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Accepted by M. Vences: 21 Aug. 2017; published: 13 Dec. 2017
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN
1175-5334
(online edition)
Copyright © 2017 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 4363 (4): 489
–
505
http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Article
489
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4363.4.2
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:520C0F4D-E187-4162-84C8-5A72396EB748
A new terrestrial species of Chiropterotriton (Caudata: Plethodontidae)
from central Mexico
MIRNA G. GARCÍA-CASTILLO
1
, SEAN M. ROVITO
2
, DAVID B. WAKE
3
& GABRIELA PARRA-OLEA
1,4
1
Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70-153, Tercer Circuito Exterior s/
n, Ciudad Universitaria, México, Distrito Federal, México.
2
Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, km 9.6 Libramiento Norte
Carretera Irapuato-León, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
3
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3160.
4
Corresponding author
Abstract
Chiropterotriton is a relatively small genus that comprises 15 species with great morphological and ecological diversity.
In previous studies, molecular data provided evidence for a considerable number of species that remain undescribed. In
this study, we describe one new species, Chiropterotriton chico sp. nov. based on molecular and morphological characters.
We present mtDNA phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood that include all described
and several undescribed species. Morphometric data from eight recognized species provide evidence for the distinctive-
ness of the new taxon. Description of this new species adds to the already high salamander diversity of the state of Hidalgo,
which is an important area for the diversification of the genus.
Key words: salamanders, bolitogossines, morphology, taxonomy, Hidalgo
Introduction
The tribe Bolitoglossini (Wake 2012) is composed of 305 species (AmphibiaWeb 2017), which represents more
than 65% of the known Plethodontid species. It includes 14 genera that show extensive morphological
diversification in the Neotropics (Rovito et al. 2015). Although this highly diverse group has been studied for many
years, molecular tools have shown that the diversity of the group has been underestimated and many species of
bolitoglossine salamanders have been recently described based on morphological and molecular data (Townsend et
al. 2010; Boza-Oviedo et al. 2012; Acevedo et al. 2013; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015; Parra-Olea et al. 2016).
The genus Chiropterotriton currently contains 15 described species, which occur exclusively in Mexico from
the northern states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south in Oaxaca (AmphibiaWeb 2017). This
group shows substantial morphological diversity, including extensive variation in degree of foot webbing and body
size. Ecological diversity is also evident in the arboreal, terrestrial, and cave-dwelling habitats of these
salamanders. This diversity is largely a product of size change and heterochrony, which is common in plethodontid
evolution (Darda 1994; Darda & Wake 2015). The first molecular phylogeny of Chiropterotriton, based on
allozyme data, was published by Darda (1994) who analyzed samples from 25 populations that included all but two
(C. mosaueri (Woodall) and C. multidentatus (Taylor)) of the then described species. His analysis grouped all
species in two geographic assemblages (northern and southern) and suggested the existence of 13 undescribed
species. Parra-Olea (2003) presented a mitochondrial phylogeny, which also lacked sequences of C. mosaueri and
C. multidentatus, and included 27 populations. Parra-Olea’s phylogeny was in general in agreement with most of
the allozyme results and supported seven of Darda’s undescribed species. More recently, Campbell et al. (2014)
described one new species from northern Mexico. Rovito & Parra-Olea (2015) presented a phylogeny based on two
mitochondrial genes that included 13 species of Chiropterotriton, as well as many undescribed species, and
described two more species from northern Mexico. Of these three newly described species, one corresponds to one
GARCÍA-CASTILLO ET AL.
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Zootaxa 4363 (4) © 2017 Magnolia Press
of the 13 undescribed species reported for Darda (1994) while two of them were not included in the phylogenetic
analyses of Darda (1994) or Parra-Olea (2003). In general, all published phylogenies agree on the existence of two
clades, concordant with the geographic distribution of the species, and support the existence of multiple
undescribed species.
In the present paper, we describe a species from El Chico National Park in the state of Hidalgo, which long
have been assigned to Chiropterotriton multidentatus (Rabb 1958; Wake & Lynch 1976). Only recently has tissue
been available from topotypic C. multidentatus (Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015), and it has proven crucial in the present
study. The description is based on both mtDNA phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters.
FIGURE 1. Map of Chiropterotriton localities in central and northern Mexico used for phylogenetic and morphological
comparisons. Distributional ranges for all species of Chiropterotriton used in this study are a small area surrounding the
locality shown here.
Methods
We analyzed a total of 30 previously published sequences of the large subunit ribosomal RNA (16S) mitochondrial
gene (Parra-Olea 2003; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015). Voucher information and Genbank numbers are given in Table
1. We aligned the sequences with Muscle v.3.8 (Edgar 2004) and used jModelTest2 (Darriba et al. 2012) to select
the best-fitting nucleotide substitution model substitution model (GTR+I+G). We performed a Bayesian
phylogenetic analysis using the program MrBayes 3.2 (Ronquist et al. 2012). Two separate runs were done for
20,000,000 generations, with three hot and one cold chains, sampled every 1000 generations, and the first 5000
samples were discarded as burn-in. A maximum likelihood analysis was run in RAxML v.8.0 (Stamatakis 2006).
Nodal support was assessed through 1000 bootstrap replicates. Isthmura boneti (Alvarez & Martín) and Thorius
Zootaxa 4363 (4) © 2017 Magnolia Press
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NEW CHIROPTEROTRITON FROM CENTRAL MEXICO
magnipes Hanken & Wake were used as outgroups in both analyses. Both phylogenetic analyses were run on the
CIPRES Science Gateway (Miller et al. 2010). Finally, we obtained corrected genetic distances (Kimura two-
parameter, K2P) using Mesquite v3.04 (Maddison & Maddison 2015), which are shown in Table 2.
TABLE 1. Voucher information and GenBank numbers for specimens included in phylogenetic analyses from the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley (MVZ) and Instituto de Biología, UNAM (IBH). Locality abbreviations:
DF: Distrito Federal, Hgo: Hidalgo, NL: Nuevo León, Oax: Oaxaca, Pue: Puebla, SLP: San Luis Potosí, Tamps:
Tamaulipas, Ver: Veracruz.
