Liolaemus attenboroughi SÁNCHEZ, MORANDO & AVILA, 2023
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Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | |
Synonym | Liolaemus attenboroughi SÁNCHEZ, MORANDO & AVILA 2023 Liolaemus kingii — CEI 1975 Liolaemus kingii — CEI 1986 Liolaemus kingii — MINOLI, MORANDO & AVILA 2015 |
Distribution | Argentina (Chubut) Type locality: Argentina; Chubut Province; Tehuelches Department; National Road 40, 39 km N of Gobernador Costa (43°51′22.5′′S, 70°54′57.4′′W, 859 m.a.s.l.) |
Reproduction | viviparous |
Types | Holotype: LJAMM-CNP 16782, adult male collected by L.J. Avila on 30 January 2018. Paratypes (n = 45): LJAMM-CNP, MLP |
Diagnosis | Additional details, e.g. a detailed description or comparisons (2193 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
Comment | Similar species: Liolaemus kingii, but showing an allopatric distribution. Natural history: Liolaemus attenboroughi sp. nov. is known from the Patagonian Steppe of northwestern Chubut province, delimited in the north and east by the Chubut River and the west by the Andes mountain chain. Geographically, it is isolated from the remaining species of the L. kingii group. Collection sites are located in four vegetation units (Oyarzabal et al. 2018): (i) low steppe of Senecio algens and Oxalis compacta, dominated by camephytes and herbaceous hemicryptophytes (one locality); (ii) grass steppe dominated by Festuca pallescens (five localities); (iii) grassy shrub-steppe, dominated by gramineous Pappostipa speciosa, P. humilis, Poa ligularis, and P. lanuginosa, and the shrubs Adesmia volckmannii and Berberis microphylla (nine localities); and (iv) serran shrub steppe dominated by Colliguaja integerrima (three localities). |
Etymology | We name this new species in honor to Sir David F. Attenborough, English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and author, in recognition of his immense contribution to the public understanding and appreciation of the biodiversity, and the necessity of its protection. While Attenborough’s earlier work focused more on the marvels of our planet, his later work has been more vocal in support of environmental causes, advocating for mitigate climate change, limit human population growth, and switch to renewable energies. |
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