Anniella geronimensis SHAW, 1940
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Higher Taxa | Anguidae (Anniellinae), Diploglossa, Anguimorpha, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Baja California Legless Lizard S: Lagartija Sin Patas |
Synonym | Anniella geronimensis SHAW 1940 Anniella geronimensis — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 209 Anniella geronimensis — STEBBINS 1985: 242 Anniella geronimensis — LINER 1994 Anniella geronimensis — LINER 2007 |
Distribution | Mexico (Baja California: from Rio Santo Domingo at Colonia Guerrero to El Rosario) Type locality: Isla San Gerónimo, Baja California. |
Reproduction | ovovivparous |
Types | Holotype: SDNHM = SDSNH 7543, paratype SDNHM = SDSNH 7542. |
Diagnosis | DEFINITION. The head is strongly depressed and the rostrum is wedge-shaped in profile. Maximum SVL is 142 mm, maximum tail length is 65 mm, with tail length comprising 26%–31% of total length. There are 72–86 dorsal scales along the vertebral line of the tail, 24–28 scale rows around the mid-body, 14–16 scale rows around the anterior portion of the tail, 5–7 (usually 6) supralabials, with the fourth supralabial typically the largest. The vertebral stripe is usually distinct and 2–3 scale rows separate it from the first lateral stripe. There are 4 or more black or brown lateral stripes along the sides of the body between the scale rows, which continue as longitudinal stripes on the ventral surface. This species displays significant geographic variation in body size, color, and other morphological and chromatic features (Hunt 1984). Adult dorsal color varies from copper to silver-grey, with a prominent brown or black vertebral stripe. Young resemble adults in dorsal coloration. Ventral color is typically a dark grey-violet and there is a smooth transition between dorsal and ventral coloration. The preanal scales are cream-colored or white against a dark background (Hunt 2008). |
Comment | Synonymy: Hunt (1983) synonymized geronimensis with pulchra, but later authors kept geronimensis, including Hunt 2008. Limb morphology: Limbless. Taxonomy: Listed by Liner 2007 as a member of the Anguidae. Distribution: see map in Hunt 2008. |
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