Lobulia fortis, Slavenko & Tamar & Tallowin & Kraus & Allison & Carranza & Meiri, 2022

Slavenko, Alex, Tamar, Karin, Tallowin, Oliver J S, Kraus, Fred, Allison, Allen, Carranza, Salvador & Meiri, Shai, 2022, Revision of the montane New Guinean skink genus Lobulia (Squamata: Scincidae), with the description of four new genera and nine new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 195 (1), pp. 220-278 : 250-254

LOBULIA FORTIS SP. NOV.

MOUNT STRONG MOSS SKINK

( FIGS 6 , 9–10 ; TABLE 1 )

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n:l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: A3DD9FD2-4D28-4883-A087-249B6C432020

Holotype: BPBM 41149 (field tag AA 21543), adult male, collected by A.Allison at Kesemani, 7.9372°S, 147.0544°E (WGS 84), 1733 m a.s.l., north slope of Mt Strong , Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, 25 February 2012.

Paratypes (N = 28): Papua New Guinea: Morobe Province: Mt Strong: Arabuka , 7.9838°S, 147.0458°E (WGS 84), 1965 m a.s.l. (BPBM 41127–35, 41141–48; five males, seven females, five juveniles) ; Lamgatak Camp [Camp 2], 7.9325°S, 147.0399°E (WGS 84), 2161 m a.s.l. (BPBM 41136–40; two males, one female, two juveniles) ; same locality as holotype (BPBM 41150–55; three males, two females, one juvenile) .

Diagnosis: A medium-sized species of Lobulia (adult SVL 45.7–60.5 mm), characterized by the unique combination of frontoparietals unfused; supraorbital ridges not pronounced; nuchals 1–2 pairs; paravertebral scales 55–65; mid-body scale rows 34–37; 4 th digit on front foot longer than 3 rd; subdigital lamellae 20–25 under 4 th toe; single supradigital scales 3–5 on 4 th toe; mid-dorsum with two rows of large dark brown spots; top of tail base with single row of large dark brown spots; light blue or white dorsolateral stripes absent; flanks dark brown with thin light blue to grey vertical bands; light blue or white lateral stripes absent; uniform coloration on abdomen either lemon yellow (in males) or white (in females) in life, light blue in preservative; thighs and precloacal region without brown spotting; ventral surface of tail lemon yellow in life, becoming white posteriorly, uniform light blue in preservative, either speckled with light brown spots (occasionally forming fragmented parallel longitudinal lines) or with speckling absent; palmar and plantar surfaces lemon yellow in life, light brown in preservative.

Comparisons: Lobulia fortis differs from Lo. brongersmai in having unfused (vs. fused) frontoparietals. It differs from Lo. lobulus in lacking dorsolateral and lateral stripes. Lo. fortis is most similar to Lo. elegans in having unfused frontoparietals and lacking light blue or white dorsolateral and lateral stripes but differs from it in having higher counts of midbody scale rows (34–37 vs. 30–32) and paravertebral scales (55–65 vs. 52–54) and a lower number of nuchal pairs (one or two vs. three).

