New country and departmental records of herpetofauna in Nicaragua

2007·1.9 MB·English

by  Sunyer, J

Short Communications
SALAMANDRA 43 1 57-62 RRhheeiinnbbaacchh,, 2200 FFeebbrruuaarryy 22000077 ISSN 0036-3375
New country and departmental records of
herpetofauna in Nicaragua
Javier Sunyer & Gunther Köhler
Abstract. Cochranella spinosa and Mesaspis moreletii are reported for the fi rst time in Nicaragua. Additi-
onal localities in Nicaragua are reported for several poorly documented species, including Rhinophrynus
dorsalis, Scinax boulengeri, Mesoscincus managuae, Norops carpenteri, Norops tropidonotus, Rhadinaea
kinkelini and Tantilla taeniata. Brief ecological fi eld notes are included.
Key words.Amphibia, Reptilia, Nicaragua, fi rst records, distribution, ecology.
Resumen. Se informa de nuevos y notables reportes de anfi bios y reptiles de Nicaragua. Se colecta por
primera vez a Cochranella spinosa (Reserva Indio-Maíz) y a Mesaspis moreletii (Reserva Natural Kilam-
bé), ampliando su rango de distribución altitudinal de este último a partir de los 300 m elevación. Se
amplia el rango de distribución norte en casi 00 km de Norops carpenteri (Parque Nacional Saslaya). Se
documentan nuevas localidades en el Pacífi co para Rhinophrynus dorsalis y Mesoscincus managuae (Re-
serva Natural Monte Galán-Las Playitas) y en el noreste del país para Scinax boulengeri (Rancho Alegre,
área de amortiguamiento de la Reserva de la Biosfera BOSAWAS). Se documentan nuevas localidades
para Norops tropidonotus y Tantilla taeniata (((RRReeessseeerrrvvvaaa NNNaaatttuuurrraaalll KKKiiilllaaammmbbbééé))) yyy RRhhaaddiinnaaeeaa kkiinnkkeelliinnii (Reserva
Natural Mirafl or) que tienen su límite de distribución sur en las montañas del norte de Nicaragua. Se in-
cluyen breves anotaciones ecológicas.
Köhler (200) and Köhler et al. (2004) gre, buff er area of the Reserva de la Biosfera
listed all known herpetofauna of Nicaragua BOSAWAS, Dpto. Atlántico Norte; 28 June-2
and stated that many more country records July 2005 (JS) at the Reserva Natural Monte
and new species are expected with additional Galán-Las Playitas, Dpto. León.
collecting. Recent fi eldwork in Nicaragua has Description of tropical forest formations
produced several noteworthy records of am- at the collecting sites: Reserva Natural Monte
phibians and reptiles including the fi rst coun- Galán-Las Playitas corresponds to the Low-
try records for two species. Brief ecological land Dry Forest formation (Holdridge 967).
fi eld notes are included. Morphometric data Rancho Alegre, in the lowlands of the Parque
are provided for both new country records. Nacional Saslaya and the Reserva de la Bios-
Th e specimens on which this study is fera Indio-Maíz, corresponds to the Lowland
based were collected during fi eldwork in Moist Forest formation. Reserva Natural Mi-
Nicaragua: 7 July-8 August 998 (GK) at the rafl or corresponds to the Premontane Moist
Reserva Natural Kilambé, Dpto. Jinotega; 4- Forest formation and Reserva Natural Kilam-
8 June 2000, 25 April-9 May 200, 23 Sep- bé corresponds to both the Premontane Wet
tember- October (GK) and 8 April-3 May Forest and lower portions of the Lower Mon-
2004 (GP and MD) at the Reserva de la Bi- tane Wet Forest formations.
