Anolis guentherii Bocourt

Köhler, Gunther, 2012, Taxonomic status of two enigmatic Mexican anoles: Anolis cumingii Peters 1863 and Anolis guentherii Bocourt 1873 (Reptilia, Squamata, Dactyloidae), Zootaxa 3551, pp. 82-88 : 85-86

Anolis guentherii Bocourt

Anolis guentherii Bocourt 1873:61 ; holotype (MNHN 712) from “ Mexique.” Troschel (1874:160), Boulenger (1885:54), Cope (1885:391), Cope (1887:28),

Anolis guentheri Günther (1885:46) , Barbour (1934:133), Guibé (1954:37), Stuart (1955:4) Anolis guntheri Stuart (1955:19) , Peters and Donoso-Barros (1970:59), Fitch and Henderson (1973:126) Anolis guntherii . Smith and Taylor (1950a:63), Smith and Taylor (1950b:320), Brygoo (1989:52)

Description of the holotype of Anolis guentherii (MNHN 712; Fig. 2 ). Adult female as indicated by shape of base of tail and absence of dewlap; SVL 45.5 mm; tail incomplete, regenerated; tail slightly compressed in cross section, tail height 1.7 mm, tail width 1.6 mm; axilla to groin distance 18.5 mm; head length 12.8 mm, head length/ SVL ratio 0.28; snout length 6.0 mm; head width 7.7 mm; longest toe of adpressed hind limb reaching to a point between tympanum and eye; shank length 10.6 mm, shank length/head length ratio 0.83; longest finger of extended forelimb reaching to tip of snout; longest finger of adpressed forelimb failing to reach anterior insertion of hind limbs by 2.5 mm. Scales on snout keeled; 6 postrostrals; 8 scales between nasals; 1 elongate prenasal scale in contact with rostral; scales in shallow prefrontal depression keeled; supraorbital semicircles well developed, separated by a minimum of 2 scale rows; supraorbital disc composed of 5–7 distinctly enlarged keeled scales; circumorbital row of small scales complete; a single elongate superciliary; 3–4 rows of small scales extending between enlarged supraorbitals and superciliary; interparietal scale well developed, 1.7 x 1.2 mm (length x width), surrounded by scales of moderate size; 4 scales present between interparietal and supraorbital semicircles; canthal ridge distinct, composed of 3 large (anteriormost one largest) and 3 small anterior canthal scales; 9 scales present between second canthals; 11 scales present between posterior canthals; 28 (right)–29 (left) mostly obtusely keeled loreal scales in a maximum of 5 horizontal rows; subocular scales in a single series, 3 scales broadly contacting supralabials; 6 (right)–7 (left) supralabials to level below center of eye; ear opening 0.6 x 1.1 mm (length x height), ratio tympanum height/parietal scale length 0.65; mental distinctly wider than long, almost completely divided medially, bordered posteriorly by 5 postmentals (outer pair largest); 6 infralabials to level below center of eye; 2 anterior sublabials greatly enlarged, in contact with infralabials; slightly keeled granular scales present on chin and throat; dewlap absent; dorsal trunk scales weakly keeled, juxtaposed to subimbricate with rounded posterior margins, 2 medial rows slightly enlarged, largest dorsal scales about 0.24 x 0.23 mm (length x width); about 60 medial dorsal scales in one head length; about 94 medial dorsal scales between axilla and groin; lateral scales keeled, granular, homogeneous, average size 0.15 mm in diameter; ventrals at midbody smooth, slightly bulging, subimbricate, about 0.29 x 0.34 mm (length x width); about 48 ventral scales in one head length; about 64 ventral scales between axilla and groin; about 94 scales around midbody; caudal scales keeled; caudal middorsal scales enlarged; lateral caudal scales keeled, homogeneous, although indistinct division in segments discernible; postcloacal scales not enlarged; no tube-like axillary pocket present; scales on dorsal surface of forelimb weakly keeled, imbricate; digital pads greatly dilated, dilated pad (width 1.3 mm) several times the width of non-dilated scales on distal phalanx (0.3 mm); 36 (right)–35 (left) lamellae under phalanges II–IV of fourth toe; 6 scales under distal phalanx of fourth toe.

Snout and frontal region cream color with a suffusion of grayish brown; dorsal surfaces of posterior portion of head, neck, and anterior body with a faint pattern of pale spots; ventral surface of head pale grayish brown with brown wavy longitudinal lines, forming a reticulum on sides of head; venter pale grayish brown; dorsal and ventral surfaces of limbs and tail pale cream color.

Taxonomic conclusions: A comparison of the holotype of Anolis guentherii with all other known species of anoles leads me to the conclusion that it is conspecific with A. grahami Gray 1845 . Diagnostic characters include:

(1) two anterior sublabials greatly enlarged, in contact with infralabials;

(2) digital pads greatly dilated, dilated pad several times the width of non-dilated scales on distal phalanx;

(3) supraorbital semicircles well developed, separated by a minimum of 2 scale rows, 4 scales present between interparietal and supraorbital semicircles;

(4) a single elongate superciliary;

(5) longest toe of adpressed hind limb reaching to a point between tympanum and eye, shank length/head length ratio 0.83;

(6) smooth ventral scales;

(7) dorsal trunk scales weakly keeled, juxtaposed to subimbricate with rounded posterior margins, 2 medial rows slightly enlarged;

(8) ventral surface of head pale with brown wavy longitudinal lines, forming a reticulum on sides of head, dorsal surfaces of posterior portion of head, neck, and anterior body with a faint pattern of pale spots.

Therefore, I herewith place Anolis guentherii Bocourt 1973 in the synonymy of A. grahami Gray 1845 . This species occurs natively on Jamaica, and has been introduced on Bermuda ( Russell and Bauer 1991, Schwartz and Henderson 1991). Because of its smooth ventral scales and its large interparietal plate, MNHN 712 is assigned to the nominal subspecies. The type locality “ Mexique ” as stated in the original description of A. guentherii is clearly erroneous.

Figures

FIGURE 2. — Holotype of Anolis guentherii (MNHN 712; SVL 45.5 mm).