The most southerly-ranging salamanders in the world, Bolitoglossa are found from Mexico in the north to tropical South America beyond the Amazon drainage. In common with other salamanders, however, they are not lovers of high temperatures and need humidity, so are often found in shady and moist microhabitats. Species are found at all elevations, from sea level to very high on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the continent.
The genus has the following characteristics: 13 costal grooves; body short and robust; sublingual fold absent; boletoid tongue; 5 toes; single premaxilla; variable amounts of hand and foot webbing according to species; ceratohyals terminating in a bluntly rounded end; operculum with columella either absent or tiny and vestigial. Generally the females are larger than the males. Like most salamanders they are largely nocturnal.
Species formerly assigned to the now invalid genus Magnadigita were assigned to Bolitoglossa by Brame and Wake (1963). The latter workers have been the main source of data for this page so far, which probably reflects their long work with this genus.
Owing to the need to consult several sources, completion of this page will probably take some time.
As this page is extremely long, we have added navigation shortcuts to each entry. To go to the Bibliography, click B: to go back to the Quick Index.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Bolitoglossa | ||||
| B. adspersa | Colombia | Typically found beneath rocks in highland areas. Description: hands and feet moderately webbed. Coloration: dorsally dark brown to black, with rusty-gold longitudinal dashes, streaks or spots: some specimens may be almost solid black and lacking the streaks and flecks. B I | ||
| B. altamazonica | Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru | Max SVL 56mm (f.): SVL 30-42mm (m), 35-56mm (f) | Lowland species. Teeth: 11-36 maxillary teeth; vomerine 9-43. Coloration: dorsally uniform dark brown or may be streaked or have dorsal mottling. B I | |
| B. alvaradoi | Costa Rica | |||
| B. anthracina | Coal Black Salamander | W Panama | SVL 46-70mm | The following is based on the 3 specimens from the account of Brame et al (see Bibliography). Two of the three were taken from vegetation 1-2m above the ground. The authors suggest that it is a montane endemic. Description: moderately robust, differs from other large black Bolitoglossa in the region by a relatively or absolutely higher number of teeth. Limbs: moderately long, with 1-3 costal folds visible in between when adpressed; hands and feet large and well developed, with well developed subdigital pads but reduced webbing that extends only as far as joint between 1st and 2nd phalanges on longest digits. Teeth: maxillary 66, 79 and 91; premaxillary 4, 5 and 7; vomerine 24, 30 and 39. Coloration: uniform black [SOURCE: Brame, Savage, Wake and Hanken]. B I |
| B. arborescandens | Costa Rica | |||
| B. biseriata | Panama | Description: hands and feet fully webbed. Coloration: biseriate colour pattern with black lateral bands, buff dorsal band and whitish ventral band. B I | ||
| B. borburata | Venezuela | Description: hands and feet almost fully webbed. Teeth: 37-71 maxillary teeth. Coloration: overall uniform ?, usually with light buff dorsal band with black lateral bands, ventrally grey. B I | ||
| B. capitana | Large robust species. Description: ?? . Teeth: ?? vomerine teeth. Coloration: solid lead black. B I | |||
| B. carri | ||||
| B. celaque | ||||
| B. cerroensis | Costa Rica | SVL 31-70mm | Originally described as a Magnadigita species. Description: moderately large; length of tail about 90-110% of SVL. Snout moderately truncate, canthus well rounded in both sexes. Middorsal furrow slightly evident. Large prominent post-iliac gland. Limbs: moderately long, when adpressed separated by 0-1 (in males) and 1-2 (in females) costal folds; pronounced subdigital pads on hands and feet. Teeth: vomerine teeth on each side 8-13 in males, 4-12 in females; maxillary teeth on each side 11-20 in males, 8-23 in females. Coloration: overall light lavender spotted and dashed with cream-white areas; these latter areas are in fact devoid of pigment and are found mainly on the sides, where they form indistinct dorsolateral stripes; also on the dorsum, where they are small but numerous. Reproduction: males are distinguished by the canthus being more elevated and the labial protruberance larger [SOURCE: Brame and Wake]. B I | |
| B. chica | Colombia | Lowland species. Teeth: 0-4 maxillary teeth; vomerine 16-31. Coloration: uniformly greyish to mottled dark brown. B I | ||
| B. colonnea | Costa Rica, Panama | |||
| B. compacta | Panama | SVL 44-74mm | Species first found on the slopes of Cerro Pando. Description: stout-bodied, moderately large; nostril relatively small, labial protruberances of nasolabial grooves small and poorly developed; canthus rostralis moderately short and gently arched; deep unpigmented groove below eye extends almost full length of opening, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; eye moderately large and slightly protuberant; well-defined postorbital groove extends posteriorly from eye. Limbs: moderately long, with costal folds visible when adpressed; digits broad and truncate at tips; webbing on hands and feet slight to moderate; subterminal pads present on all digits; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary 36-50 (in females), 11-20 (in males); vomerine 19-33 (in females), 19-22 (in males); holotype has 6 moderately small premaxillary teeth which extend from behind the lip. Coloration: dorsum varies from dark dull brown with reddish-brown blotches or orange-yellow mottling and spots to deep brownish red. Ventrolateral and ventral surfaces are uniform black to dull brown. Iris is pale brown. Reproduction: males have larger feet and longer hind limbs [SOURCE: Wake et al 1973]. B I | |
