Javier Sunyer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Javier Sunyer

Check list, Jun 17, 2024

We confirm the presence of the genus Plectrohyla Brocchi, 1877 in Nicaragua and report the first ... more We confirm the presence of the genus Plectrohyla Brocchi, 1877 in Nicaragua and report the first records of Plectrohyla guatemalensis Brocchi, 1877 in the country based on three specimens collected in 1983 from the central mountain range of Matagalpa department. These specimens collected over 40 years ago are the southernmost records for the species and expand its geographic distribution by approximately 175 km southeast from its nearest recorded locality in Honduras.

Check List, Jan 17, 2024

Nicaragua is a biodiverse country, but documented herpetological specimens are underrepresented c... more Nicaragua is a biodiverse country, but documented herpetological specimens are underrepresented compared to neighboring countries. In 2018 we conducted a collaborative expedition between the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology and Nicaraguan biologists. We visited sites in the Pacific Lowlands, Caribbean Lowlands, and the Central Highlands, representing the three major biogeographic regions of Nicaragua. We collected specimens of 100 species from a total of 106 encountered. We provide accession numbers and morphological, genetic, and ecological information for these specimens. We recorded 23 new departmental records and the first country record of Metlapilcoatlus indomitus (Smith & Ferrari-Castro, 2008), filling gaps in the known distribution of the species within Nicaragua and across Central America. When available for each species, we provide range maps and comparative genetic trees including conspecific reference sequences from the region, making this work a significant addition to existing checklists of the herpetofauna in Nicaragua.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 31, 2010

We describe a new species of Oedipina (subgenus Oeditriton) from the highlands of north-central N... more We describe a new species of Oedipina (subgenus Oeditriton) from the highlands of north-central Nicaragua. The new species is most closely related to Oedipina kasios, a premontane species from north-central Honduras, and O. quadra, a lowland species from northern and eastern Honduras. It differs from O. kasios and O. quadra in molecular characters and by having a more slender habitus and fewer vomerine teeth. We also discuss the status of the additional populations of Oedipina from Nicaragua.

Herpetologica, Mar 1, 2008

We describe two new species of anoles (genus Anolis) from Panama formerly referred to as Anolis (... more We describe two new species of anoles (genus Anolis) from Panama formerly referred to as Anolis (or Norops) limifrons. Both new species differ from A. limifrons by having a large bilobed hemipenis (small and unilobed in A. limifrons). The new species differ from each other in male dewlap size and coloration. We provide an identification key and standardized descriptions of A. limifrons and the two new species described herein. RESUMEN: Describimos dos especies nuevas de anoli (gé nero Anolis) de Panamá anteriormente referidas como Anolis (o Norops) limifrons. Ambas nuevas especies difieren de A. limifrons en tener un hemipene grande y bilobulado (pequeñ o y unilobulado en A. limifrons). Las dos especies nuevas difieren entre sí en el tamañ o y coloració n de la papera gular de los machos adultos. Se proporciona una clave dicotó mica de identificació n y descripciones estandar de A. limifrons y de las otras dos nuevas especies.

Zootaxa, Sep 15, 2010

The infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobati... more The infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is considered one of the main culprits causing major amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. It is known to occur on every continent except Antarctica and is particularly damaging to amphibian tropical populations. We studied 18 different amphibian species from three different localities in Nicaragua. Our results confirm the presence of Bd for first time in Nicaragua and involve ten amphibian species corresponding to Bufonidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae and Ranidae. We additionally record Bd for the first time in four amphibian species: Craugastor lauraster, Dendropsophus microcephalus, Smilisca baudinii and Lithobates brownorum.

We update the known distribution of the snail-eater Dipsas variegata within Venezuela, providing ... more We update the known distribution of the snail-eater Dipsas variegata within Venezuela, providing the first records for the states Miranda, Carabobo and Yaracuy. The records are accompanied by photographs and natural history notes.

Check List, May 1, 2013

Aspidoscelis motaguae (Sackett, 1941) is a mediumsized teiid lizard that is distributed disjunctl... more Aspidoscelis motaguae (Sackett, 1941) is a mediumsized teiid lizard that is distributed disjunctly from Oaxaca, Mexico, across eastern Guatemala and northwestern El Salvador to Honduras, Central America (Duellman and Wellman 1960; Meyer and Wilson 1973; Köhler 2008). On 27 April 2012, five individuals of Aspidoscelis motaguae were observed in an area of proximately 10 m 2 about 600 m southeast of the small village Las Minas (13°45'13.17"N, 86°44'15.91"W; WGS84), ca. 680 m elevation, Santa María municipality, Departamento Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, none of which were preserved (Figure 1). A sixth individual of this species found dead at the same site was collected. Eyes and tympanum had been eaten by ants but otherwise the specimen appeared to be in good condition. It was deposited in the collection of Senckenberg Research Institute (SMF), Frankfurt, Germany, and catalogued under the voucher number SMF 94170. This represents the first record in Nicaragua and extends the known geographic distribution of A. motaguae about 43 km southeastward from its nearest published locality in El Zamorano, Departamento Francisco Morazán, Honduras (Meyer and Wilson 1973). The collected individual is an adult female (snout-vent length 116 mm, tail length 219 mm). In external morphology it agrees well with the descriptions and illustrations provided in Duellman and Wellman (1960) and Köhler (2008). The habitat at the collection site is pine-oak forest corresponding to Tropical Dry Forest formation of Holdridge (1967) in succession Stage 1. The current vegetation consists mostly of vines (Combretum sp., Cydista sp.), shrubs (Acacia collinsi, Byrsonima crassifolia, Lonchocarpus sp.), herbs (Mimosa sp., Paspalum sp., Sida sp.), and scattered trees (Diospiros salicifolia, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Guarea sp., Guazuma ulmifolia, Lisiloma sp., Sapindus saponaria, Schoepfia screbberi, Tabebuhia rosae var. neochrysanta, Trichilia sp.). This range extension might seem to be of little importance at first sight because it is just a few kilometres away from the nearest known locality in Honduras. However, the formal addition of a species to a country's faunal list by itself has some conservational implications.