Species Locality Voucher number Genbank
Accessions
C. arboreus Hgo: 4.3 km E of Hwy 105 junction on road to Tianguistengo MVZ200622 AY522474
C. chico Hgo: 3.8 km S Mineral del Chico MVZ200679 AY522471
C. chiropterus Ver: Huatusco MVZ163724 AY522495
C. chondrostega Hgo: La Venta, 3.6 km NE of jct to hwy Mx 85 on road to La
Encarnación
IBH22266 AY523996
C. chondrostega Hgo: 1.0 km S (by rd) of La Encarnación IBH28195 KT820673
C. cieloensis Tamps: 5.6 km (air) NW Gómez Farías MVZ158570 AY522473
C. cieloensis Tamps: 5.6 km (air) W Gómez Farías MVZ173380 AY522459
C. cracens Tamps: 1.3 km NE (by air) of San José, Reserva de la Biósfera El
Cielo
IBH28192 KT820674
C. dimidiatus Hgo: 4.9 km S Mineral del Chico IBH22344 AY522463
C. dimidiatus Hgo: 4.1 km S (by rd) of Mineral del Chico IBH28196 KT820675
C. infernalis Tamps: Cueva del Brinco, Conrado Castillo MVZ269665 KT820694
C. lavae Ver: La Joya IBH22342 AY522466
C. lavae Ver: La Joya IBH28180 KT820676
C. magnipes SLP: 1.1 km W Ahuacatlán MVZ200678 AY522469
C. miquihuanus NL: 1.8 km S (by rd) of La Encantada on road from La Bolsa to
Zaragoza
MVZ269643 KT820697
C. mosaueri Hgo: 900 m SSE Durango IBH28179 KT820677
C. multidentatus SLP: 900 m NE Valle de los Fantasmas IBH28177 KT820678
C. multidentatus SLP: 26.2 km E (by rd) of center of Ciudad del Maíz IBH28194 KT820680
C. multidentatus Tamps: 22.0 km E (by rd) Tula on road to Ocampo MVZ269654 KT820681
C. orculus DF: 8.8 km SW La Venta, Parque Nacional Desierto de los Leones MVZ138677 AY522444
C. priscus NL: Cerro Potosí gp011 AY522476
C. priscus NL: Cerro Potosí, 30.2 km NW (by rd) of center of Galeana MVZ269655 KT820682
C. terrestris Hgo: 4 km NNE Zacualtipán MVZ172149 AY522455
C. sp. C Ver: 3.2 km S Puerto del Aire MVZ163635 AY522453
C. sp. F Pue: Xicotepec de Juárez MVZ178707 AY522479
C. sp. G Pue: 4 km S Chignahuapan MVZ178703 AY522481
C. sp. H Ver: 15.9 km S Las Vigas on road to RMO Las Lajas IBH23066 AY522482
C. sp. I Pue: Santa Cruz de Texmalaquilla MVZ201387 AY522488
C. sp. J Oax: La Esperanza gp086 AY522489
C. sp. K Oax: Cerro San Felipe MVZ173232 AY522491
Isthmura boneti Oax: Cerro Zempoaltepetl MVZ163873 AY864714
Thorius magnipes Pue: Lagunas de San Bernardino IBH22918 KC884063
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Zootaxa 4363 (4) © 2017 Magnolia Press
7$%/(6HTXHQFHGLYHUJHQFHZLWK.LPXUDWZRSDUDPHWHUGLVWDQFHVXSSHUKDOIDQGXQFRUUHFWHGpGLVWDQFHVORZHUKDOI
C. arboreus
C. chico
C. chiropterus
C. chondrostega
C. cieloensis
C. cracens
C. dimidiatus
C. infernalis
C. lavae
C. magnipes
C. miquihuanus
C. mosaueri
C. multidentatus
C. multidentatus
C. multidentatus
C. orculus
C. priscus
C. terrestris
C.VS&
C. VS.)
C. VS.*
C. VS+
C. VS ,
C. VS -
C.VS..
……continued on the next page
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NEW CHIROPTEROTRITON FROM CENTRAL MEXICO
7$%/(&RQWLQLXHG
C. arboreus
C. chico
C. chiropterus
C. chondrostega
C. cieloensis
C. cracens
C. dimidiatus
C. infernalis
C. lavae
C. magnipes
C. miquihuanus
C. mosaueri
C. multidentatus
C. multidentatus
C. multidentatus
C. orculus
C. priscus
C. terrestris
C.VS&
C. VS.)
C. VS.*
C. VS+
C. VS ,
C. VS -
C.VS..
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TABLE 3. Mean ± standard deviation and range of morphological measurements (in mm) and tooth counts for males. Sample size given when different from total number of
specimens measured for each species. * Data taken from Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015.
MALES
C. arboreus
N = 9
C. chondrostega
N = 10
C. cieloensis*
N = 8
C. chico
N = 15
