Bolitoglossa caldwellae, Brcko, Isabela Carvalho, Hoogmoed, Marinus Steven & Neckel-Oliveira, Selvino, 2013

Brcko, Isabela Carvalho, Hoogmoed, Marinus Steven & Neckel-Oliveira, Selvino, 2013, Taxonomy and distribution of the salamander genus Bolitoglossa Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 (Amphibia, Caudata, Plethodontidae) in Brazilian Amazonia, Zootaxa 3686 (4), pp. 401-431 : 418-422

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3686.4.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:301004F2-39C2-45D1-A145-F77AFE122A69
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5621237
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6154094F-5649-FE10-CEDE-16FF169C0318
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Bolitoglossa caldwellae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Bolitoglossa caldwellae View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figures 5 View FIGURE 5 C, 6)

Bolitoglossa altamazonica View in CoL —Brame Jr. & Wake 1963: 13, Fig. 22 (in part); Wake & Brame Jr. 1966: 361 (in part); Wake & Lynch 1976: 41 (in part); Wake et al. 1982: 14 (in part); Obst et al. 1984: 65 (in part); Frost 1985: 574 (in part); Bartlett & Bartlett 2003: 28 (in part); Raffaëlli 2007: 258 (in part); Souza 2009: 71.

Bolitoglossa paraensis View in CoL — Avila-Pires et al. 2007: 15 (in part); Peloso 2010: 669 (in part); Segalla et al. 2010 (in part). Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) paraensis View in CoL — Parra-Olea et al. 2004: 335 (in part); Acevedo et al. 2013: 74,76, 82 (in part).

Holotype. MPEG 12886, adult 3, 5 km North of Porto Walter, near Juru river, 08° 15’ 31,2” S, 72° 46’ 37,1” W, Municipality of Porto Walter, state of Acre, Brazil, 215 m elevation, 25-III-1996, leg. T.C.S. Avila-Pires and V.L. Oliveira.

Paratypes. 47 individuals: Brazil, Acre state: Municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul: UFAC 1770, Ƥ, Parque Nacional Serra do Divisor, left bank of Juruá—Mirim river, Área Sul, settlement Lago da Pólvora, 0 8 11’ 00” S, 72° 53’ 25” W, 200 m elevation, 9-III-1997, leg. M.B. Souza and R.D.S. Jesus; UFAC 1708–1709, 1 3 and 1 Ƥ, Parque Nacional Serra do Divisor, near Azul river, settlement Juazeiro, 07° 51’ 11” S, 73° 24’ 30” W, 225 m elevation, 23-XI-1997, leg. M.B. Souza and W.M. Aiache; Municipality of Marechal Thaumaturgo: UFAC 3012– 3013, 2 Ƥ, Reserva Extrativista Alto–Juruá, near Amônia river, settlement Quieto, 09° 00’ 33” S, 72° 51’ 10” W, 235 m elevation, 10-III-1998, leg. M.B. Souza and V.M.L. Nascimento; Municipality of Porto Walter: MZUSP 51630, Ƥ, 08° 16’ S, 72° 44’ W, 240 m elevation, 17-I-1979, leg. P.E. Vanzolini; Sobral region, left bank of Juru river, 08° 22’ S, 72° 49’ W, 250 m elevation: INPA 4464, Ƥ; INPA 4418, Ƥ, 8-III-1992; INPA 4461–4463, 1 juvenile and 2 Ƥ 9-III-1992; INPA 4534–4535, 1 juvenile and 1 Ƥ; INPA 4540, Ƥ; INPA 4543, juvenile; INPA 4548, 3, 11-III-1992; INPA 4569, Ƥ, 12-III-1992; INPA 4630; Ƥ; INPA 4634, Ƥ; INPA 4636, Ƥ, 15-III-1992; INPA 4641, Ƥ, 16-III-1992; INPA 4701, Ƥ, 18-III-1992; INPA 4680–4681, 1 juvenile and 1 Ƥ; INPA 4683, Ƥ; INPA 4685, Ƥ; INPA 4688, juvenile, 19-III-1992; INPA 4729–4730, 1 3 and 1 Ƥ; INPA 4734–4736, 3 Ƥ; INPA 4742, Ƥ; INPA 4768, Ƥ; INPA 4770, Ƥ, 22-III-1992; INPA 4772, 3, 23-III-1992, all leg. C. Gascon; MPEG 12876, Ƥ; MPEG 12878, Ƥ, 12-II-1996, same locality data and collectors as holotype; MPEG 12880, Ƥ, 15-II-1996, same locality data and collectors as holotype; MPEG 12882, Ƥ, 17-II-1996, same locality data as holotype, leg. J.P. Caldwell and L.J. Vitt; MPEG 12883, Ƥ, 28-II-1996, same locality data and collectors as holotype; MPEG 12877, Ƥ; MPEG 12879, Ƥ; MPEG 12881, Ƥ; MPEG 12884–12885, 1 3 and 1 Ƥ, 19-III-1996, same locality data as holotype, leg. J.P. Caldwell and L.J. Vitt.