| B. conanti | ||||
| B. cuchumatana | Guatemala | |||
| B. cuna | E Panama | SVL 46-55mm | Lowland species. The following is based on the 3 specimens described by Wake et al (1973). Description: moderate-sized species with moderately long snout. Nostril moderately small; labial protuberances of nasolabial grooves small and poorly developed; canthus rostralis moderately long and gently arched; deeep groove below eye extends almost full length of opening, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; eye moderately small, not protuberant; well-defined postorbital groove. Postiliac gland clearly evident. Limbs: moderately short; extensive webbing of hands and feet; no subterminal pads; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary teeth 66-77, vomerine teeth 33-38; 5 or so premaxillary teeth protrude through lip. Coloration: overall light golden tan mottled dorsally with some darker colour; venter lighter and speckled with small dark spots. In alcohol the golden tan is a light reddish brown; the holotype has dark brown lateral bands which were not evident on the two paratypes, but this may have been due to preservation. B I | |
| B. decora | ||||
| B. diaphora | ||||
| B. digitigrada | ||||
| B. diminuta | SVL 31mm | The holotype for this species had apparently fallen from a high tree. Description is for the holotype. Description: snout moderately short; nostril small; no labial protuberances of nasolabial groove; canthus rostralis weakly developed; deep groove below eye; eye moderately large; well-defined postorbital groove. Limbs: medium length, if adpressed then 3 costal grooves not covered; hands and feet about two-thirds webbed, inner digit of both hand and foot completely included in web, remaining digits freely projecting. Teeth: 12 vomerine teeth (6 on each side); 3 premaxillary teeth; 34 maxillary teeth (17 on each side). Coloration (in alcohol): dorsally brown on head and trunk; lateral darker brown bands from behind eye and onto the tail, where they merge with the darker colour of the tail. Elbows and knees lack pigment. Scattered melanophores on throat, ventral part of trunk, limbs and tail base, and especially dense around clocal area but sparse on distal part of tail [SOURCE: Robinson]. B I | ||
| B. dofleini | Guatemala | |||
| B. dunni | Honduras | |||
| B. engelhardti | El Salvador, Guatemala | |||
| B. epimela | Costa Rica | SVL 38-46mm | Found in subtropical wet forest. This account is taken from Wake and Brame (1963), of which it should be noted that only one male specimen and five females are covered. Most were collected by a stream at night, when they were active: one fell into a stream but was able to swim to land. Description: small and slender, with relatively narrow head; nostril small; labial protuberances of nasolabial grooves small and poorly developed; canthus rostralis indistinct and gently rounded; deep groove below eye extends full length of opening, but does not contact lip; eye moderate, not very protuberant; poorly-defined postorbital groove; small and poorly-defined post-iliac glands. Limbs: long and slender, when adpressed leave 1 (in male) or 2-3 (in females) costal folds uncovered; hands and feet extensively webbed but digital tips remain free of webbing; hands and feet flattened, digits also flattened rather than cylindrical; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: 32-43 maxillary teeth, 19-24 vomerine teeth; 4 premaxillary teeth in female holotype, none of which pierce the lip. Coloration: dorsally dark, either uniform or sparsely spotted with irregular light areas that may be whitish, tan or pink; one specimen showed some bronze coloration and some lavender on the venter. B I | |
| B. equatoriana | Ecuador | SVL 36-57mm | A moderate sized species. Found by Brame, Wake et al above the ground at heights of up to 2m on broad leaves, palms and stems, along stream banks in secondary growth, secondary-primary border and agricultural clearings. It is sympatric with B. peruviana. Description: moderately wide head; nostrils small; labial protuberances of nasolabial grooves moderately developed; canthus rostralis moderate and slightly arched; deep groove below eye extends for almost full length of orbital following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; eye moderate, slightly protuberant; well-defined postorbital groove; post-iliac glands not evident. Tail relatively short and laterally compressed. Limbs: moderate, when adpressed leave 1½-2 (in male) or 1½-3 (in females) costal folds uncovered; hands and feet extensively webbed, webbing moderately thick; digital tips, especially 3rd, protrude extensively from webbing; digital tips rounded except for 3rd, which are pointed; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: 23-26 (in males) or 17-48 (in females) maxillary teeth; 18-24 (in males) or 11-28 (in