Liolaemus dumerili, S, Abdala C., Azocar, Moreno & Paz, Bonino M. M., 2012

S, Abdala C., Azocar, Moreno & Paz, Bonino M. M., 2012, Taxonomic study and morphology based phylogeny of the patagonic clade Liolaemus melanops group (Iguania: Liolaemidae), with the description of three new taxa, Zootaxa 3163, pp. 1-32 : 17-22

Liolaemus dumerili sp. nov.

Figs. 10–13

1975 Liolaemus melanops (partim). J. M. Cei, J. Herpetol. 9 (2): 217-222.

1985 Liolaemus melanops (partim). Scolaro J. A.; J. M. Cei and L. Arias de Reina, Hist. Nat. 5 (2): 13–22.

1986 Liolaemus melanops . J. M. Cei. M. Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino Monogr. 4: 220.

2010 Liolaemus cf. melanops . Scrocchi G. J.; C. S. Abdala; J. Nori and H. Zaher. Fondo Editorial Rionegrino 252 pp.

Holotype.— FML 24169 ( FBC 1294): Sierra Colorada, on Provincial Route 212, km 23 route to Los Menucos, Río Negro Province, Argentina. 40°32´54.5" S 67°37´10.4" W. C. Abdala, M. Bonino, F. Cruz, L. Moreno Azócar Cols. II/2009

Paratypes.— FML 24170–179: Same locality and date of the holotype.

FML 24180 – 188: Sierra Colorada, on Provincial Route 212, km 23 route to Los Menucos, Río Negro Province, Argentina. 40°32´54.5" S 67°37´10.4" W. C. Abdala, F. Cruz, G. Perotti, R. Semhan Cols. XII/2009.

Liolaemus dumerili , belongs to the L. melanops group of species; within this group this new taxon differs from the species belonging to the L. fitzingerii group ( L. canqueli , L. casamiquelai , L. chehuanchekenk , L. fitzingerii , L. melanops , L. morenoi , L. xanthoviridis ) by a smaller SVL (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 89–106 mm), sexual dichromatism is evident in the new species, and there is not a black antehumeral arc. It differs from L. mapuche , L. cuyanus and L. puelche , by its smaller SVL (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 83, 102 and 89 mm, respectively) and four scales in contact to the mental scale (six in L. cuyanus ; four to six in L. mapuche and L. puelche ). The new taxon is different from L. donosobarrosi by the dorsal color pattern clearly different between these species and a lower number of scales around midbody (61–70, X = 65.1 vs. 79–95, X = 85.4).

The new species is different from Liolaemus goetschi because it has four scales in contact to the mental scale (4–6 in L. goetschi ), a larger SVL (max 80.9 mm vs. 74.2 mm); males present a broader ventral dark brown coloration, are sexually dichromatic. Female dorsal pattern is clearly different between species.

Liolaemus dumerili is different from L. hermannunezi because it is larger (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 64.1 mm); male dorsal pattern is different with presence of light blue or greenish scales on the flanks and tail, absent in L. hermannunezi .

The new species is different from Liolaemus josei because it has a larger SVL (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 73.1 mm), it has four scales contacting the mental scale (4–6 in L. josei ), evident scapular spots and a broader ventral dark coloration absent in L. josei .

Liolaemus martorii and the new taxon are different by the SVL 80.9 mm in L. dumerili vs. 67.1 mm in L. martorii , the number of ventral scales are 88–96 (X = 93.9) and 97–114 (X = 105.0), respectively and dark brown ventral coloration is evident in males of L. dumerili .

The new taxon differenciates from Liolaemus inacayali , L. martorii , L. rothi and L. sagei because it has a lower number of ventral scales (88–96, X = 93.9 vs. more than 96 in the mentioned species; see Table 1).

Liolaemus dumerili is different from L. boulengeri in presenting a larger SVL (80.9 mm vs. 69.0 mm.), males have light blue and greenish scales on the flanks and tail, never red color in the abdomen (typical of L. boulengeri ).

The new species is different from Liolaemus rothi by a smaller SVL (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 92.0 mm), it has a lower number of ventral scales (88–96, X = 93.9 vs. 96–113, X = 103.6), the presence of scapular spots and ventral coloration absent in L. rothi .

