Panolopus saonae ( Schwartz 1971b )

Schools, Molly & Hedges, Blair, 2024, A new forest lizard fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Diploglossidae, Celestinae), Zootaxa 5554 (1), pp. 1-306 : 208-212

Panolopus saonae ( Schwartz 1971b)

Saona Forest Lizard

(Fig. 76)

Diploglossus costatus saonae Schwartz, 1971b:161 . Holotype: CM 52285 , collected by Sixto J. Incháustegui and locals on Isla Saona, La Altagracia province, Dominican Republic, in December 1968 (18.130, -68.736; 1 m).

Celestus costatus saonae — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988:96.

Celestus costatus saonae — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:367.

Celestus costatus saonae — Hedges et al., 2019:16.

Panolopus costatus saonae — Schools & Hedges, 2021:230.

Material examined (n=3). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. La Altagracia. Saona Island. CM 52285 , Sixto J. Incháustegui and locals, 0.5 km W Mano Juan , 29 December 1968 ; KU 226020 , 225036 , 0.5 km W Mano Juan , 29 December 1968 .

Diagnosis. Panolopus saonae has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent, (2) head markings absent, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area absent, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent/present, (5) an adult SVL of 90.9–98.3 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 92–95, (7) midbody scale rows, 35–39, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 40–42, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 212–284, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 26.5–29.8 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.517 –0.630 %, (12) relative eye length, 3.06–3.20 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 19.0–20.2 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.880–1.35 %, (15) relative rostral height, 2.15– 2.46 %, (16) relative head length, 15.4–17.5 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.52 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.43 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 8.20 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 4.14 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 2.77 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 5.01 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 7.63 %, (24) relative head width, 73.5 %, (25) relative frontal width, 72.5 %, (26) relative nasal height, 1.01 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.847 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 6.43 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.99 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.31 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.69 %. No genetic data are available to estimate the species stem or crown time.

FIGURE 76. (A–F) Panolopus saonae (CM 52285, holotype), SVL 90.9 mm.

Panolopus saonae has a larger relative eye to naris distance (6.43) than all other species of the genus. From Panolopus aenetergum , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular dots), the ventral scale rows (92–95 versus 80–86), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.517 –0.630 versus 0.717), and the relative eye length (3.06–3.20 versus 3.34). From P. aporus , we distinguish P. saonae by the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.72–2.08), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.18–4.53), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 1.08–1.23), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.69–5.44), the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.85–1.96), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.32–2.73). From P. chalcorhabdus , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus absent/irregular flecks/irregular dots), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 31.3–36.0), the relative forelimb length (19.0–20.2 versus 20.4–23.7), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.37–4.93), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.29–6.97), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.93–5.62), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.36–2.71). From P. costatus , we distinguish P. saonae by the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 49–58), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 31.5–37.8), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.66–2.00), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.53–6.66), the relative frontal width (72.5 versus 56.2–67.4), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 1.02–1.28), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 5.08–5.50), the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.82–1.90), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.36–2.81). From P. curtissi , we distinguish P. saonae by the adult SVL (90.9– 98.3 versus 64.1–85.5), the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 32–39), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.60–2.09), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 3.59–4.54), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 1.04– 1.25), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.02–5.03), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.75–1.93). From P. diastatus , we distinguish P. saonae by the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 66.1–83.7), the relative cloacal width (8.20 versus 7.15–8.06), the relative largest supraocular width (2.77 versus 1.88–2.57), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 3.48–4.87), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.06–4.94). From P. emys , we distinguish P. saonae by the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 99.0–113), the relative cloacal width (8.20 versus 8.24–8.96), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.15–5.83), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.37–5.19). From P. hylonomus , we distinguish P. saonae by the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 59.3–76.5), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.63–2.11), the relative postmental width (2.43 versus 2.67–2.89), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.23–4.87), the relative head width (73.5 versus 73.8–76.4), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.03–4.98). From P. lanceolatus sp. nov., we distinguish P. saonae by the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the relative largest supraocular width (2.77 versus 2.20–2.71), the relative frontal width (72.5 versus 63.1–72.1), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.58–5.05), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.38–3.09). From P. lapierrae sp. nov., we distinguish P. saonae by the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 72.6– 88.3), and the relative rostral height (2.15–2.46 versus 1.86–2.06). From P. leionotus , we distinguish P. saonae by the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 43–48), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.67–2.02), the relative largest supraocular width (2.77 versus 1.94–2.50), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.46–5.61), the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.55–1.89), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.48–2.95). From P. marcanoi , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular dots/ dots in chevrons), the head markings (absent versus present), the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 64.6–85.8), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.75–2.33), the relative postmental width (2.43 versus 2.46–3.24), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.19–5.19), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 1.07–1.28), the relative angled subocular height (0.847 versus 0.505 –0.793), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.68–5.82). From P. melanchrous , we distinguish P. saonae by the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 47–58), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 30.7–41.3), the relative postmental width (2.43 versus 2.71–3.38), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.21–5.06), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.76–7.09), the relative frontal width (72.5 versus 61.3–71.4), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 0.897 –0.952), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.89–5.59), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.67–1.94). From P. neiba , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular flecks/dots in chevrons), the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 45–49), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.517 –0.630 versus 0.670 –0.747), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.66–2.36), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.41–5.49), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.61–6.66), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.51–5.01), the relative width of canthal iii (1.99 versus 1.51–1.95), and the relative angled subocular width (2.31 versus 2.34–2.83). From P. nesobous , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular dots/dots in series), the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the total lamellae on one hand (40–42 versus 50–59), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 35.1), the relative eye length (3.06–3.20 versus 3.41–3.63), the relative forelimb length (19.0–20.2 versus 23.3– 25.1), the relative ear width (0.880–1.35 versus 1.39–1.60), and the relative head length (15.4–17.5 versus 17.9– 19.8). From P. oreistes , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular dots/dots in series/ dots in chevrons), the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 31.2–40.1), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.54–1.90), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.18–4.96), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.27–7.23), the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 5.01–5.63), and the relative nasal width (1.69 versus 1.37–1.65). From P. psychonothes , we distinguish P. saonae by the dorsal pattern (absent versus irregular dots/dots in series/dots in chevrons), the relative postmental width (2.43 versus 2.46–3.34), the relative largest supraocular width (2.77 versus 1.92–2.68), the relative nasal height (1.01 versus 1.12–1.32), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (6.43 versus 4.00–5.62). From P. semitaeniatus sp. nov., we distinguish P. saonae by the SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 77.4–84.1), the total strigae on ten scales (212–284 versus 174–204), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (26.5–29.8 versus 30.4–34.6), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.517 –0.630 versus 0.666 –0.808), the relative eye length (3.06–3.20 versus 3.27–3.61), the relative forelimb length (19.0–20.2 versus 21.3–23.8), the relative ear width (0.880–1.35 versus 1.90–2.30), the relative mental width (1.52 versus 1.69–2.09), the relative postmental width (2.43 versus 2.50–2.97), the relative prefrontal width (4.14 versus 4.38–4.94), the relative longest finger length (5.01 versus 5.17–6.05), and the relative head width (73.5 versus 58.8–63.8). From P. unicolor sp. nov., we distinguish P. saonae by the longitudinal paramedian lines (absent versus present), the adult SVL (90.9–98.3 versus 67.6), the midbody scale rows (35–39 versus 40), the total strigae on ten scales (212–284 versus 144), the relative eye length (3.06–3.20 versus 3.38), the relative ear width (0.880–1.35 versus 1.60), and the relative head length (15.4–17.5 versus 17.8).

