Stenocercus huancabambae Cadle

Stenocercus huancabambae Cadle, 1991:30 . Holotype: MCZ 165319, a male from ‘‘ San José ( Bagua Grande), Departamento Amazonas, Perú ̕̕; Cadle, 2001:184.

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus huancabambae can be distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. erythrogaster, S. iridescens, S. limitaris, S. puyango and S. santander by having imbricate scales on posterior aspect of thighs, nostrils medial to canthal ridge, and a longitudinal row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of the supraocular region. Of these species, only S. huancabambae, S. limitaris, S. puyango, and S. santander have a postfemoral mite pocket. S. huancabambae is unique among these species (character states in parentheses) in having 2–3 dorsally-projected angulate temporals (angulate temporals not projected) and a single canthal (two canthals).

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 99 mm (n = 16); (2) maximum SVL in females 75 mm (n = 11); (3) vertebrals 37–51; (4) paravertebrals 48–64; (5) scales around midbody 37–53; (6) supraoculars 3–6; (7) internasals 4–7; (8) postrostrals 4–6; (9) loreals 2–4; (10) gulars 18–28; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 14–20; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 20–28; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a deep depression; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye always visible through interparietal cornea; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region large, keeled, imbricate; (17) projecting angulate temporals 2–3; (18) one row of enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region; (19) scales on frontonasal region imbricate anteriorly; (20) preauricular fringe present; (21) neck folds absent; (22) lateral and dorsal nuchals similar in size; (23) posterior gulars rhomboidal, smooth or slightly keeled, imbricate, not notched; (24) lateral and dorsal body scales similar in size; (25) vertebrals larger than adjacent paravertebrals; (26) dorsolateral crest absent; (27) ventrals keeled, imbricate; (28) scales on posterior surfaces of thighs keeled, imbricate; (29) inguinal granular pocket absent; (30) inguinal groove absent; (31) preanals projected; (32) tail strongly compressed laterally in adult males; (33) tail length 67–70% 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 in 67% of specimens; (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 absent; (41) dark patches on ventral surface of thighs in adult males absent; (42) postxiphisternal inscriptional ribs continuous midventrally, Patterns 5 and 6A.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown with distinct dark transverse blotches longitudinally arranged over vertebral line in males; light vertical line on shoulder; males with distinct black blotch posterior to vertical shoulder line; light, faded, sometimes pinkish dorsolateral stripe from dorsal aspect of tympanum to hind limbs in males; flanks greenish in some males; black patch on ventral surface of neck in males; belly and throat pink in males (Cadle, 1991; Schlüter, 1999 e, 2000 b).

Natural History.—Clutch size in Stenocercus huancabambae is two eggs; a female specimen (SVL = 62 mm) with two oviductal eggs was collected in August 1967 (Cadle, 1991). This species seems to prefer arid environments.

Distribution.— Stenocercus huancabambae occurs between the central and northern Andes (6 ° S–5 ° S) in the Huancabamba Depression (Fig. 19). This species is known from the upper valleys of Río Marañón (Atlantic drainage) at elevations between 200–920 m in Departamentos Amazonas and Cajamarca, Peru (Cadle, 1991).