Liolaemus dumerili and L. sagei differ in their SVL ( L. dumerili max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 92.8 mm), the new species has a lower number of scales around the midbody (61–70, X = 65.1 vs. 84–102, X = 88.4), as well as ventral scales (88–96, X = 93.9 vs. 110–124, X = 118.3) and dorsal scales (72–80, X = 76.6 vs. 85–98, X = 90.6). The new species has scapular spots and males show a broader dark brown ventral coloration, absent in L. sagei .

The differences between the new taxon and L. senguer are: SVL, larger in L. dumerili (80.9 mm vs. 62.3 mm), males have light blue and greenish scales on the flanks and tail, broader ventral melanism and abdomen is never blue as in L. senguer .

The new species is different from L. inacayali by the presence of scapular spots, males have light blue and greenish scales on the flanks and absent on tail; in L. inacayali , and a lower number of ventral scales in L. dumerili (88–96, X = 93.9 vs. 107–118, X = 112.6).

The new taxon is different from L. loboi because it has a lower number of ventral scales (88– 96 X = 93.9 vs. 94–113 X = 101.8), a larger SVL (max SVL 80.9 mm vs. 72.7 mm), a different pattern of coloration in females and because males show gular melanism.

Liolaemus dumerili is different from L. tehuelche in SVL, being the new taxon larger (max SVL = 80.9 mm vs. 74.2 mm.); there is a different dorsal color pattern and the jaw in the new taxon, which is not melanic in L. dumerili .

is the new species is different from L. telsen by a larger SVL (80.9 mm vs. 68.8 mm.), a lower number of scales around midbody (61– 70 X = 65,1 vs. 74–84; X = 77,5), dorsum (72– 80 X = 76,6 vs. 83–96; X = 88,8) and the presence of light blue or green scales on the flanks and tail.

Description of the holotype. Adult male, SVL 78.0 mm. Left arm partially absent, probably as a consequence of predation failure. Trunk length 35.9 mm. Head longer (15.9 mm) than wide (11.8 mm). Head height 8.7 mm. Eye diameter 5.9 mm. Interorbital distance 8.4 mm. Orbit–auditory meatus distance 4.8 mm. Auditory meatus height 2.8 mm; 2.1 mm wide. Orbit–commissure of mouth distance 2.0 mm. Internares 2.7 mm. Subocular scale 5.25 mm. Femur length 14.9 mm, tibia 16.1 mm, and foot 22.4 mm. Humerus length 10.2 mm radio length 9.6 mm, and hand 10.8 mm. Base of tail 9.9 mm. Tail length 96.1 mm.

Dorsal surface of the head smooth, with 17 scales. Rostral wider than higher, bordered by eight scales. Mental smaller than rostral, trapezoidal, bordered by four scales. Nasal not in contact with rostral. Four internasals. Nasal scale surrounded by eight scales, separated from canthal scale by two scales. Four scales between frontal and supercilliaries. Six scales between frontal and rostral. Frontal divided in four. Two postrostrals. Parietal larger than interparietals, in contact with seven scales. Orbital semicircles complete. Seven supraoculars. Preocular separated from lorilabial row by one scale. Three scales in anterior margin of auditory meatus. Eleven smooth temporals. Six lorilabials, three of them in contact with subocular scale. Eight supralabials, none in contact with subocular. Six infralabials, second in contact, ventrally, with two scales. Six chinshields, second pair separated by three scales.

Seventy scales around midbody. Eighty four round, imbricate, and keeled dorsals from occiput to hind limbs. Scales of flank same sized and shaped than dorsals. Ninety nine ventrals, flat and imbricate. Fourtheen scales in pigal region. Thirty six smooth and weakly imbricate gulars. Nine precloacal pores. Antehumeral scales flat, larger or equal in size than dorsals. Postauricular, rictal, and longitudinal folds present. Scales on the longitudinal fold granular and smooth. Fourth finger with 16 subdigital lamellae; fourth toe with 27. Infracarpals flat, imbricate, and trifid. Infratarsals flat, imbricate, and trifid. Teeth crown-shaped, with three deep, expanded cusps.