Description of the holotype: Rostral broad and shallow, wider than deep, projecting slightly onto top of snout; nasals more or less rectangular, separated by rostral and frontonasal contact, projecting anterodorsally onto dorsum of snout; nostril circular, centred within nasal; frontonasal large, with seven sides, extending laterally to slightly above the level of nares, posteriorly in narrow contact with frontal; prefrontals large, separated by frontonasal and frontal contact, bordered lateroventrally by two loreals; supraoculars four, anterior two in contact with frontal, posterior three in contact with frontoparietals; frontal roughly kite shaped, widest anteriorly; frontoparietals single pair in medial contact, in narrow contact with frontal; interparietal of roughly similar area to single frontoparietal, kite shaped, widest anteriorly; parietal eye spot absent; parietals in contact behind interparietal, in contact anteriorly with frontoparietals, posteriormost supraocular and two pretemporals; nuchals single pair, transversely enlarged, wider than long, separated from secondary temporal by a single intercalated scale. Anterior loreal slightly smaller than posterior loreal, both longer than high; lower preocular roughly square in shape; upper preocular much smaller, longer than high; presubocular single; postsuboculars three, lowest interdigitated between subocular supralabial and penultimate supralabial; lower eyelid scaly, moveable, with a clear palpebral disc smaller than size of ear opening; supraciliaries eight, anteriormost not in contact with frontal, posteriormost projecting medially and interdigitated between posteriormost supraocular and upper pretemporal; primary temporal single, interdigitated between posterior two supralabials; secondary temporals two, upper larger and ovelapping lower; supralabials seven, fifth in contact with small scales of lower eyelid; postsupralabials two; ear opening moderately large, with lobules along anterior margin. Mental single; postmental single, contacting two anteriormost infralabials; infralabials seven; enlarged chin shields four pairs, the first two pairs in medial contact, third pair narrowly separated by single medial scale, fourth pair separated by three medial scales; posteriormost chin shield in contact with penultimate infralabial. Body scales smooth, in 36 rows at midbody; paravertebral scales 60; medial precloacal scales enlarged, overlapping lateral precloacals. Scales on dorsal surface of 4th toe in two rows proximally, single row distally beginning at third interphalangeal joint, four single scales; subdigital lamellae under 4th toe 23, smooth. In preservative ( Fig. 9 ), base dorsal coloration grey, with two mid-dorsal parallel rows of large dark brown spots two to four scales long, extending to base of tail and converging to a single row of blotches along tail; dorsolateral stripes absent; lateral field composed of smaller dark brown blotches, roughly parallel to dorsal rows, separated by thin vertical grey lines; lateral stripe absent; head similar in coloration to dorsum, with brown snout; dark brown spotting present on head scales, mostly along scale margins; ventral surfaces uniform light blue; light brown dusting present on chin; scales on palmar and plantar surfaces light brown, contrasting with dark brown digits. In life ( Fig. 10 ), dorsal colour reddish coppery brown with black mid-dorsal spots; chin white; ventral surfaces of chest, abdomen, thighs, precloacal region and tail lemon yellow, with tail becoming white posteriorly; scales on palmar and plantar surfaces lemon yellow.

Variation: Adult body size 45.7–60.5 mm SVL (mean = 53.6, SD = 4.9, N = 21). Females (mean = 55.8, range: 47.8–60.5, SD = 4.7, N = 10) larger than males (mean = 51.6, range: 45.7–56.8, SD = 4.4, N = 11; t = 2.1, P = 0.05). Forelimbs 40.6–47.6% of SVL (mean = 43.3%, SD = 1.9, N = 21). Hindlimbs 46.0–54.8% of SVL (mean = 50.2%, SD = 2.4, N = 21). Scale rows at midbody 34–37 (mean = 35.3, SD = 1.0, N = 28); paravertebral scales 55–65 (mean = 58.9, SD = 2.6, N = 28). Lamellae under 4th toe 20–25 (mean = 22.9, SD = 1.2, N = 28); single supradigital scales on 4th toe 3–5 (mean = 3.5, SD = 0.6, N = 28). Mostly one or two pairs of nuchals, but BPBM 41130, 41135, 41136, 41138, 41145 and 41146 have an asymmetrical number of nuchals, with one more nuchal on left side. Primary nuchals usually separated from secondary temporals by single smaller intercalated scale (N = 25), rarely by none on left side and one on right (N = 3). Supraorbital ridges not pronounced in all but BPBM 41152. Frontonasal usually wider than long (N = 25), rarely as long as wide (N = 3). Prefrontals usually separated by frontonasal and frontal contact (N = 20), occasionally in narrow medial contact (N = 7), rarely separated by a single azygous scale (N = 1). Supraciliaries rarely seven (N = 1), typically eight (N = 23), occasionally nine (N = 4). Anteriormost supraciliary usually not in contact with frontal (N = 22), sometimes in narrow contact (N = 6). Presubocular usually single (N = 26), rarely two (N = 2). Postsuboculars usually three (N = 25), rarely four (N = 3). Supralabials typically seven (N = 25), rarely eight (N = 3). Infralabials rarely six (N = 3), typically seven (N = 25). Chin shields typically symmetrical (N = 23), occasionally anteriormost two on left side fused (N = 4), rarely anteriormost two on right side fused (N = 1).

Colour pattern of all paratypes generally similar to holotype, with few exceptions. Size of mid-dorsal dark brown spots varies between individuals. BPBM 41136 and 41154 have fragmented lateral stripes, and BPBM 41139 has uniform lateral stripes. BPBM 40334 has dark brown palmar and plantar surfaces.

