Celestus marcanoi

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Celestus marcanoi
Celestus marcanoi - 51140729549.jpg

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diploglossidae
Genus: Celestus
Species:
C. marcanoi
Binomial name
Celestus marcanoi
(Schwartz & Incháustegui, 1976)
Celestus marcanoi dist - 51215326453.png
Distribution of Celestus marcanoi (known range in red)
Synonyms[2]
  • Diploglossus marcanoi Schwartz & Inchaustegui, 1976

Celestus marcanoi, commonly known as Marcano's galliwasp or the Valle de Bao galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae.[3] It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.[3][4]

Taxonomic History[]

The type series was collected by the Dominican herpetologist , who collected a series of 18 specimen in 1971 during an ascent to Pico Duarte. [5] It was later described by Albert Schwartz and in the Journal of Herpetology, published by: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.[5]

The type locality is "Valle de Bao, 1800 m, Cordillera Central (road to Pico Duarte), Santiago Province, República Dominicana".[3][4][5]

Etymology[]

The specific epithet, marcanoi, is in honor of the Dominican botanist, entomologist, herpetologist, speleologist and researcher .[5]

Morphology[]

A small species of Celestus (maximum snout-vent length: 78 mm), with relatively long limbs, and with smooth (without keels) dorsal scales.[4][5]

Dorsal ground color pale-brown to dark-brown, with scattered, longitudinally aligned darker dots or dashes. These can be oriented as chevrons or chevron fragments, which can form longitudinal lines in the anterior portions of the dorsum. A dark face mask is present, extending posteriorly on lateral surfaces while gradually fading and disappearing after forelimbs. [4][5]

Venter is gray, devoid of any conspicuous pattern, except for occasional, diffuse, dark blotches on throat and chest.[4]

Distribution[]

This species is endemic to Valle de Bao, a relatively small valley located on the northern slope of the Cordillera Central. [5]

Ecology[]

A terrestrial, semi-fossorial species. During the day, specimen have been found underneath stones, boulders and rubble, where they have been found to be relatively abundant.[4][5]

The habitat can be described as an alpine savannah, which is dominated by the endemic grass , surrounded by dense pine forests composed of Pinus occidentalis, another endemic. Although this species has only been found within the grassland habitat, it is possible that it also inhabits surrounding pine forests, but further research is necessary.[4][5][6]

  • A view of Valle de Bao.

  • Specimen found under a stone.

  • Microhabitat of C. marcanoi.

Conservation[]

According to the most recent IUCN Red List assessment, C. marcanoi is listed as Least Concern (LC). Although the distribution of C. marcanoi is very restricted (with an estimated range of less than 120 km²), it is known to occur in a well protected area (), and no threats have been identified to the present date. The population trends are not known.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ Landestoy, M. & Inchaustegui, S. 2016. Celestus marcanoi (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T203034A115346682. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203034A2758830.en. Downloaded on 02 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Celestus marcanoi". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Celestus marcanoi". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Schwartz, Albert (1991). Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies : descriptions, distributions, and natural history. Robert W. Henderson. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. ISBN 0-585-19242-1. OCLC 44958544.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Schwartz, Albert; Incháustegui, Sixto J. (1976). "A New Species of Diploglossus (Reptilia, Lacertilia, Anguidae) from Hispaniola". Journal of Herpetology. 10 (3): 241–246. doi:10.2307/1562985. ISSN 0022-1511.
  6. ^ a b Landestoy, Miguel; Inchaustegui, Sixto (2015-07-20). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Celestus marcanoi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
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