Japalura yulongensis, Manthey & Wolfgang & Hou & Wang, 2012

Manthey, U., Wolfgang, D., Hou, M. & Wang, X., 2012, Discovered in historical collections: Two new Japalura species (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) from Yulong Snow Mountains, Lijiang Prefecture, Yunnan, PR China, Zootaxa 3200 (1664), pp. 27-48 : 34-37

Japalura yulongensis spec. nov.

( Figs. 4–6)

Holotype. ZMB 76395 (formerly ZMB 28932 part (adult male), Ulukay Village *, eastern slopes of the Yulong Snow Mountains, near Lijiang (ca. 26°53’N, 100°11’E,> 2500 m asl.), northwestern Yunnan, PR China, collected by Camillo Schneider some time between July and October 1914.

Paratypes. ZMB 76396–76399 (formerly ZMB 28932 part), adult males , ZMB 76400, 76401 (formerly ZMB 28932 part), adult females, same collection data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Medium sized Japalura species differing from all other species of this genus by the following combination of characters: SVL up to 60 mm, ratio TL/SVL 223–230%, 35–42 MD, tympanum covered with scales, transverse gular fold present, males with a dark gular spot.

Description of the holotype. SVL 60 mm, TL/SVL 225%, FLL/SVL 43%, HLL/SVL 72%, HW/SVL 21%, SL 8/9, IL 10/10, MD 42, T4S 21/21. Body shape in cross section slightly dorsoventrally compressed (Remark: Some specimens of the type series are dorsoventrally compressed, others are laterally compressed, most probably this is a result of inappropriate transport container); nuchal and dorsal crest a serrated ridge. Rectangular rostral approx. 3.5 times broader than high in contact with nine scales including SL; nasal scale separated from rostral by two scales and by one or two scales from the first supralabial scale; four rows of scales between orbit and supralabials; a group of enlarged, strongly keeled scales at the posterior edge of the orbit; tympanum covered with scales; one conical scale above the tympanum adjacent to the enlarged scales; superciliary scales widely overlapping; head dorsally covered with heterogeneous strongly keeled scales, scales on the underside of the head differing in size, largest in the gular region, all mucronate ( Fig. 6 C); transverse gular fold present, covered with small scales, no visible gular pouch; ventral scales keeled, minimally smaller than largest gular scales; some scales with hair-like sense organs; dorsal scales in shape and size heterogeneous; keeled enlarged dorsals contacting each other or separated by smaller scales, forming a row parallel to the MD; one side of the body with a further dorsolaterally arranged row of enlarged scales; additional irregularly distributed enlarged scales on the flanks. Limbs with keeled scales, upper side in size heterogeneous, underside scales nearly homogeneous.

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* see remarks under J. brevicauda spec. nov.

Colour in alcohol. Dorsally brownish, ventrally lighter coloured; three cross bands between the eyes, a dark band stretching from the posterior edge of the orbit to the angle of the mouth; underside of the head with a dark stripe pattern, gular region with a large dark spot; nape and dorsum until the base of the tail with light cross bands differing in shape and size; a light dorsolateral band, dark brown flanks with numerous lighter spots; limbs dorsally with dark bands.

Variation ( Figs. 5 & 6). Apart from the morphometric and meristic variations compiled in Tables 1 & 2 the following differences with respect to the holotype exist within the paratype series: nasal scale separated from the rostral by one or two scales; in most cases two conical scales are present on the occipital region; tips of mucronate scales on the underside of the head are typically significantly shorter; dark cross bands on the upper head not always present; dorsal colouration of one female ( ZMB 76400) consists of a mixture of different brown colour shades without forming a pattern, the other female ( ZMB 76401) has a light brown dorsal colouration from the nape to the base of the tail; in females the dark gular spot is missing but a dark stripe pattern on the underside of the head is always present; on females as well as on males dark stripes on the sides of the head may be present or absent. On a young male specimen ( ZMB 76399) the light dorsolateral stripes as well as the lights spots on the flanks are missing and the dark gular spot is significantly smaller .

Condition of the type series. All type specimens have suffered damage at different degrees during transport and their long storage times; this is particularly true where markings, patterns and damaged body parts are concerned.

Distribution ( Fig. 12). Only known from the type locality, Yulong Snow Mountains in the vicinity of Lijiang, Yunnan, PR China

Etymology. The name is derived from the type locality Yulong Snow Mountains, PR China