[Herpetology • 2023] Lepidophyma jasonjonesi • A New Species of saxicolous Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico

 Lepidophyma jasonjonesi 

Grünwald, Reyes-Velasco, Ahumada-Carrillo, Montaño-Ruvalcaba, Franz-Chávez, La Forest, Ramírez-Chaparro, Terán-Juárez & Borja-Jiménez, 2023

Jones’ Night Lizard | Lagartija Nocturna de Jones  ||  DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e96184

Abstract

We describe a new saxicolous species of Lepidophyma from the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico and provide morphological and molecular data to support the novelty of this species. The new species is most closely related to members of the L. sylvaticum group; however; it is a flattened form specialised for a saxicolous lifestyle and it can be distinguished from all other members by a combination of meristic characters. Genetic analysis suggests that several populations of L. sylvaticum might represent additional novel taxa, while the validity of L. micropholis is questioned. We discuss conservation priorities of the new species.

Key Words: conservation, night lizards, reptiles, Sierra Madre Oriental, systematics, taxonomy

 Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov. Holotype (INIRENA 2817).
 (A) Dorso-lateral perspective in life; (B) dorsal perspective in preservative; (C) ventral perspective in preservative.

 Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov. Paratype (INIRENA 2818).
(A) Dorso-lateral perspective in life; (B) dorsal perspective in preservative; (C) ventral perspective in preservative.

Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov.

 Proposed standard English name: Jones’ Night Lizard 

Proposed standard Spanish name: Lagartija Nocturna de Jones

 

Diagnosis: Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: flattened head and body, head height 31–32% of head length; anterior pretympanic plate large, similar size as anterior supratemporal; 52–54 gular scales; 0–1 gular scales contacting first pair of infralabials; 180–182 dorsal scales mid-ventrally between occipitals and rump; 17–18 enlarged tubercles in paravertebral row between axilla and groin, 16 enlarged tubercles in second vertebral row between axilla and groin; 37–40 total femoral pores; 27–30 lamellae on fourth toe of foot, with 10–15 divided mid-ventrally; 35–38 ventral scale rows, with 10 longitudinal ventral scale rows; iris brown.

(A–D) Variation of  Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov. individuals seen at the type locality.

All photographs by Jason M. Jones, taken in October, 2016.

Photo of the locality and habitat at the type locality of Lepidophyma jasonjonesi sp. nov.

 (Photo from Google Earth).

Christoph I. Grünwald, Jacobo Reyes-Velasco, Iván T. Ahumada-Carrillo, Carlos Montaño-Ruvalcaba, Héctor Franz-Chávez, Brandon T. La Forest, Ricardo Ramírez-Chaparro, Sergio Terán-Juárez and Juan Miguel Borja-Jiménez. 2023. A New Species of saxicolous Lepidophyma (Squamata, Xantusiidae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Herpetozoa. 36: 9-21. DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e96184

Resumen: Describimos una nueva especie saxícola de Lepidophyma de la Sierra Madre Oriental, en el estado de Tamaulipas, México, y proporcionamos datos morfológicos y moleculares para apoyar la validez de esta especie. La nueva especie está más estrechamente relacionada con los miembros del grupo L. sylvaticum, sin embargo es de un morfotipo aplanado especializado para una vida saxícola y se puede distinguir de todos los demás miembros por una combinación de caracteres merísticos. Los análisis genéticos sugieren que varias poblaciones de L. sylvaticum podrían representar nuevos taxones adicionales, mientras que se cuestiona la validez de L. micropholis. Se discuten las prioridades de conservación de la nueva especie.

Palabras Clave: conservación, Lagartijas Nocturnas, Reptiles, Sistemática, Taxonomía

Kurzfassung: Wir beschreiben eine neue Felsen bewohnende Art von Lepidophyma aus der Sierra Madre Oriental im Bundesstaat Tamaulipas (Mexiko) und legen morphologische und molekulare Daten vor, die die Hypothese, dass es sich um eine neue Art handelt, unterstützen. Die neue Art ist am nächsten mit der L. sylvaticum-Gruppe verwandt, hat jedoch eine abgeflachte Morphologie, die zeigt, dass sie auf Felsen spezialisiert ist. Sie lässt sich durch einer Kombination meristischer Merkmale von allen anderen Mitgliedern der Gattung unterscheiden. Genetische Analysen deuten an, dass mehrere Populationen von L. sylvaticum weitere neue Arten darstellen könnten, während die Gültigkeit von L. micropholis in Frage gestellt wird. Wir empfehlen Prioritäten für den Schutz der neuen Art.

