Stenocercus apurimacus Fritts, 1972

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 87-89

Stenocercus apurimacus Fritts

( Fig. 7 )

Stenocercus apurimacus Fritts, 1972:2 . Holotype: KU 134273 , a male from ‘‘ Puente Pachachaca , 15 km W Abancay, 1800 m, Departamento Apurimac, Peru ̕̕; Fritts, 1974:39.

Diagnosis.—Among species of Stenocercus with imbricate scales on the posterior surface of thighs, S. apurimacus is similar to S. caducus , S. fimbriatus , and S. prionotus in having a deep posthumeral mite pocket and lacking a postfemoral mite pocket. S. apurimacus differs from all three species (character states in parentheses) by having smooth ventrals (strongly keeled ventrals), nostrils medial to canthal ridge (laterally oriented nostrils), and lacking dorsolateral crests (one dorsolateral crest on each side).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 83 mm (n = 19); (2) maximum SVL in females 68 mm (n = 17); (3) vertebrals 48–64; (4) paravertebrals 57–70; (5) scales around midbody 48–64; (6) supraoculars 5–6; (7) internasals 3–5; (8) postrostrals 4–7; (9) loreals 2–3; (10) gulars 16–25; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 14–21; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 20–27; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a deep depression; (14) postfemoral mite pocket absent; (15) parietal eye visible through interparietal cornea in 89% of specimens; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region large, smooth, subimbricate; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region absent; (19) scales on frontonasal region weakly imbricate anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) neck folds absent; (22) lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size; (23) posterior gulars rhomboidal, smooth, imbricate, notched; (24) lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size; (25) vertebrals larger than adjacent paravertebrals; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals smooth, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs keeled, imbricate; (29) inguinal granular pocket absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail strongly compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 64–71% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment three; (35) caudals not spinose; (36) dark brown stripe extending anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (37) dark patch extensively covering gular region in 6% of females; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region in adult males absent; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in adult males absent; (40) dark midventral longitudinal mark such as faint line, conspicuous stripe, or extensive patch in adult males absent; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent; (42) postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs not in contact midventrally, Patterns 2A and 2D.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown with black chevrons more distinct in males than in females; males with dorsal nuchal black collar edged with white posteriorly; chin white with gray flecks in males, black in females; venter beige or gray with faint blue or pink tint in males, grayish white in females; pelvic region, base of tail, and thighs ventrally yellow in males ( Fritts, 1972, 1974).

Natural History.—Mostly found in xeric habitats, S. apurimacus is active on the ground at the bases of shrubs, on rock piles, or in rows of Agave ( Fritts, 1972, 1974).

Distribution.— Stenocercus apurimacus occurs in the eastern Cordillera of the central Andes in Peru (14 ° S–12 ° S). This species is known from the upper valleys of Río Apurimac at elevations between 1800–2700 m in Departamentos Apurimac, Ayacucho, and Cusco ( Fig. 10 ). S. apurimacus is sympatric with S. ochoai (Apurimac) and S. roseiventris (Ayacucho).

Figures

FIG. 7.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. angel (LAC); (B) S. angulifer (FAY); (C) S. apurimacus (WED); (D) S. azureus (SCA); (E) S. boettgeri (MLU); (F) S. boliƲarensis (FCA); (G) S. caducus (LSI); (H) S. chlorostictus (MLU).

FIG. 10.—Distribution of six species of Stenocercus in Peru.