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| Anolis nemonteae Ayala-Varela, Valverde, Poe, Narváez, Yánez-Muñoz & Torres-Carvajal, 2021 |
Abstract
We describe a new species of Anolis lizard from the Pacific slopes of the Andes of southwestern Ecuador at elevations between 372–1,000 m. The new species belongs to the Dactyloa clade and may be distinguished from other Anolis by size, external anatomy, mitochondrial DNA divergence, and dewlap color. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data, we found that the new species is sister to A. fraseri in a clade composed primarily of large Dactyloid species. The new species is known from a protected area in southern Ecuador, Buenaventura Reserve, which suggests that at least some its populations are well protected.
Keywords: Reptilia, Andes, Anolis, phylogeny, South America, systematics, taxonomy
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| Preserved holotype of Anolis nemonteae sp. nov. (QCAZ 14595) in dorsal (A), lateral (B), and ventral (C) views, with close-ups of dewlap (D), pelvic region (E), and right foot (F). Scale bars = 10 mm (A, B, C) and 5 mm (D, E, F). Photographs by M. Masache. |
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| Variation of color in life of Anolis nemonteae sp. nov. Adult female QCAZ 14595 (holotype, A, B, C); adult female JMG 0485 (D); juvenile female QCAZ 14431 (E); hatchling female QCAZ 14660 (F); adult male QCAZ 14596 (G, H, I); a dult male JMG 0484 (J, K). Photographs by A. E. Narváez (A, B, C, G, H, I), F. Ayala-Varela (E), P. Pintanel (F) and P. Romero (D, J, K). |
Anolis nemonteae sp. nov.
Proposed standard English name: Star anoles
Proposed standard Spanish name: Anolis de las estrellas
Fernando Ayala-Varela, Sebastián Valverde, Steven Poe, Andrea E. Narváez, Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz and Omar Torres-Carvajal. 2021. A New Giant Anole (Squamata: Iguanidae: Dactyloinae) from southwestern Ecuador. Zootaxa. 4991(2); 295-317. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4991.2.4
