Panolopus lapierrae, 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 : 174-178

Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov.

Lapierre Forest Lizard

(Fig. 64)

Diploglossus curtissi diastatus — Schwartz, 1964:42 (part).

Celestus curtissi diastatus — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988:98 (part).

Celestus curtissi diastatus — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:371 (part).

Celestus curtissi diastatus — Hedges et al., 2019:17 (part).

Celestus curtissi — Schools & Hedges, 2021:230 (part).

Holotype. ANSP 38578 , an adult male from 11.8 km W of Ça Soleil , collected by S. Blair Hedges, Richard Thomas, Nicholas Plummer, and Manuel Leal on 11 June 1991 (19.46955, -72.77713; ca. 100 m).

Paratypes (n=4). HAITI. Artibonite. KU 226257–8 , 7.6 mi W Ça Soleil , 14 July 1978 ; KU 226261 , 7.6 mi W Ça Soleil , 17 July 1978 ; SBH 192407 , 11.8 km W of Ça Soleil , 6 November 1991 .

Diagnosis. Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent/dots in chevrons, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area absent/present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent/present, (5) an adult SVL of 72.6–88.3 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 90–98, (7) midbody scale rows, 33–38, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 38–47, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 228–231, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 24.3–30.9 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.620 – 0.725 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.88–3.67 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 18.5–20.6 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.929–1.58 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.86–2.06 %, (16) relative head length, 17.0–18.7 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.92–1.94 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.68–3.58 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 8.55–8.81 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 4.73–4.75 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 1.91–2.77 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 4.49–4.55 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 7.78–8.43 %, (24) relative head width, 77.7–78.1 %, (25) relative frontal width, 77.6–79.0 %, (26) relative nasal height, 1.06–1.09 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.838 –0.978 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 5.21 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.54–1.86 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.71 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.81 %. The species stem time is 1.53 Ma and no data are available to estimate the species crown time (Fig. 4).

Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. has a smaller relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55) than most other species of the genus. From Panolopus aenetergum , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/dots in chevrons versus irregular dots) and the ventral scale rows (90–98 versus 80–86). From P. aporus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 4.18–4.53), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 4.57–5.72), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 61.7–75.1), and the relative nasal width (1.81 versus 1.56–1.78). From P. chalcorhabdus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (24.3–30.9 versus 31.3–36.0), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.29–6.97), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 65.0–76.3), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.54–1.86 versus 1.98–2.05). From P. costatus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the midbody scale rows (33–38 versus 39–43), the total lamellae on one hand (38–47 versus 49–58), the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 158–217), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (24.3–30.9 versus 31.5–37.8), the relative cloacal width (8.55–8.81 versus 7.27– 8.51), the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 3.97–4.67), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.53–6.66), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 68.3–76.8), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 56.2– 67.4), and the relative nasal width (1.81 versus 1.58–1.74). From P. curtissi , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.620 –0.725 versus 0.393 –0.587), the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 3.96–4.68), the relative distance between the ear and eye (7.78–8.43 versus 5.36–7.71), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.02–5.03). From P. diastatus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.620 –0.725 versus 0.00–0.614), the relative cloacal width (8.55–8.81 versus 7.15–8.06), the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 3.74–4.61), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 69.4–74.8), the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.06–4.94), and the relative nasal width (1.81 versus 1.41–1.77). From P. emys , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the adult SVL (72.6–88.3 versus 99.0–113), the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 238–311), the relative rostral height (1.86–2.06 versus 2.10–2.37), the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 3.99–4.36), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.15–5.83), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 67.7–74.5), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.37–5.19). From P. hylonomus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 169–222), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 73.8–76.4), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 64.0–74.5), the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.03–4.98), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.54–1.86 versus 1.95–2.03). From P. lanceolatus sp. nov., we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative postmental width (2.68–3.58 versus 2.36–2.66), the relative prefrontal width (4.73–4.75 versus 3.97–4.55), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 4.76–6.36), the relative distance between the ear and eye (7.78–8.43 versus 6.45–7.70), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 68.0–77.6), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 63.1–72.1), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.58–5.05). From P. leionotus , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 4.58–6.10). From P. marcanoi , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 4.75–6.68), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 59.0–73.0), and the relative angled subocular height (0.838 –0.978 versus 0.505 –0.793). From P. melanchrous , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the adult SVL (72.6–88.3 versus 93.2–124), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.76–7.09), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 61.3–71.4), and the relative nasal height (1.06–1.09 versus 0.897 –0.952). From P. neiba , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.61– 6.66), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 63.3–74.0), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (5.21 versus 4.51–5.01). From P. nesobous , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/dots in chevrons versus irregular dots/dots in series), the total lamellae on one hand (38–47 versus 50–59), the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 155–222), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (24.3–30.9 versus 35.1), the relative forelimb length (18.5–20.6 versus 23.3–25.1), the relative rostral height (1.86–2.06 versus 2.26–2.38), the relative mental width (1.92–1.94 versus 1.96–2.18), the relative cloacal width (8.55–8.81 versus 8.11–8.21), the relative largest supraocular width (1.91–2.77 versus 2.85–3.11), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 6.19–6.33), the relative head width (77.7–78.1 versus 71.2–76.4), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 60.8–63.5), the relative nasal height (1.06–1.09 versus 1.12–1.14), the relative angled subocular height (0.838 – 0.978 versus 0.669 –0.750), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.54–1.86 versus 2.01–2.12). From P. oreistes , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (24.3–30.9 versus 31.2–40.1), the relative mental width (1.92–1.94 versus 1.54–1.90), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.27–7.23), the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 61.6–76.9), and the relative nasal width (1.81 versus 1.37–1.65). From P. psychonothes , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the relative cloacal width (8.55–8.81 versus 7.56–8.53), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 4.89–5.81), the relative nasal height (1.06–1.09 versus 1.12–1.32), and the relative angled subocular width (2.71 versus 2.01–2.44). From P. saonae , we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the adult SVL (72.6–88.3 versus 90.9–98.3) and the relative rostral height (1.86–2.06 versus 2.15–2.46). From P. semitaeniatus sp. nov., we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 174–204), the relative forelimb length (18.5–20.6 versus 21.3–23.8), the relative ear width (0.929–1.58 versus 1.90–2.30), the relative rostral height (1.86–2.06 versus 2.41–2.63), the relative cloacal width (8.55–8.81 versus 8.08–8.23), the relative longest finger length (4.49–4.55 versus 5.17–6.05), the relative head width (77.7– 78.1 versus 58.8–63.8), and the relative frontal width (77.6–79.0 versus 63.6–76.5). From P. unicolor sp. nov., we distinguish P. lapierrae sp. nov. by the midbody scale rows (33–38 versus 40), the total lamellae on one hand (38–47 versus 48), and the total strigae on ten scales (228–231 versus 144).

Description of holotype. ANSP 38578. An adult male; SVL 72.6 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life midway, regenerated, 66.3 mm (91.3% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 40.4 mm (55.6% SVL); forelimb length 14.9 mm (20.5% SVL); hindlimb length 21.9 mm (30.2% SVL); head length 13.6 mm (18.7% SVL); head width 10.6 mm (14.6% SVL); head width 77.9% head length; diameter of orbit 2.66 mm (3.66% SVL); horizontal diameter

FIGURE 64. (A–F) Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. (ANSP 38578, holotype), SVL 72.6 mm.

