Liolaemus scrocchii QUINTEROS, ABDALA & LOBO, 2008
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Liolaemus scrocchii
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus scrocchii QUINTEROS, ABDALA & LOBO 2008 Liolaemus dorbignyi — PETERS & DONOSO-BARROS 1970 (part) |
| Distribution | Argentina (Jujuy, Salta) Type locality: Departamento Susques, 2 km SE of Susques on Ruta Nacional 52. |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: FML 17228 |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Liolaemus scrochii belongs to the L. montanus group (Etheridge, 1995), diagnosed by a blade-like process on posterior distal tibia, associated with a greatly hypertrophied M. tibialis anticus (Abdala, et al. 2006). It has scales of equal size on the posterior face of the femur, distinguishing it from the L. bouleng- eri group (Abdala, 2007). Within the L. montanus group, L. scrocchii is a robust lizard, with a large size (max. SVL 95 mm) which distinguishes it from L. andinus, L. audituvelatus, L. disjunctus, L. eleodori, L. erroneus, L. etheridgei, L. fabiani, L. famatinae, L. fittkaui, L. griseus, L. huacahuasicus, L. insolitus, L. islugensis, L. molinai, L. montanus, L. multicolor, L. ortizi, L. pantherinus, L. poconchilensis, L. poecilochromus, L. pul- cherrimus, L. rechei, L. rosenmanni, L. ruibali, L. signifier, and L. vallecurensis, which are smaller (SVL 50– 76 mm). Liolaemus scrocchii has flat, imbricated and slightly keeled dorsal scales which distinguish it form L. andinus, L. audituvelatus, L. erguetae, L. erroneus, L. forsteri, L. insolitus, L. islugensis, L.molinai, L. patrici- aiturrae, L. poecilochromus L. robertoi, L. rosenmanni, and L. schmidti, (smooth and juxtaposed dorsal scales) and from L. aymararum, L. disjunctus, L. etheridgei, L. fittkaui, L. huacahuasicus, L. montanus, L. ortizi, L. polystictus, L. stolzmanni, L. thomasi, and L. williamsi (imbricate and strongly keeled scales). Liolaemus chlorostictus, L. jamesi, L. orientalis, L. poconchilensis, L. robustus, L. signifer and L. stolzmanni have slightly keeled but juxtaposed scales. The number of scales around midbody in L. scrocchii is 55–68, distinguishing it from L. andinus, L. disjunctus, L. duellmani, L. eleodori, L. erguetae, L. foxi, L. islugensis, L. molinai, L. multicolor, L. nigriceps, L. patriciaiturrae L. pleopholis,, L. poecilochromus, L. pulcherrimus, L. robertoi, L. rosenmanni, L. ruibali, L. signifer, and L. vallecurensis (between 64 and 110). The females of L. scrocchii have precloacal pores 54.14% (eight of fourteen females), differing from L. andinus, L. duellmani, L. fabiani, L. islugensis, L. jamesi, L. melanogaster, L. pantherinus, L. puritamensis, L. robertoi, L. rosen- manni, L. signifer, L. stolzmanni, and L vallecurensis in which females lack precloacal pores. The dorsal color pattern is composed of transverse paravertebral spots. These spots are band-shaped, never reach the lateral region, and are never in contact in the vertebral zone (Fig. 7). This is the main differ- ence between L. dorbignyi, L. griseus and other members of the L. montanus group. Also, the number of scales around midbody in L. scrocchi is generally higher 55–68 (x = 61.8) than L. dorbignyi 48–59 (x = 54.5). The presence of juxtaposed or subjuxtaposed dorsal scales and the absence of keeled or slightly keeled dorsal scales further differentiate L. scrocchii from L. dorbignyi [from QUINTEROS et al. 2008]. |
| Comment | Similar species: L. dorbignyi (has been previously confused with this species). Distribution: Map in Quinteros & Abdala 2011. |
| Etymology | We name this new taxon scrocchii to acknowledge our colleague and friend Gustavo Scrocchi for his extensive and dedicated work on the systematics and biology of Argentine reptiles, and in particular for his invaluable kindness and companionship. |
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