Gonatodes castanae Carvajal-Cogollo & Eguis-Avendaño & Meza-Joya 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Carvajal-Cogollo, Juan E.
name: Eguis-Avendaño, Jorge A.
name: Meza-Joya, Fabio Leonardo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Sphaerodactylidae
Gonatodes
Gonatodes castanae

description: Gonatodes castanae sp. nov.
English name: Castaño’s Gecko
Spanish name. Geco de Castaño
(Figures 1–3)
Holotype. UPTC-Re 1010, adult male, collected by Jorge Eguis, 01 May 2019 at Hacienda IRHOPALMA, municipality of Norisí, department of Bolívar, Colombia (8°34’43’’ N, 74°07’13’’ W; ca. 150 m a.s.l.), 1 km apart from the main hill of the Serranía de San Lucas.
Paratypes (n=3). UPTC-Re 1011–13 with same data as the holotype, collected by Jorge Eguis, 01 May 2019.
Etymology. The specific name castanae is a patronym for Olga Victoria Castaño, to whom we dedicate with great honor this species in recognition of her multiple and meaningful contributions to the field of herpetology in Colombia and who for many years was the mentor of the first author JECC.
Definition and diagnosis. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus Gonatodes by a combination of the following characters: (1) body of moderate size (males from 43.02 to 43.08 mm and females from 41.4 to 42.1 mm SVL); (2) supraciliary spine absent, but with 3–7 conical supraciliary scales; (3) absence of a cluster of distinctly enlarged conical scales on the sides; (4) 102 to 109 scales around midbody; (5) 57 to 60 ventral scales counted in a longitudinal line back gular region to cloaca; (6) subcaudal scale pattern Type B (sensu Rivero- Blanco & Schargel 2012, Fig. 2A); (7) males with escutcheon on belly and undersurface of thighs (Fig. 2B); (8) two posmental scales (Fig. 2C); (9) two lateral rows of scales on distal parts of fingers and toes; (10) males and females with orange iris; (11) presence of sexual dichromatism.
Gonatodes castanae is found in the trans-Andean region of Colombia, in geographical proximity with G. albogularis, G. chucuri and G. vittatus. However, G. castanae differs from G. chucuri in the presence of marked sexual dichromatism (G. chucuri does not have sexual dichromatism) and in the subcaudal scale pattern, which is type B, 1’1’1’’ without basal or distal changes in G. castanae and type C, 1’1’’or 1’2’’ basally, which changes to 1’1’’ distally in G. chucuri (Meneses-Pelayo & Ramírez 2020). Gonatodes castanae is similar to G. albogularis and G. vittatus in the possession of subcaudal scale type B pattern, but differs from these in aspects of color pattern and size. Gonatodes castanae has a dorsal color pattern in males, with conspicuous white and other gray ocelli and a moderate SVL (± 42 mm), unlike G. albogularis where males present a dorsal color that is most often uniform, in various shades (gray, black, brown) and is small in size (SVL <42 mm; Rivero-Blanco & Schargel 2012) and G. vittatus whose males have a distinctive color pattern with a pale mid-dorsal stripe and an SVL <35 mm (Schargel et al. 2017).
Gonatodes castanae shows similarities to the color pattern of Gonatodes rozei Rivero-Blanco & Schargel, 2012, the latter found in both chains (Serranía del Litoral and Serranía del Interior) of the Cordillera de la Costa Central in north central Venezuela (Rivero-Blanco & Schargel 2012). The dorsal color pattern with ocelli in G. castanae is homogeneous and covers the dorsal region, the flanks, the anterior and posterior limbs and the tip of the tail, with a high concentration of ocelli in the posterior part of the body and in the posterior limbs. Unlike G. rozei, where the ocelli are present on the back, flanks, anterior legs and thighs. Each ocellus has poorly defined black borders and the ocelli are more pronounced anteriorally towards the front of the body and become small and scattered posteriorly towards the rear and do not extend beyond the base of the tail (Rivero-Blanco & Schargel 2012). Other differences between these two species are (G. rozei characters in parentheses): SVL 42 mm (SVL 59.1 mm), scales around midbody 102–109 (78–100 scales around midbody), iris of orange in males and orange or yellow in females (males with blue iris, females blue or yellow).
