Dinarolacerta montenegrina, Ljubisavljević, Katarina, Arribas, Oscar, Ukić, Georg D Ž & Carranza, Salvador, 2007

Ljubisavljević, Katarina, Arribas, Oscar, Ukić, Georg D Ž & Carranza, Salvador, 2007, Genetic and morphological differentiation of Mosor rock lizards, Dinarolacerta mosorensis (Kolombatović, 1886), with the description of a new species from the Prokletije Mountain Massif (Montenegro) (Squamata: Lacertidae), Zootaxa 1613, pp. 1-22 : 11-15

Dinarolacerta montenegrina sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–8 )

Holotype. G 21594, adult male ( Fig. 6 ). Ɖebeza mt., Prokletije Mountain Massif, Montenegro, 1600 m, 42° 37’ N, 19°33’ E, collected by G. Dżukić, M.L. Kalezić. Preserved in 70 % ethanol and deposited in the herpetological collection of the Institute for Biological Research, Belgrade, Serbia (http://www.ibiss.bg.ac.yu/ english/indexeng.htm).

Paratypes. Six males and three females from Ɖebeza mt., Prokletije Mountain Massif (Dż18709, Dż18711, 31. 5. 1996; leg: G. Dżukić, M. Kalezić, I. Aleksić, A. Ɖorović; Dż18710, G20701, G 20702, 2.6.1996, leg: G. Dżukić, M. Kalezić, I. Aleksić, A. Ɖorović; G21592, G21593, G21595, G21596, 3.6.2005, leg. G. Dżukić, M. Kalezić). All specimens are preserved in 70 % ethanol (specimen Dż18710 cleared and stained and preserved in glycerine) and deposited in the herpetological collection of the Institute for Biological Research, Belgrade, Serbia, except G20701, which is in Oscar Arribas’ herpetological collection ( Fig. 8 ).

Etymology. The species name is feminine adjective and is derived from the Venetian name of the state Crna Gora ( Montenegro), where the type locality is situated.

Diagnosis. A small lacertid, especially characterized by the following combination of characters: small trunk, relatively short, narrow and flat head, small fore and hindlimbs in comparison to Dinarolacerta mosorensis . Usually one postnasal scale on either side or on one side only (70%). This contrasts with the situation in D. mosorensis , where two postnasals on either side are most frequent (60 – 88%). Lower number of temporal, postocular and higher number of ventral scales in comparison to D. mosorensis . Dorsal pattern of medium sized spots arranged in vertebral and two narrow juxtaposed paravertebral bands, or a broad vertebral band. Osteologically, it is differentiated from D. mosorensis by the complete absence of the anteromedial process in the postocular bone, reduced supraocular osteoderms (3rd and 4th supraocularia). From a phylogenetic point of view, it forms an independent monophyletic group sister to D. mosorensis , from which it differs in 4.1% of the positions of the mitochondrial gene 12S rRNA sequenced for this study. The genetic distinctiveness of D. montenegrina sp. nov. has also been previously reported by Carranza et al. (2004) and Arnold et al. (2007).

Description of the holotype. Biometry: Adult male; size 57.62 mm L.cor.; tail length 93.38 mm, regenerated; head length 14.12 mm; head width 9.37 mm; head height 6.10 mm; pileus length 13.29 mm; pileus width 6.0 mm; forelimb length 18.78 (right) and 19.10 (left) mm; hindlimb length 31.15 (right) and 30.70 (left) mm; fourth toe on hindlimb length 10.20 (right) and 10.00 (left) mm.

Scalation: Number of supraciliars 6 (both sides); supraciliary granules 8 (both sides) one granula separated from the rest (right) and complete row (left); postoculars 3 (both sides); temporals 28 (right) 25 (left); supratemporals 2 (both sides); postnasals 1 (both sides); first loreals 1 (both sides); second loreals 1 (both sides); preoculars 2 (right) and 1 (left); supralabials anterior to subocular 4 (right) 5 by vertical splitting of scales (left); sublabials 6 (both sides); submaxilars 6 (both sides); gularia 21; collaria 8; ventralia 26 (both inner rows); dorsalia 39; praeanal plates 8; femoral pores 17 (right) 19 (left); femoralia 4 (both hindlegs); subdigital lamellae 24 (both hindlegs). Rostral in full contact with internasal. Supranasal in contact with first loreal. Masseteric plate single and distinct (both sides). Absence of an additional scale between the first postocular and the last supraocular (both sides). Dorsal pattern: banded pattern, spots of medium size arranged in irregular paravertebral bands, areas of background color free of dark pattern broad, lateral bands distinct (reticulated). Coloration in life not recorded. In alcohol, dorsal color olive-grey; underside unspotted, grey with light dots (probably blue in life) on the outermost plates of the venter.

Intraspecific variability. Biometry: The species is described on the basis of seven adult males and three adult females. Adult size 51.5–59.7 mm L.cor (males), 53.1–63.8 (females). A maximum total length of 180 mm could be recorded in only one specimen with intact tail. The mean values for other characters are given separately for males and females: head length 14.6 and 12.5 mm; head width 9.0 and 8.1 mm; head height 5.9 and 5.2 mm; pileus length 13.4 and 11.8 mm; pileus width 5.9 and 5.5 mm; forelimb length 19.2 and 16.8 mm; hindlimb length 30.7 and 25.7 mm; fourth toe on hindlimb length 9.9 and 8.3 mm.

