Liolaemus antumalguen AVILA, MORANDO, PEREZ & SITES, 2010
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Liolaemus antumalguen
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus antumalguen AVILA, MORANDO, PEREZ & SITES 2010 Liolaemus antumalguen — MEDINA et al. 2017 |
| Distribution | Argentina (Neuquén) Type locality: rocky boulders from the eastern piedmont of Domuyo volcano, around Chadileu Creek (36° 39’ S, 70° 20’’ W), Chos Malal Department, Neuquén Province, Argentina |
| Reproduction | viviparous (not imputed, fide Zimin et al. 2022) |
| Types | Holotype: MACN 38985, an adult male; collected by D. R. Perez; 23 Enero 2005. Paratypes. MACN 38987, MLP.S 2592–3, (males); BYU 12592, MACN 38986, MLP.S 2594–5, LJAMM 6172–3 (females); same data as holotype. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Liolaemus antumalguen is a member of the elongatus clade that currently includes L. elongatus, L. thermarum (Morando et al., 2003; Morando, 2004), L. chillanensis (Torrez-Perez et al. 2009), and many “candidate species” represented by well-supported mtDNA haploclades (Morando et al. unpublished). Differs from all other members of the clade due to a unique and very variable dorsal coloration pattern, ranging from large irregular black dots distributed along the dorsolateral areas on ochre background coloration, to an almost plain pattern without any dorsal mark. Liolaemus antumalguen has a complete ventral melanism in adult specimens, characteristic not observed in any other species within the L. elongatus clade, with the exception of populations of L. elongatus from western Rio Negro province, Argentina (Morando et al. 2003, Avila et al. unpublished data). It is the largest species in the clade (maximum SVL 107.8 mm vs 94 mm in L. elongatus, vs 70.3 mm in L. chillanensis, and 85.0 mm in L. thermarum), and at difference of all other species has a robust body vs a more slender shape, with well developed and evident neck folds. Liolaemus elongatus is characterized by a pattern of longitudinal bands, a vertebral band defined by irregular transversal black lines, frequently fused, with a da life a conspicuous lateral and posterior body cyan coloration never found in L. antumalguen. From L. buergeri, L. ceii, and L. kriegi, L. antumalguen can be distinguished because this species have smaller dorsal scales, and a higher number of scales around midbody (94–98, 96–110, 98–115 vs 72–82), lack of ventral melanic coloration (usually is white or gray, with small grey dots or uniformily slight grey), and have darker body coloration. Liolaemus curis is a smaller species (maximum SVL 102.6 vs 107.8 mm), have completely black body coloration or with a dorsal pattern of longitudinal bars not observed in L. antumalguen. Liolaemus flavipiceus have smaller size (SVL 90.3 vs 107.8 mm) and a very particular dorsal coloration with widely distributed yellow and/or orange scales never found in L. altumalguen. Liolaemus leopardinus, L. ramonensis and L. valdesianus are smaller species (87.5, 86.6, 90.4 mm vs 107.8 mm), with different dorsal coloration patterns, and higher number of midbody scales in L. ramonensis (87–96 vs 72–82). Liolaemus antumalguen can be easily distinguished from L. punmahuida by the lack of the conspicuous black line between orbit and nasal scales, white cream head coloration, and absence of any extendend brightly red or yellow ventral coloration. Liolaemus tregenzai, L. coeruleus, and L. neuquensis are smaller species (80.2, 60. 2 and 61.1 mm vs 102.7 mm), have a conspicuous cyan ventral coloration and lack of precloacal pores. Liolaemus cristiani have a very conspicuous cyan coloration, with a dorsal pattern very different from L. antumalguen, and lack of extended ventral melanism and precloacal pores.rk background, two more clearly-defined dorsal longitudinal bands, and dorsolateral bands with black, gray, and a few white scales, usually the tail is ringed; all of these characteristics are absent in L. antumalguen. Liolaemus antumalguen differs from L. thermarum in that males of this species lack precloacal pores (according to original description) or have less (2–3 vs 4, according to our data), and have a dorsal coloration characterized by two wide and dark lateral bands; a pattern never present in L. antumalguen. Liolaemus chillanensis have slender and smaller body, with higher midbody scale count (81–95 vs 72–82), lack of conspicuous neck pouches, have a white or gray venter, and in life a conspicuous lateral and posterior body cyan coloration never found in L. antumalguen. From L. buergeri, L. ceii, and L. kriegi, L. antumalguen can be distinguished because this species have smaller dorsal scales, and a higher number of scales around midbody (94–98, 96–110, 98–115 vs 72–82), lack of ventral melanic coloration (usually is white or gray, with small grey dots or uniformily slight grey), and have darker body coloration. Liolaemus curis is a smaller species (maximum SVL 102.6 vs 107.8 mm), have completely black body coloration or with a dorsal pattern of longitudinal bars not observed in L. antumalguen. Liolaemus flavipiceus have smaller size (SVL 90.3 vs 107.8 mm) and a very particular dorsal coloration with widely distributed yellow and/or orange scales never found in L. altumalguen. Liolaemus leopardinus, L. ramonensis and L. valdesianus are smaller species (87.5, 86.6, 90.4 mm vs 107.8 mm), with different dorsal coloration patterns, and higher number of midbody scales in L. ramonensis (87–96 vs 72–82). Liolaemus antumalguen can be easily distinguished from L. punmahuida by the lack of the conspicuous black line between orbit and nasal scales, white cream head coloration, and absence of any extendend brightly red or yellow ventral coloration. Liolaemus tregenzai, L. coeruleus, and L. neuquensis are smaller species (80.2, 60. 2 and 61.1 mm vs 102.7 mm), have a conspicuous cyan ventral coloration and lack of precloacal pores. Liolaemus cristiani have a very conspicuous cyan coloration, with a dorsal pattern very different from L. antumalguen, and lack of extended ventral melanism and precloacal pores. |
| Comment | Abundance: only known from its original description (Meiri et al. 2017). |
| Etymology | The species name is in reference to a mithological fairy, Antú Malguén, wife of the sun, which according to a legend of the Mapuche people, inhabits the summit of the Domuyo Volcano. |
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