Anolis elcopeensis Poe & Scarpetta & Schaad Abstract.-We & Central & Anolis & We 2015, sp. Nov
Creators: name: Poe, Steven
name: Scarpetta, Simon
name: Schaad, Eric W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Dactyloidae
Anolis
Anolis elcopeensis

description: Anolis elcopeensis sp. Nov
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9D828BDE-E151-48FE-91E7-E176E693B382
Figs. 3A, 4A–B, 5A, 6.
Holotype
MSB 95571, adult male from Parque Nacional G.D. Omar Torrijos H., Coclé Province, Panama (8.66815, -80.59267, 801 m), collected by Eric Schaad on 13 December 2008 from the trails near the visitor center.
Paratypes scored for traits
MSB 95570 bears the same data as the holotype. MSB 95550-2 bear the same locality data as the holotype, collected by Steven Poe and Caleb Hickman in December 2003. MSB 95543-9, west of El Valle de Antón, road ending at Chorro Las Mozas, Coclé Province, Panama (8.859476, -80.14686, 570 m), collected by Poe and Hickman in December 2003. MSB 95554-7, 95560-1, same west of El Valle de Anton locality, collected by Poe, Erik Hulebak, and Heather MacInnes during 30 July–4 August 2004. MSB 95559, Hotel Campestre, El Valle de Antón, Coclé Province, Panama (8.6129, -80.1251, 617 m), collected by Poe, Hulebak, and MacInnes on 31 July 2004.
Additional topotypical paratypes
MSB 95569, 95572-9 bear the same data as the holotype, collected by Schaad during December 2008.
Diagnosis
Anolis elcopeensis is a small grayish-brown anole with smooth ventral scales and short limbs. We diagnose this species relative to its 11 closest relatives (Fig. 1). Anolis elcopeensis is unlikely to be confused with A. fuscoauratus (Amazon basin; solid pink male dewlap), A. bocourti (Amazon basin; white male dewlap), A. tolimensis (northeastern Andes; pink and orangish-red male dewlap), A. medemi (Gorgona Island, Colombia; pink and orange male dewlap), A. antonii (northwestern Andes; pink and reddish-orange dewlap), or A. mariarum (extreme northwestern Andes; orange-red and yellow dewlap) based on geography. Nevertheless, A. elcopeensis differs from each of these species in its solid orange male dewlap color pattern.
Anolis elcopeensis is most easily distinguished from the Central American members of its clade by male dewlap color (Fig. 4; except for A. gruuo) and smaller body size (maximum SVL = 45 mm, n = 35): A. gruuo (solid orange male dewlap; maximum SVL = 52 mm); A. pseudokemptoni (red-orange anterior, pink posterior male dewlap; maximum SVL = 55 mm); A. kemptoni (red-orange anterior, pink posterior male dewlap; maximum SVL = 53 mm); A. fortunensis (red anterior, orange posterior male dewlap; maximum SVL = 49 mm).
In the field A. elcopeensis is most likely to be confused with A. gruuo and A. carpenteri, which have similar solid orange male dewlaps (A. altae, which also is similar, does not occur in Panama); and A. limifrons and A. gaigei, with which it is frequently sympatric (Anolis elcopeensis is amply genetically distinct from each of these species; Figs 1, 2; A. gaigei is phylogenetically very distant from the fuscoauratus group, data not shown). In addition to being larger, male A. gruuo display an externally bulging tailbase in our photos, presumably indicating larger hemipenes, which we did not observe in male A. elcopeensis (Fig. 5). Anolis gruuo is found at mid to high elevations (860–1,530 m) of the Serrania Tabasara from Santa Fe west 80 km to just past Hato Chami (Lotzkat et al. 2012). We found Anolis elcopeensis at mid to low elevations (245–801 m) from El Copé east to Altos de Campana and possibly further (see below). Anolis carpenteri has a dorsal greenish tint and we have observed it to become patterned only when stressed. Anolis elcopeensis is never green, and usually displays banding on the tail and a dark interorbital bar regardless of mood. Anolis carpenteri is found on the Caribbean slope at mid to low elevations. All of our collections of A. elcopeensis are on the Pacific slope. Anolis elcopeensis and A. limifrons differ in male dewlap color (solid orange in A. elcopeensis, dirty white with or without basal yellow spot in A. limifrons). Females of these frequently sympatric species may be distinguished by limb length. The adpressed hindlimb of A. elcopeensis usually reaches to the ear, whereas in A. limifrons the hindlimb is longer, reaching anterior to the eye. Anolis elcopeensis and A. gaigei differ in the condition of the ventral scales (strongly keeled in A. gaigei; smooth in A. elcopeensis).
Etymology
The name honors the type locality, Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torrijos H., and the people who have worked to maintain this wonderful forest. The park previously was named P. N. El Copé. Several new species of Anolis recently have been described from the park (i.e., A. kunayalae, A. ibanezi, A. elcopeensis).
External description of holotype (paratype variation in parentheses, measurements in mm)
Snout to vent length 43.5 (males to 44.6; females to 44.4); head length 0.23 SVL (0.22–0.26 SVL); head width 0.14 SVL (0.13–0.15 SVL); femoral length 0.25 SVL (0.25– 0.28 SVL); ear height 0.03 SVL (0.02–0.03 SVL); tail length 1.7 SVL (1.5–1.7 SVL); fourth toe length 0.17 SVL (0.13–0.17 SVL).