Color in life. Figs 10–11 . Dorsally and on the sides, the head is brownish with small dark specks and many yellowish scales, light blue and green. Subocular white with a dark spot on the posterior part and a diffuse spot on the anterior part. Temporal region with two sharp black lines that runs from the eye to the timpanum on one side (right) and to the neck (left).

Body surface is brownish with several spots green, light blue and yellow colored mainly on the flanks. Trunk with a series of 11 pairs of black and square shaped paravertebral spots that may be very close to each other or fuse in the vertebral region. Each paravertebral spot has a yellow line on the posterior side. There is no vertebral line or dorsolateral bands.There are two notorious black and big scapular spots; postscapular is slightly larger than the prescapular. Both scapular spots are bordered by yellow and green scales. Limbs are light brown with several green and yellow scales. On the flanks there are brownish diffuse specks bordered with yellow, green and in a smaller number, light blue scales; these colored scales are irregularly distributed. Tail slightly light brown, plus several yellow, green and light blue scales.

Jaws are light colored. Throat, posterior part of the chest and belly show an irregular melanism. Cloaca, limbs, base of the tail ventrally light colored (cream ivory). On the cloaca and hindlimbs some scales and small black spots can be seen.

Variation (based on 20 pecimens). Figs. 12–14 .

Variation between males and females is shown in Table 2.

Snout-vent length 57.3–80.9 mm (X = 71.9; SD = 7.4). Head length 11.8–17.0 mm (X = 14.6; SD = 1.6), width 10.1–13.6 mm (X = 11.8; SD = 1.1). Interorbital distance 6.8–9.1 mm (X = 7.9; DS = 0.9). Humerus length 6.7–8.4 (X = 8.3; DS = 1.1). Radius length 7.0–8.6 (X = 7.9; DS= 0.7). Auditory meatus height 2.3–2.7 (X= 2.6; DS= 0.2), width 0.8–1.5 (X= 1.2; DS= 0.2). Axilla-groin distance 31.5–44.9 mm (X = 39.4; SD = 4.2). Femur length 10.5–15.5 (X= 13.6; DS= 2.0). Tibia length 9.7–15.6 (X= 12.8; DS= 2.0). Tail length 94.5–106.1 mm (X = 100.3 SD = 8.2). Midbody scales 61–70 (X =65.1; SD = 3.3). Dorsal scales, 72–80 (X = 76.6; SD = 2.9) between occiput and anterior surface of thighs. Dorsal head scales 13–17 (X = 15.1; SD =1.5). Ventrals 88–96 (X = 93.9; SD = 3.4). Scales around interparietal 6–9 (X = 7.1; SD = 1.1). Six to seven (X = 6.2; SD = 0.4) enlarged supraoculars. Nine to eleven (X =9.8; SD = 0.9) smooth temporals. Auricular, longitudinal and antehumeral fold present. Gulars 30–40 (X = 35.1; SD = 3.4). Supralabials 6–10 (X = 7.8; SD = 1.3). Infralabials 5–8 (X =6.3; SD = 0.9). Scales around nasals 6–8 (X = 7.2; SD = 0.8). Five to siX scales between rostral and frontal (X = 5.7 SD = 0.4). Seven to nine lorilabials (X = 7.9; SD = 0.6). Three to five lorilabials in contact with the subocular scale. Subdigital lamellae on fourth finger 17–21 (X = 18.2; SD =1.0); on fourth toe 24–28 (X = 26.5; SD = 1.6). Precloacal pores 6–10 in males (X= 7.4; SD=1.4), absent in females.

