The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México

Volume 15, No. 1, Pp. 1-148, Pls. 1-6, 11 Figs.

December 20, 1961

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacan, Mexico

WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE 1961

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch, Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.

Volume 15, No. 1, Pp. 1-148, Pls. 1-6, 11 Figs.

Published December 20, 1961

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas

PRINTED IN THE STATE PRINTING PLANT TOPEKA, KANSAS 1961

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacan, Mexico

WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 3 Acknowledgments 5 Historical Account 7

NATURAL LANDSCAPE 9

GEOGRAPHY OF THE HERPETOFAUNA 13

ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES 13 Amphibia 14 Caudata 14 Salientia 20 Reptilia 56 Testudines 56 Crocodilia 58 Sauria 59 Serpentes 88

SPECIES OF QUESTIONABLE OCCURRENCE 124

GAZETTEER 129

SUMMARY 141

LITERATURE CITED 142

INTRODUCTION

For almost 30 years North American herpetologists have been making extensive collections of reptiles and amphibians in Mexico. Some parts of the country, because of their accessibility, soon became relatively well known; other regions lying off the beaten path were bypassed or inadequately sampled. Principally in the last decade herpetologists have been entering regions from which no collections previously were available in an attempt to fill gaps in known distributions and to discover unknown species of animals. In 1950 Dr. Donald D. Brand led an exploration party from the University of Texas to the poorly explored and faunistically unknown region of southwestern Michoacan. James A. Peters accompanied Brand and collected amphibians and reptiles. In 1951 I welcomed the opportunity to accompany Brand on a second expedition to southwestern Michoacan. Such was the beginning of my interest in the herpetofauna of the region. I have been fortunate to return to Michoacan on four successive trips, all of which had as their purpose the accumulation of data on the herpetofauna that would result in a survey of the component species and an analysis of their distribution.

My original intention was to amplify Peters' (1954) study based on the collections made by him in 1950 and by me in 1951 in the Sierra de Coalcoman. But it soon became evident that in order to understand the relationships of the herpetofauna of the Sierra de Coalcoman, the species inhabiting the Tepalcatepec Valley and adjacent mountain ranges would have to be studied. In the course of making that study I examined all specimens from Michoacan already in museums.

There have been few detailed herpetofaunal studies in Mexico. The first such study of any consequence was that by Bogert and Oliver (1945) on the herpetofauna of Sonora. In that paper the authors analyzed the fauna from a geographic view and showed the transition from tropical species in the southern part of the state to members of the Sonoran Desert assemblage to the north. Martin (1958) made a detailed study of the herpetofauna of the Gomez Farias region in southern Tamaulipas; he emphasized the ecological distribution of amphibians and reptiles in that region with special reference to cloud forests. Duellman (1958c) presented a preliminary geographic analysis of the herpetofauna of Colima with special reference to the continuity of the species inhabiting the lowlands. Zweifel (1960) discussed in detail the herpetofauna of the Tres Marias Islands and commented on the derivation of the fauna. Duellman (1960d) provided a detailed account of the geographic distribution of the amphibians known to occur in the lowlands of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and attempted to account for the present patterns of distribution.

The present report is the first of two parts dealing with the herpetofauna of Michoacan. The purpose of this part is to present a full account of the species of amphibians and reptiles known to inhabit the state of Michoacan; the accounts of the species are accompanied by a brief description of the natural landscape and of the various assemblages of species comprising the major faunistic groups within the region. A gazetteer of collecting localities is appended. The second part of the study, now in preparation, deals with the ecological and historical geography of the herpetofauna. Since the present part will be of interest primarily to systematic herpetologists, I have decided to separate it from the more general material of interest to biogeographers.

