Check List 20(1): 58-125, doi: 10.15560/20.1.58
A collection and analysis of amphibians and reptiles from Nicaragua with new country and departmental records
expand article infoJosé Gabriel Martínez-Fonseca, Iris A. Holmes§|, Javier Sunyer, Erin P. Westeen#, Maggie R. Grundler#, Peter A. Cerda§, Maynor A. Fernández-Mena¤, Julio C. Loza-Molina¤, Ivan V. Monagan Jr.«, Daniel Nondorf», Gregory G. Pandelis˄, Alison R. Davis Rabosky§
‡ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, United States of America§ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America| Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America¶ Museo Herpetológico de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, León, Nicaragua# University of California, Berkeley, United States of America¤ Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Managua, Nicaragua« Columbia University and American Museum of Natural History, New York, United States of America» University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States of America˄ University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, United States of America
Open Access
Abstract
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 Low‑ lands, 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 acces‑ sion 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.
Keywords
Barcode, biogeography, Central America, herpetofauna, Mogotón, museum collections, Refugio Bartola