Herpetologica, 59(1), 2003, 89–105
q 2003 by The Herpetologists’ League, Inc.
TWO NEW SPECIES OF LIOLAEMUS LIZARDS FROM
NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA: SPECIATION WITHIN THE
NORTHERN SUBCLADE OF THE ELONGATUS GROUP
(IGUANIA: LIOLAEMIDAE)
ROBERT E. ESPINOZA1,3,4
AND
FERNANDO LOBO2
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology and Biological Resources Research Center,
University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA; and Section of Amphibians and Reptiles,
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080, USA
2
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Avenida Bolivia 5150,
Salta 4400, Argentina
1
ABSTRACT: The Liolaemus elongatus group currently includes eight species (including the species described herein) of mid-sized, long-tailed, primarily saxicolous lizards. Members of this lineage
are distributed in northwestern Argentina along the Andean Cordillera south to the Patagonian
Steppe (27–448 S) and over a wide range of elevations (350–3900 m). Here we describe two new
species belonging to the northern radiation of the elongatus group. The four currently recognized
members of this northern subclade (including the two species described herein) have fewer midbody
scales than other members of the elongatus group, brown to black heads, and lack the distinct dorsal
body or tail patterns found in adults of other species belonging to the elongatus group. Additionally,
pregnant and recently spent females exhibit crimson red color in the cloacal region—a trait known
only for members of this northern lineage and L. buergeri. The first new species, L. dicktracyi from
the Sierra de Famatina of La Rioja Province, differs from all other members of the elongatus group
in several meristic characters and in its unique dorsal coloration: black heads, shoulders, and tails,
with blue torsos and hind limbs. The second new species, L. umbrifer from the Quebrada de
Randolfo in northeastern Catamarca Province, is morphologically similar to L. capillitas, but differs
from this and other species in the elongatus group in several meristic characters, the presence of
black shoulders and upper arms, and crimson red coloration of the cloacal region in both males
and females. The natural history of both of the new species is similar in many respects to L. capillitas
and L. heliodermis, which further supports the phylogenetic affinities of members of this subclade
within the elongatus group. Finally, we provide comparisons of recent phylogenetic hypotheses and
discuss the content of the elongatus group.
Key words: Argentina; Liolaemidae; Liolaemus dicktracyi sp. nov.; Liolaemus elongatus group;
Liolaemus umbrifer sp. nov.; Lizard; New species; Taxonomy
THROUGHOUT the arid and semiarid regions of South America, Liolaemus lizards
reign as the dominant components of most
reptile communities. Members of this
clade are widely distributed from the high
Andes of central Perú to the shores of Tierra del Fuego and over a broad range of
climates and habitats (Cei, 1986, 1993;
Donoso-Barros, 1966; Etheridge and Espinoza, 2000). Several species of Liolaemus even hold records among squamates
for their latitudinal (548 S; L. magellanicus) or elevational distributions ($5000 m;
L. irregularis, L. nigriceps, and L. signifer)
(R. E. Espinoza, unpublished data). This
remarkably large genus of lizards—second
only to Anolis in number of species—includes .160 recognized taxa and has continued to grow at a rate of nearly four new
species per year over the last decade (Etheridge and Espinoza, 2000).
Recent phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences for 60 species
of Liolaemus (Schulte et al., 2000) indicate
a well supported basal split dividing the
lineage into two, similarly sized clades that
largely correspond to groups defined previously from morphological evidence (Etheridge, 1995). One of these lineages, the
chiliensis group (sensu Etheridge, 1995;
Lobo, 2001; 5 subgenus Liolaemus sensu
Laurent, 1985; see also Schulte et al.,
2000), includes approximately 75 species
3
PRESENT ADDRESS: Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA
91330-8303, USA.
4
CORRESPONDENCE: e-mail, robert.e.espinoza@
csun.edu
89
90
HERPETOLOGICA
[Vol. 59, No. 1
TABLE 1.—Maximum body sizes (SVL) and geographic distributions of the eight Liolaemus species currently
recognized as belonging to the elongatus group (including the two new species described herein). Data for
L. thermarum are from Videla and Cei (1996) and Espinoza et al. (2000) with the inclusion of a northern
range extension for L. elongatus (Avila and Lobo, 1999) and new elevation records for L. petrophilus. The
four species belonging to the northern subclade of the elongatus groups are indicated with an asterisk.
Species
Maximum
SVL (mm)
Latitude range
(degrees S)
Elevation range
(m)
Liolaemus austromendocinus
L. capillitas∗
L. dicktracyi sp. nov.∗
L. elongatus1
L. heliodermis∗
L. petrophilus
L. thermarum
L. umbrifer sp. nov.∗
103
93
91
89
81
100
85
89
34–37
27
29
28–45
27
41–44
35
27
900–2310
2500–3900
2600–2800
700–3000
2820
350–1400
2400–2500
3190–3490
1
See Discussion for comments on the distribution of L. elongatus.
that share two derived morphological characteristics: a fused Meckel’s groove and
four or fewer precloacal pores. Within the
chiliensis group, several informal group
names have been applied to morphologically similar species (Cei, 1986, 1993; reviewed in Lobo, 2001). One of these, the
elongatus group as originally defined by
Cei (1974; see also Cei, 1975, 1986; Hulse,
1979), was recently diagnosed and redefined to include six species: L. austromendocinus, L. capillitas, L. elongatus, L. heliodermis, L. petrophilus, and L. thermarum (Espinoza et al., 2000).
The six currently recognized species of
the elongatus group are distinguished from
other species in the chiliensis group by
their moderate to large body size (approximately 80–100 mm snout–vent length:
SVL); moderately slender to robust, elongate bodies; small, nonoverlapping to subimbricate body scales (.55 around midbody) that do not terminate in a spine; and
tails that are longer than 1.5 times the SVL
and round in cross section (Espinoza et al.,
2000). Members of this lineage are distributed from near the intersection of the
Cumbres Calchaquı́es and the Sierra del
Aconquija of western Tucumán Province
(278 S), southward to the Patagonian
Steppe of Chubut Province (448 S), and
over a wide range of elevations (350–3900
m; Table 1). Species in the elongatus
group usually inhabit arid environments,
including the eco-regions known as Prepuna, Patagonian Forests, and Patagonian
Steppe (Burkart et al., 1999; Cabrera and
Willink, 1980). Most are moderately to exclusively saxicolous, insectivorous to omnivorous, and all species for which reproductive mode has been determined are viviparous (Cei, 1974, 1986; Espinoza et al.,
2000; Hulse, 1979; Videla, 1983).