osfera Indio-Maíz, Dpto. Río San Juan; 25- Abbreviations used for morphologi-
29 July 2004 (GK) at the Parque Nacional cal characters are: () Morphometrics: SVL
Saslaya, Dpto. Atlántico Norte; 3-7 June 2005 (snout-vent length); TL (tail length); HL
(JS) at the Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. (head length, from anterior margin of ear
Estelí; 0-4 June 2005 (JS) at Rancho Ale- opening to tip of snout); HW (head width,
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distance between oral ricti); AGD (axilla-
groin distance); SHL (shank length); FL (foot
length); TYP (tympanum length); EYL (eye
length); NED (posterior part of nostril to an-
terior part of eye distance); IOD (interorbital
distance); IND (internasal distance). (2) Pro-
portions: range followed by mean value and
standard deviation in parentheses. (3) Pho-
lidosis: scale number followed by percent-
age of occurrence in parentheses. Abbrevia-
tions used for collectors are DM (Darwin
Manzanares), GK (Gunther Köhler),
GP (Guillermo Paiz), JS (Javier Sunyer),
LO (Lenin Obando), MD (Matthias Deh-
ling), and NT (Norving Torres). Speci- Fig. 1. Rhinophrynus dorsalis (from series SMF
mens labelled with SMF numbers are depos- 84869-70, JS 101, JS 254) collected at the Reserva
ited in the collections of the Forschungsinsti- Natural Monte Galán-Las Playitas, Dpto. León,
tut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frank- Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer.
furt a.M., Germany. Specimens labelled with
GP, JS and MD fi eld numbers will be depos-
ited in the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de la
Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), Man-
agua, Nicaragua.
Amphibians
Cochranella spinosa(Taylor, 949)
Cochranella spinosa was previously known
only from north and south of Nicaragua
(McCranie & Wilson 2002, Savage 2002).
On 4 June 2000, GK collected three adult
males (SMF 79753-55) at Boca de San Carlos Fig. 2. Scinax boulengeri (from series SMF 84833-
(0°47’26’’N, 84°’70’’W), 20 m elevation. 34, JS 061) collected at Rancho Alegre, Dpto. At-
lántico Norte, Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier
On 5 June 2000, GK collected an amplect-
Sunyer.
ant pair (SMF 79756-57) and an adult male
(SMF 79758) at Río Sarnoso, ca.  km above
its confl uence with Río San Juan (0°55’35’’N,
84°7’40’’W), 25 m elevation. On  May
200, GK collected a juvenile (SMF 80997) an adult female (MD 9) at Lomas de Tam-
and on 23 September 200 two adult males bor (0º47’00’’N, 83º59’6’’W). Between 28
(SMF 82087-88) at Bartola, Quebrada El April and 2 May 2004, GP and NT collect-
Gaitán, near “Orange Trail 38” (0º58’37’’N, ed three adult males (SMF 83367-68 and GP
84º20’35’’W), 30 m elevation. On  October 65) at Cerro El Bolívar, near Río Machado
200, GK collected two adult males (SMF (0º52’02’’N, 84º0’0’’W). All fi ft een speci-
82089-90) at Bartola, along a stream near mens were collected during night surveys at
“Blue 0” (0º58’37’’N, 84º20’35’’W), 30 m the Reserva de la Biosfera Indio-Maíz, Dpto.
elevation. On 8 April 2004, MD collected Río San Juan. Morphometrics of our materi-
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al: maximum SVL males 2.3 mm; maximum surrounded by small disturbed Dry Forest
SVL females 2.6 mm; SHL/SVL 0.56-0.63 formation patches.
(0.60±0.02); FL/SVL 0.40-0.44 (0.4±0.0);
HW/SVL 0.33-0.37 (0.35±0.0); HL/SVL Scinax boulengeri(Cope, 887)
0.28-0.36 (0.34±0.02); TYP/EYL 0.3-0.2 Previously, there was a gap of 205 km be-
(0.7±0.02); NED/HL 0.8-0.25 (0.20±0.02); tween the northernmost Nicaraguan record
IOD/HW 0.27-0.38 (0.37±0.03); IND/HW of Scinax boulengeri and the nearest known
0.6-0.22 (0.9±0.02); modal webbing for- locality in Honduras (McCranie & Wilson
mula of hand (webbing between fi ngers I 2002). On 3 June 2005, JS and DM collected
and II is vestigial): II 2--3+ III 2--3/4 IV; modal three adult males of this species (SMF 84833-
webbing formula of feet: I -2 II -2+ III -2+ 34 and JS 06; Fig. 2) at Rancho Alegre, Dpto.
