Stenocercus cupreus Boulenger, 1885

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 103-104

Stenocercus cupreus Boulenger ( Fig. 14 )

Stenocercus cupreus Boulenger, 1885 a:135 . Holotype: BM 76.7.4.4 , a male from ‘‘ Huanuco [Departamento Huánuco], Peru ̕̕; Burt and Burt, 1933:43; Etheridge, in Peters and Donoso-Barros, 1970:256; Fritts, 1974:47.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus cupreus is distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. chrysopygus , S. latebrosus , S. modestus , S. orientalis , and S. ornatissimus by having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, conspicuous antehumeral and oblique neck folds, a distinct mite pocket under oblique neck fold, and by lacking a vertebral crest. Of these species, S. latebrosus and S. ornatissimus are unique in having deep neck mite pockets under the antehumeral as well as the oblique neck folds, whereas S. orientalis is unique in having prominently keeled dorsal head scales. S. cupreus can be distinguished from S. chrysopygus (character states in parentheses) by having keeled and imbricate scales on the lateral aspect of neck (granular or smooth and subimbricate), and by having a caudal notch on ventral scales (caudal notch on ventrals absent). S. cupreus has fewer vertebrals (44–58, X = 51.53) and fewer scales around midbody (51–66, X = 59.47) than S. chrysopygus (54–86, X = 66.01 and 48–82, X = 64.31, respectively), as well as more vertebrals and more scales around midbody than S. modestus (39–46, X = 42.00 and 32–38, X = 35.17, respectively). In addition, S. cupreus is unique among the species mentioned above (character states in parentheses) in having two caudal whorls per autotomic segment (three) and prominently keeled caudal scales (moderately keeled).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 78 mm (n = 18); (2) maximum SVL in females 73 mm (n = 19); (3) vertebrals 44–58; (4) paravertebrals 46–60; (5) scales around midbody 51–66; (6) supraoculars 5–7; (7) internasals 2–4; (8) postrostrals 4–6; (9) loreals 2–4; (10) gulars 20–28; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 16–23; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 24–33; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as one or more vertical folds or ridges; (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 weakly imbricate anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antegular, antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, oblique, and postauricular neck folds present; (22) lateral nuchals less than half the size of dorsal nuchals; (23) posterior gulars rhomboidal, smooth, imbricate, not notched; (24) laterals reduced in size, less than half the size of dorsal body scales; (25) vertebrals and adjacent paravertebrals similar in size; (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 59–67% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment two; (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 adult males absent; (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 not in contact midventrally, Pattern 1B.

Color in life.—Dorsum reddish brown with copper tone posteriorly and yellowish brown anteriorly; dorsum of head gray with scattered light spots; black vertical bar anterior to fore limb; flanks with scattered black spots (male, color photograph in Lehr [2002]).

Natural History.—Clutch size in S. cupreus is 2–5 eggs ( Lehr, 2002). This species occupies xeric habitats. Fritts (1974) observed most males basking on rocks or at the base of cacti and shrubs, whereas most females were found at the bases of shrubs or under rocks.

Distribution.— Stenocercus cupreus occurs at elevations between 1900–2300 m in the eastern Cordillera of Peru, central Andes ( Fig. 12 ). It is only known from the upper valley of Río Huallaga in Departamento Huánuco (10 ° S–9 ° S).

Figures

FIG. 14.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. chota (LAC); (B) S. chrŋsopŋgus (MLU); (C) S. crassicaudatus (WED); (D) S. cupreus (MLU); (E) S. doellojuradoi (JAS); (F) S. dumerilii (TAP); (G) S. empetrus (RON); (H) S. festae (OTC).

FIG. 12.—Distribution of six species of Stenocercus in Peru. Black triangle pointed by arrow corresponds to María Teresa (10°42'05"S, 75°27'22"W, 1470 m, Departamento Pasco), where Stenocercus boettgeri, S. formosus, S. scapularis, and S. torquatus occur in sympatry.