Phymaturus laurenti LOBO, ABDALA & VALDECANTOS, 2010
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Phymaturus laurenti?
Phymaturus laurenti
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| Higher Taxa | Liolaemidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Phymaturus laurenti LOBO, ABDALA & VALDECANTOS 2010 |
| Distribution | Argentina (Catamarca) Type locality: around 10 km s of el peñón, departamento antofagasta de la sierra, catamarca province, argentina. 26°39’40.6”s; 67°13’26.3”w; 3815 m elevation, rocky outcrops 300 m east of provincial road 43. |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCN-UNSa 2855, male. F. Lobo and S. Valdecantos col. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Phymaturus laurenti belongs to the palluma group (sensu etheridge, 1995; Lobo and Quinteros, 2005a) because it has short non imbricate superciliaries, rugose dorsal scales on tail, usually fragmented subocular and undifferentiated chinshields. Phymaturus laurenti belongs to the puna subclade of the palluma group (Lobo and Quinteros 2005a) because it has its typical “spray” dorsal pattern. The new species is distinguishable from P. antofagastensis (most phenetically similar species) because it has a typical pattern of small spots spread over the whole dorsum as a homogeneous “spray” (a common condition found in most species of the puna clade within the palluma group) while in P. antofa- gastensis the spots are irregularly aggregated (Lobo and Quinteros, 2005a, fig. 12). in addition to this diagnosis, P. antofagastensis has the five‐white‐spot pattern over the dorsal part of the head which is exclusive to the species. moreover, in P. antofagastensis most females and many males exhibit transversal stripes which are absent in the new species (figs. 9 and 10). males of Phymaturus laurenti exhibit enlarged scales in the base of the tail, a condition not shared by P. antofagastensis. plantar scales of P. laurenti are smooth while in P. antofagastensis they are strongly striated and keeled. Phymaturus laurenti differs from P. mallimaccii in having enlarged scales in the center of chest and males also having enlarged postcloacal scales, in P. mallimaccii a vertebral light gray ribbon can be present (never in P. laurenti) and it is distinguishable from P. punae because the backs of the males of this last species are completely yellow (without brown scales dispersed within that color like in other species of the group) and in P. laurenti the melanic dorsum of the neck is interrupted at its midline while in P. punae it is completely uniform. |
| Comment | |
| Etymology | Named after Belgian herpetologist Raymond Laurent (1917-2005) in recognition of his fruitful scientific contribution to Argentinean herpetology, and especially for injecting his enthusiasm and passion into his students to study amphibians and reptiles. |
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