Stenocercus chlorostictus Cadle, 1991

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 97-98

Stenocercus chlorostictus Cadle ( Fig. 7 )

Stenocercus chlorostictus Cadle, 1991:71 . Holotype: ANSP 31760 , a male from ‘‘ El Chorro , a village 1 km N (airline) Monte Seco, Río Zaña , 1350 m, Departamento Cajamarca, Perú ̕̕.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus chlorostictus differs from all other species of Stenocercus except S. bolivarensis , S. carrioni , S. crassicaudatus , S. empetrus , S. eunetopsis , S. simonsii , and S. torquatus in having granular scales on the posterior surface of thighs, two caudal whorls per autotomic segment, mucronate caudal scales, and a distinct longitudinal row of enlarged vertebral scales. Of these species, only S. chlorostictus , S. carrioni , S. bolivarensis , and S. eunetopsis have strongly keeled and imbricate dorsal scales on neck and body (granular, smooth, or slightly keeled and subimbricate in remaining species). S. chlorostictus is distinguished from these species by having more scales (80–110, X = 89.00) around midbody (66–96, X = 82.43 in S. carrioni ; 67–82, X = 73.08 in S. bolivarensis ; 60–80, X = 70.62 in S. eunetopsis ).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 75 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (2) maximum SVL in females 69 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (3) vertebrals 63–73; (4) paravertebrals 93; (5) scales around midbody 80–110; (6) supraoculars 5–6; (7) internasals four; (8) postrostrals six; (9) loreals two; (10) gulars 34–42; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 20–26; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 24–32; (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 juxtaposed anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) antegular (continuous medially), antehumeral, gular, longitudinal, oblique, and postauricular 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 scales reduced in size, approximately half the size of dorsal body scales; (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 present; (30) inguinal groove present; (31) preanals not projected; (32) tail not compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 56–60% of total length; (34) caudal whorls per autotomic segment two; (35) caudals 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 in 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 1A.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown in females and green with pale green or yellow spots in males; black antehumeral vertical bar in males, sometimes extending dorsally to form a collar; ventral aspect of head and neck greenish yellow; venter whitish with pink or orange tint ( Cadle, 1991; Schlüter, 1999 a). Males of S. chlorostictus can change the dorsal background color between green and brown ( Schlüter, 1999 a), a condition also known in S. torquatus ( Torres-Carvajal et al., 2005) .

Natural History.—The holotype of Stenocercus chlorostictus was found in a tree 5–6 m above the ground, which suggests that this species is arboreal ( Cadle, 1991). This would explain why this species is difficult to find in terrestrial microhabitats.

Distribution.— Stenocercus chlorostictus occurs in the central Andes between 8 ° S–4 ° S ( Fig. 6 ). It is known from the upper valleys (1350–1740 m) of Río Zaña and Río Piura (Pacific drainage) in Departamentos Cajamarca and Piura, respectively. The distribution lies in the western Cordillera of northern Peru. This species occurs in sympatry with S. imitator and S. percultus in both Departamentos.

Figures

FIG. 7.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. angel (LAC); (B) S. angulifer (FAY); (C) S. apurimacus (WED); (D) S. azureus (SCA); (E) S. boettgeri (MLU); (F) S. boliƲarensis (FCA); (G) S. caducus (LSI); (H) S. chlorostictus (MLU).

FIG. 6.—Distribution of five species of Stenocercus in Peru.