Saurodactylus brosseti Bons & Pasteur, 1957

Javanmardi, Soheila, Vogler, Sven & Joger, Ulrich, 2019, Phylogenetic differentiation and taxonomic consequences in the Saurodactylus brosseti species complex (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), with description of four new species, Zootaxa 4674 (4), pp. 401-425 : 411-413

Saurodactylus brosseti Bons & Pasteur, 1957 (Northern clade)

Distribution. Western Morocco to Atlas Mountains, from El Jadida to Azilal (NW to E) to Agadir, Morocco (S). A doubtful single record from Tiznit (S Morocco) [derived from locality data of Rosado et al. (2017)]. Terra typica: Vallée du Souss (Souss Valley).

Diagnosis. [this re-diagnosis differs from the original diagnosis of S. brosseti by Bons & Pasteur (1957), whose type series was composite and thus also included characters of the southern clade]. This species has a variable dorsal color, beige to dark brown. It differs from all other species in the S. brosseti complex by not exhibiting large white or yellow spots on the back; spots are minute or absent. The tail is typically covered with irregular yellow spots on a brownish surface. A white v-shaped line is usually present on the top of the head, but not extending to the neck. Nasal shields usually touch each other, whereas they are separated by two small scales in S. harrisi . Nasals are separated from labials by two slender plates.

Holotype. We examined four Saurodactylus specimens form National Museum of Natural History , Paris, collected by Bons and Pasteur, with the following collection numbers: MNHN-RA-1990.1377, MNHN-RA-1990.1378, MNHN-RA-1990.1379, and MNHN-RA-1990.1380. Nevertheless, it is not certain which specimen the holotype is (N. Vidal, pers. comm.); we, however, interpret it to be “MNHN-RA-1990-1378” (original label: B & P 5.56), because this specimen is in a good condition compared to others.

Description of holotype. Adult, sex unknown; SVL = 26.52 mm, HL = 7.79 mm, HW = 4.26 mm, HD = 3.3 mm, ED = 1.51 mm; FL = 7.8 mm; HdL = 11.02 mm; TL = 22.2 mm (see Table 6 for abbreviations).

Mental shield large, pointed posteriorly. Two pairs of postmentals, first pair larger, not in contact; 6 supralabials and 5 infralabials on each side. Rostral shield large, about twice as broad as high, with a deep posterior notch. Two large internasals, in contact; two postnasals on each side, the lower one almost two times larger. Nostril surrounded by five scales: rostral, internasal, two postnasals and the first supralabial. Dorsal scales of head homogenous, smooth and granular; 26 interorbital and 8 loreal scales. Dorsal scales of body small, slightly larger than those of head, smooth and juxtaposed, in 40 longitudinal rows at midbody; 75 dorsals between axilla and groin. Ventral scales large and sub-imbricate, in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody; 38 ventrals from axilla to groin. Scales on the ventral surface of the head small, flat and homogenous; 34 scales at the broadest width of the head; 41 scales between mental shield and gular line. Tail cylindrical, with small, smooth dorsal scales; subcaudals flat and slightly larger than supracaudals. Digits slender and short without any fringe or ornamentation; 14 subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe.

Color pattern. Coloration of the holotype is faded to some extent. Dorsum uniformly sandy with small scattered white spots with no dark margins; a light brown temporal streak extending from tip of the snout to the ear opening on each side of the head. Tail cream with a few brown as well as white spots. Coloration of the limbs the same as dorsum; venter cream ( Fig.8 ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Holotype (lectotype) of Saurodactylus brosseti. Photo by S. Javanmardi.