Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus Schargel, Hernández-Morales, Daza, Jowers, Montes-Correa, Freitas, Sullivan, Gamble, Bauer & Rivas, 2024, sp. nov.

Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus sp. nov. (Figs 3A, 4–7) Pseudogonatodes manessi: Rivas et al. 2006: 107. Pseudogonatodes sp: Rivas et al. 2021: supporting information, table S3. Holotype: MBLUZ 1292, an adult male, collected from a footpath between Macuro and Los Chorros (Cerro El Olvido, 10°41 ʹ 33 ″ N, 61°57 ʹ 47 ″ W), at ~ 500 m elevation, Península de Paria, Sucre state, Venezuela; one of three specimens collected on 13 August 2014 by Gilson A. Rivas and Mayke De Freitas. Paratypes: MBLUZ 1293–1294; two specimens with the same collection data as the holotype. Referred specimen: MHNLS 16202, a subadult specimen in poor condition (a piece of skin is missing on the body) from the same locality as the type series, but collected by Gilson Rivas and César Barrio-Amorós on 19 July 2002. Diagnosis: Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) maximum SVL of 39.2 mm; (2) dorsal scales granular, roughly homogeneous in size, subconical but somewhat flattened and inclined posteriorly, larger than scales on top of head; (3) 98–106 scales around midbody; (4) rostral with posterior median cless, bordered posteriorly by four postrostrals; (5) four supralabials; (6) three infralabials; (7) eight or nine loreals; (8) posterior edge of mental scale without conspicuous median clesss; (9) five or six postmentals, which are equal to subequal in size compared with subsequent scales; (10) 37–41 ventrals in a straight line between anterior level of forelimbs and border of cloaca, (11) 31–33 ventrals between anterior levels of forelimbs and hindlimbs; (12) long digits lacking expanded subdigital third lamella; (13) eight or nine subdigital lamellae under finger IV; (14) 10 subdigital lamellae under toe IV; (15) subcaudal scales with an inconspicuous medial row of larger scales in contact with three scales laterally alternating with smaller scales in contact with two scales laterally; (16) long snout, with an elongated ascending nasal process of the premaxilla separating the nasal bones; and (17) fused parietal bones in adults. Comparisons: Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus is distinguished from P. barbouri, P. guianensis, and P. lunulatus by lacking an enlarged third subdigital lamella on the fourth toe (for a discussion of this character, see Huey and Dixon 1970). It also differs from those three species by its larger size, with adults of P. fuscofortunatus reaching a maximum SVL of 39.2 mm and the smallest specimen known (a juvenile) with an SVL of 32.2 mm, whereas the maximum SVL reported is 25.6 mm for P. barbouri, 30.0 mm for P. guianensis, and 29.9 mm for P. lunulatus. Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus further differs from P. guianensis and P. lunulatus by having a higher number of lamellae under the fourth finger (eight or nine vs. four to seven) and fourth toe (10 vs. five to seven), and from P. barbouri and by having dorsal scales that are granular and subconical as opposed to being flat and imbricated.0.15385 0.16798 0.19789 0.19789 0.19737 0.17942 0.17895 0.25000 0.17816 0.18421 0.17895 0.15119 Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus shares with P. furvus, Pseudogonatodes gasconi Avila-Pires & Hoogmoed, 2000, P. manessi, Pseudogonatodes peruvianus Huey & Dixon, 1970, and P. quihuai the lack of an enlarged third lamella on the fourth toe. In comparison to P. fuscofortunatus, P. furvus seems to be a larger species, with adults exceeding 41 mm in SVL, differing in having fewer postrostrals (three vs. four) and postmentals (two to four vs. five or six), and more lamellae under the fourth finger (10 or 11 vs. eight or nine) and toe (11–15 vs. 10). Pseudogonatodes gasconi is a very small species; the only known specimen (holotype) is a gravid female 24 mm in SVL, much smaller than the only juvenile known of P. fuscofortunatus (SVL 32.2 mm). The single specimen of P. gasconi also has several other differences in comparison to P. fuscofortunatus, including more postrostrals (five vs. four), fewer lamellae under the fourth finger (seven vs. eight or nine) and toe (eight vs. 10), tall conical scales as opposed to short subconical scales dorsally, and lacking a medial cless on the rostral scale, which is present all specimens of P. fuscofortunatus. Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus differs from P. peruvianus in being a larger species (largest adult in P. peruvianus is 32 mm in SVL) and having more lamellae under the fourth finger (eight or nine vs. six or seven) and toe (10 vs. eight or nine). It differs from P. quihuai in having four postrostrals as opposed to three and having higher numbers of loreal scales (eight or nine vs. five or six) and scales around the midbody (98–106 vs. 85–91). Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus is both most phenotypically similar and most closely related to P. manessi, but it differs from this species in having four postrostrals as opposed to three and in aspects of cranial osteology, as discussed below. Among species of Pseudogonatodes for which cranial osteological data are available (P. barbouri, P. furvus, P. fuscofortunatus, P. guianensis, P. lunulatus, P. manessi, and P. quihuai), P. fuscofortunatus is unique in having fused parietals and a long ascending nasal process that completely separates the nasal bones. Description of holotype: An adult male (SVL 39.2 mm) with fully regenerated tail (TL 27.8 mm) in a state of good preservation. Morphometric and meristic data are included in Table 4. Head cone-shaped, long, and pointed. Rostral large, visible from above, with a posterior medial cless extending anteriorly more than half the length of the rostral. Four postrostrals, the two medial ones indenting the rostral and about half of the size of the two laterals (= supranasals). Nostrils and surrounding scales slightly protruding from snout, each bordered by rostral, supranasal, one (less) or two (right) postnasals, and first supralabial. Postnasals about the same size as loreal scales. Scales on snout and loreal region gradually transitioning from flat, polygonal, and juxtaposed, anteriorly, to conical and subimbricate, posteriorly. Nine loreal scales counted in the shortest straight line between postnasals and eye socket. Scales on supraorbital region subconical and subimbricate, slightly larger than adjacent scales. Anterodorsal ocular scales form a supraciliary flap, with the two anteriormost in dorsal view significantly larger than adjacent scales. Four supralabials, first three subequal in length, but first and second significantly taller than third; fourth supralabial below middle of eye, much smaller than the first three and followed posteriorly by granular scales similar in size to scales on adjacent temporal region. Scales on the temporal and parietal region small, granular to subconical, juxtaposed. Ear opening small and oval, located at a distance from orbit about twice as long as the distance between orbit and nostril. Mental large, without posterior clesss. Posterior border of mental resembles a half hexagon, with a transverse straight suture and two divergent oblique sutures. Six asymmetrically arranged postmentals, the first two in contact with right oblique suture, the second to fourth in contact with transverse suture, and fourth to sixth with less oblique suture of mental. Postmentals about same size as scales of chin, which are granular and subimbricate. Three infralabials, the first very long, almost reaching anterior level of orbit and more than twice as long as the second infralabial; third infralabial small, below midlevel of orbit, followed posteriorly by four or five small, elongated scales to rictus of mouth. Scales on upper part and sides of neck granular, like dorsals. Anterior scales of the throat granular, rounded, and juxtaposed, gradually transitioning posteriorly to larger, subimbricate granules, to flat, imbricated ventral scales. Dorsal scales granular, rounded in lateral and dorsal view, slightly inclined posteriorly. Dorsal granules slightly larger than those on parietal region. Ventral scales distinctly larger than dorsals, flat, smooth, imbricate, more or less rhomboidal, with rounded corners; 33 scales in a midventral line between anterior levels of fore- and hindlimbs, 41 until vent. A single row of small irregular scales borders the vent anteriorly, two rows posteriorly. A narrow transitional zone between dorsals and ventrals. Longitudinal scale rows around midbody 100, of which ~15 are well-defined ventrals. Escutcheon absent. On the base of tail, supracaudal scales are similar in size and shape to trunk dorsals, abruptly transitioning into large, flat, subimbricate scales on the second sixth of the tail. Tail regenerated at the beginning of the third sixth of tail. Original tail segment has an inconspicuous midventral row of larger scales in contact with three scales laterally alternating with smaller scales in contact with two scales laterally. Dorsal region of the regenerated portion of tail with flat, oval-shaped, imbricate scales, slightly smaller than scales on unregenerated portion. Subcaudal scales on regenerated portion of tail irregular in shape and size, but flat and imbricate. Scales on anterior part of forelimbs flat, smooth, and imbricate; elsewhere on the forelimbs granular and subimbricate to juxtaposed. Scales on forelimbs flat, smooth, and imbricate except posteriorly, where they are granular and juxtaposed. Ventral surfaces of manus and pes with heterogeneous squamation in shape and size. Lamellae under fourth finger eight, under fourth toe 10. Lamellae under digits subequal in size. Claws enclosed by an ungual sheath comprising five scales, as is characteristic for the genus. Holotype coloration: In life, the background dorsal coloration of the head, body, limbs, and tail is chocolate brown overlaid with irregular dark brown mottling. A longitudinal and nearly mid-dorsal series of nine small pale cream dots extends from the level of the forelimbs to the midbody level and cont