Amblystoma altamirani Dugès, 1895

Flores-Villela, Oscar, Ríos-Muñoz, César A., Magaña-Cota, Gloria E. & Quezadas-Tapia, Néstor L., 2016, Alfredo Dugès’ type specimens of amphibians and reptiles revisited, Zootaxa 4092 (1) : 36-37

Amblystoma altamirani Dugès, 1895

This is one of the taxa described by Dugès from more than one specimen. The original work was published as part of a report for the “Secretaría de Fomento” (Ministry of Development) by Dr. Fernando Altamirano (1895). The original description was first published in French (pp. 5–9) and later translated into Spanish (pp. 9–13). Altamirano indicated in the French description that he had about 20 specimens, but in the Spanish section he mentioned more than 20. In the Introduction to Zoology section of the report, Altamirano stated that he had sent about 25 specimens to Dugès. Smith & Necker (1943) found six specimens preserved in alcohol; the same number that can be found today at the MADUG (HE 314, 316–319, 322; Figs 1 D, 2A–D, 3C). Besides these specimens, there are two others ( Fig. 3A–B ), a skull and appendages (HE 964) and a skull (HE 965). These specimens were not reported by Smith & Necker (1943) but represent part of the figures in the original description. Therefore, specimens HE 964 and HE 965 should be considered members of the syntype series.

Smith & Necker (1943) also redescribed a specimen they considered to be most similar to the illustration in the original description, this can be either HE 316 or HE 319, both are very similar and are completely metamorphosed as is that illustrated by Dugès.

Current valid name: Ambystoma altamirani Dugès, 1895 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A, Hylodes augusti (HE 324) neotype designated by Smith & Necker (1943), and as precious assets by CDBPUG (2009); B, C, Skeletons of Hylodes augusti (HE 999, 1000, Holotype); D, Syntype of Ambystoma altamirani (HE 314).

FIGURE 3. A, B, Skeletons of Ambystoma altamirani (HE 964, 965); C, Syntype of Ambystoma altamirani (HE 322); D, Syntype of Amblystoma velasci, adult (HE 579).