Anolis beckeri Boulenger 1881

Köhler, Gunther, 2010, A revision of the Central American species related to Anolis pentaprion with the resurrection of A. beckeri and the description of a new species (Squamata: Polychrotidae), Zootaxa 2354, pp. 1-18 : 9-12

Anolis beckeri Boulenger 1881

Anolis beckeri Boulenger, 1881:921 ; two syntypes, IRSNB 2010 (1–2), from “Yucatán.” Barbour (1934).

Anolis pentaprion: Stuart (1937; in part), Stuart (1948; in part), Myers (1971; in part), Meyer and Wilson (1973; in part); Fitch and Seigel (1984; in part), Lee (1996), Poe (2004; in part.).

Anolis pentaprion beckeri: Etheridge (1959) , Stuart (1963).

Norops pentaprion: Köhler (2001; in part), McCranie et al. (2006; in part).

Diagnosis. A medium-sized species (SVL in largest specimen examined 60.6 mm in males, 55.4 mm in females) of the genus Anolis (sensu Poe, 2004) that differs from all Central American anoles except A. charlesmyersi , A. cristifer , A. fungosus , A. pentaprion , A. salvini , and A. utilensis by having (1) extremely short hind legs (fourth toe of adpressed hindlimb usually reaching to level of tympanum; ratio shank length / head length 0.49–0.84); (2) smooth, juxtaposed ventral scales; (3) a relatively short tail (ratio tail length / SVL 1.0–1.5). Anolis beckeri differs from A. charlesmyersi by having a pink dewlap in life with purple pigment between rows of gorgetal scales and regular rows of numerous small narrowly spaced gorgetal scales (versus a brick red dewlap with few large widely spaced gorgetal scales scattered across the dewlap). Anolis beckeri differs from A. cristifer by having a double row of slightly enlarged middorsal scales, not forming a serrated crest (versus a serrated middorsal crest, at least on posterior portion of dorsum, present in A. cristifer ). Anolis beckeri differs from A. fungosus by lacking bony parietal protuberances (versus having a pair of small bony parietal protuberances posterior and lateral to interparietal plate). Anolis beckeri differs from A. pentaprion by lacking a pronounced serrated caudal crest (versus having a pronounced serrated caudal crest) and by having gorgetal rows with 4–10 widely spaced scales (versus gorgetal rows with 17–25 narrowly spaced scales). Anolis beckeri differs from A. salvini by having smooth, obliquely conical ventral scales (versus keeled), lacking a dark interorbital bar (versus present), and lacking enlarged postcloacal scales (versus males with a pair of greatly enlarged postcloacal scales). Anolis beckeri differs from A. utilensis by having the proximal subdigital scales of toes differentiated as slightly broadened lamellae (versus those scales granular).

Description. SVL 46.5–60.6 (51.0±5.0) mm in males, 38.0–55.4 (58.3±9.6) mm in females; for other morphometric data see Table 1; dorsal head scales in internasal, prefrontal, and frontal areas rugose; scales in parietal area rugose to smooth; shallow frontal and parietal depressions present; 5–8 postrostrals; anterior nasal divided, lower scale contacting rostral and first supralabial; 5–9 internasals; canthal ridge sharply defined; scales comprising supraorbital semicircles ridged, especially anterior ones, largest scale in semicircles larger than largest supraocular scale; supraorbital semicircles well defined; supraorbital semicircles broadly in contact with each other or separated by one scale at narrowest point; 1–3 scales separating supraorbital semicircles and interparietal at narrowest point; interparietal well defined, irregular in outline, longer than wide, larger than size of ear opening; about 4–11 enlarged, smooth to faintly keeled supraocular scales on each side, in 2–3 rows; enlarged supraoculars completely separated from supraorbital semicircles; three short superciliaries, posterior one shortest; usually 3 enlarged canthals; 6–14 scales between second canthals; 7–9 scales present between posterior canthals; loreal region slightly concave, 18–30 mostly smooth or rugose (some keeled) loreal scales in a maximum of 3–4 horizontal rows; 7–10 supralabials and 7– 10 infralabials to level below center of eye; suboculars smooth to rugose, in broad contact with supralabials; ear opening vertically oval; scales anterior to ear opening slightly larger than those posterior to ear opening; 5–7 postmentals, outer pair largest; gular scales not keeled; male dewlap moderately large, extending to beyond level of axillae onto chest; male dewlap with 5–6 horizontal gorgetal-sternal scale rows, about 16–18 scales per row; female dewlap well developed, extending to level of axillae; female dewlap with 4–7 horizontal gorgetal-sternal scale rows, with about 9–15 scales per row; about 2 middorsal scale rows slightly enlarged, mostly smooth, dorsal scales lateral to middorsal series grading into granular lateral scales; no enlarged scales among granular laterals; lateral scales granular, slightly smaller than largest dorsal scales; about 95–104 dorsal scales along vertebral midline between levels of axillae and groin in males, about 84–123 in females; about 56–80 dorsal scales along vertebral midline contained in one head length in males, about 45–70 in females; ventral scales on midsection slightly larger than largest dorsal scales; ventral body scales smooth, obliquely conical, juxtaposed; about 67–86 ventral scales along midventral line between levels of axilla and groin in males, about 67–92 in females; about 34–60 ventral scales contained in one head length in males, about 34–60 in females; about 146–178 scales around midbody in males, about 130–178 in females; tubelike axillary pocket absent; precloacal scales not keeled; enlarged postcloacal scales absent; tail oval at about midlength; tail height/tail width 0.80–1.25; basal subcaudal scales smooth to faintly keeled; lateral caudal scales keeled, homogeneous, although an indistinct division in segments is discernible; dorsal medial caudal scale row enlarged, keeled, not forming a crest; 2 median subcaudal scale rows distinctly enlarged, keeled; most scales on lateral surface of antebrachium smooth; 18–32 subdigital lamellae on Phalanges II–IV of Toe IV of hind limbs; 7–10 subdigital scales on Phalanx I of Toe IV of hind limbs; longest toe of adpressed hind limb usually reaching to shoulder region.

Geographic distribution: Along the Caribbean versant of Nuclear Central America from Tabasco, Mexico, to northern Nicaragua, including the southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula.