An incredible 21 species new to science have been described from the Cerro Chucantí Private Nature Reserve to date. These vary widely, from microscopic, parasitic fungi to a day-flashing firefly, a cryptic songbird, and more. Many others are in process of being described.
Why are so many species new to science found at Chucantí?
The higher elevations of the reserve contain a unique “island” of cloud forest habitat. Many of the species living in this cooler environment cannot survive at lower elevations, so the surrounding landscape traps them within the cloud forest. Chucantí is especially isolated, being more than 100 kilometers from the nearest cloud forest!
Strophaeus sebastiani
Conservation status not yet evaluated [NE]
This was the first Strophaeus species and only the second from the family Barychelidae known from Panama.
Identification
Direct comparisons between S. sebastiani and related species were difficult due to limited information. However, this group is known to have high rates of endemism. The wide geographic separations among S. sebastiani and its relatives was enough to consider it a new species (other Strophaeus species occur in Brazil and Peru).
Macho
Black, smaller than S. sebastiani females (~21.5 mm long). Click the image for a larger view.
Hembra
Carapace, femurs, and tarsi dark brown (almost black). Other parts reddish. Significantly larger than males (~27.1 mm long). Click the image for a larger view.
Habitat and distribution
Little known beyond the original specimens being found in open areas ~800 m in elevation. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it may be endemic.
Biology and natural history
This species builds "trap-door" shelters similar to those of related species.
Etymology
This species is named in honor of Sebastián Miranda, son of the first author of the describing paper for this species.
References
Miranda, R. & S. Bermúdez (2010). STROPHAEUS SEBASTIANI, NUEVA ESPECIE DE BARYCHELIDAE (ARANEAE: MYGALOMORPHAE) DE PANAMÁ. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa. 175-179. (Link)
Tessaropa elizabeth
Conservation status not yet evaluated [NE]
This was the first Tessaropa species described from Central America.
Identification
A long cerambycid (~9.3 mm) with completely divided eyes. Distinguished from other Tessaropa species by its orange pronotum with a dark central line and orange-tipped antennae.
Hembra
Mainly black, except for orange antenna tips, pronotum, and abdomen. The antennae are longer than the body (~10.3 mm).
Macho
Underside mostly black. Thinner, longer antennae than females (~1.5 times the body length).
Habitat and distribution
Specific habitat not described beyond occurring 875 m above sea level. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it may be endemic.
Biology and natural history
Little known beyond being active in February. The original specimens were collected after being attracted to white light.
Etymology
This species is named in honor of Elizabeth Anne Bezark, daughter of the first author of the describing paper, who “has been known to collect a cerambycid or two from time to time”.
References
Bezark, L.G., W.H. Tyson & N.M.Schiff (2013). New species of Cerambycidae from Panama, with new distribution records (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Zootaxa. 3608(4): 273–277. (Link)
Bezark, L.G. Ceryambicidae species details. New World Cerambycidae Catalog. (Link)
Anelaphus cordiforme
Conservation status not yet evaluated [NE]
Identification
A. cordiforme is similar to two Mexican species, but unique for the heart-shaped mark on the final third of its very perforated elytra. Otherwise mostly reddish-brown or brown, with somewhat lighter legs.
Macho
Antennae same length or slightly longer than body. Pronotum covered in small, grayish-white hairs, forming a faintly visible pattern. ~14 mm long.
Hembra
Similar to male, but smaller (~13 mm long), with less hair on the pronotum. Uncertain due to a damaged specimen, but antennae likely shorter than male (not reaching the edge of the elytra).
Habitat and distribution
Specific habitat not described. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it may be endemic.
Biology and natural history
Little known beyond being active in February. The original specimens were collected after being attracted to mercury vapor light.
Etymology
The specific name “cordiforme" refers to the heart-shaped mark present on the final third of the wing coverings.
References
Bezark, L.G., W.H. Tyson & N.M.Schiff (2013). New species of Cerambycidae from Panama, with new distribution records (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Zootaxa. 3608(4): 273–277. (Link)
Bezark, L.G. Ceryambicidae species details. New World Cerambycidae Catalog. (Link)
Epropetes tristis
Conservation status not yet evaluated [NE]
Identification
The following describes the female, male not yet described.
Mostly black, though it appears banded with gray due to white hairs covering certain sections. Antennae and tarsi yellowish brown. Elytra have a small, yellow triangular mark about a third of the way down each outside edge. Eyes almost divided. ~10.3 mm long.
Habitat and distribution
Specific habitat not described beyond occurring 850 m above sea level. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it may be endemic.
Biology and natural history
Unknown.
Etymology
The specific name “tristis", meaning “sad” in Latin, is in reference to its mostly dark color.
References
Martins, U.R. & M.H.M. Galileo (2013). New species and records of Cerambycinae and Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Neotropical Region. Zootaxa. 3683(5). (Link)
Bezark, L.G. Ceryambicidae species details. New World Cerambycidae Catalog. (Link)
Salamandra de Chucantí
Bolitoglossa chucantiensis
Critically endangered [CR]
A member of the most diverse genus of salamanders worldwide. B. chucantiensis has been listed as Critically Endangered [CR] by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2019 due to its small known distribution (~2 square kilometers) and local threats from agriculture and logging.
Identification
The following describes the male, female not yet described.
