Trachylepis adamastor CERIACO, 2015
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Trachylepis adamastor
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Mabuyinae (Mabuyini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | Portuguese: Lagartixa-adamastor English: Adamastor Skink |
| Synonym | Trachylepis adamastor CERIACO 2015 Lygodactylus [sic!] maculilabris — HENRIQUES 1917: 81 Mabuia maculilabris — BOCAGE 1903: 53 Mabuia maculilabris — BOULENGER 1906: 205 Mabuya maculilabris — MANAÇAS 1958: 184 Mabuya maculilabris — MANAÇAS 1973: 223 Mabuya maculilabris — SCHÄTTI & LOUMONG 1992: 29 Mabuya maculilabris — HOFER 2002: 82 Trachylepis cf. maculilabris–Príncipe — CERÍACO 2015: 512 Trachylepis principensis CERÍACO, MARQUES & BAUER 2016 Trachylepis adamastor — CERÍACO et al. 2023 |
| Distribution | Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (Tinhosa Grande Islet) Type locality: "Pedras Tinhosas" (N: -1.34135556, E: - 7.29151389; WGS-84), Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe principensis: Príncipe Island; Type locality: on a tree near Santo Cristo (N: 1.63822, E : 7.43317; WGS-84), Príncipe Island, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Holotype: IICT no2-1970, Adult female collected by an unknown collector in 21th March 1970 (Fig. 2). Paratypes. Seven specimens: IICT no1-1970, Adult male collected in the same locality of the holotype, also by an unknown collector in 1970, IICT no1-1971, adult male, IICT no2-1971, adult female, IICT no3-1971, adult female, IICT no4-1971, adult female, IICT no5-1971, adult female, and IICT no6-1971, both from the same locality of the holotype and collected by an unknown collector in 1971. Holotype: MB = MUHNAC 03-000957, adult male collected by Luis M.P. Ceríaco, Mariana Marques and Pedro Ceríaco on 11 February 2015 (Figs 6). Paratypes. All specimens from the Island of Príncipe, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Twelve specimens: MB03-000909, adult male collected in Roça Pincaté (N: 1.63205, E: 7.39869; WGS-84) by Luis Ceríaco and Mariana Marques on 20 March 2013; MB03-000951 adult female collected in Roça Porto Real (N: 1.624324, E: 7.405327; WGS-84), by Ostelino da Silva on 1 March 2014; MB03-000955, adult female, MB03-000956, collected in the same locality, same date and by the same collectors as the holotype; MB03-000979, adult female collected in Torre de Comunicação Sundy (N: 1.00000, E: 7.37924; WGS-84), by Hélio Vicente on 12 February 2015; CAS 219172, adult female collected south of Roça Sundy (N: 1.66239, E: 7.38550; WGS-84) by R.C. Drewes and R.E. Stoelting on 21 April 2001; CAS 219188, adult male, CAS 219189, adult female, CAS 219190, adult female, all collected in Nova Estrela (N: 1.62050, E: 7.43036; WGS-84) by R.C. Drewes and R.E. Stoelting on 21 April 2001; CAS 219358, adult male, CAS 219361, adult female, both collected in Praia Abade (N: 1.63075, E: 7.45600; WGS-84) by R. E. Stoelting on 16 May 2001; CAS 238898, adult female collected at Bom Bom resort (N: 1.69817, E: 7.40267; WGS-84) by K. Monson on 3 May 2008 [principensis] |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis: A large and robust species of Trachylepis identified to the genus by the following combination of characters: four-limbed lizard, body covered with relatively large scales, dorsal and ventral scales polished, dorsal and ventral scales not highly differentiated (i.e. no great variation in size or structure), nostril well separated from the rostral shield, eyelids fully moveable and capable of closing the eye, lower eyelid with a large transparent disc, dorsal scales keeled, limbs pentadactyl and well developed, femoral pores absent. The new species can be easily distinguished from all other Trachylepis species by the following combination of characters: (1) large and robust body size, up to at least 112.0 mm SVL; (2) color pattern consisting of dark-brown dorsal coloration, with subtle black and white speckles, venter grayish; (3) MSR 31–34, SAD 49–54, SAV 63–66; (4) KDS 5 or 6; (5) scales on sole of feet and hands smooth; (6) one pretemporal scale; (7) very small ear opening. Additional details (4535 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Abundance: only known from its original description (Meiri et al. 2017). Synonymy: Trachylepis principensis CERÍACO et al. 2016 was synonymized with T. adamastor by CERÍACO et al. 2020. |
| Etymology | The specific epithet 'adamastor' refers to the mythical giant inhabiting a rock "in the end of the sea" present in the Luis de Camões famous odyssey 'Os Lusíadas', and is applied here as a substantive in apposition. The specific epithet 'principensis' refers to the Island of Príncipe of the Republic of São Tomé & Príncipe, to which it is endemic, and is applied here as a substantive. We propose the English name of "Príncipe Skink" and the Portuguese name "Lagartixa do Príncipe". |
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