IV 2- V. Atlántico Norte, at 3º39’47’’N, 85º0’39’’W,
285 m elevation. All three frogs were calling
Rhinophrynus dorsalis Duméril & Bibron, facing downward between 20:5 and 2:00 h,
84 on vegetation ca.  m above lentic water be-
Rhinophrynus dorsalis was previously known hind the Santa Teresita del Niño Jesus prima-
from pine savannas on the Atlantic versant of ry school on the property of Francisca López
Nicaragua from Dpto. Atlántico Norte (Du- Góngora. Th is represents the fi rst record of
ellman 97) and recorded from dry forest this species for Dpto. Atlántico Norte.
on the Pacifi c versant based on a photograph
of an individual from León Viejo, Dpto. León
(Villa 984). Between 30 June and 2 July
2005, JS and DM collected four adult R. dor-
salis (SMF 84869-70, JS 0 and JS 254; Fig. )
at the Reserva Natural Monte Galán-Las Play-
itas, Dpto. León, at 2º2’4’’N, 86º34’2’’W, 85
m elevation. All four specimens were found
between :00 and 3:00 h burrowed between
5 and 40 cm beneath the surface in a small
banana plantation on the property of Julio
Marín near the shore of a volcanic lagoon
Fig. 4. Rhadinaea kinkelini (SMF 84759) collected
at Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. Estelí, Nicara-
gua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer.
Fig. 3. Mesaspis moreletii (from series JS 134, JS
138, JS 282) collected at the Reserva Natural Ki- Fig. 5. Tantilla taeniata (SMF 84760) collected at El
lambé, Dpto. Jinotega, Nicaragua. Photograph by Diamante, Reserva Natural Kilambé, Dpto. Jinote-
Javier Sunyer. ga, Nicaragua. Photograph by Javier Sunyer.
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Reptiles raguan record of this species. Also, its known
range of altitudinal distribution is increased
Mesaspis moreletii (Bocourt, 87) by almost 200 m – the species is now known
Mesaspis moreletii (Fig. 3) has been included to occur from 305 to above 3000 m (Köh-
in various checklists for Nicaragua (Tihen ler 2003).
949, Peters & Donoso-Barros 970, Vil-
la 983, Villa et al. 988, Ruiz 996, Ruiz Mesoscincus managuae (Dunn, 933)
& Buitrago 2003). However, the presence of In Nicaragua, Mesoscincus managuae was
this species in Nicaragua has not been sup- previously known from four localities in
ported by any voucher specimens (Köhler Dptos. Managua, Granada and Chinandega
2003). On 2 July 2005, JS collected two ju- (Reeder 990, Köhler 200). On 29 June
veniles of this species: (JS 34) at 3º35’20’’N, 2005, JS and DM collected one juvenile (JS
85º43’33’’W, 440 m elevation and (JS 38) at 93) and one adult (SMF 8476) of this species
3º35’0’’N, 85º43’04’’W, 330 m elevation. On at the Reserva Natural Monte Galán-Las Play-
2 August 2005, JS collected an adult male of itas, Dpto. León, at 2º2’4’’N, 86º34’2’’W, 85
this species (JS 282) at 3º35’07’’N, 85º42’7’’W, m elevation. Th e juvenile was found at :5 h
305 m elevation. All three specimens were under a fallen termite nest in disturbed for-
collected at the Reserva Natural Kilambé, est on the property of Julio Marín. Th is repre-
Dpto. Jinotega. One (JS 34) was found ac- sents the fi rst record of this species for Dpto.
tive on ground level at 7:30 h in a deforested León.
area on the property of José Gómez and an-
other (JS 38) was found at 2:30 h, .5 m high Norops carpenteri (Echelle, Echelle &
on a mossy tree trunk in primary cloud for- Fitch, 97)
est. JS 282 was found at 6:30 h while basking In Nicaragua, Norops carpenteri was previ-
at ground level in a transition area between ously known from three localities in Dptos.
old pasture and cloud forest. Morphometrics Matagalpa and Río San Juan (Köhler 200).
