Restriction of the Type Locality “Los Puentes”, Ecuador, for Several Species of Arachnida, Gastropoda and Plants
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Los Puentes" in northwestern Ecuador has been cited as the type locality for several spider, gastropod, and plant taxa.Yet, earlier works ambiguously described it as "near Quito," leading to confusion about its location.By examining historical documents, maps, and an official decree, I verify that "Los Puentes" lies near Nanegalito, Pichincha province, on the northwestern slopes of the Western Cordillera of the Andes of Ecuador, at 1200-1500 m elevation.I formally restrict the type locality for multiple species, including Isomeria bourcieri lutea Cousin 1887 (Gastropoda: Labyrinthidae), Guestieria locardi Jousseaume 1887 (Gastropoda: Scolodontidae), Proserpinella cousini Jousseaume 1887 (Gastropoda: Proserpinellidae), Mesembrinis vesperus Jousseaume 1887 (Gastropoda: Achatinidae), Idiophthalma robusta Simon 1889 (Arachnida: Barychelidae), Eurypelma (Lasiodora) augusti Simon 1889 (Arachnida: Theraphosidae), Eurypelma (Lasiodora) vespertinus Simon 1889 (Arachnida: Theraphosidae), Asplundia nonoensis Harling 1958 (Pandanales: Cyclanthaceae), and Blakea eriocalyx Wurdack 1979 (Myrtales: Melastomataceae), ensuring taxonomic clarity.The precise definition of a type locality is fundamental in nomenclature, as it directly influences the stability of species names and underpins accurate assessments of distribution, ecology, and conservation status (ICZN 1999).When original locality descriptions are ambiguous or erroneous, subsequent researchers may misinterpret the geographical context where species exist, potentially leading to confusion in scientific literature.In northwestern Ecuador, "Los Puentes" has historically been cited as the type locality of several taxa of spiders, gastropods, and plants (Cousin 1887; Harling 1958; Jousseaume 1887; Simon 1889; Wurdack 1979) (Table 1).Yet, statements that it lies near Quito have complicated its precise location.This study resolves these inconsistencies by clarifying the exact location of "Los Puentes" and formally restricting the type locality for nine taxa, thereby promoting taxonomic clarity and supporting ongoing research in biogeography and conservation.Cousin (1887) and Jousseaume (1887) were the earliest taxonomists to describe new taxa from specimens collected at "Los Puentes".These included Isomeria bourcieri lutea Cousin 1887, Guestieria locardi Jousseaume 1887, Mesembrinis vesperus Jousseaume 1887, and Proserpinella cousini Jousseaume 1887 (Table 1).In Cousin's most renowned publication, Faune malacologique de la République de l'Équateur (Cousin 1887), he regularly cited "Los Puentes, près Gualea" [Los Puentes, near Gualea] when discussing the distributions of several species (e.g., Cyclophorus esmeraldensis, Mesembrinus visendus, Porphyrobaphe irroratus, Drymaeus petasites, Ammonoceras flora, Psadara selenostoma, Isomeria bourcieri, and Obeliscus cuneus), noting that he found Bourciera helicinaeformis "Dans le chemin de Quito à Gualea, vers Hacienda de Los Puentes" [On the road from Quito to Gualea, towards Hacienda de Los Puentes].Elsewhere, Cousin referred to "Los Puentes (paroisse de Calacoli[sic], prov.de Pinchincha [sic]" [Los Puentes (parish of Calacalí, prov. of Pichincha] for Eurytus taylorianus.Cousin also included details about the altitude of Los Puentes, stating "more or less 1500 m" for M. visendus and "about 1500 m" for O. cuneus.Pilsbry (1906) echoed this information, citing the locality as "Los Puentes near Gualea at about 1500 meters… (Cousin)" for O. cuneus, based on Cousin's (1887) statement.Collections from Los Puentes during that period were primarily carried out by Auguste Edouard Cousin (Paris, 1835-Quito, 1899, see Breure 2020, Correoso Rodríguez 2020, Jarrín 2021, 2024)."Los Puentes" was one of the farms owned by the Cousin family in Ecuador, where they had sugar cane plantations (Jarrín 2021).In describing Mesembrinus vesperus (now Zoniferella vespera), Jousseaume (1887) noted that "A single example of this species was collected by our colleague, Mr. A. Cousin, in his property of Los Puentes, near Quito" (Cisneros-Heredia & Valencia 2023).Correoso Rodríguez (2020) likewise reported that "Los Puentes" was in northwestern Pichincha and that Auguste Cousin acquired the farm in 1866.Breure (2020) indicated that the label accompanying the types of Proserpinella cousini read "Los
Source: Zootaxa
Author: DIEGO F. CISNEROS-HEREDIA
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410846054