Xantusia sanchezi BEZY & FLORES-VILLELA, 1999
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Xantusia sanchezi?
Xantusia sanchezi
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| Higher Taxa | Xantusiidae (Xantusiinae), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Sanchez's Night Lizard S: Nocturna de Sanchez |
| Synonym | Xantusia sanchezi BEZY & FLORES-VILLELA 1999: 176 Xantusia sanchezi — VICARIO et al. 2003 Xantusia sanchezi — SINCLAIR et al. 2004 Xantusia sanchezi — JOHNSON et al. 2017 Xantusia sanchezi — CORTÉS-VÁZQUEZ et al. 2022 |
| Distribution | Mexico (Zacatecas, Jalisco) Type locality: 5 km (via Hwy 54) N Moyahua de Estrada, Municipio de Moyahua, Zacatecas, Mexico (21° 190' N, 103° 10' W; approx. 1200 m elevation) |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MZFC 4756, adult male |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: “Xantusia sanchezi differs from X. riversiana, X. henshawi, and X. bolsonae (Table 1) in having fewer dorsals around midbody (38-40 versus 46-80) and fewer than 14 longitudinal rows of ventrals at midbody. For the populations of X. vigilis, it differs from all (except some specimens of X. v. vigilis) in having more than six undivided fourth toe lamellae (i.e., lamellae that lack midventral sutures) and from all (except some specimens of X. v. wigginsi) in having fewer than 29 scales composing the second caudal annulus. In addition to these two characters, X. sanchezi differs from the currently recognized subspecies of Xantusia vigilis by the following scale characters, most of which are non-overlapping (Table 1): from X. v. extorris, in having more femoral pores (9-11 versus 6-7), and a larger sixth infralabial (1.40-2.00 versus 0.73-1.39); from X. v. gilberti, in having more femoral pores (9-11 versus 6-7), more fourth toe lamellae (21-23 versus 16-18), more dorsals around midbody (38-40 versus 30-36), more scales in the sixth longitudinal row of ventrals (28-38 versus 21-27), a larger interpostparietal (0.25-1.00 versus 0.12-0.20), and a larger eye (2.41-3.11 versus 1.50-1.89); from X. v. wigginsi, in having more temoral pores (9-11 versus 6-8), a larger sixth intralabial (1.40-2.00 versus 0.93-1.39), and usually more fourth toe lamellae (21-23 versus 18-21); from X. v. arizonae, in having fewer fourth toe lamellae (21-23 versus 24-30) and fewer dorsals around midbody (38-40 versus 43-49); from X. v. utahensis, in having more total enlarged infralabials (7-8 versus 6), more ventrals (33-36 versus 31-32), more scales in the sixth longitudinal row of ventrals (28-38 versus 23-25), a larger interpostparietal (0.25-1.00 versus 0.09-0.11), a larger sixth infralabial (1.40-2.00 versus 1.10-1.36), and a larger seventh infralabial (1.00-1.68 versus 0.56-0.75); from X. v. sierrae, in having fewer dorsals around midbody (38-40 versus 41-44) and usually fewer gulars (30-38 versus 38-44); and from X. v. vigilis, usually in having more ventrals (33-35 versus 30-33).” (Bezy & Flores-Villela 1999) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data. However, these details, e.g. detailed descriptions (about between half a page and a page) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us if you need any of this material. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Oscar Sánchez, Mexican herpetologist and conservationist. This taxon is a member of one of the most basal clades in the genus, and may represent a plausible relict predating the geographical separation of the genera Xantusia and Lepidophyma (Bezy and Flores-Villela, 1999). |
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