Stenocercus huancabambae Cadle, 1991

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 124-125

Stenocercus huancabambae Cadle

Stenocercus huancabambae Cadle, 1991:30 . Holotype: MCZ 165319 , a male from ‘‘ San José ( Bagua Grande ), Departamento Amazonas, Perú ̕̕; Cadle, 2001:184.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus huancabambae can be distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. erythrogaster , S. iridescens , S. limitaris , S. puyango and S. santander by having imbricate scales on posterior aspect of thighs, nostrils medial to canthal ridge, and a longitudinal row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of the supraocular region. Of these species, only S. huancabambae , S. limitaris , S. puyango , and S. santander have a postfemoral mite pocket. S. huancabambae is unique among these species (character states in parentheses) in having 2–3 dorsally-projected angulate temporals (angulate temporals not projected) and a single canthal (two canthals).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 99 mm (n = 16); (2) maximum SVL in females 75 mm (n = 11); (3) vertebrals 37–51; (4) paravertebrals 48–64; (5) scales around midbody 37–53; (6) supraoculars 3–6; (7) internasals 4–7; (8) postrostrals 4–6; (9) loreals 2–4; (10) gulars 18–28; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 14–20; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 20–28; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a deep depression; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye always visible through interparietal cornea; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region large, keeled, imbricate; (17) projecting angulate temporals 2–3; (18) one row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region; (19) scales on frontonasal region imbricate anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) neck folds absent; (22) lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size; (23) posterior gulars rhomboidal, smooth or slightly keeled, imbricate, not notched; (24) lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size; (25) vertebrals larger than adjacent paravertebrals; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals keeled, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs keeled, imbricate; (29) inguinal granular pocket absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals projected; (32) tail strongly compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 67–70% 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 in 67% of specimens; (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 88% of adult males; (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 continuous midventrally, Patterns 5 and 6A.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown with distinct dark transverse blotches longitudinally arranged over vertebral line in males; light vertical line on shoulder; males with distinct black blotch posterior to vertical shoulder line; light, faded, sometimes pinkish dorsolateral stripe from dorsal aspect of tympanum to hind limbs in males; flanks greenish in some males; black patch on ventral surface of neck in males; belly and throat pink in males ( Cadle, 1991; Schlüter, 1999 e, 2000 b).

Natural History.—Clutch size in Stenocercus huancabambae is two eggs; a female specimen (SVL = 62 mm) with two oviductal eggs was collected in August 1967 ( Cadle, 1991). This species seems to prefer arid environments.

Distribution.— Stenocercus huancabambae occurs between the central and northern Andes (6 ° S–5 ° S) in the Huancabamba Depression ( Fig. 19 ). This species is known from the upper valleys of Río Marañón (Atlantic drainage) at elevations between 200–920 m in Departamentos Amazonas and Cajamarca, Peru ( Cadle, 1991).

Figures

FIG. 19.—Distribution of six species of Stenocercus in Ecuador and Peru.