Description of a new species of worm salamander (Caudata, Plethodontidae, Oedipina) in the subgenus Oedopinola from the central portion of the Cordillera Nombre de Dios, Honduras JAMES R. MCCRANIE & JOSIAH H. TOWNSEND (USA)

Abstract

We describe a new species of Oedipina (subgenus Oedopinola) from Parque Nacional Pico Bonito in the central portion of the Cordillera Nombre de Dios in north-central Honduras. The new species was previously assigned to O. gephyra, but a combination of molecular analyses and its differences in foot morphology diagnose it from O. gephyra.

A relict lineage and new species of green palm-pitviper (Squamata, Viperidae, Bothriechis) from the Chortís Highlands of Mesoamerica

“…Townsend and Wilson (2010) reported 91 endemic species (47 amphibians and 44 reptiles) from Honduras. Since that work went to press, an additional ten endemic species have been described from Honduras, including three new plethodontid salamanders ( Nototriton picucha , Townsend et al 2011; Nototriton tomamorum , Townsend et al 2010; Oedipina petiola , McCranie and Townsend 2011), a new black iguana ( Ctenosaura praeocularis , Hasbún and Köhler 2009), a new skink ( Marisora roatanae ; Hedges and Conn 2012), two new dwarf geckos ( Sphaerodactylus guanajae and Sphaerodactylus leonardovaldesi ; McCranie and Hedges 2012), and three new colubrid snakes ( Omoadiphas cannula , McCranie and Cruz-Díaz 2011; Tantilla psittaca , McCranie 2011b; Tantilla olympia , Townsend et al 2013). With these species included, the total stands at 101 species, making Bothriechis guifarroi the 102nd described herpetofaunal species endemic to Honduras.…”

“…While the “Tela” locality is considered erroneous (Wilson and McCranie 1992), it is possible that AMNH 46949 was obtained from somewhere in the nearby western portion of the Cordillera Nombre de Dios. Given that at least some highland taxa found at both RVS Texíguat and Parque Nacional Pico Bonito are endemic sister species (e.g., Oedipina gephyra and Oedipina petiola ; McCranie and Townsend 2011), we refer USNM 319942 to Bothriechis guifarroi with the understanding that phylogenetic evaluation of the Pico Bonito population might eventually show those animals to represent a distinct taxon.…”

Geographic distribution extension of the Worm Salamander, Oedipina complex (Dunn, 1924), in the Magdalena Valley, Colombia

“…Taxonomic studies of the genus Oedipina have been centered in Central America, where the diversity of species is high, with 38 species (Brame 1968;García-París and Wake 2000;Good and Wake 1997;Savage 2002;McCranie et al 2008;McCranie and Townsend 2011;Köhler 2011;Frost 2019). However, the South American species O. parvipes and O. complex have received less attention due to the few specimens from isolated samples collected in Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador (Garcia-Paris and Wake 2000).…”

A checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Honduras, with additions, comments on taxonomy, some recent taxonomic decisions, and areas of further studies needed

“…Not only have recent years seen considerable fieldwork taking place, principally by two groups, but also active studies of the resulting fieldwork specimens taking place, frequently using both genetic and external morphological data sets. The five most recent years have seen studies that resulted in descriptions of new cryptic species (Köhler & Vesely 2010, McCranie & Cruz Díaz 2010, Townsend et al 2010, McCranie 2011b, McCranie & Townsend 2011, Hedges & Conn 2012, Jadin et al 2012, McCranie & Hedges 2012, McCranie & Rovito 2014, taxonomic clarifications of some problematic populations (Köhler & Vesely 2010, McCranie & Hedges 2013c, McCranie & Gotte 2014, McCranie & Köhler 2015, or species being reported for the first time from the country (McCranie & Köhler 2012.…”