females) vomerine teeth; 3 premaxillary teeth in female holotype. Coloration: dorsal coloration sometimes uniform blackish-brown, but more usually a beige-grey or beige band that may be divided centrally by a thin dark longitudinal blackish-brown stripe; in some individuals the band may be broken up into patches instead. Lateral areas much darker. Ventrally blackish but covered with many small or tiny bluish-white cells; these latter may form patches on the distal three-quarters of the tail; alternatively there may be an irregular row of moderate-sized bluish-silver to white patches on either side of the midline of the venter. Front of head is medium-brown, the rear covered by the dorsal band; hind limbs have considerable amount of beige and grey to brown dorsal mottling, front limbs are mostly blackish-brown dorsally; inside half of hands and feet are dorsally covered with many tiny light spots; limbs have some of these spots ventrally; ventral surfaces of the hands and feet are immaculate grey-black. B I | |
| B. flavimembris | Mexico and Guatemala | SVL 40-64mm | A moderately large robust species found on the volcanic and montane slopes of the region. This account is based on the 5 females and 1 male described by Brame and Wake (1969). Description: moderately wide head; relatively short and blunted snout; nostrils small; labial protuberances of nasolabial grooves poorly developed; canthus rostralis moderate and slightly arched; relatively deep groove below eye following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; eye moderate, rather protuberant and visible beyond margin of jaw when viewed from below; shallow postorbital groove; post-iliac glands lightly pigmented and barely evident. Tail stout and robust. Limbs: moderate, when adpressed leave ½ (in male) or 1½-2 (in females) costal folds uncovered; hands and feet extensively webbed, webbing moderately thick; digital tips, especially 3rd, protrude extensively from webbing; digital tips rounded except for 3rd, which are pointed; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: 46 (in males) or 45-58 (in females) maxillary teeth; 21 (in males) or 18-31 (in females) vomerine teeth; 3-7 premaxillary teeth which in the male pierce the lip. Coloration: dorsal coloration sometimes uniform blackish-brown, but more usually a beige-grey or beige band that may be divided centrally by a thin dark longitudinal blackish-brown stripe; in some individuals the band may be broken up into patches instead. Lateral areas much darker. Ventrally blackish but covered with many small or tiny bluish-white cells; these latter may form patches on the distal three-quarters of the tail; alternatively there may be an irregular row of moderate-sized bluish-silver to white patches on either side of the midline of the venter. Front of head is medium-brown, the rear covered by the dorsal band; hind limbs have considerable amount of beige and grey to brown dorsal mottling, front limbs are mostly blackish-brown dorsally; inside half of hands and feet are dorsally covered with many tiny light spots; limbs have some of these spots ventrally; ventral surfaces of the hands and feet are immaculate grey-black. B I | |
| B. flaviventris | Mexico | |||
| B. franklini | Guatemala | |||
| B. gracilis | ||||
| B. guaramacalensis | ||||
| B. hartwegi | Mexico (Chiapas) | |||
| B. helmrichi | Guatemala | |||
| B. hermosa | ||||
| B. hiemalis | ||||
| B. hypacra | Colombia | Females have very long limbs which are separated by just 2 costal folds when adpressed; hands and feet nearly webless. B I | ||
| B. jacksoni | ||||
| B. lignicolor | C Panama to NE Costa Rica | SVL 29-67mm; TL 50- 137mm | Brame and Wake synonymised B. palustris with this species. Description: large robust species with moderately long but rounded snout. Nostril small; labial protuberances moderate in adult males but poorly developed in females and young. Head moderately broad. Relatively deep, slightly curved groove found just below the eye but does not touch lip; eyes moderate in size, slightly protuberant; poorly defined postorbital groove extends backwards from eye as a shallow depression. Postiliac glands usually present. Limbs: when adpressed, separated by 2½-3½ (in males) or 2½-4½ (in females) costal folds. Hands and feet relatively large and almost completely webbed. Webbing between digits very thick. Teeth: 18-40 vomerines in adult males, 24-38 in adult females; maxillary teeth 23-43 in adult males, 24-60 in adult females. 0-6 premaxillary teeth which pierce the lip in adult males. Coloration: laterally and ventrally very dark, in preservative lead grey, grey or grey-brown. Dorsally variable as to amount of dark colouring; broad dorsal bands of cream to light tan with slight pink usually present; most individuals have a median irregular dark streak that expands on the head, others are dorsally quite dark with only a few streaks of light coloration, or even uniformly dark. It appears that younger specimens may have ventral melanophores which fuse with age to form a dense net. Tiny white guanophores are present on all ventral surfaces and on dark-coloured limbs. Some individuals have streaks of white on the throat [SOURCE: Brame and Wake]. B I | |
| B. lincolni | Guatemala | |||
| B. longissima | ||||
| B. lozanoi | ||||
| B. macrinii | Mexico | |||