C. cracens*
N = 4
C. dimidiatus
N = 15
C. infernalis*
N= 8
C. multidentatus*
N = 7
C. terrestris
N = 15
SVL
33.4±3.62
(27.8–39.5)
23.1±1.07
(21.0–24.6)
32.6±1.96
(30.2–36.1)
38.4±1.99
(36.2–42.6)
25.7±1.98
(23.7–28.0)
24.6±0.97
(23.3–26.7)
36.4±3.84
(31.0–41.6)
33.6±2.92
(29.3–36.7)
24.2±1.33
(21.6–26.9)
TL
41.5±5.91
(32.0
–
50.4)
N = 8
25.6±3.91
(19.4–
32.4)
38.3±5.25
(32.9–
48.1)
N = 7
45.4±2.81
(40.4–
49.5)
30.6±3.65
(26.6
–
35.4)
22.0±1.71
(18.4–
24.1)
44.6±4.72
(38.1–
51.9)
N = 7
37.8±7.52
(30.3–48.9)
N = 6
25.3±2.26
(19.8–
29.2)
AX
16.5±1.74
(13.7–19.7)
11.62±0.47
(11.1–12.4)
16.7±1.27
(15.2–18.9)
19.8±1.19
(17.5–21.7)
13.3±0.99
(12.3–14.7)
13.1±0.74
(11.6–13.9)
18.6±2.25
(15.0–21.1)
17.4±1.72
(15.2–20.0)
12.1±0.76
(10.8–13.3)
FLL
8.2±0.73
(7.2–9.2)
4.9±0.31
(4.5–5.5)
8.6±0.68
(7.7–9.8)
8.4±0.54
(7.2–9.4)
6.1±1.06
(5.1–7.6)
4.5±0.33
(3.7–4.9)
9.8±1.37
(8.0–11.8)
8.8±1.63
(6.8–11.5)
4.7±0.47
(3.9–5.5)
HLL
9.5±0.73
(8.4–10.3)
5.4±0.43
(5.1–6.5)
9.8±0.68
(9.0–10.9)
10.1±0.73
(8.0–10.8)
7.0±1.07
(6.0–8.5)
5.2±0.33
(4.8–5.9)
11.2±1.28
(9.1–12.9)
10.0±2.05
(7.7–13.2)
5.2±0.53
(4.3–6.0)
HL
7.9±0.80
(6.5–9.2)
5.6±0.30
(5.1–6.1)
7.1±0.33
(6.7–7.8)
8.8±0.61
(7.2–9.8)
5.5±0.78
(4.6–6.4)
5.2±0.31
(4.8–5.8)
8.2± 1.07
(6.9–10.1)
7.4±0.87
(6.4–8.9)
5.7±0.33
(5.0–6.1)
HW
5.0±0.49
(4.4–5.7)
3.4±0.19
(3.2–3.8)
4.8±0.30
(4.3–5.4)
5.6±0.24
(5.0–5.9)
3.8±0.52
(3.2–4.4)
3.4±0.20
(2.9–3.7)
5.7± 0.62
(4.6–6.4)
4.9±0.56
(4.1–5.7)
3.5±0.27
(3.2–4.0)
HD
2.5±0.28
(1.9–2.8)
1.8±0.09
(1.68–1.97)
—
2.6±0.20
(2.2–2.9)
—
1.8±0.08
(1.7–1.9)
—
—
1.8±0.21
(1.5–2.3)
SW
4.2±0.52
(3.5–4.9)
3.04±0.19
(2.7–3.4)
—
4.8±0.35
(4.0–5.5)
—
2.9±0.29
(2.3–3.5)
—
—
2.7±0.32
(2.1–3.3)
IN
1.8±0.24
(1.3–2.0)
1.3±0.08
(1.2–1.4)
1.7±0.08
(1.6–1.9)
2.1±0.18
(1.8–2.5)
1.3±0.16
(1.1–1.5)
1.1±0.08
(1.0–1.2)
1.9±0.19
(1.5–2.1)
1.7±0.25
(1.3–2.1)
1.3±0.13
(1.1–1.5)
FW
3.4±0.30
(2.8–3.9)
1.8±0.21
(1.5–2.2)
3.2±0.40
(2.7–3.8)
4.1±0.35
(3.4–4.6)
2.2±0.34
(1.9–2.7)
1.7±0.19
(1.4–2.0)
4.2±0.70
(3.2–5.3)
3.6±0.39
(3.1–4.1)
1.9±0.29
(1.3–2.4)
NL
0.16±0.019
(0.13
–
0.18)
0.13±0.009
(0.11–
0.14)
0.19±0.020
(0.16–
0.21)
N = 4
0.16±0.012
(0.13–
0.18)
0.15±0.010
(0.14
–
0.16)
0.25±0.010
(0.24–
0.28)
0.24±0.030
(0.19–
0.28)
N = 4
0.22±0.020
(0.19–
0.23)
N = 4
0.12±0.008
(0.10–
0.13)
NW
0.08±0.009
(0.07
–
0.08)
0.06±0.005
(0.06–
0.08)
0.12±0.000
(0.12–
0.12)
N = 4
0.08±0.006
(0.06–0.08)
0.11±0.020
(0.09
–
0.12)
0.25±0.012
(0.23–
0.28)
0.17±0.030
(0.12–
0.21)
N = 4
0.16±0.010 (0.14–
0.16)
N = 4
0.07±0.006
(0.06–
0.08)
ND
2.1±0.24
(1.8–
2.5)
1.9±0.19
(1.6–2.2)
1.6±0.19
(1.4–1.8)
N = 4
1.9±0.21
(1.6–
2.5)
1.5±0.23
(1.2–
1.8)
1.0±0.06
(0.8–
1.1)
1.5±0.18
(1.1–
1.7)
N = 4
1.4±0.22
(1.1–1.6)
N = 4
1.7±0.17
(1.4–
2.0)
LI
0.2±0.36
(0–1)
2.0±0.00
(2–2)
-0.2±0.46
(-1–0.5)
0.6±0.30
(0–1)
1.8±0.65
(1–2.5)
3.8±0.35
(3–4)
–0.7± 0.98
(–2–1)
0.1±1.60
(–3–1.5)
1.9±0.32
(1.5–2.5)
PMT+MT
26.5±3.39
(20–30)
22.5±3.71
(18–29)
31.4±3.66
(26–35)
42.3±5.08
(32–54)
36.8±0.96
(36–38)
9.4±2.58
(5–14)
49.3±7.11
(36–56)
40.0±11.06
(26–56)
21.2±3.82
(15–30)
VT
11.2±2.59
(9–17)
7.9±1.52
(6–11)
11.5±2.00
(9–15)
13.6±2.58
(10–19)
12.5±2.08
(10–15)
5.6±1.34
(4–8)
17.6±3.16
(13–22)
13.3±1.70
(11–16)
8.8±1.82
(6–14)
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NEW CHIROPTEROTRITON FROM CENTRAL MEXICO
TABLE 4. Mean ± standard deviation and range of morphological measurements (in mm) and tooth counts for females. Sample size given when different from total number of
specimens measured for each species. * Data taken from Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015.