Within the elongatus group are two
closely related, geographically isolated species, L. capillitas (Hulse, 1979) and L. heliodermis (Espinoza et al., 2000), which
are distributed far north of most other species in the elongatus group, with the exception of a few disjunct northern populations of L. elongatus (Avila and Lobo,
1999; but see Discussion). We refer to the
subclade including L. capillitas and L. heliodermis as the northern radiation of the
elongatus group. Members of this subclade, which currently includes the two species listed above plus the two new species
described below, differ from other species
in the elongatus group in the following
ways: usually fewer midbody scales 58–76
(versus 71–90 in other species of the
group), a uniformly brown to black head
(dorsal head is irregularly marked in other
species of the group), a torso and tail that
lack distinct patterns (no stripes, bars, or
rings) in adults, a darkly pigmented (usually black) area surrounding the insertion
of the forelimbs that is speckled with light
colored spots, and crimson red coloration
in the cloacal region of pregnant and recently spent females (Table 2). Here we
describe two new species, one from La
Rioja Province and another from Cata-
March 2003]
TABLE 2.—Diagnostic character states for currently recognized members of the Liolaemus elongatus group. Data for all but the new species are from Videla
and Cei (1996; for L. thermarum) or Espinoza et al. (2000) with minor revisions. Precloacal pores are for males only. Descriptions of body color (except red
coloration of the cloacal region) and patterns were taken from preserved adult lizards, but the traits listed below are also discernable in live specimens.
Character
Background body
color
Dorsal body pattern
Tail rings
Red in cloacal region3
capillitas
(n 5 16)
dicktracyi
sp. nov.
(n 5 10)
elongatus
(n 5 10)
heliodermis
(n 5 3)
petrophilus
(n 5 3)
thermarum
(Videla and
Cei, 1996)
umbrifer
sp. nov.
(n 5 16)
76–82
weak
58–67
distinct
60–73
weak/distinct
74–89
moderate/distinct
62–69
weak
71–95
distinct
84–89
weak
58–76
weak
2–3
brownish
gray
brownish
gray
indistinct
0–4
black
3–4
black
3–6
brown
3–4
black
3
brownish gray
0
light brown/gray
3–4
dark brown/black
brown/black
indigo/light
blue
indistinct
brown
sulfur yellow
brownish gray
brown/black
irregularly striped1 indistinct
dark brown/
ochre yellow
transverse bars
indistinct
indistinct
absent
usually distinct
absent
distinct
absent
absent
females
absent
unknown
absent
absent
both sexes
indistinct
usually dis- absent
tinct2
absent
females
HERPETOLOGICA
Midbody scales
Keels on dorsal
scales
Precloacal pores
Head color
austromendocinus
(n 5 10)
Irregular black stripes in lateral or dorsolateral field usually distinct and increase in width at midbody.
2
In our previous work (Espinoza et al., 2000, their table 2, p. 510), L. austromendocinus was listed as not possessing a ringed tail (in error), but was correctly noted as often possessing this trait in the text (see
Diagnosis of L. heliodermis in Espinoza et al. [2000], p. 510).
3
A patch of crimson red in the cloacal region, abdomen, ventral thighs, and proximal ventral tail, previously known only from pregnant and recently spent females of species belonging to the northern clade of the
elongatus group, both sexes in L. buergeri (M. Christie, personal communication; Hulse, 1979; F. Lobo and R. E. Espinoza, personal observations), and both sexes of L. umbrifer (see Discussion for further comments).
1
91
92
HERPETOLOGICA
[Vol. 59, No. 1
marca Province, that belong to this northern radiation of the elongatus group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For purposes of diagnosing the new
species and defining the northern clade of
the elongatus group, we examined a series
of each of the six species currently considered to be members of the elongatus
group (sensu Espinoza et al., 2000; Table
1; Appendix I). Specimens examined, including the new species described herein,
are deposited in the herpetological collections of the Museo Ciencias Naturales
(MCN); Universidad Nacional de Salta,
Argentina; the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CM), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; the Fundación Miguel Lillo
(FML), Tucumán, Argentina; and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), University of California, Berkeley, California,
USA. All specimens examined had been
collected either at their type localities or
within 100 km thereof. In our taxonomic
analysis, we considered external morphology, including squamation, coloration, and
color patterns. We examined live specimens of all species belonging to the elongatus group to record color in life (except
for L. thermarum for which we used information in Videla and Cei, 1996). A
Scouty global-positioning device (Trimble
Navigation Systems, Sunnyvale, California,
USA) was used to record the latitude, longitude, and elevation of lizards collected in
the field. Additional specimens were examined after fixation in 10% formalin and
preservation in 70% ethanol. Some character states were determined with the aid
of a binocular dissecting microscope (10–
403). Measurements were taken with digital calipers to the nearest 0.01 mm. Terms
for the description of scales are those of
Smith (1946); the distribution of body patterns is after Lobo and Espinoza (1999);
and for neck-fold terminology we follow
Frost (1992).
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Liolaemus dicktracyi sp. nov.
Holotype.—FML 9928 (field tag: REE
184), an adult male from Portezuelo Blanco, 26.5 km west of Famatina on road to
FIG. 1.—Holotype of Liolaemus dicktracyi (FML
9928; SVL 5 88.4 mm).
Cueva de Perez, Sierra de Famatina, Departamento Famatina, Provincia de La
Rioja, Argentina (288 549 300 S, 678 419 300
W; 2800 m); collected by F. B. Cruz and
R. E. Espinoza, 16–17 February 1998
(Fig. 1).
Paratypes.—CM 147716–17 (field tags:
PT 3291; REE 201), FML 9929–33 (field
tags: PT 3286–89, 3292), and MCN 461–
62 (field tags: PT 3285, 3290) same data
as holotype.
Diagnosis.—A moderate to large bodied, robust lizard belonging to the Liolaemus elongatus group (sensu Espinoza et
al., 2000) that can be distinguished from
all other members of that group (and all
other Liolaemus) in possessing the following characteristics: black heads (reviewed
by Cei, 1998) and shoulders, indigo to
light blue torsos, and charcoal gray to
black ventral coloration (Table 2; Fig. 2).
Liolaemus dicktracyi also differs from other members of the elongatus group, except
those in the northern radiation (L. capillitas, L. heliodermis, and L. umbrifer sp.
nov., see description below), in possessing
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
FIG. 2.—Upper: adult male Liolaemus dicktracyi
in life; lower: adult male Liolaemus umbrifer in life.
larger and, therefore, usually fewer midbody scales (Table 2): L. dicktracyi: 60–73;
versus 76–82 in L. austromendocinus; 72–
90 in L. elongatus; 74–89 in L. petrophilus
(Donoso-Barros and Cei, 1971); 84–89 in
L. thermarum (Videla and Cei, 1996), and
presence of red coloration in the cloacal
region of pregnant and recently spent females. Liolaemus capillitas, L. elongatus,
and L. petrophilus have dorsal scales that
are more distinctly imbricate than those of
L. dicktracyi. Liolaemus elongatus have
dark brown, irregular, longitudinal stripes
(6–12 scales wide) that extend along the
vertebral and lateral fields, whereas L.
dicktracyi lack stripes or similar body patterns (Table 2). Liolaemus petrophilus
have a distinct dorsal pattern of transverse
dark bars that form a ‘‘tigroid’’ pattern
(Cei, 1975; Donoso-Barros and Cei, 1971)
that is lacking in the new species. Unlike
L. dicktracyi, L. elongatus (southern populations; see Discussion), L. petrophilus,
and most L. austromendocinus have dis-
93
tinctly ringed tails (Table 2). The temporals of L. umbrifer sp. nov. (described below) are only slightly keeled; the head is
dark brown, not black; and both males and
females of this species have red coloration
in the cloacal region. In L. dicktracyi, the
temporals are usually distinctly keeled, the
head is always black, and only females possess red coloration in the cloacal region.
