[Herpetology • 2021] Sceloporus dixoni & S. hesperus • Cryptic Diversity Across the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Mexico in the Montane Bunchgrass Lizard Sceloporus subniger (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)

Sceloporus dixoni & 
Sceloporus hesperus 

Bryson & Grummer

in Bryson, Grummer, ... et Klicka, 2021. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.2.5 

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Abstract

Sceloporus subniger Poglaygen & Smith is a montane bunchgrass lizard distributed across pine-oak forests of central Mexico. Prompted by the discovery of a new population of this lizard in far western Mexico, and by recent studies suggesting S. subniger may be a composite of several distinct species, we examined in more detail the genetic structure of S. subniger. We generated a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) dataset from 81 specimens and an ultraconserved elements (UCE) dataset representing thousands of genomic regions from 12 specimens to specifically evaluate the genetic distinctiveness of populations from western Michoacán and adjacent Jalisco along with the newly discovered population in the Sierra de Mascota in western Jalisco. We also recorded morphological data from 47 museum specimens to compare to our genetic data. Results from our analyses of the genetic data, augmented by specimen measurements and scale counts, support the notion that S. subniger is indeed a composite of distinct species. Montane bunchgrass lizards from western Michoacán and adjacent Jalisco, and from the Sierra de Mascota in western Jalisco, each represent distinct new species, which we describe and name here.

Keywords: mitochondrial DNA, new species, phylogenomics, Sceloporus scalaris group, ultraconserved elements

Dorsal and ventral aspects of male Sceloporus dixoni sp. nov. from the type locality.  
Male Sceloporus hesperus sp. nov. from the type locality.

Specimen photographed and released.

Sceloporus dixoni sp. nov. Bryson & Grummer

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym honoring the late James R. Dixon for his decades of research on Mexican herpetofauna, including several insightful studies of the S. scalaris group. “Doc” Dixon took an early interest in the academic growth of the first author and made a profound and lasting impact. For this and for his encouragement and support, he will be truly missed.

Sceloporus hesperus sp. nov. Bryson & Grummer

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek word hesperos, meaning “western”, and is used in reference to the type locality located at the far western end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

    

Robert W. Bryson Jr. Jared A. Grummer, Elizabeth M. Connors, Joseph Tirpak, John E. McCormack and John Klicka. 2021. Cryptic Diversity Across the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Mexico in the Montane Bunchgrass Lizard Sceloporus subniger (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae).  Zootaxa. 4963(2); 335–353. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.2.5

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[Herpetology • 2020] Uma thurmanae • A New Cryptic Species of Fringe-toed Lizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from southwestern Arizona with A Revised Taxonomy of the Uma notata Species Complex

Uma thurmanae

Derycke, Gottscho, Mulcahy & de Queiroz, 2020

Mohawk Dunes Fringe-toed Lizard  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.1.3 

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Abstract

Fringe-toed lizards (Uma) are among the most specialized lizards in North America, adapted to insular windblown sand habitats in the hyper-arid southwestern deserts, with allopatric distributions, subtle morphological variation, and an unstable taxonomic history. We analyzed a morphological dataset of 40 characters for 65 specimens and a molecular dataset of 2,286 bases from three mitochondrial loci for 92 individuals and interpreted these data alongside published analyses of multi-locus genetic data with the goal of revising the taxonomy of the Uma notata (Baird 1858) species complex. We confirmed that fringe-toed lizards from the Mohawk Dunes in southwestern Arizona (U. sp.) constitute a cryptic species sister to the rest of the complex that can be diagnosed with DNA barcoding and geography, so we describe and name this species Uma thurmanae sp. nov. We also confirmed the evolutionary distinctiveness of U. inornata (Cope 1895), an endangered species endemic to Coachella Valley in southern California. We designate a lectotype for the taxon U. “rufopunctata”, but we put its name in quotation marks to reflect its uncertain taxonomic status with respect to its neighboring species U. cowlesi and U. notata.

Keywords: Reptilia, Dunes, Mitochondrial DNA, Morphology, Phylogeny, Sonoran Desert, Systematics

Uma thurmanae
 An individual in its natural habitat, the Mohawk Dunes.

 Photograph by A. Gottscho.

Uma thurmanae sp. nov. 

Mohawk Dunes Fringe-toed Lizards

Etymology. The specific name thurmanae honors Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970), an American actress and pop icon, for her philanthropic contributions and outreach promoting wildlife conservation and human rights

 Elizabeth G. Derycke, Andrew D. Gottscho, Daniel G. Mulcahy and Kevin de Queiroz. 2020. A New Cryptic Species of Fringe-toed Lizards from southwestern Arizona with A Revised Taxonomy of the Uma notata Species Complex (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Zootaxa. 4778(1); 67–100. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4778.1.3

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