Showing posts with label Author: Torres-Carvajal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author: Torres-Carvajal. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

[Herpetology • 2016] Pholidobolus ulisesi • A New Species of Andean Microteiid Lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae: Pholidobolus) from Peru, with comments on P. vertebralis


Pholidobolus ulisesi  

Venegas, Echevarria, Lobos, Nunes & Torres-Carvajal, 2016.

Abstract
Based on morphological and molecular evidence, herein is reported the discovery of a new species of Pholidobolus from the Andes of northwestern Peru. The new species is known from the montane forests of Cajamarca and Lambayeque departments, at elevations of 1,800 – 2,300 m. It differs from other species of Pholidobolus in lacking prefrontal scales and having both strongly keeled dorsal scales and a diagonal white bar in the rictal region. Additionally, it is shown that records of P. vertebralis from Peru are based on misidentified specimens. The southernmost distribution records of P. vertebralis are from northwestern Ecuador. Also, an updated identification key for species of Pholidobolus is provided.

Key words. Andes, hemipenial morphology, lizards, Pholidobolus vertebralis, systematics




 Pablo J. Venegas, Lourdes Y. Echevarria, Simon E. Lobos, Pedro M. Sales Nunes and Omar Torres-Carvajal. 2016. A New Species of Andean Microteiid Lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae: Pholidobolus) from Peru, with comments on P. vertebralis
Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 
10(1) [Special  Section]; 21-33 (e121). 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

[Herpetology • 2015] Description and Phylogeny of Three New Species of Synophis (Colubridae, Dipsadinae) from the tropical Andes in Ecuador and Peru; Synophis bogerti, S. zamora & S. insulomontanus


Figure 5. Four species of Synophis from Ecuador and Peru:
  
 Synophis calamitus (QCAZ 11931, upper left); Sbogerti sp. n. (QCAZ 13586, upper right); Szamora sp. n. (QCAZ 13854, lower left); Sinsulomontanus sp. n. (CORBIDI 13940, lower right). 
Photographs by Diego Quirola, Omar Torres-Carvajal and Germán Chávez. 
  
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.546.6533 
Abstract

The discovery of three new species of Synophis snakes from the eastern slopes of the tropical Andes in Ecuador and Peru is reported. All previous records of S. bicolor from eastern Ecuador correspond to S. bogerti sp. n., which occurs between 1000–1750 m along a large part of the Amazonian slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. In contrast, Synophis zamora sp. n. is restricted to southeastern Ecuador, including Cordillera del Cóndor, between 1543–1843 m. Synophis insulomontanus sp. n. is from the eastern slopes of the Andes in central and northern Peru, between 1122–1798 m, and represents the first record of Synophis from this country. All three new species share in common a large lateral spine at the base of the hemipenial body. A molecular phylogenetic tree based on three mitochondrial genes is presented, including samples of Diaphorolepis wagneri. Our tree strongly supports Synophis and Diaphorolepis as sister taxa, as well as monophyly of the three new species described here and S. calamitus. Inclusion of Synophis and Diaphorolepis within Dipsadinae as sister to a clade containing Imantodes, Dipsas, Ninia, Hypsiglena and Pseudoleptodeira is also supported.

Keywords: Andes, Dipsadinae, Ecuador, new species, Peru, snakes, Synophis, systematics


Figure 5. Four species of Synophis from Ecuador and Peru:   Synophis calamitus (QCAZ 11931, upper left); Sbogerti sp. n. (QCAZ 13586, upper right); Szamora sp. n. (QCAZ 13854, lower left); Sinsulomontanus sp. n. (CORBIDI 13940, lower right). 
Photographs by Diego Quirola, Omar Torres-Carvajal and Germán Chávez.    DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.546.6533


Omar Torres-Carvajal, Lourdes Echevarría, Pablo Javier Venegas, Germán Chávez and Jeffrey Camper. 2015. Description and Phylogeny of Three New Species of Synophis (Colubridae, Dipsadinae) from the tropical Andes in Ecuador and Peru.
ZooKeys. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.546.6533