| B. marmorea | Panama | SVL 59-68mm | A moderately large species found around Volcán Chiriquí: the fauna in the crater was characterised by Brame as being mainly lichens, mosses, ferns and small flowering plants, with no free surface water but moisture provided by passing clouds and morning mist. The specimens were taken from under rocks. Description: given here for adult specimens. Subcylindrical body; head flattened; 32-35 caudal grooves which are faint or obliterated; no postiliac gland. Limbs: long, when adpressed separated by 0-½ (in males) and 0-1 (in females) costal folds; 1st finger and toe fully webbed, middle ones with terminal two phalanges free; outer digits with only 1 phalange; all digits with subterminal pad. Teeth: maxillary teeth each side 24-35 in males, 24-45 in females; vomerine teeth each side 12-19 in males, 9-17 in females; premaxillary teeth (both sexes) 4-8; mandibular teeth (both sexes) 30-36. Coloration: overall dark slate to black; one of Tanner and Brame's specimens was rusty bluff with very little dark pigment, and another was yellowish cream with larger areas of dark marbling. Ventrally usually dark with only small irregular light spots and marblings. Reproduction: males have large hedonic gland on chin and prominent swellings at base of nasolabial groove. [SOURCE: Brame, Brame and Tanner] B I | |
| B. medemi | Panama and Colombia | SVL 33-46mm | Moderately small species. Interestingly, some Colombian individuals were collected during daylight hours when exposed on the surface; one was collected in cloud forest. Description: slightly pointed snout; labial protuberances of nasal grooves small and poorly developed; moderately long canthus rostralis, gently arched; head wide and fairly long; deep groove below eye extends for almost full length of orbit, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; well-defined postorbital groove; large eyes slightly protuberant. Postiliac glands poorly developed. Limbs: long; if adpressed, then separated by 0-1½ (males) or 1-1½ (females) costal folds; webbing fairly complete, thin; all digital tips extend beyond it; subterminal pads absent; longest digits have long pointed tips; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary 28-50 (females), 33-59 (males); vomerine 23-50 (females), 22-34 (males); premaxillary teeth present in males and pierce the lip, but absent in the female specimens from Colombia, present in single female from Panama. Coloration: overall a uniform deep leaden black; small indistinct guanophores scattered on snout, eyelids and round insertion of limbs; ventral surfaces lighter, generally grey; scattered guanophores conspicuous on throat and anterior part of venter; irregular patches of golden cream to greyish-silver occur posteriorly and on the tail; ventral surfaces of limbs are mottled black and light grey, hands and feet are medium grey. There is some regional variation in Colombian specimes (see Brame and Wake) and Panamanian individuals lack light ventral patches and have indistinct guanophores. Juveniles are uniformly dark dorsally and lighter ventrally and lack any distinctive markings. Reproduction: males have well-developed rounded mental hedonic glands and premaxillary teeth; females lack the former and usually the latter. [SOURCE: Brame and Wake 1972] B I | |
| B. meliana | ||||
| B. mexicana | Mexico Mitt Salamander | Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras | ||
| B. m. mexicana | Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras | |||
| B. m. mulleri | Guatemala | Originally considered B. copei. | ||
| B. minutula | Panama | SVL 28-36mm | When first described, this was the smallest known species of Bolitoglossa. It was found at elevations of 1800-2000m near the Costa Rican border: I do not know whether other locations and elevations have been discovered for B. minutula since. It bears some resemblance to B. epimela but is smaller. Description: snout moderately short; nostril small; labial protruberances of nasolabial groove moderately developed; canthus rostralis moderately short, slightly arched; deep groove below eye extends almost full length of opening following curvature of eye but does not contact lip; eye moderately large and slightly protuberant; strongly defined postorbital groove; postiliac gland not evident. Limbs: medium length; ½-2 (in males) or 2-4 (in females) costal folds between adpressed limbs; extensive webbing of hands and feet, from which only tips of digits protrude; subterminal pads present but weakly developed; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,5,1. Teeth : maxillary teeth 33-51 (in females) or 34-55 (in males); vomerine teeth 12-23 (in females) or 15-40 (in males); 3 premaxillary teeth protrude from behind lip in holotype. Coloration: highly variable; may be largely devoid of black pigment to nearly all black; intermediate colour forms are dorsally light to medium brown with a vague narrow dorsolateral and midventral stripe each of darker black melanin; ventrally mottled dirty yellow or black, with more yellow present on the tail ventrally than on the trunk. Yellow mottling may be present in quantity even on dark specimens on ventral or ventrolateral surfaces. Reproduction: males are shorter but have broader heads and larger feet [SOURCE: Wake and Brame 1966]. B I | |
| B. mombachoensis | ||||
| B. morio | Guatemala | |||
| B. mulleri | ||||
