14,972 research outputs found
Further notes on the Sri Lankan uropeltid snakes Rhinophis saffragamus (Kelaart, 1853) and Uropeltis ruhunae Deraniyagala, 1954
No full textPyron, Robert Alexander, Somaweera, Ruchira (2019): Further notes on the Sri Lankan uropeltid snakes Rhinophis saffragamus (Kelaart, 1853) and Uropeltis ruhunae Deraniyagala, 1954. Zootaxa 4560 (3): 592-600, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4560.3.1
Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence
No full textPyron, Robert Alexander, Wallach, Van (2014): Systematics of the blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia: Typhlopoidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa 3829 (1): 1-81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3829.1.
FIGURE 2 in Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula; Serpentes: Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy
No full textFIGURE 2. Range map of the five lineages recovered by Pyron & Burbrink (2009c), corresponding to five distinct species in North America. Note the zones of sympatry between L. californiae and L. splendida, and L. nigra and L. getula.Published as part of Pyron, Alexander & Burbrink, Frank T., 2009, Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula; Serpentes: Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy, pp. 22-32 in Zootaxa 2241 on page 25, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19059
Desmognathus valtos Pyron & Beamer 2022, sp. nov.
No full textDesmognathus valtos sp. nov. D. auriculatus Holbrook, 1838 (part: see Means 1999; most historical concepts of D. auriculatus included populations from GA, SC, and NC) Holotype: MNHN 2021.0131 (RAP0955; Fig. 2), collected 30 August 2019 by DAB at Otter Creek (NC: Craven; 34.968, -76.958; 4m ASL). Paratypes: NCSM 108360–1 (RAP 2289 & 2293), collected 22 April 2022 by RAP at the type locality (Fig. 3). BMNH 2021.7566, GSU 26900, & GMNH 52996 (RAP1646 & 1648–9), collected 9 January 2021 by RAP, DAB, and Dirk J. Stevenson at Holbrook Pond (GA: Liberty; 31.914, -81.554; 7m ASL). AMNH A-193889 (RAP2294; Fig. 4), collected 22 April 2022 by RAP at Jasons Branch (NC: Carteret; 34.768, -76.943; 6m ASL). Etymology: The specific epithet is a non-Latin noun used in apposition, from the Greek váltos (βάλτος) for “swamp,” in reference to the primary habitat of the species. We suggest the common name “ Carolina Swamp Dusky Salamander. ” Diagnosis: In comparison with the re-description of Desmognathus auriculatus (Holbrook, 1838) by Means et al. (2017), D. valtos is a moderately-sized Dusky Salamander (17.2–62.4mm SVL for transformed specimens), typically with a dark greenish-grey ground color and orangish wash on the dorsal surfaces (Fig. 2). Smaller individuals often have visible remnants of orangish or reddish paired larval spots on the dorsum; differentiation between dorsal and lateral color pattern is typically absent in D. auriculatus, and larval patterning is usually obscured by darkening in even the smallest specimens. Differs significantly in overall size and shape from D. auriculatus, the greatest difference being proportionally longer torsos (longer AG). Tail is thick, girthy, and long, up to 106% SVL, typically less keeled than D. auriculatus, but still flattened at the terminus. Dorsal surface of tail typically exhibits a yellowish or orangish stripe with indistinct margins even in larger individuals (Fig. 2–5); such stripes are usually less colorful and prominent in D. auriculatus, particularly older specimens. Ventrolateral porthole markings with whitish, yellowish, orangish, or reddish pigment may occur in up to three rows (see Pyron et al. 2022b and references therein), but these are generally less prominent than in D. auriculatus. Ventral color pattern is typically relatively bright and granular, consisting of interspersed flecking of darkened melanophores, lighter xanthophores, and whitish speckling, while in D. auriculatus, “the belly is unmistakably black but may be densely peppered with small whitish or silvery speckling (Fig. 14c)” (Means et al. 2017). Notes: Little is known about reproduction, larval morphology, or ecological interactions; a few notes were given by Robertson & Tyson (1950) in comparison to D. “ fuscus ” (potentially representing multiple distinct species) and D. brimleyorum. Sexual dimorphism has not been characterized, but adult males appear to exhibit peramorphic hypertrophied jaw musculature as in most other Desmognathus. Ontogenetic change in color pattern is minimal; a 17mm juvenile (Fig. 6) was mostly transformed with barely any gill nubs visible, and a less colorful but essentially adult pattern. That specimen exhibited substantial metachrosis (primarily dorsal lightening) ~24 hours after capture, but this was not observed in adults.Published as part of Pyron, R. Alexander & Beamer, David A., 2022, Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain, pp. 587-595 in Zootaxa 5188 (6) on pages 590-593, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.6.6, http://zenodo.org/record/710375
The herpetological legacy of Jacob Green and the nomenclature of some North American lizards and salamanders
No full textPyron, R. Alexander, Beamer, David A. (2020): The herpetological legacy of Jacob Green and the nomenclature of some North American lizards and salamanders. Zootaxa 4838 (2): 221-247, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4838.2.
Desmognathus adatsihi Pyron & Beamer 2022, sp. nov.
