Wetmorena surda ( Schwartz 1965 )

Schools, Molly & Hedges, Blair, 2024, A new forest lizard fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Diploglossidae, Celestinae), Zootaxa 5554 (1), pp. 1-306 : 274-278

Wetmorena surda ( Schwartz 1965)

Striped Earless Forest Lizard

(Fig. 105–106)

Wetmorena haetiana surda Schwartz, 1965:41 . Holotype: MCZ R-77040, collected by Ron F. Klinikowski and locals in Foret de Pins on 8 December 1962 (18.32939911, -71.79250336; 1,711 m).

Wetmorena haetiana surda — Schwartz & Henderson, 1991:553.

Celestus haetianus surdus — Hedges et al., 2019:17.

Material examined (n=33). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Independencia. ANSP 38746–7 , SBH 192540 , S. Blair Hedges, Richard Thomas, and Nicholas Plummer, 23.1 km SE of Puerto Escondido , 23 July 1991 ; ANSP 38748–54 , S. Blair Hedges, Richard Thomas, and Nicholas Plummer, 23.9 km SE of Puerto Escondido , 23 July 1991 . Pedernales. USNM 328897–99 , S. Blair Hedges and Richard Thomas, 10.3 km S of El Aguacate on Haitian border road, 13 August 1983 ; USNM 328900 , S. Blair Hedges and Richard Thomas, 6.6 km S of El Aguacate on Haitian border road, 13 August 1983 . HAITI. Ouest. Hispaniola . AMNH 92079–85 , R. F. Klinikowski, Foret des Pins , 12 August 1962 ; MCZ R-77040, Ron F. Klinikowski and locals, Foret de Pins , 8 December 1962 ; USNM 150548–53 , Foret des Pins , 12 August 1862 . Sud-Est. KU 228366 , Foret des Pins , 30 June 1962 ; KU 228370–3 , Foret des Pins , 12 August 1962 .

Diagnosis. Wetmorena surda has (1) a dorsal pattern of irregular dots/dots in series/lineate, (2) head markings absent/present, (3) markings in the longitudinal paramedian area present, (4) dots arranged in bars in the lateral band absent, (5) a maximum SVL of 62.5–81.9 mm, (6) ventral scale rows, 100–124, (7) midbody scale rows, 31–43, (8) total lamellae on one hand, 18–21, (9) total strigae on ten scales, 84–123, (10) relative length of all digits on one hindlimb, 10.7–14.4 %, (11) relative distance between the angled subocular and mouth, 0.0151 –0.520 %, (12) relative eye length, 2.07–2.83 %, (13) relative forelimb length, 11.3–13.9 %, (14) relative ear width, 0.00 %, (15) relative rostral height, 1.72–2.28 %, (16) relative head length, not applicable, (17) relative mental width, 1.49–1.96 %, (18) relative postmental width, 1.81–2.93 %, (19) relative cloacal width, 5.89–7.23 %, (20) relative prefrontal width, 3.47–3.91 %, (21) relative largest supraocular width, 1.73–2.06 %, (22) relative longest finger length, 2.12– 2.98 %, (23) relative distance between the ear and eye, not applicable, (24) relative head width, not applicable, (25) relative frontal width, 81.1–89.7 %, (26) relative nasal height, 0.828–1.06 %, (27) relative angled subocular height, 0.944–1.52 %, (28) relative distance between the eye and naris, 3.04–3.71 %, (29) relative canthal iii length, 1.17–1.33 %, (30) relative angled subocular width, 1.93–2.31 %, and (31) relative nasal length, 1.26–1.54 %. The species stem time is 4.25 Ma and the species crown time is 1.77 Ma (Fig. 4).