Resumen
Se reporta el descubrimiento de tres especies nuevas de serpientes Synophis de las estribaciones orientales de los Andes tropicales en Ecuador y Perú. Todos los registros previos de S. bogerti del oriente ecuatoriano corresponden a S. bogerti sp. n., la cual ocurre entre 1000–1750 m a lo largo de gran parte de las estribaciones amazónicas de los Andes ecuatorianos. En contraste, Synophis zamora sp. n. se restringe al suroriente de Ecuador, incluyendo la Cordillera del Cóndor, entre 1543–1843 m. Synophis insulomontanus sp. n. es de las estribaciones orientales de los Andes del centro y norte del Perú, entre 1122–1798 m, y representa el primer registro de Synophis para este país. Todas las tres especies nuevas comparten en común una espina lateral larga en la base del cuerpo del hemipene. Un árbol molecular filogenético, basado en tres genes mitocondriales es presentado, incluyendo muestras de Diaphorolepis wagneri. Nuestro árbol apoya fuertemente a Synophis y Diaphorolepis como taxa hermanos, así como la monofilia de las tres especies descritas y de S. calamitus. La inclusión de Synophis y Diaphorolepis dentro de Dipsadinae, como hermanas a un clado que contiene a Imantodes, Dipsas, Ninia, Hypsiglena y Pseudoleptodeira también es apoyada.

Three new fishing snake species fished out of the Andean slopes in South...
http://bit.ly/1TNh0DB via @Pensoft @EurekAlertAAAS

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

[Herpetology • 2015] Three New Species of Woodlizards (Hoplocercinae, Enyalioides) from northwestern South America


Figure 8. Holotype of Enyalioides sophiarothschildae sp. n. (CORBIDI 647, adult male, SVL = 135 mm). 
Top: dorsolateral view; middle: lateral view of head; bottom: ventral view.
Photograph by Pablo J. Venegas. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.494.8903


Abstract
The discovery of three new species of Enyalioides from the tropical Andes in Ecuador and northern Peru is reported. Enyalioides altotambo sp. n. occurs in northwestern Ecuador and differs from other species of Enyalioides in having dorsal scales that are both smooth and homogeneous in size, a brown iris, and in lacking enlarged, circular and keeled scales on the flanks. Enyalioides anisolepis sp. n. occurs on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes in southern Ecuador and northern Peru and can be distinguished from other species of Enyalioides by its scattered, projecting large scales on the dorsum, flanks, and hind limbs, as well as a well-developed vertebral crest, with the vertebrals on the neck at least three times higher than those between the hind limbs. Enyalioides sophiarothschildae sp. n. is from the Amazonian slopes of the Cordillera Central in northeastern Peru; it differs from other species of Enyalioides in having caudal scales that are relatively homogeneous in size on each caudal segment, a white gular region with a black medial patch and several turquoise scales in males, as well as immaculate white labials and chin. A molecular phylogenetic tree of 18 species of hoplocercines is presented, including the three species described in this paper and E. cofanorum, as well as an updated identification key for species of Hoplocercinae.

Keywords: Andes, Ecuador, Enyalioides, Hoplocercinae, Iguania, lizards, new species, Peru, systematics


Figure 2. Paratype (QCAZ 6671, adult female, SVL = 132 mm) of Enyalioides altotambo.
Figure 1. Holotype (QCAZ 8073, adult male, SVL = 119 mm) of Enyalioides altotambo in dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) views.
Photographs by Luis A. Coloma.  | doi: 10.3897/zookeys.494.8903

Enyalioides altotambo sp. n.
Proposed standard English name: Alto Tambo woodlizards
Proposed standard Spanish name: lagartijas de palo de Alto Tambo 
synonym: Enyalioides oshaughnessyi (part) Torres-Carvajal et al. 2011: 23.

Distribution: Enyalioides altotambo is only known from two adjacent localities at 620–645 m in the Chocoan rainforests of northwestern Ecuador (Fig. 3). Female paratype QCAZ 6671 was found at 5:30 pm with its head facing up on a tree trunk. 
Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to Alto Tambo, Provincia Esmeraldas, Ecuador, a village on the Ibarra-San Lorenzo road where Enyalioides altotambo was discovered.


Figure 5. Holotype of Enyalioides anisolepis sp. n. (QCAZ 12537, adult male, SVL = 130 mm). 
Top: dorsolateral view; middle: ventral view; bottom: lateral view of head.
Photographs by Omar Torres-Carvajal. | doi: 10.3897/zookeys.494.8903
Enyalioides anisolepis sp. n.

