| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large species (maximum SVL 160 mm) of the genus Dactyloa (sensu Nicholson et al. 2012) that is most similar in external morphology to the other members of this clade found in western Panama (D. casildae, D. frenata, D. ginaelisae, D. ibanezi, D. kunayalae, and D. microtus). Dactyloa insignis can readily be distinguished from these six species by its unique coloration of fine reticulate lines forming transverse crossbands on dorsum and flanks, and a preaxillary dark blotch (Fig. 14). Moreover, D. insignis has all dorsal and lateral body scales smooth (vs. conical, keeled, rugose or wrinkled in the other species), and the highest number of scales around midbody (190 or more vs. 178 or fewer). In addition, D. insignis differs from D. casildae, D. frenata, and D. ibanezi in having short legs (tip of fourth toe of adpressed hind limb reaching at most to a point between shoulder and tympanum in D. insignis), and from D. ginaelisae, D. ibanezi, D. kunayalae, and D. microtus in having more subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe (52 or more in D. insignis vs. 50 or fewer) as well as under the fourth finger (40 in D. insignis vs. 37 or fewer) [LOTZKAT et al. 2013]. For an independent diagnosis see POE & RYAN 2017. |
| References |
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- Köhler, G. 2000. Reptilien und Amphibien Mittelamerikas, Bd 1: Krokodile, Schildkröten, Echsen. Herpeton Verlag, Offenbach, 158 pp.
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- Poe, S. 2004. Phylogeny of anoles. Herpetological Monographs 18: 37-89 - get paper here
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