Description of holotype. CM 52285. An adult female; SVL 90.9 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life midway, regenerated, 83.8 mm (92.2% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 52.4 mm (57.6% SVL); forelimb length 18.4 mm (20.2% SVL); hindlimb length 28.0 mm (30.8% SVL); head length 15.9 mm (17.5% SVL); head width 11.7 mm (12.9% SVL); head width 73.6% HL; diameter of orbit 2.78 mm (3.06% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.80 mm (0.880% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 1.23 mm (1.35% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 27.1 mm (29.8% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.47 mm (0.517% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 6.94 mm (7.63% SVL); longest finger length 4.55 mm (5.01% SVL); largest supraocular width 2.52 mm (2.77% SVL); cloacal width 7.45 mm (8.20% SVL); mental width 1.38 mm (1.52% SVL); postmental width 2.21 mm (2.43% SVL); prefrontal width 3.76 mm (4.14% SVL); frontal width 72.5% frontal length; angled subocular width 2.10 mm (2.31% SVL); nasal width 1.54 mm (1.69% SVL); rostral 2.15X 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 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)/1 st and 2 nd temporals (missing) and frontoparietal (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 lower and upper 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); 9 (left)/ missing several(right) median oculars, 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 1 upper preocular (left)/(right); an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left); 5 temporals (left); 2 suboculars (left)/(right); posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular small (left)/(right); 9 supralabials (left)/(right), 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); 10 (left)/8 (right) infralabials, 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields (damage on the left and several missing); 1 st pair in contact with one another; 2 nd –4 th pairs separated by 1–3 scales; 92 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 92 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 35 scales around midbody; 5 digits; finger lengths 3>4>2>5>1; 10 lamellae under longest finger (left)/(right); 40 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 4>3>5>2>1; 17 lamellae under longest toe (left)/(right); keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth to faintly striated ventral scales; 212 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head medium brown, patternless; lateral surfaces of head grading from medium brown to cream with darker brown eye masks and markings on the labial scales; dorsal surfaces of the body are medium brown, patternless; dorsal surface of tail the same as the body with several darker flecks; lateral areas grade from medium brown to cream with a darker brown lateral band with darker brown and off-white dots arranged in bars; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are darker brown with paler cream mottling; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs cream with several darker brown flecks; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are cream with several darker brown flecks on the chest.

Variation. The material examined resembles the holotype in both the lack of a dorsal pattern and markings on the head scales. Only KU 226020 lacks dots arranged in bars in the lateral band. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Panolopus saonae is distributed on Isla Saona in southeastern Dominican Republic (Fig. 50). The elevational range of the island is 0– 50 m.

Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are associated with this species. We consider the conservation status of Panolopus saonae to be Least Concern, based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It is likely a common species tolerant of some habitat disturbance, based on what is known of most species of Panolopus . Saona Island is a nature reserve with a currently reduced threat from human-caused habitat disturbance.

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

Etymology. The species name ( saonae ) is in reference to the island where it occurs.

Remarks. Previously, members of this species were considered to be a subspecies of Panolopus costatus . Herein, we recognize P. saonae to be a full species based on diagnostic morphological characteristics. Panolopus saonae is not included in our genetic dataset and future studies should be conducted using genetic or genomic data from this species.