One of the major problems that faces the worker undertaking a faunal study is the presence of species or genera of unsettled systematic status. My work in Michoacan has been no exception; fifteen separate studies were undertaken in an attempt to solve systematic problems in certain groups. Some systematic problems still remain but are of little consequence insofar as the entire faunal picture is concerned, or are so involved as to be impractical to undertake at this time. In accounts of species, such problems are mentioned in the hope that they will interest some worker who will be inclined to investigate them.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

While engaged in the study of the herpetofauna of Michoacan I have built up a debt of gratitude to many individuals, without whose aid my ambition to complete my study never would have been realized. I am especially grateful to those individuals who accompanied me in the field; Lee D. Beatty, Richard E. Etheridge, Carter R. Gilbert, Fred G. Thompson, Jerome Tulecke, and John Wellman offered stimulating companionship and valuable assistance. On many occasions they suffered hardships on behalf of my interests.

Studies of my own specimens have been augmented by material from other institutions. For permitting me to examine specimens in their care I am indebted to W. Frank Blair, Charles M. Bogert, Doris M. Cochran, William B. Davis, James R. Dixon, the late Emmett R. Dunn, Josef Eiselt, Alice G. C. Grandison, Norman Hartweg, Robert F. Inger, Arthur Loveridge, the late Karl P. Schmidt, Hobart M. Smith, Robert C. Stebbins, Margaret Storey, Edward H. Taylor, and Richard G. Zweifel.

Several people have aided me in the study of specimens and in the analysis of data; I am grateful to Donald D. Brand, who first introduced me to Michoacan; since that time I have benefited much from his knowledge of the area. James A. Peters provided me with essential information concerning his field work in southern Michoacan in 1950. James R. Dixon and Floyd L. Downs have permitted me to use freely the material and data that they accumulated in their recent field work in Michoacan. Norman E. Hartweg allowed me to use the specimens and data that he gathered in his survey of the herpetofauna in the region of Volcan Paricutin. L. C. Stuart, Charles F. Walker, and Richard G. Zweifel have helped in unraveling some of the systematic and distributional problems.

I am especially grateful to my wife, Ann, who for six months helped me track down elusive species and explore new areas. Furthermore, she has stimulated me to carry this study to completion.

Many people in Michoacan favored the field parties with quarters, transportation, and valuable information, which greatly facilitated the field work. In this respect I am especially indebted to Ingeniero Ruben Erbina of Ingenieros Civiles Asociados, who not only let us use his home as our headquarters, but through a letter of introduction gave us the "key" to southern Michoacan. Ingeniero Pedro Tonda aided us in Arteaga and San Salvador. Ingeniero Anastacio Perez Alfaro of the Comision Tepalcatepec in Uruapan provided the latest maps of southern Michoacan and much essential information pertaining to travel conditions in the area. Senor Nefty Mendoza gave us a home in Dos Aguas; this kindness allowed us to work in this interesting region during the height of the rainy season. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Thomas let us make use of their facilities at Hacienda Zirimicuaro. The naval officers at the Estacion Marina at Playa Azul made pleasant what might have been a dreadful stay in that small coastal village. To the managers and pilots of Lineas Aereas Picho in Uruapan I owe special thanks for going out of their way on more than one occasion to transport a stranded snake-hunter. Throughout the months of field work beginning in 1955 I constantly have been aided by the authorities and workers of the Comision Tepalcatepec, a subdivision of the Secretaria de Caminos y Obras Publicas, and of the private corporation, Ingenieros Civiles Asociados. Much of the field work in Michoacan was made possible only through the co-operation of the natives who supplied mules, acted as guides, and aided in the collection of specimens. I have learned a great deal from these people. They will never see this report. Their work as guides, muleteers, and collectors greatly assisted me with the mountains of equipment that had to be piled on the backs of scrawny mules for transportation to places where the natives seldom trod. Their efforts in behalf of Don Guillermo never will be forgotten; I extend an especially hearty muchas gracias to Benjamin, Ignacio, Jesus, Lorenzo, Mariano, and Remigio.

Much of the work on this report was done while I was associated with the Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan. I thank Norman E. Hartweg and T. H. Hubbell for making available to me the facilities of the museum and for their numerous courtesies that aided me so much.

Continue reading The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México free in the Wunder reader →