New island records and updated nomenclature of amphibians and

Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 41-49 (2014) (published online on 4 February 2014)
New island records and updated nomenclature of amphibians
and reptiles from the Islas de la Bahía, Honduras
James R. McCranie1* and Leonardo Valdés Orellana2
Abstract. We report new island records and an updated nomenclatural list of amphibians and reptiles from the Islas de la
Bahía, Honduras. The most recent review recorded 55 species of herpetofauna from these islands. Herein, we increase that
total to 65 species. Nineteen of the 57 (33.3%) Honduran endemic lizard and snake species are reported from these islands, 18
of which are endemic to one or more of the Bay Islands. Due to the continuing habitat alteration taking place, the conservation
outlook for most of these islands is not encouraging for the future.
Keywords. Herpetofauna, Islas de la Bahía, Honduras, species additions, species list
Introduction
The Honduran Bay Islands (Islas de la Bahía) consists
of two major island areas. The Bay Islands proper
consists of three major islands (Guanaja, Roatán,
and Utila) and 52 cays and small islands, with an
approximate land area of 258 km2 (Stonich, 2000).
The second major island area is the Cayos Cochinos
Archipelago which consists of two small islands and
a number of cays totaling approximately 2.28 km2 in
land area (Stonich, 2000). These islands lie off the north
coast of Honduras and extend from northwest of La
Ceiba, Atlántida, to northeast of Trujillo, Colón, in the
Caribbean Sea. McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005)
presented information on the physiography, climate,
vegetation habitats, and social history of these islands.
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005), in the most
recent review of these islands, reported 55 species
of amphibians and reptiles from the Honduran Bay
Islands, including 25 from Guanaja, 29 from Roatán, 37
from Utila, 12 from Cayo Cochino Mayor, and 14 from
Cayo Cochino Menor. Those authors also recorded 14
10770 SW 164 Street, Miami, Florida 33157–2933, USA; email: [email protected]
2
Gerente General de “Hondufauna,” Investigador Privado,
Colonia América, Bloque 9, Casa 1806, Comayagüela,
MDC, Honduras
*
corresponding author
1
species from Isla Barbareta, a small island a few km
east of Roatán, however no additional species have been
reported from the island, so Barbareta is not considered
here. Subsequent to the McCranie, Wilson and Köhler
(2005) work, several field workers have reported
additional species of amphibians and reptiles from these
islands. In addition, several cryptic species have been
discovered using molecular tools. Finally, we report on
recently discovered species new to the Bay Islands and
species newly documented on additional islands within
the Bay Islands. We take this opportunity to report these
new records and to provide an updated list of the island
distribution of the amphibians and reptiles of the three
major Bay Islands and the Cayos Cochinos.
Materials and Methods
From 21–23 May 2011 and from 19–26 September
2012, we conducted opportunistic fieldwork on the
islands of Guanaja, Roatán, and Utila in the Islas de
la Bahía, Honduras. During our study, we collected or
photographed specimens that represented new island
records for frogs, lizards, and turtles, except in one
instance on which is based on sight records and another
based on seemingly accurate information from local
people. Voucher specimens were obtained for all nonCITES species reported herein but one (Ctenosaura
similis), and photographic vouchers were obtained
for two of the three CITES species reported herein.
We recorded coordinates taken with a handheld GPS
unit using the WGS84 geodetic datum system. All
photographs included herein were taken by JRM.
42
James R. McCranie & Leonardo Valdés Orellana
Figure 1. (A) Adult of the introduced Eleutherodactylus planirostris (FMNH 283577); (B) Adult Chelonia mydas from near
Guanaja; (C) Subadult Chelonia mydas from near Camp Bay, Roatán; (D) Subadult Eretmochelys imbricata from near Camp
Bay, Roatán.
