Solving a 50-year Mystery: Rediscovery of Mesaspis antauges (Squamata: Anguidae)
Por:
Solano-Zavaleta, Israel, Ceron De la Luz, Nelson Martin, Clause, Adam G.
Publicada:
11 ago 2017
Resumen:
Vertebrate rediscoveries occur frequently, but must be properly
documented for scientific credibility. Ongoing rediscoveries suggest a
need for greater caution in declaring species extinct. Here, we report a
rediscovery of the mysterious Mexican anguid lizard Mesaspis antauges
(Cope 1866), a species last recorded by scientists in 1964. Our
comparison of newly-collected material against previous specimens, all
of which apparently originate from a single isolated volcanic peak,
confirms the taxonomic validity of this species and the relegation of
the binomen M. modestus (Cope 1878) to the status of a junior synonym.
We include a brief discussion of the natural history of M. antauges, and
explore the conservation implications of our rediscovery.
Filiaciones:
Solano-Zavaleta, Israel:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Ecol & Recursos Nat, Fac Ciencias, Ciudad Univ, Ciudad De Mexico 04510, Mexico
Ceron De la Luz, Nelson Martin:
Herpetario Palancoatl, Av 19,5225 Col Nueva Esperanza, Cordoba, Veracruz, Mexico
Clause, Adam G.:
Univ Georgia, Warnell Sch Forestry & Nat Resources, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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