A NEW LIZARD FROM NORTHERN NEUQUÉN, ARGENTINA. (IGUANIA: TROPIDURIDAE: LIOLAEMINAE)

LUCIANO AVILA; CRISTIAN PÉREZ; MARIANA MORANDO

Bariloche

Jornada; XV Reunión de Comunicaciones Herpetológicas; 2000

Centro Regional Universitario de Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue

The Liolaemus elongatus group currently includes several species of mid-sized, long-tailed and essentially saxicolous lizards. Two subgroups can be recognized in this group, one formed by L. ceii, L. kriegi, L. buergeri and L. leopardinus and another by L. capillitas, L. elongatus (sensu lato), L. petrophilus, L. thermarum, L. austromendocinus, and at least three undescribed species. The majority of these species are distributed in rocky boulders along the Andean Cordillera of western Argentina and Patagonian steppes, where they principally occur at elevations exceeding 1000 m. A morphological and cytogenetic study was carried out on several species of this group, and new entities were discovered. Here we describe Liolaemus sp. nov., a new species belonging to this group from the volcanic formations of northern Neuquén province. The new species belongs to the first subgroup by squamation and body shape, but differs from L. ceii, L. kriegi and L. buergeri in dorsal and ventral coloration pattern, and a combination of squamation characters principally in scales around midbody and dorsal and ventral scale numbers. From the second subgroup it differs in body shape, coloration, and dorsal squamation. Liolaemus sp.nov. is distributed over 3000 m above sea level in a small area on an isolated volcanic mountain in northwestern Patagonia. Biology and cytogenetic data are presented.