In contrast to L. dicktracyi, which lack
dorsal body patterns and possess 3–4 precloacal pores, L. thermarum have dark,
wide stripes on the lower flanks and lack
precloacal pores (Videla and Cei, 1996,
1998).
Description of the holotype.—Adult
male (Fig. 1), 88.4 mm SVL; tail length
152.1 mm, complete, not regenerated. Axilla–groin distance 39.6 mm. Head 19.6
mm long (from anterior border of auditory
meatus to tip of snout), 15.4 mm wide (at
anterior border of auditory meatus), 9.0
mm high. Snout length 6.8 mm (posterior
margin of canthal to tip of snout). Interorbital distance (between arcs of circumorbitals) 1.4 mm. Eye–nostril distance
4.3 mm. Tibial length 19.4 mm. Foot
length 25.2 mm (ankle to tip of claw on
fourth toe).
Dorsal head scales smooth, 17 between
rostral and anterior border of auditory meatus. Ten keeled temporals (left side), all
but those closest to auditory meatus with
1–2 scale organs along their posterior margins. Interparietal subpentagonal, smaller
than parietals in size, surrounded by seven
scales. Frontal scale azygous. Six scales between frontal and rostral. Two postrostrals
with 8–9 scale organs each. Circumorbitals
complete. Five enlarged supraoculars
(both sides). Five scales between frontal
and supercilliaries. Six/seven (left/right)
flat, elongate, imbricate supercilliaries.
Canthal separated from nasal by two scales
(both sides). Loreal region flat. Seven
scales surrounding nasals (both sides). Nasals not in contact with rostral. Seven/eight
lorilabials, fourth through seventh/sixth
through eighth in contact with subocular.
Six/five enlarged supralabials. Fourth supralabial (both sides) curved upward posteriorly but not in contact with subocular.
Five infralabials (both sides), slightly taller
94
HERPETOLOGICA
than supralabials. Four internasals. Orbit
with 15 upper and 13 lower ciliaries (left
side). Orbit diameter 3.6 mm (measured
between upper and lower ciliaries on left
side). Subocular scale elongate. Preocular
unfragmented. Longitudinal ridge along
upper margin of the three ocular scales.
Rostral scale twice as wide (3.9 mm) as
high (1.9 mm). Mental twice as wide (3.8
mm) as high (1.8 mm), followed posteriorly by two rows of 5/4 chinshields. First
chinshield in contact with first infralabial.
Scales of throat between chinshields juxtaposed in first two rows, imbricate posteriorly. Fifty-seven gulars between auditory meatus. Two outward projecting laminar scales along anterior border of auditory meatus. Auditory meatus higher (4.3
mm) than wide (2.9 mm). Lateral scales of
neck granular. Subdermal fat bodies give
slightly inflated appearance to neck region.
Antehumeral fold distinct. Rictal, postauricular, and longitudinal folds present but
less conspicuous than antehumeral. Thirtysix scales between auditory meatus and antehumeral fold (counted along postauricular and longitudinal folds).
Fifty-eight dorsal scales between occiput and anterior surface of thighs. Dorsal
body scales with round posterior margin,
slightly imbricate, weakly keeled. Twentyfive longitudinal keeled scale rows over
dorsum of trunk. Scales of neck region
smaller than dorsals. Sixty-five scales
around midbody. Ventral scales of similar
size to dorsals, 110 between mental and
precloacal pores. Three precloacal pores,
each with a waxy exudate. Ventral surface
of thighs with enlarged, laminar, imbricate
scales anteriorly, abruptly changing to
smaller granular scales on posterior third
of ventral thigh.
Fourth finger with 23 keeled, tridentate,
subdigital lamellae. Claw of fourth finger
1.8 mm, curved, sharp tipped, opaque
brown. Fourth toe with 28 keeled subdigital lamellae. Claw of fourth toe 2.2 mm,
similar to that of fourth finger.
Variation.—Based on an additional seven adult males and two adult females. SVL
72.0–91.2 mm. Head length 16.0–20.1
mm, width 12.4–16.9 mm. Axilla–groin
distance 31.0–45.1 mm. Tail length 138.3–
[Vol. 59, No. 1
152.1 mm. Midbody scales 60–73. Dorsal
scales round to rhomboidal, occasionally
pointed, weakly to distinctly keeled, subimbricate, 56–66 between occiput and anterior surface of thighs. Some individuals
with interstitial granules along posterior
flanks. Dorsal head scales 12–17, variable
in size but usually small, some irregular in
shape, most convex. Ventrals 104–113.
Scales around interparietal 5–8. Three to
six enlarged supraoculars. Preocular not
divided, not fused to subocular. Temporals
8–10, weakly to distinctly keeled. Scales
between auditory meatus and antehumeral
fold 30–36. Gulars 48–57, smooth, imbricate, circular to elliptical. Supralabials 5–
7. Infralabials 4–6. Posterior tip of fourth
or fifth through seventh supralabial upturned. Scales around nasals 6–8. Nasals in
slight (60%) or lacking contact (40%) with
rostral. Four internasals. Rostral barely visible from above. Scales between rostral
and frontal 5–7. Postrostrals 2 (90%) to 3
(10%), with 5–13 scale organs each. Six to
nine lorilabials, fourth, fifth, or sixth
through ninth in contact with subocular.
Supercilliaries 6–8. Subdigital lamellae on
fourth finger 20–24; on fourth toe 26–30.
Precloacal pores 3–4 in males, not present
in females.
Color in life.—Head black, abruptly fading posteriorly to indigo, light blue in nuchal region at about the level of the posterior border of the auditory meatus (Fig.
2). Trunk (at shoulder level) to first third
of tail indigo to light blue, most uniform
in coloration in the mid-vertebral field.
Light blue and black scales occasionally
speckle the dorsal trunk, but these markings are most abundant in the dorsolateral
fields. Flanks slightly darker than dorsal
field. Ventrolateral field speckled with irregular light blue spots in most specimens.
Insertion of forelimbs and antehumeral
and posthumeral regions speckled with
small blue markings (6–8 scales) on a dark
indigo to black background. Tail fades
from indigo to light blue in anterior third
to dark brown indigo posteriorly. Regenerated portions of tails are black. Ventrally
charcoal gray to black. Ventral side of the
tail darkens from about mid-tail to the tip.
Precloacal pores yellow orange. Adult fe-
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
FIG. 3.—Type localities (stars) of species belonging
to the northern radiation of the Liolaemus elongatus
group in northwestern Argentina. Liolaemus heliodermis in Tucumán Province, L. capillitas and L. umbrifer sp. nov. in Catamarca Province, and L. dicktracyi sp. nov. in La Rioja Province. Insert 5 Argentina. Some mountain ranges have been excluded for
clarity.
males had crimson red coloration in the
cloacal region and at the base of the thighs
and tail when collected in mid-February,
otherwise sexual dichromatism is absent.
Color in preservative.—Bright blue color of torso in life fades and darkens to
brownish blue in alcohol and overall color
darkens slightly on trunk and ventrally.
Red coloration in cloacal region of females
fades almost completely after approximately 6 mo. Precloacal pores fade from
yellow orange to cream yellow.