of ear opening 1.15 mm (1.58% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 1.49 mm (2.05% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 22.5 mm (31.0% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.45 mm (0.620% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 6.12 mm (8.43% SVL); longest finger length 3.30 mm (4.55% SVL); largest supraocular width 2.01 mm (2.77% SVL); cloacal width 6.39 mm (8.80% SVL); mental width 1.39 mm (1.91% SVL); postmental width 2.60 mm (3.58% SVL); prefrontal width 3.43 mm (4.72% SVL); frontal width 77.6% frontal length; nasal height 0.77 mm (1.06% SVL); angled subocular height 0.71 mm (0.978% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 3.78 mm (5.21% SVL); canthal iii width 1.35 mm (1.86% SVL); angled subocular width 1.97 mm (2.71% SVL); nasal width 1.31 mm (1.80% SVL); rostral 1.94X 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 straight 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 smaller 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 above 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 –4 th supralabials (left)/(right); 2 nd loreal shorter than 1 st, approximately as high as wide (left)/(right), excluded from contact with supraocular by canthal iii (left)/(right); final loreal posteriorly bordering the upper and lower preoculars (left)/(right); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular, anterior supraciliary, upper preocular, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (left)/(right); 10 (left)/9 (right) median oculars, 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 2 (left)/ (right) upper preoculars; an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 5 temporals (left)/(right); 1 (left)/2 (right) suboculars; posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); 9 supralabials (left)/ (right), 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); 8 (left)/9 (right) infralabials, 5 (left)/6(right) to level below center of eye; mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 3 pairs of enlarged chin shields, followed by one extra bordering postmental (left), one extra after final pair (right) pair of reduced chin shields; 1 st pair in contact anteriorly, posteriorly separated by 1 scale; 2 nd –3 rd pairs separated by 1–3 scales; 90 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 96 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 37 scales around midbody; 5 digits; finger lengths 3>4>2>5>1; 9 (left)/10 (right) lamellae under longest finger; 41 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 4>3>5>2>1; 16 (left) lamellae under longest toe; keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth to faintly striate ventral scales; 228 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head gray-tan, patternless; lateral surfaces of head grading from gray-tan to off-white with some darker brown spots and darker brown eye masks; dorsal surfaces of the body are gray-tan, patternless; dorsal surface of tail yellow-gray to dark yellow (on regenerated section) with a few pale brown spots; lateral areas grade from dark brown to cream with white spots arranged in vertical lines anteriorly; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are golden tan with darker brown mottling and cream spots; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to yellow-cream, patternless; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are yellow-cream with darker brown lines under the throat.

Variation. The majority of the material examined resembles the holotype in having patternless dorsums except for SBH 192407, which has dots arranged in chevrons. Similarly, SBH 192407 possesses darker outlines on its head scale borders and dots in series in the longitudinal paramedian area whereas the other material examined lack patterned heads and longitudinal paramedian markings. In the majority of specimens, the dots that occur in lateral bands are reduced or only occur anteriorly. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. is known only from the region of Lapierre in northwestern Haiti at elevations of 100–250 m (Fig. 50). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 70 km 2.

Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are associated with this species. SBH has visited this general area of Lapierre twice (July 1985 and June 1991) but only encountered two animals of this species, both on the second trip in 1991. No specific notation was made on exactly where these two individuals were collected, but all lizards at that site were taken under rocks and therefore these were as well. Besides these two specimens of Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov., approximately 100 other lizards were collected in this area on those two visits, including Ameiva lineolata , Anolis olssoni , Anolis websteri , Anolis saxatilis , Leiocephalus schreibersi , Phyllodactylus sommeri , Sphaerodactylus asterulus , S. sommeri , Spondylurus lineolatus , and Comptus weinlandi . Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. ranks among the rarest of those species. SBH returned to that region of northwestern Haiti for a third time in April 1997, and collected extensively, although not in the area of Lapierre. Members of P. diastatus were found near Bombardopolis and Mole St. Nicolas, but no additional material of P. lapierrae sp. nov. was found, suggesting that it may be restricted to Lapierre.

Lapierre probably has the largest number of lizard species of any site in northern Haiti. Besides those mentioned above, it is the type locality of Leiocephalus rhutidira . Three species are only known from Lapierre: Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov., Leiocephalus rhutidira , and Phyllodactylus sommeri . A fourth species, Sphaerodactylus sommeri , is only known from there and another nearby location. The ecological or evolutionary significance of Lapierre is unclear. It is a mostly barren, rocky strip of land at the base of a mountain, Morne Lapierre, adjacent to the coast. The mountain is a source of freshwater in this otherwise dry area, and that may explain the unusual abundance of species. Unfortunately, Morne Lapierre is essentially completely deforested, which may be why some of these species are rare or have not been seen in decades. Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. has not been encountered since 1991, Leiocephalus rhutidira since 1979, and Spondylurus lineolatus since 1985.

We consider the conservation status of Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. to be Critically Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat from habitat destruction (deforestation). 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 ( lapierrae ) is a feminine genitive singular noun referring to the distribution of the species in the region of Lapierre, Artibonite Department, Haiti.

Remarks. Members of this species in museum collections were previously classified as Panolopus curtissi diastatus . Additional museum specimens catalogued as P. curtissi diastatus from this region should be examined for diagnostic traits to determine if they are additional representatives of P. lapierrae sp. nov.

Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. was included in our genetic dataset; however, its placement within Panolopus has support values of 83% and 72% in our ML and Bayesian analyses, respectively. Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), P. lapierrae sp. nov. diverged from its closest relative 1.53 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). Panolopus lapierrae sp. nov. was recognized as a distinct species by our ASAP analysis.