Morunasaurus groi Dunn 1933

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Etheridge, Richard & Queiroz, Kevin De, 2011, A systematic revision of Neotropical lizards in the clade Hoplocercinae (Squamata: Iguania), Zootaxa 2752, pp. 1-44 : 35-36

Morunasaurus groi Dunn 1933

Proposed standard English name: Gro’s manticores Proposed standard Spanish name: mantícoras de Gro

Morunasaurus groi Dunn (1933:76) . Holotype: MCZ 34875, from “El Valle de Anton [8º36'N, 80º7'W], [Provincia Cocle] Panama ”; Peters & Donoso-Barros (1970:204).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other species of Morunasaurus by lacking an enlarged row of vertebral scales, and by having the caudal whorls of spines separated by three transverse rows of scales ventrally and four transverse rows of scales dorsally (versus two and three, respectively, in other Morunasaurus ). Dunn (1933) mentioned that M. groi also differs from M. annularis in having a circular (presumably in cross section) rather than compressed tail; however, we find that the tail in both species is nearly circular in cross section.

Description. (1) dorsal head scales smooth, not projecting dorsally, some occipitals granular or subconical; (2) posterior superciliaries not enlarged relative to adjacent scales; (3) scales on lateral edge of skull roof just posterior to superciliaries not projecting; (4) pretympanic scales similar in size; (5) gular scales granular or flat and smooth, separated by skin, not projecting ventrally; (6) dorsal neck scales heterogeneous in size, granular or large and conical; lateral neck scales granular, homogeneous in size; (7) vertebrals not forming middorsal row of enlarged scales; (8) nuchal region without middorsal crest; (9) dorsals smooth and heterogeneous in size, with largest scales more projecting and abundant on posterior half of body; (10) discontinuous longitudinal row of raised, enlarged scales between dorsals and flank scales present; (11) scales on flanks heterogeneous in size, mostly granular with a few scattered enlarged scales; (12) ventrals smooth; (13) fore limb scales smooth or slightly keeled dorsally and ventrally; (14) hind limb scales smooth or slightly keeled dorsally and ventrally; scattered conical, sharply pointed, enlarged scales present dorsally; scales of pes heterogeneous in size; (15) caudals heterogeneous, with scales making up the posteriormost whorl of each segment modified as conspicuous spines; (16) tail nearly circular in cross section. Meristic and morphometric characters are presented in Table 1 .

Coloration in life. Dorsal background reddish brown with dark brown transverse bands that reach the middle of the flanks to break up into small dark spots ventrally; head and neck reddish; white band bordered with dark brown on both sides extends from shoulder to scapular region; chin and infralabial region scarlet red in adult males; gular region grayish brown; pectoral region pale chrome orange; venter dirty white in males and yellow in females ( Corredor et al. 1985).

Natural history. Dunn (1933) reported that lizards of this species seem to be diurnal and live under boulders on a mountainside. All specimens were seen within two feet of their burrows, which were short and shallow and into which the lizards retreated when approached. A female and a juvenile were found in the same burrow ( Dunn 1933). Corredor et al. (1985) collected specimens of this species in an area characterized by low rolling hills and sandy, well-drained soil surrounded by dense, moist forest; the lizards were active during the day on the forest floor, in or near open burrows located under logs, with no surrounding vegetation. Clutch size is probably one egg ( Dunn 1933).

Distribution. Morunasaurus groi occurs in Panama and the western slopes of the western Andean cordillera in northern Colombia at elevations between 700–805 m ( Fig. 11 ). This species is known to occur in sympatry with Enyalioides heterolepis in northwestern Colombia, and it is very likely that the two species are sympatric in Panama as well.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution of Morunasaurus annularis (triangles), M. groi (squares), and M. peruvianus (dots).