Nototriton (Taylorotriton) tapanti Good & Wake, 1993

Tapanti moss salamander

Nototriton tapanti Good & Wake (1993: 134).

Nototriton (Nototriton) tapanti: Dubois & Raffaëlli (2012: 141).

Holotype. MVZ 203746, by original designation, an adult female from Costa Rica: Provincia de Cartago: Cantón de Paraíso: Distrito de Orosi: Río Quirí, near Tapanti National Park, ca. 1300 m a.s.l., collected by A. Collazo and D. A. Good on 25 May 1986.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and was given in recognition of the site where the holotype of this taxon was collected, a small settlement near what is presently known as Tapantí National Park.

Distribution. Nototriton tapanti is endemic to Costa Rica and was only known from a single specimen, the holotype, collected near Río Quirí on the northern section of the Cordillera de Talamanca, but during this study BK discovered and collected additional specimens that resulted in extending the known range approximately four kilometers to the south of the type locality within Tapanti National Park (ca. 1400 m a.s.l.) and 30 kilometers to the NNE along the eastern flank of the Turrialba Volcano (ca. 2250 m a.s.l.), which is part of the Cordillera Volcanica Central. With the additional individuals of this poorly known taxon discovered during this study, Nototriton tapanti is now known to inhabit sites within the northern Cordillera de Talamanca and extreme eastern Cordillera Volcanica Central at elevations from roughly 1300–2250 m a.s.l.

Noteworthy observations or remarks. Nototriton tapanti was only known from a single specimen, the holotype, until additional specimens were discovered and collected during this study.