Description of the holotype. Adult male (Fig. 3A) with SVL of 42.1 mm. Tail length 48.6 mm, complete, original. Head approximately 1.3 times longer than wide (head length: 10.3 mm; head width: 7.9 mm). Short snout, with eye-nostril distance of 3.29 mm, 0.3 times the length of the head. Rostral moderately large, visible from above, with a longitudinal slit almost dividing it that extends to just below the middle of the rostral. Two postrostrals (supranasals), large and in contact with each other. Nasals bordered by the rostral and three postnasals (left) and three (right). Postnasal slightly larger than scales in loreal region. Scales on top of snout and loreal region round at base, sub-conical and slightly juxtaposed. Loreal scales approximately 10 in a line between the postnasal and the anterior margin of the eye socket. The scales slightly decrease in size from the postrostral to the back of the head. Scales on the supraorbital almost the same size and shape as those on the top of the head. Supraciliares with seven well-developed spines located above the center and sides of the eye. The supraciliary scales anterior to the spines are slightly conical and larger than the supraorbital ones; posterior to the spines, the supraciliary scales are smaller, slightly conical in the form of short, poorly developed spines. Supralabial 6/6 (left/right), the first is large (as longer as tall), the second, third and fourth smaller than the first and almost equal in size between them, the fifth and sixth are considerably smaller in relation to the others. The fourth scale is at the level of the central part of the eye. After the sixth supralabial, 9–11 (left/right) small granular scales follow the corner of the mouth. Scales in the temporal region similar in shape and size to those on the upper back of the head. Otic opening (0.78 mm) about half size of the eye (1.61 mm), obliquely oval.
Mental large, slightly hexagonal, rounded on the front and triangular (convex) on the back. Two postmentals, clearly larger than the adjacent posterior scales (Fig. 2C). Mental region immediately behind the posmentals and between the infralabials with a series of moderately large scales of variable and juxtaposed shapes. The rest of the chin scales are small, granular and conical. Infralabials 3/3 at the level of the center of the eye, decreasing in size towards the back. The first infralabial is very large and projecting on the chin, the second is moderately large, slightly less than half the size of the first infralabial, the third located below the center of the eye is smaller.
Granular scales on the nape and on the sides of the neck, continuous with those of the head and body. Scales on the throat smooth, imbricate, with a round posterior margin, with a short transitional area of granular scales on the chin and gular area. Granular semi-conical vertebral ridges, in size similar to the scales on the snout, but larger than those on the top of the head. Neck 5.3 mm wide (at the narrowest part), narrower than the head and body. Body wider than tall, sub-cylindrical, axillar-groin distance 16.2 mm. Well-developed limbs with moderately long digits, length of the fourth toe 5.6 mm, 0.96 times the length of the “shaft” (5.8 mm, from the knee to the ankle-point where the foot is bent). Round tail in cross section, tapering towards the tip.
Ventral scales much larger than dorsal, smooth, imbricate, with round posterior margins, arranged mostly in oblique rows. There are 44 scales between the armpit and the groin area. Scales around mid-body about 109 of which 24 are ventral. Scales in the precloacal region similar to the ventral ones, except proximally to the cloacal opening, which has tiny scales arranged in several rows. Escutcheon present in the lower abdomen and on the lower surface of the thighs (Fig. 2B) with 16 scales rows wide and 18 scales long. On the ventral surfaces of the hind limbs, the escutcheon is 4 rows of scales wide and extends medially across the thighs.
Small, conical and juxtaposed scales on the forelimbs, on the back of the forearm and become larger, flatter, imbricate and with a rounded posterior edge, towards the anterior margin of the forearm, as well as on the arm. Small, semi-conical, and juxtaposed scales on the posterior half of the hind limbs, both dorsal and ventral. In the ventral anterior half of the limb the scales are flat and overlapping. On the ventral surface of the hind limbs there is an abrupt change between two types of scales, the ventrals and the 4 rows that form the escutcheon on the thigh.
