Field notes, v4228
Page 131
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Hunts, Bear 2011 journal N deán Duchites, Depto. Jutiapa, Guatemala (cont.) Aug. 25 ... difficulty using a potato rake. We continued onward to the cloud forest above and I found a Bolitoglossa suchitanensis under a mass of fallen epiphytes. Just another one (junior, not collected) in the same manner and found some feline nest next to it (14.39859 N, 89.77749 W [± 7m], 2034 m elev). Continued straight along a ridge to the south instead of turning on path to La Piedra. Trees in this area seem larger and older, with extensive epiphyte cover, and clouds can be seen almost constantly coming over the ridge; of the many cloud forests I've seen, this is one of the wettest, mossiest, and nicest. Strolled in this area for ~30 min, then walked to the area de acampar (camp) La Piedra. Turned left (NE) downhill along a path that runs parallel to a creek down a steep slope and eventually arrives in Duedrich (the town where we started). We began searching around 14:00 (just before we got the Crataus) and stopped at 17:45. Waited for night to fall, then walked down a very steep slope to a waterfall ~10 m high at ~1850m elev. Started searching up creek at 19:00; was difficult to follow w/ thick veg., and water goes underground at some points. We quickly got 4 adult B. suchitanensis (2 on leaves, 1 on ground, 1 on log) + saw 2 more juveniles. Walked up to top (searched ~60 min along/near creek) and walked up to La Piedra where we saw nothing. Seems like there is an unfilled hyloid niche along this stream; Josias says he's seen small grass frogs w/ rough skin there, but only in the dry season - sound more like Crangamator to me. Walked slowly back along path to our camp + saw 3 adult + 6 junior B. suchitanensis on leaves. This salamander seems extremely abundant in the primary forest here, reminiscent of B. monjaloensis in Nicaragua. Interesting that a local endemic can be so abundant. Saw a lot of variation in background color (pale brown to very dark brown) and degree of light speckling. I didn't see a mental