Stenocercus crassicaudatus
Creators: name: Torres-Carvajal, Omar
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Squamata
Tropiduridae
Stenocercus
Stenocercus crassicaudatus

description: Stenocercus crassicaudatus (Tschudi)
(Fig. 14)
Scelotrema crassicaudatum Tschudi, 1845: 155. Lectotype (Ortiz, 1989): MHNN 2267, a juvenile from ‘‘mountains in central Peru, Urubamba.̕̕ (restricted to surroundings of Río Perené, 10 ° 55'S, 75 ° 13'W, Peru, by Ortiz [1989]; restricted to Urubamba [Departamento Cusco], Peru, by Torres-Carvajal et al. [2005]).
Stenocercus torquatus Boulenger, 1885 a:133. Holotype: BMNH 61.5.22.4 from ‘‘ Peru.̕̕ Synonymy fide Burt and Burt, 1930:22.
Urocentrum meyeri Werner, 1901 b:4. Holotype: MTD D 1764, from ‘‘Lima [Departamento Lima], Peru.̕̕ Synonymy fide Etheridge, 1968:58.
Stenocercus ervingi Stejneger, 1913:545. Holotype: USNM 49550, a juvenile from ‘‘ Huadquinia, 5000 ft [Departamento Cuzco], Peru.̕̕ Synonymy fide Burt and Burt, 1930: 22.
Stenocercus crassicaudatus Roux, 1907:299; Burt and Burt, 1930:22; Burt and Burt, 1931:287; Etheridge, in Peters and Donoso-Barros, 1970:256; Fritts, 1974:45.
Diagnosis.— Stenocercus crassicaudatus differs from all other species of Stenocercus except S. bolivarensis, S. carrioni, S. chlorostictus, S. empetrus, S. eunetopsis, S. simonsii, and S. torquatus in having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, two caudal whorls per autotomic segment, mucronate caudal scales, and a distinct longitudinal row of enlarged vertebral scales. Of these species, only S. crassicaudatus, S. simonsii, and S. torquatus have granular dorsal scales on neck (imbricate, and smooth or keeled in remaining species). S. crassicaudatus differs from S. simonsii and S. torquatus by lacking a distinct black antehumeral collar (collar middorsally incomplete in S. simonsii and complete in S. torquatus), and by having 97–121 (X = 108.87) scales around midbody (79–102, X = 94.20 in S. simonsii; 102–137, X = 116.96 in S. torquatus), and 83–97 (X = 89.80) vertebrals (59–98, X = 73.75 in S. simonsii; 83–115, X = 98.86 in S. torquatus).
Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 95 mm (n = 16); (2) maximum SVL in females 85 mm (n = 14); (3) vertebrals 83–97; (4) paravertebrals 107–166; (5) scales around midbody 97–121; (6) supraoculars 6–8; (7) internasals 4–7; (8) postrostrals 6–8; (9) loreals 3–4; (10) gulars 44–55; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 23–32; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 26–38; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye not visible through interparietal cornea; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, smooth, juxtaposed; (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) antegular (continuous medially), antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, oblique, and postauricular neck folds present; (22) lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size; (23) posterior gulars cycloid, smooth, slightly imbricate, not notched; (24) lateral scales reduced in size, approximately half the size of dorsal body scales closer to vertebral line; (25) vertebrals larger than adjacent paravertebrals; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals smooth, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs granular; (29) inguinal granular pocket present; (30) inguinal groove present; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 57–62% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment two; (35) caudals spinose; (36) dark brown stripe extending anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (37) dark patch extensively covering gular region of females absent; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region of 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 (AMNH 23132, 23143–44, 23146 and MCZ 29303, 45882 identified as S. crassicaudatus in Torres-Carvajal [2004 a] correspond to S. torquatus.)
Color in life.—Dorsum gray or brown with numerous black spots (Fritts, 1974).
Natural History.—This species has been found on large rock piles and rocky cliffs (Fritts, 1974).
Distribution.— Stenocercus crassicaudatus occurs in the eastern Cordillera of Peru (central Andes) between 14 ° S–12 ° S (Fig. 10). It is known from the upper valley of Río Urubamba (Atlantic drainage) in Departamento Cusco at elevations of 1060–2404 m. This species occurs in sympatry with S. ochoai.
description: Published as part of Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, pp. 76-178 in Herpetological Monographs 21 (1) on pages 101-103, DOI: 10.1655/06-001.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14384794