & Wade, Edward, 2004, Salamandridae) using molecular and morphological data. Revalidation of the taxon Pleurodeles nebulosus (Guichenot, 1850), Zootaxa 488, pp. 1-24 : 9-10

Pleurodeles poireti ( Gervais, 1835)

Lacerta palustris: Poiret (part), 1789: 290

Triton Poireti Gervais (part), 1835: 112. Gray, 1850: 18

Glossoliga Poireti : Bonaparte (part), 1839: unnumbered. Gervais, 1853: 312 Euproctus Poireti : Duméril & Bibron (part), 1854: 160

Glossoliga Hagenmulleri Lataste, 1881: 26

Molge hagenmulleri: Boulenger, 1882: 26 . 1891: 93

Triturus hagenmulleri: Camerano, 1885: 419 . Noble, 1924: 304 Triton (Pleurodeles) Hagenmulleri : Wolterstorff, 1901: 9

Pleurodeles poireti subsp. Hagenmulleri : Wolterstorff, 1905: 263 Pleurodeles poireti: Pasteur (part) 1958: 160. Schleich et al. 1996: 94

Diagnosis: A dwarf form of Pleurodeles usually not exceeding 129 mm in total length. Restricted essentially to the Edough Peninsula and lowland surrounding areas (Carranza and Arnold, 2003; Veith et al, 2004; see Fig. 1 ). Unique DNA sequences of the cytochrome b and 12S rRNA mitochondrial genes (sequences submitted to Genbank for comparison; see Table 1 for accession numbers). Differentiated from the closely related P. nebulosus on account of the smaller size from the snout to the tip of the tail (t­ value = – 4.50078; P = 0.00006; total size range of P. poireti 93–128.5 mm) and an average uncorrected genetic distance of approximately 7.7% for the cytochrome b and 3.7% for the 12S rRNA mitochondrial regions sequenced for the present study. Genetic variability within P. poireti is 0% for the cytochrome b and 0% for the 12S rRNA although only two specimens from the same locality have been analysed (see Table 1 and Fig. 1 ). Males of P. p o i re t i differ from males of P. nebulosus in having smaller snout­vent length (39.8–49.5 mm versus 53–69 mm), head length (10.04–12.9 mm versus 14.5–17.3 mm), head with (8.06–9.67 mm versus 10–13.56 mm), interorbital width (3.34–3.94 mm versus 4.28–5.8 mm), tail length (50–73 mm versus 62–90 mm), anterior arms length (11.8–17 mm versus 17.2–24 mm), 3rd toe length (4.22 – 6.4 mm versus 5.2–7.13 mm) and length from the elbow to the third toe (10.76–15.3 mm versus 14.1–18 mm) (see Table 4 for statistics on all measurements). Females of P. p o i re t i are differentiated from females of P. nebulosus by the first having shorter interorbital width (3.7–4.35 mm versus 4.35–5.76 mm) and anterior arms (11.9–16.2 mm versus 13–22 mm) (see Table 5 for statistics on all measurements). Some specimens of P. poireti have clearly a V shaped row of palatine teeth (see Fig. 4 ). Differentiated from P. w a l t l by its smaller size, in having usually 14 instead of 15 presacral vertebrae, in lacking sharp rib tips that project through a row of glandular swellings on the flanks and a tubercular process on rib 3 and often traces of this structure on ribs 1 and 2. It also differs from P. w a l t l in 9.2% of the cytochrome b and 3.7% of the 12S rRNA mitochondrial regions sequenced for the present study.

The two syntypes were part of a larger series with localities in addition to Bône (Annaba). Therefore, it seems advisable to designate a lectotype. Specimen MNHNP 4744A is selected on the grounds of its being complete (see Fig. 3 , specimen 9).

Description of lectotype: MNHNP 4744A. Male collected in Bône (Annaba), Algeria by Marley and Gérard; 93 mm in total length, see Table 1 for other relevant measurements. Preserved­hardened accompanied by some shrinkage. Dorsum and most of the tail strongly rugose and tuberculate, diminishing in coarseness towards the belly and the head, which anteriorly is almost smooth. Belly slightly rugose and gular fold pronounced. Testicular swelling moderately conspicuous. Anterior humoral baldges present. Black suffusion dorsally and dorsolaterally, coalescing into marbeling and ill­defined blotches.

Colour in alcohol: rust with paler tubercles, lateral glandular protuberance and dorsal protuberances. Throat, belly, underside of the tail and digits pale. Transitions from dark to pale on the sides to the belly rather abrupt. Throat lightly spotted, belly very sparsely so.

Description of the paralectotype: MNHNP 4744 (see Fig. 3 , specimen 8). Female collected in Bône (Annaba), Algeria by Marley and Gérard. Right scapula and forearm removed. Total length 107 mm. For other measurement see Table 1 . Colour and texture similar to the lectotype (MNHNP 4744A). The gular fold is virtually absent.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of North Africa showing localities of Pleurodeles used in the present study. See Table 1 and Fig. 5 for further details. The dashed line delimits the approximate distribution range of P. poireti. We refer to it in the text as the Edough Peninsula.

FIGURE 3. Photograph showing nine specimens of P. p i o i re t i (above) and four P. nebulosus (below). A 23 centimetres scale bar is shown on the left­hand side of the picture; black rectangles and intermediate white spaces all represent 1 cm. Numbers above the specimens refer to: 1. BMNH 1920.1. 20.1327. 2, largest specimen of P. p oireti included in the present study. Female from Bône (Annaba); 2. BMNH 1946.9. 6.77, male of P. poireti from Mount Edough; 3. BMNH 1946.9. 6.78, male of P. p o i re t i from Mount Edough; 4. BMNH 1946.9. 6.79, male of P. poireti from Mount Edough; 5. BMNH 1946.9. 6.80, male of P. p o i re t i from Mount Edough; 6. BMNH 1946.9. 6.81, male of P. p o i re t i from Mount Edough; 7. BMNH 1946.9. 6.79, male of P. poireti from Mount Edough; 8. MNHNP 4744, female, paralectotype of P. p o i re t i from Bône (Annaba); 9. MNHNP 4744 A, male, lectotype of P. p o i ret i from Bône (Annaba); 10. BMNH 1.1.3.1. a, largest specimen of P nebulosus recorded to date. Male from N. Africa; 11. BMNH 88.4. 9.3, female of P. nebulosus from Algiers; 12. BMNH 88.4. 4, male of P. nebulosus from Algiers; 13. MNHNP 1442, female, lectotype of P. nebulosus from Algiers.

FIGURE 4. Schematic diagrams of the palatine teeth of P. p o i re t i and P. nebulosus obtained with plasticine casts (see material and methods). Numbers inside the drawings refer to specimens codes from Table 1. The position of the choanae was also obtained in the casts and it has been highlighted above the palatine teeth. Every drawing has a scale bar to the left, which corresponds to 2 mm.