Anolis nietoi, Köhler & Pérez & Petersen & Méndez & Cruz, 2014

Köhler, Gunther, Pérez, Raúl Gómez Trejo, Petersen, Claus Bo P., Méndez, Fausto R. & Cruz, De La, 2014, A revision of the Mexican Anolis (Reptilia, Squamata, Dactyloidae) from the Pacific versant west of the Isthmus de Tehuantepec in the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Puebla, with the description of six new species, Zootaxa 3862 (1), pp. 1-210 : 33-39

Anolis nietoi sp. nov.

Figs. 20–25

Anolis nebuloides: Ahl 1934

Holotype. SMF 96404, an adult male from Cascada Iliatenco (17.06753°N, 98.77796°W, WGS84 ), 1185 m, Estado de Guerrero, Mexico; collected 12 January 2013 by Raúl Gómez Trejo Pérez. Field tag number GK-4260 .

Paratypes. All from Estado de Guerrero, Mexico: GK-4252–53 , 4256 ( IBH uncatalogued), SMF 96403, 96405–07 , same collecting data as holotype. SMF 96397–99 from Iliatenco (17.05023°N, 98.68941°W), 1120 m. All paratypes are males, except for SMF 96407, which is a female. All paratypes collected by Raúl Gómez Trejo Pérez on 12 and 13 January 2013 .

Referred specimens ⎯ Mexico: Guerrero: Cascada de Santa Cruz el Rincón, 620 m: SMF 96389 ; Río la Tejería , near Sta. Cruz El Rincón, 580 m: SMF 96390-94 ; Santa Cruz el Rincón, 705 m: SMF 96395-96 .

Diagnosis. A small species (our Species B of the A. nebuloides complex, see above; SVL in largest male 50.0 mm, largest female 38.5 mm) of the genus Anolis (sensu Poe 2004) that differs from all Mexican and Central American anoles except A. nebuloides , A. megapholidotus , and two species described below (our Species D and E of the A. nebuloides complex) by having a combination of (1) strongly keeled ventral scales; (2) usually a patch of three greatly enlarged supraocular scales; (3) 10–12 rows of greatly enlarged dorsal scales that are larger than ventral scales; (4) short hind legs, longest toe of adpressed hind leg usually reaching to posterior margin of eye, occasionally to a point between levels of ear opening and eye or to mideye (to ear opening in a single female), ratio of shank length/SVL 0.24–0.28; (5) circumnasal usually in contact with first supralabial; and (6) a large pink dewlap in males and a very small pink dewlap in females ( Fig. 20 ). Anolis nietoi differs from Species D and E of the A. nebuloides complex by having (1) a rather abrupt transition between the enlarged dorsal scales and lateral body scales (vs. a more gradual transition over 3 to 4 scales); (2) the edges of the field of enlarged dorsal scale rows well defined and in a more or less straight line (vs. the edges of this field forming an undulating line due to single enlarged scales or groups thereof outside the main field) (3) and by having a more reddish male dewlap (vs. pink). Anolis nietoi differs from A. nebuloides and A. megapholidotus in the ranges and average values of several morphometric and pholidotic characters (see Table 8 ), most obvious in (1) number of middorsal scales in one head length; and (2) number of subdigital lamellae on Phalanges II–IV of Toe IV. Also, the incompletely everted hemipenis of the A. nietoi holotype appears to be unilobed (vs. bilobed in A. nebuloides and Species E of the A. nebuloides complex; the hemipenis morphology in A. megapholidotus is unknown).