Lamellae under the first (I) to the fifth (V) finger (infraproximal in parentheses, right/left; Fig. 4A): I: 12/12 (4/4), II: 15/15 (7/6), III: 17/17 (8/8), IV: 18/17 (7/7), and V: 15/15 (5/5), respectively. Subdigital lamellae from first to fifth toe (infraproximal in parentheses; Fig. 4B): I:? (no data)/10 (?/4), II: 13/14 (5/5), III: 17/19 (7/6), IV: 20/20 (8/9) and V: 19/19 (7/8), respectively. Fore and hind limb fingers with two lateral rows of scales distally.
Color in life. In live males (Fig. 3 A–B) the dorsal and lateral surface of the body and the anterior and posterior limbs, like the anterolateral and dorsal portion of the tail, have a black background color. The background color turns brown on the distal, dorsal and lateral parts of the tail and hind legs. The back, flanks, front legs, thighs and the tip of the tail are covered with white ocelli. The dorsal and lateral surface of the body also features less conspicuous gray ocelli, interspersed with white ocelli. White ocelli exhibit different shapes (circular, irregular) and sizes. The largest ocelli are about one third the size of the eye and are located on the mid-dorsal region. White ocelli are smaller and more numerous on the low-dorsal region and become more dispersed in the tail. The head is covered, both dorsally and ventrally, by a reddish orange hood, which extends to the nape and neck. The ventral surface of the body, except the area of the shield, macroscopically exhibits a slightly mottled gray coloration. Under magnification, each ventral scale has multiple black dots homogeneously scattered throughout the scale. Females show a dorsal coloration with a greenish-yellow background, with brown to black reticulations and scattered white spots on the head, vertebral region and flanks. The fore and hind limbs have a grayish background color with small greenish-yellow stripes (Fig. 3 C–D). Venter with yellowish tones, more accentuated in the lower part of the belly, turning whitish towards the chest region.
Color in preservative. The preserved color has not changed significantly, except for the head in males, which has taken on a grayish coloration.
Variation. Body size (SVL) was similar among all specimens, ranging between 41.4 and 42.1 mm in males and between 41.0 and 41.8 mm in females. The largest male is the holotype (UPTC-Re 1010) measuring 42.1 mm in SVL. There are typically three or four (UPTC-Re 1012-13), infralabials to the level of the center of eye. Postrostrals 2–3. Loreal scales 9–11. Scales around the midbody are 102–109 of which about 20–24 are ventrals. There are 36–44 scales along the midventral line between the level of anterior margin of forelimbs and the small scales anterior to vent. Lamellae (infraproximals in parentheses) under the fingers are: I: 10–13 (4–5), II: 13–15 (7–6), III: 15–16 (5–6), IV: 16–15 (6–5), and V: 16–15 (6–6). Lamellae (infraproximals in parentheses) under the toes are: I: 9–10 (4–4), II: 13–14 (5–4), III: 17–16 (6–9), IV: 18–20 (8–6), and V: 18–17 (8–6).
Distribution and natural history. Known only from the type locality (municipality of Norosí, Bolívar department) in the lowlands (ca. 150 m a.s.l.) of the northeastern versant of the Serranía de San Lucas, northwestern Colombia (Fig. 5). Specimens collected were found in an isolated relictual riparian forest surrounded by an oil palm monoculture at Hacienda IRHOPALMA (Fig. 6A). The collected individuals were first observed basking and foraging on the bark of trees located near to the margin of the San Pedro stream (see Fig. 6B). The sightings were made between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., in a patch of secondary vegetation with a high degree of intervention, with an approximate area of five hectares. The males occupied the upper parts of the tree stem, at heights from 1–5 m and the females the lower parts, between 0.6 and 1.3 m.
description: Published as part of Carvajal-Cogollo, Juan E., Eguis-Avendaño, Jorge A. & Meza-Joya, Fabio Leonardo, 2020, A new diurnal gecko in the genus Gonatodes (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) from the foothills of the Serranía de San Lucas, Norosí-Colombia, pp. 345-360 in Zootaxa 4877 (2) on pages 349-351, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4877.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/4576567