Etymology.—The specific name is a
noun in the genitive case formed in honor
of Dr. C. Richard (‘‘Dick’’) Tracy, currently
Professor of Biology and Director of the
Biological Resources Research Center at
the University of Nevada, Reno, for his
numerous contributions to the understanding of the biology of lizards generally
and for inspiring, supporting, and collaborating with us on our research with Liolaemus specifically. With the addition of L.
dicktracyi, this brings the number of Liolaemus named after various investigators of
Liolaemus and their supporters to 60 (ap-
95
FIG. 4.—Eroded white cliffs of Portezuelo Blanco,
Sierra de Famatina, Departamento Famatina, La
Rioja Province (288 549 300 S, 678 419 300 W; 2800
m), the type locality of Liolaemus dicktracyi.
proximately 30% of the currently recognized taxa; Etheridge and Espinoza, 2000).
Distribution.—Liolaemus dicktracyi is
known only from the immediate vicinity of
the type locality (Fig. 3): Portezuelo Blanco, Sierra de Famatina, La Rioja (288 549
300 S, 678 419 300 W; 2600–2800 m), a geologically well studied exposed cliff face
with strata representing Permo-Triassic
and Quaternary deposits (Cei, 1982; Fig.
4). Two specimens were also collected
from 8.4 km southeast of the type locality
along an unnamed dirt road that runs
along the Rı́o Amarillo and leads to Cueva
de Perez in the Sierra de Famatina. With
the addition of L. dicktracyi, three species
of Liolaemidae [L. famatinae and Phymaturus mallimaccii; Cei (1980)] are now
known to be endemic to the Sierra de Famatina. Currently, L. dicktracyi and L.
elongatus (Avila and Lobo, 1999; but see
Discussion) are the only species in the
elongatus group known from La Rioja;
however, we have examined two additional
isolated, montane populations of L. cf.
capillitas from that province that also appear to be undescribed species.
Natural history.—Specimens of L. dicktracyi were found primarily on the steep
and eroded cliffs and hillsides of Porte-
96
HERPETOLOGICA
zuelo Blanco (Fig. 4). The two additional
specimens were found along basaltic rock
walls that project out along the Rı́o Amarillo and along more open, gentle slopes
just southeast of the type locality. The habitat at the type locality (2600–2800 m) is
classified as Prepuna (Burkart et al., 1999;
Cabrera and Willink, 1980). Dominant
plants species include the small spiny
shrub Adesmia (Fabiaceae) and a spindly,
sparsely vegetated Baccharis (Asteraceae)
that grows to 1 m. Large metamorphic
rock outcrops are common along the road
cut that follows along the Rı́o Amarillo.
When we visited the type locality in late
summer (mid-February) 1998, the lizards
were active from 0930 to approximately
1800 and were most often seen basking
from 1–10 m above the road cut on either
sedimentary deposits (at the type locality)
or on large outcrops of basaltic rock (along
dirt road). Body temperatures of two adult
male (76 and 85 mm SVL) L. dicktracyi
collected on different days as they were
basking in the afternoon on the steep cliffs
of the type locality averaged 35.9 C (35.8–
36.0 C) despite variable weather conditions (sunny versus overcast and windy).
The predominantly saxicolous lifestyle (although not always on consolidated rock) of
L. dicktracyi is consistent with the microhabitat selection of other members of the
elongatus group (Cei, 1974, 1986; Espinoza et al., 2000), and particularly that of
L. capillitas, L. heliodermis, and L. umbrifer sp. nov. (described below), which
are strictly saxicolous (Espinoza et al.,
2000; Hulse, 1979; see below) and appear
to be closely related to the new species
(Lobo, 2001; R. E. Espinoza and F. Lobo,
unpublished data). We encountered no
other species of lizards in syntopy with L.
dicktracyi. However, at a slightly lower elevation (Los Corrales, 288 499 500 S, 678
389 200 W; 2200 m), we encountered L.
koslowskyi, and the type locality for L. famatinae and Phymaturus mallimaccii is
Cueva de Perez [.4000 m; Cei (1980)],
,20 km by road south of the type locality
of L. dicktracyi.
Members of the elongatus group are viviparous (as far as is known) and live at
moderate to high latitudes or elevations
[Vol. 59, No. 1
(Cei, 1986; Espinoza et al., 2000; Hulse,
1979; Schulte et al., 2000). This correlation is consistent with the hypothesis that
viviparity is an adaptation to reproducing
in cold climates (e.g., Guillette, 1993;
Shine, 1985; Tinkle and Gibbons, 1977).
We were unable to determine the reproductive mode of L. dicktracyi because the
lizards were collected in late summer, past
the time when other members of the elongatus group are known to give birth
(Hulse, 1979; Ibargüengoytı́a and Cussac,
1998). However, because L. dicktracyi
lives at a relatively high elevation (2600–
2800 m) and because its closest relatives
are viviparous, we predict that this species
is also live bearing. Female L. dicktracyi
collected in mid-February, although no
longer pregnant, exhibited pregnant-female coloration as described above and for
L. capillitas (Hulse, 1979; R. E. Espinoza
and F. Lobo, personal observation; see also
description below of L. umbrifer sp. nov.).
The red color faded after the lizards were
in captivity for approximately 3 wk.
Other members of the elongatus group
are primarily insectivorous (Cei, 1986;
Hulse, 1979; Videla, 1983) but may periodically include some plant matter in their
diets (R. E. Espinoza, unpublished data).
Feces produced by L. dicktracyi (n 5 10)
within 3 d of capture from the field contained the remains of insects, with ants appearing to constitute a substantial portion
of the diet. Hence, the diet of L. dicktracyi is similar to that of L. capillitas, which
also feeds primarily on ants (Hulse, 1979).
Liolaemus umbrifer sp. nov.
Holotype.—FML 9934 (field tag:
ACUNSa 52), an adult male from Quebrada de Randolfo, Ruta Provincial 43, 60.3
km northwest of intersection of Ruta Provincial 4 and Ruta Provincial 43, 166 km
southeast of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Departamento Antofagasta, Provincia de Catamarca, Argentina (268 51.4569 S, 668
44.8049 W; 3192 m); collected by C. Abdala, R. E. Espinoza, F. Lobo, and M. I.
Martı́nez Oliver, 18 January 2001 (Fig. 5).