| B. nicefori | Description: snout moderate to long, head very broad; feet with only outer digits completely involved in web, middle digit relatively free. Teeth: ? vomerine teeth. Coloration: ?. B I | |||
| B. nigrescens | Costa Rica | SVL 46mm | Description: head very wide in proportion to SVL. B I | |
| B. oaxacensis | ||||
| B. occidentalis | ||||
| B. odonnelli | Guatemala | |||
| B. orestes | Venezuela | SVL 25-46mm | Description: snout noticeably shortened,limbs shorter than other Venezuelan and Colombian forms; if limbs adpressed, then 3-5½ (mean 4) costal folds left uncovered. Teeth: 7-15 vomerine teeth. Coloration: dorsally blackish on head and trunk with broken dorsolateral stripes of bay or light brown; few light middorsal dashes near tail base; a broad dorsal tan-coloured band is sometimes present, extending from the head onto the tail, and may be broken up into patches and spots in some large individuals; some large individuals are dorsally uniformly dark with no lighter colours; limbs black, sometimes with few light brown dorsal and proximal patches; conspicuous light flesh-coloured post-iliac spots; ventrally grey-black with many tiny guanophores from throat to tail base; few tiny guanophores also on dorsum of trunk and tail, many on snout and eyelids [SOURCE: Brame and Wake]. B I | |
| B. palmata | Ecuador | SVL 35-49mm | Brame and Wake described this species as being known only from the mountains. Description: snout noticeably shortened; distinctive foot shape [see Brame and Wake for illustration]; if limbs adpressed, then 2-5 costal folds not covered. Teeth: 14-23 vomerine teeth, 24-40 maxillary teeth. Coloration: dorsally tan to reddish-tan, darker on tail; legs mottled; ventrally rich dark brown with a few tan dashes and spots; ventrolaterally sharp delimitatino between lighter dorsal and darker ventral areas, and dorsal coloration breaks up into patches and spots ventrally and ventrolaterally [SOURCE: Brame and Wake]. B I | |
| B. pandi | Coloration: large cream spots ventrally on trunk and tail. B I | |||
| B. peruviana | Peru | Occurs in highland areasDescription: small, nearly fully webbed feet. Teeth: 33-41 maxillary teeth; vomerine 12-30. Coloration: most individuals are rather dark with a whitish or light spindle-shaped spot between the eyes. B I | ||
| B. pesrubra | Description: Limbs: short, when adpressed separated by½-2 (in males) and 2-4 (in females) costal folds. Coloration: dorsum of body all black or mottled with red and orange; limbs red. B I | |||
| B. phalarosoma | Colombia | SVL 46-58mm | The following is based largely on Brame and Wake's paper of 1962 (based on two males) and also their discussion of South American salamanders. Description: medium-sized species, head very narrow; snout moderately long and blunt; nostril small, nasolabial protuberances moderate; canthus rostralis arched and poorly defined; postorbital groove indistinct; postiliac gland very poorly indicated. Limbs: feet flattened and fully webbed; tips of longer digits extend slightly beyond webbing; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary teeth 16-23, vomerine teeth 10-12, premaxillary 2-3 which may or may not pierce the lip. Coloration (in alcohol): dorsum blackish-brown with large white patches, most conspicuous in shoulder region; venter uniform dark to greyish-brown, gular region somewhat lighter; limbs uniform dark brown; faint post-iliac spots. [SOURCE: Wake and Brame 1962] B I | |
| B. platydactyla | Mexico | |||
| B. porrasorum | ||||
| B. ramosi | Colombia | SVL 37-46mm | Moderately small and distinctively-coloured species. Brame and Wake's specimens were collected either in bromeliads within a few feet of the surface or the rolled bases of palm fronds on the surface of a forested hill. Description: moderately long truncate snout; labial protuberances of nasal grooves large and well developed; moderately long canthus rostralis, gently arched; head fairly wide and fairly long; deep groove below eye extends for almost full length of orbit, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; well-defined postorbital groove; large eyes slightly protuberant. Postiliac glands absent. Limbs: fairly long; if adpressed, then separated by 1-2 (males) or 1½-2½ (females) costal folds; webbing fairly complete, fairly thick; tips of longer digits are pointed and extend beyond it; 3rd digit unusually long and pointed; subterminal pads absent; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary 41-55 (males), 45-50 (females); vomerine 25-31 (males), 37-51 (females); premaxillary teeth present in males and pierce the lip, but absent in the female specimens. Coloration: overall rich rusty red dorsally, with some patches of dark black in some areas, especially on the snout. Venter is dark grey-black and may have large pale yellow patches and also light orange-red patches around the base and first third of the tail; ventral surfaces of throat, trunk and tail have widely scattered irregular bright pale yellow small spots and patches. Nasolabial protuberances are white-tipped; two specimens had a pair of broad white stripes running from the tips of the protuberances to the eyelids. borders of mouth are darkened. Dorsally the upper arm and leg are light red, but lower parts of the limbs and their ventral surfaces are as for the trunk. Webbed pads are relatively dark; phalanges tend to be dorsally darker in outline. Eyes are dark with heavy concentrations of melanin. Reproduction: larger males have well-developed rounded mental hedonic glands and premaxillary teeth; females lack these. [SOURCE: Brame and Wake 1972] B I | |
