Liolaemus diaguita Abdala, Quinteros, Arias, Portelli & Palavecino, 2011, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Abdala, Cristian Simón
name: Quinteros, Andrés Sebastián
name: Arias, Federico
name: Portelli, Sabrina
name: Palavecino, Antonio
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Liolaemidae
Liolaemus
Liolaemus diaguita

description: Liolaemus diaguita sp. nov.
(Fig. 1–5)
1993. Liolaemus quilmes —Etheridge, Boll. Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino, 11: 137–199. 2008. L. cf. quilmes 1—Morando et al., Zoologica Scripta, 37: 603–618.
Holotype. MCN 3247. 61 Km N of Cafayate, on National Road 34, 400 m S of Río Las Conchas, Quebrada de las Conchas; Guachipas Department, Salta Province. 25°49'07.1''S; 65°41'26.1''W. 1328 m. Arias, F., Palavecino, A., Portelli, S. & Quinteros, S. cols. 27/01/2010.
Paratypes. FML 23821-825. MCN 3145-50; 3243; 3248-50. Same data as Holotype.
Diagnosis. Liolaemus diaguita sp nov., belongs to the L. boulengeri group because it has a patch of enlarged scales on posterior region of thigh (Etheridge, 1995; Abdala et al. 2006). Within this group, it belongs to the L. laurenti group (Abdala, 2007) because its posterior teeth have straight edged crowns and sexual dichromatism is evident. Within the L. laurenti group, Liolaemus diaguita sp nov. is a member of the L. darwinii group (Abdala, 2007) or the darwinii complex (Etheridge, 1993) because it has a black line which crosses the eye vertically (except L. chacoensis) and pre-scapular spots in both males and females (Abdala, 2007). Tooth shape and the line crossing the eye distinguish the new taxon from all members of the L. melanops group [Abdala, 2007 (L. boulengeri, L canqueli, L. cuyanus, L. donosobarrosi, L. fitzingerii, L. inacayali, L. josei, L. mapuche, L. martorii, L. melanops, L. morenoi, L. loboi, L. sagei, L. rothi, L. senguer, L. tehuelche, L. telsen, and L. xanthoviridis)]; also the presence of sexual dichromatism distinguish L. diaguita from L canqueli, L. cuyanus, L. chehuachekenk, L. goestchi, L. fitzingerii, L. martorii, L. morenoi, L. sagei, and L. xanthoviridis. It differs from L. canqueli and L. melanops, because L. diaguita lacks cephalic melanism, and from L. canqueli, L. cuyanus, L. mapuche, L. morenoi, L. fitzingerii and L. xanthoviridis because those species show gular and antehumeral melanism, absent in L. diaguita. The new species has four scales contacting the mental scale, differing from L. cuyanus and all the members of the L. wiegmannii group (L. arambarensis, L. azarai, L. cranwelli, L. cuyumhue, L. lutzae, L. multimaculatus, L. occipitalis, L. rabinoi, L. riojanus, L. salinicola, L. scapularis and L. wiegmannii), which have six scales contacting the mental and from L. josei and L. mapuche where the mental scale can contact 4 to 6 scales. Also, the members of the L. wiegmannii group have two rows of lorilabial scales, while L. diaguita has one row. The new taxon differs from species of the L. anomalus group (L. anomalus, L. ditadai, L. lentus, and L. pseudoanomalus - sensu Abdala, 2007) because its tail is longer than snout-vent length (same length in L. anomalus group), head larger than wide (wider than long in L. anomalus group), enlarged superior cilliaries absent (present in L. anomalus group), larger number of precloacal pores in males and females, and lack of pterigoid teeth. Within the L. darwinii group (Abdala, 2007), L. diaguita differs from the members of the L. ornatus group (L. albiceps, L. calchaqui, L. crepuscularis, L. irregularis, L. lavillai, and L. ornatus) because it has an oviparous reproductive mode and it lacks precloacal pores in females. Also it differs from L. albiceps and L. irregularis because it is smaller (Max SVL 49.7mm vs 82.5 and 86.1 mm respectively). Liolaemus diaguita differs from L. abaucan and L. uspallatensis in having imbricate and keeled dorsal scales, while in those two species the dorsal scales are smooth or weakly keeled. Liolaemus chacoensis exhibits keeled temporal scales and mucronate dorsal scales, absent in L. diaguita. The presence of a small postscapular spot distinguishes L. diaguita from L. abaucan, L. darwinii and L. koslowskyi which have a large and evident postscapular spots. It differs from L. cinereus in having a black stripe in the lateral field and in lacking melanism on the throat. Liolaemus darwinii, L. grosseorum, L. laurenti, L. montanezi and L. olongasta have a black antehumeral arch, absent in L. diaguita. Liolaemus espinozai shows spots located posterior to the postscapular spot and a lateral line in males and females, while both are absent in L. diaguita specimens. Liolaemus diaguita differs from L. quilmes because it has a small prescapular spot and a black stripe in the lateral field, both absent in L. quilmes.
