[Herpetology • 2024] Bolitoglossa silentium & B. chiquitica • Taxonomic Assessment of the Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) Subgenus (Caudata: Plethodontidae) with the Description of Two New Species from the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Holotype of Bolitoglossa silentium sp. nov. (UCR20489) in life.

(B) Bolitoglossa bramei (UCR21930) from Valledel Silencio, (C) B. bramei (UCR23698) from Cerro Fábregas, 
(E) B. pygmaea (UCR23697) from Cerro Fábregas, and (F) B. pygmaea (no collected) from Cerro Echandi. 

Arias, Chaves, Kubicki & Parra-Olea, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5537.2.3

 Researchgate.net/publication/385654079

Photos by E. Arias (A,C,E), Victor Acosta (B), Brian Kubicki (D), and Omar zúñiga (F). 

 facebook.com: Erick Arias

Abstract

Isthmian Central America boasts a diverse array of salamanders, with a total of 72 species spanning three genera. Among these, a subset of the subgenus Bolitoglossa (Eladinea), stands out as particularly rare within the Cordillera de Talamanca. Many of its species have been discovered since 2009, with the majority documented from fewer than five specimens. In our endeavor to elucidate the taxonomy of this species group, we conducted fieldwork at Tapantí and the summits of Utyum, Echandi, and Fábregas, aiming to locate specimens. Our efforts have led to the expansion of the distributional range and the elucidation of the known body size of Bolitoglossa bramei, while Bolitoglossa robinsoni underwent redefinition. Furthermore, we describe two additional species herein, including a miniature salamander from Cerro Utyum and another salamander of moderate size from Valle del Silencio. As result of this study, the Bolitoglossa diminuta species group is now recognized to encompass seven species, all confined within the limits of the Cordillera de Talamanca.

Amphibia, caudate, Central America, Costa Rica, Panama 

Photograph in preservation of (A) Bolitoglossa robinsoni (UCR11216), holotype from Cerro Echandi and in-life photographs of species found in the Talamanca Mountain range during this study. (B) B. bramei (UCR21930) from Valledel Silencio, (C) B. bramei (UCR23698) from Cerro Fábregas, (D) B. diminuta (UCR24413) from Tapantí, (E) B. pygmaea (UCR23697) from Cerro Fábregas, and (F) B. pygmaea (no collected) from Cerro Echandi.

 Photos by E. Arias (A,C,E), Victor Acosta (B), Brian Kubicki (D), and Omar zúñiga (F). 

Bolitoglossa chiquitica sp. nov.

Costa Rican Miniaturized Salamander

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, it is from the Spanish word “chiquitica”, a popular diminutive used by Costa Rican people to refer to especially small things or animals. This name is given in reference to the small size of this species and its restricted distribution to Costa Rica. 

Holotype of Bolitoglossa silentium sp. nov. (UCR20489) in life.

Photograph by Luis G. Artavia.

Bolitoglossa silentium sp. nov.

Valle del Silencio Web-footed Salamander

Etymology. The specific epithet, silentium, is a noun in apposition and is from Latin, meaning silence. The Spanish meaning of silence is “silencio”, this name was chosen in recognition of the site where this species was found, Valle del Silencio (Silent Valley). 

Erick Arias, Gerardo Chaves, Brian Kubicki and Gabriela Parra-Olea. 2024. Taxonomic Assessment of the Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) Subgenus (Caudata: Plethodontidae) with the Description of Two New Species from the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica.  Zootaxa. 5537(2); 211-233. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5537.2.3

 Researchgate.net/publication/385654079_Taxonomic_assessment_of_Eladinea_subgenus_with_two_new_species_from_Costa_Rica

  facebook.com/eapiedra/posts/2477155595791262

[Herpetology • 2024] Tylototriton koliaensis • Multiple Lines of Evidence for A New Cryptic Species of Tylototriton (Amphibia: Salamandridae) from northern Vietnam

 

 Tylototriton koliaensis 
Poyarkov, Nguyen, S.X. Le, D.X. Le,  Arkhipov, Gorin, Hernandez & Dufresnes, 2024

