Sauresia habichi ( Weinland 1863 )

Schools, Molly & Hedges, Blair, 2024, A new forest lizard fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Diploglossidae, Celestinae), Zootaxa 5554 (1), pp. 1-306 : 234-239

Sauresia habichi ( Weinland 1863)

Stout Four-toed Forest Lizard

(Fig. 86–87)

Embryopus Habichii — Weinland, 1863:135. Holotype: ZMB 1310 , Collected by D. F. Weinland at Jérémie, Grand’Anse department, Haiti, in 1857–58.

Sauresia sepsoides — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988:162 (part).

Sauresia sepsoides — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:463 (part).

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

Sauresia sepsoides — Schools & Hedges, 2021:231 (part).

Sauresia sepsoides — Landestoy et al., 2022: 205 (part).

Material examined (n=11). HAITI. Grand’Anse. ANSP 38681–83 , an adult from 8.0 km S of Marche Leon , collected by S. Blair Hedges, Manuel Leal, Richard Thomas, and Nicholas Plummer on 28 May 1991 (18.51678, -74.08311; 435 m) ; KU 227597–99 , ca 3 km (airline) SW Corail, 20 March 1966 (18.54806, -73.91232) ; KU 227802–03 (ca 7.5 km (airline) SSE Roseau, ca 2 km W La Bastille on 20 March 1966 (18.35407, -73.9395); MCZ R-74595, R-74598, David O. Hill, Trou-Bois on Jeremie Road , 1 January 1963; ZMB 1301 , David Friedrich Weinland, Jeremie, 1857–1858.

FIGURE 86. (A–F) Sauresia habichi ( ZMB 1310, holotype), SVL 50.8 mm.

Diagnosis. Sauresia habichi has (1) a dorsal pattern of absent/lineate, (2) head markings present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area absent/present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent, (5) a maximum SVL of 51.9–63.3 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 122–125, (7) midbody scale rows, 38–41, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 18–19, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 89–113, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 11.2–13.1 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.000594 –0.201 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.22– 2.95 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 9.84–13.1 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.364 –0.996 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.83–2.42 %, (16) relative head length, 13.3–15.0 %, (17) relative mental width, 1.49–1.82 %, (18) relative postmental width, 2.11–2.34 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 5.86–6.68 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 3.39–3.96 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 1.96–2.23 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 2.26–2.71 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, 6.64–7.30 %, (24) relative head width, 77.7–78.6 %, (25) relative frontal width, 71.8–77.5 %, (26) relative nasal height, 0.890–1.11 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.909–1.42 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 3.04–3.59 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.10–1.41 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 1.67–2.03 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 0.942–1.12 %. The species stem time is 1.19 Ma and the species crown time is 0.00 Ma (Fig. 4).

