Ventral Color Pattern Research Articles

Variation of ventral color pattern in two cryptic newt species, Lissotriton vulgaris and L. lantzi (Amphibia: Salamandridae)

Peculiarities of the ventral color pattern variation in two cryptic species of newts of the genus Lissotriton (L. vulgaris and L. lantzi) have been examined. The belly and throat of these species have black spots on the pale-grey, yellow or orange background. 626 specimens, including 279 males and 244 females of L. vulgaris (11 samples from Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Turkey), and 52 males and 51 females of L. lantzi (7 samples from Russia and Abkhazia) were used in this study. It was shown that, as a rule, the pattern of ventral coloration in these two species is different.

Wing pattern diversity in Brassolini butterflies (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

This study describes and compares the diverse dorsal and ventral wing color patterns of Brassolini butterflies. Thirty-three species are illustrated, where pattern elements of the nymphalid ground plan are labeled in color. In general, a larger number of pattern elements can be identified on the ventral than on the dorsal surface of both wings, and the forewing has a larger number of discernible pattern elements than the hind wing. The dorsal elements are broad, diffuse, and more difficult to identify against the typically brown brassoline wing background color. Species with a light colored dorsal background served as a guide for our proposal that fewer pattern elements are present dorsally, particularly on the hind wing. Colorful bands or markings generally present on the dorsal surface seem to be associated with specific pattern elements and have correspondence to the ventral pattern. We refer to these as trailing bands, and they constitute a predominant feature of the brassoline dorsal coloration. We propose a subordinate groundplan for brassolines and interpret some of the ventral pattern variation in light of their phylogeny. Dorsal color pattern variation that leads to sexual dimorphism and mimetic resemblance are also discussed.

A new species of Andean poison frog, Andinobates (Anura: Dendrobatidae), from the northwestern Andes of Colombia

The poison frogs of the Colombian Andes, Pacific lowlands and Panama have been recently recognized as a new, monophyletic and well-supported genus: Andinobates. The species richness and distribution within Andinobates remain poorly understood due to the paucity of geographic, genetic and phenotypic data. Here we use a combination of molecular, bioacoustic and morphometric evidence to describe a new species of Andean poison frog: Andinobates cassidyhornae sp. nov. from the high elevation cloud forests of the Colombian Cordillera Occidental, in the northwestern Andes. The new species is associated to the bombetes group and characterized by a unique combination of ventral and dorsal color patterns. Data on 1119 bp from two mitochondrial markers allowed us to reject the null hypotheses that A. cassidyhornae sp. nov. is part of the phenotypically similar and geographically less distant species: A. opisthomelas, A. virolinensis or A. bombetes. The best available phylogenetic trees and the genetic distance to other Andinobates species further support this decision. Altogether, the advertisement call parameters unambiguously separated A. cassidyhornae sp. nov. calls from the calls of the three closest species. The new species adds to a poorly known and highly endangered genus of poison frogs that requires further studies and urgent conservation measures.

Reappraisal of the taxonomic status of Amphisbaena prunicolor (Cope 1885) and Amphisbaena albocingulata Boettger 1885 (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)

We revised the taxonomic status of Amphisbaena prunicolor and A. albocingulata, two taxa traditionally recognized assubspecies of A. prunicolor in the A. darwini complex. Despite some authors elevated both taxa to the specific rank, itstaxonomic decisions were made without specific commentaries and/or proper diagnostic characters. The comparison ofmorphological characters between the two taxa with other similar species, associated with A. darwini (A. darwini, A.heterozonata, A. munoai and A. trachura), revealed a unique combination of diagnostic characters. Amphisbaena pruni-color and A. albocingulata were considered distinct species, diagnosable by the presence of the postmalar row in A. pru-nicolor, absent in A. albocingulata and by the ventral colour pattern uniform (pale brown) in A. albocingulata andcheckerboard (brown-purplish and white) in A. prunicolor. We also provided a redescription of the two species, information on intraspecific variation in A. munoai and suggested the extension of the distribution of A. darwini to southern Brazil.