Schlüsselwörter: Nachteidechsen, Naturschutz, Reptilien, Sierra Madre Oriental, Systematik, Taxonomie

[Herpetology • 2021] Lepidophyma lusca • A New Species of Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from San Luis Potosí, México, with Notes on Its Physiological Ecology

Lepidophyma lusca 

Arenas-Moreno, Muñoz-Nolasco, Moral, Rodríguez-Miranda, Domínguez-Guerrero & Cruz, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.1.6

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in the descriptions of members of the lizard genus Lepidophyma. Herein, we describe a new species of Lepidophyma from the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico, previously confused with L. gaigeae, from which it differs in lacking parietal spot, among other characteristics. We inferred its phylogenetic position and provide information on its thermal and hydric physiology, as well as on some other aspects of natural history. Molecular and morphological data supported the independent taxonomic status of the new species, indicating its placement as the sister taxon of L. gaigeae and a wide morphological separation between these species. Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. has a diurnal-crepuscular activity period and occurs at lower elevations than L. gaigeae. Also, the new species differ from its sister taxon in its physiology, as reflected by its tendency toward higher thermal parameters and water loss rates. With the description of L. lusca sp. nov., the number of species in the genus Lepidophyma rises to 21.

Keywords: Reptilia, Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov., Huasteca, tropical night lizards, phylogenetic relationships, ecophysiology, diurnality

the holotype of Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. (CNAR IBH 32556). 
Dorsal (A), lateral (B), and ventral (C) views of the head

Bar represents 5 mm.

Holotype (CNAR IBH 32556) of Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. in life.

Lepidophyma lusca, sp. nov.

 Lepidophyma gaigeae Ahumada-Carrillo (2013) 

 Etymology: The specific epithet, “lusca”, is the singular feminine noun in Latin for “one eyed”, due the absence of parietal eye.

Habitat and microhabitat of  Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. at the Tamul waterfall, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
 (A) Semi-evergreen forest at the banks of the Gallinas river;
(B) limestone outcrops where lizards are found.

Distribution records of  Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. and L. gaigeae.

 

Diego M. Arenas-Moreno, Francisco J. Muñoz-Nolasco, Adán Bautista-Del Moral, Luis A. Rodríguez-Miranda, Saúl F. Domínguez-Guerrero and Fausto R. Méndez-De La Cruz. 2021. A New Species of Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from San Luis Potosí, México, with Notes on Its Physiological Ecology. Zootaxa. 4949(1); 115–130. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.1.6

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[Herpetology • 2018] Lepidophyma inagoi • A New Species of Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from the Pacific Lowlands of Guerrero, Mexico

Lepidophyma inagoi

Palacios-Aguilar, Santos-Bibiano & Flores-Villela, 2018
  DOI:  10.1670/17-061 
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ABSTRACT
We describe a new species of the genus Lepidophyma from the Pacific lowlands of Guerrero, southern Mexico. Previously referred to as L. smithii, the new taxon is distinguished by a series of morphological characteristics, principally higher numbers of gulars, paravertebrals, and lateral tubercle rows. This new species increases the number of described Lepidophyma to 20 species.

FIG. 1. Adult female specimen of Lepidophyma inagoi in life (MZFC 30706, holotype).
FIG. 2. Dorsal and lateral view of the holotype of Lepidophyma inagoi (MZFC 30706).  

Lepidophyma inagoi, sp. nov. 

 Lepidophyma smithii Mendoza-Hernández and Santos-Barrera, 2004; 

Canseco-Ma´rquez et al., 2008; Vázquez-García et al., 2010.

Etymology.—The name inagoi is a patronym honoring our friend and colleague, Iván Nava González, who passed away in late December 2014.

Ricardo Palacios-Aguilar, Rufino Santos-Bibiano and Oscar Flores-Villela. 2018.

A New Species of Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from the Pacific Lowlands of Guerrero, Mexico. Journal of Herpetology. 52(3); 327–331.  DOI:  10.1670/17-061

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RESUMEN: Se describe una nueva especie del género Lepidophyma de las tierras bajas del Pacı´fico de Guerrero, sur de Me´xico. Esta nueva especie fue referida en el pasado a L. smithii pero puede ser diferenciada de esta por una serie de caracterı´sticas morfolo´gicas, principalmente por tener un mayor nu´mero de escamas gulares, paravertebrales e hileras de tube´ rculos laterales. Esta especie eleva el nu´mero de Lepidophyma descritas a 20.