Philochortus rudolfensis PARKER, 1932
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Higher Taxa | Lacertidae, Eremiadinae, Sauria, Lacertoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Southern Shield-backed Lizard |
Synonym | Philochortus intermedius rudolfensis PARKER 1932: 226 Philochortus intermedius rudolfensis — ANGEL 1936: 104 Philochortus intermedius rudolfensis — LANZA 1988: 428 Philochortus rudolfensis — SPAWLS et al. 2001: 164 Philochortus rudolfensis — LARGEN & SPAWLS 2006: 63 Philochortus rudolfensis — LARGEN & SPAWLS 2010: 362 Philochortus rudolfensis — SPAWLS et al 2018: 191 |
Distribution | N Kenya (Lake Rudolf, Lake Turkana), S Ethiopia, probably in Sudan (L. Chirio, pers. comm.) Type locality: near the mouth of the Kaliokwell River, Lake Rudolf. |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: BMNH 1946.9.3.44, male (was: 1932.5.2.6) |
Diagnosis | Philochortus rudolfensis is distinguished from all other East African lacertids by the presence of 2 longitudinal, mid-dorsal rows of enlarged scales (about twice the width of the rest of the body scales) (SPAWLS et al. 2001). Description: Head a little depressed, about once and two-thirds as long as broad, its depth equal to the distance between the centre of the eye and the tympanum. Snout pointed, with rounded canthus rostralia. Hind limb reaching to half-way between the fore limb and the ear foot once and a half as long as the bead. Nostril separated from the first upper labial and the postnasal by a narrow rim; prefrontal separated by a median granule; frontal as long as its distance from the tip of the snout, once and a half as long as broad; parietals once and a third as long as broad interparietal rhomboidal, once and two-thirds as long as broad, separated from the occipital by a group of three granules; four supraoculars, the fourth broken up into four sales; five supraciliaries, separated from the second and third supraoculars by a row of granules. Rostral not entering the nostril; single postnasal: anterior loreal shorter than the second; five upper labial anterior to the subocular; a long narrow temporal along almost the whole outer margin of the parietal. (Parker 1932: 226) Scales feebly keeled posteriorly, smooth anteriorly; two median rows largest; 32 dorsal and laterals across the middle of the body; 14 enlarged, feebly keeled scales between the hind limbs. Ventrals in 6 longitudinal and 28 transverse series; 20 gular scales in a longitudinal median series; 7 plates in the collar; caudal scales strongly keeled, 22 in the fourth whorl; 10 femoral pores on each side, 27 lamellae beneath the fourth toe. (Parker 1932: 226) Colouration: as in the typical form [i.e. intermedius] (Parker 1932: 226) Size: End of snout to vent 46 mm; length of head 10; width of head 6; depth of head 5; fore limb 15; hind limb 29; foot 15; tail 130. (Parker 1932: 226) |
Comment | Abundance: Philochortus (intermedius) rudolfensis is only known from 5 specimens, so its variation is not sufficiently known. |
Etymology | Named after the type locality, Lake Rudolf. |
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