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Senckenbergiana biologica | 88 | 2 | 329­–333 | 8 figs. | Frankfurt am Main, 19­. xii. 2008
Noteworthy records of amphibians and reptiles in Panama
(Amphibia: Plethodontidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae; Reptilia: Polychrotidae)
Gunther Köhler, Javier Sunyer, MarcoS Ponce & abel batiSta
Abstract
We report range extensions in Panama for two anurans (Craugastor tabasarae, Isthmohyla
zeteki) and three species of Anolis (A. auratus, A. fungosus, and A. microtus). We also collected
specimens of Bolitoglossa lignicolor and A. polylepis that extend the known vertical range of these
species. Finally, we report upon a series of the poorly known Craugastor monnichorum. Brief eco-
logical field notes are included. For several species notes on the colouration in life are provided.
K e y w o r d s : Anolis auratus; Anolis fungosus; Anolis microtus; Anolis polylepis; Bolitoglos­
sa lignicolor; Craugastor monnichorum; Craugastor tabasarae; Isthmohyla zeteki; geographical
distribution; elevational range.
Bemerkenswerte Nachweise von Amphibien und Reptilien in Panama (Amphibia:
Plethodontidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae; Reptilia: Polychrotidae)
Z u s a m m e n f a s s u n g : Wir berichten über neue Fundorte von zwei Froschlurchen (Crauga­
stor tabasarae, Isthmohyla zeteki) und drei Anolis-Arten (A. auratus, A. fungosus und A. microtus),
durch die die bisher bekannten Verbreitungsgebiete dieser Arten erweitert werden. Von den Arten
Bolitoglossa lignicolor und A. polylepis haben wir Exemplare gesammelt, die die bisher dokumen-
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tierte vertikale Verbreitung dieser Arten erweitern. Von dem wenig bekannten Craugastor monni­
chorum haben wir mehrere Exemplare gesammelt und berichten über die Farbvariationen. Kurze
Hinweise zu den ökologischen Fundumständen werden gegeben. Für mehrere der gesammelten
Arten präsentieren wir Daten zur Lebendfärbung.
Registros relevantes de anfibios y reptiles en Panamá (Amphibia: Plethodontidae,
Craugastoridae, Hylidae; Reptilia: Polychrotidae)
R e s u m e n : Ampliamos el rango de distribución en Panamá de Craugastor tabasarae, Isthmo­
hyla zeteki, Anolis auratus, A. fungosus y A. microtus. También colectamos especímenes de Bolito­
glossa lignicolor y A. polylepis que extienden el rango de altitud conocido de estas especies. Final-
mente, reportamos acerca de una serie de la poco conocida Craugastor monnichorum. Incluimos
breves anotaciones ecológicas y descripciones de coloración de determinadas especies.
Authors’ addresses:
Dr. Gunther Köhler, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main,
Germany; gkoehler@senckenberg.de.
Lic. Javier Sunyer, Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main,
Germany; javier_sunyer@yahoo.com — also: Gabinete de Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Departamento de Biología, Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN-León), Nicaragua.
Lic. Marcos Ponce Instituto de Ciencias Ambietales y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panamá.
Lic. Abel batiSta, Instituto de Ciencias Ambietales y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panamá;
aa.batista334@uniandes.edu.co — also: Grupo de Ecofisiología del Comportamiento y Herpetología. Universidad de los Andes,
Bogotá, Colombia.
© E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u. Obermiller), 2008, ISSN 0037–2102

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Introduction
Panama supports one of the most diverse and abun- mens collected during our field work in western Panama
dant herpetofaunas of any Central American country in 2006, as well as an additional specimen collected
(MyerS & DuellMan 1982, ibañez et al. 2001). In Janu- earlier.
ary 2006 we spent four weeks in the field, collecting at
several localities in the provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas
del Toro as well as in the Comarca Ngöbe Bugle. In Materials and methods
total, we collected about 80 species of amphibians and
Abbreviations used for collectors are AB (Abel batiSta),
reptiles including eight undescribed species (Köhler et
GK (Gunther Köhler), JS (Javier Sunyer), and MP (Marcos
al. 2007a, b, WaKe et al. 2007, Köhler & Sunyer 2008). Ponce). Specimens labelled with SMF numbers are deposited
These findings indicate that the amount of herpetological in the collections of the Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum
exploration needed in western Panama is still substan- Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The capitalized
tial. It is evident that many species still await discovery colours and colour codes (the latter in parentheses) are those
before the last few expanses of forest are replaced with of SMithe (19­75–19­81). Abbreviations for museum collections
cropland. Here we report upon several noteworthy speci- follow those of leviton et al. (19­85).
