Stenocercus carrioni Parker, 1934

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 95-97

Stenocercus carrioni Parker

Stenocercus carrioni Parker, 1934:268 . Holotype: BMNH 1933.6.24.75 (RR 1946.8. 11.83), a male from ‘‘ Zamora , 3250 ft (= 990.6 m), [Provincia Zamora Chinchipe] Ecuador ̕̕; Peters, 1967:34; Etheridge, in Peters and Donoso-Barros, 1970:256; Fritts, 1974:41; Torres-Carvajal, 2000:13.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus carrioni differs from all other species of Stenocercus except S. bolivarensis , S. chlorostictus , 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. carrioni , S. bolivarensis , S. chlorostictus , and S. eunetopsis have strongly keeled and imbricate dorsal scales on neck and body (granular, smooth, or slightly keeled in remaining species). S. carrioni is distinguished from these species by lacking a black dorsal collar in adult males.

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 74 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (2) maximum SVL in females 71 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (3) vertebrals 55–72; (4) paravertebrals 76–96; (5) scales around midbody 66–96; (6) supraoculars 5–7; (7) internasals four; (8) postrostrals 4–7; (9) loreals 2–4; (10) gulars 37–52; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 23–28; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 27–32; (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 visible through interparietal cornea in 21% of specimens; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, smooth or slightly wrinkled, 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 57–60% 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 of 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 preservative of holotype.—Although notes of color in file of S. carrioni are not available, Parker (1934) described the color in preservative of the holotype probably not too long after it was collected. Dorsum greenish brown with irregular black blotches and light dots; black blotches form dorsomedial zigzag stripe posteriorly; flanks olive with light spots; light stripe from eye to side of neck; venter uniform olive-green ( Parker, 1934).

Natural History.—Enlarged ova (>10 mm) were found in two females collected in August 1965 and between August–September 1921, respectively ( Cadle, 1991).

Distribution.— Stenocercus carrioni occurs in the northern Andes between 1320–1900 m ( Fig. 9 ). It is known from the upper valley of Río Chira (Pacific drainage) in the western slopes of the Andes of southern Ecuador, Provincias El Oro and Loja (latitudes near 4 ° S). Besides the holotype, no specimens of this species have been collected at the type locality (Zamora, Provincia Zamora-Chinchipe), which lies east of the Andes and is therefore separated from all other verified localities by a major geographical barrier. Because a similar situation is true for other species of amphibians and reptiles with the same type locality, this locality is probably erroneous ( Fritts, 1974; Torres-Carvajal, 2000). S. carrioni is sympatric with S. limitaris (Loja). It is probably also sympatric with S. puyango ( Torres-Carvajal, 2005 a) and S. ornatus ( Fritts, 1974) .

Figures

FIG. 9.—Distribution of six species of Stenocercus in Ecuador.