Alopoglossus romaleos (HARRIS, 1994)
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Alopoglossus romaleos
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| Higher Taxa | Alopoglossidae, Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Ptychoglossus romaleos HARRIS 1994: 259 Alopoglossus romaleos — HERNÁNDEZ-MORALES et al. 2020 |
| Distribution | Colombia (W Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta) Type locality: forest edge at 1800-2000 m elevation on the crest of Cuchilla Hierbabuena in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, four airline km SSE of San Pedro de la Sierra, Magdalena, Colombia. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: ICN-MHN = ICN 5639, adult male; other specimens: BMNH, ICN, UMMZ |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A stout-bodied Ptychoglossus in which the hindlimb reaches the insertion of the forelimb in either sex (13 dorsal scale length adpressed limb overlap). Most notably, it is distinguished from all other species of the genus by its wide pale vertebral stripe with a pair of lines diverging from it at the shoulder, by the blotchy black and gray ventral coloration, low number of femoral pores in males (0-3), and the mitten-shaped flap on the tip of the hemipenis which is slightly darker than the surrounding flounce and not covered with minute papillae. (Harris 1994) Description: Prefrontal scales meet along broad suture. Supraoculars three. Superciliaries five, in unbroken series. Temporals 14. Scales of first and second postpartie piercing Wider ed erior dinet d. anterior portion. Loreal short, broad, not contacting labials. Deep ocular recess contains a row of minute flat scales just below superciliaries. Upper palpebrals three, large, as deep as broad, with external edge extending over ciliary scales. Palpebral disk in lower eyelid dark gray, divided into 5-7 vertical sections, separated from suboculars by three rows of granules. Suboculars three, middle one greatly elongate. Ear deeply recessed, with an expanded cavity; anterior border of opening with two rows of 6-9 granules each, granules of outer row pendant, of inner row flat. Supralabials seven (6, 8). Large infralabials five. Posterior pair of chin shields separated medially by small scales. Pregular scales in a single row, including one enlarged pair. Gular crease contains granules. Transverse gular rows six (5-7), paramedian scales abruptly wider on the 3-4 rows anterior to collar. Collar fold well developed, contains granules. Guttural fold indented on sides of neck, but indiscernible medially. Collar scales nine (seven). Lateral scales on neck small, largest covering one-fourth area of nape scales. Dorsal and ventral scales of trunk separated on sides by a zone of small scales. Scales around midbody 37-39 (23-25 dorsal, two [three] lateral, 10 ventral). Transverse dorsal and ventral scale rows 30 and 19-21, respectively. Dorsal scales hexagonal, twice as long as wide, each with a blunt narrow keel, obtuse to 90° posterior point. Ventrals squarish, slightly wider than long next to midline, narrower toward sides; posterior corners rounded; imbricate to one-fourth of exposed scale length. Axillary granule zone extends about seven dorsal rows behind limb; seven dorsal scales separate left and right zones. Inguinal granule zone begins about six dorsal rows before limb. Marginal preanal series six; four large, with a small scale on each side; two large anterior preanals in both sexes. Scales of tail in uninterrupted rings, supracaudals and infracaudals similar to dorsals and ventrals of trunk. Scales smooth on forelimb, keeled on hindlimb. Pore-bearing scales entire; on each side, preanal pore one, femoral pores 0-3 at midthigh (males); pores absent in temales. Fourth digit of forelimb with nine (eight) superior and 15-18 inferior scales. Scales under pollex five, in series with three large free-edged thenar scales on palm (Fig. 23C). Scales under fifth metacarpal slightly enlarged. Scales along fourth digit of hindlimb above 11-13 and below 19-23, the latter paired, except under penultimate phalanx; proximal infradigital scales swollen, with large callused surfaces. Infradigital scales keratinized laterally if at all. Hemipenial flounces (Fig. 20) 10, large, semicircling; tip with small bulge on each side of sulcus spermaticus and large central flap. Central flap darker than surrounding flounces (possibly muscular?), generally triangular, with small lateral thumb-like projection; it curves toward sulcus and lacks minute papillae. Hemipenes were everted by fluid injection at time of preservation. Measurements of male (ICN 5639) and female (UMMZ 171655), respectively: SVL 51, 54; snout-axilla 21, 22; between limbs 24, 26; forelimb 16, 17; hindlimb 23, 24; snout-ear 10.8, 10.9; head width 7.7, 8.0; head depth 5.6, 5.5; orginal tail 95, (not available). Hindlimb reaches forelimb insertion, forelimb reaches to four ventral rows short of groin. Fourth finger extends farthest. Coloration: These are multicolored, strikingly patterned lizards. In preservative, a wide cream stripe begins on top of head (supraocular scales slightly darker) and extends to end of tail (Fig. 21); over forelimbs the stripe narrows into a vertebral stripe 3-4 scales wide; also over forelimbs, two narrow stripes gradually diverge from the median stripe and disappear on body. On tail, vertebral stripe becomes gray, with symmetrically zig-zagged borders. Tail with a row of ventrolateral light dots. Dorsal stripe edged with black, most vividly on head and neck. Sides rich bronze-brown; undersurfaces blotched black and gray with bronze cast in life. Regenerated part of tail tan above, gray below. In life, UMMZ 171654 had a greenish cream vertebral stripe that shaded toward bronzish cream on head and tail, edged with black; lateral surfaces deep chocolate brown; chin, throat and belly gray, speckled with black; underside of tail dark gray. The dorsal stripe of the holotype was golden (on head) to greenish (on tail) cream, edged with black; sides dark brown; venter deep pale bronze; gular area black-speckled gray; underside of tail gray-speckled black. ICN 5638 was bronze-brown with a dark cream dorsal stripe. The regrown tail of BMNH 1980-956 was tan. (Harris 1994) |
| Comment | Abundance: only known from its original description (Meiri et al. 2017). |
| Etymology | Named after the greek "romaleos" = strong bodied, referring to the robust, long-legged appearance, in comparison to the other species of Ptychoglossus. |
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