| B. riletti | ||||
| B. robusta | Costa Rica, Panama | SVL >110mm SVL | Very robust species. Coloration: overall nearly uniform black; cream ring around base of tail. B I | |
| B. rostrata | Guatemala | |||
| B. rufescens | Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras | |||
| B. salvinii | Mexico, Guatemala | |||
| B. savagei | Description: hands and feet almost wholly webbed; terminal phalanges tipped with small round nubbins. B I | |||
| B. schizodactyla | Colce Mushroom- Tongue Salamander | Panama (inc. Barro Colorado Island?) | SVL 38-62mm | Differs from other members of the genus in having bifurcated terminal phalanges. Some species were collected from banana plants, one from vegetation 4ft above the ground and others walking on palm and Helaconia leaves alongside a stream. Description: medium-sized species; snout moderately long, truncate at tip; nostril small; labial protruberances of nasolabial groove moderate; canthus rostralis of moderate length, slightly rounded; shallow groove below eye extends almost full length of opening, but does not contact lip; eye moderately large, slightly protuberant; well-defined postorbital groove; no post-iliac gland. Limbs: long, when adpressed leave 1-2 (in male) or 1½-3½ (in females) costal folds uncovered; hands and feet extensively webbed but digital tips remain free of webbing; hands and feet flattened, digits also flattened rather than cylindrical; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary teeth 47-104 (in females), 43-82 (in males); vomerine teeth 28-61 (in females), 27-42 (in males); 3 premaxillary teeth in male holotype, piercing the lip. Coloration (in alcohol): dorsally and laterally black, except for limbs which are medium brown with some pale mottling; feet light brown dorsally; dorsolateral area set off from ventral area by irregular black line; ventrally uniform yellow-white from tail end to roughly hind limbs, from where irregular dark stripe runs to fore limbs; yellow-white ventral band obscured by melanophores anterior to gular fold; gular area greyish-brown; some scattered brownish spots between limb insertions and gular fold. Specimens from southern and eastern parts of range have a wide bright glossy, almost immaculate yellow ventral band from gular fold to tip of tail; a midventral black stripe is usually found in the centre of this band, being widest midventrally and tapering to a point either end. Specimens from northern and western parts of the range usually lack well demarcated ventral bands and have instead immaculate whitish venters with a slight reddish tinge. Specimens from Peninsula Valiente (NW Panama) had an irregular middorsal stripe of purplish-black bordered by irregular dorsolateral bands of light reddish-yellow; irregular lateral bands of purplish-black to dark brown which gradually blend into the light ventral coloration; dorsal parts of head and tail mottled with reddish-yellow and purplish-black; dorsal surfaces of limbs very dark purplish-black. Reproduction: males have slightly broader heads than females. B I |
| B. silverstonei | Colombia | SVL 49mm | Moderately small and lightish-coloured species. The following is based on Brame and Wake's single holotype of 1972, which was collected from a rolled leaf near a stream. Description: moderately long truncate snout; labial protuberances of nasal grooves moderately large and extend beyond lower jaw margin; moderately long canthus rostralis, gently arched; head fairly wide and fairly long; deep groove below eye extends for almost full length of orbit, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; well-defined postorbital groove; moderately small eyes slightly protuberant. Postiliac glands indistinct. Tail long. Limbs: moderately short; if adpressed, then separated by 3 costal folds; webbing fairly complete; tips of longer digits extend beyond it; subterminal pads absent; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,2,4,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary 51, vomerine 24, 2 large premaxillary teeth that pierce the lip. Coloration: overall blackish-purple with reddish-brown dorsal mottling; laterally light reddish-brown with scattered melanophores; ventrally light golden cream to greyish-white; indistinct blackish-purple ventrolateral stripe separates darker dorsolateral coloration from lighter ventral area; whitish coloration on throat, upper lip region and in front of eyes; eyes have reddish-brown iris with gold ring surrounding horizontally elliptical pupil. Reproduction: insufficient data available. [SOURCE: Brame and Wake 1972] B I | |
| B. sima | Ecuador | Description: large, fully webbed feet. Teeth: 28-44 maxillary teeth; vomerine 10-22 Coloration: dorsally mottled brown. B I | ||
| B. sooyorum | ||||
| B. spongai | ||||
| B. striatula | Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua | |||
| B. stuarti | Mexico and Guatemala | |||
| B. subpalmata | Costa Rica, Panama | Description: Limbs: short, when adpressed separated by½-2 (in males) and 2-4 (in females) costal folds. Coloration: extremely variable. B I | ||
| B. synoria | ||||
