Bolitoglossa leandrae, Acevedo, Aldemar A., Wake, David B., Márquez, Roberto, Silva, Karen, Franco, Rosmery & Amézquita, Adolfo, 2013

Acevedo, Aldemar A., Wake, David B., Márquez, Roberto, Silva, Karen, Franco, Rosmery & Amézquita, Adolfo, 2013, Two New Species of Salamanders, Genus Bolitoglossa (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), from the Eastern Colombian Andes, Zootaxa 3609 (1), pp. 69-84 : 80-81

Bolitoglossa leandrae , sp. nov.

Leandra salamander, Salamandra de Leandra ( Figure 6 )

Holotype. MCNUP 62, male from San Antonio, Parque National Natural Tamá (PNNT) (7.153092, -72.227306), 600 m elevation, Departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia. Collected by Aldemar A. Acevedo, Karen Silva and Rosmery Franco on September 2010.

Paratypes. MCNUP 63-64, males, MCNUP 65 female, same data as holotype. Collected by Aldemar A. Acevedo, Karen Silva and Rosmery Franco on September 2010.

Diagnosis. A member of the genus Bolitoglossa because of the absence of a sublingual fold and presence of extensive digital webbing and 13 costal grooves between the limbs. Inhabitant of lowland tropical humid forests from the eastern flank of the Eastern Colombian Andes (Cordillera Oriental). Distinguished from all other South American members of Bolitoglossa by a combination of morphological and molecular traits ( Fig. 2 ). A small species (maximum SVL 39.2 mm), snout rounded to truncate in dorsal view, moderate nostrils, eyes are well developed, large, rounded and protruding from the outline of the head, short limbs and extensively webbed digits in hands and feet, without subterminal dermal pad on digits ( Fig. 6 ). This is apparently a sexually dimorphic species in size, with males (mean SVL= 30.3 mm) smaller than females (SVL= 39.2 mm), and males with two-lobed and unpigmented testes, but without an evident hedonic mental gland. Bolitoglossa leandrae can be distinguished from other South American species of Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) as follows. It is smaller than all South American Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) species ( Table 2 ). It has more extensive webbing that highland species B. hypacra , B. adspersa , and B. guaramacalensis . It has moderately extensive webbing, more than in mid-elevation species B. tatamae , B. vallecula , B. spongai , B. orestes , B. palmata , B. savagei , B. ramosi , B. capitana , B. nicefori , B. phalarosoma , B. pandi , B. borburata , B. sima , B. peruviana , B. equatoriana . It is less extensively webbed than lowland species B. biseriata , B. lozanoi , B. altamazonica , B. chica and B. medemi . It is more extensively webbed, smaller, and has fewer maxillary teeth than B. guaneae . It has fewer maxillary teeth (males mean 23; females mean 29) than most South American Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) species ( Table 2 ). It has more maxillary teeth that B. adspera , B. orestes , B. altamazonica , B. chica , and B. equatoriana . It has more vomerine teeth (males mean 19; females mean 20) that B. hiemalis , B. orestes , B. spongai , B. altamazonica , B. sima , B. peruviana and B. lozanoi .

Description. A relatively small species, three males SVL range from 29.19 to 31.1 mm (mean= 30.3 mm) one female (39.2 mm). Maxillary teeth of moderate size ranging from 23 to 24 (mean=23) in males and 29 in the female. Vomerine teeth range from 18 to 19 (mean=19) in males and 20 in the female. The trunk ranges from 19.6 to 29.31 mm (mean= 21.8 mm) in males; and 29,31 mm in the female. Distance across the shoulders is 4.7 to 6.3 mm (mean= 4.9 mm) in males; 6.3 mm in the female. Tails are long and generally slender, 22.1 to 28.8 mm (mean= 23.8 mm) in males; 28.3 mm in the female. The head is narrow in relation to other species, ranging from 5.4 to 6.7 mm (mean= 5.6 mm in males; 6.7 mm in the female. Hind limbs are relatively short, ranging from 6.4–8.2 mm (mean= 6.8 mm) in males; 8.2 mm in the female. Fingers, in order of decreasing length, are 3-2-4-1; toes are 3-2-4-5-1.

Measurements and morphology of holotype. Male (MCNUP 62) SVL 31.1 mm; head width 5.6 mm; snout to gular fold 7.1 mm; eyelid width 1.0 mm; eyelid length 1.7 mm; anterior rim of orbit to tip of snout 5.3 mm; horizontal orbit diameter 1.1 mm; interorbital distance between eyes 2.8 mm; distance between nuchal groove and gular fold 2.9 mm; snout to forelimb 11.7 mm; distance between external nares 1.9 mm; distance between internal nares 1.4 mm; axilla to groin 19.5 mm; shoulder width 1.8 mm; tail length 25.3 mm; tail width at base 3.8 mm; forelimb length 5.2 mm; hind limb length 5.9 mm; appressed limbs are separated by 2 1/2 costal folds; hand width 1.2 mm; foot width 1.9 mm; number of teeth maxillary 23; vomerine 19. Fingers, in order of decreasing length, are 3-2-4-1; toes are 3-2-4-5- 1. Tail and dorsum gray with lines light brown, abdomen brown with light brown spots ( Fig. 6 ).

Coloration in life. In the three males of Bolitoglossa leandrae the tail and trunk dorsum are dark brown, with fine yellow stripes along the length of the body, the venter is predominantly grey with small brown spots. The dorsal surface of the female is copper-brown to reddish brown ( Fig. 6 ).

Coloration in preservative. All individuals retained the original color.

Variation. The type series consists four specimens (three males and one female). The number of maxillary teeth varies between the sexes (male mean=23; female=29), as well as the vomerine teeth (males mean=19; female=20).

Etymology. The specific epithet honours Leandra Mojica, a girl living in the rural area of San Antonio, the type locality of B. leandrae . She represents the children of the rural area in the Tama National Park, who show so much enthusiasm for learning about amphibians.

Geographic distribution and natural history. Bolitoglossa leandrae is known only from the eastern flank of the Eastern Colombian Andes (Cordillera Oriental), within the PNN Tama area near San Antonio, Departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia ( Fig. 5 ). Only one population has been registered, and it was sampled from small forest patches, at 600 m. Field trips between 500 to 1000 m elevation revealed no additional localities. The habitat of B. leandrae consists of secondary tropical forests. B. leandrae , is nocturnal, usually found perched on low vegetation, taking refuge during the day under leaf litter.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bayesian tree of Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) based on analysis of the 16 S rRNA gene; the South american clade of Eladinea is indicated by heavier lines. The values on the internodes indicate support values for each node in the following way: Bayesian posterior probability / ML bootstrap support. Support values for nodes with prior probabilities lower than 0.95 and bootstrap support below 70 are not shown. B. mexicana and B. zapoteca were used as outgroups.

FIGURE 5. Localities of new species of Bolitoglossa. Tama National Natural Park, Departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia.

FIGURE 6. Adults of Bolitoglossa leandrae sp. nov. Coloration in life: A. Males with tail and dorsum dark brown with lines of yellow along the body and abdomen dark brown with small brown spots. B. Male and female. Female with dorsum copper brown. C. Hand. D. Head, lateral view.