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| Enyalioides feiruzae Venegas, Chávez, García-Ayachi, Duran & Torres-Carvajal, 2021 |
Abstract
We report the discovery of a new species of Enyalioides from the premontane forest of the Río Huallaga basin in central Peru. The most similar and phylogenetically related species are E. binzayedi and E. rudolfarndti. However, the new species differs from E. binzayedi (state of character in parentheses) by having dorsal scales strongly keeled on paravertebral region and feebly keeled or smooth elsewhere (prominent medial keel on each dorsal scale), more dorsals in transverse row between dorsolateral crests at midbody 26–39, x̄ = 30.44 (22–31, x̄ = 27.57), and a conspicuous posteromedial black patch in the gular region of males (absent). Contrarily, adult males of the new species and E. rudolfarndti are readily distinguished by having a conspicuous posteromedial black patch in the gular region, absent in E. rudolfarndti, and by lacking a conspicuous orange blotch (faint if present) on the antehumeral region, as in E. rudolfarndti. We also present an updated molecular phylogenetic tree of hoplocercines, which strongly supports both referral of the newly discovered species to Enyalioides and its status as distinct from those recognized previously.
Key Words: Andes, Enyalioides, Hoplocercinae, Huallaga River, new species, Peru, phylogeny
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| Figure 1. Holotype of Enyalioides feiruzae sp. nov. (CORBIDI 9316, adult male, SVL = 121 mm). (A) lateral view; (B) close-up of head; (C) ventral view. Photographs by P.J. Venegas. |
Enyalioides feiruzae sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Enyalioides feiruzae can be distinguished from other species of Enyalioides, except E. binzayedi and E. rudolfarndti, by the combination of the following characters (see also Table 1): (1) scales posterior to the superciliaries enlarged and pointed (relative to adjacent scales), forming a well-defined longitudinal row of distinctly raised scales across the lateral edge of the head in juveniles and adults of both sexes; (2) vertebral crest strongly projected, continuous, and decreasing in size posteriorly, with vertebrals on neck at least four times higher than those between hind limbs; (3) projecting scales on body or limbs absent; (4) ventral scales strongly keeled; (5) caudal scales heterogeneous in size on each autotomic segment; and (6) superciliary triangular flap that projects posterolaterally over each eye absent. The most similar species to Enyalioides feiruzae is its sister species (see below) E. rudolfarndti (Fig. 4B). Both species are similar in dorsal coloration, scale counts, and size; however, E. feiruzae differs from E. rudolfarndti (character states in parentheses) in having a conspicuous posteromedial black patch, rarely dark brown, in the gular region in both sexes (absent); adult males usually without an orange round blotch on the antehumeral region or a faint blotch if present (conspicuous orange blotch on antehumeral region in adult males); scales on flanks homogeneous in size (distinctly heterogeneous); and fewer supralabials 8–10, x̄ = 9.52 (11–12, x̄ = 11.75). The new species differs from E. binzayedi in having dorsal scales strongly keeled on paravertebral region and feebly keeled or smooth elsewhere (prominent medial keel on each dorsal scale); fewer supralabials 8–10, x̄ = 9.52 (11–15, x̄ = 12); more dorsals in transverse row between dorsolateral crests at midbody 26–39, x̄ = 30.44 (22–31, x̄ = 27.57); and a conspicuous posteromedial black patch in the gular region (absent).
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| Figure 4. Head and anterior body region in lateral view of adult male specimens of Enyalioides feiruzae sp. nov. (A, CORBIDI 14916, paratype), E. rudolfarndti (B, CORBIDI 7209, holotype), and E. binzayedi (C, CORBIDI 8828, holotype). Photographs (A) by G. Chávez and (B, C) by P.J. Venegas. |
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| Figure 2. Adult specimens of Enyalioides feiruzae sp. nov. Male (A, B, CORBIDI 15469), female (C, D, CORBIDI 9317), male (E, F, CORBIDI 9314). Photographs (A, B) by G. Chávez and (C–F) by P.J. Venegas. |
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| Figure 3. Juvenile specimens of Enyalioides feiruzae sp. nov. (A, B) CORBIDI 9315, (C, D) CORBIDI 9318, (E, F) CORBIDI 9319, (G, H) CORBIDI 15470. Photographs (A–F) by P.J. Venegas and (G, H) by G. Chávez. |
Etymology: The specific name is a noun in the genitive case and is a patronym for Feiruz, a female green iguana, muse and lifelong friend, owned by Catherine Thomson from Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, who supported our taxonomic research and nature conservation through the BIOPAT initiative.
Pablo J. Venegas, Germán Chávez, Luis A. García-Ayachi, Vilma Duran and Omar Torres-Carvajal. 2021. A New Species of Wood Lizard (Hoplocercinae, Enyalioides) from the Río Huallaga Basin in Central Peru. Evolutionary Systematics. 5(2): 263-273. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.5.69227