Stenocercus lache Corredor, 1983

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 130-131

Stenocercus lache Corredor

( Fig. 18 )

Stenocercus lache Corredor, 1983:2 . Holotype: ICN 5749 , a male from ‘‘ La Esperanza-Púlpito del Diablo trail, quebrada Pantanogrande (tributary of Río Nevado ), Municipio Güicán, 3700–4000 m, Departamento Boyacá, Colombia ̕̕; Ayala, 1986:563.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus lache is distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. trachycephalus by having imbricate scales on the posterior surface of thighs, a welldeveloped postfemoral mite pocket, and by lacking an antehumeral mite pocket and neck folds. It differs from S. trachycephalus (character states in parentheses) in having smooth ventrals (smooth or weakly keeled), a weakly compressed tail in adult males (strongly compressed laterally), more (61–74, X = 67.03) scales around midbody (43–67, X = 52.54), and postxiphisternal ribs in contact medially (postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs not in contact medially). In addition, the black ventral nuchal patch in adult males of S. lache is usually continuous with the black midventral patch; these patches are not in contact in S. trachycephalus .

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 88 mm (n = 16); (2) maximum SVL in females 81 mm (n = 22); (3) vertebrals 43–58; (4) paravertebrals 53–73; (5) scales around midbody 61–74; (6) supraoculars 4–6; (7) internasals 2–4; (8) postrostrals 4–6; (9) loreals 2–3; (10) gulars 20–28; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 13–20; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 17–30; (13) posthumeral mite pocket absent; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye visible through interparietal cornea in 3% of specimens; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, keeled, imbricate; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region absent; (19) scales on frontonasal region weakly imbricate anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) neck folds absent; (22) lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size; (23) posterior gulars rhomboidal, smooth, 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 keeled, imbricate; (29) inguinal granular pocket absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not strongly compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 61–67% 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; (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 always present; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent; (42) postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs continuous midventrally, Patterns 5, 7.

Color in life.—Dorsum olive-brown with scattered turquoise-green spots in males and brown with a light gray dorsolateral stripe extending from rostrum to base of tail in females; middorsal aspect of body with a series of dark chevrons longitudinally arranged over vertebral line in females; loreal region olive-green in males; in most male specimens, ventral surface of neck with transverse black band that extends dorsally on scapular region and is posteriorly bordered by yellow stripe; ventral aspect of flanks orange-yellow in some males and yellow in females; venter pale yellow, light gray, or cream with dark flecks on gular region in females. Ventral pattern in most adult males as follows: chin yellowish green; gular region light bluish green; black band on ventral aspect of neck extends posteriorly as a distinct midventral stripe laterally bordered with orange-yellow or blue; tail light gray ventrally ( Corredor, 1983).

Natural History.—Females of S. lache lay two eggs probably between July and September ( Corredor, 1983).

Distribution.— Stenocercus lache occurs in the eastern Cordillera of Colombia (northern Andes) between 6 ° N–7 ° N ( Fig. 16 ). This species is known from Departamentos Boyacá and Santander at elevations of 2908–4000 m. S. lache might occur in sympatry with S. santander and S. trachycephalus ( Fig. 16 ).

Figures

FIG. 18.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. fimbriatus (JCA); (B) S. formosus (MLU); (C) S. guentheri (LAC); (D) S. humeralis (OTC); (E) S. imitator (PVE); (F) S. iridescens (RWM); (G) S. lache (JMR); (H) S. limitaris (PVE).

FIG. 16.—Distribution of four species of Stenocercus in Colombia and Venezuela.