Stenocercus johaberfellneri, Köhler, Gunther & Lehr, Edgar, 2015

Köhler, Gunther & Lehr, Edgar, 2015, Two new species of lizards of the genus Stenocercus (Iguania, Tropiduridae) from central Peru, Zootaxa 3956 (3), pp. 413-427 : 420-425

Stenocercus johaberfellneri sp. nov.

Figs. 1 c, 5–7

Stenocercus species: Lehr 2002: p. 87.

Holotype. MUSM 20229, an adult male from Malvas, -9.91683, -77.65133, 3200 m, Departamento Ancash, Provincia Huarmey, Peru, collected 3 February 1997 by Edgar Lehr. Field tag number EL 99.

Paratypes. 11 (5 males, 6 females). All from Malvas, Departamento Ancash, Provincia Huarmey, Peru, collected on 2–3 February 1997 by Edgar Lehr: MUSM 20225, -9.91833, -77.65800, 3200 m. MUSM 20226, - 9.92850, -77.64967, 3055 m. MUSM 20227, SMF 80231–33, -9.92850, -77.64517, 3120 m. MUSM 20228, SMF 80234, -9.93217, -77.65500, 3130 m. MUSM 20229–30, -9.91683, -77.65133, 3200 m. SMF 80235, -9.93217, - 77.65333, 3140 m.

Diagnosis: Stenocercus johaberfellneri differs from all other congeners except S. latebrosus and S. ornatissimus by the combination of having (1) a well developed oblique neck fold with a deep mite pocket underneath; (2) a well developed antehumeral fold with a deep mite pocket underneath; (3) scales on posterior surface of thighs granular; (4) vertebral scales similar in size and shape to adjacent scale rows; (5) three caudal whorls per autotomic segment. Stenocercus johaberfellneri differs from S. latebrosus by having lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals (vs. lateral nuchals similar in size to dorsal nuchals in S. latebrosus ). Stenocercus johaberfellneri differs from S. ornatissimus by having larger dorsal scales, 47–53, mean 50.0, vertebral scales (vs. dorsal scales smaller, 52–59, mean 55.4, vertebral scales in S. ornatissimus ), 46–53, mean 49.2, scales around midbody (vs. 49–60, mean 52.6, in S. ornatissimus ), the presence of a postfemoral pocket (Type 2 of Torres-Carvajal 2007) in adult males (vs. postfemoral pocket absent in S. ornatissimus ), a throat pattern of bold black streaks or reticulations in adult males (vs. throat with small black spots or fine reticulations in S. ornatissimus ), and a dusky or grayish venter without black spots or reticulations (vs. at least some black spots on pectoral region and anterior abdomen, often entire venter with small black spots in S. ornatissimus ).

Definition. (1) Maximum total length in males 57 mm (n = 6); (2) maximum total length in females 47.5 mm (n = 5); (3) vertebrals 47–53; (4) paravertebrals 47–52; (5) scales around midbody 46–53; (6) supraoculars 4–6; (7) internasals usually 4, rarely 2; (8) postrostrals usually 4, rarely 5; (9) loreals usually 2, rarely 1; (10) gulars 19–24; (11) lamellae on Finger IV 17–20; (12) lamellae on Toe IV 23–27; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges (Type 1 of Torres-Carvajal 2007); (14) postfemoral mite pocket shallow, with a posteroventrally oriented slit-like opening in adult males (Type 2 of Torres-Carvajal 2007), no postfemoral mite pocket discernable in females and juveniles; (15) parietal eye present; (16) occipital scales small, smooth, juxtaposed; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region in one row absent; (19) scales on frontonasal region smooth, juxtaposed; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antegular, oblique, antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, postauricular, supra-auricular, and transverse antegular neck folds present; (22) lateral nuchals smaller than dorsal nuchals; (23) posterior gulars smooth, imbricate, apical pit absent; (24) lateral body scales smaller than dorsal body scales; (25) vertebrals similar in size to adjacent dorsals, not forming a continuous longitudinal row; (26) dorsolateral crests absent; (27) ventrals smooth, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs granular; (29) prefemoral fold absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 62–68 % of total length; (34) three caudal whorls per autotomic segment; (35) caudals not spinose; (36) dark stripe that extends anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (37) color pattern of gular region in adult females with dark streaks; (38) color pattern of gular region in adult males with bold black streaks or reticulations; (39) black blotch on ventral surface of neck in adult males absent; (40) dark midventral stripe in adult males absent; (41) black patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent; (42) background color of dorsum grey or brown.