Results and Discussion
Additions to known island herpetofauna
Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Cope, 1862). Isla de
Guanaja: Savannah Bight (16.29078°, -85.50300°),
15 m elev. 20 September 2012 FMNH 283576–79,
283581, 283588 (Fig. 1A); ruins of Posada del Sol Hotel
(16.462117°, -85°853867°), 2 m elev. 21 September
2012 FMNH 283580. First record for this introduced
species in the Islas de la Bahía and only the second record
of this species from Honduras. The other record is from
San Pedro Sula, Cortés (McCranie et al., 2008), on the
mainland about 230 km SW of the new locality. Most
frogs were under damp piles of coconut debris during
the day, except two (FMNH 283579, 283581) were
active on the ground at night near a small stream. Given
the number of individuals seen, including adults and
subadults, this species appears to be firmly established
on Guanaja. Molecular data from three of these Guanaja
specimens (FMNH 283576–77, 283579) show them to
be genetically identical to the Florida-western Cuba
populations, thus suggesting the Guanaja populations
were introduced by humans (S. Blair Hedges, in litt. 26
April 2013).
Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758). Isla de Guanaja:
Caribbean Sea off east side of Island (Fig. 1B). Isla
de Roatán: Caribbean Sea near Camp Bay (Fig. 1C).
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005) reported C. mydas
from Utila based on a report by Carr, Carr and Meylan
(1978) and from Roatán based on a sight record by
JRM at Rocky Point and a report by Cruz and Espinal
(1987) from Anthony’s Cay. We photographed captive
individuals during September 2012 and May 2011 that
were taken in the waters near Guanaja and Roatán,
respectively.
Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766). Isla de
Roatán: Caribbean Sea near Camp Bay (Fig. 1D).
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005) did not record E.
New island records and updated nomenclature of amphibians and reptiles from Honduras
43
Figure 2. (A) Adult female Trachemys ornata from Savannah Bight, Guanaja (FMNH 283585); (B) Adult female of the
introduced Trachemys scripta from Savannah Bight, Guanaja (FMNH 283584); (C) Adult female Cryptochelys leucostoma
from near Savannah Bight, Guanaja (FMNH 283589); (D) Adult Gymnophthalmus speciosus from east coast of Utila (FMNH
283587).
imbricata from Roatán even though an unpublished and
undocumented report existed recording this turtle from
the area of Anthony’s Cay (Cruz and Espinal, 1987).
In addition, Lundberg (2001) listed E. imbricata (but
without any form of documentation) as occurring in the
waters near Roatán. We photographed a subadult during
May 2011 that had been captured in the waters near
Camp Bay. Berube et al. (2012) also reported on a study
of the ecology of a population of juvenile E. imbricata
on inshore reefs near the Port Royal, Roatán, region.
Trachemys ornata (Gray, 1830). Isla de Guanaja:
Savannah Bight (16.29078°, -85.50300°), 10 m elev.
September (first week) 2012 FMNH 283585; about 1
km W of Savannah Bight (16.4833°, -85.8500°), 10
m elev. 25 September 2012 FMNH 283586. Closest
known locality for this species lies about 45 km WSW
at Camp Bay on Isla de Roatán (McCranie, unpub.
data). The first turtle is an adult female (Fig. 2A) that
was captured by a local resident of Savannah Bight as it
was crawling on the ground during a morning following
a heavy rain the previous night. The second is a juvenile
that was found in a swampy area during the afternoon.
This species was said to occur naturally in the swampy
areas and streams in the vicinity of Savannah Bight.
The presence of an adult and a small juvenile would
seem to indicate that a breeding population of this
turtle occurs in the area of Savannah Bight. Trachemys
ornata is also known from both Cayo Cochino Mayor
and Menor about 85 km to the SW of Savannah Bight,
but those populations are thought to be waifs that
reached the Cayos Cochinos from the Río Cangrejal
at La Ceiba during periods of heavy rainfall (Chad E.
Montgomery, pers. comm.). Montgomery also believes
that the Trachemys individuals do not survive long on
the Cayos Cochinos because of the lack of fresh or
brackish water on those small islands (two of the three
44
available voucher specimens from the Cayos Cochinos
were found as shell fragments). We follow Fritz et al.
(2012) and McCranie et al. (2013) in using T. ornata
instead of T. venusta (Gray, 1856) for this turtle species,
although we note that Parham et al. (2013) prefer to
continue to use T. venusta.