Description of the holotype. Adult male, as indicated by everted hemipenes and presence of large dewlap; SVL 50.0 mm; tail incomplete; tail moderately compressed in cross section, tail height 2.7 mm and width 1.8 mm; axilla to groin distance 20.9 mm; head length 13.4 mm, head length/SVL ratio 0.27; snout length 5.8 mm; head width 7.6 mm; longest toe of adpressed hind limb reaching to a point between ear opening and eye; shank length 12.5 mm, shank length/head length ratio 0.93; longest finger of extended forelimb reaching to a point between eye and nostril; longest finger of adpressed forelimb reaching to a point 1.8 mm in front of anterior insertion of hind limbs. Scales on snout keeled, unicarinate; posterior head scales rugose or keeled; 6 postrostrals; 7 scales between nasals; 1 elongate prenasal scale on each side, in contact with both rostral and first supralabial; circumnasal in contact with first supralabial; scales in shallow prefrontal depression mostly keeled, keels mostly oriented longitudinally; supraorbital semicircles well developed, separated medially by one scale row at narrowest point; supraorbital disc composed of an oval patch of 3 greatly enlarged, weakly keeled scales; circumorbital row complete, therefore, enlarged supraorbital scales completely separated from supraorbital semicircles; 3 elongated, strongly overlapping superciliaries, anterior one larger than posterior ones, followed posteriorly by 3 to 4 roundish to squarish scales of moderate size; 2 to 3 rows of small smooth scales extending between enlarged supraorbitals and superciliaries; parietal depression shallow; interparietal scale well developed, 1.6 x 1.6 mm (length x width), surrounded by scales of moderate size; 2 scales present between interparietal and supraorbital semicircles; canthal ridge distinct, composed of 3 large (second largest) and 3 small anterior canthal scales; 6 scales present between second canthals; 7 scales present between posterior canthals; 25 (right)– 29 (left) mostly keeled loreal scales in a maximum of 5 horizontal rows; 4 keeled subocular scales arranged in a single row; 6 supralabials to level below center of eye; 3 suboculars broadly in contact with 3 supralabials; ear opening 0.5 x 1.6 mm (length x height); mental distinctly wider than long, completely divided medially, bordered posteriorly by 5 postmentals, outer ones slightly larger than median ones; 6 infralabials to level below center of eye; sublabials not differentiated; keeled granular scales present on chin and throat; dewlap large, extending from level beyond anterior margin of eye to level of chest; 8–9 horizontal gorgetal-sternal rows with 9–14 scales per row; modal number of marginal pairs 2–4; a nuchal crest and a dorsal ridge present; dorsum of body with strongly keeled, imbricate, non-mucronate scales; about 12 medial rows greatly enlarged; largest dorsal scales about 0.80 x 0.80 mm (length x width); about 18 medial dorsal scales in one head length; about 33 medial dorsal scales between levels of axilla and groin; lateral scales smooth, granular and more or less homogeneous in size, average size 0.30 mm in diameter; ventrals at midbody strongly keeled, imbricate, mucronate, about 0.70 x 0.65 mm (length x width); about 30 medial ventral scales in one head length; about 37 medial ventral scales between levels of axilla and groin; 96 scales around midbody; all caudal scales keeled; middorsal caudal scales moderately enlarged, not forming a crest; lateral caudal scales without whorls of enlarged scales, although an indistinct division in segments is discernible; a pair of moderately enlarged postcloacal scales present, about 0.7 mm wide; no tube-like axillary pocket present; scales on dorsal surface of forelimb weakly keeled; digital pads dilated, dilated pad about 3 times width of non-dilated distal phalanx; distal phalanx narrower than and raised from dilated pad; 21 (right)–22 (left) lamellae under phalanges II–IV of fourth toe; 7 scales under distal phalanx of fourth toe.

The incompletely everted hemipenis appears to be a small unilobate organ, possibly with rudimentary lobes.

Coloration after six months preservation in 70% ethanol was recorded as follows: Dorsal surfaces of head, body, limbs, and tail Drab (19) with a suffusion of Dark Neutral Gray (299) at middorsum and with an indistinct Dark Neutral Gray (299) lateral longitudinal stripe between levels of axilla and groin; ventral surfaces of head, body, limbs, and tail Cream White (52); finger and toe pads Vandyke Brown (282); dewlap Flesh Color (249).

Variation. The paratypes agree well with the holotype in general appearance, morphometrics and scalation (see Table 8 ). Variation is evident in some scalation characters as follows: The number of slightly to moderately enlarged dorsal scale rows varies from 10 to 13. All specimens have a single elongate prenasal. Suboculars in contact with supralabials (2–3 suboculars in contact with 2–5 supralabials) in all specimens examined. The longest toe of adpressed hind leg reaching to a point between posterior and anterior border of eye in most individuals except in two specimens ( SMF 96389–90 ) that have the longest toe of adpressed hind leg reaching to a point between ear opening and eye. Usually males have a pair of greatly enlarged postcloacal scales, no enlarged postcloacals in one male specimen (SMF 96396).