Proposed standard English name: rough-scaled woodlizards
Proposed standard Spanish name: lagartijas de palo de escamas ásperas

Distribution and ecology: Enyalioides anisolepis is known to occur between 724– 1742 m on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes in southern Ecuador and northern Peru (Fig. 3). It is known from Provincia Zamora-Chinchipe in extreme southern Ecuador and Región Cajamarca in northern Peru. Most specimens were found sleeping at night (7:00 pm–1:00 am) between 0.2–1.5 m above ground on stems, leaves, and tree roots in primary and secondary forests. Nine of the 15 known specimens were found within 5 m of small streams. 
Etymology. The specific epithet anisolepis is a noun (in apposition) in the nominative singular and derives from the Greek words anisos (= unequal) and lepis (= scale). It refers to the heterogeneous scales on the dorsum, flanks and hind limbs of lizards of this species. 


Figure 8. Holotype of Enyalioides sophiarothschildae sp. n. (CORBIDI 647, adult male, SVL = 135 mm).
Top: dorsolateral view; middle: lateral view of head; bottom: ventral view.
Photograph by Pablo J. Venegas. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.494.8903

Enyalioides sophiarothschildae sp. n. 
Proposed standard English name: Rothschild’s woodlizards
Proposed standard Spanish name: lagartijas de palo de Rothschild


Distribution and ecology: Enyalioides sophiarothschildae is known from the northeastern slopes of the Cordillera Central in Peru between 1600–1700 m (Fig. 3). This species is only known from two adjacent localities, the trail to La Cueva-Añasco Pueblo in the drainage of the Lejía river and El Dorado in the drainage of the Blanco river, both tributaries of the Huallabamba river in the northern part of the Huallaga river basin. This area corresponds to the Selva Alta (400–1000 m) and Yungas (300– 2300 m) ecoregions (Brack 1986; Peñaherrera del Aguila 1989). 
Individuals of Enyalioides sophiarothschildae were found active by day in primary forest. The holotype was found crossing a trail and tried to hide between the roots of a big tree when approached for capture. One of the paratypes climbed up a tree three meters above the ground when approached. The other paratype was found sitting on a big root. 

Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case and is a patronym honoring Sophia Rothschild in recognition of her financial support for the improvement of the herpetological collection of CORBIDI through the BIOPAT Program.


Omar Torres-Carvajal, Pablo J. Venegas and Kevin de Queiroz. 2015. Three New Species of Woodlizards (Hoplocercinae, Enyalioides) from northwestern South America. ZooKeys. 494: 107-132 (06 Apr 2015)


Three New Species of ‘Dwarf Dragon’ Discovered in South America http://www.newsweek.com/three-new-species-dwarf-dragon-discovered-south-america-319875


Resumen
Reportamos el descubrimiento de tres especies nuevas de Enyalioides de los Andes tropicales en Ecuador y norte de Perú. Enyalioides altotambo sp. n., del noroccidente de Ecuador, difiere de otras especies de Enyalioides por poseer escamas dorsales lisas y homogéneas en tamaño, iris café y por carecer de escamas circulares grandes y quilladas en los flancos. Enyalioides anisolepis sp. n. ocurre en las estribaciones amazónicas de los Andes al sur de Ecuador y norte de Perú, y se distingue de otras especies de Enyalioides por poseer escamas grandes y proyectadas dispersas en el dorso, flancos y extremidades posteriores, así como por su cresta vertebral bastante desarrollada, que a nivel del cuello es tres veces más alta que entre las extremidades posteriores. Enyalioides sophiarothschildae sp. n., de las estribaciones amazónicas de la Cordillera Central al norte del Perú, difiere de otras especies de Enyalioides por poseer escamas caudales de tamaño similar en cada segmento caudal, una región gular blanca con una mancha medial negra y escamas turquesa en machos, así como la quijada y labiales de color blanco. También presentamos un árbol filogenético molecular de 18 especies de hoplocercinos, que incluye a las tres especies descritas en este artículo y a E. cofanorum, así como una clave de identificación actualizada para las especies de Hoplocercinae.


