Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 4132 No. 1: 28 Jun. 2016
Type: Article
Published: 2016-06-28
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.3
Page range: 30–43
Abstract views: 214
PDF downloaded: 87

Additions to Philippine Slender Skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) III: a new species from Tablas Island

Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Father Saturnino Urios University, San Francisco Street, 8600 Butuan City, Philippines
Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, USA.
Reptilia biodiversity endemism faunal region fossoriality limb reduction non-pentadactyl pentadactyl Romblon Island Group

Abstract

Studies of the diversity of Philippine amphibians and reptiles have resulted in the continued description of cryptic species. Species formerly thought to range across multiple recognized faunal regions are now considered to be assemblages of multiple unique species, each restricted to a single faunal region. This pattern continues to hold true when considering Philippine skinks of the genus Brachymeles. Recent studies have resulted in the description of numerous unique species with many exhibiting various degrees of digit loss or limb reduction, as well as suggesting that unique lineages are still present in the B. bonitae Complex. In this paper, we describe a new species of fossorial skink within this species complex from Tablas Island based on collections made nearly 50 years ago. Although no genetic data are available for the new species, examinations of morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements) support its distinction from all other members of the genus. Brachymeles dalawangdaliri sp. nov. is differentiated from other members of the genus based on a suite of unique phenotypic characteristics, including a small body size (SVL 66.0–80.9 mm), bidactyl fore-limbs, digitless, unidactyl, or bidactyl hind limbs, a high number of presacral vertebrae (49), the absence of auricular openings, and distinct dorsal head scale patterns. The description of the new species increases the diversity of endemic vertebrates recognized to occur in the Romblon Island Group in the central Philippines.

 

References

  1. Alcala, A.C., Bucol, A., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2012) Vulnerability of Philippine amphibians to climate change. Philippine Journal of Science, 141, 77–87.

    Bellard, C., Leclerc, C. & Courchamp, F. (2014) Impact of sea level rise on the 10 insular biodiversity hotspots. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23, 203–212.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12093

    Brown, R.M. & Diesmos, A.C. (2002) Application of lineage-based species concepts to oceanic island frog populations: the effects of differing taxonomic philosophies on the estimation of Philippine biodiversity. Silliman Journal, 42, 133–162.

    Brown, R.M. & Diesmos, A.C. (2009) Philippines, Biology. In: Gillespie, R. & Clague, D. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islands. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp. 723–732.

    Brown, R.M., Diesmos, A.C. & Oliveros, C.H. (2011) New flap-legged forest gecko (genus Luperosaurus) from the northern Philippines. Journal of Herpetology, 45, 202–210.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/10-123.1

    Brown, R.M., Diesmos, A.C., Sanguila, M.B., Siler, C.D., Diesmos, M.L.D. & Alcala, A.C. (2012) Amphibian conservation in the Philippines. FrogLog, 20, 40–43.

    Brown, R.M., Siler, C.D., Oliveros, C.H., Esselstyn, J.A., Diesmos, A.C., Hosner, P.A., Linkem, C.W., Barley, A.J., Oaks, J.R., Sanguila, M.B., Welton, L.J., Moyle, R.G., Peterson, A.T. & Alcala, A.C. (2013) Evolutionary processes of diversification in a model island archipelago. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 44, 411–435.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110411-160323

    Brown, R.M., Siler, C.D, Richards, S.J., Diesmos, A.C. & Cannatella, D.C. (2015) Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for Southeast Asian and Melanesian forest frogs (family Ceratobatrachidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 174, 130–168.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12232

    Brown, W.C. (1956) A revision of the genus Brachymeles (Scincidae), with descriptions of new species and subspecies. Breviora, 54, 1–19.

    Brown, W.C. (1956) A revision of the genus Brachemelyes (Scincidae), with descriptions of new species and subspecies. Breviora, 54, 1–19.

    Brown, W.C. & Alcala, A.C. (1970) The zoogeography of the herpetofauna of the Philippine Islands, a fringing archipelago. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 18, 105–130.

    Brown, W.C. & Alcala, A.C. (1980) Philippine Lizards of the Family Scincidae. Philippine University Press, Dumaguete City, 264 pp.

    Brown, W.C. & Rabor, D.S. (1967) Review of the genus Bracheymeles (Scincidae), with descriptions of new species and subspecies. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series, 15, 525–548.

    Davis, D.R., Feller, K.D., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. (2014) Evaluating the diversity of Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae): redescription of B. tridactylus and descriptions of two new species. Journal of Herpetology, 48, 480–494.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/13-173

    Davis, D.R., Watters, J.L., Kohler, G., Whitsett, C., Huron, N.A., Brown, R.M., Diesmos, A.C. & Siler, C.D. (2015) Redescription of the rare Philippine false gecko Pseudogekko brevipes (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) and description of a new species. Zootaxa, 4020, 357–374.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4020.2.7

    de Quieroz, K. (1998) The general lineage concept of species, species criteria, and the process of speciation: a conceptual unification and terminological recommendations. In: Howard, D.J. & Berlocher, S.H. (Eds.), Endless Forms: Species and Speciation. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 57–75.

    de Quieroz, K. (1999) The general lineage concept of species and the defining properties of the species category. In: Wilson, R.A. (Ed.), Species: New Interdisciplinary Essays. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp. 49–89.