| B. taylori | SE Panama | SVL 38-64mm | Moderately large species from the Sierranía de Pirre. Most of the specimens in Wake et al were collected from montane cloud forest characterised by abundant epiphytic growth: at the time of capture the salamanders were about 1m or so above the ground on vegetation. Description: labial protuberances moderately large and somewhat flared; canthus rostralis moderately long and slightly arched; deep groove below eye does not touch lip; well-defined postorbital groove. Limbs: moderately long, when adpressed separated by 1-2½ (in males) or 3-3½ (in females) costal folds; hand and feet extensively webbed but with porly developed subterminal pads. Teeth: maxillary 44-76 in males, 55-78 in females; vomerine18-35 in males, 36-49 in females. Coloration: very variable; dorsally may be light greyish-brown, light brown, yellowish brown, orange-brown or rich red-brown, sometimes with extensive dark brown or black dorsal markings; dark brown lateral stripe often present. Ventrally light greyish-brown, light yellowish-brown or light orangeish-brown but most usually light brown; venter itself always speckled with white. Some specimens have blackish tails, one of Wake et al's specimens had a tan snout. Reproduction: males have slightly longer limbs, less rounded and more truncate snouts. [SOURCE: Wake, Brame and Myers] B I | |
| B. vallecula | Description: hands and feet moderately webbed; terminal phalanges rounded and semitruncate. B I | |||
| B. veracrucis | Mexico (Vera Cruz) | 55mm SVL | The original type specimens were collected from a large limestone cliff. During the day they sheltered in nooks and crannies and foraged at night, apparently being collected without much difficulty or resistance. Description: 13 costal grooves, including 1 in axilla and 1 in groin; hand and foot palmate, spread widely, somewhat emarginated between the digits. Teeth: 12-19 vomerine teeth usually in a single continuous or slightly irregular row, curving back slightly and nearly meeting mesially; 4 premaxillary teeth pierce the lip in males, 6 in females; females tend to have slightly higher number of teeth and more vomerines. Coloration: overall lavender-brown with an irregular series of variably-sized clay or fawn-coloured spots from snout to tail tip, the spots tending to decrease in size towards the ventrum; ventral surfaces lighter, individual chromatophores lighter with numerous small cream or yellow spots (not longitudinal); small lighter glandular area behind insertion of thigh; white line along lower edge of lower eyelid; limbs spotted as for body; cloacal walls unpigmented in males but pigmented in females. There is some variation that does not necessarily correspond to age or size: some young appear much like the adults, whereas others are dorsally mostly fawn with a few black flecks. Reproduction: females also differ from males in having less bulbous subnarial swellings and having numerous pigmented folds instead of papilla in the cloacal wall: no other details available [SOURCE: Taylor]. B I | |
| B. walkeri | SVL 38-41mm | Following account is based on Brame and Wake's discovery of one holotype and two paratypes. The holotype was found in a bromeliad, the two paratypes in a flowering epiphyte and on the ground respectively; all were found in montane cloud forest. Description: moderately short truncate snout; labial protuberances of nasal grooves well developed and extending below lower margin of jaw; moderately long canthus rostralis, strongly arched; head moderately wide and long; deep groove below eye extends for almost full length of orbit, following curvature of eye, but does not contact lip; well-defined postorbital groove; large eyes moderately protuberant. Postiliac glands small and indistinct. Tail relatively short. Limbs: moderate; if adpressed, then separated by 1½ (males) or 2½ (females) costal folds; webbing extensive, thin; all digital tips discernible, and longer digits extend beyond it; subterminal pads absent; hands and feet relatively large; fingers in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,1; toes in order of decreasing length 3,4,2,5,1. Teeth: maxillary 18-33 (females), 29 (males); vomerine 28-36 (females), 22 (males); male holotype has 1 premaxillary tooth that pierces the lip; in the two females the premaxillary teeth are either absent or fail to pierce the lip. Coloration: dorsally golden brown in different shades, with blackish spots and blotches; cream white longitudinal streaks, especially over vent and tail; black chevron markings on neck; some faint red on dorsum, especially in the vertebral area; laterally dark golden with lighter areas between eyes and nasolabial groove, and nose region speckled with gold. Ventrally dirty white overlaid with brass colour and sometimes black streaks; throat heavily flecked with gold; mental gland bright gold; soles of hands and feets pink and gold. Demarcation of ventral and lateral coloration is sharper on the tail than on the trunk. Reproduction: the male had a rounded mental hedonic gland and premaxillary teeth that pierced the lip; the females lack these features. [SOURCE: Brame and Wake 1972] B I | ||
| B. yucatana | Mexico | |||
| B. zapoteca | ||||
"The Status of the Plethodontid Salamander Genera Bolitoglossa and Magnadigita", David B Wake and Arden H Brame Jr, Copeia 1963 No. 2. Discusses reason for suppression of genus Magnadigita and lists reassigned species with their national distributions.
