Micrablepharus atticolus RODRIGUES, 1996
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Micrablepharus atticolus
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| Higher Taxa | Gymnophthalmidae (Gymnophthalminae), Gymnophthalmini, Sauria, Gymnophthalmoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | Portuguese: Briba, Calango-do-Rabo-Azul, Calanguinho-de-Rabo-Azul, Lagarto-de-Rabo-Azul |
| Synonym | Micrablepharus atticolus RODRIGUES 1996 Micrablepharus atticolus — PIANKA & VITT 2003: 194 Micrablepharus atticolus — CASTOE et al. 2004 Micrablepharus allicolus — EZAZ et al. 2009 (in error) |
| Distribution | Brazil (Mato Grosso, Goiás, São Paulo) Type locality: Alto Araguaia (Fazenda Balsamo): Mato Grosso: Brazil. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MZUSP 69.671 (Fig. 1), an adult female, collected by Laurie Vitt on 23 April 1989. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis. Micrablepharus atticolus is distinguished from M. maximiliani (condition in parentheses) by the following characters: (1) fourth supralabial under the eye (fifth); (2) femoral pores present in both sexes, eight in males, 5-7 in females (10-15, males only); and (3) a pair of lateral and dorsolateral, longitudinal, white stripes on the body (lateral pair absent). Description.-Rostral distinctly visible from above, wider than high; in broad contact with internasal, nasal, and first supralabial. Internasal polygonal; as wide as long; contacting loreal, superciliar, supraocular, and frontal. Prefrontals absent. Frontal longer than wide, widest anteriorly. Frontoparietals two, small; with a short median suture; longer than wide. Interparietal hexagonal, longer than wide; occasionally with rounded posterior border. Supraoculars two; most anterior at least twice as large as posterior and reaching posteriorly to midlevel of diameter of eye. Most posterior supraocular much smaller and wider than frontoparietal. Superciliaries two; first twice as long as second; highest anteriorly. Parietals two, symmetrical; longer than wide; smaller than interparietal. Nasal pentagonal or subrectangular; entire or semidivided; longer than high; nostril in center of scale. Loreal small, square; infradiagonally followed by smaller frenocular. Supralabials seven; fourth under eye; the fifth highest. Subocular long, narrow; between frenocular and small postocular located above the fifth labial. Temporal scales smooth, cycloid; with sensorial pits. Eye large; pupil round. Series of small circumorbital granules present around eye. Eyelid transparent immovable; eyelid suture complete; hidden by superciliaries. Symphysial broad, longer than high; convex anteriorly, concave posteriorly. Postsymphysial almost as long as wide. Three pairs of genials in contact at midline with asymmetrical zig-zag suture; anterior pair smallest, posterior largest. Infralabials seven. Gulars enlarged, smooth, imbricate; in seven longitudinal and 9-12 transverse rows. Interbrachials seven, central one largest. Collar absent. Lateral scales on neck smooth, cycloid, imbricate, as temporals. Dorsals smooth, cycloid, imbricate, identical to ventrals; 16 rows at midbody. Transverse dorsal scale rows 31-34 from interparietal to posterior level of hind limb. Ventrals in 20-26 rows from interbrachial row to anal border. Preanal scales four; median pair of scales largest. Tail complete about 1.6 times SVL. Scales on unregenerated part of tail smooth, imbricate, cycloid; scales on regenerated part of the tail narrower, longer, distinctly lanceolate. Forelimb with smooth, cycloid scales; scales granular to tuberculate on palm. Inner finger absent; relative sizes of remaining digits: 2 = 5 < 3 4. Hind limb with smooth, rhomboidal, imbricate scales, except for posterior face of thighs with smaller, almost granular scales. Sole scales granular to tuberculate. Subdigital lamellae under fourth toe 13-17, single. Toes in order of increasing size: 1-2-5-3-4. Total number of femoral pores eight in males, restricted to proximal third of thighs; femoral pores in females 5-7. SVL of largest male 38 mm; largest female 43 mm. Dorsal ground color olive-brown to purplish-olive. Conspicuous white dorsolateral stripe, bordered above by narrower black stripe extending from most anterior superciliary to anterior third of tail. Lateral white stripe extending from first supralabial through the ear to tail, bordered below by another black stripe, passing over ear opening. Between these two white stripes, another black stripe extending from lateral face of head to tail. Tail bright blue. Forelimb with two distinct longitudinal stripes, one beginning from the lateral stripe that covers the ear; between these two light stripes, a larger black stripe with scattered light spots. Hind limb brown with scattered, irregular light spots and light stripe on posterior part of thigh; Venter of thigh immaculate white. |
| Comment | Probably also in Bolivia (fide LANGSTROTH 2005). |
| Etymology | The epithet specific is an adjective that alludes to the nests of the leaf-cutter ants (Atta laevigata) where these lizards seek refuge and frequently are found. |
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