 Cao Bang Crocodile Newt ||  Researchgate.net/publication/385746634 

facebook.com: Nguyen Van Tan

Using molecular (mitochondrial DNA, multilocus genomic loci) and phenotypic (morphology, coloration, osteology) analyses, we reveal a new cryptic species of crocodile newt of the Tylototriton asperrimus species group from Viet Bac Mountain Range, northern Vietnam. The new species was previously confounded with T. asperrimus, T. vietnamensis and more recently T. ziegleri, its closest relative, from which it can be distinguished by a combination of diagnostic characters at phenotypic traits including rib nodules, cranial bony ridges, skin granulation, orange spotting patterns, vomerine teeth shape and relative limb size. General differences in body shape between the new species and T. ziegleri s. str. are further corroborated by multivariate morphological analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of the ND2 and 16S rRNA mtDNA gene fragments (1665 bp) confirm the placement of the new species in the subgenus Yaotriton as the sister species of T. ziegleri s. str. (p-distance 2.7 % in the ND2 gene). Furthermore, the differentiation of the two species is fully supported by the analysis of 3901 genomic loci (556,209 bp) obtained by double digest RAD-sequencing. The new species is presently isolated in the northeastern parts of the Viet Bac Massif (Ngan Son Mountain Range) while T. ziegleri s. str. is restricted to its western part (Song Gam Mountain Range); their respective ranges are presumably separated by the Gam River Valley. The new species is probably threatened by extinction on the short term, being currently known only from montane evergreen broadleaf forests (~1000–1400 m of elevation) in the Nguyen Binh and Bao Lac districts of Cao Bang Province of Vietnam, but potentially extending to Jingxi County in the adjacent Guangxi Province of China. Our study emphasizes the benefits of relatively new technologies such as high-throughput sequencing and X-ray microtomography for the integrative taxonomy of cryptic, closely related amphibian species, and brings research on the iconic genus Tylototriton into the genomic era.

Keywords: 16S rRNA, Cao Bang Province, ddRAD-seq, endemism, Gam River, micro-CT scanning, mtDNA genealogy, ND2, taxonomy, Tylototriton ziegleri

 Distribution of  Tylototriton koliaensis sp. nov. (red), T. ziegleri s. str. (blue) and T. thaiorum (green) in northern Indochina. A, map of Indochina, the inset shows the area of the studied species. B, localities of the studied species; see Table 1 for locality details. Dots show type localities. Locality 4 was not confirmed with molecular data and should be regarded as Tylototriton cf. koliaensis sp. nov.

Specimens of  Tylototriton koliaensis sp. nov. in life from Kolia Mountain Pass, Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Nguyen Binh, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam.
A, holotype ZMMU A-8157, female, in situ; B, paratype ZMMU A-8158, male, in situ.

 Photographs by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Tylototriton koliaensis Poyarkov, Nguyen, Le, Le,  Arkhipov, Gorin, Hernandez & Dufresnes, sp. nov. 

Cao Bang Crocodile Newt

 Holotype of Tylototriton koliaensis sp. nov. (ZMMU A-8157, female) in preservative. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, head, dorsal view; D, head, ventral view; E, head, lateral view; F, palmar view of right hand; G, plantar view of left foot; H, ventral view of cloacal area.

 Photographs by Nikolay A. Poyarkov.

Specimens of Tylototriton ziegleri s. str. in life.
 A, male ZMMU A-8167 from Thanh Van Village, Quang Ba, Bat Dai Son Nature Reserve, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, in situ; B, male from Chieu Lau Thi Mt., Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, in situ (not collected); C, male from Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China, in situ (not collected).

Photographs by Nikolay A. Poyarkov (A), Loi Phuoc Tran (B), and Yinpeng Zhang (C).

Nikolay A. POYARKOV, Tan Van NGUYEN, Son Xuan LE, Dac Xuan LE, Dmitriy V. ARKHIPOV, Vladislav A. GORIN, Axel HERNANDEZ and Christophe DUFRESNES. 2024. Multiple Lines of Evidence for A New Cryptic Species of Tylototriton (Amphibia, Salamandridae) from northern Vietnam. Alytes. 41(1-4); 56-98. 

 Researchgate.net/publication/385746634_a_new_cryptic_species_of_Tylototriton_from_northern_Vietnam

  facebook.com/61554349471203/posts/122114909702144982

[Herpetology • 2024] Tylototriton gaowangjienensis • A New Species of the Asian Newt Genus Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Hunan Province, China

Tylototriton gaowangjienensis  J. Huang, Y. Xiang, Y.-X. Zhang, T. Wu & W.-S. Jiang,

in  J. Huang, Xiang, Wu, Y.-X. Zhang, Z.-L. Zhang, Wang, Lan, Y.-P. Huang, H.-J. Jiang et W.-S. Jiang. 2024. 