Scalation: 6 supraciliars (6/ 7 in 20%), 4–12 supraciliary granules usually on complete rows on either side (60%), rarely on incomplete rows on one (20%) or both sides (20%); 3 postoculars most frequently (4/ 4 in 20%, 2/ 3 in 10%); 25–54 temporals; 2/3 or 2/2 supratemporals (3/ 3 in 10%); usually 1/1 or 1/2 postnasals (2/ 2 in 30%); 1 first loreal; 1 second loreal; 1 preocular (1/ 2 in 20%); usually more than four supralabials anterior to subocular (5/5 40 %, 5/4 20 %, 5/7 10 %, 4/ 4 in 30%) mainly formed by vertical splitting of plates (75%); mostly 6 sublabials (5/6 10 %, 6/7 30 %, 7/7 10 %); 6 submaxilars (6/ 7 in 10%); 21-(25)-28 gularia; 7- (8)-10 collaria; 28-(28)-29 ventralia in females, 23-(26)- 28 in males; 35-(39)-43 dorsalia; 6-(7)-8 praeanalia; 15- (17)-22 femoral pores in males, 14-(16)- 18 in females; 3-(4)-5 femoralia; 23-(24)-26 subdigital lamellae in males, 21-(22)- 24 in females. Rostral in full contact with internasal, and supranasal in contact with first loreal in all specimens. Masseteric plate usually single and distinct in both sides (divided on one side in 20%). Absence of additional scales between the first postocular and the last supraocular (both sides) in all specimens. Dorsal pattern of medium sized (100%) spots arranged in a vertebral or two juxtaposed paravertebral bands coupled with broad areas of background color free of dark pattern (67%) in females, or of medium size (57%) or large (43%) spots arranged in a broad vertebral band (57%) coupled with broad or narrow areas of background color free of dark pattern (61%) in males. In all specimens lateral bands are distinct, formed by reticulated dark spots. Coloration in life was not recorded in any specimen. In alcohol dorsal color grey or olive-grey; underside unspotted grey with light dots (probably blue in life) on the outermost plates of the venter.

Comparative notes. Significantly different traits between pooled samples of D. mosorensis and D. montenegrina sp. nov. The sex is given in parenthesis.

Quantitative traits: D. montenegrina sp. nov. has lower values for all measured morphometric variables in both sexes, lower number of postocular (m,f), temporal (f) and postnasal scales (m) ( Fig. 8 ) and greater number of ventral (m,f) and subdigital scales (m).

Qualitative traits: D. montenegrina sp. nov. has a dorsal pattern of banded type (m) consisting of medium spots (f) with distinct areas of background color free of dark pattern (m) and distinct lateral bands (m).

Distribution. To date, the species is only known from the type locality in the Prokletije Mountain Massif ( Fig. 7 ). However, the recently discovered specimens of Mosor rock lizards from the Albanian side of the Prokletije Mountain Massif, some 25 km southwards (aerial distance) from the Ɖebeza locality ( Petrov, 2006), may in fact belong to D. montenegrina sp. nov. Considering the biogeographical affinities of the Prokletije Mountain Massif, the species could also occur in other places with suitable habitats within the Dinarides (see Dżukić et al. 1997).

Habitat and ecology. In the type locality, D. montenegrina sp. nov. was found under the southwestern cliffs of the Ɖebeza mt., at 1600 m a.s.l., at debris fans of Bukumir cirque, near the Bukumir Lake. It also occurs in the northeastern slopes of this mountain, towards the Mokrog cirque, where it has been found in dense populations on cliffs and blocks of rocks above 1550 m a.s.l.. Ɖebeza is a relatively high mountain (1755 m) with a sharp crest that separates the watershed of the Danubian and Black Sea confluences ( Cvijić, 1913). The population in north-western Albania (see above) inhabits the southern slopes of the Bridash Mts. in a belt at 1800 – 1900 m a.s.l. In the type locality, D. montenegrina sp. nov. occurs in open wood of Heldreich’s pine (plant community Pinetum heldreichii bertiscum with Mediterranean floristic or florogenetic elements). Up to 1660 m D. montenegrina sp. nov. shares the habitat with the wall lizard Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) . Apart from observations that some females were gravid on the 1st of June (which might indicate that mating could start in May) (Dżukić et al. 1997), nothing else is known from its life history traits.

Suggested common names. The following common names are suggested for Dinarolacerta montenegrina sp. nov.

Serbian: Prokletijski gušter.

English: Prokletije rock lizard.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Dorsal photograph of the holotype of Dinarolacerta montenegrina sp. nov. (G 21594), an adult male, from Debeza mt., Prokletije Mountain Massif, Montenegro.

FIGURE 7. Photograph of the type locality of Dinarolacerta montenegrina sp. nov. Debeza mt. of Prokletije mountain massif, above the Bukumirsko Lake in Montenegro.

FIGURE 8. Drawing of the head of the female Paratype (G 20701) of Dinarolacerta montenegrina sp. nov. (Original drawing by Oscar Arribas).