TAXONOMIC STUDIES OF THE GENUS PHYMATURUS (IGUANIA: LIOLAEMIDAE): 1 DESCRIPTION OF FOUR NEW SPECIES

LOBO, FERNANDO; ABDALA, CRISTIAN Y SOLEDAD VALDECANTOS

South American Journal of Herpetology

Brazilian Society of Herpetology

Año: 2010 vol. 5 p. 102 - 126

1808-9798

After the study of a diverse collection of Phymaturus from three Argentinian institutions and additional 13 samples collected in the last two years we discovered several populations of uncertain taxonomic status. Based 14 on 93 morphological characters of squamation, color pattern, gular and nuchal folds, precloacal pores, and 15 morphometric data, we conclude that at least four of those are independent lineages which require formal 16 description. Characters related to sexual dimorphism and dichromatism and also to the ontogenetic change of 17 several others from juvenile to adult specimens are described. According to the most recent revision of the genus 18 (Lobo and Quinteros, 2005a) and considering the descriptions made in the last four years, the taxonomic 19 composition of the genus was raised to 23 species. In this study we provide the formal description of four 20 additional new taxa, including their diagnosis and detailed comparisons with other members of their species 21 groups. Two new species belong to the patagonicus group (provinces of Chubut and Rio Negro, in Patagonia 22 between 46 and 41° of latitude) while the other two belong to the palluma group (Neuquén and Catamarca 23 provinces, western Argentina, 39° and 27-26°30? of latitude respectively). With the exception of one case for 24 which four localities are reported, all new species are restricted to their type localities. This fact confirms a 25 common historical distributional pattern for most species of the genus.