高望界疣螈 | Gaowangjie Crocodile Newt  ||  DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e135222

Abstract

The newt genus Tylototriton is widely distributed in east, southeast, and south Asia. Previous studies have shown that basic surveys of this genus are far from comprehensive, and unknown species still exist within the group. In this study, we described a new species of this genus, Tylototriton gaowangjienensis sp. nov., from Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve in Hunan Province, China, based on evidence from molecular identification and morphological comparisons. Additionally, we conducted phylogenetic analysis of the genus to elucidate the taxonomic status of the new species. Based on combined mitochondrial 16S rRNA and ND2 gene sequences, the phylogenetic tree supported the new species as a member of the T. wenxianensis species subclade in the subgenus Yaotriton. It can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characteristics: (1) medium-sized body; (2) finger tips extending beyond the snout while forelimbs stretched forward; (3) tips of forelimbs and hindlimbs reaching and overlapping when folded towards the body; (4) snout edge round; (5) absence of small papillae in the male cloacal fissure; (6) dorsal ridges narrow, with width smaller than the eye diameter; (7) head length (HDL) greater than head width (HDW) (HDL/HDW = 1.04~1.22); (8) orange markings absence on the parotoid; (9) nodule-like warts on body sides continuous; (10) vomerine teeth not connected at the tip, extending to the occipital bone at the posterior end.

Key Words: morphology, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy

Photos showing color variation in Tylototriton gaowangjienensis sp. nov. in live specimens.
A. Female (2021051702); B. Male (2021051701).

Photos by You-Xiang Zhang.

Photos of Tylototriton gaowangjienensis sp. nov. in live specimens.
 A. Female (2021051702); B. Male (2021051701).

Photos by You-Xiang Zhang.

 

 Tylototriton gaowangjienensis J. Huang, Y. Xiang, Y.-X. Zhang, T. Wu & W.-S. Jiang, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: The new species can be distinguished from other members of Tylototriton by the following combination of characteristics: (1) medium-sized body; (2) finger tips extending beyond the snout while forelimbs stretched forward; (3) tips of forelimbs and hindlimbs reaching and overlapping when folded towards the body; (4) snout edge round; (5) absence of small papillae in the male cloacal fissure; (6) dorsal ridges narrow, with width smaller than the eye diameter; (7) head length (HDL) greater than head width (HDW) (HDL/HDW=1.04~1.22); (8) orange markings absence on the parotoid; (9) nodule-like warts on body sides continuous; (10) vomerine teeth not connected at the tip, extending to the occipital bone at the posterior end.

Etymology: The new species is named after its type locality. We suggest the Chinese name “高望界疣螈” (pinyin: Gāo Wàng Jiè Yóu Yuán), and the English name Gaowangjie Crocodile Newt.

Breeding ground of Tylototriton gaowangjienensis sp. nov. in the Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve.

Photos by You-Xiang Zhang.

 Jie Huang, Ying Xiang, Tao Wu, You-Xiang Zhang, Zi-Liang Zhang, Ben-Zhong Wang, Xiang-Ying Lan, Yu-Ping Huang, Hui-Juan Jiang and Wan-Sheng Jiang. 2024. Description of A New Species of the Asian Newt Genus Tylototriton (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) from Hunan Province, China. Herpetozoa. 37: 327-338. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e135222

[Herpetology • 2024] Tylototriton soimalai • A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Tak Province, northwestern Thailand

 Tylototriton soimalai  

Pomchote, Peerachidacho, Khonsue, Sapewisut, Hernandez, Phalaraksh, Siriput & Nishikawa, 2024 

กะท่างน้ำดอยสอยมาลัย  || DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1215.116624 

   facebook.com/BioChula

Abstract

A new species of the crocodile newt genus Tylototriton from Doi Soi Malai located at Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province, northwestern Thailand is described based on molecular and morphological evidence, and named as Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. The new species is the seventh recorded species of the genus Tylototriton reported in Thailand. It differs morphologically from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: head longer than wide; snout blunt or truncate; sagittal ridge on head narrow, short and distinct; dorsolateral bony ridges on head pronounced and rough; parotoids distinct; vertebral ridge prominent, wide and not segmented; 14–16 distinct, rounded and isolated rib nodules but posterior nodules connected; tips of fore- and hind limbs overlapping when adpressed along the body. The body background color is black, while the color markings are orange. Molecular analysis indicated that Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is a distinct lineage and sister to T. uyenoi with a 4.1% genetic sequence divergence based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene. The new species is currently restricted to the hill evergreen forests of Doi Soi Malai. The implementation of a strategic plan is recommended to protect both the species and its habitat from anthropogenic activities.

Key words: Conservation, crocodile newt, morphology, phylogeny, Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov.

The male holotype of Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. (CUMZ-A-8253) observed at the type locality.

The two larvae of  Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. in life.

 Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov.

 (Thai name: Ka Tang Nam Doi Soi Malai - กะท่างน้ำดอยสอยมาลัย) 

(English name: Doi Soi Malai Crocodile Newt)

Diagnosis: Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Tylototriton by having a combination of dorsal granules present, dorsolateral bony ridges on head present, knob-like warts or rib nodules on dorsolateral body present, and quadrate spine absent. Tylototriton soimalai sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) medium-sized, adult SVL 66.3–66.5 mm in males; (2) skin rough with fine granules; (3) head longer than wide; (4) snout blunt or truncate in dorsal view, and extending beyond the lower jaw in lateral view; (5) sagittal ridge on head narrow, short, and distinct; (6) dorsolateral bony ridges on head pronounced, with rough surface, posterior ends weakly or hardly ...

Etymology: The specific epithet soimalai refers to Doi Soi Malai, Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary, the type locality of the new species; it is a noun in apposition, thus invariable.

Current distribution of the genus Tylototriton in Thailand.
Tylototriton verrucosus (pale blue); T. anguliceps (green); 
T. uyenoi (red); T. cf. uyenoi (red outlined with dark red); 
T. soimalai sp. nov. (tan); T. phukhaensis (black); and T. panhai (dark blue).

NP = National Park and WS = Wildlife Sanctuary.

 The map is modified from https://www.mitrearth.org.

  

 Porrawee Pomchote, Parada Peerachidacho, Wichase Khonsue, Pitak Sapewisut, Axel Hernandez, Chitchol Phalaraksh, Parunchai Siriput and Kanto Nishikawa. 2024. The Seventh Species of the Newt Genus Tylototriton in Thailand: A New Species (Urodela, Salamandridae) from Tak Province, northwestern Thailand.  ZooKeys. 1215: 185-208. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1215.116624  

  facebook.com/BioChula/posts/1054929276422794

[Herpetology • 2024] Hypselotriton huanggangensis • A New Species of the Newt Genus Hypselotriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Jiangxi Province, southeastern China

Hypselotriton huanggangensis Jiang, Huang, Fan, Cheng, Raffaëlli & Chen, 

 in Jiang, S.Huang, Fan, Cheng, Gong, Cui, Zhang, Lan, Zou, X. Huang, Raffaëlli et Chen, 2024. 

Huanggangshan Fire-bellied Newt | 黄岗山蝾螈  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1208.126092

Abstract

A new newt species, Hypselotriton huanggangensis sp. nov., is described based on nine specimens collected from Huanggangshan Mountains, Yanshan County, Jiangxi, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) obvious black patches with clear boundaries on the whole body; (2) ground color of the dorsal body tan; (3) ground color of venter bright orange; (4) skin rough; (5) vertebral ridge weak; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when forelimb and hindlimb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) postocular orange spot absent; (8) small white warty glands around the eye; (9) two discontinuous longitudinal lines formed by white warty glands from neck to lateral parts of tail. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on the mitochondrial locus of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene fragments. The new species distinctly differs from H. fudingensis by differences in its body measurements, vertebral ridge, dorsal black patches, and ventral black patches. Furthermore, the new species and H. fudingensis are geographically isolated by a series of high mountain ranges, including the Wuyishan and Jiufengshan Mountains. The number of Hypselotriton species is now 11.

Key words: Black patches, fire-bellied newts, geographical isolation, morphology, phylogenetics, taxonomy

Paratypes of Hypselotriton huanggangensis sp. nov. (HSA23075)
A dorsalateral view in life B ventral view in life C small waterhole around mountain shrubs without direct sunlight at the type locality.

Comparison of holotype of Hypselotriton huanggangensis sp. nov. (left, HSA23097) and Hypselotriton fudingensis (right, HSA23108) in life A dorsal view B ventral view, 1, 5 obvious black patches, 2 weak vertebral ridge, 3 small spots, 4 conspicuous vertebral ridge, 6 bright orange venter without dark blotches.

 Hypselotriton huanggangensis Jiang, Huang, Fan, Cheng, Raffaëlli & Chen, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: (1) Small body size, TOL 73.0–79.1 mm in adult males, TOL 79.6–89.4 mm in adult females; (2) obvious black patches with clear boundaries on the whole body; (3) ground color of the dorsal body tan; (4) skin rough; (5) ground color of venter bright orange; (6) vertebral ridge weak; (7) fingers and toes overlapping when forelimb and hindlimb adpressed towards each other along body; (8) parotoid gland inconspicuous; (9) postocular orange spot absent; (10) white warty glands around the eye; (11) two discontinuous longitudinal lines which consist of white warty glands from neck to lateral parts of tail (Fig. 6).

