Stenocercus percultus Cadle, 1991

Torres-Carvajal, Omar, 2007, A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN STENOCERCUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA) LIZARDS, Herpetological Monographs 21 (1), pp. 76-178 : 144-146

Stenocercus percultus Cadle

( Fig. 21 )

Stenocercus percultus Cadle, 1991:18 . Holotype: FMNH 232525 , a male from ‘‘approximately 1–2 km (airline) NNW Monte Seco, along an acequia [irrigation ditch] running between El Chorro and La Montañita , 1350–1380 m, Río Zaña , Departamento Cajamarca, Perú ̕̕.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus percultus is distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. ornatus and S. rhodomelas by having imbricate scales on the posterior surface of thighs, smooth ventrals, deep posthumeral and postfemoral mite pockets, and keeled dorsal head scales. Of these species, S. percultus is unique in having expanded haemal spines in the caudal vertebrae, protuberant and multicarinate dorsal head scales, and in lacking an interparietal cornea. In addition, only adult males of S. rhodomelas and S. percultus have the gular region extensively covered in black. However, the black patches on the ventral surfaces of hind limbs characteristic of S. rhodomelas adult males are absent in S. percultus .

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 105 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (2) maximum SVL in females 86 mm ( Cadle, 1991); (3) vertebrals 35–50; (4) paravertebrals 62–77; (5) scales around midbody 50–65; (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 17–22; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 24–32; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a deep depression; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye not visible through interparietal cornea; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region small, multicarinate, 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) antehumeral fold present, other inconspicuous neck folds might be present ( Cadle, 1991); (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 strongly compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 69–71% 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 always present; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in adult males always present; (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 not in contact midventrally, Pattern 1A.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown with darker transverse marks (sometimes chevrons) longitudinally arranged over vertebral line; vertebral crest in males with a few yellow scales; flanks reddish with yellow flecks in males, and brown or yellowish brown in females; dorsum of head with black and yellow spots in males, and dark brown or black splotches in females; loreal and subocular regions yellow in females; pale yellow stripe from eye to dorsal aspect of tympanum, extending posteriorly as a faded dorsolateral stripe in females; supralabials dark brown in females and pale yellow bordered with black ventrally in males; infralabials, chin, medial aspect of throat and gular regions, and anterior aspect of pectoral region black in males, with lateral aspect of throat and gular regions bright red; in males, pectoral region with yellow band posteriorly bordered by black bar that extends posteriorly as a midventral stripe in some specimens; belly reddish anteriorly and brown posteriorly in males; scales on throat, pectoral region, belly, and ventral surface of thighs and tail yellow edged with bright red in females; ventral aspect of tail yellow anteriorly, and lavender or brown posteriorly in males ( Cadle, 1991).

Natural History.—Two gravid females (SVL 73 mm and 86 mm) collected in June 1987 deposited two eggs each; most specimens of S. percultus have been collected in cultivated areas or second-growth forest ( Cadle, 1991).

Distribution.— Stenocercus percultus occurs between 7 ° S–5 ° S in the western Cordillera of the central Andes in northern Peru ( Fig. 6 ). This species is known from the upper valleys of Río Zaña and Río Reque (Pacific drainage) in Departamentos Cajamarca and Piura at elevations of 800–1600 m ( Cadle, 1991). This species occurs in sympatry with S. imitator and S. chlorostictus in both Departamentos.

Figures

FIG. 21.—Eight species of Stenocercus. (A) S. ornatus (OTC); (B) S. percultus (MLU); (C) S. praeornatus (WED); (D) S. puŋango (LAC); (E) S. quinarius (CNO); (F) S. roseiƲentris (WED); (G) S. santander (MPR); (H) S. simonsii (WED).

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