Stenocercus stigmosus Cadle, 1998

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 157-158

Stenocercus stigmosus Cadle

( Fig. 22 )

Stenocercus stigmosus Cadle, 1998:280 . Holotype: MHNSM 10243 , a male from ‘‘[forest at] El Pargo, 8 km by road ( Llama to Huambos ) N of La Colmena , then 3–4 km NW by trail, 6 ° 28'S, 79 ° 3'W, 2950 m, Departamento Cajamarca, Peru.̕̕

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus stigmosus is distinguished from all species of Stenocercus except S. melanopygus in having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, vertebral and paravertebrals of similar size (i.e., no vertebral crest), three caudal whorls per autotomic segment, and imbricate or subimbricate smooth scales on the lateral surface of neck that are approximately less than half the size of dorsal neck scales. S. stigmosus differs from S. melanopygus (character states in parentheses) by having a posthumeral mite pocket in the form of one or more vertical folds or ridges (posthumeral mite pocket absent) and an oblique neck fold (oblique neck fold absent). In addition, adult males of S. melanopygus lack the ventral black spots characteristic of S. stigmosus .

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 68 mm ( Cadle, 1998); (2) maximum SVL in females 61 mm ( Cadle, 1998); (3) vertebrals 51–61; (4) paravertebrals 56–62; (5) scales around midbody 49–57; (6) supraoculars 4–5; (7) internasals 2–4; (8) postrostrals 4–5; (9) loreals 1–3; (10) gulars 19–27; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 14–19; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 24–29; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye always visible through interparietal cornea; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, smooth, juxtaposed; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region absent; (19) scales on frontonasal region juxtaposed anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antehumeral, longitudinal, and oblique neck folds present; (22) lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals; (23) posterior gulars cycloid, smooth, slightly imbricate, notched; (24) lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size; (25) vertebrals and adjacent paravertebrals similar in size; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals smooth, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs granular; (29) inguinal granular pocket absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 64–67% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment three; (35) caudals not spinose; (36) dark stripe extending anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (37) dark patch extensively covering gular region of females absent; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region of adult males absent; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in adult males absent; (40) dark midventral longitudinal mark such as faint line, conspicuous stripe, or extensive patch in adult males absent; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent.

Color in life.—Dorsum dark brown with one pair of pale tan and continuous (females), or bright yellow and discontinuous (males), dorsolateral stripes; in females, dorsolateral stripes bordered by reddish-brown stripes; dorsal aspect between neck and base of tail of males with pairs of blackish irregular marks well separated middorsally; sides of neck and flanks with yellow and dark brown flecks in males and pale tan flecks in females; subocular region and chin dull whitish; light stripe between mouth comisure and inguinal region in females; throat and gular region yellow in males and dull white in females, with dark brown spots in both sexes; belly bright green with dark brown spots in males and grayish tan in females (sometimes with light rosy or coppery sheen); ventral aspect of tail in males yellow proximally and green fading to brown posteriorly ( Cadle, 1998).

Natural History.—Two hatchlings (28 and 24 mm SVL) of S. stigmosus were collected on September 1991 at the type locality; this species has been observed near cloud forest areas including trail edges and cleared fields ( Cadle, 1998).

Distribution.— Stenocercus stigmosus occurs between 7 ° S–6 ° S in the western Cordillera of northern Peru, central Andes ( Fig. 6 ). This species is known from Departamento Cajamarca at elevations of 2000–3100 m.

Figures

FIG. 22.—Six species of Stenocercus. (A) S. stigmosus (PVE); (B) S. torquatus (MLU); (C) S. trachŋcephalus (JMR); (D) S. tricristatus (illustration from plate XXII in Duméril, 1856); (E) S. Ʋariabilis (MLU); (F) S. Ʋarius (LAC).

FIG. 6.—Distribution of five species of Stenocercus in Peru.