Sauresia agramma, 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 : 223-226

Sauresia agramma sp. nov.

Denfer Four-toed Forest Lizard

(Fig. 81–82)

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 38688 , an adult female 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 (18.33005, -72.37095; 1433 m).

Paratypes (n=3). HAITI. Sud-Est. ANSP 38685–7 , S. Blair Hedges, Tiffany Cloud, Miguel Landestoy, and Marcos Rodriguez, Morne D’Enfer (southwestern edge of plateau), 21 November 2011 .

Diagnosis. Sauresia agramma sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area absent/present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent, (5) a maximum SVL of 53.8–69.1 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 121–127, (7) midbody scale rows, 37–39, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 17, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 103–138, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 11.3–14.9 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.217 –0.262 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.30–3.16 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 10.2–13.6 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.576 –0.709 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.92–2.12 %, (16) relative head length, 13.6–15.2 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.61–2.05 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.30–2.70 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 6.09–6.82 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 3.02–3.98 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 1.87–2.47 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 2.11– 2.86 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 6.93–7.86 %, (24) relative head width, 69.7–74.6 %, (25) relative frontal width, 80.2–81.9 %, (26) relative nasal height, 0.883–1.02 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.912–1.13 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 2.98–3.75 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.17– 1.30 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.07–2.47 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.36–1.57 %. The species stem time is 1.58 Ma and the species crown time is 0.00 Ma (Fig. 4).

We distinguish Sauresia agramma sp. nov. from the other species of Sauresia based on a complex of traits. From Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov., we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the ventral scale rows (121–127 versus 101–119), and the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.93–7.86 versus 6.02–6.88). From S. gracilis sp. nov., we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent versus mottled/lineate), the adult SVL (53.8–69.1 versus 51.1), the ventral scale rows (121–127 versus 103), the midbody scale rows (37–39 versus 36), the total lamellae on one hand (17 versus 18), the total strigae on ten scales (103–138 versus 100), the relative rostral height (1.92–2.12 versus 1.90), the relative head length (13.6–15.2 versus 15.7), the relative postmental width (2.30–2.70 versus 2.76), the relative cloacal width (6.09–6.82 versus 7.18), the relative longest finger length (2.11–2.86 versus 1.96), the relative head width (69.7–74.6 versus 67.6), the relative frontal width (80.2–81.9 versus 82.9), the relative width of canthal iii (1.17–1.30 versus 1.82), the relative angled subocular width (2.07–2.47 versus 1.96), and the relative nasal width (1.36–1.57 versus 1.33). From S. habichi , we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the total lamellae on one hand (17 versus 18–19), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.217 –0.262 versus 0.000594 –0.201), the relative head width (69.7–74.6 versus 77.7–78.6), the relative frontal width (80.2–81.9 versus 71.8–77.5), the relative angled subocular width (2.07–2.47 versus 1.67–2.03), and the relative nasal width (1.36–1.57 versus 0.942–1.12). From S. manicula sp. nov., we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.217 –0.262 versus 0.168 –0.188), the relative rostral height (1.92–2.12 versus 1.89–1.90), the relative postmental width (2.30–2.70 versus 2.13–2.16), the relative angled subocular width (2.07–2.47 versus 1.81–2.01), and the relative nasal width (1.36–1.57 versus 1.19–1.29). From S. pangnolae sp. nov., we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the ventral scale rows (121–127 versus 104–119). From S. sepsoides , we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the ventral scale rows (121–127 versus 104–119). From S. synoria sp. nov., we distinguish S. agramma sp. nov. by the midbody scale rows (37–39 versus 34–36), the relative frontal width (80.2–81.9 versus 82.0–94.4), and the relative nasal width (1.36–1.57 versus 1.13–1.35).