The Salamanders of South America, Arden H Brame Jr and David B Wake, Contributions in Science Number 69, October 11 1963. A comprehensive review of the South American caudate herpetofauna, its evolution and systematics, and zoogeographical origin.
A New Plethodontid Salamander (Genus Bolitoglossa) from Venezuela with Redescription of the Ecuadorian B. palmata (Werner), Arden H Brame Jr and David B Wake, reprint from Copeia 1962 no. 1.
A New Dwarf Salamander of the Genus Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae) from Costa Rica, Douglas C Robinson, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 12 October 1976, Vol 89 No. 22.
Redescription of the Plethodontid Salamander Bolitoglossa lignicolor (Peters), with Remarks on the Status of B. palustris, Arden H Brame Jr and David B Wake, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 31 December 1963, Vol 76 pp 289-296.
Redescription of the Costa Rican Salamander Magnadigita cerroensis with Remarks on Magnadigita marmorea, Arden H Brame Jr, Abh. Ber. Naturkunde und Vorgeschichte Magdeburg, 1965, XI/4 pp 105-118.
New Species of Large Black Salamander, Genus Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae) from Western Panamá, Arden H Brame Jr, Jay M Savage, David B Wake and James Hanken, Copeia 2001(3), pp 700-704. Describes B. anthracina.
Bolitoglossa taylori, A New Salamander from Cloud Forest of the Serranía de Pirre, Eastern Panama, David B Wake, Arden H Brame Jr and Charles W Myers, American Museum Novitates, Number 2430, August 26 1970.
New Species of Salamanders, Genus Bolitoglossa, from Panama, David B Wake, Arden H Brame and William E Duellman, Contributions in Science Number 248, June 30 1973, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County. Covers B. compacta, B. minutula and B. cuna.
A new species of Costa Rican salamander, genus Bolitoglossa, David B Wake and Arden H Brame Jr, Rev. Biol. Trop. 11(1):63-73, 1963. Covers B. epimela.
Description of a new species of salamander from Panama, Wilmer W Tanner and Arden H Brame Jr, Great Basin Naturalist Vol XXI Nos 1&2, 23-26, May 27 1961. Covers Magnadigita [Bolitoglossa] marmorea.
A New Species of Lungless Salamander (Genus Bolitoglossa) from Panama, David B Wake and Arden H Brame Jr, Fieldiana Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Vol 51 No. 1, July 25 1966. Covers B. schizodactyla.
A New Species of Salamander from Colombia and the Status of Geotriton andicola Posada Arango, David B Wake and Arden H Brame Jr, Contributions in Science Number 49, Los Angeles County Museum, February 26 1962. Covers B. phalarosoma and synonymises G. andicola with B. adspersa.
New Species of Salamanders (Genus Bolitoglossa) from Colombia, Ecuador and Panama, Arden H Brame Jr and David B Wake, Contributions in Science Number 219, Los Angeles County Museum, January 26 1972. Covers B. medemi, B. ramosi, B. silverstonei, B. walkeri and B. equatoriana.
Systematics and Evolution of Neotropical Salamanders of the Bolitoglossa helmrichi Group, Arden H Brame Jr and David B Wake, Contributions in Science Number 175, Los Angeles County Museum, June 30 1969. Covers B. helmrichi, B. cuchumutana, B. flavimembris, B. hartwegi and B. stuarti.
Notes on South American Salamanders of the Genus Bolitoglossa, David B Wake and Arden H Brame Jr, reprint from Copeia 1966, No 2, June 21. Covers extra specimens of B. adspersa, B. altamazonica, B. chica, B. peruviana and B. sima.
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