Liolaemus yarabamba QUIROZ, HUAMANÍ-VALDERRAMA, GUTIÉRREZ, AGUILAR-KIRIGIN, CHAPARRO & ABDALA, 2021
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Liolaemus yarabamba
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Liolaemus yarabamba QUIROZ, HUAMANÍ-VALDERRAMA, GUTIÉRREZ, AGUILAR-KIRIGIN, CHAPARRO & ABDALA 2021 Liolaemus insolitus — CEI & PEFAUR 1982: 573 Liolaemus insolitus — ZEBALLOS et al. 2002: 27 Liolaemus aff. insolitus6 — ABDALA et al. 2020: 349 |
| Distribution | Perú (Arequipa) Type locality: Pampa Yarabamba, 1.5 km, District of Yarabamba, Province of Arequipa, Department of Arequipa, Peru (16°33.311'S 71°29.186'W) at 2,516 m above sea level (m asl). |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: MUSA 5570, adult male , from Pampa Yarabamba, 1.5 km, District of Yarabamba, Province of Arequipa, Department of Arequipa, Peru (16°33.311'S 71°29.186'W) at 2,516 m above sea level (m asl), collected on 11 November 2013, by R. V. Semhan, C. S. Abdala, R. C. Gutierrez and A. J. Quiroz. Paratypes: Six adult males: MUBI 17663, same locality and collectors as holotype, from geographic coordinates 16°33.507'S 71°29.026'W, at 2,521 m asl; MUSA 1768, same locality as holotype, collected on 15 April 2010, by J. Cerdeña, L. Arapa and A. J. Quiroz, from geographic coordinates 16°33.200'S 71°29.343'W at 2,509 m asl; MUSA 178–79, same locality as holotype, geographic coordinates 16°33.349'S 71°31.319'W at 2,490 m asl, collected on 11 December 1995, by H. Zeballos; MUSA 5572, MUBI 13528 from Chapi, District of Polobaya, Province of Arequipa, Department of Arequipa, Perú, from geographic coordinates 16°42.706'S 71°20.302'W at 2,925 m asl, collected on 11 de November 2013, same collectors as holotype. Five adult females: MUSA 5571, MUBI 13466, MUBI 17664–66 same locality and collectors as holotype, from geographic coordinates 16°33.507'S 71°29.026'W at 2,521 m asl. |
| Diagnosis | Genus assignment: Liolaemus yarabamba belongs to the L. montanus group of the subgenus Eulaemus, because it presents a bladelike process on the tibia in association with the presence of a sharp, with the hypertrophy of the tibialis anticus muscle (Etheridgei 1995; Abdala et al. 2007). Diagnosis: The following combination of characters differentiates L. yarabamba. within the L. montanus species group (excluded L. reichei clade): medium size (max. SVL = 68.7 mm), with 44–59 midbody scales (mean = 54.88), 60–72 dorsal scales (mean = 66.4), 66–76 (mean = 71.6) ventral scales, has the presence of sub-yuxtaposed dorsal scales, with slight or without keels and without mucron and the females have 4–6 (mean = 4.6) precloacal pores (Quiroz et al. 2021). Comparisons: L. yarabamba is distinguished from L. audituvelatus by having fewer scales around midbody (44–59 vs. 74–80); fewer dorsal scales (60–72 vs. 78–87); fewer ventral scales (66–76 vs. 86–95); females with precloacal pores and blue scales on the back of the body, both characters absent in L. audituvelatus and males with different dorsal color pattern. Liolaemus yarabamba differs from L. balagueri by having fewer scales on the neck (22–29 vs. 29–38), presence of a slight keel on the dorsal scales of males, which are absent in L. balagueri; presence of precloacal pores in females (absent in L. balagueri) and different dorsal and ventral color pattern in males and females, highlighting among other characters the presence of conspicuous paravertebral spots or ocelli and green coloration in the scapular region in L. balagueri, absent in L. yarabamba, and with a greater quantity of blue scales in the males of L. yarabamba. Liolaemus yarabamba. is distinguished from L. chiribaya by having greater number of dorsal scales (60–72 vs. 52–61); presence of a slight keel on the dorsal scales of males, which are absent in L. chiribaya; absence of keel on the ventral scales of the thigh, which are present in most individuals of L. chiribaya; greater quantity of light blue scales in males of L. yarabamba. that are distributed in an irregular way in the back of the body, tail and members, never crowded or associated to the paravertebral and lateral spots as L. chiribaya and the presence of light blue scales in females, reduced or absent in L. chiribaya. Liolaemus yarabamba. is distinguished from L. insolitus by having fewer scales on the neck (22–29 vs. 35–38); presence of a slight keel on the dorsal scales of males, which are absent in L. insolitus; greater precloacal pores in females (4–6 vs. 0–3) and different color and pattern of dorsal and ventral coloration in males and females, greater quantity of blue dorsal scales, ventral color different, characterized by absence of orange color on the sides of the body in L. yarabamba. Liolaemus yarabamba is distinguished from L. nazca by having greater number of dorsal scales (60–72 vs. 53–56); dorsal body scales never imbricated and with less evident keel and not in all individuals of L. yarabamba; greater amount of