Liolaemus galactostictos AVILA, VRDOLJAK, MEDINA, MASSINI, FULVIO-PEREZ, SITES & MORANDO, 2021
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Liolaemus galactostictos
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus galactostictos AVILA, VRDOLJAK, MEDINA, MASSINI, FULVIO-PEREZ, SITES & MORANDO 2021 |
| Distribution | Argentina (La Rioja) Type locality: Pampa de Vinigeao, El Cienagondo, in front of Estancia Vinigeao, San Blas de los Sauces department, La Rioja province, Argentina (28o45’53,53”S, 67o08’00,94”W, 3427 m). |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. LJAMM-CNP 18124 (Fig. 4), an adult male collected by A. Leaché, 2 February 2018. Paratypes. MLP-S 2639 (ex-LJAMM CNP 18114), 2642 (ex-LJAMM CNP 18126), 2643 (ex-LJAMM CNP 18128), LJAMM CNP 18125/7 18128 (males, Fig. 5) and LJAMM CNP 18115–18121, MLP.S 2640/2641 (ex- LJAMM CNP 18122/18123) (females, Figs. 6, 7) from same locality as holotype. collected by same collector, 2 February 2018. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A moderate to large-bodied, elongate lizard belonging to the Liolaemus capillitas clade, that can be distinguished from all other members of that group (and all other Liolaemus) by having homogeneous black bodied coloration on dorsal and lateral sides of head, body, tail and limbs, with a well-marked white vertebral but irregular band between occiput to rump (Figures 4 and 6) and lack of white spotted shoulders. Liolaemus galactostictos sp. nov. differs from L. capillitas, L. dicktracyi, L. heliodermis, L. talampaya and L. umbrifer in having a shorter snoutvent length (max SVL 81.3 mm vs 93.1, 91.0, 91.4, 88.1 and 88.4 mm) but is slightly larger than L. tulkas (max SVL 76.8 mm). Liolaemus galactostictos sp. nov. also differs from L. capillitas by having higher average number of midbody scales (66.0 vs 62.0), dorsal scales (75.6 vs 64.8) and ventral scales (105.1 vs 99.9). Liolaemus galactostictos sp. nov. differs from L. dicktracyi in having more dorsal scales (average 75.6 vs 68.2) and lacks any indigo/light blue coloration. Liolaemus galactostictos has more and not-overlapping dorsal scales than L. heliodermis (70–79 vs 62–65) but less, and not-overlapping ventral scales (102–108 vs 109–116) and lacks any sulphur-yellow coloration in its body. Liolaemus galactostictos sp. nov. has more and not overlapping dorsal scales than L. talampaya (70–79 vs 64–69), has fewer number of precloacal pores (1–2 vs 3–5), and lacks any tan/light brown body coloration. Liolaemus galactostictos sp. nov. differs from L. tulkas in having a smaller average number of dorsal scales (66.0 vs 71.6) but higher number of ventral scales (75.6 vs 71.8) (Avila et la. 2021). |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The specific epithet galactostictos is derived from the combination of the greek words galacto (milk) and stiktos (spotted or dappled), in reference to the evident white mark along the vertebral region on the body. |
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