Paratypes.—FML 9935–45 (field tags:
ACUNSa 50, 53–55, 57, 82–89) and MCN
463–64 (field tags: ACUNSa 51, 56) same
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
FIG. 5.—Holotype of Liolaemus umbrifer (FML
9934; SVL 5 88.8 mm).
data as holotype. CM 147714–15 (field
tags: ACUNSa 58–59) 2 km southeast
Peña Fria, Ruta Provincial 43, 32 km
northwest of Quebrada de Randolfo, 105
km southeast of Antofagasta de la Sierra,
Departamento Antofagasta, Provincia de
Catamarca, Argentina (268 43.199 S, 668
57.669 W; 3487 m); collected by C. Abdala,
R. E. Espinoza, F. Lobo, and M. I. Martı́nez Oliver, 18 January 2001.
Diagnosis.—A moderate to large-bodied, elongate lizard belonging to the L.
elongatus group (sensu Espinoza et al.,
2000) that can be distinguished from all
other members of that group (and all other
Liolaemus) in possessing the following
traits: black arms (distinct from light to
dark brown background color of dorsum)
and red coloration in the posterior abdomen, cloacal region, ventral thighs, and
ventral base of the tail in both sexes (Table
2). The new species can be distinguished
from all other members of the elongatus
group, except the northern radiation (L.
capillitas, L. dicktracyi, and L. heliodermis) by its larger and usually fewer mid-
97
body scales: L. umbrifer: 58–76; versus
76–82 in L. austromendocinus; 72–90 in L.
elongatus; 74–89 in L. petrophilus (Donoso-Barros and Cei, 1971); 84–89 in L.
thermarum (Videla and Cei, 1996) (Table
2). Liolaemus capillitas, L. elongatus, and
L. petrophilus have dorsal scales that are
more distinctly imbricate than those of L.
umbrifer, and the former three species
have keels that occupy the entire scale,
whereas the scales of L. umbrifer are only
weakly keeled (Table 2). Liolaemus elongatus have dark brown, irregular, longitudinal stripes (6–12 scales wide) that extend
along the vertebral and lateral fields,
whereas L. umbrifer lack stripes or similar
body patterns (Table 2). Liolaemus petrophilus have a distinct dorsal pattern of
transverse dark bars that form a ‘‘tigroid’’
pattern (Cei, 1975; Donoso-Barros and
Cei, 1971), which are lacking in this new
species. Unlike L. umbrifer, L. elongatus
(southern populations; see Discussion), L.
petrophilus, and most L. austromendocinus have distinctly ringed tails (Table 2).
The temporals of L. umbrifer are only
slightly keeled, the head is dark brown
with irregular black markings, and both
males and females of this species have red
coloration in the cloacal region, whereas in
L. dicktracyi the temporals are usually distinctly keeled, the head is black, and only
females possess red coloration in the cloacal region. Adult L. dicktracyi and male
L. heliodermis have blue or yellow torsos,
respectively, whereas L. umbrifer have a
light to dark brown trunk. In contrast to
L. umbrifer, which lack dorsal body patterns and possess 3–4 precloacal pores, L.
thermarum have dark, wide stripes on the
lower flanks and lack precloacal pores (Videla and Cei, 1996, 1998).
Description of the holotype.—Adult
male (Fig. 5), 88.8 mm SVL; tail length
102.4 mm, 71.1 mm (69.4%) regenerated.
Axilla–groin distance 41.5 mm. Head 19.2
mm long (from anterior border of auditory
meatus to tip of snout), 15.9 mm wide (at
anterior border of auditory meatus), 10.2
mm high. Snout length 6.3 mm (posterior
margin of canthal to tip of snout). Interorbital distance (between arcs of circumorbitals) 1.7 mm. Eye–nostril distance
98
HERPETOLOGICA
3.3 mm. Tibial length 18.4 mm. Foot
length 24.9 mm (ankle to tip of claw on
fourth toe).
Dorsal head scales smooth, 18 between
rostral and anterior border of auditory meatus. Ten keeled temporals (left side), all
with one scale organ on their posterior
margins. Interparietal subpentagonal,
slightly smaller than parietal, surrounded
by seven scales. Frontal divided into two
pairs of scales. Six scales between frontal
and rostral. Two postrostrals with 8/10
(left/right) scale organs each. Supraorbital
semicircles complete. Three enlarged supraoculars (both sides). Five scales between frontal and supercilliaries. Six/seven
flat, elongate, imbricate supercilliaries.
Canthal separated from nasal by two scales
(both sides). Loreal region flat. Seven/
eight scales surrounding nasals. Nasals in
slight contact with rostral. Eight lorilabials
(both sides), fifth through eighth in contact with subocular. Eight/nine enlarged
supralabials. Fifth and sixth supralabial
(both sides) curved upward posteriorly and
in contact with subocular. Five/six infralabials slightly taller than supralabials. Four
internasals. Orbit with 15 upper and 14
lower cilliaries (left side). Orbit diameter
4.0 mm (measured between upper and
lower ciliaries on left side). Subocular
scale elongate. Preocular unfragmented.
Longitudinal ridge along upper margin of
the three ocular scales. Rostral scale more
than twice as wide (3.9 mm) as high (1.5
mm). Mental nearly twice as wide (3.9
mm) as high (2.2 mm), followed posteriorly by two rows of four chinshields (both
sides). First chinshield in contact with first
infralabial. Scales of throat between chinshields slightly imbricate posteriorly. Sixtysix imbricate gulars between auditory meatus. Four outward-projecting (virtually
perpendicular) laminar scales along anterior border of auditory meatus. Auditory
meatus oval shaped: 4.1 3 2.6 mm. Lateral
scales of neck granular. Subdermal fat
bodies give slightly inflated appearance to
neck region. Antehumeral fold distinct.
Rictal, postauricular, and longitudinal folds
present but less conspicuous than antehumeral. Thirty-six scales between auditory meatus and antehumeral fold (count-
[Vol. 59, No. 1
ed along postauricular and longitudinal
folds).
Sixty-six dorsal scales between occiput
and anterior surface of thighs. Dorsal body
scales round, slightly imbricate, weakly
keeled. Thirty-one longitudinal keeled
scale rows over dorsum of trunk. Scales of
neck region smaller than dorsals. Scales
become increasingly rounded laterally and
along flanks. Sixty-four scales around midbody. Ventral scales of similar size to dorsals, 115 between mental and precloacal
pores. Three precloacal pores, each with a
waxy exudate. Ventral surface of thighs
with enlarged, laminar, imbricate scales
anteriorly, abruptly changing to smaller
granular scales on posterior third of thigh.
Fourth finger with 23 tridentate, subdigital lamellae. Claw of fourth finger 2.0
mm, curved, sharp tipped, opaque dark
brown. Fourth toe with 29 subdigital lamellae. Claw of fourth toe 2.3 mm, similar
to that of fourth finger. Hemipenes everted but lobes inadequately preserved for
describing details of ornamentation.
Variation.—Based on an additional six
adult males and eight adult females. SVL
69.0–89.0 mm. Head length 14.6–19.5
mm, width 11.6–16.6 mm. Axilla–groin
distance 28.7–45.5 mm. Tail length 110.9–
142.2 mm. Midbody scales 58–76. Dorsal
scales round, not pointed, weakly keeled,
subimbricate, 60–74 between occiput and
anterior surface of thighs. Some individuals with interstitial granules and/or posteriorly notched scales along posterior flanks.
Dorsal head scales 13–18, smooth, variable
in size but usually small, some irregular in
shape, most convex. Ventrals 98–122.
Scales around interparietal 6–9. Three to
six enlarged supraoculars. Preocular not
divided, not fused to subocular. Temporals
8–10, smooth to weakly keeled. Scales between auditory meatus and antehumeral
fold 32–42. Gulars 47–66, smooth, round,
imbricate. Supralabials 5–8. Infralabials 4–
7. Posterior tip of fourth through sixth supralabial upturned. Scales around nasals
7–8. Nasals always in slight contact with
rostral. Internasals 4 (93%) to 5 (7%). Rostral barely visible from above. Scales between rostral and frontal 5–7. Two postrostrals with 4–19 scale organs each. Six
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
to nine lorilabials, fourth, fifth, or sixth
through ninth in contact with subocular.