We distinguish Wetmorena surda from the other species of Wetmorena based on a complex of traits. From Wetmorena agasepsoides , we distinguish W. surda by the dorsal pattern (irregular dots/dots in series/lineate versus absent), the adult SVL (62.5–81.9 versus 49.1–58.6), the total lamellae on one hand (18–21 versus 14–17), the relative forelimb length (11.3–13.9 versus 8.05–9.58), the relative ear width (0.00 versus 0.292 –0.634), the relative prefrontal width (3.47–3.91 versus 2.77–3.35), the relative longest finger length (2.12–2.98 versus 1.44–2.01), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.17–1.33 versus 0.481 –0.970). From W. haetiana , we distinguish W. surda by the relative width of canthal iii (1.17–1.33 versus 0.800–1.14). From W. mylica , we distinguish W. surda by the relative width of canthal iii (1.17–1.33 versus 0.956–1.15). From W. obscura sp. nov., we distinguish W. surda by the adult SVL (62.5–81.9 versus 46.9–61.1), the total strigae on ten scales (84–123 versus 73–83), the relative prefrontal width (3.47–3.91 versus 4.03–4.58), the relative longest finger length (2.12–2.98 versus 4.08–5.35), and the relative width of canthal iii (1.17–1.33 versus 0.835 –0.980). From W. orosaura sp. nov., we distinguish W. surda by the total lamellae on one hand (18–21 versus 22–26), the relative length of digits on one hindlimb (10.7–14.4 versus 18.6–19.7), the relative eye length (2.07–2.83 versus 3.04–3.56), the relative forelimb length (11.3–13.9 versus 16.9–17.2), the relative largest supraocular width (1.73–2.06 versus 2.27–2.39), the relative longest finger length (2.12–2.98 versus 3.86–4.46), and the relative nasal height (0.828–1.06 versus 1.07–1.16).

Description of holotype. MCZ R-77040. An adult female; SVL 78.8 mm; tail nearly cylindrical, broken in life near tip, regenerated, 67.1 mm (85.2% SVL); axilla-to-groin distance 52.8 mm (67.0% SVL); forelimb length 9.16 mm (11.6% SVL); hindlimb length 15.7 mm (19.9% SVL); head width 10.1 mm (12.8% SVL); diameter of orbit 2.10 mm (2.66% SVL); horizontal diameter of ear opening 0.00 mm (0.00% SVL); vertical diameter of ear opening 0.00 mm (0.00% SVL); length of all toes on one foot 9.41 mm (11.9% SVL); shortest distance between angled subocular and lip 0.23 mm (0.292% SVL); longest finger length 2.35 mm (2.98% SVL); largest supraocular width 1.36 mm (1.73% SVL); cloacal width 5.70 mm (7.23% SVL); mental width 1.38 mm (1.75% SVL); postmental width 2.31 mm (2.93% SVL); prefrontal width 2.97 mm (3.77% SVL); frontal width 86.9% frontal length; nasal height 0.82 mm (1.04% SVL); angled subocular height 1.20 mm (1.52% SVL); shortest distance between the eye and naris 2.53 mm (3.21% SVL); canthal iii width 0.96 mm (1.22% SVL); angled subocular width 1.52 mm (1.93% SVL); nasal width 0.99 mm (1.26% SVL); rostral 1.72X 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 slightly 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 longer than wide; a pair of frontoparietals, separated by the posterior prolongation of the frontal and the interparietal plate; interparietal plate approximately the size of parietals and separating them, posteriorly touching the interoccipital, which is approximately as wide as 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 –5 th supralabial (left)/postnasal, posterior internasal, prefrontal/frontonasal complex, 1 st median ocular, canthal iii, 2 nd loreal, and 3 rd supralabial (right); 2 nd loreal shorter than 1 st, higher than 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); 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); 5 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 (left)/8 (right) infralabials, 6 (left)/5 (right) to level below center of eye; 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; 110 transverse rows of dorsal scales from interoccipital to base of tail; 114 transverse rows of ventral scales from mental to vent; 38 scales around midbody; 4 digits; finger lengths 2>3>4>1; 6 lamellae under longest finger (left)/(right); 20 total lamellae on one hand; toe lengths 3>2>4>1; 12 (left)/11 (right) lamellae under longest toe; keelless and striate dorsal body and caudal scales; smooth ventral scales; 122 total strigae counted on ten scales.

