Alopoglossus meloi RIBEIRO-JÚNIOR, 2018
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Alopoglossus meloi?
Alopoglossus meloi
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| Higher Taxa | Alopoglossidae, Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Alopoglossus meloi RIBEIRO-JÚNIOR 2018 Alopoglossus angulatus — ÁVILA-PIRES 1995: 308 Alopoglossus meloi — HERNÁNDEZ-MORALES et al. 2020 |
| Distribution | Brazil (Pará) Type locality: Porto Trombetas, Aramã Plateau (1°52'25"S, 56°24'55"W), Terra Santa municipality, State of Pará, Brazil |
| Reproduction | oviparous (manual imputation, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: MPEG 24372 (Figs. 1, 2 in Ribeiro-Júnior 2018), an adult male, collected on 29 January 2007 by E. Pereira and team. Field number R138. Paratypes. Brazil: State of Amazonas: CZPB-RP 0027, adult female, collected on 22 September 2011 by A. Almeida, D. Oliveira, L. Frazão, S. Marques and T. Hrbek, at São José do Jatobá Village, Igarapé do Tabocal, eastern Jatapú River, São Sebastião do Uatumã (1°55'53"S, 58°15'21"W), field number CZPB-2940; MHNCI 13588, adult female, collected on June 2009 by F. Oliveira, at Saracá-Taquera National Forest, Oriximiná (1°44'11"S, 56°24'36"W); MPEG 29381, adult female, collected on 05 October 2009 by R. Ávila, at Marajatuba, Urucará (2°22'47"S, 57°38'42"W), field number M3 R74. State of Pará: MPEG 15348, MPEG 16201, adult female and young respectively, collected on 06 December and 11 December 1988 by M. Hoogmoed, T. Ávila Pires and R. Rocha, at Cruz Alta, 6 km south of Trombetas River, Oriximiná (1°30'56"S, 56°45'51"W), field number TCAP 1153 and TCAP 1213; MPEG 28271, adult male, collected on 29 June 2008 by R. Pinto and team, at Porto Trombetas, Saracá-Taquera National Forest, Saracá Plateau, Oriximiná (1°41'20"S, 56°29'35"W), field number R 212; MPEG 19880, adult male, collected on 10 October 2001 by U. Galatti and J. Bernardi, at Porto Trombetas, Saracá Mine, in a reforestation area, Oriximiná (1°40'41"S, 56°23'57"W), field number TROMBE 058; MPEG 24373, adult female, collected on 05 February 2007 by E. Pereira and team, at Porto Trombetas, Greig Plateau, Terra Santa (1°50'39"S, 56°31'42"W), field number R 201. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Alopoglossus meloi sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species in the genus Alopoglossus by the combination of the following characters: (1) scales on sides of neck keeled, imbricate (at least posterior ones phylloid); (2) four pairs of chin shields (well-developed fourth pair); (3) third pair of chin shields irregularly trapezoidal (heptagonal), separated from gulars by large scales; (4) scales on sides of neck in 6–8 transverse rows; (5) gulars smaller, but similar in shape to dorsals, pointed, imbricate, phylloid (except the first transverse row is smooth, almost rounded); (5) keeled temporal scales; (6) ventrals smooth to feebly keeled, mucronate and imbricate, with posterior margin bluntly pointed; (7) total number of femoral pores 20–23 in males. |
| Comment | Distribution: see map in RIBEIRO-JÚNIOR 2018: 33 (Fig. 5). Habitat: leaf litter, predominantly in a more open, dry forest, compared with typical Amazonian dense forest. MHNCI 13588 and 13950 were collected in lowland dense forest, near water. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case honoring André Renato de Melo Teixeira, for his great contribution motivating and supporting the present study. I have a special debt of gratitude for his help, tenderness, and encouragement. |
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