Rediscovery of Abronia frosti (Sauria: Anguidae) from a Cloud Forest in Cuchumatanes Highlands in Northwestern Guatemala: Habitat Characterization and Conservation Status

摘要

Species of Abronia are known to occur from southern Tamaulipas and Guerrero, Mexico, to southern Honduras. Guatemala has been a center of diversification of this group, with 10 species, eight of which are endemic (Ariano-Sanchez and Melendez 2009; Campbell and Frost 1993). A number of species of Abronia are critically endangered in the wild and two species (A. campbelli and A. frosti) were thought to have become extinct shortly after their discovery (Acevedo 2006; Acevedo et al. 2010; Brodie and Savage 1993; Campbell and Brodie 1999; Campbell and Mendelson 1998; Campbell et al. 1998). These two species had not been recorded in Guatemala since the late 1990s. Recently, however, a remnant population of A. campbelli was discovered in the country (Ariano-Sanchez and Torres-Almazan 2010). Acevedo et al. (2010) reported that three trips to the type locality between 1997 and 1999 failed to find any individuals of A. frosti. These authors also reported that the entire habitat in the area had been burned and that the species was presumed extinct. The rediscovery of A. frosti in this report was a result of a project focused on research and conservation of the Guatemalan species of Abronia. This project began in June 2009 and is operated by the Guatemalan NGO Zootropic.