Liolaemus fiambala RUIZ, QUIPILDOR, DECIMA, VALDECANTOS & LOBO, 2025
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Liolaemus fiambala
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus fiambala RUIZ, QUIPILDOR, DECIMA, VALDECANTOS & LOBO 2025: 7 |
| Distribution | Argentina (Catamarca) Type locality: Between Tatón and Rio Grande (27°15'42'S, 67°24'41'W, 3251 m), Tinogasta Departament, Catamarca Province, Argentina |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. IBIGEO 5997 (Adult male), Hibbard T., Quipildor M., Ruiz S., Ruiz Monachesi M. cols. December 11, 2018. Paratypes. IBIGEO 6000-6001; 6003-6005; 6007-6009 (Adult male), 5998-5999; 6002 (Adult female), 6006; 6010-6012 (Juvenile): Between Tatón and Rio Grande (27°15'42"S, 67°24'41'W, 3251 m), Tinogasta Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Hibbard T., Quipildor M., Ruiz S., Ruiz Monachesi M. cols. December 11, 2018. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Liolaemus fiambala sp. nov. is a medium sized (max. SVL 72.3mm) member of the Liolaemus elongatus species group (sensu Avila et al., 2021; Troncoso-Palacios & Ramırez-Alvarez, 2021; this study). L. fiambala sp. nov. belongs to the L. capillitas subclade (L. capillitas, L. dicktracyi, L. heliodermis, L. umbrifer, L. talampaya and L. tulkas) because it has reddish colouration in the cloaca area and white spots in the neck region, although this last character is not very conspicuous (synapomorphies of the group sensu Lobo, 2005). Liolaemus fiambala sp. nov. is distributed in the vicinity of L. capillitas, L. dicktracyi, L. galactostictos, L. heliodermis, L. parvus, L. tulkas and L. umbrifer. It differs from other species of the Liolaemus elongatus group in the number of scales around midbody, being in L. fiambala sp. nov. (56–67) lower than L. antumalguen (72–82), L. austromendocinus (76–82), L. buergeri (85–110), L. carlosgarini (86–95), L. ceii (102–115), L. choique (74–88), L. crandalli (77–92), L. flavipiceus (73–81), L. kriegi (85–110), L. petrophilus (71–95), L. pikunches (82–90), L. riodamas (80–93), L. scorialis (76–90), L. smaug (73–80), L. thermarum (84– 89), L. tregenzai (71–85), and L. zabalai (90–704). The number of precloacal pores in males of L. fiambala sp. nov. (3–4) is higher than in L. galactostictos (1–2) and L. tulkas (0–1). Also, males of L. carlosgarini, L. flavipiceus, L. lonquimayensis, L. punmahuida, L. quinterosi, L. riodamas, L. thermarum and L. tregenzai lack precloacal pores. Moreover, specimens of L. fiambala sp. nov. (max. SVL 1⁄4 72.3 mm) are smaller than specimens of L. antonietae (max. SVL 1⁄4 77.6mm), L. antumalguen (max. SVL 1⁄4 107.8mm), L. burmeisteri (max. SVL 1⁄4 85.2mm), L. crandalli (max. SVL 1⁄4 93.4mm), L. gununakuna (max SVL 1⁄4 97.5mm), L. quinterosi (max. SVL 1⁄4 88.0mm), L. tregenzai (max. SVL 1⁄4 90.2mm), and L. zabalai (max. SVL 1⁄4 90.3mm), but bigger than specimens of L. carlosgarini (max. SVL 1⁄4 68.8mm), L. janequeoae (max. SVL 1⁄4 69.6mm), L. lonquimayensis (max SVL 1⁄4 69.7mm), L. scorialis (max. SVL 1⁄4 69.9mm), and L. smaug (max. SVL 1⁄4 71.3 mm). Number of scales that contact the second infralabial in Liolaemus fiambala sp. nov. (4–5) is higher than in L. tulkas (2–3). Number of upper ciliary scales in L. fiambala (13–16) is higher than in L. tulkas (11). Number of neck scales in L. fiambala sp. nov. (30–40) is lower than in L. tulkas (49–58). Number of scales from posterior margin of auditory meatus to antehumeral fold in L. fiambala sp. nov. (23–30) is lower than in L. tulkas (31–40). Number of ventrals in L. fiambala sp. nov. (92–111) is lower than in L. choique (118–134), L. crandalli (125–139), L. janequeoae (124–132), L. pikunche (119–127), L. scorialis (115–131), L. shitan (120–132), L. smaug (119–131) and L. zabalai (116– 122). Surface of temporal scales is slightly keeled in L. fiambala sp. nov., differing from L. tulkas and L. carlosgarini where temporal