Description of the holotype. Adult male, as indicated by partly everted hemipenes; SVL 57.0 mm; tail length 120.0 mm (complete); tail more or less round in cross section; axilla to groin distance 21.8 mm; head length 13.9 mm, head length/SVL ratio 0.24; snout length 5.7 mm; head width 10.7 mm; head height 7.8 mm; shank length 13.6 mm, shank length/head length ratio 0.98; scales on parietal and occipital regions small, slightly wrinkled, juxtaposed; parietal eye visible; supraoculars in five rows, smooth, with the lateralmost three rows less than half the size of the medial adjacent row; distinct circumorbitals present; canthals two; anterior-most canthal in contact with nasal; internasals two; postrostrals four, much wider than long; supralabials six; infralabials seven; loreals one; lorilabials in one row; preocular single; lateral temporals keeled, imbricate; gulars in 20 rows between tympanic openings; all gulars cycloid, smooth, imbricate, apical pit absent; second sublabial in contact with the second and third infralabials; first pair of postmentals in contact medially; mental separated from sublabials by the first pair of postmentals; dorsal and lateral scales of neck keeled, imbricate; lateral scales of body smaller than dorsals, but of similar shape, imbricate; scales around midbody 48; vertebrals differentiated from adjacent scales, in 48 rows, not forming a continuous vertebral row; paravertebrals adjacent to vertebral row equal to vertebrals in size and shape; paravertebrals 48; ventrals smooth, imbricate, smaller than dorsals; preauricular fringe present; antegular, oblique, antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, postauricular, supra-auricular, and transverse antegular neck folds present; ventrolateral and prefemoral folds present; dorsal scales of forelimbs and hind limbs keeled, imbricate; lamellae on Finger IV 19; lamellae on Toe IV 25 (right) and 26 (left); tail rounded in cross section; caudals keeled, non-mucronate, imbricate; basal subcaudals smooth, imbricate; posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds (Type 1 of Torres-Carvajal 2007); postfemoral mite pocket shallow, with a posteroventrally oriented slit-like opening (Type 2 of Torres-Carvajal 2007).

Coloration after 17 years of preservation in 70% ethanol was recorded as follows: Dorsal surface of head Glaucous (289) with Vandyke Brown (282) and Dark Pearl Gray (290) mottling; dorsal surface of neck Cinnamon- Drab (50) with Sepia (279) paravertebral blotches and scattered Venetian Blue (170) scales; lateral surface of neck with a Medium Paris White (140) longitudinal stripe; dorsal surface of body Glaucous (289) with suffusions of Dark Pearl Gray (290), a few scattered Light Caribbean Blue (163) scales and indistinct Hair Brown (277) blotches; dorsal surfaces of forelimbs Dark Neutral Gray (299) with narrow Light Neutral Gray (297) bands; dorsal surfaces of hind limbs Grayish Horn Color (268) with suffusions of Pearl Gray (262); dorsal surface of tail Medium Neutral Gray (298) grading into Cinnamon (21) towards tip and with Pale Buff (1) bands; ventral surface of head Pale Greenish White (97) with contrasting Sepia (279) reticulum; ventral surfaces of body and limbs Pale Buff (1), heavily suffused with Grayish Horn Color (268) on venter; ventral surface of tail Medium Neutral Gray (298) with Smoky White (261) speckles and grading into Cinnamon (21) towards tip.

Variation. The paratypes agree well with the holotype in general appearance, morphometrics and scalation (see Table 1 ). Coloration for one male (SMF 80235) in life was recorded as follows ( Fig. 5 ): dorsum dark brown with blackish-brown triangles surrounded by pale gray scales, becoming irregular towards anterior half of body; mustard yellow scales scattered dorsolaterally; head dark brown dorsally, with scattered black, mustard yellow, and pale gray scales; ventral surfaces of body (except for anterior half of chest), hindlegs, and base of tale mustard yellow; anterior half of chest pale gray with dark brown flecks; throat copper with pale gray flecks and dark brown streaks which extend to upper and lower lips laterally.

Etymology. The name johaberfellneri is a patronym for Johannes Haber Fellner, Germany, in recognition of his support of taxonomic studies through the BIOPAT program.

Geographic distribution. Stenocercus johaberfellneri is presently only known from the vicinity of Malvas at elevations of 3055–3200 m asl ( Fig. 8 ).

Natural history notes. The type specimens of Stenocercus johaberfellneri were collected during morning hours under rocks on a grassy area. Sympatric amphibians include Telmatobius rimac , sympatric reptiles are Epictia alfredschmidti, Philodryas simonsii, and Sibynomorphus petersi (misidentified as S. vagus in Lehr 2002 and Lehr et al. 2002 as pointed out by Cadle 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lateral view of neck region showing condition of folds and mite pockets in (a) Stenocercus amydrorhytus (MUSM 20222); (b) S. chrysopygus (SMF 80207); (c) S. johaberfellneri (MUSM 20228); (d) S. ornatissimus (MUSM 4974); (e) S. latebrosus (MUSM 17111). Scale bars equal 5.0 mm. Photos by G. K.

FIGURE 5. Stenocercus johaberfellneri (SMF 80235) in life: (a) dorsal view; (b) ventral view. Photos by E. L.

FIGURE 8. Map indicating collecting localities of selected species of Stenocercus (details see text). Each symbol can represent one or more adjacent localities. Red circle: Stenocercus johaberfellneri; blue triangle: S. amydrorhytus; red triangles: S. chrysopygus; green squares: S. ornatissimus; black circles: S. latebrosus.