A long salamander (10.3 - 11.1 cm) with a tail ~1.15 times longer than its body and completely webbed feet. Dorsal coloration varies from dark brown to reddish, sometimes with patches of gold speckling. 65 - 75 maxillary teeth.
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Habitat and distribution
Understory foliage in eastern Panamanian montane forest around 1,400 m elevation. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it is considered endemic.
Biology and natural history
Active at night on leaves 1 - 2 m above the ground. Observations have usually occurred shortly after rain. Possibly more active during the dry season (observed October-April).
Etymology
Named for Cerro Chucantí.
References
iNat Observaciones
UICN
Batista, A. (2014). A new species of Bolitoglossa (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) from eastern Panama, with comments on other members of the adspersa species group from eastern Panama. Mesoamerican Herpetology. 1: 97-21. (Link)
Garces, O.A., M. Miranda, R.D.F. Magallón & A. Batista. (2016). Second individual of a recently discovered species of salamander, Bolitoglossa chucantiensis (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from eastern Panama. Mesoamerican Herpetology. 3.4: 1082-1084. (Link)
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). Bolitoglossa chucantiensis (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from eastern Panama. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T77345748A87854884. (Link)
Chucantí Tink Frog
Diasporus majeensis
Critically endangered [CR]
This species has been listed as Critically Endangered [CR] by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2019 due to its small known distribution (~2 square kilometers) and local threats from agriculture and logging.
Identification
A small frog (1.5 - 2.5 cm) with a rounded nose. Skin is mostly smooth with small, scattered warts on top. Brown or reddish overall, sometimes with dark markings above. Vocal sac and underside translucent. Only the lower part of the ear (about half of the ring) is visible, membrane absent. Finger I is shorter than finger II, and the fingertips have expanded pads (less obvious on finger I) without fringes or webbing.
Sex differences
Male (15.3 - 21.8 mm) smaller than female (22.3 - 25.5 mm).
Song
Advertisement call a single, short note (0.001 - 0.002 seconds) given about 12 times per minute. Said to resemble a whistle.
Habitat and distribution
Eastern Panamanian montane forest > 1,300 m above sea level. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it is considered endemic.
Biology and natural history
One of the most locally abundant species in the Reserve’s cloud forest. Usually found 0.5 - 2.0 m above the ground in bromeliad foliage, it hides in bromeliad leaves during the day. This species has been heard calling at night around the end of the dry season.
Diet
Not officially known, but expected to be small arthropods (e.g., crickets, cockroaches, and ants).
Etymology
The specific name references the Cordillera de Majé, the mountain range containing Cerro Chucantí.
References
iNat Observaciones
UICN
Batista, A., G. Köhler, K. Mebert, A. Hertz & M. Vesely (2016). An integrative approach to reveal speciation and species richness in the genus Diasporus (Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) in eastern Panama. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 178: 267-311. (Link)
Medina, D., R. Ibáñez, K.R. Lips & A.J. Crawford (2019). Amphibian diversity in Serranía de Majé, an isolated mountain range in eastern Panamá. ZooKeys. 859: 117-130. (Link)
Batista, A., K. Mebert, M. Miranda, O. Garcés, R. Fuentes & M. Ponce (2020). Endemism on a threatened sky island: new and rare species of herpetofauna from Cerro Chucantí, Eastern Panama. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 14(2) [General Section]: 27–46 (e237). (Link)
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). Diasporus majeensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T152342985A152343015. (Link)
Chucantí Centipede Snake
Tantilla berguidoi
Conservation status not yet evaluated [NE]
Although not yet evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the authors of the describing paper for this species have suggested it should be considered Critically Endangered [CR] due to its small geographic distribution. When it was described, T. berguidoi was determined to have the highest environmental vulnerability score of any species of Tantilla.
Identification
The coloration of this species (having pale lateral and mediodorsal stripes on a dark background and a head with a pale neck collar) places it in the reticulata section of the taeniata group.
The following describes the male, female not yet described.
A small, thin snake (~40.8 cm long) with a head slightly broader than its body. The dark cap on its head is separated from the rest of the body by a faint pale collar. Body striping is important for identification:
- Pale brown mediodorsal stripe restricted to the middle half of the mediodorsal scale row, bordered on either side by a dark dorsolateral stripe ~2.5 scales wide.
- Dark ventrolateral stripe 2.5 scales wide present in scale rows 1, 2, and the first portion of row 3.
- Dark dorsolateral and ventrolateral stripes are separated by a pale brown stripe 2 scales wide.
Habitat and distribution
Eastern Panamanian montane forest > 1,000 m above sea level. This species is currently only known from Cerro Chucantí, where it is considered endemic.
Biology and natural history
Apparently active year-round in leaf litter on the forest floor. A secretive and rarely encountered species, T. berguidoi may be primarily nocturnal (most individuals observed to date were found at night).
Etymology
This species received its name in honor of Guido Berguido, founder of ADOPTA and the Cerro Chucantí Private Nature Reserve.
References
iNat Observaciones
Batista, A., K. Mebert, S. Lotzkat & L.D. Wilson. (2016). A new species of centipede snake of the genus Tantilla (Squamata: Colubridae) from an isolated premontane forest in eastern Panama. Mesoamerican Herpetology. 3(4): 948-960. (Link)
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