Trachemys scripta (Thundberg, in Schoepff, 1792). Isla
de Guanaja: Savannah Bight (16.29078°, -85.50300°),
10 m elev. October 2012 FMNH 283584. This
introduced turtle species is said to be seen occasionally
in the vicinity of Savannah Bight. The specimen reported
herein is an adult female (Fig. 2B) that was captured by
the same local resident of Savannah Bight as mentioned
above. It is not known if this turtle is established on
Guanaja or if this specimen represents an escaped pet,
although the latter seems more likely. Several women
in Savannah Bight keep turtles as pets (we saw several
T. scripta and a few T. ornata in captivity in Savannah
Bight). One lady who had about 10 individuals of T.
scripta as pets told us she had purchased those turtles
from pet stores in La Ceiba on the mainland of northern
Honduras. The only other known voucher specimen of
T. scripta from Honduras (UNAH unnumbered) was
collected 11.9 km N of Cofradía, Cortés, about 290 km
SW of Savannah Bight.
Cryptochelys leucostoma (Duméril and Bibron, in
Duméril and Duméril, 1851). Isla de Guanaja: about 1
km W of Savannah Bight (16.4833°, -85.8500°), 10 m
elev. October 2011 FMNH 283589. This adult female
(Fig. 2C) was crossing the dirt road near a swampy area
and then kept in captivity until September 2012 by a
resident of Savannah Bight. Two residents of Savannah
Bight told us that this turtle occurred naturally in the
area. Cryptochelys leucostoma is also known to occur
on both Cayo Cochino Mayor and Menor (Boback et al.
2006a) in the Islas de la Bahía about 85 km to the SW
of Savannah Bight.
Crocodylus acutus Cuvier, 1807. McCranie, Wilson
and Köhler (2005) reported this crocodile from
Roatán and Utila based on the presence of a skull
(Roatán) and a subadult and a group of bones (Utila)
in museum collections, as well as a few sight records
and photographs from Roatán. During September 2012,
several people told us that an adult crocodile lived in a
brackish water lagoon near the airport on Guanaja. The
animal had taken on a celebrity status and had been seen
on a regular basis, and apparently was in no danger of
being killed by anyone in the local human population.
The lack of time and money prevented us from doing
a nighttime search for the animal. No photographs are
available.
James R. McCranie & Leonardo Valdés Orellana
Hemidactylus frenatus Schlegel, 1836. Isla de
Guanaja: Savannah Bight (16.29078°, -85.50300°),
15 m elev. 20 September 2012 FMNH 283575; ruins
of Posada del Sol Hotel (16.462117°, -85°853867°),
2 m elev. 21 September 2012 FMNH 283582. This is
the first report of this introduced gecko from Guanaja,
although it has been recorded from the islands of Roatán,
Utila, and Cayo Cochino Menor in the Islas de la Bahía.
The Savannah Bight specimen was active at night on
the walls of a hotel where H. mabouia was previously
collected (Gutsche and McCranie, 2009). Numerous
Hemidactylus individuals were active on the walls of
that hotel in Savannah Bight during the nights of 19–21
September 2012, but thinking they were H. mabouia,
only one was collected. The Posada del Sol Hotel
specimen was taken during the day under debris on
the floor in the remains of a former hotel. The Guanaja
populations seem established, as are those on Roatán
and Utila. The nearest previous records of H. frenatus
lie on Isla de Roatán about 45 km WSW of the Guanaja
localities. No photographs are available.
Ctenosaura similis (Gray, 1830). This large lizard has
been introduced and established on Roatán. Several
juvenile C. similis were seen basking along a dirt road
(none could be captured or photographed, but more
effort would surely result in the capture of individuals)
in the vicinity of Palmetto Bay on the northwest side of
the island during the morning of 19 September 2012.
Ctenosaura similis was originally purposely introduced
on a small island off the south coast of Roatán near
Coxen Hole (Stesha A. Pasachnik, pers. comm.). A
concerted effort should be made as soon as possible to
eradicate the Roatán populations of C. similis because of
their threat to compete with and potentially crossbreed
with the endemic C. oedirhina de Queiroz, 1987 on
Roatán. No photographs are available.
