A New Species of Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Caudata) from the Mountains of Central Veracruz, Mexico
We describe a new species of plethodontid salamander of the genus Pseudoeurycea from the mountains of central Veracruz, Mexico. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by color pattern and morphological characters. The molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov. is part of the Pseudoeurycea leprosa subclade and is closely related to Pseudoeurycea nigromaculata, Pseudoeurycea firscheini, and Pseudoeurycea lynchi. Known localities for P. granitum sp. nov. are mostly located in cloud forest fragments, with one from a shaded coffee plantation and one from an ecotone between cloud forest and pine–oak forest, all immersed in highly modified landscapes. This suggests the need to implement a conservation strategy in order to preserve the limited remaining habitat for this species. Describimos una nueva especie de salamandra pletodóntida del género Pseudoeurycea de las montañas del centro de Veracruz, México. Esta especie puede distinguirse de sus congéneres por su patrón de coloración y sus caracteres morfológicos. El análisis filogenético molecular indica que Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov. es parte del subclado de P. leprosa y está estrechamente relacionada con P. nigromaculata, P. firscheini y P. lynchi. Las localidades conocidas para Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov. están principalmente ubicadas en fragmentos de bosque de niebla, una en una plantación de cafetal de sombra y otra en un ecotono entre bosque de niebla y bosque de pino-encino, todos inmersos en paisajes altamente modificados, lo que sugiere la necesidad de implementar una estrategia de conservación para preservar el limitado hábitat remanente para esta especie.ABSTRACT
RESUMEN
Localities where Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov., P. nigromaculata, P. firscheini, and P. lynchi have been recorded in central Veracruz and Puebla, Mexico.
Phylogeny from maximum-likelihood analysis of 16S + cytb sequence data. Bootstrap values are given above branches, and posterior probabilities from Bayesian analyses are given below branches. Bootstrap proportions and posterior probabilities below 50 and 0.5, respectively, are not shown.
Dorsal (A) and ventral view (D) of the holotype of Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov. (CARIE 1274) and variation of tail, lateral surface (E, F), and interorbital bar (G, H) coloration between individual of this species. Coloration of Pseudoeurycea lynchi from La Cortadura, Coatepec, Veracruz (B) and Pseudoeurycea nigromaculata from Cerro Chicahuaxtla, Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz (C). Scale bar = 10 mm.
Forest at Tepexilotla (A), Cerro Petlalcala (B), and Mundo Nuevo (C) localities. Coffee plantation at Tepexilotla locality (D). Regurgitated individual of Pseudoeurycea granitum sp. nov. by Thamnophis sumichrasti (E).
Contributor Notes