FEMALES
C. arboreus
N = 5
C. chondrostega
N = 11
C. cieloensis*
N = 4
C. chico
N = 15
C. cracens*
N = 15
C. dimidiatus
N = 15
C. infernalis*
N = 1
C. multidentatus*
N = 9
C. terrestris
N = 15
SVL
32.2±3.47
(29.3–38.0)
25.4±1.73
(23.5–28.2)
31.1±2.73
(28.3–34.4)
39.3±2.59
(35.9–44.3)
27.4±3.30
(23.2–34.0)
25.8±1.55
(23.0–29.0)
29.7
34.0±6.27
(24.5–41.9)
23.0±1.92
(21.6–27.6)
TL
37.4±5.82
(33.7–47.6)
24.2±3.70
(17.6–31.0)
31.9±5.32
(24.5–36.0)
44.1±3.65
(37.0–49.0)
28.8±6.17
(17.2–38.4)
22.4±1.84
(19.8–25.1)
34.5
34.9±5.81
(26.5–43.6)
22.4±1.89
(21.0–28.5)
AX
16.7±1.55
(15.3–19.2)
13.4±0.89
(12.5–14.9)
16.8±1.98
(14.1–18.9)
21.8±1.64
(19.0–23.9)
14.5±1.99
(11.5–18.5)
14.7±1.23
(12.5–17.2)
14.2
17.5±3.59
(11.5–22.5)
12.0±1.22
(11.2–15.3)
FLL
7.4±0.93
(6.8–9.0)
5.0±0.30
(4.3–5.3)
8.1±0.98
(7.1–9.4)
8.2±0.59
(7.2–9.0)
6.4±1.53
(4.4–8.8)
4.3±0.43
(3.7–5.1)
7.2
8.6±2.12
(5.9–11.7)
4.3±0.36
(3.9–5.4)
HLL
8.9±0.61
(8.3–9.6)
5.5±0.42
(4.9–6.1)
9.4±0.95
(8.8–10.8)
9.6±0.84
(8.4–11.1)
7.3±1.46
(5.5–9.7)
4.9±0.47
(4.3–6.1)
8.9
9.8±2.29
(6.7–13.5)
4.8±0.44
(4.3–5.8)
HL
7.6±0.87
(6.9–9.0)
5.7±0.33
(5.4–6.5)
6.9±0.65
(6.3–7.7)
8.7±0.62
(7.9–9.9)
5.8±0.84
(4.8–7.1)
5.0±0.33
(4.4–5.6)
6.2
7.4±1.37
(5.2–9.2)
5.2±0.35
(5.1–6.1)
HW
4.9±0.51
(4.5–5.7)
3.7±0.19
(3.4–4.0)
4.9±0.59
(4.5–5.8)
5.7±0.41
(5.1–6.7)
4.1±0.62
(3.2–5.1)
3.5±0.24
(3.1–3.9)
4.3
5.1±0.89
(3.7–6.2)
3.3±0.48
(2.2–4.2)
HD
2.1±0.24
(1.8–2.4)
1.9±0.09
(1.7–2.0)
—
2.8±0.28
(2.4–3.4)
—
2.0±0.20
(1.7–2.2)
—
—
1.8±0.20
(1.6–2.3)
SW
4.0±0.42
(3.6–4.7)
3.13±0.26
(2.8–3.8)
—
5.1±0.36
(4.6–5.8)
—
3.1±0.26
(2.7–3.5)
—
—
2.8±0.29
(2.6–3.6)
IN
1.8±0.06
(1.7–1.8)
1.2±0.11
(1.1–1.4)
1.6±0.13
(1.5–1.8)
2.1±0.13
(1.9–2.3)
1.3±0.19
(1.0–1.6)
1.2±0.14
(1.0–1.6)
1.4
1.6±0.23
(1.3–2.0)
1.2±0.14
(1.1–1.5)
FW
3.5±0.62
(2.9–4.4)
1.8±0.18
(1.5–2.2)
3.1±0.55
(2.3–3.6)
4.2±0.58
(3.4–5.5)
2.5±0.67
(1.8–3.5)
1.7±0.25
(1.2–2.2)
2.8
3.5±0.80
(2.3–4.6)
1.7±0.25
(1.4–2.2)
NL
0.16±0.009
(0.15
–
0.17)
0.12±0.010
(0.11–
0.14)
0.21±0.020
(0.19–
0.23)
N = 3
0.15±0.008
(0.14
–
0.16)
0.19±0.030
(0.14–
0.23)
N = 14
0.21±0.026
(0.19–
0.26)
0.20
0.21±0.020
(0.19–
0.23)
N = 5
0.11±0.009
(0.10–
0.13)
NW
0.08±0.007
(0.07
–
0.08)
0.06±0.007
(0.04–
0.08)
0.12±0
(0.12–
0.12)
N = 3
0.08±0.015
(0.06
–
0.11)
0.12±0.030
(0.09–
0.19)
N = 14
0.24±0.020
(0.19–
0.28)
0.19
0.14±0.020
(0.12–
0.16)
N = 5
0.07±0.009
(0.07–
0.08)
ND
2.00±0.19
(1.8–
2.2)
1.97±0.21
(1.6–2.3)
1.80±0.20
(1.6–2.0)
N = 3
1.95±0.27
(1.4–
2.2)
1.60±0.27
(1.2–
2.0)
N = 14
0.89±0.10
(0.8–
1.0)
1.13
1.5±0.18
(1.3–1.8)
N = 5
1.5±0.22
(1.2
–2.0)
LI
1.0±0
(1–1)
3.0± 0.0
(3–3)
0.1±0.85
(-1–1)
2.1±0.39
(1.5–3.0)
2.1±0.89
(0.5–3.5)
4.9±0.25
(4.0–5.0)
–0.5
1.0±0.97
(0.5–2)
2.6±0.28
(2–3)
PMT +MT
33.4±3.43
(28–36)
40.9±5.33
(33–48)
46.8±6.40
(42–56)
56.5±4.79
(48–67)
49.5±11.07
(32–74)
34.4±4.11
(27–41)
53
47.8±11.24
(34–66)
38.1±7.04
(27–53)
VT
12.4±2.41
(9–15)
9.54±2.29
(6–14)
12.8±1.71
(11–15)
15.6±1.79
(13–19)
12.0±2.48
(7–16)
8.33±1.34
(6–11)
15
13.1±3.02
(10–19)
9.9±1.92
(8–14)
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FIGURE 2. Mitochondrial DNA gene tree of Chiropterotriton from Bayesian analysis of 16S sequences. Numbers above
branches represent posterior probabilities and numbers below branches are boostrap values from maximum likelihood
phylogenetic analysis.
Species descriptions follow the format used by Lynch and Wake (1989) for species of Neotropical
plethodontids and include the same basic characters and measurements. The comparisons for the new species were
made with the other five members of its clade from our phylogenetic analyses (see Results) as well as with other
geographically proximate species. We examined specimens of other species that occur in Hidalgo, Chiropterotriton
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arboreus (Taylor), C. chondrostega (Taylor), C. dimidiatus (Taylor) and C. terrestris (Taylor) (Appendix 1), and
we used the published measurements of C. mosaueri (Woodall 1941; Rabb 1958; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015), C.
cracens Rabb, C. cieloensis Rovito & Parra-Olea, C. infernalis Rovito & Parra-Olea, and C. multidentatus (Rovito
& Parra-Olea 2015) that occur in Hidalgo, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí.
We compared measurements of 181 specimens (91 males and 90 females) from nine species of
Chiropterotriton from central and northern Mexico (Fig. 1, Tables 3 and 4, Appendix 1). We took measurements of
11 characters to the nearest 0.1 mm with a Vernier calipers: snout-vent length (SVL), tail length (TL), axilla-groin
distance (AX), forelimb length (FLL), hind limb length (HLL), snout to gular fold distance (head length, HL), head
width at angle of jaw (HW), head depth (HD), shoulder width (SW), internarial distance (IN), and right foot width
(FW). We also measured the widest and narrowest nostril dimensions (nostril length, NL, and nostril width, NW)
using an ocular micrometer and calculated a ratio of nostril dimensions (ND = NL/NW) as an index of nostril
shape. We counted maxillary (MT), premaxillary (PMT), and vomerine teeth (VT) and we present counts for PMT
and MT together because of the difficulty in distinguishing them in some specimens. We also measured limb
interval (LI) as the number of costal folds between adpressed limbs, with positive values meaning grooves between
limbs and negative values meaning overlap between limbs. We separated males and females in order to account for
sexual dimorphism in the statistics. Twelve additional measurements were obtained for the holotype: anterior rim
of orbit to snout, eyelid length, eyelid width, horizontal orbital diameter, interorbital distance, length of third
(longest) toe, length of fifth toe, projection of snout beyond mandible, snout to anterior angle of vent, snout to
forelimb, tail depth at base, and tail width at base.
