Liolaemus melanops

S, Abdala C., Azocar, Moreno & Paz, Bonino M. M., 2012, Taxonomic study and morphology based phylogeny of the patagonic clade Liolaemus melanops group (Iguania: Liolaemidae), with the description of three new taxa, Zootaxa 3163, pp. 1-32 : 25-26

Key for adult males the species belonging to the L. melanops group

1 a- Head as long as wide, tail al long as SVL or slightly longer, palpebral “comb” developed, dorsal scales of body juxtaposed without keels................................................................................ ( L. anomalus group)

1 b- Head longer than wider, tail longer than SVL; palpebral “comb” non developed; dorsal scales of body juxtaposed or imbricate scales with or without keels................................................................................... 2

2 a- Posterior teeths in the maxila straight not expanded............................................................. 3

2 b- Posterior teeths in the maxilla with an expanded crown, never straight.............................................. 4

3 a- Evident transversal line across the eyelids; a single layer of loreolabial scales; four scales in contact to mental scale................................................................................................ ( L. darwinii group)

3 b- Without transversal line across eyelids, two layers of loreolabial scales, six scales contacting the mental scales.................................................................................................. ( L. wiegmannii group)

4 a- Wide, melanic and noticeable antehumeral arc or band, it runs over the superior line of forelimbs and expands ventrally....... 5

4 b- No antehumeral arc or a short one, never runs over shoulders.................................................... 13

5 a- Conspicuous dorsal cephalic melanism....................................................................... 6

5 b Head without or unconspicuous cephalic melanism.............................................................. 7

6 a- Head melanism more noticeable on the sides, dorsally bright green or light green, tail blue-greenish; melanic paravertebral trans- versally deployed specks wider in the center; ventrally melanic........................................ L. melanops

6 b- Head laterally and dorsally melanic, body dorsally yellow (sometimes light orange) with transversal paravertebral melanic lines; ventrally melanic.............................................................................. L. canqueli

7 a- Scapular region with pre and postscapular spots................................................................ 8

7 b- Scapular region without spots............................................................................. 11

8 a- Vertebral field absent or slightly evident, never in contact to paravertebral scales...................................... 9

8 b- Wide and evident vertebral field in contact to parevertebral scales; with pre and postescapular specks...... L. chehuanchekenk

9 a- Mental in contact to four, five or six scales, dorsal body color light blue, green olive or brownish, melanic throat; ventrally melanic, yellow, light blue or grey....................................................................... 10

9 b- Always six scales contacting mental scale, dorsal color brownish or grey; gular melanic or dark brown band complete, ventrally white or yellowish............................................................................. L. cuyanus

10 a- Four scales in contact to mental scale; fading scapular specks; ventrally melanic as well as hindlimbs and cloaca.... L. morenoi

10 b- Four to six scales in contact to mental scale; evident scapular spots; ventrally yellow, light blue or grey.......... L. mapuche

11 a- Antehumeral arc “normal” never reaching the ventral region of members; dorsally with regularly disposed spots, without mela- nism of the jaw...................................................................................... 12

11 b- Antehumeral arc “very wide”, reaching the ventral region between forelimbs; dorsum with several irregularly disposed specks; melanic jaw.............................................................................. L. xanthoviridis

12 a- Paravertebrales spots form transversal lines, fused to lateral specks and forming continuous bands; no dorsolateral bands; head and body grey or brownish with some paints in yellowish-green..................................... L. casamiquelai

12 b- Paravertebral spots forming a longitudinal line; dorsolateral bands red and/or paravertebral specks also red; head grey or intense red; dorsally background light blue greenish with red specks.......................................... L. fitzingerii

13 a- Scapular region without spots............................................................................ 14

13 b- Scapular region with pre and postscapular spots.............................................................. 17

14 a- Gular melanism present................................................................................. 15

14 b- Without gular melanism................................................................................ 16

15 a- Paravertebral spots slightly visible, faded; extended melanic throat; ventrally yellow; without light blue scales to the sides of the tail; four scales contacting mental scale........................................................... L. inacayali

15 b- Marked paravertebral spots; gular melanism not expanded; ventrally white with red specks; light blue scales present at the sides of the tail; four to six scales in contact to the mental scale................................................. L. josei

16 a- Paravertebral spots fused to the laterals forming a bat-like spot; background dorsal color light brownish; ventrally grey with yel- low tones, laterally light yellow.................................................................... L. sagei

16 b- Paravertebral spots fused, but not to laterals, no bat-like spots observed; background dorsal color dark grey or brown-reddish; ventrally light grey with sides light grey.............................................................. L. rothi

17 a- Prescapular spot present................................................................................. 18

17 b- Prescapular spot absent........................................................................... L. puelche

18 a- Supralabials uniformely colored, never alternating dark and light colors; thighs without light blue scales or spots.......... 19

18 b- Supralabials with alternated dark and light colored scales; thighs with light blue spots or scales................... L. purul

19 a- Jaws region never show evident melanism.................................................................. 20

19 b- Jaws always show evident melanism.............................................................. L. tehuelche

20 a- Light blue scales on the sides of the tail.................................................................... 21

20 b- Tail sides never show light blue scales..................................................................... 25

21 a- Paravertebral spots subsquare shape or a transversal line to the body, never half moon shaped or with a V shape; no light blue scales between the paravertebral scales.................................................................. 22

21 b- Paravertebral scales half moon or V shaped; numerous light blue scales between paravertebral spots........ L. donosobarrosi

22 a- Head and body flanks speckled with several yellow, light green or light blue scales; gular or pectoral melanism; posterior border of paravertebral spots notably white.............................................................. L. dumerili

22 b- Head and body flanks speckled never with yellow, light green or light blue scales; gular or pectoral melanism absent; posterior border of paravertebral spots non evidently white........................................................... 23

23 a- Band shaped gular melanic spot; tail ventrally uniformely colored................................................ 24

23 b- Gular melanism absent; tail ventrally yellow, more intense near the cloaca and fading to the tip.................... L. loboi

24 a- Numerous light blue scales on the flanks and tail sides, four to six scales in contact to mental; larger than 70 mm SVL.................................................................................................... L. goetschi

24 b- Few light blue scales on the flanks and tail sides, four scales in contact to mental; shorter than 70 mm SVL....... L. martorii

25 a- Ventral melanism present................................................................................ 26

25 b- Ventral melanism absent.................................................................... L. hermannunezi

26 a- Without antehumeral arc................................................................................ 27

26 b- Antehumeral arc present.......................................................................... L. tromen

27 a- Gular melanism shaped as an incomplete band or difuse, never extended towards the pectoral region; ventral coloration never red................................................................................................... 27

27 b- Gular melanism intense, extended to the pectoral and jaw regions; ventrally red............................ L. boulengeri

28 a- Ventrally light blue or blue greyish................................................................. L. senguer

28 b –Ventrally yellowish or whitish, never blue............................................................. L. telsen