A new species of Liolaemus of the Liolaemus montanus section (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from Northwestern Argentina Author Quinteros, Andrés Sebastián Author Abdala, Cristian Simón text Zootaxa 2011 2789 35 48 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.276970 128c579e-ccd4-43c8-b56d-d30c08e08e2b 1175-5326 276970 Liolaemus vulcanus sp. nov. ( Fig. 1–5 ) 2001 . . & C. Abdala. Cuad. de Herpetol. 15 ( 2 ): 119–135 2002 . . & C. Abdala. Cuad. de Herpetol. 16 ( 2 ): 137–150 2007 . . Abdala, C.S., ZOOTAXA . 1538 : 1–84 2007 . . Díaz Gómez, J. M. Check List . 3 ( 2 ): 105–118 2007 . . M, South American Journal of Herpetology . 2 ( 1 ): 59–68 2009. Liolaemus dorbignyi. Lobo, F., Arias, F. & S. Valdecantos. Los vertebrados del salar del Hombre Muerto. Holotype . FML 01169: Pocitos y Loma Cortada, Suroeste de Los Nacimientos, Dpto. Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca. O . Pagaburo, Col. 01/12/81 . Paratypes . FML 23819: Same data of Holotype . FML 1167 (13): Trapiche, Tramo del Río Punilla, Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca. MCN 270-271: Rio Punilla, Dpto. Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca. Abdala, C.; R. Espinoza, F. Lobo y M. I. Martínez Oliver, Cols. 19/01/2001 ; MCN 273; MCN 302; MCN 304; MCN 311: Paycuqui, Depto. Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca. Abdala, C.; R. Espinoza, F. Lobo y M. I. Martínez Oliver, Cols. 19/01/2001 . MCN 1926-27 : 61 Km al S de FMC . 25.83610 S ; 67.29279 W ; 4128 msnm. Antofagasta de la Sierra. Catamarca. Casimiro, B., Espinoza, R., Lobo, F. y S. Quinteros, Cols. 19/01/2006 . Diagnosis. Liolaemus vulcanus belongs to the L. montanus series (Sc hulte et al ., 2000) because it has a bladelike process in tibia (Etheridge, 1995), associated to a greatly hypertrophied M. tibialis anticus (Abdala et al., 2006) . It differs from all the members of the L. boulengeri group due to the lack of a enlarged patch of scales on the posterior thighs (Etheridge, 1995; Abdala, 2007). Compared to the species of the montanus groups that lack the enlarged patch of scales, Liolaemus vulcanus is a robust lizard (Max SVL = 97 mm ) differing from L. andinus Koslowsky , L. audituvelatus , L. disjunctus , L. eleodori Cei, Etheridge, & Videla, L. erroneus , L. etheridgei Laurent, L. fabiani , L. famatinae Cei, L. fittkaui Laurent , L. griseus Laurent , L. huacahuasicus Laurent , L. insolitus , L. islugensis Ortiz & Marquet, L. molinai , L. montanus Koslowsky, L. multicolor Kowslowsky , L. orko Abdala & Quinteros , L. ortizi , L. pantherinus , L. poconchilensis , L. poecilochromus Laurent, L. pulcherrimus Laurent , L. reichei Werner , L. rosenmanni , L. ruibali Donoso Barros, L. signifer Duméril & Bibron and L. vallecurensis Pereyra which are smaller (SVL between 50–76 mm ). Liolaemus vulcanus shows laminar, sub-imbricated, and smooth or slightly keeled dorsal scales; it differentiates from L. andinus , L. audituvelatus , L. cazianiae Lobo, Slodki & Valdecantos, L. erguetae, L. erroneus , L. forsteri Laurent, L. halonastes Lobo, Slodki & Valdecantos , L. insolitus , L. islugensis , L.molinai , L. patriciaiturrae , L. poecilochromus L. robertoi , L. rosenmanni , and L. schmidti Marx which have juxtaposed and smooth dorsal scales. The dorsal scales differentiate the new species from L. aymararum , L. disjunctus , L. dorbignyi Koslowsky, L. etheridgei , L. fittkaui , L. huacahuasicus , L. huayra Abdala, Quinteros & Espinoza, L. montanus , L. orko , L. ortizi , L. polystictus Laurent, L. stolzmanni Steindachner , L. thomasi , and L. williamsi which exhibit imbricated (but strongly keeled) dorsal scales and from L. chlorostictus Laurent , L. jamesi Boulenger , L. orientalis Müller , L. poconchilensis , L. robustus , L. signifer and L. stolzmanni which have slightly keeled but juxtaposed dorsal scales. The number of scales around midbody in L. vulcanus (50–63) is lower than L. andinus , L. cazianiae , L. disjunctus , L. duellmani , L. erguetae , L. eleodori , L. foxi , L. halonastes , L. inti Abdala, Quinteros & Espinoza , L. islugensis , L. molinai , L. multicolor , L. nigriceps Philipi, L. patriciaiturrae , L. pulcherrimus , L. poecilochromus , L. pleopholis , L. robertoi , L. rosenmanni , L. ruibali , L. signifer and, L. vallecurensis (64–110). Females of L. vulcanus exhibit precloacal pores; this character state differs from L. andinus , L. audituvelatus , L. aymararum , L. duellmani , L. fabiani , L. griseus , L. hajeki , L. i. islugensis , L. jamesi , L. melanogaster , L. polystictus , L. puritamensis Núñez & Fox , L. robertoi , L. rosenmanni , L. ruibali , L. s. signifer , L. stolzmanni , and L. vallecurensis , which lack precloacal pores. The dorsal color pattern without spots, distinguish the new species from L. dorbignyi , L. inti , and L. scrocchii Quinteros, Abdala & Lobo. Liolaemus huayra , L. orientalis , and L. orko exhibit supernumerary pores, absent in L. vulcanus . Description of the holotype . SVL 91.1 mm . Trunk length 42.3 mm . Head longer ( 20.3 mm ) than wide ( 18.9 mm ). Head height 12.1 mm . Eye diameter 4.1mm . Interorbital distance 10.1mm . Orbit–auditory meatus distance 7.2mm . Auditory meatus height 3.4 mm high, 1.7 mm wide. Orbit–commissure of mouth distance 2.8 mm . Internares 3.2 mm . Subocular scale 5.2 mm . Femur length 15.2 mm , tibia 13.1 mm , and foot 25.0 mm. Humerus length 9.3 mm . Dorsal surface of head smooth, with nineteen dorsal scales. Rostral wider than tall bordered by six scales. Mental larger than rostral, trapezoidal, bordered by four scales. Nasal not in contact with rostral. Four internasals. Nasal surrounded by seven scales, separated from canthal by two scales. Six scales between frontal and supercilliaries. Seven scales between frontal and rostral. Frontal divided into four scales. Two postrostrals. Interparietal larger than parietals, in contact with seven scales. Twelve upper cilliaries. Orbital semicircles complete. Preocular separated from lorilabial row by one scale. Three scales along anterior margin of auditory meatus and two along the upper margin. Six smooth temporals. Four lorilabials in contact with subocular. Eight supralabials, none in contact with subocular. Five supraoculars. Nine lorilabials. Six infralabials, second in contact ventrally with three scales. Four chinshields, second pair separated by two scales. Fifty-nine scales around midbody. Fifty two round, slightly imbricate, and without keel, dorsal scales from occiput to hind limbs. Twenty-eight scale rows along dorsum. Scales of flanks rhomboidal and smooth. Ventrals same size as dorsals, flat, juxtaposed, but imbricated in chest. Forty smooth weakly imbricate gulars. Seven precloacal pores. Antehumeral scales flat, larger or equal in size to dorsals. Postauricular, rictal, and longitudinal folds present. Scales on longitudinal fold granular and smooth. Fourth finger with 17 subdigital lamellae; fourth toe with 24. Infracarpals flat, keeled, and imbricated. Infratarsals round and smooth, without keel nor trifid. Color in ethanol. Head darker than body, dorsally dark brown, with parietal zone light gray. Trunk lead gray, with some scales darker. Fore and hind limbs same color as trunk, with some scales dark brown. Without vertebral line, scapular, paravertebral spots nor dorsolateral stripes. Lateral field same color of dorsum, without iridescent scales. Tail dorsally equally colored than dorsum, without spots. Ventrally, from mental scale to cloacal region, light gray speckled with dark spots. Tail ventrally exhibits a pattern of light gray rings. FIGURE 1. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view of a male of Liolaemus vulcanus sp. nov. FIGURE 2. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) view of a female of Liolaemus vulcanus sp. nov. TABLE 2. Comparison of character states among the species of the montanus series ( Liolaemus dorbignyi group) and Liolae- mus vulcanus sp. nov.

Character	Liolaemus chlorostictus (n = 13)	Liolaemus dorbignyi (n = 24)	Liolaemus huayra (n = 9)	Liolaemus jamesi (n = 3)	Liolaemus inti (n = 13)
Scales around midbody Dorsals1 Ventrals	61–72 56–71 80–86	48–59 45–56 77–94	53–64 52–57 82–93	47–60 38–42 73–78	61–76 54–66 83–96
Gulars Keels on dorsal scales Precloacal pores in males	27–31 Weak 6–7	32–52 Weak 5–8	28–39 Distinct 7–8	26–31 Absent 6–7	29–43 Weak 5–7

Precloacal pores in females Maximum SVL (mm) Maximum tail length (mm)	2–6 85.0 109.6	0–6 98.3 117.4	3–5 94.3 98.8	0 97.5 119.3	1–6 90.4 117.8
continued.
