Andinosaura vespertina (KIZIRIAN, 1996)
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Higher Taxa | Gymnophthalmidae (Cercosaurinae), Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | |
Synonym | Proctoporus vespertinus KIZIRIAN 1996 Proctoporus vespertinus — DOAN & SCHARGEL 2003 Riama vespertina — DOAN & CASTOE 2005 Andinosaura vespertina — SÁNCHEZ-PACHECO et al. 2017 |
Distribution | Ecuador (Loja) Type locality: Chitogué, Loja, elevation 6000 ft = 1820 m |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: AMNH 22130 |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Riama vespertina can be distinguished from its congeners, except R. kiziriani, by the presence of two anteriorly and one posteriorly positioned superciliary scales. it can be distinguished from R. kiziriani by the following characteristics (condition for R. kiziriani in parentheses): femoral pores per hind limb in males 4-5 (seven); and venter cream – yellowish in life – with faint brown spots on central portion of scales (ventral coloration in males dark brown to black with small white spots or narrow lines on longitudinal sutures). in addition, among the other four species of Ri‐ ama currently known to occur in southern ecuador, R. vespertina differs from R. anatoloros in having two postparietals (three in R. anatoloros) and 4-5 femoral pores per hind limb in males (7-11). it differs from R. stigmatoral in having three supraoculars (four in R. stigmatoral), 4-5 femoral pores per hind limb in males (9-11) and 6-10 scales between medialmost femoral pores in males (0-2). it can be distinguished from R. petrorum by the second supraocular contacting the ciliaries (second, third and fourth, or first, second and third in contact with ciliaries in R. petrorum) and by the number of transverse dorsal scale rows in males, 34-35 (33) and in females, 34-36 (31-33); it further differs from R. petrorum in adult body size (maximum known svL in R. vespertina is about 66 mm for males and 68 mm for females, versus 72 mm and 76 mm for males and females, respectively, of R. petrorum). from R. aurea, R. vespertina differs in having three supraoculars (four in R. aurea) (Sanchez-Pacheco et al. 2012: 267). |
Comment | |
Etymology | The specific epithet, vespertinus, is a Latin adjective meaning "of the west" and alludes to the distribution of this species. Proctoporus vespertinus is the westernmost species of Proctoporus, occurring closest to the 80th meridian. |
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