Celestus jamesbondi, 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 : 68-73

Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov.

James Bond Forest Lizard

(Fig. 23–24)

Celestus crusculus crusculus —Grant, 1940:102 (part).

Celestus crusculus — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:369 (part).

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

Celestus crusculus — Schools & Hedges, 2021:220 (part).

Celestus crusculus — Landestoy et al., 2022:204 (part).

Holotype. USNM 328184 , an adult female from ca. 6.4 km S of Port Maria , Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, collected by S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass on 10 August 1987 (18.31715, -76.88786; 59 m).

Paratypes (n=40). JAMAICA. Saint Mary. AMNH 107325–9 , Herndon G. Dowling, 2 mi W Port Maria, Dowling’s house, 18 December 1970 ; KU 229363 , 6.1 mi W Oracabessa , 16 August 1967 ; KU 229364–5 , 0.6 mi S Spring Valley , 17 August 1967 ; KU 229366 , 4.3 mi W, thence 1 mi S Oracabessa , 17 August 1967 ; KU 229368 , 8.6 mi WNW Annotto Bay , 18 August 1967 ; KU 229369–70 , 3.3 mi W, thence 1.4 mi S Oracabessa , 18 August 1967 ; KU 229371–2 , 2.8 mi W Oracabessa , 18 August 1967 ; KU 229373 , 4.7 mi E Ocho Rios , 19 August 1967 ; KU 229374 , 2.5 mi N Port Maria , 20 August 1967 ; KU 229375–6 , 3.2 mi E Oracabessa , 21 August 1967 ; KU 229377 , KU 229379 , 2.8 mi E Oracabessa , 21–22 August 1967 ; KU 229378 , 2 mi E Oracabessa , 22 August 1967 ; MCZ R-45149–50, Chapman Grant, None Such, 6 mi SE of Port Maria , 19 March 1938 ; MCZ R-45152–3, Chapman Grant, Brimmer Hall, 4 miles S of Port Maria , 19 March 1938 ; MCZ R-45154–5, Chapman Grant, N of Port Maria , 19 March 1938 ; USNM 328170 , S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass, Clarendon, Jackson’s Bay (on beach at hunting club), 5 October 1984 ; USNM 328171 , S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass, Clarendon, ca. 1.6 km ESE of Jackson’s Bay (at entrance to Jackson’s Bay Caves), 5 October 1984 ; USNM 328172 , S. Blair Hedges and David Powars, vicinity of Jacks River (town of), 11 January 1984 ; USNM 328173 , S. Blair Hedges and David Powars, ca. 1.6 km S of Oracabessa (on road to Jacks River ), 11 January 1984 ; USNM 328174–5 , S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass , 6.2 km W of Oracabessa, 25 May 1988 ; USNM 328176 , S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass, St. Mary, Salt Gut (vicinity of Boscobel Airport, E side), 25 September 1985 ; USNM 328177–9 , Leonard Buchnor, 2.9 km N of Port Maria , 29 May 1988 ; USNM 328180 , 328182–328183 , S. Blair Hedges and Carla Ann Hass, ca. 6.4 km S of Port Maria , 10 August 1987 .

FIGURE 23. (A–F) Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. ( USNM 328184, holotype), SVL 69.7 mm.

Diagnosis. Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent/irregular dots/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 54.7–72.0 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 91–112, (7) midbody scale rows, 35–44, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 30–36, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 101–173, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 19.8–26.3 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.363–1.01 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.94–4.06 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 14.4–19.9 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.917–2.18 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.62–2.35 %, (16) relative head length, 15.1–20.4 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.59–2.01 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.61–2.92 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 6.59–9.08 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 4.29–5.09 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 2.16–2.79 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 3.66–4.33 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 6.92–7.80 %, (24) relative head width, 76.0–80.8 %, (25) relative frontal width, 70.5–77.6 %, (26) relative nasal height, 1.12–1.21 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.893–1.18 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 4.25–5.54 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.75–2.16 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 2.09–2.76 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.42–1.75 %. The species stem time is 2.33 Ma and the species crown time is 0.10 Ma (Fig. 4).