Character	Liolaemus nigriceps (n = 7)	Liolaemus orientalis (n = 18)	Liolaemus puritamensis (n = 9)	Liolaemus scrocchii (n = 25)	Liolaemus vulcanus sp. nov. (n = 23)
Scales around midbody	90–98	56–70	47–57	55–68	50–63
Dorsals1	95–104	54–74	40–52	42–53	47–58
Ventrals Gulars Keels on dorsal scales	92 – 109 36–44 Absent	78–88 25–34 Weak	80–85 33–39 Absent	72–98 34–46 Absent	82–101 36–49 Absent/weak
Precloacal pores in males Precloacal pores in females Maximum SVL (mm) Maximum tail length (mm)	5–6 0–5 98.0 108.9	4–8 0–3 99.2 101.5	4–5 0 91.0 95.7	2–10 3–6 95.0 101.3	6–9 0–6 97.0 107.2

1Counted from occiput to the midline to the thighs. Modified from Abdala et al . (2008). Variation. Based on 22 paratypes . Head longer ( 17.4–22.3 mm ; mean = 19.7 mm ) than wide ( 11.9–20.6 mm ; mean = 17.5 mm ). Head height 9.3–13.7 mm (mean = 10.9 mm ). Neck wider than head. SVL 79.7–97.2 mm (mean = 89.3 mm ) two times trunk length. Tail length 95.4–107.2 mm (mean = 101.6 mm ). Width of tail base 10.1–15.0 mm (mean = 12.2 mm ). Humerus length 6.2–13.4 mm (mean= 9.8 mm ). Tibia length13.1–20.0 mm (mean = 15.4 mm ). Foot length 20.2–26.9 mm (mean = 23.9 mm ). Fourth finger length 8.8–10.7 mm (mean = 9.4 mm ). Fourth toe length 11.6–15.5 mm (mean = 13.5 mm ). Dorsal surface of head smooth, with 16–21 scales. Six to eight supercilliaries. Twelve to fifteen upper cilliaries. One row of lorilabials, same size as supralabials. Seven to ten lorilabials. Six to eight supralabials. Frontal divided into two, three or four scales. Interparietal smaller, larger or equal to parietals, surrounded by 6–9 scales. Nasal surrounded by 6–7 scales. Four to seven infralabials. Mental in contact with four scales. Five to eight smooth temporals. Longitudinal, postauricular and antehumeral folds present. Horizontal fold Y-shaped between the shoulder and the auditory meatus. Scales around midbody 50–63 (mean = 57.3). Gulars 36–49 (mean = 41.4). Neck scales (from posterior margin of the auditory meatus to shoulder, along the horizontal fold) 36–50 (mean =42.4). Dorsal scales between occiput and hind limbs 47–58 (mean = 52.9). Ventrals 82– 101 (mean = 89.3). Males with 6–9 (mean = 6.7) precloacal pores. Two of seven females exhibit 3 and 6 precloacal pores. Dorsals flat, slightly imbricate or juxtaposed, and without keel. Seventeen to 21 infradigital lamellae on fourth finger and 23–28 on fourth toe. Color in life. ( Figs 1–3 ) With sexual dichromatism. Head dorsally, light brown or reddish brown, with black scales. Dorsal background reddish brown or light brown, some specimens with light orange in males. Females show the same color pattern but in gray. With black or dark brown rectangular or rhomboidal paravertebral spots. Those spots merge in vertebral region of tail. Lateral field pale red, light orange or yellow, stronger than dorsum. Light blue or white scales are irregularly spread on lateral field, and in dorsal region of fore and hind limbs. Without vertebral line or scapular spots. Tail dorsally light brown with paravertebral spots. In distal region of tail those spots fade. Juveniles exhibit brown dorsal background coloration. Black spots in vertebral region. On head, two black lines mark the supraorbital semi-circles. Ventrally from mental region to cloacal region intense yellow, variegated with scales or dark spots. Some specimens with gular region orange or red. The tail with the same coloration. Sexual dichromatism present in ventral coloration, with males orange and females light gray. FIGURE 3. Dorsal coloration of a juvenile of Liolaemus vulcanus sp. nov. Distribution. ( Fig 4 ) Liolaemus vulcanus inhabits the Puna region of Catamarca Province, in Paycuqui, near the Trapiche river and the Punilla River, Antofagasta de la Sierra Department. Lobo et al . (2009) cited the new species for localities near Salar del Hombre Muerto in Catamarca Province. Natural history. ( Fig 5 ) Liolaemus vulcanus is a saxicolous lizard, living in rocky places. It is usually seen basking on rocks. It is a viviparous lizard, like all other members of the montanus series (Espinoza et al. , 2004). The new species is sympatric with L. poecilochromus and Phymaturus laurenti (Lobo et al ., 2010c). Etymology. Vulcanus is a Latin word for Vulcan, god of fire. Liolaemus vulcanus exhibits an orange-red coloration in the body.