Liolaemus hermannunezi PINCHEIRA-DONOSO, SCOLARO & SCHULTE, 2007
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Liolaemus hermannunezi
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus hermannunezi PINCHEIRA-DONOSO, SCOLARO & SCHULTE 2007 Liolaemus rothi — DONOSO-BARROS 1974: 287 Liolaemus rothi — NÚÑEZ & JAKSIC 1992: 76 Liolaemus rothi — PINCHEIRA-DONOSO 2003: 18 Liolaemus rothi — SCHULTE et al. 2004: 410 Liolaemus (Eulaemus) rothi PINCHEIRA-DONOSO & NÚÑEZ 2005: 99 |
| Distribution | Chile (boreal Patagonia), Argentina Type locality: 10 km E from Los Barros (37°31’S; 71°15’W) on the road to Pichachén Pass, Eighth Administrative Region, Chile. |
| Reproduction | oviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: MNHNC 3785 (Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. Chile, Santiago), male, collected on 18 November 2001 by D. Pincheira-Donoso. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A small bodied Liolaemus species belonging to the boulengeri clade diagnosed by Etheridge (1995), as having a femoral patch of abruptly enlarged scales on the posterior surface of the thigh, and by the hypertrophied puboischiotibialis muscle (recently recognized as flexor tibialis internus; Abdala et al. 2006), a trait well-developed in adult males. Into the boulengeri clade, Etheridge (1995, 2000) also recognized the wiegmannii species group, which is characterized by lorilabials distinctly smaller than supralabials, usually in two rows between the subocular and supralabials, with the posteriormost not elongate, with sublabials contacting the mental shield, which is widest posteriorly, and infralabials flat to concave. However, traits of the wiegmannii group are not observed in L. hermannunezi, and morphology and coloration differentiate L. hermannunezi from most of the remaining species belonging to the L. boulengeri clade, except L. loboi, L. rothi, L. sagei and L. tehuelche. Liolaemus hermannunezi differs from L. tehuelche in having a black belly, a smaller body size (49.1–64.1 mm; mean = 53.1 mm), and a distribution restricted to the Laguna del Laja in Chile (37°31’S; 71°15’W), whereas L. tehuelche is only black on the throat, has a larger body size (55.5–74.2 mm; mean = 66.4 mm), and a more austral distribution in Argentina (40°44’S; 70°34’W). Liolaemus hermannunezi differs from L. sagei in having a smaller body size (see above), larger and fewer body scales, and has ventral melanism, mainly in abdominal and gular areas, whereas L. sagei is uniformly grey or blue ventrally. From L. rothi, L. hermannunezi differs in having a smaller body size (SVL over 100 mm in L. rothi; see above), smaller and therefore more body scales (Table 1), and a black belly in males, restricted to the gular region in females. This last trait is absent in L. rothi. Finally, L. hermannunezi differs from L. loboi in having a smaller body size (see results for statistical comparisons), a higher number of scales around the middle of body (range in L. hermannunezi = 66–77, mean = 71.8; versus range in L. loboi = 59–70, mean = 63.7), is black ventrally, and has a more boreal distribution in Chile, whereas in L. loboi ventral melanism is conspicuous, and occurs in more austral areas in Argentina. |
| Comment | Liolaemus hermannunezi is closely related to L. rothi, from which is significantly differentiated by molecular variables. In addition, this new species appears to be related to L. loboi and L. sagei, from which differs in having a smaller body size, a distinctive colour pattern and an isolated geographical distribution. Liolaemus hermannunezi is known from the boreal Patagonia of Chile, whereas L. loboi, L. rothi, and L. sagei are endemic to Argentinean Patagonia. The new species is a member of the boulengeri clade, diagnosed by the presence of a patch of abruptly enlarged scales on the posterior medial surface of the thigh, a character that is more conspicuous in adult males. Group: member of the Liolaemus rothi complex. |
| Etymology | This species is dedicated to Herman Núñez, from the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, in recognition of his great contribution to the systematics and ecology of Chilean lizards of the genus Liolaemus. |
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