Comparisons with other species. Distinguished from all other genera of Neotropical salamanders by extensive digital webbing, 13 costal grooves between the limbs and the absence of a sublingual fold. A moderately small, slender species of Bolitoglossa , with digits completely webbed, morphologically similar to other species of Bolitoglossa of the Brazilian Amazonia . It can be distinguished from other Amazonian species of Bolitoglossa , mainly by its wider head (SL/HW 6.3–6.9 times in adult males and 6.1–7.0 times in adult females), its peculiar pattern of coloration of the ventral surface, which is light brown with cream specks that vary in size ( Figure 9 View FIGURE 9 ), and by the following characteristics (condition for B. caldwellae sp. nov. in parentheses): B. altamazonica : SL in adult males 33.1–46.8 mm, mean 39.0 mm (32.3–39.2 mm, mean 35.2mm) and in adult females 43.3–54.1 mm, mean 47.0 mm (30.2–43.2 mm, mean 34.8 mm), SNL/HW in adult males 30–50%, mean 50% (30–40%, mean 30%), TL/ SL in adult males 70–120%, mean 90% (60–90%, mean 70%), PT in adult males 1–3 (2–4). B. peruviana : PT in adult males 1–3 (2–4), MT in adult males and females maximum 48 teeth (maximum 23 in adult males and 31 in adult females). B. paraensis : SNL/HL ≥ 40% in adult males and females (≤ 40% in adult males and females), TL/ SL in adult males 75%–103%, mean 90% (60–90%, mean 80%) and in adult females 71–99%, mean 86% (61– 89%, mean 74%), PT in adult males 1–3, mean 2 (2–4, mean 3). B. tapajonica sp. nov.: SL in adult males 38.8– 42.8 mm, mean 41.4 mm (32.3–39.2 mm, mean 35.2 mm) and in adult females 32.5–49.3 mm, mean 41.5 mm (30.2–43.2 mm, mean 34.8 mm), EN/SNL in adult males 60–100% (90–120%) and in adult females 70–100% (80– 130%), PT in adult males 3–5, mean 4 (2–4, mean 3). B. madeira sp. nov.: SL in adult females 49.3–59.0 mm, mean 54.4 (30.2–43.2 mm, mean 34.7 mm), VT in adult females 20–33 (11–26), DT in adult females 53–78 (29– 68). For comparison of selected morphometric and dentition characters for B. altamazonica , B. paraensis , B. peruviana , B. tapajonica sp. nov., B. caldwellae sp. nov. and B. madeira sp. nov. see Table 3.

Measurements (in mm) and counts of holotype (MPEG 12886). Total length 63.1; SL 39.2; SVL 35.4; HL 5.7; HW 6.2; HD 2.6; SGF 10.1; EYW 1.7; EYL 2.8; SNL 1.8; SP 1.0; SWS 4.8; LWS 3.1; EN 2.0; OD 2.3; DBE 2.1; IDE 3.7; WMG 3.3; LMG 2.0; NGGF 2.7; SA 13.0; AG 19.8; PECW 4.6; interval between adpressed fore- and hind limbs 2.5 costal folds; 13 costal grooves; FL 9.8; HLL 10.2; HDW 2.4; FW 3.3; LIIIF 2.1; LIIIT 2.7; LVT 2.3; TL 23.9; TW 2.6; TD 2.6; VL 3.8; number of teeth: PT 4, MT 10–11, VT 8–8, DT 23–26.

Coloration of the holotype in life. The color description is based on photographs made by M.B. Souza and J.P. Caldwell. Dorsal surface with reddish brown spots. The color of the back varies from light reddish brown to dark brown. Some individuals have a triangular dark brown or red-brownish mark on top of the head originating between the eyes, with the apex extending posteriorly, following the mid-dorsal line. Snout with reddish brown specks above nasolabial protuberances. Iris brown to reddish or silver.

Coloration of the holotype in preservative ( Figure 6 View FIGURE 6 ). Dorsal surface light brown with some diffuse patches of varied shades of dark brown. Top of head with slightly triangular and lighter mark originating between eyes, with apex extending posteriorly, following the mid-dorsal line. Dark brown dorsolateral band. Ventral surface light brown with irregular cream specks. Snout with cream specks above nasolabial protuberances.

