Stenocercus boettgeri Boulenger, 1911

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 91-92

Stenocercus boettgeri Boulenger ( Fig. 7 )

Stenocercus boettgeri Boulenger, 1911:22 . Syntypes: BM 1911.12.13.25–32 ( RR 1946.8.11.92–99 )from‘‘ Huancabamba ,Peru̕̕ (restricted to Huancabamba [10 ° 20'60"S, 75 ° 31'60"W, 2686 m], Departamento Pasco, Peru, by Cadle [1991]); Burt and Burt, 1930:22; Burt and Burt, 1931:287; Burt and Burt, 1933:42; Peters, 1967:34; Etheridge, in Peters and Donoso-Barros, 1970:255; Fritts, 1974:39.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus boettgeri is distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. haenschi , S. humeralis , and S. varius by having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, enlarged vertebrals, three caudal whorls per autotomic segment, a medially complete antegular fold, non-spinose caudals, and by males lacking a black transverse band on the ventral surface of neck. S. boettgeri has more scales around midbody (79–104, X = 88.61) than S. haenschi (57–64, X = 60.50) and S. varius (74–88, X = 82.35). Both males and females of S. boettgeri are larger (maximum SVL = 108 and 94 mm, respectively) than S. varius (maximum SVL = 85 in both sexes). S. boettgeri is distinguished from S. humeralis (character states in parentheses) by having lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals (lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size), 79–104 (X = 88.61) scales around midbody (98–125, X = 110.05), and 64–93 (X = 76.86) vertebrals (81–112, X = 92.21).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 108 mm (n = 20); (2) maximum SVL in females 94 mm (n = 15); (3) vertebrals 64–93; (4) paravertebrals 93–123; (5) scales around midbody 79–104; (6) supraoculars 5–7; (7) internasals 2–6; (8) postrostrals 4–6; (9) loreals 2–5; (10) gulars 41–62; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 22–30; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 27–34; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges; (14) postfemoral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges; (15) parietal eye visible through interparietal cornea in 5% of specimens; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, smooth, juxtaposed; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region absent; (19) scales on frontonasal region juxtaposed; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antegular (continuous medially), antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, oblique, and postauricular neck folds present; (22) lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals; (23) posterior gulars cycloid, smooth, slightly imbricate, not notched; (24) lateral scales reduced in size, approximately half the size of dorsal body scales; (25) vertebrals larger than adjacent paravertebrals; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals smooth, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs granular; (29) inguinal granular pocket present; (30) inguinal groove present; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 55–67% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment three; (35) caudals not spinose; (36) dark brown stripe extending anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (37) dark patch extensively covering gular region in 13% of adult females; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region of adult males absent; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in adult males absent; (40) dark midventral longitudinal mark such as faint line, conspicuous stripe, or extensive patch in adult males absent; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent; (42) postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs not in contact midventrally, Patterns 1B, 2C, and 4B.

Color in life.—Dorsum black with yellow flecks or grayish brown with yellow and black spots; black vertical bar on shoulder delimited by irregular yellow line posteriorly in males; dorsal head scales with black borders; venter slightly pink (based on Fritts [1974] and a photograph taken by M. Lundberg.)

Natural History.—The microhabitat occupied by S. boettgeri usually consists of large piles and walls made of dark rocks partially covered with yellow lichens, which suggests that this species mimics the color of the substrate; S. boettgeri seeks refuge in rock crevices, where it wedges its body tightly after inflating its lungs ( Fritts, 1974).

Distribution.— Stenocercus boettgeri is known from the central Andes in the eastern Cordillera in Peru (12 ° S–10 ° S). This species occurs in the upper valleys of Río Perene at elevations between 2900–3250 m in Departamentos Huánuco, Junín, and Pasco ( Fig. 12 ). S. boettgeri is sympatric with S. formosus , S. scapularis , and S. torquatus at María Teresa, 10 ° 42'05"S, 75 ° 27'22"W, 1470 m, Departamento Pasco ( Torres-Carvajal et al., 2005). This species has been erroneously reported for northern Peru ( Fritts, 1974) and Ecuador (Etheridge, in Peters and Donoso-Barros, 1970; Peters, 1967).

Figures

FIG. 7.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. angel (LAC); (B) S. angulifer (FAY); (C) S. apurimacus (WED); (D) S. azureus (SCA); (E) S. boettgeri (MLU); (F) S. boliƲarensis (FCA); (G) S. caducus (LSI); (H) S. chlorostictus (MLU).

FIG. 12.—Distribution of six species of Stenocercus in Peru. Black triangle pointed by arrow corresponds to María Teresa (10°42'05"S, 75°27'22"W, 1470 m, Departamento Pasco), where Stenocercus boettgeri, S. formosus, S. scapularis, and S. torquatus occur in sympatry.