Males and females of Liolaemus diaguita have a unique dorsal color pattern formed by paravertebral and lateral spots which can join together forming paravertebral and lateral stripes respectively. Additionally, the specimens lack spots on throat and belly. These character states distinguish the new taxon from all members of the L. laurenti group.
Description of the holotype. Adult male. Snout vent length (SVL) 49.68. Head 1.3 times longer (12.48 mm) than wide (9.21mm). Head height 6.71 mm. Interorbital distance 6.75 mm. Eye-auditory meatus distance 4.71 mm. Auditory meatus height 2.1 mm; wide 1.61 mm. Supralabials–eye 2.3 mm; distance between nares 1.53 mm. Subocular legnth 0.72 mm. Trunk length 22.31 mm; tail length 70.32 mm. Tibia length 4.84 mm. Foot length 14.98 mm. Humerous length 3.62 mm.
Dorsal surface of head smooth, with five enlarged supraoculars. Eight scales between rostral and frontal scales. Mental scale trapezoidal, larger than rostral, in contact with four scales. Four chinshields scales. There is no contact between nasal and rostral scales, separated by one scale. Seven scales surround the nasal scale, which is separated from canthal scale by four scales. Two postrostral scales, with seven scale organs. Interparietal scale larger than paritetals, in contact with six scales. Hellmich index (dorsal scales in head, from occiput to mental scale) 17.
Preocular separated from lorilabial row by one scale. Nine supercilliaries. Sixteen upper cilliaries. Anterior edge of the auditory meatus with three scales projecting. Auricular scale (located in antero-superior edge of the auditory meatus) present. Eleven smooth temporals. Subocular scale in contact with four lorilabials. Five supraocular scales. Nine supralabial and six infralabial scales. One row of nine lorilabials. Scales around midbody 57. Sixty-three round, keeled and imbricated dorsal scales (from occiput to forelimbs). Sixty-eight ventral scales from mental scale to cloaca, larger than dorsals, laminar and inbricate. Twenty-four imbricate and smooth gulars. Antegular fold present. Forty-five granular and smooth neck scales (counted from posterior margin of the auditory meatus to sholuder, along the longitudinal fold). Neck folds (auricular, antehumeral and longitudinal) evident. Seventeen infradigital lamellae on fourth finger and 28 on fourth toe. Femoral patch evident. Seven precloacal pores. Dorsal caudal scales mucronate and smooth; ventral smooth.
Color of the holotype in ethanol. Dorsal background color dark brown. Head dorsally brown with dark brown spots. Lateral zone of head brown with black lines. Temporal region with black spots. A black line born in the posterior margin of the eye, extending and reaching the lateral field. A vertical black line crosses the eye (like all other members of the L. darwinii group—except L. chacoensis). Dark brown vertebral zone, without vertebral line. In the region close to the occiput there are light brown to white lines. Eight pairs of paravertebral white spots are evident. Two dorsolateral white stripes, bordered in light brown. Lateral fields dark brown to black, with white spots speckled. Ventrolateral line white and evident, bordered by a brown line ventrally. Ventrolateral field brown with rounded white spots. Fore and hind limbs brown (lighter than dorsum) speckled with dark brown and white spots. Ventrally throat, chest, belly, limbs and tail are immaculate, with a creamy white color. Tail dorsally, brown with black spots forming a ring pattern.