We distinguish Sauresia habichi from the other species of Sauresia based on a complex of traits. From S. agramma sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the total lamellae on one hand (18–19 versus 17), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.000594 –0.201 versus 0.217 –0.262), the relative head width (77.7–78.6 versus 69.7–74.6), the relative frontal width (71.8–77.5 versus 80.2–81.9), the relative angled subocular width (1.67–2.03 versus 2.07–2.47), and the relative nasal width (0.942–1.12 versus 1.36–1.57). From S. cayemitae sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the ventral scale rows (122–125 versus 101–119), the midbody scale rows (38–41 versus 31–37), and the relative head width (77.7–78.6 versus 68.5–77.1). From S. gracilis sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the head markings (present versus absent), the adult SVL (51.9–63.3 versus 51.1), the ventral scale rows (122–125 versus 103), the midbody scale rows (38–41 versus 36), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (11.2–13.1 versus 13.8), the relative distance between angled subocular and mouth (0.000594 –0.201 versus 0.254), the relative eye length (2.22–2.95 versus 2.97), the relative head length (13.3–15.0 versus 15.7), the relative postmental width (2.11–2.34 versus 2.76), the relative cloacal width (5.86–6.68 versus 7.18), the relative largest supraocular width (1.96–2.23 versus 2.44), the relative longest finger length (2.26–2.71 versus 1.96), the relative distance between the ear and eye (6.64–7.30 versus 7.63), the relative head width (77.7–78.6 versus 67.6), the relative frontal width (71.8–77.5 versus 82.9), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.10–1.41 versus 1.82). From S. manicula sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the total lamellae on one hand (18–19 versus 15–17), the total strigae on ten scales (89–113 versus 119–150), the relative longest finger length (2.26–2.71 versus 2.20–2.21), the relative frontal width (71.8–77.5 versus 81.5), and the relative nasal width (0.942–1.12 versus 1.19–1.29). From S. pangnolae sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the ventral scale rows (122–125 versus 104–119), the relative angled subocular width (1.67–2.03 versus 2.16–2.39), and the relative nasal width (0.942–1.12 versus 1.38–1.62). From S. sepsoides , we distinguish S. habichi by the ventral scale rows (122–125 versus 104–119), the midbody scale rows (38–41 versus 34–37), and the relative nasal width (0.942–1.12 versus 1.16–1.60). From S. synoria sp. nov., we distinguish S. habichi by the midbody scale rows (38–41 versus 34–36), the relative prefrontal width (3.39–3.96 versus 3.01–3.30), the relative largest supraocular width (1.96–2.23 versus 1.57–1.91), the relative head width (77.7–78.6 versus 70.8–76.0), the relative frontal width (71.8–77.5 versus 82.0–94.4), and the relative nasal width (0.942–1.12 versus 1.13–1.35).

Description of holotype (from detailed photographs). ZMB 1301. An adult; SVL 50.8; tail nearly cylindrical; head length 6.92 mm (13.6% SVL); head width 5.50 mm (10.8% SVL); head width 79.5% head length; diameter of orbit 1.14 mm (2.24% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.32 mm (0.630% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.10 mm (0.197% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 3.69 mm (67.26% SVL); largest supraocular width 0.92 mm (1.81% SVL); mental width 0.89 mm (1.75% SVL); postmental width 1.25 mm (2.46% SVL); prefrontal width 1.93 mm (3.80% SVL); nasal height 0.56 mm (1.10% SVL); angled subocular height 0.71 mm (1.40% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 1.80 mm (3.54% SVL); canthal iii width 0.58 mm (1.14% SVL); angled subocular width 0.95 mm (1.87% SVL); nasal width 0.55 mm (1.08% SVL); rostral 1.86X as wide as high, visible from above, not in contact with nasals, in contact with 2 nd supralabial and anterior internasal (left), in contact with 1 st supralabial and anterior internasal (right); anterior internasals are narrower than posterior ones; frontonasals and prefrontal fused into a single large plate with a slightly concave posterior margin, much 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 almost as wide as long; nasal single; nostril just posterior to 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); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right); 2 suboculars (left)/(right); posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular small (left)/(right); 10/9 supralabials (left)/(right), 6/5 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 1–2 scales; 4 digits; 6 lamellae under longest finger (right); 19 total lamellae on one hand (right); 12 lamellae under longest toe (left).

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head pale brown with darker brown outlines that are most pronounced on the internasal scales and prefrontal plate; lateral surfaces of head grading from pale brown to cream; dorsal surfaces of the body are medium brown with some darker brown mottling on the back of the neck; dorsal surface of tail medium brown, patternless; lateral areas grade from dark brown to cream; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown, patternless; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to orange-cream, patternless; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are an orange-cream with darker brown mottling under the head.

FIGURE 87. (A–F) Sauresia habichi (ANSP 38683, representative specimen), SVL 50.5 mm.