Results
Our phylogenetic hypothesis based on mtDNA (Fig. 2) shows that the populations from Hidalgo are not close
relatives of topotypic C. multidentatus, but instead are the sister species of the much smaller C. terrestris, from
farther north in Hidalgo. Such a relationship was suggested by studies of allozymes and mtDNA in previous studies
(Darda 1994; Parra-Olea 2003; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015), but topotypic samples of C. multidentatus were lacking
in the former two studies. In our analysis C. chico is well supported as the sister species of C. terrestris (Posterior
probability = 1.0, bootstrap = 97) and both are placed in a clade that contains five species (C. arboreus, C.
cieloensis, C. cracens, C. infernalis, and C. multidentatus), which range across the states of Hidalgo, San Luis
Potosí, and Tamaulipas. Genetic divergence between C. chico and its sister species C. terrestris is 2.8% for both
K2P distance and uncorrected (p) distance (Table 2).
Taxonomy
Amphibia
Caudata
Plethodontidae
Chiropterotriton chico sp. nov.
El Chico Salamander
Salamandra de El Chico
(Figures 3A and 4A)
Chiropterotriton multidentata (part): Taylor, 1944.
Chiropterotriton cf multidentatus (part): Rabb, 1958; Darda, 1994.
Chiropterotriton sp. 15: Parra-Olea, 2003; Rovito & Parra-Olea, 2015
Holotype. MVZ 118888, an adult male from El Chico National Park, Hidalgo, Mexico, 2950–3050 m, 20.184154º
N, 98.734437º W (maximum error distance 5477 m). Collected 31 July 1972 by James Lynch and Lynne D. Houck.
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Paratypes. Twenty-nine specimens, all from Hidalgo, Mexico. Fifteen males: MVZ 118752, 118804, 118811,
118821, 118827, 118842, 118869, 118900, 119053, 119057, 119078, 119166, 119212, 119216, El Chico National
Park; MVZ 138852, road to El Chico National Park, 1.0 km N (by road) junction Hwy. 105. Fourteen females:
MVZ 114436, El Chico National Park, 4 km S (by road) Mineral del Chico; MVZ 118740, 118791, 118793,
118798, 118800, 118816, 118901, 118905, 119016, 119034, 119062, 119179, 119193, El Chico National Park.
Referred specimens. CAS 13112–13113; ENCB 139-142; IBH 23105; LACM 68955–69037, 69066–69071,
124057–124087, 168383–168388; MCZ A-25605–25606, A-93296 –93297; MVZ 46909, 97959, 98956–99022,
103938–103960, 106596–106655, 114292–114297, 114420–114435, 114437–114489, 118047–118739, 118741–
118751, 118753–118790, 118792, 118794–118797, 118799, 118801–118803, 118805–118810, 118812–118815,
118817–118820, 118822–118826, 118828–118841, 118843–118868, 118870–118887, 118889–118899, 118902–
118904, 118906–119015, 119017–119033, 119035–119052, 119054–119056, 119058–119061, 119063–119077,
119079–119165, 119167–119178, 119180–119192, 119194–119211, 119213–119215, 119217–119220, 128972–
128977, 138853–138866, 143864–143893, 163620–163629, 172142–172147, 183645–183654, 195833–195835,
199175–199190, 200679, 219569–219571; UCM 41242–41252; UMMZ 151186–151192; USNM 116324–
116338, 134284–134286, 201055-201057, 204910–204913, 249001-249004; UTEP 657–658.
Diagnosis. A plethodontid salamander assigned to Chiropterotriton because of small size, presence of
sublingual fold, and distinctive shape of the digits of the hand and foot (with a relatively long outer digit; Wake &
Elias 1983), as well as on the basis of analyses of mtDNA sequence data. Phylogenetically most closely related to
C. terrestris, also from the state of Hidalgo. Morphological differences between C. chico and its sister taxon C.
terrestris are much larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in males and 39.3 in females of C. chico vs. 24.1 in males, 23.0 in
females of C. terrestris), relatively longer tail (mean TL/SVL 1.18 in males and 1.12 in females of C. chico vs. 1.05
in males and 0.97 in females of C. terrestris), longer limbs (mean LI 0.6 costal folds in males and 2.1 in females of
C. chico vs. 1.9 in males, 2.6 in females of C. terrestris), longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females of
C. chico vs. 5.7 in males and 5.2 in females of C. terrestris), broader head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in
females of C. chico vs. 3.5 in males and 3.3 in females of C. terrestris), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2
in females of C. chico vs. 1.9 in males and 1.6 in females of C. terrestris), more maxillary and premaxillary teeth
(mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females of C. chico vs. 21.2 for males and 38.2 for females of C.
terrestris), and more vomerine teeth (mean VT 13.6 in males and 15.6 in females of C. chico vs. 8.8 in males and
9.9 in females of C. terrestris).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. arboreus in the following characteristics: larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in
males, 39.3 in females of C. chico vs. 33.4 in males, 32.2 in females of C. arboreus), relatively longer tail (mean
TL/SVL 1.18 in males, and 1.12 in females of C. chico vs. 0.83 in males and 0.87 in females of C. arboreus),
shorter limbs (mean LI 0.6 in males, 2.1 in females of C. chico vs. 0.2 in males, 1.0 in females of C. arboreus),
longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females of C. chico vs. 7.9 in males and 7.5 in females of C.
arboreus), broader head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 5.0 in males and 4.8 in females
of C. arboreus), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 3.4 in males and 3.5 in
females of C. arboreus), more maxillary and premaxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for
females of C. chico vs. 26.5 for males and 33.4 for females of C. arboreus) and more vomerine teeth (mean VT
13.6 in males and 15.6 in females of C. chico vs. 11.2 in males, and 12.4 in females of C. arboreus).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. chondrostega in the following characteristics: larger size (mean SVL
38.4 in males, 39.3 in females of C. chico vs. 23.0 in males, 25.4 in females of C. chondrostega), longer tail (mean
TL/SVL 1.18 in males and 1.12 in females of C. chico vs. 0.92 in males and 1.07 in females of C. chondrostega),
longer limbs (mean LI 0.6 in males and 2.1 in females of C. chico vs. 2.0 in males, 3.0 in females of C.