We distinguish Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. from other species of Celestus based on a complex of traits. From Celestus barbouri , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus chevrons), the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 78.4–93.6), the ventral scale rows (91–112 versus 118–151), and the midbody scale rows (35–44 versus 47–56). From C. capitulatus sp. nov., we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 78.1–81.6) and the relative width of canthal iii (1.75–2.16 versus 1.61–1.70). From C. crusculus , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 82.6–91.1). From C. duquesneyi , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus bands), the midbody scale rows (35–44 versus 48), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 64), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (19.8–26.3 versus 31.4), the relative eye length (2.94–4.06 versus 4.36), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 24.4), the relative ear width (0.917–2.18 versus 2.45), the relative head length (15.1–20.4 versus 21.6), the relative mental width (1.59–2.01 versus 2.35), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 3.19), the relative cloacal width (6.59–9.08 versus 9.98), the relative prefrontal width (4.29–5.09 versus 5.41), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 6.52), the relative head width (76.0–80.8 versus 64.6), the relative angled subocular height (0.893–1.18 versus 1.61), the relative width of canthal iii (1.75–2.16 versus 1.59), the relative angled subocular width (2.09–2.76 versus 2.90), and the relative nasal width (1.42–1.75 versus 2.01). From C. hesperius sp. nov., we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 80.5–86.1). From C. hewardi , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus mottled/bands), the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 129–171), the ventral scale rows (91–112 versus 113–137), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 50–61), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 22.2–24.6), and the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 5.03–5.66). From C. macrolepis , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus bicolored), the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 254–316), the midbody scale rows (35–44 versus 46–48), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 52–54), the total strigae on ten scales (101–173 versus 398), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (19.8–26.3 versus 27.5–28.0), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.363–1.01 versus 1.39–1.66), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 26.1–26.7), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 3.81), the relative cloacal width (6.59–9.08 versus 11.2), the relative prefrontal width (4.29–5.09 versus 3.94), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 5.47–5.51), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.92–7.80 versus 8.02–10.9), the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 78.4), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.25–5.54 versus 6.02). From C. macrotus , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus chevrons/bands), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 39–40), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (19.8–26.3 versus 30.2–31.2), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 22.4–25.0), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 3.00), the relative largest supraocular width (2.16–2.79 versus 2.96–4.03), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 6.43–6.67), the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 57.6–66.1), the relative angled subocular width (2.09–2.76 versus 2.77–2.83), and the relative nasal width (1.42–1.75 versus 2.08–2.33). From C. microblepharis , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the dorsal pattern (absent/irregular dots/dots in chevrons versus chevrons), the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 96.4), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (19.8–26.3 versus 16.6), the relative eye length (2.94–4.06 versus 1.83), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 14.2), the relative ear width (0.917–2.18 versus 0.446), the relative head length (15.1–20.4 versus 14.7), the relative mental width (1.59–2.01 versus 1.44), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 2.47), the relative largest supraocular width (2.16–2.79 versus 2.06), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 3.11), the relative head width (76.0–80.8 versus 75.4), the relative nasal height (1.12–1.21 versus 0.726), the relative angled subocular height (0.893–1.18 versus 0.778), the relative width of canthal iii (1.75–2.16 versus 1.74), the relative angled subocular width (2.09–2.76 versus 2.90), and the relative nasal width (1.42–1.75 versus 1.11). From C. molesworthi , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 78.1–103), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 2.97–3.08), and the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.92–7.80 versus 7.97–8.83). From C. occiduus , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 269–367), the midbody scale rows (35–44 versus 46–56), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 50–66), the total strigae on ten scales (101–173 versus 374), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.363–1.01 versus 1.26–1.27), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 23.5–23.9), the relative postmental width (2.61–2.92 versus 3.57), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 4.77–5.46), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.92–7.80 versus 8.98–10.9), the relative head width (76.0–80.8 versus 73.8), the relative frontal width (70.5–77.6 versus 63.8), the relative angled subocular height (0.893–1.18 versus 1.30), the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.25–5.54 versus 6.51), and the relative nasal width (1.42–1.75 versus 1.83). From C. oligolepis sp. nov., we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the relative mental to vent scales (2.14–2.77 versus 2.80) (see Remarks). From C. striatus , we distinguish C. jamesbondi sp. nov. by the adult SVL (54.7–72.0 versus 145), the total lamellae on one hand (30–36 versus 59–66), the total strigae on ten scales (101–173 versus 279), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (19.8–26.3 versus 37.8), the relative forelimb length (14.4–19.9 versus 26.1), the relative prefrontal width (4.29–5.09 versus 5.68), the relative longest finger length (3.66–4.33 versus 7.48), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.92–7.80 versus 9.00), the relative head width (76.0–80.8 versus 82.1), the relative nasal height (1.12–1.21 versus 1.08), and the relative distance between the eye and naris (4.25–5.54 versus 6.16).