COLOR VARIATIONS, SEXUAL DIMORPHISM, AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF Aspidura trachyprocta (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE) IN AN ANTHROPOGENIC HABITAT IN SRI LANKA

Aspidura trachyprocta is a common, non-venomous snake endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. This study reports the color variation, sexual dimorphism and population structure of a population of A. trachyprocta in an anthropogenic habitat. The study was based on a sample of 42 live specimens of the species collected over three days by random plot sampling from an open farmland in the Central Hills of Sri Lanka. The parameters recorded from the specimens include dorsal and ventral color patterns, sex, stages of growth, and measurements and scale counts. Seven different dorsal and ventral color patterns were recognized from the sample. The most predominant dorsal color patterns were «dark brown» (32.43%), «black» (35.13%), and «dark reddish brown» (18.91%). The main ventral color patterns were «orange with black spots» (24.32%), «black with orange spots» (32.437%), and «black with yellow spots» (24.32%). Sexual dimorphism was reflected by males having a relatively longer tail length to snout to vent length ratio and a greater number of carinate scale rows on the ischiadic region of the body. In the sample, adults outnumbered subadults and juveniles. The female to male ratio was 1:2.33.

A new species of Ansonia (Anura: Bufonidae) from northern Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar

A new species of Ansonia is described from northern Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar. The new species is the first recordof Ansonia from Myanmar. It is phylogenetically most closely related to A. kraensis at the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand, butcan be distinguished from A. kraensis and all other species of Ansonia from Thailand and the Malay Peninsula by a combination of several morphological characters and dorsal and ventral color patterns.

Morphological and genetic discordance in two species of Bornean Leptobrachium (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae)

Recent phylogenetic studies of Southeast Asian megophryid Leptobrachium, while clarifying (1) distinct specific status of three Philippine populations and (2) high genetic diversities within Bornean Leptobrachium montanum, posed two questions, (1) relationships and divergence histories of two Philippine species and Bornean Leptobrachium gunungense, and (2) possible discordance between phylogenetically and morphologically defined lineages. In order to solve these questions, and especially reviewing current taxonomy of Bornean species, we estimated the phylogenetic relationships of endemic Bornean species together with their putative relatives from Philippines and Sumatra, using 2451bp sequences of the 12S rRNA, tRNAval, and 16S rRNA of mitochondrial DNA genes. With respect to Leptobrachium hasseltii and Leptobrachium chapaense, lineages from Borneo, Philippines, and Sumatra formed a monophyletic group with Leptobrachium lumadorum from Mindanao as the basal clade, while two other Philippine species from Palawan and Mindoro formed a clade and nested in Bornean lineages. Sister species relationship of the two Philippine species and L. gunungense is not supported, rejecting the hypothesis of Philippine origin of L. gunungense. Phylogeny does not conform to morphological variation, and the topotypic L. montanum and one lineage of Leptobrachium abbotti are genetically very close despite their clear difference in ventral color pattern. Furthermore, each of these species forms a paraphyletic group and contains several lineages, each of which is a candidate of good species. These results clearly indicate that current taxonomy of Bornean species based on several morphological characteristics requires complete revision. Detailed studies on adult and larval morphology, as well as acoustic characteristics, are necessary to evaluate the taxonomic status of all lineages recovered.