chondrostega), longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females C. chico vs. 5.5 in males and 5.7 in females
of C. chondrostega), broader head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 3.4 in males and 3.7
in females of C. chondrostega), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 1.8 in males
and females of C. chondrostega), more maxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females of C.
chico vs. 22.5 for males and 40.9 for females of C. chondrostega), and more vomerine teeth (mean VT 13.6 in
males and 15.6 in females of C. chico vs. 8 in males and 10 in females of C. chondrostega).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. mosaueri by its relatively shorter tail (mean TL/SVL 1.18 in males and
1.12 in females of C. chico vs. 1.31 in males and 1.39 in a female of C. mosaueri), narrower head (mean HW 5.6 in
males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 6.8 in males and 7.0 in a female of C. mosaueri), fewer maxillary and
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premaxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females of C. chico vs. mean MT 69.0 for males
and 70 for a female of C. mosaueri), and fewer vomerine teeth (mean VT 13.6 in males and 15.6 in females of C.
chico vs. 28 in males and 20 in a female of C. mosaueri) (Woodall 1941; Rabb 1958; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. multidentatus, by its larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in males, 39.3 in
females of C. chico vs. 33.6 in males, 34.0 in females of C. multidentatus), slightly longer tail (mean TL/SVL 1.18
in males, and 1.12 in females of C. chico vs. 1.13 in males and 1.03 in females of C. multidentatus), shorter limbs
(mean LI 0.6 in males, 2.1 in females of C. chico vs. 0.1 in males, 1.0 in females of C. multidentatus), longer head
(mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females C. chico vs. 7.4 in both males and females of C. multidentatus), broader
head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 4.9 in males and 5.1 in females of C.
multidentatus), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 3.6 in males and 3.5 in
females of C. multidentatus), and fewer maxillary and premaxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 26.0 for males and 36.0
for females of C. chico vs. 40.0 for males and 49.0 for females of C. multidentatus).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. cieloensis by its larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in males, 39.3 in females of
C. chico vs. 32.6 in males, 31.1 in females of C. cieloensis), shorter limbs (mean LI 0.6 in males, 2.1 in females of
C. chico vs. -0.2 in males, 0.1 in females of C. cieloensis), longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females of
C. chico vs. 7.1 in males and 6.9 in females of C. cieloensis), broader head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in
females of C. chico vs. 4.8 in males and 4.9 in females of C. cieloensis), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and
4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 3.2 in males and 3.1 in females of C. cieloensis); more maxillary and premaxillary
teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females of C. chico vs. 31.0 for males and 47.0 for females of C.
cieloensis), and more vomerine teeth (mean VT 13.6 in males and 15.6 in females of C. chico vs. 11.5 in males, and
12.8 in females of C. cieloensis).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. infernalis by its larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in males, 39.3 in females of
C. chico vs. 36.4 in males, 29.7 in a female of C. infernalis), shorter limbs (mean LI 0.6 in males, 2.1 in females of
C. chico vs. -0.7 in males, -0.5 in a female of C. infernalis), less extensive feet webbing (moderate webbing that
extends just onto penultimate phalanx in C. chico vs. extensive foot webbing onto penultimate phalange in C.
infernalis; Fig. 3A, I), and slightly longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females C. chico vs. 8.2 in males
and 6.2 in a female of C. infernalis).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from C. cracens in body size (mean SVL 38.4 in males, 39.3 in females of C.
chico vs. 25.7 in males, 27.4 in females of C. cracens) and by having shorter limbs in males (mean LI 0.6 of C.
chico vs. 1.8 of C. cracens), a longer head (mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females C. chico vs. 5.5 in males and
5.8 in females of C. cracens), broader head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 3.8 in males
and 4.1 in females of C. cracens), broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 2.2 in
males and 2.5 in females of C. cracens), and more maxillary and premaxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for
males and 56.5 for females of C. chico vs. 36.8 for males and 49.5 for females of C. cracens).
Chiropterotriton chico differs from its sympatric species C. dimidiatus by its larger size (mean SVL 38.4 in
males, 39.3 in females of C. chico vs. 24.6 in males, 25.8 in females of C. dimidiatus), relatively longer tail (mean
TL/SVL 1.18 in males, and 1.12 in females vs. 0.89 in males, and 0.86 in females of C. dimidiatus), longer limbs
(mean LI 0.6 in males, 2.1 in females of C. chico vs. 3.8 in males, 4.9 in females of C. dimidiatus), longer head
(mean HL 8.8 in males and 8.7 in females of C. chico vs. 5.2 in males and 5.0 in females of C. dimidiatus), broader
head (mean HW 5.6 in males and 5.7 in females of C. chico vs. 3.4 in males and 3.5 in females of C. dimidiatus),
broader feet (mean FW 4.1 in males and 4.2 in females of C. chico vs. 1.7 in both males and females of C.
dimidiatus), more numerous maxillary and premaxillary teeth (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females
of C. chico vs. 9.4 for males and 34.4 for females of C. dimidiatus), and vomerine teeth (mean VT 13.6 in males
and 15.6 in females of C. chico vs. 5.6 in males, and 8.3 in females of C. dimidiatus). Moreover, C. chico is easily
distinguished for relative narrow nostril size (mean NW/HW 0.01 in both males and females of C. chico vs. 0.07 in
both males and females of C. dimidiatus), this character is evident even in very small individuals.
Chiropterotriton chico differs from most of the remaining species of the genus, in having relatively large size
(mean SVL 38.4 males, 39.3 females). Exceptions are the much stouter and somewhat larger C. priscus Rabb
(mean SVL 38.5 males, 41.8 females; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015) and C. magnipes Rabb (range SVL 40–53 males,
51–60 females; Campbell et al. 2014). C. chico has more maxillary teeth than most other species of this genus
(mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for females), except for C. multidentatus (mean MT+PMT 40.0 for males
and 47.8 for females; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015) and C. infernalis (mean MT+PMT 42.3 for males and 56.5 for
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females; Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015) which have similar numbers of teeth, and C. magnipes (males average 79;
Campbell et al. 2014) and C. mosaueri (range in males 56–69; Campbell et al. 2014), which have more maxillary
teeth.
