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

ABDALA, C. S. & F. LOBO

South American Journal of Herpetology

Sociedad Brasileira de Herpetologia

Lugar: Sao Paulo; Año: 2006 vol. 1 p. 1 - 8

1808-9798

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