Liolaemus heliodermis, a new lizard from northwestern Argentina with remarks on the content of the elongatus group (Iguania: Tropiduridae). Herpetologica 56: 235-244.

ESPINOZA, R. E.; F. LOBO & F. B. CRUZ

HERPETOLOGICA

The Herpetologists League

Lugar: Emporia, Kansas; Año: 2000 p. 235 - 244

0018-0831

We provide a diagnosis for the Liolaemus elongatus group wich currently includes six species (including the species described herein) of midsized, long-tailed, primarly saxicolous lizards. Most of these species are distributed along the Andean Cordillera of western Argentina where they principally occur at elevations above 1000 m. Here we describe Liolaemus heliodermis, a new species belonging to this group from the region where the Cumbres calchaquies and the Sierra del Aconquija mountain ranges converge in northwestern Tucumán province. the new species differs from all other members of the elongatus group in several meristic characters and in the distinct coloration of the males: black heads with vibrant yellow torsos. Liolaemus heliodermis is the most northerly distributed member of the elongatus group and is the only member of the group known to occur in Tucumán province. Preliminary data on the biology of L. heliodermis and the relationships of the new species to other members of the elongatus group are discussed.