Results
Amphibia series (SMF 85031–36) of Craugastor monnichorum at
Alto Chiquero (on southern slope of Volcán Barú), about
Plethodontidae
400 m S of the Parque Nacional Volcan Barú (PNVB)
Bolitoglossa lignicolor (PeterS 1873) station, 8°50' N, 82°29­' W, 1810–1830 m. All specimens
were found at night along a stream sitting on low vegeta-
Bolitoglossa lignicolor is a relatively widespread spe- tion overhanging the water or directly at the edge of the
cies known from numerous localities in Costa Rica and stream, 20–100 cm above the ground. The frogs in our
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Panama. We collected this species at several sites in series exhibited striking variation in colour. The col-
western Panama including two specimens (SMF 85059­– ouration in life of SMF 85031 was recorded as follows:
60), collected 9­. i. 2006 at Finca C.A.S.A., 8º52'17.0'' N, dorsal ground colour Raw Umber (123) with Yellowish
82º47'43.4'' W, 8 km NE Río Sereno, 1210 m. This Olive Green (50) shadings; dorsal snout Clay Color (26);
record extends the vertical range of the species which lateral head Russet (34); a distinct dirty white midgular
was previously known from 2–884 m above sea level stripe present; posterior thigh Sepia (119­) with Drab-
(SavaGe 2002). SMF 85059­ was found during the day Gray (119­D) mottling; venter Dark Drab (119­B) with
whilst removing leaves from a banana tree near a small dirty white mottling; ventral surfaces of hands and feet
stream in a rather anthropogenized area. Blackish Neutral Grey (82); upper portion of iris Clay
Color (26), lower portion Drab (27), upper and lower
portions separated by a Maroon (31) horizontal bar. The
Craugastoridae colouration in life of SMF 85032 was recorded as fol-
Craugastor monnichorum (Dunn 19­40) lows: dorsal ground colour Mars Brown (223A) with
Parrot Green (260) blotches; lateral head Mars Brown
Little is known about this montane frog which is also (223A) with Maroon (31) vertical bars and subcanthal
poorly represented in museum collections (R. ibañez stripe; supratympanic ridge Sepia (119­) bordered by Ma-
pers. comm., Jan. 2006). On 4. i. 2006 we collected a roon (31) below; posterior thigh Brownish Olive (129­)
Fig. 1. Bolitoglossa lignicolor (SMF 85059­); 8 km NE Río Sereno, 1210 m. Fig. 2. Craugastor monnichorum (SMF 85035); Alto
Chiquero (on southern slope of Volcán Barú), 1810–1830 m. Fig. 3. Craugastor monnichorum (SMF 85032); same locality as
SMF 85035. Fig. 4. Craugastor monnichorum (SMF 85034); same locality as SMF 85035. Fig. 5. Craugastor tabasarae (SMF
85377); La Nevera, 1600 m elevation, Serranía de Tabasará. Fig. 6. Isthmohyla zeteki (SMF 85382); same locality as SMF 85377.
Fig. 7. Juvenile male of Anolis microtus (SMF 85070); Alto Chiquero (on southern slope of Volcán Barú), 1870 m. Fig. 8. Juvenile
female of Anolis microtus (SMF 85069­); La Nevera, 1600 m elevation, Serranía de Tabasará.

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with Trogon Yellow (153) flecks; otherwise like SMF 8509­4–9­6 were found active during the day in grass in a
85031. The dorsal ground colour of SMF 85034 was backyard on the outer limits of Los Algarrobos.
recorded as Parrot Green (260). The colouration in life
of SMF 85035 was recorded as follows: dorsal ground
colour Raw Umber (123); posterior thigh Buff (24) with Anolis fungosus MyerS 19­71
Orange Yellow (18) mottling; ventral surfaces of hind
Anolis fungosus is known only from a few localities
limbs Buff (24).
in the Cordillera de Talamaca in Costa Rica and adja-
cent Panama (SavaGe 2002). On 4. iii. 2006, AB and MP
Craugastor tabasarae SavaGe, hollinGSWorth, liPS & collected an adult ♂ (SMF 86385; SVL 48.2 m) of this
JaSloW 2004 species near Rio Hornito (8°43'4.7'' N, 82°13'42.1'' W,
1075 m elevation) in the Reserva Forestal de Fortuna,
Craugastor tabasarae was previously known only Chiriquí. This extends the known geographic range of
from its type locality (9­.7 km NNW El Copé, on the the species about 55 km to the east from its nearest col-
continental divide at Sawmill, 8°40'4'' N, 80°35'6'' W, La lecting site (upper watershed of Río Changena, north
Pintada District, Coclé Province, 600–800 m). On 22. i. versant Cerro Pando, Bocas del Toro; MyerS 19­71).
2006, we collected an adult specimen (SMF 85377) at SMF 86385 was found at night while it was sleeping on
La Nevera, 8°29­'45'' N, 81°46'35'' W, 1600 m elevation, the branch of a bush.