of our material: SVL adult male 7 mm; TL/ On 26 July 2004, GK collected one subadult
SVL .57-.79 (.68±0.); HL/SVL 0.20-0.24 of this species (SMF 8393) in Parque Nacion-
(0.22±0.0); SHL/SVL 0.-0.2 (0.±0.0); al Saslaya, Dpto. Atlántico Norte, on the trail
HL/HW .33-.53 (.44±0.0); HW/SVL from Salto Labú to El Revenido at 320 m el-
0.5-0.6 (0.6±0.0); AGD/SVL 0.49-0.53 evation. Th e specimen was collected during
(0.5±0.02). Pholidosis of our material follow- the daytime on the forest fl oor in primary
ing Veselý & Köhler (200): postmentals:  rain forest. Th is represents the northernmost
(00%); postnasals: 2 (83%),  (7%); prefron- record of this species (ca. 00 km NE from
tals: 2 (00%); postloreal in contact with su- nearest known locality) and the fi rst record
pralabial: Yes (00%); postcanthal in contact for Dpto. Atlántico Norte.
with prefrontal: No (00%); frontonasal in
contact with frontal: No (00%); number of Norops tropidonotus (Peters, 863)
lowest secondary temporals in contact with In Nicaragua, Norops tropidonotus was previ-
lowest anterior temporal: 2 (67%),  (33%); ously known from two localities in the Dpto.
dorsals at midbody: 8 (00%); ventrals at Estelí (Köhler 200). Between 7 and 0 July
midbody: 2 (00%); transverse rows of dor- 998, GK collected one adult male and two
sals: 50 (67%), 5 (33%); number of supralabi- adult females of this species (SMF 84734-36)
als to mideye: 6 (00%); lamellae on fourth at El Diamante, Reserva Natural Kilambé,
toe: 7 (50%), 8 (7%), 20 (33%); anterior sub- Dpto. Jinotega, at 3º36’5’’N, 85º44’20’’W,
labial in contact with: fi rst infralabial (7%), 090 m elevation. Th e three specimens were
second infralabial (66%), third infralabial found active at 8:25, 3:30 and 4:30 h in a cof-
(7%). Th is represents the fi rst defi nite Nica- fee plantation near a dirt road of the Finca
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“La Concepción” on the property of Juana Jarquín Cavarría and Henry Marin, Universi-
Ma Salinas. One contains a palpable egg dad Región Autónoma Costa Caribe del Atlántico
(SMF 84734). Th is represents the fi rst record Norte, Nicaragua (URACCAN-IREMADES) pro-
vided all logistics in the Dpto. Atlántico Norte. We
of this species for Dpto. Jinotega.
are especially grateful to Tomás Navarro (Mira-
fl or), Julio Marín (Monte Galán-Las Playitas),
Rhadinaea kinkeliniBoettger, 898
Salomón Alfredo Torres Rojas, Alvaro and
In Nicaragua, Rhadinaea kinkelini was previ-
Aniceto Velázquez Rivera, Edilio and Maxi-
ously known from three localities in Dptos. miliano Pérez Bucardo (Kilambé), Angel Ló-
Matagalpa and Jinotega (Köhler 200). On pez and Marcelo Herrera (Rancho Alegre) for
4 June 2005, JS and DM collected an adult accommodation in the fi eld and guiding us to ex-
female of this species (SMF 84759; Fig. 4) in cellent study sites. JS was supported by the DAAD
the Reserva Natural Mirafl or, Dpto. Estelí, at (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst).
3º4’50’’N, 86º5’27’’W, 325 m elevation. Th e
snake was found at 0:30 h under a medium-
References
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turbed forest and a pasture. Th is represents
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the fi rst record of this species for Dpto. Es-
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wooden fl oor of the house of the Finca “La Diethert (2004): New and noteworthy re-
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de la herpetofauna de Nicaragua. – ARAUCA- Veselý, M. & G. Köhler (200): Zur Kenntnis
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Manuscript received: 4 August 2006
Authors’ addresses: Javier Sunyer, Gunther Köhler, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Sen-
ckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany, E-Mail: [email protected],
[email protected]; and (JS) Gabinete de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Departamento de Biología,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN-León), Nicaragua.
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