Anolis allisoni Barbour, 1928. Isla de Utila: Mango
Inn, Utila Town (16.099477°, -86.892500°), 12 m
elev. 26 September 2012 FMNH 283583. This is the
first record of a voucher specimen of this conspicuous
anole from Utila (Martinez and Clayson, 2013 reported
a photographic voucher from the same locality, and
possibly the same specimen) and because the specimen
was found on the grounds of a hotel, it was likely
recently introduced from the nearest island of Roatán
where it is common (McCranie, Wilson and Köhler,
2005) or from La Ceiba, Atlántida, where it has also
been introduced (McCranie and Gutsche, 2009). There
is daily ferryboat service between La Ceiba and Utila
Town, perhaps presenting the means for an introduction.
The island of Roatán lies only about 30 km to the NE of
45
New island records and updated nomenclature of amphibians and reptiles from Honduras
Table 1. A list of the 65 species of amphibians and reptiles from the five major islands in the Islas de la Bahía, Honduras, and
any nomenclatural changes for the species involved, including the sources for those changes. Abbreviations used are: MWK=
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005); TS = this study; U = Utila; R = Roatán; G = Guanaja; MA = Cayo Cochino Mayor; ME
= Cayo Cochino Menor; I = introduced; X = voucher specimen(s) exist; S = only sight record(s) exist; P = only photographic
voucher(s) exist. Symbols in bold face represent island records subsequent to McCranie et al. (2005).
MWKx, TSy
Current nomenclature
New nomenclature source
U
R
G
Bufo marinusx
Chaunus marinus
Savage & Bolaños, 20091
–
–
I
–
–
Hyla microcephalax
Dendropsophus microcephalus
Faivovich et al., 2005
X
X
X
–
–
MA ME New island sources
Scinax staufferix
Scinax staufferi
X
–
X
–
–
Smilisca baudiniix
Smilisca baudinii
X
X
X
–
X
Eleutherodactylus planirostrisy
Eleutherodactylus planirostris
–
–
I
–
–
Leptodactylus melanonotusx
Leptodactylus melanonotus
X
X
X
X
–
Rana berlandierix
Lithobates brownorum
McCranie, 20062
X
X
–
–
–
Rana vaillanti
Lithobates vaillanti
Frost et al., 20062
–
–
X
–
–
Caretta carettax
Caretta caretta
S
X
X
–
–
Chelonia mydasx
Chelonia mydas
X
P
P
–
–
TS
Eretmochelys imbricatax
Eretmochelys imbricata
X
P
X
–
X
TS
Trachemys venustax
Trachemys ornata
X
X
X
X
X
TS3
–
–
X
–
–
TS
–
–
X
X
X
TS
TS
x
Trachemys scripta
y
Fritz et al., 2012
Trachemys scripta
TS
Lundberg, 2001
Kinosternon leucostomumx
Cryptochelys leucostoma
Crocodylus acutusx
Crocodylus acutus
X
X
S
–
–
Coleonyx mitratusx
Coleonyx mitratus
X
–
–
–
–
Hemidactylus frenatusx
Hemidactylus frenatus
I
I
I
I
I
McCranie & Rovito, 20114
Hemidactylus mabouia
–
–
X
–
–
Gutsche & McCranie, 2009
Phyllodactylus palmeusx
Phyllodactylus palmeus
X
X
–
X
P
Phyllodactylus palmeusx
Phyllodactylus paralepis
McCranie & Hedges, 2013b
–
–
X
–
–
Sphaerodactylus millepunctatusx
Sphaerodactylus guanajae
McCranie & Hedges, 2012
–
–
X
–
–
Sphaerodactylus millepunctatusx
Sphaerodactylus leonardovaldesi McCranie & Hedges, 2012
–
X
–
–
–
Sphaerodactylus millepunctatusx
Sphaerodactylus poindexteri
McCranie & Hedges, 2013a
X
–
–
–
–
McCranie & Hedges, 2013a
x
Iverson et al., 2013
–
–
X
–
–
X
X
–
–
X5 Frazier et al., 2011
–
–
–
X
X6 X6
Sphaerodactylus rosaurae
Sphaerodactylus alphus
Sphaerodactylus rosauraex
Sphaerodactylus rosaurae
Thecadactylus rapicaudax
Thecadactylus rapicauda