Supercilliaries 6–8. Subdigital lamellae on
fourth finger 21–24; on fourth toe 25–31.
Precloacal pores 2–4 in males, not present
in females.
Color in life.—Background color of
body dark brown to brown with light
brown to beige scales often forming irregular clusters of 2–4 scales on trunk (especially in the dorsolateral field) giving the
appearance of faint spots (Fig. 2). Small,
black (#1 scale in size) marks also dispersed over the dorsum. Rarely, black
scales congregate posteriorly forming an
irregular rectangle-shaped black field middorsally. Head brown to dark brown with
diffuse, irregular black marks sometimes
reaching the level of the shoulders. Parietal and temporal regions of head dark
brown to black. Forelimbs black at the
point of insertion with the trunk to the
forearms. On forearms, brown flecks increase in density towards toes. Along
flanks of trunk and surrounding the insertion of forelimb, black areas are speckled
with cream white scales giving the appearance of a dark night sky with stars. Dorsal
hind limbs and tail same color as trunk in
most individuals. Distal third of tail in a
few individuals becomes dark brown to
black dorsally. Ventrally light to charcoal
gray with irregular darker gray markings
scattered on belly and tail. Throat usually
lighter gray than ventral torso. Cloacal region, lower belly, ventral thighs, and ventral base of tail with crimson red coloration
in females (pregnant or recently spent).
Males of this species also exhibit this ventral coloration (Table 2), although it is usually restricted to the cloacal region and
ventral thighs, and the color is generally
less vibrant, and sometimes orange yellow
rather than crimson red. In adult males,
the posterior margins of the ventral thighs
are sulfur yellow. Precloacal pores yelloworange. In one male (ACUNSa 82), the
torso is entirely black dorsally from just
posterior to the shoulders to the base of
the tail. In this individual, the forelimbs
are also entirely black to the digits and the
hind limbs are black to half the length of
the tibia. The melanism on the dorsum of
99
this individual extends to the flanks and
most of the belly, but fades slightly to charcoal gray mid-ventrally. In juveniles, the
torso is brown with irregular, dark brown
transverse bands and lacks the distinct
black pigmentation seen in adults. The
shoulders of juveniles are dark brown to
nearly black, but the black coloration,
when present, is not as widely distributed
on the arms, suggesting the black-arm coloration may be acquired ontogenetically.
Ventrally, juveniles are light gray, almost
white, with a few small, diffuse, darker
gray markings. Juveniles also lack the red
coloration seen in the cloacal region of
adults.
Color in preservative.—As in life, overall background color darkens slightly on
head, trunk, and ventrally. Red coloration
in cloacal region fades to a pale rosy pink
after approximately 6 mo in preservative.
Precloacal pores fade from yellow orange
to cream yellow.
Etymology.—The specific epithet umbrifer is derived from the Latin word umbra (shade) and the Latin suffix -ifer (from
the verb fero, meaning to carry or bear).
The literal translation ‘‘shade bearer’’ refers to the distinctly black upper arms and
shoulders that are distinguishing characteristics of this species (Fig. 2).
Distribution.—Liolaemus umbrifer is
known primarily from the type locality
(Fig. 3): Quebrada de Randolfo, along
Ruta Provincial 43, Departamento Antofagasta, Catamarca, Argentina (268 51.4569
S, 668 44.8049 W; 3192 m). Two additional
specimens were collected 2 km southeast
of Peña Fria on Ruta Provincial 43, 32 km
northwest of the type locality (268 43.199
S, 668 57.669 W; 3487 m). Aside from the
recent discovery of a population of L. elongatus (Avila and Lobo, 1999; but see Discussion), L. umbrifer and L. capillitas are
the only members of the elongatus group
known from Catamarca Province. Quebrada Randolfo lies along the northern limit
of the drainage of the Rı́o El Bolsón and
west of the Sierra Chango Real, approximately 70 km (straight line) from the type
locality of L. capillitas [Mina Capillitas, Departamento Andalgalá, Catamarca; Hulse
(1979); Fig. 3]. Although the distance sep-
100
HERPETOLOGICA
FIG. 6.—Granite hillsides of Quebrada Randolfo,
Departamento Antofagasta, Catamarca Province (268
51.4569 S, 668 44.8049 W; 3192 m), the type locality
of Liolaemus umbrifer.
arating these two species is relatively short,
there is a vast, low elevation valley (Monte
habitat) in the watershed of the Rı́o Belén
that lacks suitable habitat and runs in a
southwest–northeast direction between
the mountain ranges separating L. capillitas and L. umbrifer.
Natural history.—Specimens of L. umbrifer were most commonly encountered
basking along the steep, rocky hillsides of
Quebrada Randolfo just below the road
cut of Ruta Provincial 43 (Fig. 6). The
habitat at the type locality (approximately
3500 m) is characterized as Puna (Burkart
et al., 1999; Cabrera and Willink, 1980).
Dominant plant species include the spiny
shrub Adesmia, the bunch grass Festuca,
Senecio sp. (Asteraceae), lupines, and additional unidentified spiny shrubs to 1-m
high. Large outcrops of light gray, brown,
maroon, or black granite boulders cover
[Vol. 59, No. 1
the sides of the gorge. These rocky hillsides provide ample habitat for L. umbrifer, which are agile saxicolous lizards that,
when pursued, move quickly from boulder
to boulder or retreat temporarily into crevices or under large rocks. Body temperatures of surface-active adults (n 5 9) collected in the afternoon (1215–1445)
ranged from 31.2–35.1 C (x̄ 5 33.1 C, SD
5 1.4). At the type locality, L. umbrifer is
syntopic with Phymaturus antofagastensis
and sympatric with an undescribed species
belonging to the L. andinus group that
lives among large Adesmia shrubs in the
wind-blown sand dunes at the bottom of
the gorge. Two additional specimens of L.
umbrifer were found basking in the late
afternoon (approximately 1800) sun on
small, black, basaltic rocks (approximately
0.5 3 0.3 3 0.3 m) along Ruta Provincial
43 in a region of rolling hills covered with
small pebbles, Adesmia, and sparse clumps
of Festuca some 32 km (by road) northwest of the type locality.
We were unable to determine the reproductive mode of L. umbrifer because
the lizards were collected in late summer,
past the time when other members of the
elongatus group are known to give birth
(Hulse, 1979; Ibargüengoytı́a and Cussac,
1998). However, because L. umbrifer lives
at relatively high elevation (approximately
3200–3500 m) and because its closest relatives are viviparous, we predict that this
species is also live bearing. Most of the
adult female L. umbrifer we collected in
mid-January, although no longer pregnant,
exhibited pregnant-female coloration as
described above. Interestingly, males of
this species also exhibit this ventral coloration (Table 2), although the color was
generally less vibrant and appeared to be
less widely distributed ventrally.
Feces produced by L. umbrifer (n 5 11)
within 3 d of capture contained the remains of insects and, occasionally, parts of
flowers (probably Senecio sp.).