scales are smooth. Scales of dorsum in L. fiambala sp. nov. are rhomboidal to rounded, distinguishing it from L. antonietae, L. antumalguen, L. elongatus, L. punmahuida, L. scorialis and L. umbrifer (lanceolate dorsal scales). Dorsal scales in L. fiambala sp. nov. show a strong keel, differing from L. carlosgarini, L. janequeoae, L. riodamas and L. tregenzai (dorsals with only a slight median keel) and L. parvus (dorsals with only a slight keel to smooth). Dorsal scales in L. fiambala sp. nov. do not present mucron, differing from L. shitan, L. smaug (dorsals mucronated), L. antumalguen, L. austromendocinus, L. burmeisteri, L. elongatus, L. flavipiceus, L. kriegi, L. parvus, L. petrophilus, L. punmahuida, L. quinterosi and L. talampaya (dorsals slightly mucronated), L. dicktracyi and L. gununakuna (dorsals slightly mucronated to mucronated). Sexual dichromatism evident in L. fiambala sp. nov., differing from L. antonietae, L. antumalguen, L. austromendocinus, L. buergeri, L. burmeisteri, L. carlosgarini, L. capillitas, L. ceii, L. choique, L. crandalli, L. dicktracyi, L. elongatus, L. galactostictos, L. gununakuna, L. janequeoae, L. kriegi, L. lonquimayensis, L. parvus, L. petrophilus, L. punmahuida, L. riodamas, L. talampaya, L. thermarum and L. tulkas (sexual dichromatism absent). Males of Liolaemus fiambala sp. nov. (SVL 1⁄4 60.3– 69.5mm) are smaller than males of L. antumalguen (SVL 1⁄4 86.6–107.8mm), L. austromendocinus (SVL 1⁄4 79.0–98.0 mm), L. buergeri (SVL 1⁄4 75.0–108.0 mm), L. burmeisteri (SVL 1⁄4 77.8–85.2mm), L. capillitas (SVL 1⁄4 69.7–79.3mm), L. gununakuna (SVL 1⁄4 87.4– 94.1 mm), L. heliodermis (SVL 1⁄4 78.5–96.8 mm), L. punmahuida (SVL 1⁄4 85.7–88.4 mm), L. talampaya (SVL 1⁄4 78.0–85.5mm), L. tregenzai (SVL 1⁄4 75.7– 90.2 mm) and L. umbrifer (SVL 1⁄4 82.6–90.9 mm). Females of L. fiambala (SVL 1⁄4 60.2–72.3mm) are smaller than females of L. antumalguen (SVL 1⁄4 84.0– 101.6 mm), L. austromendocinus (SVL 1⁄4 79.0– 95.0 mm), L. choique (SVL 1⁄4 116.2 mm), L. heliodermis (SVL 1⁄4 76.6–84.1mm), L. punmahuida (SVL 1⁄4 81.0–91.8 mm), L. riodamas (SVL 1⁄4 78.7–85.5 mm), and L. umbrifer (SVL 1⁄4 80.6–88.7 mm). Head length in males of L. fiambala sp. nov. (14.1–15.6mm) are smaller than head length males of L. heliodermis (18.3– 21.6 mm) and L. umbrifer (16.8–20.0 mm). Head length in females of L. fiambala sp. nov. (13.1–14.8mm) are smaller than head length females of L. heliodermis (16.6–17.9 mm) and L. umbrifer (17.1–17.6 mm). All the analysed specimens present bilobed hemipenes with shell-shaped ornamentation at the apex. The sulcate and asulcate faces have calyces and flounces. The asulcate face has a hump-shaped protrusion. On the asulcated face, the calyces are distributed on the hump and on the sides of the lobes. Different degrees of pigmentation were found in all hemipenes analysed. The morphometric and discrete characters show that Liolaemus fiambala sp. nov. and L. heliodermis present robust hemipenes with the proximal, middle and terminal regions more widened, in addition the ornamentation in the asulcate region reaches the middle region, contrary to that observed for L. capillitas, L. tulkas, L. dicktracyi, L. talampaya and L. umbrifer who present elongated hemipenes, with the ornamentation restricted to the last third. Regarding colouration, Table 5 shows the comparison between the species of the Liolaemus capillitas clade. (Ruiz et al. 2025) |
| Comment | Distribution: for a map showing localities of this and other species see Ruiz et al. 2025: 3 (Fig. 1). |
| Etymology | Named after the type locality, Sierra de Fiambala (Fiambala mountains). The toponym Fiambala comes from an ancient language (Cacan) of natives who lived in northwestern Argentina before other languages became dominant like Quechua and Spanish. The word fiambalao (fiambal = wind; ao = house, place), means “house of winds”. |
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