X
–
Basiliscus vittatusx
Basiliscus vittatus
X
X
Ctenosaura bakerix
Ctenosaura bakeri
X
–
–
–
–
Ctenosaura melanosternax
Ctenosaura melanosterna
–
–
–
X
X7
Ctenosaura oedirhinax
Ctenosaura oedirhina
–
X
–
–
–
x
Ctenosaura similis
X
S
–
–
–
Iguana iguanax
Iguana iguana
X
X
X
–
P
Anolis allisonix
Anolis allisoni
X
X
X
X
X
Norops bicaorumx
Norops bicaorum
X
–
–
–
–
Norops lemurinusx
Norops lemurinus
–
–
–
X
X
Norops roatanensisx
Norops roatanensis
–
X
–
–
–
Ctenosaura similis
Norops sagreix
Norops sagrei
Norops sericeusx
Norops unilobatus
X
X
–
–
–
Köhler & Vesely, 20108
X
–
–
–
–
Norops utilensisx
Norops utilensis
X
–
–
–
–
Mabuya unimarginatax
Marisora brachypoda
Hedges & Conn, 2012
X
–
–
–
–
Mabuya unimarginatax
Marisora roatanae
Hedges & Conn, 2012
–
X
X
–
–
Sphenomorphus cherrieix
Scincella cherriei
Honda et al., 2003
–
–
–
–
P
x
9
Gymnophthalmus speciosus
Gymnophthalmus speciosus
X
X
X
–
–
Cnemidophorus lemniscatusx
Cnemidophorus ruatanus
McCranie & Hedges, 2013c
X
X
–
–
X
Leptotyphlops goudotiix
Epictia magnamaculata
Adalsteinsson et al., 2009
X
X
X
X
X
2
TS
TS
3
2014
McCranie & Nuñez, 2013
TS
Norops sericeusx
Norops utilensis
Norops unilobatus
x
Norops utilensis
Mabuya unimarginatax
46
Köhler & Vesely, 20108
Marisora brachypoda
Hedges & Conn, 2012
Marisora roatanae
Hedges & Conn, 2012
Sphenomorphus cherriei
Scincella cherriei
Honda et al., 2003
Gymnophthalmus speciosusx
Gymnophthalmus speciosus
Cnemidophorus lemniscatusx
Cnemidophorus ruatanus
Leptotyphlops goudotiix
Epictia magnamaculata
Mabuya unimarginatax
x
X
–
–
–
X
–
–
–
–
–
X
–
–
–
–
9
– McCranie
X X – –& Leonardo Valdés Orellana
James R.
–
–
–
–
P
X
X
X
–
–
McCranie & Hedges, 2013c
X
X
–
–
X
Adalsteinsson et al., 2009
X
X
X
X
X
Ramphotyphlops braminus
X
–
–
–
–
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
X
X
X
X
X
Coniophanes bipunctatusx
Coniophanes bipunctatus
–
X
–
–
–
Coniophanes imperialisx
Coniophanes imperialis
X
–
–
–
X
x
Dryadophis melanolomusx
Mastigodryas melanolomus
X
–
–
X
X
Drymarchon melanurusx
Drymarchon melanurus
X
X
X
–
–
Enulius bifoviatusx
Enulius bifoveatus
–
–
X
–
–
Enulius flavotorquesx
Enulius flavitorques
P
–
–
–
–
Enulius roatanensisx
Enulius roatanensis
–
X
–
–
–
Imantodes cenchoax
Imantodes cenchoa
X
–
–
–
–
Leptodeira septentrionalis
x
Dixon & Tipton, 2004
TS
Vesely & Köhler, 2009
4
Leptodeira septentrionalis
–
–
–
–
P
Leptophis mexicanusx
Leptophis mexicanus
X
–
–
X
–
Frazier et al., 2007
Oxybelis aeneusx
Oxybelis aeneus
X
X
X
X
P
Boback et al., 2006b
Oxybelis fulgidusx
Oxybelis fulgidus
X
–
–
–
–
x
Oxybelis wilsoni
Oxybelis wilsoni
–
X
–
–
–
Pseudelaphe flavirufax
Pseudelaphe flavirufa
X
X
X
–
–
Tantilla tritaeniatax
Tantilla tritaeniata
–
–
X
–
–
Tantillita lintoni
X
–
–
–
–
Tretanorhinus nigroluteusx
Tretanorhinus nigroluteus
X
X
X
–
–
Micrurus ruatanusx
Micrurus ruatanus
–
X
–
–
–
42
33 32 14 20
Totals
Martinez, 2011
Frost et al. (2006) recommended placing the Western Hemisphere species previously considered Bufo into several genera,
with the toads of the B. marinus group placed in the genus Chaunus. Chaparro, Pramuk and Gluesenkamp (2007)
transferred C. marinus to Rhinella, but Savage and Bolaños (2009) returned the marinus group to Chaunus. Pyron and
Wiens (2011) returned all Western Hemisphere toads placed in Bufo prior to the Frost et al. (2006) study back in Bufo.