Etymology: The specific name huanggangensis refers to the type locality in the Huanggangshan Mountains. For the English common name, we suggest “Huanggangshan Fire-bellied Newt” and for the Chinese name, 黄岗山蝾螈 (huáng gǎng shān róng yuán).

 Zhihao Jiang, Song Huang, Qiangyong Fan, Lin Cheng, Yanan Gong, Zhangbo Cui, Tierui Zhang, Wenjun Lan, Zhian Zou, Xuanzhi Huang, Jean Raffaëlli and Jinmin Chen. 2024. A New Species of the Newt Genus Hypselotriton (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) from Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. ZooKeys. 1208: 331-346. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1208.126092

[Herpetology • 2024] Triturus rudolfi • Morphological and Genetic Diversification of Pygmy and Marbled Newts (Salamandridae: Triturus), with the Description of A New Species from the wider Lisbon Peninsula

Triturus rudolfi 

 Arntzen, 2024

Malkmus’ pygmy newt or Lisbon pygmy newt  ||  DOI: 10.1163/18759866-bja10057 

 Researchgate.net/publication/378921494

Abstract

Iberian populations of large-bodied newts, with Triturus marmoratus in the north and T. pygmaeus in the south of the peninsula, were studied for external morphology, mitochondrial dna and for a panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms. This confirmed the species’ low level of interspecific hybridization and their parapatric, mosaic-like mutual range border across the peninsula. The genetic data also revealed substantial variation within T. pygmaeus, with narrow (0.43–35.2 km) clinal transitions in the very centre of Portugal. Similar clines were observed for body size and colouration pattern. Pygmy newts in the west of Portugal are larger, with a more striped (less reticulated) green dorso-lateral colouration pattern than those in the east and south of the country. The western group of populations is described as a new species, Triturus rudolfi sp. nov., on account of a long, ca. 2.5 Ma, independent evolutionary history and limited hybridization with its sister-species T. pygmaeus, suggesting selection against hybrid offspring. The range of the newly described species may be restricted to the wider Lisbon Peninsula, stretching northwards along the Atlantic coast to the river Vouga estuary. Inland, the range border may be set by the lower Tejo River, or by the currently wide area of agricultural land at either side of that river, that may accommodate a residual hybrid zone. The close contact between both pygmy newt species is effectively limited to a ca. 20 × 40 km area directly north of the town Entroncamento, where T. rudolfi sp. nov. is sandwiched in between T. marmoratus and the river Tejo.

Keywords: clinal variation; colouration pattern; hybrid zone; Lisbon pygmy newt; mitochondrial dna; morphometrics; Portugal; single nucleotide polymorphisms; Triturus marmoratus; Triturus pygmaeus; Triturus rudolfi sp. nov.

The Iberian Peninsula with the approximate distributions of four taxa of large-bodied newts as described in table 1. Colour codes are: blue – Triturus marmoratus, dark red – T. pygmaeus pygmaeus, light red – T. p. lusitanicus and brown – Triturus rudolfi nov. sp., i.e., the newly described species from the wider Lisbon Peninsula. Letters indicate the capital cities Lisbon, Portugal (L) and Madrid, Spain (M) as well as Peniche (P) at the Atlantic coast. Major rivers partially coinciding with (sub)species borders are the Guadalquivir, the Vouga and the Tejo. The new species’ type locality Lagoa Seca near Valado dos Frades is indicated by a long arrow.

The insert shows an adult male T. marmoratus.

Holotype of Triturus rudolfi sp. nov. at right (top) and left lateral view (middle), and in ventral view (bottom). Size bar is 1 cm.
Stored at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain under catalogue number 51784.

Triturus rudolfi sp. nov. from Serra de Sintra (top) and from the Colares and Janas region (middle and bottom).

Triturus rudolfi sp. nov.

Diagnostic features – the newly recognized species is most closely related to, yet morphologically distinguishable from T. pygmaeus, on account of a lower number of green coloured dorso-lateral transversal bands (‘links’). Body size larger than in T. pygmaeus. Significant genetic differences for population groups at either side of the cline near Entroncamento were found at 34 out of 54 investigated nuclear markers, as well as for mitochondrial dna. Body size smaller than in T. marmoratus, with a higher number of links and with a light rather than dark coloured underside.