DISCUSSION
Distribution of pregnant-female coloration.—A number of Liolaemus exhibit
gravid- or pregnant-female coloration (e.g.,
Etheridge, 2000; R. E. Espinoza and F.
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
101
FIG. 7.—Phylogenetic affinities of the elongatus group following (A) the molecular phylogeny of Schulte et
al. (2000) and (B) Cei (1975). There is much congruence between the hypothesized relationships despite
their different data sources (mitochondrial DNA versus blood serum, respectively) and methods of analysis
(cladistic versus phenetic, respectively). However, the tree of Schulte et al. (2000) has members of the kriegi
group [L. buergeri, L. ceii, and L. kriegi; sensu Cei (1986)] nested within the elongatus group and posits
different relationships among L. austromendocinus, L. elongatus, and L. petrophilus than that of Cei (1975).
See text for further discussion.
Lobo, personal observation; Lobo and Espinoza, 1999). In most species, this consists
of bright yellow to orange or salmon color
along the sides of the head, throat, and
neck, which sometimes extends along the
flanks or belly. In members of the northernmost clade of the elongatus group, this
color consists of a patch of crimson red in
the cloacal region that extends to the lower
belly and, in some species, along the thighs
and onto the proximal quarter of the tail.
Within this group, this coloration is known
from pregnant and recently spent female
L. capillitas (Hulse, 1979; F. Lobo and R.
E. Espinoza, personal observation), recently spent female L. dicktracyi (described above), males and recently spent
females of L. umbrifer (described above),
and suspected but not confirmed for pregnant and recently spent female L. heliodermis (Table 2). Additionally, this coloration was recently observed in male and
pregnant female L. buergeri (M. Christie,
personal communication; F. Lobo and R.
E. Espinoza, personal observation), a species that may be nested within the elongatus group (Schulte et al., 2000; and see
below). When we collected L. dicktracyi
and L. umbrifer, females were no longer
pregnant but still exhibited this coloration.
We hypothesized that, owing to the timing
of reproduction among members of the
elongatus group (Hulse, 1979; Ibargüengoytı́a and Cussac, 1998; F. Lobo and R.
E. Espinoza, unpublished data), the females were collected soon after parturition
and simply retained the coloration for several days thereafter as is typical of L. capillitas (F. Lobo and R. E. Espinoza, personal observation) and other iguanians
(Cooper and Greenberg, 1992; Cooper
and McGuire, 1993). However, the presence of this trait in male L. umbrifer poses
either an exception or an interesting challenge to linking this coloration with pregnancy. Moreover, it is not known how, or
even whether, this coloration is used for
communication among species of Liolaemus. In other iguanian lizards, gravid-female coloration is usually distributed along
the flanks, head, or neck and is thought to
provide a visual signal which, when coupled with aggressive behavior, deters males
from attempting to court or copulate with
females (Cooper and Greenberg, 1992). In
contrast, the ventral distribution of this
coloration seems less conspicuous in members of the northern radiation of the elongatus group, which would suggest the
need for specialized behaviors associated
with exhibiting the red patches. Behavioral
studies are sorely needed to test these predictions.
Phylogenetic relationships within the
elongatus group.—A recent cladistic analysis of mitochondrial DNA gene sequences for 60 species of Liolaemus (Schulte et
al., 2000) found strong bootstrap support
(100%) for a clade including the elongatus
group members (sensu Cei, 1974, 1986)
plus L. buergeri, L. ceii, and L. leopardinus (Fig. 7A). In a phenetic analysis based
102
HERPETOLOGICA
on serological evidence, Cei (1975) also
considered the elongatus group (which, at
that time, consisted only of L. austromendocinus, L. elongatus, and L. [elongatus]
petrophilus) to be closely related to the
kriegi group (see also Cei, 1986), which
includes L. buergeri, L. ceii, and L. kriegi
(Fig. 7B). It is worth noting that these two
hypotheses of relationships are remarkably
similar despite the difference in the kinds
of data used and types of analyses conducted. The only incongruence between
the hypotheses that cannot be attributed
to differences in taxon sampling lies in the
determination of the sister species of L.
elongatus. Cei (1975) allied this species
with L. [elongatus] petrophilus (Fig. 7B),
whereas Schulte et al. (2000) found L.
elongatus to be most closely related to L.
austromendocinus (bootstrap 100%; Fig.
7A). However, the L. elongatus used in the
Schulte et al. (2000) analysis was collected
near Uspallata, in Mendoza Province, and
the type locality of this species is Chubut
Province (although not precisely identified; Koslowsky, 1896), at least 1300 km
south. Other researchers have noted the
variability in size, squamation, body patterns, and color among populations of the
widely distributed L. elongatus (L. Avila,
personal communication; Cei, 1986; R. E.
Espinoza and F. Lobo, unpublished data;
Espinoza et al., 2000; Quatrini et al.,
1998). Some of these populations are allopatric and readily diagnosable; in fact,
our preliminary examination of specimens
assigned to L. elongatus suggests that
there are at least three cryptic species
within the complex (R. E. Espinoza and F.
Lobo, unpublished data). Hence, the taxon
in the tree of Schulte et al. (2000) most
likely represents an undescribed species
rather than L. elongatus sensu stricto. Indeed, recent morphological and molecular
analyses, which include specimens of L.
elongatus from Chubut, support Cei’s
(1975) sister grouping of L. elongatus and
L. petrophilus (R. E. Espinoza and F.
Lobo, unpublished data).
Schulte et al. (2000) also identified L.
capillitas as the sister taxon to the remaining members of their more inclusive elongatus group (i.e., including the kriegi
[Vol. 59, No. 1
group; Fig. 7A). Thus, if L. dicktracyi and
L. umbrifer form a clade with L. capillitas
and L. heliodermis, as is supported by our
morphological and molecular evidence (R.
E. Espinoza and F. Lobo, unpublished
data), then this northern radiation constitutes the sister lineage of the more inclusive elongatus group. Additionally, L. leopardinus, a species from moderate elevations (1800–2750 m) in north central Chile
(33–348 S) was placed as the outgroup of
L. buergeri 1 L. ceii [the kriegi group of
Cei (1986), less L. kriegi] (Schulte et al.,
2000; Fig. 7A). Given that L. ramonensis
and L. valdesianus are both morphologically similar to, and were originally described as, subspecies of L. leopardinus
(Hellmich, 1950; Müller and Hellmich,
1932), future analyses of the elongatus
group should consider these taxa as well.
Finally, L. coeruleus, L. cristiani, L. isabelae, and L. neuquensis share a number
of morphological traits in common with
species in the elongatus group (e.g., elongate body and long tail, small body scales,
lack of precloacal pores) and may, therefore, represent additional members of this
lineage (Lobo, 2001; F. Lobo, unpublished
data; Videla and Cei, 1998). Determining
the taxonomic status of the various morphs
of L. ‘‘elongatus’’ and the phylogenetic relationships among the numerous putative
members of the elongatus group are the
subjects of detailed molecular and morphological analysis currently under investigation (L. Avila, personal communication; R. E. Espinoza and F. Lobo, unpublished data).
RESUMEN
El grupo de especies de Liolaemus elongatus actualmente incluye ocho especies
(incluyendo las especies que aquı́ se describen) de lagartos de mediano tamaño,
con colas largas, y primariamente saxı́colas.
