Plica medemi, Murphy, John C. & Jowers, Michael J., 2013

Murphy, John C. & Jowers, Michael J., 2013, Treerunners, cryptic lizards of the Plica plica group (Squamata, Sauria, Tropiduridae) of northern South America, ZooKeys 355, pp. 49-77 : 62-63

Plica medemi sp. n. Medem’s TreerunnerFigs 8c, 9c

Holotype.

FMNH 165207 an adult male, 112 mm SVL, with a damaged tail. Collected by Fredrico Medem in 1957. Colombia, Meta, Lower Guayabero, Angostura No. 2, Cerro de las Pinturas (~ 2°34'N, 72°51'W).

Diagnosis.

A Plica with dorsal scales in 145 rows at mid-body; scales on snout juxtaposed, smooth and slightly domed; dorsolateral and ventrolateral folds well developed and extend to groin; entire anterior margin of auditory meatus is lined with spiny scales (no distinct cluster of spines); 41 lamellae on fourth toe. It has a green dorsum with black spots, and an orange head and lacks the transverse bands present in other members of the genus. Plica plica has 126-140 dorsal scale rows at mid body, imbricate, keeled scales on the snout; and 31-36 lamellae on the fourth toe. Plica rayi sp. n. has 180-202 scale rows at mid-body; juxtaposed and flat scales on the snout; and the ventrolateral fold is barely visible. Plica kathleenae sp. n. has 158 scale rows around mid-body, and a cluster of spiny scales on the anterior margin of the auditory meatus. Plica medemi sp. n. differs from Plica lumaria and Plica pansticta in having more lamellae on the fourth finger and fourth toe (32 and 41 respectively), supracilliaries directed dorsally as opposed to laterally; an exceptional spiny texture to its scales, and a distinctly different pattern.

Description of holotype.

Rostral band-like, in contact with five post-rostrals; scales on snout juxtaposed, smooth, but bulge to form slight domes, asperities few in number; nasals separated from rostral and upper labials by 1/2 scales; five internasals; nine inter-canthals; circumorbitals 11/9, moderately distinct posteriorly, rounded, smooth, me dially; six supraocular plates separated from circumorbitals and superciliaries by small scales; occipitoparietal subtriangular, about as wide as broad; canthal short, sharply keeled, contacts two loreals; superciliaries in three layers of 7-9 upturned, keeled scales; loreal region has 7/8 rows of scales between canthal and upper labials (counted diagonally); subocular plates 7/6 each sharply keeled, the first is the longest; five elongated upper labials, the last is the longest; five lower labials similar to upper labials, bordered below by two or three rows of larger scales; mental sub-triangular contacts three small post-mentals; antegular fold complete; gular fold incomplete; the dewlap originates from the antegular fold; the folds form four, lateral mite pockets (two under each fold); gulars small, imbricate, smooth anteriorly, decreasing in size posteriorly, keeled near the transverse gular fold; mid-dorsal crest composed of a row of enlarged spiny scales extending from occiput to proximal half of tail; two tufts of enlarged, spinose scales on side of neck; spiny scales line the entire anterior edge of auditory meatus, a cluster of spinose scales absent; one tuft of spiny scales on auricular flap that covers most of its surface; dorsal scales around mid-body 145; ventrals 44; dorsolateral fold well developed from shoulder to thigh; ventrolateral fold present; caudal scales similar to body scales above and below; scales on upper limbs keeled, very spinose, and imbricate; ventral limb scales mostly smooth, imbricate; scales on dorsal surface of digits keeled ending in a stout spine. Lamellae on fourth finger 32, on the fourth toe 41, each has a median keel ending in a stout spine; hind feet about 34% of SVL.

In alcohol, the head is orange the dorsum of the body is green with dark, bold spots, no transverse blotches on the dorsum. The collar is a network of dark pigment with light colored area surrounded by darker pigment. Upper surfaces of the limbs are similarly patterned with bold spots, but transverse bands are present distally. The venter of the chin is spotted with a black area of pigment around the dewlap; the venter of the body is a uniform cream.

Etymology.

The lizard is named in honor of Colombian herpetologist Fredrico Medem.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality at Angostura No. 2, Cerro de las Pinturas, Lower Guayabero, and Meta, Colombia.

Ecology.

Nothing is known about the ecology of this species, but see the discussion.