Color (in alcohol): dorsal surface of head dark gold with some darker brown areas and darker brown areas on scale borders; lateral surfaces of head grading from dark gold to orange-cream with darker brown eye masks and other darker brown areas on the labial scales and sides of neck; dorsal surfaces of the body are reddish gray with two dark brown, almost complete longitudinal paramedian lines that extend onto the tail and additional spots arranged into 5–6 rows; dorsal surface of tail same as body; lateral areas grade from red-brown to orange-cream with darker orange mottling; dorsal surfaces of the limbs are dark brown with paler cream spotting; lateral and ventral areas of the limbs fade to pale cream with heavy darker brown spotting; ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are cream with heavy dark brown spotting that becomes the dominant color on the underside of the tail.

FIGURE 105. (A–F) Wetmorena surda (MCZ R-77040, holotype), SVL 78.7 mm.

FIGURE 106. Wetmorena surda (USNM 328897, SBH 101404), in life. From 10.3 km S of El Aguacate on border road, Pedernales Province, Dominican Republic. Photograph by SBH.

Variation. The dorsal pattern of the material examined resembles the holotype in having pronounced longitudinal paramedian lines and dots that are extensions of those longitudinal paramedian lines continuing down the dorsum. Many specimens have other dots that occur irregularly or in addition to the longitudinal paramedian series on their dorsums. All specimens other than ANSP 38748 , SBH 192540 , USNM 150550 , and USNM 150551 have patterned heads. Most specimens have both darker outlines on their head scales in addition to dark, irregular areas on their heads. This species lacks dots arranged in bars in the lateral band, dots appear as mottling when they do occur on the lateral area. Measurements and other morphological data for the holotype and other examined material are presented in Table 1 .

Distribution. Wetmorena surda is distributed in the Massif de la Selle in extreme southeastern Haiti and the adjacent Sierra de Baoruco of the Dominican Republic at elevations of 670–2270 m (Fig. 95). It has an extent of occurrence of ~ 640 km 2.

Ecology and conservation. Animals were collected under rocks in pine and hardwood forests (SBH, field data). We consider the conservation status of Wetmorena surda 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 is heavily deforested with <1% of the nation’s primary forest remaining ( Hedges et al. 2018). The forests in the Sierra de Baoruco are in better condition, but have some pressure from deforestation as well. Secondary threats to this species include predation from introduced predators, including the mongoose and black rats, although less of a problem at higher elevations. Studies are needed to determine the health of any remaining populations and threats to the survival of the species.

Reproduction. A litter size of four was recorded in a female of this species weighing 4.2 g live (SBH, field data).

Etymology. The species name is the Latin word for deaf, referring to the lack of external ear openings in this species ( Schwartz 1965).

Remarks. Previously regarded as a subspecies of Wetmorena haetiana , we recognize W. surda as a full species based on genetic and morphological distinctiveness. Museum specimens catalogued as W. haetiana or W. haetiana surda should be examined to determine if they are additional specimens of this species.

Wetmorena surda is represented in our genetic dataset with the crown node defining it as a species having a significant support value in our ML analysis and a support value of 92% in our Bayesian analysis. The stem node that places W. surda as the closest relative to W. mylica has a support value of 65% in our ML analysis and is not supported in our Bayesian analyses. Based on our timetree (Fig. 4), W. surda diverged from its closest relative 4.25 Ma, consistent with typical species of vertebrates (> 0.7 Ma; Hedges et al. 2015). Wetmorena surda was recovered as conspecific with Wetmorena obscura sp. nov. in our ASAP analysis.

Of special interest is the unexpected population subdivision within this species (Fig. 4). The three populations sampled are approximately as divergent as some full species of forest lizards(1.02–1.77Ma)and yet are geographically close to one another. The population southeast of Puerto Escondido on the high central area of the Sierra de Baoruco not far from Casetta Dos, is about 20 km from the other two populations. The latter are both on the border with Haiti, about 5 km from each other and only about 10 km from Forêt des Pins, Haiti. These high levels of genetic divergence and close proximity suggest that hidden species remain unresolved within W. surda , which will require the examination of more genetic data and specimens to resolve.