Description of holotype. ANSP 38688. An adult female; SVL 64.8 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life, 37.8 mm (58.3% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 44.4 mm (68.5% SVL); forelimb length 7.14 mm (11.0% SVL); hindlimb length 12.0 mm (18.5% SVL); head length 8.91 mm (13.8% SVL); head width 6.21 mm (9.58% SVL); head width 69.7% head length; diameter of orbit 1.49 mm (2.30% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.43 mm (0.664% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 0.39 mm (0.602% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 7.94 mm (12.3% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.17 mm (0.262% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 4.49 mm (6.93% SVL); longest finger length 1.49 mm (2.30% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.23 mm (1.90% SVL); cloacal width 3.96 mm (6.11% SVL); mental width 1.04 mm (1.60% SVL); postmental width 1.49 mm (2.30% SVL); prefrontal width 2.16 mm (3.33% SVL); frontal width 80.2% frontal length; nasal height 0.66 mm (1.02% SVL); angled subocular height 0.68 mm (1.05% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 2.10 mm (3.24% SVL); canthal iii width 0.76 mm (1.17% SVL); angled subocular width 1.34 mm (2.07% SVL); nasal width 1.02 mm (1.57% SVL); rostral 2.12X 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 median oculars, and the frontal; frontal much longer than wide; a pair of frontoparietals, separated by the posterior prolongation of the frontal and the interparietal plate; interparietal plate larger 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, 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); 2 nd loreal posteriorly bordering the lower preocular (left)/(right); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular, anterior supraciliary, lower preocular, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (left)/1 st median ocular, anterior supraciliary, upper and lower preoculars, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (right); 9 median oculars (left)/(right), 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 1 upper preocular (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); 9 infralabials (left)/(right), 5 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields; 1 st and 2 nd pairs in contact with one another; 3 rd pair in contact with one another anteriorly, posteriorly separated by one scale; 3 rd –4 th pairs separated by 1–2 scales; 114 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 126 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 37 scales around midbody; 4 digits; finger lengths 3>2>4>1; 5 (left)/6 (right) lamellae under longest finger; 17 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 3>4>2>1; 12 (left)/10 (right) lamellae under longest toe; keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 138 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 white-gray, patternless; dorsal surfaces of the body are dark brown, with darker brown mottling on the neck; dorsal surface of tail dark brown, patternless; lateral areas grade from dark brown to cream, patternless; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown with paler brown mottling; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to yellow-cream with some darker brown mottling on the sides; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are yellow-cream with some darker brown mottling under the throat and the tail.

Variation. The material examined of this species is similar to the holotype in lacking a dorsal pattern other than several specimens that have mottling in the longitudinal paramedian area. The majority of the specimens have darker outlines on their internasal and prefrontal scales. All specimens lack longitudinal paramedian lines. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Sauresia agramma sp. nov. is known only from the type series that was collected from Morne D’Enfer in the east-central region of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti at an elevation of 1433 m (Fig. 80). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 90 km 2.

FIGURE 81. (A–F) Sauresia agramma sp. nov. (ANSP 38688, holotype), SVL 64.8 mm.

Ecology and conservation. Individuals were found under objects (rocks, logs) on the ground. We consider the conservation status of Sauresia agramma sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat from habitat destruction from agriculture and charcoaling. The Massif de la Selle (including Morne D’Enfer) and Haiti in general are heavily deforested with <1% of primary forest remaining in the country ( 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. Captive-breeding programs should be undertaken, because eradication of introduced mammalian predators is currently not possible on large islands.

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

Etymology. The species name ( agramma ) is a feminine noun derived from the Latin and Greek prefix a- (away from, without) and the Greek noun gramma (line), referring to the absence of lines on the dorsum of this species.

Remarks. Morne D’Enfer is one of the most remote areas in the Massif de la Selle of Haiti, rarely visited by biologists because of difficulty of access. It is a high plateau at the western end of La Visite National Park and harbors probably the largest remaining stands of primary hardwood forest in the mountain range, although even that is small. SBH visited it by helicopter for about 24 hours on 21 November 2011. The team found four individuals in forest close to the campsite. Despite the protected status of the area (national park), no rangers provide protection and evidence of recent clear-cutting and charcoal production was abundant.

FIGURE 82. (A–B) Sauresia agramma sp. nov. (ANSP 38687, SBH 269900), in life. From Morne D’Enfer, southwestern edge of plateau, Sud-Est Department, Haiti. Photos by SBH.

Sauresia agramma 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. manicula sp. nov. and S. synoria sp. nov. Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), S. agramma diverged from its closest relative 1.58 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). We recognize S. agramma sp. nov. as a distinct species based on the multiple morphological traits that separate it from its closest relatives ( S. manicula sp. nov. and S. synoria sp. nov.). Sauresia agramma sp. nov. was recovered as conspecific with Sauresia sepsoides in our ASAP analysis.