Systematics and ecology of the caecilian Crotaphatrema lamottei (Nussbaum) (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae)

Abstract

New observations on Crotaphatrema lamottei are reported based on fieldwork on Mount Oku between 2006 and 2008. This species was encountered by pitfall trapping and digging, but encounter rates were low. Six new specimens of C. lamottei add substantially to the previous hypodigm for the species and genus, and new morphometric and meristic data are presented. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data supports strongly the monophyly of Crotaphatrema. The genetic and morphological distance between C. lamottei and Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is small, although there is a clear difference in colour pattern. The Data Deficient IUCN conservation status of all three species of Crotaphatrema is likely to change most readily as a result of better data on distribution.

Keywords:

• Crotaphatrema
• Cameroon
• Mount Oku
• Mount Tchabal Mbabo
• survey
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

Fieldwork was funded by the University of Aberdeen, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, a Trinity & Patrick Award from the Royal Geographical Society, North of England Zoological Society, Gordon Foundation, British Herpetological Society, Explorer's Club of New York, the Natural History Museum, London, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, and an Erasmus Darwin Barlow Award to T.M.D-B. from the Zoological Society of London. Permits were provided in Cameroon by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife and local forest management institutes. Thanks are due to Katie Garrett, Simon Loader, Oscar Ndifon Nyingchia, David Ndifon, Devine Fotibu, Matthew LeBreton, Roseanne Miller, Fouepi Eric Landrie, Yonghabi Fred Talah, Ngane Benjamin Kome, Khimal Peter Yumhil, Marcel Talla Kouete and the staff of the Belo Rural Development Project for assisting with data collection and logistics. Jonathan Campbell and Carl J. Franklin kindly loaned UTACV material to London. Gratitude is expressed to the communities of Kom and Oku for working together with the field team and making this study possible.