FIGURE 3. Head, hand and foot morphology of Chiropterotriton specimens from Hidalgo A) C. chico, holotype MVZ
118888, B) C. arboreus, MVZ 172159, C) C. chondrostega MVZ 106660, D) C. dimidiatus MVZ 178671, E) C. mosaueri IBH
28179, F) C. terrestris, MVZ 106700, and Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí G) C. cieloensis, holotype IBH 29561, H) C.
cracens MVZ 129005, I) C. infernalis, holotype MVZ 269665, J) C. multidentatus MVZ 163908. Scale bar corresponds to 2
mm.
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FIGURE 4. Photos in life of Chiropterotriton. A) Chiropterotriton chico, DBW (Jan 1974) B) C. arboreus, DBW, C) C.
chondrostega, SMR (IBH 28195), D) C. dimidiatus, DBW 1342-45, E) C. mosaueri SMR (IBH 28179), F) C. terrestris, DBW,
G) C. cieloensis, SMR holotype (IBH 29561), H) C. cracens, SMR (IBH 28192), I) C. infernalis, SMR holotype (MVZ
269665), J) C. multidentatus SMR (IBH 29571).
Description. This is a medium sized species of Chiropterotriton; mean SVL 38.4 in fifteen adult males (range
36.2–42.6) and 39.3 in fifteen adult females (range 35.9–44.3). The head is relatively narrow and moderately long
(Fig. 3), HW averages 14% of SVL in both males and females (range 11–16). In males, the snout is broad and
truncated. Jaw muscles are pronounced and visible as a bulging mass immediately behind the eyes. Eyes are
moderately protuberant and extend laterally beyond the jaw margin in ventral view. There are a moderate number
of maxillary and premaxillary teeth in males (mean MT+PMT 42.3, range 32–52) and more in females (mean
MT+PMT 56.5, range 48–67). There are few vomerine teeth in males (mean 13.6, range 10–19) and females (mean
15.6, range 13–19). The tail is long; mean TL equals 1.18 of SVL in males (range 0.96–1.27) and 1.12 of SVL in
females (range 0.98–1.24). Limbs are moderate and slender; (FLL+ HLL)/SVL average 0.48 in males (range 0.82–
1.11) and 0.98 in females (range 0.87–1.13). Adpressed limbs approach closely on males (mean LI 0.6, range 0–1)
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but they are separated by as many as two costal folds in females (mean 2.1, range 1.5–3.0). Digits are slender and
expanded distally, with distinct subterminal pads and moderate webbing at the base. All digits are discrete,
however the first barely extends beyond the margins of the webbing and it extends just onto penultimate phalanx of
the longest toe (Fig. 3). The outermost toes are particularly well developed. The smallest male with a mental gland
is 36.2 SVL. Parotoid glands not evident. Prominent oval-shaped mental gland is present in all adult males.
Vomerine teeth arranged in a well-defined line extending to outer margin of choanae. Digits in order of increasing
length: hand I-IV-II-III, foot I-V-II-IV-III. Phalangeal formulae: hand 1-2-3-2, foot 1-2-3-3-2.
Coloration of the holotype in alcohol. Holotype uniform dark tannish brown dorsally becoming paler
laterally and very pale cream ventrally. There is a central reddish brown stripe flanked by yellow lines. The stripe
extends from to the postocular region, where it has yellow spots, to the base of the tail where it also leaves two
yellow spots. The entire tail is a slightly darker brown than the body. Limbs are lighter in color than dorsum but
still dark brown. Snout is mottled with dark and light brown. Dorsal surface of hands and feet only slightly lighter
than body.
Measurements of the holotype (in mm), tooth counts and limb interval.— SVL 42.2, TL 46.1, AX 22.4,
SW 5.2, HL 9.8, HW 6.3, HD 3.1, projection of snout beyond mandible 1.4, anterior rim of orbit to snout 2.7,
interorbital distance 2.6, eyelid length 2.2, eyelid width 1.4, horizontal orbit diameter 2.7, NL 0.14, NW 0.06, FLL
8.5, HLL 10.7, snout to forelimb 12.8, snout to anterior angle of vent 42.1, tail width at base 3.1, tail depth at base
3.2, FW 4.0, length of fifth toe 0.7, length of third (longest) toe 1.2. MT+PMT 60, VT 6-7 (right-left sides).
Adpressed limbs separated by two costal folds.
Habitat and range. This species is only known from Parque Nacional El Chico in Hidalgo, Mexico at an
elevation between 2400 and 3050 m, in pine-oak forest. It is unlikely to occur more widely, because surrounding
areas have been extensively surveyed.
Etymology. The species name chico is in reference to the national park where the species occurs. Parque
Nacional El Chico in Hidalgo, Mexico has been a protected area since 1922. The species name is used as an
invariable noun in apposition to the generic name.
Remarks. This species was previously considered as conspecific with C. multidentatus and occurs in sympatry
with C. dimidiatus and Aquiloeurycea cephalica. Likewise, Isthmura bellii has been collected very near sites where
C. chico was once common (MVZ 118953, 118954, 128978), but it is unknown if the two species occur in syntopy.
Discussion
Molecular tools have been of great help in uncovering a large diversity of species that were missed using only
traditional (morphological) approaches because of the outward similarity of species. For Mexican salamanders,
there has been a steady pace of species description leading to an increase of about 55% in the known diversity in
the last 24 years (Flores-Villela & Canseco-Marquez 2004; AmphibiaWeb 2017). This study contributes with the
description of one species, increasing the number of Chiropterotriton species from 15 to 16. Historically, this genus
has been considered to represent a relatively small number of species despite the multiple undescribed taxa
proposed in previous studies (Rabb 1958; Wake & Lynch 1976; Darda 1994; Parra-Olea 2003). Recently, three new
species have been described with morphological comparisons (Campbell et al. 2014) and also molecular
phylogenetic analyses (Rovito & Parra-Olea 2015), but at least seven undescribed taxa remain: C. sp. C, C. sp. H,
and C. sp. I from Veracruz; C. sp. F and C. sp. G from Puebla; and C. sp. J and C. sp. K from Oaxaca.
Chiropterotriton chico was first referenced by Taylor (1938) who listed specimens from El Chico, Hidalgo as
paratypes of Oedipus multidentata. Later, they were assigned to C. multidentatus by Taylor (1944) as its
southernmost population. Rabb (1958) noted morphological differences between this population and those from
Tamaulipas. Allozyme evidence (Darda 1994) identified the El Chico population as a new species (C. sp. 15,
population 15) and Parra-Olea (2003) agreed, based on her mtDNA phylogeny (C. sp. 15, population 12). Although
C. chico is the sister species of C. terrestris, they are easily differentiated by morphological characters. The body
size of C. chico makes it one of the largest species of this genus; only C. magnipes, C. mosaueri and C. priscus are
larger.