The salamander fauna of Colombia is very poorly known, probably because most research efforts hav... more The salamander fauna of Colombia is very poorly known, probably because most research efforts have been devoted to anurans during the last two decades. Here, we describe two new species of the genus Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) from the eastern flank of the Eastern Colombian Andes (Cordillera Oriental), near the border with Venezuela. Bolitoglossa tamaense sp. nov. is distributed between 2000 to 2700 m.a.s.l. and Bolitoglossa leandrae sp. nov. is distributed in the lowlands at about 600 m. The new species are diagnosed by a combination of molecular (16S rRNA sequences), coloration, body size, and morphometric (number of maxillary and vomerine teeth and differences in foot webbing) characters. Both species face threats such as chytridiomycosis infections and habitat fragmentation that have already affected other salamanders in the country. Thus, intensive field and museum work is needed to better document and perhaps protect the local salamander diversity.

WereportrangeextensionsinPanamafortwoanurans�(Craugastor tabasarae, Isthmohyla zeteki)�andthreesp... more WereportrangeextensionsinPanamafortwoanurans�(Craugastor tabasarae, Isthmohyla zeteki)�andthreespeciesofAnolis�(A. auratus, A. fungosus, and A. microtus).�Wealsocollected� specimensofBolitoglossa lignicolor and A. polylepisthatextendtheknownverticalrangeofthese� species.�Finally,�wereportuponaseriesofthepoorlyknownCraugastor monnichorum.�Briefeco-

Rhinella marina is a common and resilient species. Occasionally, it can be vector of different di... more Rhinella marina is a common and resilient species. Occasionally, it can be vector of different diseases due to its dispersion ability. Ocular alteration can be produced by abiotic and biotic factors. One of these factors, are the diseases, such as chytridiomycosis (produced by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which in some cases produces stratum corneum hyperkeratinisation. In fieldwork carried out in August 2011, we found an individual of R. marina with a whitish epidermal ocular anomaly. We swab the toad, which tested negative to Bd. We consider relevant to highlight these anomalies, which on occasions could reflect some diseases. This is especially important in Cerro Jesús, where we confirmed the presence of some endangered amphibians species.

Breviora, Oct 17, 2011

We describe a new species of Oedipina (subgenus Oedipina) from premontane elevations of three iso... more We describe a new species of Oedipina (subgenus Oedipina) from premontane elevations of three isolated mountains in northern Nicaragua. The new cryptic species differs in molecular characters from its closest relatives: Oedipina cyclocauda (an Atlantic lowland species with a distributional range from central Panama to extreme southeastern Nicaragua) and Oedipina pseudouniformis. We regard all Nicaraguan specimens previously referred to as O. pseudouniformis to be conspecific with the new species herein described and restrict O. pseudouniformis as a Costa Rican endemic species. We also record the fourth known locality (and southernmost) of the Nicaraguan endemic O. nica and discuss additional species of Oedipina that are likely to be found in Nicaragua as field research continues in the country. Resumen. Describimos una nueva especie de Oedipina (subgenera Oedipina) de alturas premontanas de tres montanas aisladas del norte de Nicaragua. La nueva especie criptica difiere en caracteres moleculares de sus parientes mas cercanos: Oedipina cyclocauda (una especie de las tierras bajas del Atlantico entre el centro de Panama y el

Mesoamerican Herpetology, 2015

FIGURE 4. Habitat of Oedipina nica from: (a-b) Reserva Natural Cerro Datanlí-El Diablo; (c) Reser... more FIGURE 4. Habitat of Oedipina nica from: (a-b) Reserva Natural Cerro Datanlí-El Diablo; (c) Reserva Natural Cerro Kilambé (note deforested patch reaching over 1300 m a.s.l. in the Reserve's core zone); and (d) Reserva Natural Macizos de Peñas Blancas.

Herpetological Journal, 2014

Correspondence: Roberto Garcia-Roa (r.garcia-roa@mncn.csic.es) The infectious disease chytridiomy... more Correspondence: Roberto Garcia-Roa (r.garcia-roa@mncn.csic.es) The infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is considered one of the main culprits causing major amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. It is known to occur on every continent except Antarctica and is particularly damaging to amphibian tropical populations. We studied 18 different amphibian species from three different localities in Nicaragua. Our results confirm the presence of Bd for first time in Nicaragua and involve ten amphibian species corresponding to Bufonidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae and Ranidae. We additionally record Bd for the first time in four amphibian species: Craugastor lauraster, Dendropsophus microcephalus, Smilisca baudinii and Lithobates brownorum.