Liolaemus grosseorum ETHERIDGE, 2001
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Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | |
Synonym | Liolaemus grosseorum ETHERIDGE 2001 Liolaemus grosseorum — PEREZ et al. 2011 Liolaemus darwini (part) — CEI 1986: 217. Liolaemus darwinii (part) — ETHERIDGE 1993: 148 Liolaemus sp. — HALLOY et al. 1998: 4. Liolaemus darwinii — SCHULTE et al. 2000: 75 Liolaemus sp. — ETHERIDGE 2000: 338 Liolaemus grosseorum — AVILA et al. 2004 |
Distribution | Argentina (Mendoza, Neuquén, Rio Negro, La Pampa) Type locality: “southeastern shore of Lago Nihuil (35 02’ 36.2” W- 68 ̊ 40’ 42.2” S, 1380 m), Department of San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina". |
Reproduction | oviparous |
Types | Holotype: FML 3444 (Fundación Miguel Lillo) |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Liolaemus grosseorum is a member of the boulengeri group of Liolaemus (Etheridge, 1995), characterized by the presence of a patch of enlarged scales on the posterior medial surface of the thighs. It differs from other members of the boulen- geri group, except L. cuyanus, L. darwinii, L. laurenti, and L. olongasta, in that adult males have black pigment within the ante- humeral fold. The largest adult male is smaller (55 mm SVL) than that of any of these species (L. darwinii: 62 mm, L. lau- renti: 63 mm, L. olongasta: 67 mm, and L. cuyanus: 117 mm), and the mean number of precloacal pores (7.7) is significantly higher than the means (6.2 - 7.0) of the species other than L. cuyanus (8.3) (Table 3). The new species further differs from L. cuyanus in having distinct dorsolateral light stripes. The absence of large, black, pre- and postscapular spots in adult males dis- tinguish it from L. darwinii. The presence of prominent dorsolateral stripes, which are distinctly lighter than the background color and, a significantly shorter tail (Table 1), distinguish the new species from L. laurenti (Etheridge, 1992; Plate I and II). In addition, L. laurenti and L. cuyanus lack the ventral bifurcation of the dark pigment of the antehumeral fold found in L. grosseorum and L. olongasta. The dorsal color pattern of L. grosseorum most closely resembles that of L. olongasta, but the ventral pattern of adult male L. grosseorum lacks the bold reticulation on the throat and chest of adult male L. olongasta (Etheridge, 1993; Plate 2.6). Compared with L. olongasta, L. grosseorum has a significantly lo- wer mean number of midbody and middorsal scales (Table 2) and azygous frontal sca- les (Table 3). Black pigment may be pre- sent on the sides of the neck in L. canqueli, L. fitzingerii, L. melanops, and L. xanthoviridis, but it is entirely or mostly ante- rior to the antehumeral fold (Etheridge, 2000). These species also have a much greater maximum SVL (83 - 102 mm) than L. grosseorum, and have expanded rather than straight-sided marginal tooth crowns. Liolaemus telsen exhibits some superficial resemblance to L. grosseorum, but differs in lacking black pigment within the antehumeral fold, and in having a greater number (74 - 78) scales around midbody [from ETHERIDGE 2001]. |
Comment | Member of the darwinii group of Liolaemus. |
Etymology | This species was first recognized as distinct by Monique Halloy, and at her request is being named to acknowledge the invaluable assistance given her in the field by her husband and children: Constantino, Ana, and Paul Grosse. |
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