We tentatively retain C. marinus in Chaunus following the reasoning of Savage and Bolaños (2009) and because the Bufo
taxonomy suggested in Pyron and Wiens (2011) is not yet completely resolved.
2
McCranie (2006) and McCranie and Castañeda (2007) tentatively used the species name brownorum for the Honduran
populations previously placed in the Rana pipiens species group. Frost et al. (2006) recommended using the genus
Lithobates for the Central American frogs previously placed in Rana. However, Pyron and Wiens (2011) placed Lithobates
in the synonymy of Rana, but we continue to recognize Lithobates for the two ranid frogs occurring on the Bay Islands
because we feel that the issue is not yet completely resolved.
3
Frazier, Montgomery and Boback (2010) reported Trachemys ornata (as T. venusta) from Cayo Cochino Menor. That
species is also reported from Guanaja in this study.
4
McCranie and Rovito (2011) reported Hemidactylus frenatus from Roatán and Muelleman et al. (2009) reported it from the
Cayos Cochinos. That species is also reported from Guanaja in this study.
5
Frazier et al. (2011) reported Sphaerodactylus rosaurae from Cayo Cochino Menor based on a photograph; however, that
photographed specimen is now a voucher in the UNAH collection.
6
Voucher specimens of Basiliscus vittatus do not appear to have been reported from the Cayo Cochinos, but there are
specimens in the USNM from both Cayo Cochino Mayor and Menor.
7
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005) reported Ctenosaura melanosterna from Cayo Cochino Menor based on a photograph,
but there is now a voucher specimen in the USNM.
8
Köhler and Vesely (2010) used the combination Anolis unilobatus for this species, whereas Nicholson et al. (2012) used
Norops unilobatus.
9
Two specimens of Marisora we collected on Guanaja agree with the definition of M. roatanae in Hedges and Conn (2012)
by having 32 scales around the midbody, thus we herein assign that population to M. roatanae.
1
New island records and updated nomenclature of amphibians and reptiles from Honduras
Utila Town, whereas La Ceiba lies about 32 km to the
SSE. The lizard was active on a palm tree during the
day. Because only one specimen was seen, A. allisoni
does not appear to be breeding on Utila. No photographs
are available.
Gymnophthalmus speciosus (Hallowell, 1861). Isla
de Utila: east coast near Trade Winds (16.102567°,
-86.883117°), 3 m elev. 25 September 2012 FMNH
283587. Closest known locality for this species is on the
island of Roatán (McCranie, Wilson and Köhler, 2005)
about 30 km to the NE. The lizard (Fig. 2D) was found
among small pieces of loose coral rock partially covered
with dead sea grape leaves (Cocoloba uvifera).
Updated nomenclatural list of the amphibians and
reptiles reported from the Islas de la Bahía, Honduras
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005) reported 55
species of amphibians and reptiles from the Islas de la
Bahía, Honduras. Subsequent fieldwork has continued
on these islands resulting in new knowledge about each
islands resident herpetofauna. In addition, JRM and S.B.
Hedges initiated molecular and morphological studies
of several lizard species suspected to be complexes of
cryptic species (McCranie and Hedges, 2012, 2013a,
b, c). Those studies to date have revealed the presence
of five new species of geckos on the Bay Islands, each
of which is endemic to one or more of these islands.
