[Herpetology • 2004 ] Echinosaura brachycephala • A new species of Echinosaura (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador

FIG. 2.  Head of holotype of Echinosaura  brachycephala (MHNG 2359.77). (A) Lateral view; (B) dorsal view; (C) ventral view. Scale bars equal 5.0 mm. 

A new species of Echinosaura, Echinosaura brachycephala, is described from two localities on the Pacific versant of the Ecuadorian Andes. The new species differs from all other species of the genus by its conspicuously short head with a high domed snout in lateral profile and various scalation characteristics including the number of ventral scales per caudal segment, the arrangement of  dorsal body scales, and a reduced or absent postmental scale. A key to the species of Echinosaura and Teuchocercus  is provided.

Etymology.- The  species  name  is  derived  the Greek  brachy, meaning  "short"  and  the  Greek cephal, meaning  "head" in  reference to the  conspicuously short head  of this species.

FIG. 6. Distribution of the Ecuadorian species of Echinosaura. Echinosaura brachycephala (triangles; typelocality encircled), Echinosaura horrida (circles), Echinosaura orcesi (squares), and Teuchocercus keyi (inverted triangles).

FIG. 4.  Lateral view  of head. (A) Echinosaura horrida (ZFMK 43768); (B) Echinosaura brachycephala (ZFMK 46371); (C) Teuchocercus keyi (MHNG 2284.59); (D) Echinosaura palmeri (BMNH 1923.10.12.14); (E) Echinosaura panamensis (ZFMK 49107); (F) Echinosaura orcesi (NMW F 3087). Drawings  by Mathias Giinther. 

Köhler, G.; Böhme, W. & Schmitz, A. 2004. A new species of Echinosaura (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador. Journal of Herpetology 38 (1): 52-60

http://jstor.org/stable/1566086

[Herpetology • 2004] Euspondylus nellycarmlla • new Euspondylus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Peru, with a Key to the species of Euspondylus and Proctoporus from Peru

Euspondylus nellycarmlla

Abstract

We describe two new species of Proctoporus and a new species of Euspondylus (all from central Peru, Departamento de Huanuco, 2545 to 3010 m elevation). The new species are distinguished from all species presently assigned to Proctoporus and Euspondylus by unique characteristics of pholidosis, morphometrics, and color pattern. A key to the Peruvian species of Proctoporus and Euspondylus is provided. The current allocation of species to Proctoporus and Euspondylus may not reflect the phylogenetic relationships of the species  under consideration. Based on the  available data there  appears to  be  no  evidence to justify the separation of these genera. However, because of nomenclatural problems that would arise from synonymizing the two genera (e.g., producing a secondary homonymy in the case of Proctoporus guentheri Boettger and Ecpleopus guentheri O'Shaughnessy), we  chose to  retain the two genera until phylogenetic information is available. 

Key words:  Euspondylus; Gymnophthalmidae; New species; Peru; Proctoporus; Squamata

Köhler, G.; Lehr, E. 2004. Comments on Euspondylus and Proctoporus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Peru, with the description of three new species and a key to the Peruvian species. Herpetologica 60 (4): 501-518. doi: 10.1655/03-93

[Herpetology • 2003] Euspondylus caideni and E. josyi • Two new species of Euspondylus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Peru

Euspondylus caideni and E. josyi

Euspondylus josyi

Etymology: Named after Franz-Josef Hans (nicknamed “Josy”), in recogniton of his support of taxonomic studies through the BIOPAT programme.

Euspondylus caideni 

Etymology: Named after Caiden Vlasimsky (USA), in recogniton of his support of taxonomic studies through the BIOPAT programme.

Köhler, G. 2003: Two new species of Euspondylus (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Peru. Salamandra, 39(1): 5-20

Euspondylus josyi KÖHLER 2003 : http://eol.org/pages/789988/overview

Euspondylus caideni KÖHLER 2003 : http://eol.org/pages/789960/overview