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Euspondylus excelsum
Chávez, Catenazzi & Venegas, 2017
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Abstract
We describe a new species of arboreal gymnophtalmid lizard from the eastern Andean slopes in central Peru. Euspondylus excelsum sp. nov. is assigned tentatively to this genus for the presence of a transparent and divided lower palpebral disc, a pair of prefrontals, striated, subimbricated and homogeneous dorsal scales, lateral scales reduced in proximity to ventrals, and a discontinuous series of femoral pores in males and females. We include a revision of the type material of E. maculatus and clarify morphological differences with the new species. Finally, we discuss the taxonomic status of Peruvian species of Euspondylus.
Keywords: Reptilia, Andes, new species, gymnophtalmid lizard, Cercosaurini, Squamata, taxonomy
Euspondylus excelsum sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet “excelsum” is from Latin and means “tall”, in reference to the habitat of the new species in the canopy of the tropical rainforest.
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| FIGURE 2. Views of the holotype (CORBIDI 16457; SVL= 69.4 mm); A) coloration in life; B) dorsal view of the coloration in preservative; C) ventral view of the coloration in preservative.
Photographs by Lesly Luján (A), and GermánChávez (B,C).
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| FIGURE 3. Views of the dorsum (left) and venter (right) of the paratypes in life, A–B) Adult male (CORBIDI 16465, SVL=83.7 mm); C–D) Adult female (CORBIDI 16463, SVL=81.4); E–F) Juvenile male (CORBIDI 16468, SVL=47.7). Photographs byLesly Luján. |
Germán Chávez, Alessandro Catenazzi and Pablo J. Venegas. 2017. A New Species of Arboreal Microteiid Lizard of the Genus Euspondylus (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae) from the Andean Slopes of central Peru with Comments on Peruvian Euspondylus. Zootaxa. 4350(2); 301–316. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4350.2.6