Description of holotype. USNM 328184. An adult female; SVL 69.7 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken, 8.94 mm (12.8% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 39.1 mm (56.1% SVL); forelimb length 12.2 mm (17.5% SVL); hindlimb length 17.8 mm (25.5% SVL); head length 11.1 mm (15.9% SVL); head width 8.93 mm (12.8% SVL); head width 80.5% head length; diameter of orbit 2.34 mm (3.36% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 1.28 mm (1.84% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 1.18 mm (1.69% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 15.1 mm (21.7% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.44 mm (0.631% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 4.89 mm (7.02% SVL); longest finger length 2.72 mm (3.90% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.60 mm (2.30% SVL); cloacal width 4.59 mm (6.59% SVL); mental width 1.40 mm (2.01% SVL); postmental width 1.91 mm (2.74% SVL); prefrontal width 3.01 mm (4.32% SVL); frontal width 2.95 mm (4.23% SVL); nasal height 0.79 mm (1.13% SVL); angled subocular height 0.82 mm (1.18% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 2.96 mm (4.25% SVL); angled subocular width 1.46 mm (2.09% SVL); nasal width 0.99 mm (1.42% SVL); rostral 1.89X 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 an irregular posterior margin, wider than long, bordered by posterior internasals, the loreal 1 (left), additional scale over right loreal 1 (right), median ocular 1, canthal iii (left), and the frontal; frontal mostly missing, 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, canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and supralabials 3–4 (left)/postnasal, posterior internasal, additional scale above 1 st loreal (separating it from the prefrontal/frontonasal complex), canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and 3 rd –4 th supralabials (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 missing, wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular (missing on left), anterior supraciliary, upper preocular, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, and 1 st and 2 nd loreals (left)/(right); 9 median oculars (left)/(right), 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/damaged (right); 1 upper preocular (left)/(right); an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 5 temporals (left)/(right); 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); 9 infralabials (left)/(right), 6 to level below center of eye (left)/(right); mental small, followed by a single, larger postmental; 4 pairs of enlarged chin shields; 1 st pair in contact with one another; 2 nd –4 th pairs separated by 1–3 scales; 95 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 104 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 42 scales around midbody; 5 digits; finger lengths 3>4>2>5>1; 8 (left)/missing limb (right) lamellae under longest finger; 32 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 4>3>5>2>1; 13 (left)/14 (right) lamellae under longest toe; striate and keeled dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 120 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head medium brown with darker brown markings around scale borders; lateral surfaces of head grading from medium brown to dark yellow with darker brown eye masks; dorsal surfaces of the body are medium brown with darker markings in longitudinal paramedian series and others that continue down the body as chevrons; dorsal surface of tail the same as the body with less pronounced chevrons; lateral areas grade from dark brown to dark yellow; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown with some medium brown flecks; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to deep yellow; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are dark yellow and patternless.

Variation. The majority of the specimens are similar to the holotype in scalation and pattern. USNM 328170 has a pale tan dorsal color and is the lightest of the specimens. This specimen has none of the pattern around the neck or dotting down the dorsum seen in the majority of the other specimens. The other paratypes have a medium to dark brown dorsum.All specimens have markings on the neck that range from mottling to small longitudinal paramedian lines. The majority of the specimens have dots that begin on their necks and are arranged in a herring bone pattern that becomes sparser posteriorly. USNM 328180 has few spots arranged as chevrons. All paratypes have dark lateral bands, some of which bear paler spots (USNM 328174, USNM 328182). All have cream colored, patternless venters. The underside of the throats of all the adult specimens appears as a darker gray-cream in comparison to the rest of their venters. No specimens show dots in bars in the lateral bands. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. has a disjunct distribution, known primarily from the north-central coast of Jamaica at elevations of 0–60 m in St. Mary Parish, and from the southern coast near Jackson’s Bay in Clarendon Parish (Fig. 12). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 650 km 2.

Ecology and conservation. Little is known of the ecology of this species, although it appears to be rather common and tolerant of disturbance ( SBH). The majority of animals were collected during the day under boards, rocks, logs, and in rotting palm vegetation. One specimen ( SBH 103460 ) was collected at night on rocks next to a sinkhole near the entrances of large caves .

We consider the conservation status of Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. to be Least Concern, based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). However, its relatively small range is of concern and therefore studies are needed to determine the health and extent of the populations and any threats to the survival of the species.

Reproduction. Ovoviviparous. Litter sizes of 1–3 have been recorded. Two enlarging eggs (0.55 g) were in one female (6.3 g, live) (SBH, field data).

Etymology. The species name ( jamesbondi ) is a Latinized version of the name “James Bond,” curator of ornithology and expert on Caribbean birds at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences in the 20 th Century. Ian Fleming borrowed his name in 1953 for the fictional character in a series of books, starting with Casino Royale. The writer’s house, Goldeneye (near Oracabessa), where Fleming created the character, is in the range of this species, which is why we give it this name.

Remarks. Specimens of Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. were observed in the majority of the museum collections examined (AMNH, KU, MCZ, and USNM), having been collected as recently as the 1980s. Although C. jamesbondi and C. oligolepis cannot be morphologically separated based on our standard suite of characters, the one known specimen of C. oligolepis is a juvenile, meaning that only traits pertaining to pattern and scale counts could be applied to this comparison (also the two species are separated genetically by 5.0 million years; Fig. 4). However, C. jamesbondi and C. oligolepis are morphologically separated based on the ratio of mental to vent scales divided by midbody scales (2.14–2.77 [n=35] versus 2.80 [n=1]). Also, the two species are separated by 110–140 km straight line distance.

Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. is included in our genetic dataset and has significant support in both Bayesian and ML likelihood analyses at the crown node of the species and the stem node that places it as the closest relative to C. hesperius . Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), C. jamesbondi sp. nov. diverged from its closest relative 2.33 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. was recovered as conspecific with Celestus crusculus in our ASAP analysis.

FIGURE 24. Celestus jamesbondi sp. nov. (USNM 328173, SBH 101615), in life. From ca. 1.6 km S Oracabessa on road to Jack’s River, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica. Photo by SBH.