New localities and distribution models inform the conservation status of the endangered lizard Anolis guamuhaya (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in central Cuba

Abstract

New localities and distribution models inform the conservation status of the endangered lizard Anolis guamuhaya (Squamata: Dactyloidae) from central Cuba. Anolis guamuhaya is known from seven localities restricted to the Guamuhaya Massif in central Cuba and is always associated with mountane ecosystems above 300 m a.s.l. Previous evaluations of the conservation status of the species based on the estimated number of mature individuals have categorized the anole as Endangered. Eight new records of A. guamuhaya are provided here. These double the number of known localities, and two represent the first records of the species in lowland areas, apart from the Guamuhaya Massif. The new records extend the elevational range of the species from 15 m to above 1000 m. We used ecological niche modeling based on all of the locality records, along with what we considered the most appropriate IUCN criteria according to the available information (Criterion B) to reevaluate the conservation status of the species. These new records of A. guamuhaya increase its area of occupancy up to a total of 60 km2 , and its extent of occurrence up to 648 km2 . Despite this increase in geographic range, the species meets the IUCN criteria in the category of Endangered. We used ecological niche modeling to predict possible trends for the species under differing scenarios of global climate change, all of which portend a drastic reduction in area climatically suitable for A. guamuhaya.

First record of the Dwarf Green Anole, Anolis isolepis (Dactyloidae) from Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve, in central Cuba

“…In sharp contrast with most protected areas of Cuba, the herpetofauna of Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve has received considerable attention (Garrido et al 1991;Estrada 1994;Rodríguez-Cabrera 2018;Rodríguez-Cabrera et al 2020a, 2020b, 2020cTorres and Rodríguez-Cabrera 2020). The fact that A. isolepis was not previously documented for this area reinforces the hypothesis that this species has very secretive habits and that it can go undetected even in relatively well-studied areas.…”

Anti-predation behavior in Bearded Anoles (Dactyloidae: Anolis, clade Chamaeleolis): A review

“…4). They thus can reach and remain on branches thinner than their own bodies (Garrido 1982;Leal and Losos 2000) and often sleep on these kinds of perches (Rodríguez-Cabrera et al 2020). The smaller the individual, the smaller the branch they can use as a perch (Figs.…”

“…They have heads with a distinctive casque-like structure, relatively short limbs, and semi-prehensile tails. Most of the pertinent literature addresses Linnean alpha taxonomy, new distribution records, and niche modelling, but information concerning natural history is sparse (Henderson and Powell 2009;Rodríguez-Cabrera et al 2020).Bearded anoles are among the largest anoles in Cuba (177 mm SVL; Garrido and Schwartz 1968). These lizards, classified as twig-giant ecomorphs (Hass et al 1993;Mahler et al 2016), usually inhabit forests (Henderson and Powell 2009), where they perch on small-diameter branches (Garrido 1982;Leal and Losos 2000).…”

“…They have heads with a distinctive casque-like structure, relatively short limbs, and semi-prehensile tails. Most of the pertinent literature addresses Linnean alpha taxonomy, new distribution records, and niche modelling, but information concerning natural history is sparse (Henderson and Powell 2009;Rodríguez-Cabrera et al 2020).…”