Dorsal head scales multicarinate on frontal area and unito multicarinate on nasal area, mostly unicarinate in supraocular disc, some smooth scales between supraorbital semicircles and posterior to orbits (or frontal and supraocular areas nearly smooth); frontal depression present; dorsal surface of rostral scale smooth, not notched; thirteen (10–14) scales across the snout between second canthals; supraorbital semicircles distinct, separated by three (1–3) scales; three (2–5) scales separate interparietal and supraorbital semicircles; supraocular disk with some enlarged scales, bordered by a complete row of small scales; one elongate supraciliary scale followed by a series of small scales; seven (4–7) loreal rows; greater than 35 total loreals; elongate anterior nasal scale contacts sulcus between rostral and first supralabial (or nasal not greatly elongate); preoccipital absent; seven (6–9) supralabials to center of eye; six (4–7) postrostrals; 6 (4– 8) postmentals; gradually enlarged scales in supraocular disc; mental completely (or partially) divided posteriorly, extends posterolaterally beyond rostral (or nearly even with sulcus), with posterior border in concave arc (or straight line transverse to head); sublabials weakly enlarged, not much larger than medial scales; dewlap large, reaching posterior to axillae (proportionately smaller in small males; variable in females: absent or small, to axillae); six-seven rows of single scales on male dewlap; tubelike axillary pocket absent; enlarged postcloacal scales present (or absent in all females and some males); nuchal, dorsal, and caudal crests absent; dorsal scales keeled; approximately two (0–3) enlarged middorsal rows; twelve (9–15) longitudinal scale rows in 5% of SVL; ventral scales smooth, in transverse rows; eleven (8–11) longitudinal scale rows in 5% of SVL; anterior thigh scales large, keeled, becoming smaller and smooth posteriorly; supradigitals multicarinate; toepads expanded and overlap first phalanx; fifteen (13–16) expanded lamellae under third and fourth phalanges of fourth toe (counted using the approach of Williams et al., [1995]); tail with single row of keeled middorsal scales.
Skeletal description (based on dry skeletons MSB 95560-1)
Parietal roof slightly convex, with Y-shaped parietal crests with a short stem, with no casquing, lacking crenulation on edges, with anterolateral corners flush with posterolateral edges of frontal; posterior roof of parietal slopes inferiorly; supraoccipital crests completely visible dorsally (no “half-funnel”); pineal foramen extends posteriorly into parietal, forming a U that opens at the parietal-frontal suture; dorsal skull bones smooth; postfrontal present, appears partially fused; prefrontal separated from nasal by anterior extension of frontal; frontal sutures anteriorly with nasals; no parallel crests on nasals; external nares bordered posteriorly by nasals; premaxilla dorsally nonoverlapping, laterally flush with nasals; dorsal aspect of jugal terminates on lateral or posterior surface of postorbital; posterior aspect of jugal slightly convex; epipterygoid contacts parietal dorsally; pterygoid and palatine teeth absent; lateral edge of vomer is smooth, without posteriorly directed lateral processes; maxilla extends posteriorly beyond ectopterygoid on ventral surface of skull; crest between basipterygoid processes of basisphenoid absent; lateral shelf of quadrate absent; black pigment is present on parietal only; posteriormost mandibular tooth is posterior to anterior mylohyoid foramen; splenial absent; ventral aspect of anteromedial process of coronoid juts posteriorly or slopes smoothly anteriorly; external opening of surangular foramen bordered by both dentary and surangular; posterior suture of dentary blunt or pronged; anteriormost aspect of posterior border of dentary is well within mandibular fossa; labial process of coronoid present; coronoid does not extend posterolaterally beyond surangular foramen; jaw sculpturing absent; angular absent; teeth unicuspid anteriorly, tricuspid posteriorly; angular process of articular present; ten premaxillary tooth positions.
Color in life (adapted from field notes and color photos by SP)
Anolis elcopeensis is a brown or brownish-gray lizard. Its dorsum may be marked with faint lateral banding, rows of spotting, or striations (Fig. 3A) or appear lightly speckled (Fig. 5A), or may be nearly patternless pale gray or dark brown. The tail usually is banded, and there usually is a dark dorsal interorbital bar (Fig. 1A). The ventral body usually displays dark brown markings on white background. The iris is brown. The throat is pale.
Distribution and natural history
Anolis elcopeensis is known from Coclé Province in Panama and potentially from Panamá and Darién Provinces (Fig. 7; see below). These provinces have been well surveyed for herpetofauna, however much of Coclé is difficult to access and remains unexplored. Habitat in this province ranges from lowland rainforest in the Canal Zone up to cool tropical premontane rainforest in Parqué Nacional Omar Torrijos. This range spans an elevation gradient from sea level up to over 1,000 meters. We have collected topotypical and paratopotypical A. copeensis from 245 to 801 meters. We have found A. elcopeensis in near-pristine primary and old selectively logged forests (i.e., at the type locality) and in heavily disturbed roadside vegetation.
All of our collections of A. elcopeensis occurred at night when anoles sleep. Among 35 recorded observations at El Copé, mean sleeping perch height was 4.15 m (standard deviation 2.35). Among 30 individuals for which sleeping perch type was recorded, 24 were on twigs, three were on leaves, and three were on vines. Thus, among perches easily surveyable by humans (i.e., excluding high canopy, burrows, etc.), narrow perches that are relatively high seem to be preferred by A. elcopeensis. Diurnally, the species has been observed to be active on the ground and on vegetation at heights up to 1.5 m (Mason Ryan, pers. comm.). On 23 July 2002, Ryan observed a Cocoa Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus susurrans) catching and consuming an adult male A. elcopeensis that was displaying from a tree buttress.
description: Published as part of Poe, Steven, Scarpetta, Simon & Schaad, Eric W., 2015, A new species of Anolis (Squamata: Iguanidae) from Panama, pp. 1-13 in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 94) (e 94) 9 (1) on pages 4-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11148375