Description. Slender species, moderately small. Maximum total length 76.5 mm. SL in paratypes 32.3–39.2 mm (mean 35.2 mm) in six adult males, 30.2–43.2 mm (mean 34.8 mm) in 37 adult females. Species with head moderately large, SL/HW 6.3–6.9 times (mean 6.6 times) in males, 6.1–7.0 times (mean 6.6 times) in females; head not flattened, about 0.9 to 1.2 times longer than wide, head distinctly wider than neck. Eyes prominent, horizontal orbit diameter on average 110% of the snout length. Eyes protrude beyond lateral margins of head, well visible in dorsal view. Nasolabial protuberances evident and developed in adult males and females. Snout short, SNL/HL 30– 40% (mean 35%), broad, SWS/HL 50–70% (mean 60%) in males and females. Snout truncate in dorsal view and slightly rounded to truncate in lateral view; extremity of the snout with concave area in the middle portion. Canthus rostralis hardly distinct. Nostrils small, located near tip of snout. Mental gland present only in adult males, oval, WMG 2.1–3.3 mm (mean 2.8 mm), LMG 1.8–2.3 mm (mean 2.0 mm). Body cylindrical, 13 shallow costal grooves. Limbs slender and short, costal interspaces between adpressed fore- and hind limbs 2.5–5.5 (mean 4.0). Hands and feet moderately broad, completely webbed with distal phalanges of all digits free. Fingers in order of decreasing length 3–2–4–1, toes 3–2–4–5–1. Original tail round in cross-section, gradually tapering to its tip; rather short, never exceeding the standard length, TL/SL 61–89% (mean 76%) in four adult males, 63–86% (mean 73%) in 29 adult females. Number of teeth in adults: PT 2–4 (mean 3) in males, 1–4 (mean 2) in females. No relation between the number of maxillary teeth and length (r2 = 0.06; p=0.12), MT 17–23 (mean 20) in five males, 12–31 (mean 21) in 36 females ( Figure 7 View FIGURE 7. A B). No relation between the number of vomerine teeth and length (r2 =0.03; p =0.25), vomerine teeth 14–20 (mean 16) in five males, 11–26 (mean 17) in females ( Figure 7 View FIGURE 7. A C). The number of dentary teeth increases with length (r2 =0.31; p<0.05), DT 33–51 (mean 46) in males, 29–68 (mean 48) in females ( Figure 7 View FIGURE 7. A D).

Coloration of paratypes in preservative. Dorsum light to dark brown. Most individuals with light to dark brown spots on back. Some specimens have a mid-dorsal line, which varies from cream to light brown. Top of head with a slightly triangulated mark with color lighter than the rest of the back. This mark originates between eyes, with apex extending posteriorly following the mid-dorsal line. Dorsolateral surface may show a dark brown stripe. Ventral surface always lighter than back. Ventral surface light brown with cream specks that can vary in size. Snout cream or light brown, with cream specks above nasolabial protuberances. Mental gland cream.

Habitat and range. Known only from the western part of Acre state, Brazil, from localities in the basin of the upper Juruá river, a southern affluent of the Solimões river, in the municipalities of Porto Walter, Cruzeiro do Sul and Marechal Thaumaturgo in undisturbed forest ( Figure 10 View FIGURE 10 ). The elevation where individuals were found varies from 215 to 240 m above sea level. Specimens were found active at night between 0.15 and 1.0 m above the ground on leaves of herbaceous vegetation and tree seedlings, but also were observed on leaf litter on the ground and inside bamboos. The holotype was collected 5 km north of Porto Walter city in an undisturbed terra firme forest. This area was completely devastated and modified for livestock shortly after the type material was collected. In Cruzeiro do Sul all the individuals were collected inside Parque Nacional Serra do Divisor, on the border with Peru, near the Azul and Juruá-Mirim rivers. In Marechal Thaumaturgo specimens were observed in Reserva Extrativista do Alto-Juruá, in the vicinity of the Amônia river.

Remarks. A tissue sample from specimen MPEG 12881 (LSUMZ H-13735) was used for the molecular analysis by Parra-Olea et al. (2004), which pointed out a genetic divergence (at species level) between this specimen and specimens of Lábrea at the Madereira Scheffer (MPEG 13307/ LSUMZ H-3086) and Itamarati at Rio Juru (INPA 3098), both municipalities in Amazonas state, Brazil between the Juruá and Ituxi rivers.

Etymology. The specific epithet caldwellae is a patronym honoring Dr. Janalee P. Caldwell, of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A. for her contributions to the study of the Amazonian herpetofauna.