Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi JIMÉNEZ-ARCOS, LOC -BARRAGAN, CALZADA-ARCINIEGA & BLAIR, 2025
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Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi
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| Higher Taxa | Phrynosomatidae, Sceloporinae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi JIMÉNEZ-ARCOS, LOC -BARRAGAN, CALZADA-ARCINIEGA & BLAIR in CHARRAN et al. 2025 |
| Distribution | Mexico (Nayarit) Type locality: Rancho La Noria, Sierra San Juan (21.4851944°N, 104.992911°W, 1580 m elevation), Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype. IBH 36601, adult female collected 01 July 2017, Jesús A. Loc Barragan. Paratypes. IBH 36602-36607, six adult females and IBH 36608-36610 three adult males, same data as holotype, 01 July 2017, Víctor H. Jiménez-Arcos, R. Alejandro Calzada-Arciniega, Jesús Loc-Barragán, and Liz A. Alfaro-Juantorena. Other examined specimens. LACM 65215 and 65217, two females from “near San Blas”, Nayarit; LACM 97382-97384, one male and two females from 2 mi S Tepic, Nayarit; LACM 97385 and 97386, one adult male and one adult female from 3.5 mi SE Tepic city, Xalisco, Nayarit; LACM 97387 and 97388, one adult male and one adult female from 23 mi SE Tepic, San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi sp. nov. is grouped within the Sceloporus scalaris group by sharing the following characters: (1) lateral scale rows parallel; (2) the femoral pore series nearly meet or are in contact medially; (3) granular scales on posterior surface of thigh; (4) the absence of postfemoral dermal pocket; (5) two postrostrals; (6) the head scales keeled; (7) the frontal with a single, transverse division; (8) the preanal and ventral scales smooth in both sexes; (9) enlarged postanals present in males; (10) males with ventral coloration distinctive to that of females; (11) small or moderate size (maximum snout-vent measurement 78 mm in the group; Smith 1937; 1939); and (12) moderate size of dorsal scales with a range of 35 to 62 from occiput to base of tail (Smith 1937; 1939). Sceloporus mendezdelacruzi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all species in the Sceloporus scalaris group by the following combination of characters: adult males with an intense yellow belly coloration from three-quarters of the gular area to the thighs, tibia, cloaca, and front part of the tail (Fig. 6A-C). We infer that this coloration in adult males is likely more intense during the reproductive season, which probably occurs from March to July considering the reproductive cycle in oviparous species of the S. scalaris group (Méndez-de la Cruz et al., 1998; Manríquez- Moran et al., 2013). The new species also exhibits 2 to 4 loreal scales; second pair of postmentals not in contact and separated by one or two rows of smaller scales, the upper row usually separated by 2 scales and the lower row by 2 to 4 smaller scales; supralabials 4 to 6; infralabials 4 to 5; 35 to 40 dorsal scales; 37 to 39 scales around body; lateral scale rows parallel; 15 to 19 femoral pores (per side). Specifically, it can be distinguished from S. unicanthalis (species with which it was previously confused) by the yellow coloration in adult males, the second pair of postmentals usually in contact in S. unicanthalis and separated in S. mendezdelacruzi sp. nov. by one or two rows of scales (usually one). (JIMÉNEZ-ARCOS et al. 2025) Additional details (3010 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Fausto R. Méndez de la Cruz, a Mexican researcher whose contributions have allowed a broader knowledge of the biology, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Mexico. |
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