Los miembros de este linaje se distribuyen
desde el noroeste de Argentina hacia el
sur, a lo largo de la Cordillera de los Andes
hasta la estepa Patagónica (27–448 S) y sobre un amplio rango de elevación (350–
3900 m). Aquı́ nosotros describimos dos
especies nuevas que pertenecen a la radiación norteña del grupo elongatus. Los cua-
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
tro miembros actualmente reconocidos de
este subclado norteño (incluyendo las dos
especies que aquı́ se describen) se diferencian de los otros miembros del grupo elongatus, por contar con un menor número
de escamas alrededor del cuerpo, cabezas
marrón a negras, y por carecer de los distintos patrones dorsales de cola o cuerpo
encontrados en adultos de otras especies
que pertenecen al grupo elongatus. Además, las hembras que recientemente han
parido exponen color rojo vivo en la región
cloacal, una caracterı́stica única conocida
para miembros de este linaje norteño y L.
buergeri. La primera especie nueva que se
describe, L. dicktracyi, de la Sierra de Famatina de la Provincia de La Rioja, difiere
de todo los otros miembros del grupo elongatus en varios caracteres merı́sticos y en
su coloración dorsal única: posee cabeza,
hombros y cola negros, y el torso y extremidades posteriores azules. La segunda de
las especies nuevas que se describen, L.
umbrifer de la Quebrada de Randolfo en
el noreste de la Provincia de Catamarca,
es morfológicamente parecido a L. capillitas, pero difiere de ésta y otras especies en
el grupo elongatus en varios caracteres
merı́sticos, la presencia de brazos y hombros negros, y en la coloración roja viva de
la región cloacal en ambos, machos y hembras. La historia natural de ambas especies
nuevas es similar en muchos aspectos a L.
capillitas y L. heliodermis debido a sus afinidades filogenéticas de los miembros de
este subclado dentro del grupo elongatus.
Finalmente, nosotros proveemos comparaciones de recientes hipótesis filogenéticas y discutimos el contenido del grupo
elongatus.
Acknowledgments.—We appreciate the assistance
of C. Abdala, F. Cruz, and M. I. Martı́nez Oliver who
helped collect the types. The senior author thanks F.
Cruz and G. Perotti for lodging and companionship
and M. Hüniken for providing a place to study specimens at CRILaR (Anillaco, La Rioja). We thank S.
Murua and E. Fra of the Provincial Flora and Fauna
offices of La Rioja and Catamarca, respectively, for
their assistance with collecting permits (issued to F.
Cruz and F. Lobo). J. Wiens and S. Rogers of the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, G. Scrocchi
and S. Kretzschmar of the Fundación Miguel Lillo,
and D. Wake and B. Stein of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) provided specimens for comparisons and logistical and curatorial support. We are
103
grateful to A. Summers who housed us during our
visit to MVZ. J. Rawlins provided invaluable advice
in forming the epithet for L. umbrifer, and C. Hitchcock repeatedly revised the map to suit our specifications. We thank R. Etheridge and an anonymous
reviewer for critically reading and improving early
versions of the manuscript and C. R. Tracy for his
enduring support and critical feedback of our studies.
R. E. Espinoza was partially supported by grants from
the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, the National Geographic Society, the Society of Comparative and Integrative Biology, and the
Upstate [NY] Herpetological Association. The Biology Department, Graduate School, and Biological Resources Research Center at the University of Nevada,
Reno, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
also provided additional logistical and financial support. A fellowship from CONICET of Argentina and
the Universidad Nacional de Salta supported F. Lobo.
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Accepted: 11 June 2002
Associate Editor: Stephen Tilley
APPENDIX I
Specimens Examined
Liolaemus austromendocinus (10).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de Mendoza: Departamento Malargüe,
on Ruta Nacional 40, 47 km S Malargüe (358 469
10.40 S, 698 389 46.80 W; 1920 m): FML 3432 (1–7);
Laguna Niña Encantada (358 099 37.40 S, 698 529
09.00 W; 1680 m): FML 7189–91 (erroneously identified as L. thermarum in Espinoza et al. [2000]).
L. capillitas (16).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
Catamarca: Departamento Andalgalá, Mina Capillitas
(3000–3600 m): FML 1229 (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 16,
18–21); Morro El Arenal (El Ingenio) (3100 m):
FML 2029 (1–4).
L. dicktracyi (10).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
La Rioja: Departamento Famatina, 26.5 km W of Famatina on road to Cueva de Perez, Portezuelo Blanco
(288 549 300 S, 678 419 300 W; 2800 m): FML 9928
March 2003]
HERPETOLOGICA
(holotype); CM 147716–17 (paratypes); FML 9929–
33 (paratypes); MCN 461–62 (paratypes).
L. elongatus (10).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
Neuquén: Departamento Alumine, along Arroyo Rucaco, SE end of Lago Choroi, 3.5 km E and 6.5 km
N Cerro Ruca Choroi (39.128 S, 71.178 W; 1250 m):
MVZ 188764. Provincia de Rı́o Negro: Departamento
Bariloche, ridge above Refugio Neumeyer, 15 km S
Bariloche (41.268 S, 71.318 W; 1600 m): MVZ 188781.
Departamento Ñorquinco, along Rı́o Chenqueniyen,
10 km E and 3 km S Cerro Pico Quemada (41.538 S,
71.008 W; 1150 m): MVZ 188732–33, 188739; rimrock, 4 km S and 1 km E Alto del Escorial (41.598 S,
70.768 W; 1100 m): MVZ 188743; Laguna de Los Junco, Escorial de Chenqueniyen, 5 km N Alto de Escorial (41.518 S, 70.788 W; 1150 m): MVZ 188758.
Departamento Pilcaniyeu, 1.5 km N Estación Perito
Moreno, approximately 28 km ENE Bariloche
(41.058 S, 71.018 W; 900 m): MVZ 180069; Cañadon
Bonito, 23 km NE Pilcaniyeu (40.988 S, 70.428 W):
MVZ 188727–28.
105
L. heliodermis (3).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
Tucumán: Departamento Tafı́ del Valle, Ruta Provincial 307, approximately 32 km (by road) from Tafı́ del
Valle at km marker 95 (268 40.829 S, 658 48.749 W;
2820 m): FML 6006–07 (paratypes), FML 7196 (holotype).
L. petrophilus (3).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
Chubut: Ruta Nacional 25, 10 km S Puesto Espinal
(350 m): FML 793 (1–3).
L. umbrifer (16).—ARGENTINA: Provincia de
Catamarca: Departamento Antofagasta, Quebrada de
Randolfo, Ruta Provincial 43, 60.3 km north of intersection of Ruta Provincial 4 and Ruta Provincial
43, 166 km southeast of Antofagasta de la Sierra (268
51.4569 S, 668 44.8049 W; 3192 m): FML 9934 (holotype), FML 9935–45 (paratypes), MCN 463–64
(paratypes); 2 km southeast Peña Fria, Ruta Provincial 43, 32 km northwest of Quebrada de Randolfo,
105 km southeast of Antofagasta de la Sierra (268
43.199 S, 668 57.669 W; 3487 m): CM 147714–15 (paratypes).