Geographical Variation in the High Andean Frog Telmatobius carrillae Morales, 1988 (Ceratophryidae, Telmatobiinae): Size, Skin Texture, and Coloration

Abstract Telmatobius carrillae Morales, 1988, is a riparian frog inhabiting an altitudinal range of 3,680–4,718 m asl in the Central Peruvian Andes. Snout–vent length at metamorphosis is 21.6 mm; minimum size at maturity is 35.3 mm in males and 40.0 mm in females; and maximum size recorded 53.5 mm and 60 mm, respectively. Variation in size is accounted for by pronounced sexual size dimorphism and sex-independent increase in size along an altitudinal gradient (Bergmann cline). Dorsal and ventral color pattern varies considerably from locality to locality rendering this character unreliable for species diagnosis. Most skin features (e.g., width of skin layers, gland size and frequency) showed a considerable range of covariation with ontogenetic stage, sex, and SVL. The absence of serous glands with large granules, a character state shared with Batrachophrynus spp., is confirmed for T. carrillae. However, analysis of the altitudinal ranges of telmatobiine frogs with and without serous glands with large granu...

A New Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptidae: Arthroleptis) from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

Abstract A new species of squeaker frog (genus Arthroleptis) is described from Pico Basile on Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea), which lies just off the coast of Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea. A previous molecular phylogenetic study indicates that this new species is nested within a species complex—Arthroleptis poecilonotus—that comprises morphologically indistinguishable populations that represent several cryptic species. The new species from Bioko is, however, easily distinguishable from both closely related and geographically proximate Arthroleptis by a combination of its moderately large body size (approximately 25% larger than frogs in the remaining poecilonotus species complex) and unique ventral color pattern. It is further distinguished from all other Arthroleptis by the presence of spines on the crus in large males and from other populations in the poecilonotus species complex by the occasional presence of a supernumerary tubercle at the base of pedal digit II. Statistical analyses of measurement...

A new puddle frog (Phrynobatrachidae: Phrynobatrachus) from the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria

A new species of puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus) is described from the Kurmin Danko Forest Reserve on the western edge of the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria. The new species is distinguished from both geographically proximate and closely related Phrynobatrachus species by the combination of its body size (larger than the closely related P. chukuchuku, P. manengoubensis, and P. werneri), degree of development of male traits, and a unique ventral colour pattern in males. Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals that this new species is closely related to P. werneri and P. manengoubensis, which, together with several other species, form a clade restricted to the mountains of the Cameroon Volcanic Line. This new Phrynobatrachus is the first known amphibian species hypothesized to be endemic to the Mambilla Plateau of eastern Nigeria.

Image analysis of the ventral colour pattern discriminates between Spectacled salamanders, Salamandrina perspicillata and S. terdigitata (Amphibia, Salamandridae)

AbstractIn the present study, we applied statistical methods to quantitative image analysis of the persistent and individual ventral colour pattern of Salamandrina salamanders, in order to discriminate between individuals of the two species belonging to this genus. Pictures of 238 individuals from three populations of S. perspicillata and pictures of 95 S. terdigitata from two populations were analysed. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) classified 98.78% of individuals into the correct species. PLSDA reaches lower percentages of correct classification when applied to discriminate individuals from different populations of the same species (74.14% for S. perspicillata, 78.26% for S. terdigitata). An ANOVA analysis of colour abundances in different body sectors reveals significant differences between species. The results show that colour pattern has a specific basis, the most discriminant areas being the head and the pectoral girdle. We discuss these results in the light of the proposed evolutionary scenarios of the species, and suggest that ventral colour patterns were driven by founder effect.

Testing Species Boundaries within the Atractus occipitoalbus Complex (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

The taxonomic status of Atractus occipitoalbus is revised on the basis of concordance between quantitative and qualitative analyses of morphological characters (meristic, morphometric, color pattern, and hemipenis). Atractus duboisi and A. orcesi are herein resurrected based on the number of ventral and subcaudal scales, number of postocular scales, head shape in lateral view, relative tail length, distinct color patterns, and hemipenial morphology. Additionally, a new species, closely related to A. occipitoalbus ,i s described from the Andean piedmont of Colombia. The new species, represented by a single female, is diagnosed from the A. occipitoalbus female populations on the basis of number of subcaudals, number postocular scales, and dorsal and ventral color patterns.

