Stenocercus nubicola Fritts, 1972

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 138-139

Stenocercus nubicola Fritts

( Fig. 20 )

Stenocercus nubicola Fritts, 1972:11 . Holotype: KU 134107 , a male from ‘‘summit of Cordillera Huancabamba between Canchaque and Huancabamba, 3100 m, Departamento Piura, Perú ̕̕; Fritts, 1974:59.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus nubicola differs from all other species of Stenocercus except S. frittsi and S. variabilis in having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, a distinct vertebral crest, lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals, strongly keeled lateral body scales, and three caudal whorls per autotomic segment. It can be distinguished from S. frittsi and S. variabilis by having a distinct mite pocket underneath the oblique neck fold, lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size, and a black longitudinal midventral stripe in adult males.

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 71 mm (n = 1); (3) vertebrals 67; (4) paravertebrals 97; (5) scales around midbody 93–94; (6) supraoculars 5–6; (7) internasals four; (8) postrostrals four; (9) loreals three; (10) gulars 38–39; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 17–22; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 24–28; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a shallow depression with a wide opening; (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 juxtaposed anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, oblique, and supra-auricular neck folds present; (22) lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals; (23) posterior gulars cycloid, smooth, slightly imbricate, not notched; (24) lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size; (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 absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 67% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment three; (35) caudals not spinose; (36) dark brown stripe extending anterodorsally from subocular region to supraciliaries absent; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region of adult males present; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in adult males absent; (40) dark midventral longitudinal stripe present; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent.

Color in life of holotype.—Dorsum brown with small dark brown or black blotches, bluish-green transverse marks, and beige dorsolateral stripes; antehumeral region with black vertical bar; supralabials and infralabials black; loreal region white; gular and pectoral regions white with black spots; wide, gray midventral stripe; lateral aspect of body and venter light green with reddish-orange spots and flecks ( Fritts, 1972).

Natural History.—The holotype (adult male) was found basking on a fallen tree trunk.

Distribution.— Stenocercus nubicola is only known from its type locality (5 ° 19'0"S, 79 ° 29'0"W, 3100 m) in Departamento Piura, Peru ( Fig. 17 ). This locality lies north of the western Cordillera of the central Andes between 6 ° S–5 ° S. This species is sympatric with S. ivitus .

Figures

FIG. 20.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. marmoratus (AMU); (B) S. melanopŋgus (PVE); (C) S. modestus (MLU); (D) S. nigromaculatus (WED); (E) S. nubicola (PVE); (F) S. ochoai (WED); (G) S. orientalis (PVE); (H) S. ornatissimus (MLU).

FIG. 17.—Distribution of four species of Stenocercus in Ecuador and Peru.