A New Species of Lizard Endemic to Sierra de Fiambalá, Northwestern Argentina (Iguania: Liolaemidae: Phymaturus). Integrated Taxonomy Using Morphology and DNA Sequences: Reporting Variation Within the antofagastensis Lineage

F. LOBO; T. HIBBARD; M. QUIPILDOR; S. VALDECANTOS

ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES

ACAD SINICA INST ZOOLOGY

Lugar: Taiwan; Año: 2019 vol. 58 p. 1 - 18

1021-5506

The northernmost distributed group of lizards belonging to Phymaturus occurs in rocky outcrops of thePuna region between 3600?4200 m in Argentina. In a recent phylogenetic study based on morphologicaland genetic information, the monophyly of this small lineage was corroborated. This group is formedby Phymaturus antofagastensis, P. laurenti, P. denotatus, P. mallimaccii and a population of uncertaintaxonomic status until the present study. After obtaining new samples and observations, we described anew species belonging to this lineage that is known only from Sierra de Fiambalá, being the species ofPhymaturus living at the highest elevation ever recorded (4500 m). Males have a homogeneous yellowdorsum and lack melanic coloration over their heads, a phenomenon found in males of most species ofthe palluma group. We provide a detailed diagnosis, including characters from the squamation, colorationand significant differences found among continuous characters (ANOVA). Furthermore, we presentgenetic distances among members of the mallimaccii subclade based on sequences of the cytb marker.We provide color photos showing pattern variation of males and females. We reanalyze the phylogeneticrelationships within the entire palluma group and update info on all members of the antofagastensislineage based on new samples and make a better supported hypothesis. We also evaluate the phylogenetic position of the new taxon.