Derivatio nominis – the species name is chosen in honour of Mr. Rudolf Malkmus, in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of the Portuguese herpetofauna. Mr. Malkmus placed the Portuguese herpetofauna on the map, not just as a figure of speech, but also literally (Malkmus, 2004).

Suggested vernacular name – Malkmus’ pygmy newt or Lisbon pygmy newt. I further advocate to restrict the name ‘marbled newt’ to T. marmoratus and to use ‘pygmy newts’ for T. pygmaeus and T. rudolfi sp. nov. (see also table 1).

Distribution – the Lisbon Peninsula in Portugal, reaching northward along the Atlantic Ocean up to the river Vouga estuary. Approximate range borders: bounded by T. marmoratus in the north at ca. 39.5 N, separated from T. pygmaeus in the east by the Tejo River and in the northeast by a narrow hybrid zone that is wedged in between T. marmoratus territory and the river Tejo.

  Jan W. Arntzen. 2024. Morphological and Genetic Diversification of Pygmy and Marbled Newts, with the Description of A New Species from the wider Lisbon Peninsula (Triturus, Salamandridae). Contributions to Zoology. DOI: 10.1163/18759866-bja10057

  Researchgate.net/publication/378921494_Morphological_and_genetic_diversification_of_Triturus_from_the_wider_Lisbon_Peninsula 

[Herpetology • 2023] Bolitoglossa bolanosi • A New Species of Salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa) from the Subalpine Rain Páramo of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

 Bolitoglossa bolanosi

Arias, Chaves & Parra-Olea, 2023

Bolaños’ Web-footed Salamander ||  facebook.com/eapiedra

 amphibian-reptile-conservation.org

Abstract

The subalpine rain páramo of Isthmian Central America is an area with a high level of endemism. The salamanders of the Bolitoglossa subpalmata Species Group are restricted to the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama, including the subalpine rain páramo. During explorations of the páramos in the Cordillera de Talamanca, we found populations of Bolitoglossa that were referred to B. subpalmata S.G. These new populations were compared phylogenetically with all species within the species group using the 16S and cyt b mitochondrial genes; and they were also compared morphometrically with B. kamuk and B. pesrubra. Herein we described a new species of the B. subpalmata Species Group, which inhabits the subalpine rain páramo and montane forest surrounding the páramo in the Southeastern region in Costa Rica. This new species highlights the role of the subalpine rain páramo in the speciation of salamanders in the highlands of Isthmian Central America, as well as the need to protect this unique and vulnerable habitat. 

Keywords. Amphibia, caudate, Central America, páramo, phylogenetics, Plethodontidae

Holotype of Bolitoglossa bolanosi sp. nov. (UCR 22965) in life on a white background.

Photograph by Erick Arias.

In-life photographs of variations within  Bolitoglossa bolanosi sp. nov. 
 (A) Paratopotype male subadult UCR 22966, (B) paratype juvenile UCR 24247, (C) paratype adult female UCR 22421, and (D) paratype adult female UCR 24245.

 Photographs A and C by Erick Arias, B and D by Omar Zúñiga.

Bolitoglossa bolanosi sp. nov. 

Bolaños’ Web-footed Salamander 

Diagnosis. The combination of the following characteristics can be used to distinguish Bolitoglossa bolanosi from the other described species of the genus Bolitoglossa: (1) having broad hands and feet, with the distal phalanges on the fngers and toes free of palmar and plantar tissue; (2) dorsal coloration highly variable, rarely black brownish uniform and usually mottled with yellow spots, but never with red on hind limbs or forelimbs; and (3) 16S and cyt b mtDNA distances.

Etymology. The name “bolanosi” is a patronym honoring the Costa Rican herpetologist Federico Bolaños, and is used as a noun in the genitive case. We name this species after our dear friend in recognition of his scientifc contributions to the knowledge of the herpetology of Costa Rica, as curator of the Herpetology section at Museo de Zoología of Universidad de Costa Rica, and as the mentor of most herpetologists present in the country. 