Description of a representative specimen. ANSP 38683. An adult; SVL 50.5 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life near tip, regenerated, 69.9 mm (138% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 32.6 mm (64.6% SVL); forelimb length 6.61 mm (13.1% SVL); hindlimb length 9.27 mm (18.4% SVL); head length 7.16 mm (14.2% SVL); head width 5.63 mm (11.0% SVL); head width 78.6% head length; diameter of orbit 1.21 mm (2.40% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.34 mm (0.673% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 0.30 mm (0.594% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 6.63 mm (13.1% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.03 mm (0.0594% SVL); shortest distance between the ocular and auricular openings 3.41 mm (6.75% SVL); longest finger length 1.37 mm (2.71% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.05 mm (2.08% SVL); cloacal width 3.07 mm (6.08% SVL); mental width 0.92 mm (1.82% SVL); postmental width 1.18 mm (2.34% SVL); prefrontal width 2.00 mm (3.96% SVL); frontal width 74.0% frontal length; nasal height 0.46 mm (0.911% SVL); angled subocular height 0.50 mm (0.990% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 1.58 mm (3.13% SVL); canthal iii width 0.67 mm (1.33% SVL); angled subocular width 1.25 mm (2.48% SVL); nasal width 0.87 mm (1.72% SVL); rostral 2.42X 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 concave posterior margin, much 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 slightly 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 just posterior to 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, upper and lower preoculars, and 3 rd –4 th supralabials (left)/postnasal, posterior internasal, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, 1 st median ocular, canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and 3 rd –4 th supralabials (right); final loreal posteriorly bordering the lower preocular and canthal iii (left)/(right); canthal iii wider than high (left)/(right), contacting 1 st median ocular, anterior supraciliary, upper and lower preoculars, and loreal 1 (left)/(right); 9 median oculars (left)/(right), 1 st contacting the prefrontal (left)/(right); 1 upper preocular (left)/(right); an irregular anterior supraciliary (left)/(right); 6 lateral oculars (left)/(right); 6 temporals (left)/(right); 2 suboculars (left)/(right); posterior subocular large and elongate (left)/(right); anterior subocular small (left)/(right); 9 supralabials (left)/(right), 5 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 1–2 scales; 114 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 124 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 38 scales around midbody; 4 digits; finger lengths 3>2>4>1; 6 lamellae under longest finger (left)/(right); 19 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 3>2>4>1; 11 lamellae under longest toe (left)/(right); keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 89 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head pale brown with darker brown mottling and darker brown outlines on the internasal scales and prefrontal plate; lateral surfaces of head grading from pale brown to cream with darker brown markings around the eyes and on the infralabial scales; dorsal surfaces of the body are medium brown with darker red-brown areas in the center of scales; dorsal surface of tail dark brown, patternless; lateral areas grade from dark brown to cream; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are medium brown, patternless; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to orange-cream, patternless; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are orange-cream with darker brown mottling under the head and tail.

Variation. The majority of the examined material resembles the holotype in having multiple faded longitudinal paramedian lines that extend down the dorsum. MCZ R-74598 and MCZ R-74595 are both patternless.All specimens have darker outlines on their internasal scales. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1.

Distribution. Sauresia habichi is known from the west-central region of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti at elevations ranging from near sea level (holotype at Jérémie) to 1420 m (Fig. 80).

Ecology and conservation. No ecological data are associated with this species. We consider the conservation status of Sauresia habichi to be Endangered B1ab(iii), based on IUCN Redlist criteria ( IUCN 2023). It faces a primary threat from habitat destruction resulting from agriculture and charcoaling. Haiti, in general, are heavily deforested with <1% of the nation’s primary forest remaining ( Hedges et al. 2018). Secondary threats to this species include predation from other 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.

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

Etymology. David Friedrich Weinland described this species in honor of Edward Habich of Boston, a friend who accompanied him during his six-month visit to Jérémie, Haiti, in 1857–1858 ( Weinland 1858).

Remarks. Previously, this species was considered to be Sauresia sepsoides . Additional material in museum collections currently catalogued as S. sepsoides from in or near the distribution of S. habichi should be examined to determine if they represent additional material of S. habichi .

Sauresia habichi 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 S. cayemitae sp. nov. Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), S. habichi diverged from its closest relative 1.19 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). We recognize it as a distinct species because of the multiple morphological traits that separate it from its closest relative ( S. sepsoides ). Sausesia habichi was recovered as conspecific with Sauresia cayemitae sp. nov. in our ASAP analysis.