Colour in life: Dorsal surfaces coppery brown with two parallel mid-dorsal rows of large dark brown spots ( Figs 6 , 10 ). Sides dark brown to jet black, usually with thin coppery vertical stripes between dark blotches, which are more or less parallel to dorsal rows of spots. Chin white. Ventral surfaces of chest, abdomen, precloacal region, thighs and base of tail lemon yellow in adult males and white in females and juveniles. Palmar and planar surfaces lemon yellow.

Etymology: From the single-ending Latin adjective, fortis , strong, in reference to Mt Strong, where the type series was collected.

Distribution: Specimens examined are from 1733– 2161 m a.s.l. on the northern slopes of Mt Strong. Specimens collected from the vicinity of Wau and Mt Kaindi further north in similar elevations and deposited in BPBM as Lo. elegans were not examined here, but from photos taken in life and appear to have similar coloration patterns to Lo. fortis and therefore possibly also represent Lo. fortis . If true, this would make the distribution of this species extend throughout the north-western Owen Stanley Mts.

Natural history: All animals were collected from areas that were covered or formerly covered in lower montane forest ( Paijmans, 1975). Trees were generally 20–30 m tall and formed a fairly even, mostly closed canopy. There was a profusion of epiphytic orchids and ferns and a ground flora of scattered herbs and shrubs. Dominant tree taxa included Castanopsis acuminatissima (Blume) A.DC. , Lithocarpus celebicus (Miq.) Rehder , Elaeocarpus kaniensis Schltr. , Elaeocarpus pycnanthus A.C.Sm. , Litsea sp. and Saurauia spp. Southern beech, Nothofagus sp. , is common on some ridges above 2100 m.

Animals from Langatak were found in forest clearings or in exposed areas along walking tracks. They were exclusively on tree stumps or logs at heights of 2–3 m above the forest floor. The other animals were collected around two villages, Arabuka and Kesemani, within 1–2 km of Langatak, but located within anthropogenous grassland dominated by two native species, Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb. and Imperata cylindrica (L.) P.Beauv., with patches of the invasive exotic grass, Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv. The lizards were mostly on isolated tree stumps but also occurred on the lower timbers of houses. They were heliothermic and were generally active only during the first few hours of the morning.

Other lizard taxa common in the area included at least two species of Papuascincus , Pr. flavipes , species of Emoia Gray, 1845 and at least four species of Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 . A widely distributed montane frog, Litoria angiana (Boulenger, 1915) , is also common.

Reproduction: Viviparous. Litter size varies between 2–3 (mean 2.5, N = 6).

Conservation status: The species appears locally abundant at the type locality although the population trend is unknown. Based on the population described herein from Mt Strong, the extent of occurrence for Lo. fortis is 0.3 km 2, with an 8 km 2 area of occupancy (based on occupation of 4 km 2 cells; both calculated using http://geocat.kew.org/). If the species has a wider range in the north-western Owen Stanley Mts as described above, its extent of occurrence would be 1458 km 2 and area of occupancy would be 36 km 2. The putative northern populations occur in a protected area, the Mt Kaindi Wildlife Management Area, approximately 2 km from the McAdams National Park. Since it is locally abundant, with no immediate direct threats to the species or indirect threats to its habitat or location, and because it likely occurs over a wide range encompassing at least one protected area, we recommend assigning a status of Least Concern to Lo. fortis , although its true distribution needs to be confirmed through further surveys in the north-western Owen Stanley Mts.

Figures

Figure 6. Pictures in life of (A) Lobulia brongersmai (BPBM 34733); (B) Lobulia elegans (BPBM 18692); (C) Lobulia fortis (paratype; BPBM 41130); (D) Lobulia huonensis (holotype; BPBM 40322); (E) Lobulia lobulus (BPBM 47837); (F) Lobulia marmorata (holotype; BPBM 34150). Images A, B, F by Fred Kraus, images C–E by Allen Allison.

Figure 9. Lobulia fortis holotype (BPBM 41149), in (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view of head, (D) dorsal view of head and (E) ventral view of head. Images by Alex Slavenko.

Figure 10. Lobulia fortis holotype (BPBM 41149) in life, (A) dorsal view and (B) ventral view. Images by Allen Allison.