No full textDesmognathus adatsihi sp. nov. Holotype: USNM 596065 (RAP0892; Figs. 5–8), collected 14August 2019 by RAP and T. W. Pierson on Cataloochee Balsam in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC: Swain; Fig. 9), ~ 1650m ASL. Paratypes: USNM 596063–4 (RAP0890–1; Figs. 6–8, 10, 11), same collection as the holotype. NCSM 108356 (RAP0909), collected 15 August 2019 by RAP and T. W. Pierson on Rough Ridge (NC: Haywood; 35.543, -83.156), ~ 1610m ASL. Diagnosis: Several phenotypic characters exhibit varying combinations of states which are purported to be diagnostic and differentiate D. adatsihi from related or similar taxa. This species is a small (~ 23–50mm SVL; n = 15), primarily terrestrial mountain dusky salamander with a tail shorter than the body (up to ~90% SVL) that is round in cross section along its length. It is differentiated from D. santeetlah by the lack of any keeling on the dorsal surface of the tail (vs. presence thereof). It is sometimes differentiated from D. imitator by a morph with the prominent remnants of paired yellowish, reddish, or orangish dorsal spots connected by a wash of lighter pigments on a lighter ground color (Figs. 6–8, 11; vs. more distinct and separated spots on a darker ground color in some D. imitator), or in uniformly dark older specimens, a lack of red cheek patches (Fig. 12a; vs. the presence of such coloration in some uniformly dark D. imitator). Many individuals can be uniquely diagnosed by the presence of an exceptionally straight and unadorned dorsal stripe of brownish or yellowish color (Figs. 5–8, 13a), a characteristic most common in Smokies populations. This trait is never observed in D. imitator, other D. ocoee lineages, or D. santeetlah, which if exhibiting dorsal color pattern, all typically possess paired spots with varying degrees of intercalated melanophore pigmentation, sometimes yielding relatively unadorned stripes with irregular edges. Some individuals from the paratype locality exhibit yellowish dorsal stripes with irregular edges and indistinct black patterning on the mid-dorsal line (Fig. 13b), an arrangement almost never observed in D. apalachicolae and very rarely in any other D. ocoee lineages. Very rarely, other color patterns include characteristic erythristic or xanthic morphs that have never been observed in other species (Figs. 6–8, 10, 14a) and appear to be uniquely diagnostic when present. Distribution: In the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina and the Plott Balsam Mountains of North Carolina at high elevations. All genetically verified samples illustrated here (Fig. 4) originated> 1500m ASL. Tilley et al. (1978) tentatively suggested ~ 1200m ASL as the approximate lower limit for this species and reported Starkey Gap as the westernmost limit of its range. An informal transect sampling several points at the paratype locality along the western slope of Rough Ridge below Strawberry Knob (NC: Haywood) revealed only D. imitator at ~ 1340m, ~ 1460m, and ~ 1490m, and only D. adatsihi at ~ 1540m, ~ 1570m, and ~ 1610–1630m; previous surveys from near this locality (Mashie Stomp Creek) also found only D. imitator at ~ 1350m (Tilley 2000). Etymology: From a Tsalagi (Cherokee) word (in syllabary:) that translates in a rough sense to “the mother of all,” in reference to the matrilineal inheritance of the mitochondrion, which has an unusual hybrid ancestry in this species along with ocoee B–D. Name is a non-Latin singular noun used in apposition. We suggest the common names “Cherokee” or “Great Smokies” Mountain Dusky Salamander. Notes: Comprises the ocoee A lineage first tentatively identified by Tilley et al. (1978) and defined by Kozak et al. (2005), Beamer & Lamb (2020), and Pyron et al. (2020, 2022c). Little is known of the biology of this species. Like many other mountain duskies, it is highly terrestrial and appears to spend most of its adult life on the forest floor significant distances away from any permanent flowing water. Some populations from the Smokies were briefly described by Huheey (1966b) and Dodd (2004). An aberrant, possibly leucistic morph has been observed at the paratype locality (Fig. 15). The third species accounted for here is the ocoee B lineage, the second member of the Balsam clade of Pyron et al. (2022c). This taxon is distributed throughout the Great Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina, southeast of Balsam Gap. It shares hybridized non-lineal mitochondrial ancestry with Desmognathus adatsihi and ocoee C/D but is otherwise genealogically exclusive and exhibits no apparent admixture with any other lineage. Consequently, we recognize it here as:Published as part of Pyron, R. Alexander & Beamer, David A., 2022, Systematics of the Ocoee Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus ocoee), with description of two new species from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, pp. 207-240 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on pages 215-225, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/712020
A Taxonomic Revision of Boas (Serpentes: Boidae)
No full textPyron, R. Alexander, Reynolds, R. Graham, Burbrink, Frank T. (2014): A Taxonomic Revision of Boas (Serpentes: Boidae). Zootaxa 3846 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3846.2.
FIGURE 6 in A systematic revision of the Shovel-nosed Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus marmoratus), with re-description of the related D. aureatus and D. intermedius
No full textFIGURE 6. An adult Desmognathus marmoratus from Hickory Creek (NC: Henderson), from the isolated population (marmoratus G) in Hickory Nut Gorge. This phylogeographic sublineage of D. marmoratus contains significant genomic ancestry from D. intermedius and potentially other Pisgah-clade species (Pyron et al. 2022c). Photo courtesy of M.A. Seldes (UGA).Published as part of Pyron, R. Alexander & Beamer, David A., 2023, A systematic revision of the Shovel-nosed Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus marmoratus), with re-description of the related D. aureatus and D. intermedius, pp. 262-280 in Zootaxa 5270 (2) on page 272, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/785063
New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia): corrigenda and addenda
No full textDubois, Alain, Ohler, Annemarie, Pyron, R. Alexander (2021): New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia): corrigenda and addenda. Megataxa 6 (1): 73-76, DOI: 10.11646/megataxa.6.1.
A systematic revision of the Shovel-nosed Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus marmoratus), with re-description of the related D. aureatus and D. intermedius
No full textPyron, R. Alexander, Beamer, David A. (2023): A systematic revision of the Shovel-nosed Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus marmoratus), with re-description of the related D. aureatus and D. intermedius. Zootaxa 5270 (2): 262-280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5270.2.
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