Notorious sexual dichromatism. Males with variable head color from greyish, brownish both pale and dark, even some individuals yellowish on the sides. Most of the individuals with white, yellowish end even green scales and specks in the occipital and temporal regions, also on the posterior section of supralabials and loreolabials. A straight dark line from the upper eyelids (superciliar region) to the occipital passing through the temporal region. Dorsal body color from pale brown to dark brown, in some juvenile males dorsum is brown-reddish to orange. No vertebral line. Paravertebral spots subsquare in shape, anteriorly with a dark brown or black line forming a V shape cut. In some cases, paravertebral spots merge forming transversal bands. The posterior side of each paravertebral spots presents a bulky pale speck (white or yellow). These specks may have two different shapes, a transversal line (in this case, it may reach the flanks) or divided in two subsquare or circular specks (in this case, they may merge with the contiguous paravertebral spot). There is a recurrent tiny speck previous to each paravertebral spot. Two individuals show fused or almost fused paravertebral spots as in the case of the holotype. In between paravertebral specks, it is common to observe some pale scales. No dorsolateral bands are present in this species. Antehumeral arc short and narrow in most of the specimens, while in others, it is absent. Pre and postscapular specks black, generally the postscapular is larger. Generally these scapular spots have a small pale spot anteriorly and a tiny one posteriorly. A few specimens do not have spots on the flanks, while others have the flanks covered by specks slightly smaller and paler than paravertebral spots. These spots contact to the scapular and the paravertebral spots. On the sides of the body, there are spots and scales of light blue, green, white or yellow. In some cases spots are so abundant that the background color is different from grey or brownish. Limbs vary from grey to brownish with pale and dark specks irregularly distributed. Paravertebral spots continue over the tail and merge to paler spots resembling rings. On the sides of the tail several light blue, green or yellow bright scales.

Ventrally adult males show a strong melanism in the gular region, that may extend to the pectoral and abdominal region. The outer ventral region is white, yellow or reddish. Tail is ventrally white or yellowish. Juveniles and small males present a reduced melanic ventral surface, suggesting that melanism grows with age.

In females, head is grey or brownish, turning paler on trunk. Scapular specks are paler than those present in males. Paravertebral spots are subsquared in shape with a discolored speck on the posterior part, which, as in males, may extend to the laterals and are partially split. On the anterior part of the paravertebral spot, there is a noticeable brown-reddish or brown-orange speck. Lateral spots, when present, resemble parevertebral spots. Tail shows the same pattern observed in males. Ventrally, females are inmaculate white.

Distribution. Fig. 5 . This species is only known for the type locality, nearby Sierra Colorada, Río Negro, Argentina.

Natural History: Liolaemus dumerili sp. nov is observed in a typical Monte region, in association with large bushes such as Larrea , Lycium and Schinus . The soil is compact and reddish. They bask in the bare soil but always close to the bushes or in sun-spots within the bushes, and when chased, they hide in bushes, remaining motionless, ocasionally hiding in burrows. Presumably this species is oviparous and omnivorous as other members of the clade.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the French naturalist and zoologist André Marie Constant Duméril (1774 - 1860). Professor Duméril, teached anatomy, herpetology and ichthiology at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle of Paris from 1801 to 1812. He published numerous and important papers, among which the remarkable Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des reptiles in which 1,393 species were described, detailing their anatomy, physiology and literature. Together with Gabriel Bibron, Duméril described seven new species of Liolaemus , among them L. cyanogaster , L. fitzingerii , L. multimaculatus , L. pictus , L. signifer , L. tenuis and L. wiegmannii .

Figures

FIGURE 5: Map showing the locations of the new species and species with which they were confused, of the provinces of Neuquen and Rio Negro, Argentina and Chile. Black circle: Liolaemus tromen sp. nov. Black triangle: Liolaemus purul sp. nov. Black square: Liolaemus dumerili sp. nov. White circle: Liolaemus melanops. White square: Liolaemus loboi. White triangle: Liolaemus boulengeri. White diamond: Liolaemus hermannunezi. Arrows show the type localities.

FIGURE 10: Liolaemus dumerili. Holotype. Sierra Colorada, on Provincial Route 212, km 23 route to Los Menucos, Black River, Argentina.

FIGURE 11: Liolaemus dumerili. Holotype. Ventral view.

FIGURE 12: Liolaemus dumerili. Paratype. adult male from type locality.

FIGURE 13: Liolaemus dumerili. Paratype. adult male from type locality. Ventral View.

FIGURE 14: Liolaemus dumerili. Paratype. adult female from type locality.