The coloration in life of an adult male (SMF 96397) was recorded as follows: Dorsal surface of body Antique Brown (24) with suffusions of Marsh Brown (25); lateral ground color Tawny Olive (17); dorsal surface of head Raw Umber (23); ventral surface of body Cream Color (12); ventral surface of legs Verona Brown (37); chin with Medium Neutral Gray (298) and Pink (242) speckles; dewlap Vinaceous Color (244) and Cream White (52) gorgetals; iris Raw Umber (22). The coloration in life of another adult male (IBH 27050) was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color Amber (51) grading into Cinnamon Drab (50) towards tail with Russet (44) chevrons, Cream Color (12) lateral spots and Light Buff (2) lateral line; coloration between lateral line and venter Drab (19); ventral surface of body Cream Color (12); ventral surface of limbs Drab (19); ventral surface of tail Clay Color (18); dewlap Vinaceous (244); iris Cinnamon (255). The coloration in life of another adult male (IBH 27051) was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color Cinnamon (255) with Medium Neutral Gray (298) vertebral line, barely visible Antique Brown (24) chevrons and a Light Buff (2) lateral line that is edged by Vinaceous (244); ventral surface of body Chamois (84) with Salmon Color (83) suffusions; ventral surface of limbs Prout’s Brown (47); dewlap Spinel Pink (253); iris Olive Yellow (117). The coloration in life of another adult male (SMF 46406) was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color Grayish Horn Color (268) with suffusions of Light Neutral Gray (297) and a Cream White (52) lateral stripe edged by Flesh Ocher (57); interorbital bar Verona Brown (37); dorsal surface of limbs and tail Tawny (60); ventral surface of body Pale Buff (1); ventral surface of limbs Clay Color (18); dewlap Pinkish Rose (220); iris Ground Cinnamon (270).

The coloration in life of an adult female of Anolis nietoi (SMF 96397) was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color of body and tail Verona Brown (37) with Dusky Brown (258) Chevrons, lateral stripe and reticulations in head; tail with Cream White (12) chevrons; Ventral surface of body Pale Buff (1) with suffusions of Pink (242); ventral surface of tail and legs Light Russet Vinaceous (246); dewlap Vinaceous (244); iris Sayal Brown (41). The coloration in life of another adult female (SMF 96407) was recorded as follows: Dorsal ground color Drab (119) with Dark Neutral Gray (299) and Olive Brown (278) diamonds that are edged by Micado Brown (42) and Burnt Umber (48); dorsal surface of limbs and tail Russet (44); ventral surface of body Pale Pinkish Buff (3); ventral surface of limbs and tail Antique Brown (24); dewlap Pale Pinkish Purple (223); iris Clay Color (18).

Etymology. The name nietoi is a patronym honoring Adrián Nieto Montes de Oca who has contributed substantially to our knowledge on Mexican anoles.

Natural History Notes. All Anolis nietoi from Iliatenco where encountered during the day along a river shore. They were active and near the base of coffee trees, banana palms, and small shrubs. Anolis nietoi from Río Tejería where found at night while they were sleeping on big leaves hanging over the river at 100–150 cm above ground level.

Geographic Distribution and Conservation. As currently known, Anolis nietoi is restricted to the Pacific versant of the Sierra Madre del Sur in the southeastern portion of the Mexican State of Guerrero at elevations between 580 and 1185 masl ( Fig. 40 ). Given its presumably small geographic range, degraded habitat, and threat from deforestation it seems justified to classify A. nietoi as Critically Endangered based on criterion B1ab(iii) of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 20. Dewlaps of Anolis nietoi in life. (a) SMF 96406; (b) SMF 96403; (c) SMF 96402; (d) SMF 96407. (a–c) are males, (d) is a female.

FIGURE 21. Anolis nietoi in life. (a) SMF 96406; (b) IBH 27051; (c) SMF 96398; (d) SMF 96403. (a–b) are males, (c–d) are females.

FIGURE 22. Holotype of Anolis nietoi (SMF 96404): (a) dorsal view; (b) lateral view; (c) ventral view; (d) lateral view of head; (e) dorsal view of head; (f) ventral view of head. Scale bars equal 5.0 mm in (a–c) and 1.0 mm in (d–f), respectively.

FIGURE 23. Anolis nietoi: head scalation in (a,c,e) SMF 96406; (b,d,f) SMF 96398. Scale bars equal 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 24. Anolis nietoi: nasal region in (a) SMF 96406; (b) SMF 96398; superciliary region in (c) SMF 96403; (d) SMF 96406; chin region in (e) SMF 96403; (f) SMF 96406; cloacal region in (g) SMF 96395; (h) SMF 96390. Scale bars equal 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 25. Anolis nietoi: dorsal scales in (a) IBH 26573; (b) SMF 96213; flank scales in (c) SMF 96406; (d) SMF 96398; ventral scales in (e) SMF 96406; (f) SMF 96398. Scale bars equal 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 40. Map indicating collecting localities of species related to Anolis nebuloides. Each symbol can represent one or more adjacent localities. Black squares: Anolis megapholidotus; white squares: A. nietoi; black circles: A. nebuloides; black triangles: A. stevepoei; white circles: A. zapotecorum.