Description of a new Patagonian lizard species of the Liolaemus silvanae group (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

ABDALA CRISTIAN SIMÓN Y FERNANDO LOBO

South American Journal of Herpetology

Año: 2006 vol. 1 p. 1 - 18

1808-9798

A new specie of the Liolaemus genus is described in the present work, it was collected in the north-west of Santa CruzProvince, Argentina, at 1485 m. This new lizard belongs to the silvanae group, previously described as Vilcunia genus, characterizedby the absence of precloacal pores in males, the presence of dorsal tridentate scales, lateral keeled nuchal scales overlap andpostfemoral scales subimbricated. This Patagonian specie has a small size, with a squat look and shows a dorsal coloration patternwith outstanding dorsal-lateral bands, these bands can be of different colors, such as yellow, orange, brown or grey. The individualsof this specie are melanics in the ventral part of the body. This new specie lives in a place with extreme climatic conditions, lowtemperatures and with a cloudy sky most of the time. These are insectivorous and viviparous lizards, whose phylogenetic relationshipwith other members of the group are still unknown.