 

Erick Arias, Gerardo Chaves and Gabriela Parra-Olea. 2023. A New Species of Salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa) from the Subalpine Rain Páramo of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 17(1 & 2) [General Section]: 143–160 (e327).

 facebook.com/eapiedra/posts/2242662579240566

  amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/issues.html

[Herpetology • 2023] Tylototriton zaimeng • A New cryptic Species of Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from mysterious mountain lakes in Manipur, north-eastern India

Tylototriton zaimeng  

Decemson, Lalremsanga, Elangbam, Vabeiryureilai, Shinde, Purkayastha, Arkhipov, Bragin & Poyarkov, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e106614 

Researchgate.net/publication/373111590

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis combining molecular and morphological lines of evidence revealed a new cryptic species in the Tylototriton verrucosus species group from Manipur, north-eastern India. The new species was previously confused with T. himalayanus and T. verrucosus. Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by medium body size, head massive and wide with rounded snout and very wide and protruding supratemporal bony ridges and a well-developed sagittal ridge, short limbs not overlapping when adpressed along body, wide and not segmented vertebral ridge distinct, 13–14 pairs of rib nodules, brown colouration with dull orange to yellowish-brown markings on head, vertebral ridge, rib nodules, palms, soles, vent and ventral tail ridge and by vomerine teeth organised in two distinctly curved bell-shaped series. Phylogenetic analysis of the ND2 and 16S rRNA mtDNA genes confirmed the placement of the new species to the Clade I of the subgenus Tylototriton and suggested it is a sister species of T. panwaensis and T. houi (p-distance 3.0% in ND2 gene). The range of the new species is restricted to the Khongtheng Mountain Range and is isolated from the range of T. panwaensis and T. houi in northern Myanmar and southern China, respectively. We suggest the new species to be considered as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List.

Key Words: 16S rRNA, endemism, Khongtheng Mountain Range, mtDNA genealogy, ND2, taxonomy, Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov.

Family Salamandridae Goldfuss, 1820

Subfamily Pleurodelinae Tschudi, 1838

Genus Tylototriton Anderson, 1871

Subgenus Tylototriton Anderson, 1871

Holotype of Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. (MZMU-3041, female) in situ. Photograph by Andrey M. Bragin and Ht. Decemson.

 Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. 

 Proposed English name: Zaimeng Lake Crocodile Newt

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Tylototriton by having the following combination of morphological attributes: (1) the presence of dorsal granules, (2) dorsolateral bony ridges on the head, (3) the presence of dorsolateral series of rib nodules (knob-like warts); and (4) the absence of a quadrate spine and molecular data (see Fig. 2). Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) medium body size, adult SVL 61.4–67.5 mm in males, 61.6–68.7 mm in females; (2) tail comparatively short, subequal or slightly longer than body in both sexes, lacking lateral grooves; (3) skin roughly granulated; (4) head massive and wide, relative maximal head width comprising 24.3–27.9% of SVL; (5) snout rounded in dorsal view; (6) supratemporal bony ridges on head very wide, protruding, with rough surface, beginning at the snout; (7) sagittal ridge on head well-distinct, very wide and protruding; (8) limbs comparatively short, tips of fore-limb and hind-limb not overlapping when adpressed along body; (9) vertebral ridge distinct, wide and not segmented; (10) rib nodules distinct, 13–14 along each side of body; (11) background colouration brown; (12) head, vertebral ridge, rib nodules, palms, soles, vent and ventral tail ridge with dull orange to yellowish-brown markings; (13) vomerine teeth organised in two distinctly curved bell-shaped widening anteriorly series, with 81–113 teeth.

Etymology: The specific name “zaimeng” is given as a noun in apposition and represents a Latinised version of the Liangmei dialect word “zaimeng” literally meaning “Puzzle Lake” or “Mystery Lake”. The name is given in reference to the Zaimeng Lake – a high-elevation mountain lake in Koubru Forest Division, the famous location where the crocodile newts were for the first time recorded in Manipur. It is believed that the name of the Lake was given by the Zeliangrong ancestors of Thonglang Village who passed by the Lake, but could not find their way to their destination as they used to return to the same spot again and again and circled the Lake over and over again (Sebastian 2015).

Recommended vernacular names: We recommend the following trivial name in English: Zaimeng Lake Crocodile Newt. The vernacular name in Liangmei dialect: Tadui taku; Tangkhul: Lengva; Manipuri: Hangoi mamei panba.

Natural habitat of Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. at Zaimeng Lake, Koubru Forest Division, Kangpokpi, Manipur, India.
A. Vegetation surrounding the Zaimeng Lake; B. Males of Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov. in situ; C. Breeding habitat of Tylototriton zaimeng sp. nov., numerous individuals can be seen on the muddy bottom of the lake.

Photographs by Parag Shinde and Ht. Decemson.

