Nototriton matama, Boza-Oviedo, Eduardo, Rovito, Sean M., Chaves, Gerardo, García-Rodríguez, Adrián, Artavia, Luis G., Bolaños, Federico & Wake, David B., 2012

Boza-Oviedo, Eduardo, Rovito, Sean M., Chaves, Gerardo, García-Rodríguez, Adrián, Artavia, Luis G., Bolaños, Federico & Wake, David B., 2012, Salamanders from the eastern Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica, with descriptions of five new species (Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa, Nototriton, and Oedipina) and natural history notes from recent expeditions, Zootaxa 3309, pp. 36-61 : 48-49

Nototriton matama sp. nov.

Matama Moss Salamander Figure 5

Holotype. UCR 20215, an apparently mature female from the southeastern end of the Fila Matama (coordinates: 9.8071º N, 83.1683º W) at an elevation of 1300 m, collected on 30 October 2007, by Eduardo Boza-Oviedo and Ruth Delgado.

Paratypes. UCR20168, 20169, 20171, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Assigned to Nototriton because it has a well-developed sublingual fold and has fewer than 17 vertebrae in the trunk, and to the picadoi group based on mtDNA sequence data and on the basis of having rounded digital tips rather than pointed ones (as in the richardi group). A small member of the Nototriton picadoi group distinguished from all other members of the group by relatively enlarged and elongated nostrils and small, very narrow hands and feet and narrow heads; distinguished from N. picadoi by smaller size (holotype 23.6 mm SL, N. picadoi reaches 32 mm SL), relatively larger nostril (0.02 times SL, vs. 0.010–0.016 in N. picadoi ), and very narrow feet (0.05 times SL, vs. 0.06–0.07 in N. picadoi ) with pointed outer toe tips (vs. rounded toe tips); distinguished from members of the N. richardi group by discrete columnar digits not fused together and by rounded rather than pointed tips of the longest digits.

Description. A diminutive, slender species compared to other members of its genus. Sole adult specimen (based on size and proportions), the holotype, has a SL of 23.6 mm. Because the holotype is a female, typically the larger sex, maximum size of this species is expected to be not much larger than this specimen. Head small and narrow (SG/SL= 0.17; HW/SL= 0.14) with broadly truncated snout. Nostrils enlarged and elongated, with maximal dimension of 0.5 mm. One can see into nostrils from a dorsal view; nostrils oriented mainly frontally. Eyes relatively large and protuberant, visible protruding from side of head when viewed ventrally. Head only moderately differentiated from trunk, mainly by somewhat enlarged parotoid glands located in temporal region of head. Parotoid glands clearly evident as swollen, lightly pigmented oval structures. Teeth moderately abundant; PMT 4, MT 31, VT 11 in holotype. Trunk slender, limbs relatively short (0.18 SL, LI 5). Slender tail only slightly tapered before a break. Hands and feet bear well-formed, columnar digits that are only slightly webbed basally. Longer digits terminate in rounded tips, but shorter digits have bluntly pointed tips. Fingers, in order of decreasing length, are 3-2-4-1; toes are 3-4-2-5-1.

Measurements (in mm), limb interval and tooth counts of the female holotype ( Table 2 ). HW 3.2, SG 4.2, HD 1.8, EW 0.6, EL 1.3, ES 0.8, ED 1.0, IC 1.8, IO 0.9, length of groove extending posteriorly from eye 1.0, distance between nuchal groove and gular fold 0.9, SF 6.8, IN 0.4, SP 0.2, SL 23.6, SAV 21.8, AX 13.4, LI 5, tail broken at 11.0, tail width at base 1.6, tail depth at base 1.8, FLL 3.7, HLL 4.2, HAW 1.0, FW 1.2, T5 0.2, T3 0.6, parotoid width 0.5, parotoid length 1.3, nostril diameter 0.5. Number of teeth: PMT 4, MT 15/16, VT 5/6.

Coloration of the holotype in life. A colorful individual with a generally light golden brown dorsal coloration. Light dorsal band bordered by short streaks of white and tan that constitute an irregular border, especially in pelvic area. Tail more uniformly golden in coloration and a little lighter than trunk. Parotoid region at back of head pale golden. Along generally darker flanks are some dark brown speckles. Broad band of light coloration under dark flanks.

Coloration of the holotype in alcohol. Colorful specimen more sharply differentiated into light and dark areas than in life. Specimen grey-brown to tan. Two pale temporal/paratoid patches. Distinct pale stripe extends from shoulder to tail, which is bright yellow and brown. Some suffusion of melanin present on trunk. Ventrolateral parts of trunk cream-colored. Dark interrupted dorsolateral line of pigment extends from shoulder to pelvis. Venter dark with whitish streaks in two ragged rows. Yellow patch in temporal areas descends to gular area in front of gular fold but not on midgular area. Gular area blackish but lighter than midventer region. Small speckles of white on ventral surfaces. Hint of herringbone pattern of dark chevrons present in dorsal stripe.

Habitat and range. The species is known only from the type locality along the Matama ridge of the Caribbean slope of the Chirripó Massif. The locality has mature cloud forest that includes members of: Araceae (e.g. Philodendron , Anthurium , Monstera ), Begonia (Begoniaceae) , palms ( Arecaceae ), Ericaceae , Melastomataceae , Marantaceae , Urticaceae (e.g. Pilea ), Acanthaceae , Cyclanthaceae (e.g. Cyclanthus , Carludovica ), Rubiaceae , Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) , Piperaceae (e.g. Piper ), bromeliads, ferns (e.g. Cyatheaceae and no tree ferns), and bryophytes. Humidity was at or near 100% during the time spent at the site. The specimens were found during daytime in moss mats at 0.95–2.1 m above ground and 400–600 m from the nearest stream. One specimen was found between a plant stem and the moss, while the others were within the moss (35–90 mm wide), some in moss in vertical parts of the trunk and others in moss hanging off the branches. Plagiochila spp was the most frequent bryophyte in the moss mats. The temperature ranged from 16–17 °C within moss mats and 17–18 °C in the air. Three specimens were found in the same tree.

Etymology. The species was discovered near the terminus of the Fila de Matama , a large mountain ridge that arises as a part of Cerro Chirripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica. The scientific name is a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 5. A) Dorsal view of holotype (UCR 20215) and B) ventral photo of the paratype (UCR 20169) of Nototriton matama in life. C) Dorsal view of right hand and D) right foot of holotype. Photo A by E. Boza-Oviedo, B by Alex Monro and E. Boza-Oviedo, C and D by A. García-Rodríguez. The bar in hand and feet are 1 mm length.