Monday, December 1, 2014

[Herpetology • 2014] Pholidobolus hillisi • A New Species of Pholidobolus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the Andes of southern Ecuador


Fig. 4. Five species of Pholidobolus from Ecuador.
(A) P. affinis (white circles); (B) P. macbrydei (blue circles); (C) P. montium (green circles); (D) P. prefrontalis (orange circles); (E) Pholidobolus hillisi sp. nov. (red circles)
Photographs by OTC (A, B, C, D) and S. R. Ron (E)

Abstract
We describe a new species of Pholidobolus lizard from the Amazonian slopes of the Andes of southern Ecuador. Among other characters, the new species differs from other species of Pholidobolus in having a distinct diagonal white stripe extending from the fourth genial scale to the fore limb. We present a phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data as additional evidence supporting delimitation of the new species, which is sister to all other species of Pholidobolus. Our phylogeny further supports the south-to-north speciation hypothesis proposed for other lizard clades from the northern Andes.

Key words. Clade Pholidobolus, DNA, lizard, phylogeny, South America, systematics


Omar Torres-Carvajal, Pablo J. Venegas, Simón E. Lobos, Paola Mafla-Endara and Pedro M. Sales Nunes. 2014. A New Species of Pholidobolus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the Andes of southern Ecuador. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 8(1) [Special Section]: 76–88 (e84). 

Saturday, December 1, 2012

[Herpetology • 2012] Imantodes chocoensis | Chocoan blunt-headed vine snake • A new species of blunt-headed vine snake (Colubridae: Dipsadinae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region of Ecuador


Chocoan blunt-headed vine snakes | Cordoncillos del Chocó 
Imantodes chocoensis Torres-Carvajal, Yánez-Muñoz, Quirola, Smith & Almendáriz 2012 
Photo by Omar Torres-Carvajal

Abstract 
We describe a new species of Imantodes from the Chocó region of northwestern Ecuador. The new species differs most significantly from all other congeners in lacking a loreal scale. We analyze the phylogenetic relationships among species of Imantodes based on two mitochondrial genes, and postulate that the new species and Imantodes lentiferus are sister taxa. A key to the species of Imantodes from Ecuador is presented. 
Keywords: Chocó, Dipsadinae, Ecuador, Imantodes, snakes, systematics



Etymology. The specific epithet chocoensis is an adjective derived from Chocó, the very humid tropical region comprising the Pacific coast of northern Ecuador, Colombia and Panama (Morrone 2001). This region is part of the 274, 597 sq.km. Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena hotspot as defined by Conservation International, which includes more than 320 species of reptiles.

Distribution and ecology. Imantodes chocoensis inhabits Chocoan rainforests on the Pacific coast in northern Ecuador (Fig. 6). It occurs in lowland evergreen forest (Cerón et al. 1999) at elevations of 115–260 m in the provinces of Carchi and Esmeraldas. This new species has been collected in sympatry with Imantodes cenchoa in Esmeraldas, and most likely also shares its distribution with Imantodes inornatus. Other colubrid snakes collected in Tobar Donoso (Carchi) are Chironius grandisquamis, Clelia clelia, Dendrophidion clarkii, Leptophis ahaetulla, Mastigodryas sp., Ninia atrata, Oxyrhopus petola, Pseustes shropshirei, Sibon nebulatus, Synophis bicolor, Tantilla melanocephala, and Xenodon rabdocephalus. The known localities of Imantodes chocoensis lie in close proximity to the Ecuador-Colombia border and we expect for it to be found in neighboring Colombia.


Torres-Carvajal O, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Quirola D, Smith EN, Almendáriz A. 2012. A new species of blunt-headed vine snake (Colubridae, Imantodes) from the Chocó region of Ecuador. ZooKeys 244: 91. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.244.3950
Andrés F. Jaramillo-Martínez, Alejandro Valencia-Zuleta and Fernando Castro-Herrera. 2013.  Imantodes chocoensis Torres-Carvajal, Yánez-Muñoz, Quirola, Smith, and Almendáriz, 2012 (Squamata: Dipsadidae): First records from Colombia. Check List. 9(5): 1070–1071. 

New Species of Ecuadorean Vine Snake Described
Imantodes chocoensis hails from the Chocoan forests of northwestern Ecuador.

Long and thin with a big head: new snake adds diversity to a bizarre group (photo) http://news.mongabay.com/2012/1128-hance-imantodes-chocoensis.html