Color in life of the holotype. Dorsal background. Head with same color of dorsum with dark brown to black lines. Temporal region same color than dorsum, with a black line which begins on the posterior margin of the eye, and reaches the lateral region of body. Pre-scapular spot present. Paravertebral field black with ten pairs (between fore and hind limbs) of white irregular spots. Vertebral zone without vertebral line. Dorsolateral stripes light brown with white spots. Lateral field brownish yellow. In the lateral field is evident a dark brown line bordered with white spots. Ventrolateral line white and distinct. Ventrolateral field light gray with white spots speckled. Fore and hind limbs grayish brown with light gray and dark brown spots. Tail dorsally, same color of dorsum of body. The black paravertebral field of the body extends to the proximal region of tail. In distal region of tail there are black and white lines, forming a ringed pattern. Ventrally, throat, chest, belly, fore and hindlimbs, and tail, immaculate white cream.
Variation. Based on fifteen paratypes. Head longer (10.2–12.6 mm; Mean = 11,5 mm) than wide (8.3–12.5 mm; Mean = 9.7 mm). Head height 6.0– 7.4 mm (Mean = 6.5 mm). SVL 41.5–49.6 mm (Mean = 47.2 mm), averaging 2 times longer than trunk. Tail length 64.3–81.7 mm (Mean = 70.7 mm). Width of tail base 4.6–6.5 mm (Mean = 5.9 mm). Humerus length 3.1–6.2 mm (Mean = 4.4 mm). Tibia length 4.4–6.5 mm (Mean = 5.1). Foot length 11.3–17.9 mm (Mean = 14.0 mm). Fourth finger length 4.9–7.9 mm (Mean = 6.2 mm). Fourth toe length 8.9–11.6 mm (Mean = 9.9 mm). Dorsal surface of head smooth, with 14–20 scales (Hellmich index). Seven to eight supercilliaries. Ten to sixteen upper cilliaries. One row of lorilabials, same size as supralabials. Eight to ten lorilabials. Seven to eleven supralabials. Frontal divided into two scales. Interparietal always larger than parietals, surrounded by 4–8 scales. Nasal surrounded by 6–8 scales. Four to six infralabials. Mental in contact with four scales. Ten to thirteen smooth and round temporals. Longitudinal, postauricular and antehumeral folds present. Horizontal fold Yshaped between the shoulder and the auditory meatus.
Scales around midbody 52–58 (Mean = 55.5). Gulars 20–29 (Mean = 22.8). Dorsal scales between occiput and hind limbs 57–68 (Mean = 62.6). Ventrals 58–70 (Mean = 64.6). Males with 5–7 (Mean = 5.8) precloacal pores. Females without precloacal pores. Dorsals flat, imbricate and keeled. Sixteen to twenty infradigital lamellae on fourth finger and 24–30 on fourth toe.
Variation in color pattern. (Fig 1–4) Sexual dimorphism evident. Males exhibit the same color pattern as the holotype. The only difference is in the intensity of the yellow color in the lateral fieldis more intense in males.Females with the dorsal background color gray to light brown. Head of females are similar in males and females. The vertebral region is bordered by black rounded spots. The size and number of those spots vary and they are absent in some specimens. Pre-scapular spot present. The lateral field exhibits two stripes, a black on the top and white cream below, without spots. Light brown fore and hind limbs with dark brown lines and spots. Ventrally females show the same color of the holotype.
Distribution. The new species is known only from its type locality. (Fig. 5)
Natural history. Liolaemus diaguita was found in a sandy area where vegetation is predominated by shrubs (Thrichocereus sp, and Prosopis sp). The area belongs to the phytoegegraphical region of Monte (Cabrera and Willink, 1980). It can be found basking on rocks along the road.
Etymology. The epithet diaguita comes from native people denominated Diaguitas, who inhabit Northwestern Argentina, especially in Valles Calchaquies, since the year 850. These communities developed a rich culture, and at present there are more than 60,000 people in Northwestern Argentina who belong to this ethnic group.
SA D PPM PPF Max. SVL L. diaguita 52–58 (55.5) 57–68(62.6) 5–7 (5.8) 0 49.6 mm continued on the next page... Table 1 continued
description: Published as part of Abdala, Cristian Simón, Quinteros, Andrés Sebastián, Arias, Federico, Portelli, Sabrina & Palavecino, Antonio, 2011, A new species of the Liolaemus darwinii group (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from Salta Province, Argentina, pp. 26-38 in Zootaxa 2968 on pages 27-32, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.204489