Liolaemus

Liolaemus sp8

This population is phenetically close to Liolaemus lemniscatus; it is distributed in Río Negro province, Argentina. I studied only three specimens from this terminal taxon. It differs from L. lemniscatus because the dorsal surface of head in L. lemniscatus is rough, whereas in L. sp8 it is smooth. Temporal scales are strongly keeled in L. lemniscatus, being weakly keeled in L. sp8. Auricular scale is conspicuous in L. lemniscatus and absent in L. sp8. Black spots are evident in head of L. sp8 and absent in L. lemniscatus. Subocular scale is whitish in L. lemniscatus, whereas in L. sp8 this scale is of the same color as loreal region. It has 54–57 (X= 55.7; SD= 1.53) scales around midbody; 46–54 (X= 50; SD= 4) scales between occiput and hindlimbs; 77–96 (X= 84; SD= 10.44) ventrals; 11–13 (X= 12.3; SD= 1.15) scales in dorsal head (Hellmich’s Index); 5 superciliaries; 7–8 (X= 7.3; SD= 0.57) scales surrounding nasal; nasal always in contact with rostral, but separated from canthal by two scales; 7 smooth temporals, upper temporals weakly keeled; auricular scale absent; 32–40 (X= 35.7; SD= 4.04) laminar (some rounded) and smooth neck scales; 6–8 (X= 7; SD= 1) lorilabials; subocular scale same color as loreal region (not whitish); 7 supralabials and 4–5 (X= 4,7; SD= 0,58) infralabials; fourth supralabial upturned, always in contact with subocular; 3 precloacal pores in males, absent in females. Max-SVL= 52.84 (X= 49.54; SD= 2.9); head length (X= 10.64; SD= 0.57); head width (X= 7.8; SD= 0.7); trunk length (X= 24.2; SD= 1.41); humerus length (X= 4.7; SD= 0.99); tibia length (X= 6.2; SD= 0.33); tail length (in only one specimen the tail is not autotomized)= 74.66. Color pattern: dorsolateral stripes and rectangular paravertebral spots evident. Without vertebral line. Lateral region melanic or with numerous black spots. Ventrolateral zone light brown. Throat melanic. Chest and belly lead gray. Vertebral line in dorsum of tail, ventrally spotless.