    Diesmos, A.C., Watters, J.L., Huron, N.A., Davis, D.R., Alcala, A.C., Crombie, R.I., Afuang, L.E., Gee-Das, G., Sison, R.V., Sanguila, M.B., Penrod, M.L., Labonte, M.J., Davey, C.S., Leone, E.A., Diesmos, M.L., Sy, E.Y., Welton, L.J., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. (2015) Amphibians of the Philippines, part I: checklist of the species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 62, 457–539.

    Duke, N.C., Meynecke, J.-O., Dittmann, S., Ellison, A.M., Anger, K., Berger, U., Cannicci, S., Diele, K., Ewel, K.C., Field, C.D., Koedam, N., Lee, S.Y., Marchand, C., Nordhaus, I. & Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (2007) A world without mangroves? Science, 317, 41–42.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.317.5834.41b

    Duméril, A.M.C. & Bibron, G. (1839) Erpétologie Général ou, Histoire Naturelle Compléte des Reptiles. Librairie Encylopédique de Roret, Paris, 488 pp.

    Frost, D.R. & Hillis, D.M. (1990) Species in concept and practice: herpetological application. Herpetologica, 46, 87–104.
    http://www.jstor.org/stable/3892607

    Geheber, A.D., Davis, D.R., Watters, J.L., Penrod, M.L., Feller, K.D., Davey, C.S., Ellsworth, E.D., Flanagan, R.L., Heitz, B.D., Moore, T., Nguyen, M.D.C., Roberts, A., Sutton, J., Sanguila, M.B., Linkem, C.W., Brown, R.M. & Siler, C.D. (2016) Additions to the Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) I: a new species from Lubang Island. Zootaxa, 4132 (1), 1–14.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.1

    International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (2015) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.4. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/ (accessed 26 July 2015)

    Köhler, G. (2012) Color Catalog for Field Biologists. Herpeton, Offenbach, 49 pp.

    Polidoro, B.A., Carpenter, K.E., Collins, L., Duke, N.C., Ellison, A.M., Ellison, J.C., Farnsworth, E.J., Fernando, E.S., Kathiresan, K., Koedam, N.E., Livingstone, S.R., Miyagi, T., Moore, G.E., Nam, V.N., Ong, J.E., Primavera, J.H., Salmo, S.G. III, Sanciangco, J.C., Sukardjo, S., Wang, Y. & Yong, J.W.H. (2010) The loss of species: mangrove extinction risk and geographic areas of global concern. PLOS ONE, 5, e10095.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095

    Posa, M.R.C. & Sodhi, N.S. (2006) Effects of anthropogenic land use on forest birds and butterflies in Subic Bay, Philippines. Biological Conservation, 129, 256–270.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.10.041

    Primavera, J., Sadaba, R., Lebata, M. & Altamirano, J. (2004) Handbook of Mangroves in the Philippines—Panay. Philippines: SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department and UNESCO Man and the Biosphere ASPACO Project, 106 pp.

    Rickart, E.A., Balete, D.S., Rowe, R.J. & Heaney, L.R. (2011) Mammals of the northern Philippines: tolerance for habitat disturbance and resistance to invasive species in an endemic insular fauna. Diversity and Distributions, 17, 530–541.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00758.x

    Sabaj Pérez, M.H. (Ed.) (2014) Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology: an online reference. Version 5.0. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Washington, D.C. Available from: http://www.asih.org/ (accessed 25 July 2015)

    Siler, C.D. (2010) Squamata, Scincidae, Brachymeles elerae (Taylor, 1917): rediscovery in Old Balbalan, Cordillera Mountain Range, Luzon Island, Philippines, and natural history. Check List, 6, 616–618.

    http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?NGD025-10

    Siler, C.D. & Brown, R.M. (2010) Phylogeny-based species delimitation in Philippine slender skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Brachymeles): taxonomic revision of pentadactyl species groups and description of three new species. Herpetological Monographs, 24, 1–54.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpmonographs-d-11-00006.1

    Siler, C.D. & Brown, R.M. (2011) Evidence for repeated acquisition and loss of complex body-form characters in an insular clade of southeast Asian semi-fossorial skinks. Evolution, 65, 2641–2663.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01315.x

    Siler, C.D., Rico, E.L., Duya, M.R. & Brown, R.M. (2009) A new limb-reduced, loam-swimming skink (Squamata: Scincidae: Brachymeles) from central Luzon Island, Philippines. Herpetologica, 65, 449–459.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/08-076.1

    Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2010a) A new loam-swimming skink, genus Brachymeles (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from Luzon and Catanduanes Islands, Philippines. Journal of Herpetology, 44, 49–60.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/08-318.1

    Siler, C.D., Balete, D.S., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2010b) A new legless loam-swimming lizard (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: genus Brachymeles) from the Bicol Peninsula, Luzon Island, Philippines. Copeia, 2010, 114–122.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/ch-08-231

    Siler, C.D., Fuiten, A.M., Jones, R.M., Alcala, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2011a) Phylogeny-based species delimitation in Philippine slender skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: taxonomic revision of Brachymeles samarensis and description of five new species. Herpetological Monographs, 25, 76–112.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpmonographs-d-10-00013.1

    Siler, C.D., Crombie, R.I., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2011b) Redescriptions of two poorly known slender skinks, Brachymeles bicolor and Brachymeles pathfinderi (Reptila: Squamata: Scincidae), from the Philippines. Journal of Herpetology, 45, 355–369.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1670/10-103.1

    Siler, C.D., Jones, R.M., Welton, L.J. & Brown, R.M. (2011c) Redescription of tetradactyl Philippine slender skinks (genus Brachymeles). Herpetologica, 67, 300–317.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpetologica-d-10-00071.1

    Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A.C., Alcala, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2011d) Phylogeny of Philippine slender skinks (Scincidae: Brachymeles) reveals underestimated species diversity, complex biogeographical relationships, and cryptic patterns of lineage diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 59, 53–65.

    http://dx/doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.12.019

    Siler, C.D., Jones, R.M., Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L. & Brown, R.M. (2012a) Phylogeny-based species delimitation in Philippine slender skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) III: taxonomic revision of the Brachymeles gracilis Complex, with descriptions of three new species. Herpetological Monographs, 26, 135–172.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpmonographs-d-11-00006.1

    Siler, C.D., Swab, J.C., Oliveros, C.H., Diesmos, A.C., Averia, L., Alcala, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2012b) Amphibians and reptiles, Romblon Island Group, central Philippines: comprehensive herpetofaunal inventory. Check List, 8, 443–462. Avaliable from: http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?SL069-11 (Accessed 24 Jun. 2016)

    Siler, C.D., Welton, L.J, Rock, A.A. & Brown, R.M. (2013) Population genetic structure and revised geographic range for the tridactyl skink (Brachymeles muntingkamay) from Luzon Island, Philippines. Herpetological Review, 44, 30–33.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.12.019

    Siler, C.D., Welton, J.L, Davis, D.R., Watters, J.L., Davey, C.S., Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L. & Brown, R.M. (2014a) Taxonomic revision of the Pseudogekko compresicorpus complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae), with descriptions of three new species. Herpetological Monographs, 28, 110–139.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpmonographs-d-14-00005

    Siler, C.D., Dececchi, T.A., Merkord, C.L., Davis, D.R., Christiani, T.J. & Brown, R.M. (2014b) Cryptic diversity and population genetic structure in the rare, endemic, forest-obligate, slender geckos of the Philippines. Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution, 70, 204–209.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2013.09.014

    Siler, C.D., Davis D.R., Freitas, E.S., Huron, N.A., Geheber, A.D., Watters, J.L, Penrod, M.L., Papes, M., Amrein, A., Anwar, A., Cooper, D., Hein, T., Manning, A., Patel, N., Pinaroc, L., Diesmos, A.C., Diesmos, M.L., Oliveros, C.H. & Brown, R.M. (2016) Additions to Philippine slender skinks of the Brachymeles bonitae Complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) II: a new species from the northern Philippines. Zootaxa, 4132 (1), 15–29.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.1.2

    Simpson, G.G. (1961) Principles of Animal Taxonomy. Columbia University Press, New York, 247 pp.

    Taylor, E.H. (1917) Brachymeles, a genus of Philippine lizards. Philippine Journal of Science, 12, 267–279.

    Welton, L.J., Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A. & Brown, R.M. (2009) A new bent-toed gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus) from southern Palawan Island, Philippines and clarification of the taxonomic status of C. annulatus. Herpetologica, 65, 328–343.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/08-057r1.1

    Welton, L.J., Siler, C.D., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2010a) Phylogeny-based species delimitation of southern Philippines bent-toed geckos and a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata; Gekkonidae) from western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Zootaxa, 2390, 49–68.

    Welton, L.J., Siler, C.D., Linkem, C.W., Diesmos, A.C. & Brown, R.M. (2010b) Philippine bent-toed geckos of the Cyrtodactylus agusanensis Complex: multilocus phylogeny, morphological diversity, and descriptions of three new species. Herpetological Monographs, 24, 55–85.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/herpmonographs-d-10-00005.1

    Wiley, E.O. (1978) The evolutionary species concept reconsidered. Systematic Zoology, 21, 17–26.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2412809