Serranía de Tabasará, Comarca Ngöbe Bugle, Distrito de
Nole Düima, Corregimiento de Jadeberi, Panama. This
extends the known geographic range of C. tabasarae
Anolis microtus coPe 1871
about 130 km to the west. SMF 85377 was found active
at night in cloud forest. Colouration in life of the speci-
SavaGe (2002: 455) reports Anolis microtus to exhibit
men was recorded as follows: dorsal ground colour Fus-
“a light yellow or tan ground color marked by a series
cous (21); vertebral stripe Buff (124); iguinal and thigh
of light brown-centered dark bands that may change
region Pratt’s Rufous (140); iris Smoke Grey (45) with a
to green on flanks.” Slevin (19­42) reported upon a ju-
Warm Sepia (221A) horizontal bar.
venile specimen (CAS 79­59­8) from Boquete that had
a grayish ground colour with heavy black cross-bands
Hylidae in life. On 3. i. 2006 we collected a juvenile ♂ (SMF
85070; SVL 41.5 mm) at Alto Chiquero (on southern
Isthmohyla zeteki (GaiGe 1929) eschweizerbartxxx sng-
slope of Volcán Barú), above the Parque Nacional Vol-
On 22. i. 2006, we collected two adult specimens can Baru (PNVB) station, 8°50'47'' N, 82°29­'13.6'' W,
(SMF 85382–83) of Isthmohyla zeteki at La Nevera, 1870 m, which agreed well with the description given
8°29­'45'' N, 81°46'35'' W, 1600 m elevation, Serranía by Slevin (19­42). On 22. i. 2006, we collected a juve-
de Tabasará, Comarca Ngöbe Bugle, Distrito de Nole nile ♀ (SMF 85069­; SVL 70.0 mm) of A. microtus at
Düima, Corregimiento de Jadeberi, Panama. This ex- La Nevera, 8°29­'45'' N, 81°46'35'' W, 1600 m elevation,
tends the known geographic range of the species about Serranía de Tabasará, Comarca Ngöbe Bugle, Distrito
65 km to the east (DuellMan 2001). SMF 85382–83 are de Nole Düima, Corregimiento de Jadeberi, Panama.
adult ♂♂ that were calling from terrestrial tank brome- This extends the known geographic range of the species
liads at night. The colouration in life of SMF 85377 was 80 km to the east from its nearest collecting site (ANSP
recorded as follows: dorsal ground colour Buff (24); dor- 22418–19­ from Boquete, Chiriquí; G. Köhler unpub-
sal surface of snout Raw Umber (23); chin Olive Yellow lished observ.). SMF 85069­ has a remarkable overall
(52); venter transparent with white peritoneum visible; greenish colouration, and we provide the following notes
iris Brick Red (132A). on its colouration in life: Dorsum of head with shadings
of Yellow Ocher (123C) and Citrine (51); lateral surfaces
of snout Olive Yellow (52) but paler; a Chestnut (32)
Reptilia circumorbital ring present, continuing as a postorbital
stripe edged by Vandyke Brown (221); dorsal and lateral
Polychrotidae
surfaces of body with different shades of green and yel-
Anolis auratus DauDin 1802 low including Bunting Green (150) and Olive Yellow
(52) with four Greenish Olive (49­) oblique cross-bars;
According to Köhler (2003), Anolis auratus is known centers of cross-bars in vertebral region Vandyke Brown
to occur from central Panama into northern South Ame- (221); tail Yellowish Olive-Green (50) with Vandyke
rica. We found this species to be abundant near David in Brown (121) cross-bars; iris Raw Umber (223) grading
western Panama. On 14. i. 2006, GK and JS collected a into Cyan (164) peripherically; dewlap Beige (219­) with
few specimens (SMF 8509­4–9­6) at the village of Los Al- Cream Color (54) stripes that have a suggestion of Lime
garrobos, 8º29­'47'' N, 82º26'0'' W, 130 m elevation. SMF Green (59­).

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Anolis polylepis PeterS 1873 (ANAM), Panama City, Panama. Q. D. FuenMayor, Panama
City, Panama, provided valuable assistance with acquisition
Previously, Anolis polylepis was known from sea lev- of these permits. M. PiePenbrinG, Botanisches Institut, J. W.
el to 1330 m elevation (SavaGe 2002, Köhler 2003). Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, B. E. San-
On 29­. i. 2006, JS collected one adult ♂ of this species Jur, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas de la Universi-
(SMF 85442) at 1615 m elevation at the headwaters dad Autónoma de Chiriquí (UNACHI), Davíd, Panama, and
of Quebrada Chevo, 8º52'27.6'' N, 82º44'31.7'' W. SMF Javier yanGuez, Porfirio yanGuez and Ofilio yanGuez, Finca
85442 was found at night sleeping on a thin branch about CASA, Panama, provided logistic support for our studies in
2 m above the ground, near a stream. Panama. This paper is based on part upon work supported by
the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) to G.
Köhler and to J. Sunyer through the Partnership Program be-
Acknowledgements
tween the J. W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germa-
Collecting and exportation permits were provided by Yariela ny, and Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad
hiDalGo and Jorge Garcia, Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente Autónoma de Chiriquí (UNACHI), Davíd, Panama.
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