Results of these new studies now brings the total number
of amphibian and reptile species known from these
islands to 65, 42 of which are known from Utila, 33
from Roatán, 32 from Guanaja, 20 from Cayo Cochino
Menor, and 14 from Cayo Cochino Mayor (Table 1).
McCranie, Wilson and Köhler (2005) recorded 12
reptile species endemic to these islands. That endemic
total now stands at 18, including 13 lizards and five
snakes. Table 1 shows the revised island lists with the
nomenclature used by McCranie, Wilson and Köhler
(2005), the current nomenclature, the sources for any
nomenclatural changes, and the sources for each new
island record.
Conservation notes
Eighteen of the 65 total species (27.7 %) are endemic
to one or more of the Bay Islands. In addition, one
lizard species (Ctenosaura melanosterna Buckley and
Axtell, 1997) is known from only one other area (the
middle Aguán River Valley, Yoro, Honduras). With the
inclusion of that Honduran endemic, 19 species (29.2
%) of the Islas de la Bahía herpetofauna are Honduran
endemics. As all 19 Honduran endemics from the
Bay Islands are lizards or snakes, the percentages of
47
lizard and snake endemics to Honduras that occur on
these islands is 33.3% (19 of 57 total lizard and snake
Honduran endemics known as of August 2013).
Sánchez et al. (2002) provided a list of the protected
areas in Honduras. Those authors listed the following
Marine Reserves in the Islas de la Bahía: Barbareta,
Cayos Cochinos, Guanaja, Islas de la Bahía, Ragged
Key (W of Utila), Sandy Bay and West End (Roatán),
Teca (not located), Turtle Harbour (Utila) and Utila.
Unfortunately, with the exception of the Cayos
Cochinos, these reserves do not extend onto land areas.
Sánchez et al. (2002) also listed the following wild life
reserves in the Islas de la Bahía: Cayos Utila, Port Royal
and Santa Elena. The Cayos Utila are a group of nine
tiny cays barely above sea level off the southwest coast
of Utila. The herpetofauna of those cays is unknown,
but can at best be insignificant. Sánchez et al. (2002)
did not give the sizes of the Port Royal and Santa
Elena wildlife reserves, probably an indication that the
limits of these reserves are not known. Both areas are
heavily impacted by humans and we have never seen
any signage to indicate that those areas are wildlife
reserves. Perhaps the best level of protection on the
Islas de la Bahía, outside of the Cayos Cochinos, is on
private lands. Even there a disturbing trend was noted
on the 2011–2012 trips, where the land was regularly
raked of all fallen leaves and tree trunks and branches,
and rocks were removed to give the land the look of
a well-maintained garden lawn. The type locality of
Sphaerodactylus guanajae McCranie and Hedges, 2012
contained a thick mat of sea grape leaves (Cocoloba
uvifera) mixed with pine needles from a group of an
introduced Australian pine tree species when part of
the type series was collected during November 2011.
However, during September 2012, that land had been
raked and cleaned of all leaves, pine needles, and other
ground debris and had the appearance of a sterile beach
with shady spots provided by the pine trees. Individuals
of S. guanajae could no longer be found at its type
locality at that time.
Acknowledgements. Collecting (Resolución DE-MP-102–2012)
and export (Constancia 036–2012-DVS-ICF; Constancia 038–
2012-DVS-ICF) permits were issued by Iris Acosta and Said
Laínez of the Instituto Nacional de Conservación y Desarrolo
Forestal, Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre (ICF) Tegucigalpa.
Copies of those permits are on file at the FMNH (Chicago) and
at the USNM (Washington). Financial support for the 2012
fieldwork was provided to JRM by the Marshall Field Fund,
FMNH. Alan Resetar was especially helpful in acquiring those
funds. We also thank Viveca Nicole Meráz Haylock of Savannah
Bight for giving us the Kinosternon specimen and for sharing
48
with us her knowledge of turtles in captivity and on Guanaja
Island. Chad E. Montgomery read and greatly improved an earlier
draft of this manuscript.
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Accepted by Diogo Provete