From the 1950s into the 1970s, Chiropterotriton chico was incredibly abundant locally. D. Wake visited the
park in August 1971 (field notes, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology), and recorded a very high density of
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NEW CHIROPTEROTRITON FROM CENTRAL MEXICO
salamanders. At high elevation (3000 m) salamanders were found under roadside rocks on barren soil. A
salamander was found under every 10
th
to 12
th
rock and more than 75 C. chico were seen (as well as 10 C.
dimidiatus). At lower elevation (estimated from topographic maps as 2400 m), in oak forest, Wake wrote: “I have
never seen anything like the density of salamanders encountered here! I’m sure we could have collected thousands
if we had wished”. Any shelter had salamanders, and it was a rare log than had none. Only five bromeliads were
opened but one contained a C. chico. Many cover objects housed multiple specimens: seven under a log 1.2 m (four
feet) long, twelve under a log 3.0 m (ten feet) long, ten under a flat piece of wood (0.3x0.6 m in dimensions), etc.
Yet, at another site less than 4 km away, no salamanders were found.
High numbers were encountered on other trips, but by the mid-1970s salamanders became uncommon and then
rare. Apparently, the decline of C. chico is not related to habitat loss or disturbance. Parra-Olea et al. (1999) did not
report important changes in habitat quality or availability in El Chico National Park, however, they found a lower
density of salamanders than observed in the 1970s. Parra-Olea found one individual of C. chico and two of C.
dimidiatus in 2002 while S. Rovito found one of C. chico and several for C. dimidiatus in 2016. While these
declines are not well understood, one suggested factor is the arrival of the pathogenic chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The fungus was absent in a sample of 30 individuals sampled in 1972, but present
in a sample of 40 from 1974 (Cheng et al. 2011).
Given the standard criteria used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature for its assessment of
species to be added to the Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2017), we think that a listing of Critically
Endangered is warranted for C. chico according to criterion B1 ab(v), where B1 corresponds to the geographic
range that is estimated to be less than 100 km
2
, at only a single location (a) and continuing decline (b) for number
of mature individuals (v). The species has declined severely in abundance, with declines exceeding 80% based on
the number of individuals seen in field surveys, in the limited area from which it is known. Extensive exploration
has taken place in the immediate vicinity of the park and throughout much of the state of Hidalgo, but no additional
populations have been found.
Hidalgo includes an unusual region where two of the main mountain complexes of Mexico meet: the Trans-
Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO). These ranges are known to have a high degree
of topographic, geologic and climatic variability than has promoted a high biodiversity (Luna et al. 2004; Luna et
al. 2007). This is especially true for the herpetofauna from Hidalgo (Lemos-Espinal & Smith 2015), which is the
state with the highest number of species of Chiropterotriton (6), representing 37.5% of the described species of this
genus.
Acknowledgments
This study will be submitted by Mirna G. Garcia-Castillo in partial fulfillment of the requirements to obtain the
degree of Doctor en Ciencias in the Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
We thank Carol Spencer for help provided in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology for specimen measurements.
Rocío Alanís-Anaya helped with map design. This research was supported by grants from the Programa de Apoyo
a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT-UNAM) IN209914 and UC MEXUS-CONACyT
to GPO. MGC thanks the support of the “Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, UNAM” and CONACyT
(CVU/Becario: 413761/262662) for granting a scholarship to complete her PhD program. This paper was written
during the sabbatical leave of GPO to the University of Otago, New Zealand. Thanks are due to Dr. Phil Bishop for
facilities provided in his laboratory, and to DGAPA-UNAM and CONACyT for their support through their
sabbatical programs.
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APPENDIX 1. Specimens examined for morphological analysis.
Chiropterotriton arboreus: Mexico, Hidalgo: MVZ 106381, 11 km S Tianguistengo (1 km N Zacualtipán); MVZ 114333–
114335, 2.4 km SSW (by road) Tianguistengo along road to Zacualtipán; MVZ 163917, 163919, 172159, 172160,
172162–172163, 3.4 km S Tianguistengo; MVZ 200621, 200623–200625, 4.3 km E of junction of Mexico Hwy. 105 and
Old Hwy. to Tianguistengo.
Chiropterotriton chico: Mexico, Hidalgo: MVZ 114436, El Chico Parque Nacional, 4 km S (by road) Mineral del Chico; MVZ
118740, 118752, 118791, 118793, 118798, 118800, 118804, 118811, 118816, 118821, 118827, 118842, 118869, 118888,
118900–118901, 118905, 119016, 119034, 119053, 119057, 119062, 119078, 119166, 119179, 119193, 119212, 119216,
El Chico Parque Nacional; MVZ 138852, road to El Chico National Park, 1.0 km N (by road) junction Hwy. 105.
Chiropterotriton chondrostega: Mexico, Hidalgo: MVZ 106656–106657, 106659–106666, 11 km S Tianguistengo, ca. 1
km N Zacualtipán; MVZ 163987–163988, 172148–172154, 172156–172157, 4 km NNE Zacaultipan.
Chiropterotriton dimidiatus: Mexico, Hidalgo: MVZ 98939, 98942, 98947, El Chico Parque Nacional, 9.7 mi (by winding
road) from Hwy. 105 and 5.5 mi (by winding road) from Park Custodian house; MVZ 103961–103963, 103968, El Chico
Parque Nacional, N slope along Rd. between summit and town of El Chico; MVZ 106460, 106465, 106468, 106471,
106474, 106493, 106495, 106514–106515, El Chico Parque Nacional, 4 km S Mineral del Chico; MVZ 114248, 114251,
114261, 114265, 114268, 114274, 114291–114292, El Chico Parque Nacional, between Park Headquarters and Mineral
del Chico; MVZ 118727, 118729, 118732, 118735, 185962, 195832, El Chico Parque Nacional.
Chiropterotriton terrestris: Mexico, Hidalgo: MVZ 106668–106669, 106672, 106677–106678, 106681, 106683, 106685,
106690–106692, 106694–106695, 106700, 106705–106706, 106712–106713, 106718–106720, 106722, 106724, 11 km S
Tianguistengo, ca. 1 km N Zacualtipán; MVZ 114302, 114304, 114316, 114339, 114343, 114345, 12.8 km SSW (by road)
Tianguistengo (along road to Zacaultipan); MVZ 200636, 4.3 km E of junction of Mexico Hwy. 105 and Old Hwy. to
Tianguistengo.