Using image analysis on the ventral colour pattern in Salamandrina perspicillata (Amphibia: Salamandridae) to discriminate among populations

The ventral colour pattern in Salamandrina perspicillata is characteristic of each individual and remains invariant throughout the salamanders' life. The present study aimed to determine, using statistical methods applied to quantitative image analysis, whether the coloration pattern is population-specific. The images of ventral colour pattern of 180 salamanders belonging to five populations were analysed. The images were previously warped by geometric morphometry. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use an approach based on geometric morphometrics to standardize ventral shapes. This technique is useful for eliminating form distortions. The results of an analysis of similarities recognized more coloration similarity among individuals of the same population than among individuals from different populations. Analysis by partial least squares correctly classified the 88.88% of individuals into the correct population. The similarities or differences among individuals of different populations are not related to the geographical distances. The results obtained showed that the coloration of the ventral side of the head of the salamanders can be used for discriminating among populations. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 35-43.

A New Species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadinae) from a Relictual Forest in Northeastern Brazil

A new species of Atractus is described from Serra de Baturité, an Atlantic Forest enclave in the semiarid Caatinga of the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody, long loreal, two postoculars, seven upper and lower labials, first four infralabials in contact with chinshields, seven maxillary teeth, moderate body and tail sizes, slightly bilobed and semicapitate hemipenis with lateral-tip projections, light dorsal color pattern uniformly scattered with small dark brown dots, and ventral color pattern uniformly creamish white. The new species shares most of the external morphology and hemipenis characters with A. pantostictus, differing from this taxon by general color pattern and number of subcaudal scales.

A new, toxic species of Colostethus (Anura: Dendrobatidae: Colostethinae) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia

A new species of Colostethus is described from cloud forest in the Cordillera Central of Colombia at approximately 2100–2500 m above sea level. It is a riparian species not known to occur more than a few meters from the water’s edge. Specimens were collected in grassy vegetation and on and beneath rocks along streams and pools, in both primary forest and in or at the edge of forest clearings. Most specimens were collected during the day, but several were observed to be active at night. The new species differs from other species of Colostethus in lacking pale oblique lateral and ventrolateral stripes, possessing a pale dorsolateral stripe, lacking or having at most rudimentary toe webbing, and possessing a marbled or reticulated ventral color pattern. Adult males of the new species possess a swollen third finger and a gray or black throat. In life, the new species possesses bright lemonor golden-yellow flash marks on the axilla, groin, belly, and concealed surfaces of the thigh and shank, and bluish-white ventral coloration, and it exudes a milky secretion from the skin. The aqueous extract of the skin is toxic, but additional samples are required to determine the nature of the toxic compound(s).

A New Species of Luperosaurus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Panay Island, Philippines, with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of Luperosaurus Cumingii (Gray, 1845)

Abstract We describe a new species of Luperosaurus on the basis of three recently collected specimens from Panay Island, Philippines. The new species is phenotypically similar to L. cumingii, but differs from it by the absence of enlarged ventrolateral tail tubercles and spinose scales on the edges of the anterior cutaneous expansions of the limbs, by having fewer middorsal scales, fewer ornamented tubercles on the head, neck, and body, differences in ventral color pattern, and a larger maximum body size. Examination of all available specimens of L. cumingii demonstrates that this species exhibits a high degree of morphological variation correlated with patterns of lineage isolation on several Pleistocene aggregate island complexes (biogeographical subprovinces) of the Philippines. Although it is suspected that L. cumingii comprises a complex of multiple species, current sampling limitations prevent taxonomic subdivision beyond the recognition of the new species described here. The name L. cumingii probab...

