Euspondylus excelsum CHÁVEZ, CATENAZZI & VENEGAS, 2017
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Euspondylus excelsum
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| Higher Taxa | Gymnophthalmidae (Cercosaurinae), Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Euspondylus excelsum CHÁVEZ, CATENAZZI & VENEGAS 2017 |
| Distribution | Peru (Huánuco) Type locality: Quebrada Tambo (-9.70483° Lat, -75.81383° Long, WGS 84, 1147 m above sea level): Huánuco Province, Huánuco Department, Peru |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: CORBIDI 16457, adult male (Figs. 1–2); collected by Lesly Luján on 15 October 2015. Paratopotype. CORBIDI 16450 subadult female; collected by Lesly Luján on 12 October 2015. Paratypes. (Figs. 3–4) Two males, five females and three juveniles, all from Huánuco Department, Peru. CORBIDI 14666, adult male, from Zaria, Pachitea Province (-9.68905° Lat, -75.84300° Long, WGS 84, 1023 m above sea level); collected by Vilma Durán on 16 July 2014. CORBIDI 15573, adult female, from Campamento La garganta de la Bella, Tingo Maria National Park, Leoncio Prado Province (-9.33841° Lat, -76.00206° Long, WGS 84, 1095 m above sea level); collected by Diego Vásquez and Germán Chávez on 21 November 2014. CORBIDI 16396, female, from Zaria, Huanuco Province (-9.71467° Lat; -75.81592° Long, WGS 84, 1157 m above sea level); collected by Diego Vásquez on 7 September 2015. CORBIDI 16459, juvenile female from Santa Elena, Pachitea Province (-9.73027° Lat, 75.80503° Long, WGS 84, 1144 m above sea level); collected by Lesly Luján on 18 October 2015. CORBIDI 16463, adult female from Shincay, Huanuco Province (-9.72563° Lat, -75.81497° Long, WGS 84, 1149 m.a.s.l); collected by Lesly Luján on 27 October 2015. CORBIDI 16464, adult female from Zaria, Huanuco Province (-9.71830° Lat; -75.81575° LongWGS 84, 1159 m above sea level); collected by Lesly Luján on 28 October 2015. CORBIDI 16465 adult male, 16466 adult female, 16467-68 juveniles, from Zaria, Huanuco province (-9.71897° Lat, 75.8144° Long, WGS 84 1137 m above sea level); collected by Lesly Luján on 5 November 2015. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: The new species can be identified by the following combination of characters: 1) body robust, moderate size, maximum SVL 83.7 mm in males, 81.4 mm in females; 2) head flat, elongated, about 1.6–1.9 times longer than wide; 3) ear openings distinct, slightly recessed; 6) nasals separated by frontonasal; frontonasal undivided; 7) prefrontals, frontal, frontoparietals, parietals, postparietals and interparietal present; 8) parietals longer than wide; 9) supraoculars four, anteriormost fused with anteriormost superciliar; 10) superciliar series complete, five, occasionally four; 11) uncomplete suture from narina to posterodorsal suture of nasal present; 12) loreal in large contact with second supralabial; 13) supralabials six; infralabials five; 14) genials in three pairs, first and second pair always in contact, third pair usually in contact; 15) collar fold present; 16) dorsals in 32–34 rows in both sexes, rectangular, about three times longer than wide, striated, subimbricate; 17) ventrals in 21–23 rows in both sexes, quadrangular, smooth, juxtaposed; 18) scales around mid-body 40–42; 19) lateral scales at mid-body reduced in 6–9 lines; 20) limbs pentadactyl, all digits clawed, forelimb reaching anteriorly to sixth supralabial; 21) subdigital lamellae under finger IV 15–18, under toe IV 20–24; 22) femoral pores in males 10–12, in females 4–7, four scales between femoral pores; 23) preanal plate scales seven; 24) tail up to 2.5 times longer than body; 25) caudals subimbricate, striated dorsally, smooth ventrally; 26) lower palpebral disc transparent, divided in four sections; 27) coloration in life golden-brown with scattered black spots or blotches on head and dorsum, with a black stripe running from the nasal plate to supratympanic temporals, only interrupted by the eye; dorsum with dorsolateral dark-bordered stripes, red-orange in males, brown in females; males with 7–14 pairs of lateral ocelli, from anterior part of the insertion of forelimbs to posterior part of the insertion of hindlimbs; limbs golden-brown; dorsal scales of tail golden-brown with pale flecks arranged dorsolaterally; venter, ventral surfaces of limbs and tail creamy white with black spots; iris copper-red. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The specific epithet “excelsum” is from Latin and means “tall”, in reference to the habitat of the new species in the canopy of the tropical rainforest. |
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