precloacal pores in females of L. yarabamba and different dorsal and ventral coloration pattern in males and females, highlighting among other characters the presence of conspicuous paravertebral spots or ocelli and green coloration in the scapular region in L. nazca, absent in L. yarabamba and with a greater quantity of blue dorsal scales in the males of L. yarabamba. Liolaemus yarabamba is distinguished from L. torresi by having fewer scales around midbody (44–59 vs. 64–72); fewer ventral scales (66–76 vs. 86–97); fewer scales on the neck (22–29 vs. 44–47) and different coloration pattern in males and females where the absence of blue scales in both sexes of L. torresi stands out. Liolaemus yarabamba is distinguished from L. poconchilensis by having fewer scales on the neck (22–29 vs. 35–38), presence of a slight keel on the dorsal scales in males; greater precloacal pores in females of L. yarabamba (4–6 vs. 0–2) and different coloration pattern in males and females where the absence of blue scales in females of L. poconchilensis stands out. Liolaemus yarabamba. is distinguished from L. reichei by having a maximum snout-vent lenght (68.66 vs. 50.8 mm); greater scales around midbody (44–59 vs. 43–47); greater dorsal scales (60–72 vs. 50–54); presence of a slight keel on the dorsal scales of males and different coloration pattern in males and females where the absence of blue scales in both sexes of L. reichei stands out. Liolaemus yarabamba differs from L. stolzmannii by having a maximum snout-vent lenght (68.66 vs. 50.8 mm) and a different color pattern, among others, the greater quantity of light blue dorsal scales stands out in L. yarabamba, presence of light blue scales in L. yarabamba females, with white ventral scales and absence of yellow on the sides of the body (Quiroz et al. 2021). Color in life: Liolaemus yarabamba shows evident sexual dichromatism. In males the head coloration varies dorsally from light brown to gray. Some individuals have the supralabials and infralabials scales to light gray color from rest of the head. As holotype, greater or fewer celestial scales are present in dorsum of the head. Color on dorsum of the neck, body and tail varies from brown to gray, with celestial scales irregularly distributed, which are grouped both scapular region and sides of the body, and they are also present in forelimbs and hind limbs in smaller quantity. Light blue scales on tail. Presence of circular or sub-quadrangular gray diffuse paravertebral spots with a white scale on the back, these spots can be absent in some individuals. Vertebral line, dorsolateral bands, scapular spots, and antehumeral arch absents. In both sides of the body, it is possible to observe gray spots, with different size and intensity, but never evident. Below the lateral midline of the body with light gray color. Lighter tones in the forelimbs and hind limbs. Prevailing the presence of light gray color on hands and feet. Ventrally, coloration in males is similar, as well as the holotype, however, smaller individuals don’t show the gray color. Gular scales, with intense and variable. In males, light blue scales are present or absent, some males can show bright yellow scales unevenly distributed on vent, and hind limbs. Ventrally, the tail can show a faint yellow with spots and light gray scales Coloration is completely different in females than males. Head of females varies dorsally from brown to gray, with some dark, and scales. Supralabials, infralabials, and lorilabials scales lighter on dorsum of the head. The dorsum of the body can show light gray or light brown color. Circular or subquadrangular paravertebral spots present, with dark gray or black color, with a white scale on the back and a light blue spot in the center or anterior view of the scale. Small black spots are present in the vertebral section, and beige discontinuous dorsolateral bands with yellow to orange shades which vary in intensity. Faint white spots between paravertebral spots and dorsolateral bands may be present. Sides of the body is lighter than the dorsum. The lateral spots are the same color and shape as well as the paravertebral spots and with greater number of celestial scales associated with them. Numerous small black spots over and below the lateral midline of the body. Same color around the sides of the body as the forelimbs and hind limbs with darker spots. The tail has the same color and design as the body. Ventrally with immaculate white scales. (Quiroz et al. 2021). |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | The specific name refers to the type locality, Pampa Yarabamba. “Yarabamba” is a word in Quechua language (actually spoken along the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina) that means “pampa de yaros”. “Yaro” or “yara” refers to a common legume tree in southwestern Peru (Prosopis sp.) and “bamba” means “pampa” or large plains. |
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