Sexual dimorphism in Liolaemus occipitalis (Iguania, Tropiduridae)

The sexual dimorphism in size, morphology and color of the lizard Liolaemus occipitalis Boulenger, 1885 was studied. Thirty-two adult males and twenty-eight adult females were sampled from a population in the Jardim do Éden beach, near Tramandaí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Size related sexual dimorphism occurred in all compared body dimensions. The largest female was 59.6 mm in snout-vent length, and the largest male was 69.3 mm. Males and females also presented differences in ventral and dorsal color pattern, and in the presence of pre-cloacal pores. The results suggest that, in Liolaemus occipitalis, sexual dimorphism in size is determined by sexual selection, competition between males and by the high energetic cost for females a few months after hatching.

Taxonomic Status of the Snake Genera Conopsis and Toluca (Colubridae)

The taxonomic history of the colubrid genera Conopsis and Toluca is complex and has been reviewed by Goyenechea and Flores-Villela (2000). The single character purportedly differentiating them has been called into question by several authors (e.g., Bogert and Oliver, 1945). Some workers recognize just one genus for this group (Bogert and Oliver, 1945; Goyenechea, 1995), whereas others have regarded the two genera as valid (Boulenger, 1894; Duges, 1896; Duellman, 1961). Taylor and Smith (1942) reviewed these genera and concluded that each was valid. According to these authors, species of Toluca have a groove on each posterior maxillary tooth, that is lacking in species of Conopsis. In spite of the review by Taylor and Smith (1942), the generic status of Conopsis and Toluca was questioned by Bogert and Oliver (1945) because the latter did not consider the putative diagnostic character sufficient for recognizing the genus Toluca. In addition to the presence or absence of grooves in the posterior maxillary teeth, another morphological character purportedly differentiating these genera is the condition of the loreal scale (Taylor and Smith, 1942). In Conopsis, the loreal scale may be present or fused with the nasal, whereas it is completely absent in Toluca. As part of revisionary work on these snakes, we reevaluated these putative, diagnostic features in all recognized taxa of both genera to assess their taxonomic utility, since the only way to allocate specimens to particular species has been on the basis of geographic provenance. We examined 659 museum specimens, including 199 Conopsis and 460 Toluca that represented all known taxa (10 species and subspecies) from throughout the geographical range of both genera (both are endemic to Mexico, distributed from Chihuahua to Oaxaca), in order to reevaluate their taxonomic status. The following characters were recorded: snout-vent length (SVL), total length (TL), diameter of the body (DIAM), number of ventral and subcaudal scales, supralabials, infralabials, presence-absence of the nasal, loreal, preocular, postocular, frontal, and genial scales, temporal formula, shape of the hemipenis, and dorsal and ventral color pattern. To determine the presence or absence of tooth grooves, maxillae were dissected on 43 specimens (Appendix 1) representing all recognized species and subspecies of each genus. One maxilla

Notes on distinguishing the cocoons and the juveniles of Hirudo medicinalis and Haemopis sanguisuga (Hirudinea)

Difficulties encountered previously in separating the cocoons and some juveniles of Hirudo medicinalis and Haemopis sanguisuga have been resolved by the present study. The cocoons of Hirudo medicinalis are larger and have a different structure from those of Haemopis sanguisuga. Some of the darker juveniles of Haemopis sanguisuga may be confused with those of Hirudo medicinalis, but can be separated by careful examination of both dorsal and ventral colour patterns.

Notes on the natural history and habitat use of Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

AbstractEleutherodactylus fitzingeri were studied during the dry and rainy seasons at an Atlantic lowland rainforest in Costa Rica. The frogs had one of three dorsal colour patterns (mottled, striped, uniform) and one of two ventral colour patterns (white, yellow). Males had significantly more often a yellow venter than females. Juveniles with a white belly were significantly smaller than juveniles with a yellow belly. Males perched higher than females and juveniles. Perch height in males did not vary with the time of day, weather conditions or behaviour. Calling males used more sheltered perches than silent males, and males calling by day used more sheltered perches than males calling by night. Reproductive activity increased greatly at the onset of the rainy season. Males showed little site attachment.