Scriptosaura catimbau RODRIGUES & MARANHÃO DOS SANTOS, 2008
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Scriptosaura catimbau
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| Higher Taxa | Gymnophthalmidae (Gymnophthalminae), Gymnophthalmini, Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Scriptosaura catimbau RODRIGUES & MARANHÃO DOS SANTOS 2008 |
| Distribution | NE Brazil (Pernambuco) Type locality: Fazenda Porto Seguro (08°29’13’’S, 37°16’52’’W), municipality of Buíque, Parque Nacional do Catimbau: State of Pernambuco: Brazil. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MZUSP 98059, an adult male, collected on 7th March 2008 by Miguel T. Rodrigues and Ednilza Maranhão dos Santos. Paratypes: MZUSP. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A small elongate gymnophthalmid (maximum SVL 53 mm) with a prominent snout and body slightly longer than tail. Forelimbs absent, hindlimbs rudimentary, styliform, ending in a small apical scale. Ear opening and eyelid absent. Frontonasal single, contacting parietal; prefrontals, frontal, frontoparietals, supraoculars, and loreal absent. Parietals longer than wide. Nostril in the center of nasal. Two supraciliaries, the anterior one larger, diagonally disposed, contacting subocular. Collar fold absent. One pair of chin shields. Dorsal scales cycloid, smooth anteriorly, posteriorly hexagonal, keeled, in 39–41 regular transverse series; lateral scales enlarged, smooth. Ventral scales smooth, in 32–34 transverse rows and four regular longitudinal series, the external ones wider; 15–19 scales around body. Males with four preanal pores, absent in females. |
| Comment | Type Species: Scriptosaura catimbau RODRIGUES & MARANHÃO DOS SANTOS 2008 is the type species of the genus Scriptosaura RODRIGUES & MARANHÃO DOS SANTOS 2008. Definition of genus: An elongate and short tailed gymnophthalmid lacking an ear opening and eyelid. Forelimbs absent, hindlimbs rudimentary, styliform, ending in a short apical scale; nail absent. Frontonasal single; prefrontals, frontal, frontoparietals, supraoculars, and loreal absent. Parietals longer than wide, contacting frontal. Nostril in the center of nasal. Collar fold absent. One pair of chin shields. Dorsal scales cycloid anteriorly, posteriorly smooth, hexagonal, keeled and slightly mucronate, in regular transverse series; lateral scales enlarged, smooth. Ventral scales smooth, in four regular transverse series, the external ones wider. Males with four preanal pores, absent in females. Limb morphology: Limbless. |
| Etymology | The species name is a noun in apposition, in reference to the type locality, Parque Nacional do Catimbau. Etymology (genus): From the Latin “scriptor” = writer, and “saura” = lizard in reference to the sand tracks left by this sand swimming species. The tracks are in the origin of its popular name (escrivão = public writer) which is also attributed to other similar sand swimming lizards like those of the related genera Calyptommatus and Nothobachia. |
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