Microlophus occipitalis (Peters, 1871)

Cuadrado, Stefania S., Loor, Yelsin A. & Narváez, Andrea E., 2020, Herpetofauna of Engabao, Playas Canton, Ecuador, with notes on the occurrence of Ceratoprhys stolzmanni (Steindachner, 1882), Check List 16 (3), pp. 665-674 : 669

Microlophus occipitalis (Peters, 1871)

Figure 2E

Material examined. ECUADOR, province of Guayas, Playas Canton, Engabao • 1 ♀, 70 mm; unvegetated ar- eas near human settlements and livestock; 02°36′35″S, 080°26′13″W; 12 m a.s.l; 31 Mar. 2019; Stefania S. Cuadrado, Yelsin A. Loor leg: UG-R162 • 1 ♂, 74 mm; unvegetated areas near human settlements and livestock; 02°36′35″S, 080°26′13″W; 12 m a.s.l; 26 Apr. 2019; Ste- fania S. Cuadrado, Yelsin A. Loor leg.: UG-R167 • 1 ♂, 67 mm; moderate vegetation, sandy ground; 02° 36′26″S, 080°26′08″W; 12 m a.s.l; 26 Apr. 2019; Stefa- nia S. Cuadrado, Yelsin A. Loor leg.; UG-R166 • 1 ♀, 62 mm; moderate vegetation, sandy ground: 02°36′26″S, 080°26′08″W; 12 m a.s.l; 26 Apr. 2019; Stefania S. Cuadrado, Yelsin A. Loor leg.; UG-R168 • 1 ♀, 29 mm; unvegetated areas near human settlements and livestock; 02°36′35″S, 080°26′13″W; 12 m a.s.l; 26 Apr. 2019; Ste- fania S. Cuadrado, Yelsin A. Loor leg.; UG-R164.

Identification. These lizards are distinguished from those of the M. peruvianus group in having keeled and imbricated, rather than smooth and granular dorsolateral scales. The largest males are 75 mm SVL and females 58 mm SVL ( Mármol-Guijarro 2017). This species was observed at all sites but was more abundant at sites A and B. Most individuals were observed between 10:30 and 15:00 basking on sandy ground, and a few were perching on tree branches close to the ground. This species seems to use vegetated areas characterized by partial shade, and it was also found active and feeding close to the farmhouse and to the cattle enclosure. On a few occasions, some individuals were observed in rocky areas or on perches in full sun. This species tolerates disturbance and anthropogenic activities.

Distribution. Microlophus occipitalis is occurs along the western coasts of Ecuador and Peru ( Dixon 1975; Watkins 1997), where it lives in dry thickets and deciduous forests. In Ecuador, it is known to occur in the provinces of Loja, Guayas, Santa Elena, and Manabí ( Dixon 1975; Mármol-Guijarro 2017).