Ht. Decemson, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, Premjit Singh Elangbam, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Parag Shinde, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Dmitriy V. Arkhipov, Andrey M. Bragin, Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2023. A New cryptic Species of Tylototriton (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) from mysterious mountain lakes in Manipur, north-eastern India. Herpetozoa. 36: 203-224. DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e106614

 Researchgate.net/publication/373111590_A_new_cryptic_species_of_Tylototriton_from_Manipur_India

[Herpetology • 2023] Tylototriton ngoclinhensis • Southbound – the Southernmost Record of Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam represents A New Species

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis 

Phung, Pham, Nguyen, Ninh, Nguyen, Bernardes, Le, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2023

 Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt | Cá cóc sần ngọc linh  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.96091

Abstract

A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described from Ngoc Linh Mountain, Kon Tum Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam based on integrative taxonomy, namely by combining molecular and morphological evidence. Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. differs from all other congeners based on morphological data, allopatric distribution, and molecular divergence. In terms of genetic divergence, Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. distinctly differs from the sister species T. panhai (6.77%) and from T. ngarsuensis (12.36%) based on the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene. Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. is a moderate sized and robust salamander species with large cephalic edges, parotoids, and vertebral ridge orange in coloration. The new taxon differs from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: size medium (SVL 60.8–66.5 mm, TL 57.6–61.8 mm in males, and SVL 72.5–75.6 mm, TL 62.9–67.9 mm in females); head longer than wide; parotoids very prominent and enlarged, projecting backwards; tail length shorter than snout-vent length; vertebral ridge large, high and glandular in appearance; 14 large and distinct dorsolateral glandular warts; gular fold present; tips of fore and hind limbs overlapping when adpressed along the body; tips of fingers reaching between eye and nostril when foreleg is laid forward; dorsal surface and lateral sides of the head, upper and lower lips, dorsolateral glandular warts, vertebral ridge, the peripheral area of the cloaca and the ventral edge of the tail orange in coloration; the presence of a distinct black line extending from the posterior end of the eye towards the shoulder. Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. is restricted to evergreen montane forests near water bodies on Ngoc Linh Mountain. We suggest that the new species should be classified as Endangered (EN) in the IUCN Red List. This new important discovery represents the eighth Tylototriton taxon described from Vietnam, and at the same time constitutes the southernmost distributional record for the whole genus in Asia.

Key words: Crocodile newt, ND2 gene, Ngoc Linh Mountain, Salamandridae, taxonomy, Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov.

Dorsolateral view of Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov., holotype male (IEBR A.5130), in life.

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. in its microhabitat at the type locality.

 Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov.

 Proposed common name: Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt

Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Tylototriton and the subgenus Yaotriton based on the results of the molecular phylogenetic analyses and the following combination of morphological attributes: rough skin covered with fine warts, the presence of dorsolateral bony ridges on the head; the presence of dorsolateral glandular warts on the body; quadrate spine absent (Nussbaum and Brodie 1982; Nishikawa et al. 2013a; Le et al. 2015). Furthermore, the species is diagnosed from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) size medium (SVL 60.8–66.5 mm, TL 57.6–61.8 mm in males, and SVL 72.5–75.6 mm, TL 62.9–67.9 mm in females); (2) head longer than wide; (3) parotoids very prominent and enlarged, projecting backwards; (4) tail length shorter than the snout-vent length; (5) vertebral ridge large, high, and glandular in appearance (6) 14 distinct dorsolateral glandular warts; (7) gular fold present; (8) tips of fore- and hind limbs overlapping when adpressed along the body; (9) tips of fingers reaching between eye and nostril when foreleg is laid forward; (10) dorsal surface and lateral sides of the head, upper and lower lips, rib nodules, vertebral ridge, peripheral area of the cloaca, and the ventral edge of tail with orange coloration; (11) presence of a distinct black line extending from the posterior end of the eye towards the shoulder.

Etymology: The specific epithet ngoclinhensis refers to the type locality of the new species, Ngoc Linh Mountain in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. As common names, we suggest Ngoc Linh Crocodile Newt (English), Cá cóc sần ngọc linh (Vietnamese).

Habitat at the type locality of Tylototriton ngoclinhensis sp. nov. on Ngoc Linh Mountain.

Trung My Phung, Cuong The Pham, Truong Quang Nguyen, Hoa Thi Ninh, Huy Quoc Nguyen, Marta Bernardes, Son Thanh Le, Thomas Ziegler and Tao Thien Nguyen. 2023. Southbound – the Southernmost Record of Tylototriton (Amphibia, Caudata, Salamandridae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam represents A New Species. ZooKeys. 1168: 193-218. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.96091