Stenocercus puyango Torres-Carvajal

(Fig. 21)

Stenocercus puyango Torres-Carvajal, 2005 a: 79 . Holotype: QCAZ 6723, a male from ‘‘ Puyango, 03 ° 53'S, 80 ° 04'W, 300 m, Provincia El Oro, Ecuador.̕̕

Diagnosis.— Stenocercus puyango can be distinguished from other species of Stenocercus except S. erythrogaster, S. huancabambae, S. iridescens, S. limitaris 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. puyango is unique among these four species in having smooth dorsal head scales and smooth ventrals (these scales are keeled in S. huancabambae, S. limitaris, and S. santander .)

Description.—(1) Maximum SVL in males 115 mm (n = 19); (2) maximum SVL in females 82 mm (n = 16); (3) vertebrals 42–50; (4) paravertebrals 43–53; (5) scales around midbody 30–45; (6) supraoculars 4–6; (7) internasals 2–3; (8) postrostrals four; (9) loreals 2–4; (10) gulars 18–22; (11) subdigitals on Finger IV 15–20; (12) subdigitals on Toe IV 22–27; (13) posthumeral mite pocket present as a shallow depression with a wide opening; (14) postfemoral mite pocket distinct with slit-like opening; (15) parietal eye visible through interparietal cornea in 97% of specimens; (16) scales on occipitoparietal region large, smooth, imbricate; (17) projecting angulate temporals absent; (18) enlarged supraoculars occupying most of supraocular region in one row; (19) scales on frontonasal region weakly 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 in adults smooth, 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 68–73% 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 present; (37) dark patch extensively covering gular region in 50% of females; (38) dark patch extensively covering gular region in adult males absent; (39) black patch on ventral surface of neck in 72% of adult males; (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 1B.

Color in life.—Dorsum brown with dark chevrons longitudinally arranged over vertebral line; cream vertical line on shoulder; cream line extending longitudinally from subocular region to level of insertion of fore limbs in females; subocular and loreal regions cream; posteroventrally oriented dark brown band on subocular region in some specimens; dorsum of head with dark brown interorbital bar; flanks of body with scattered red marks in males; gular region background rosy in males and brown in females; chin, gular region, and ventral and lateral aspects of neck with scattered red marks in males; black or dark red blotch on ventromedial aspect of neck in most males; throat bright yellow in males and cream, sometimes with an 8-shaped dark brown mark in females; ventral surface of body between pectoral and pelvic girdles lavender in males and cream in females, with a faint, narrow dark midventral line in both sexes; three large cream blotches on posterior surface of each thigh in females (Torres-Carvajal, 2005 a).

Natural History.—A female laid two eggs in January 2004; after 96 days, a 0.7 g neonate (SVL = 26.7 mm, TL = 54.7 mm) hatched from one of the eggs (Torres-Carvajal, 2005 a). Juveniles and females are more common in leaf litter, whereas adult males prefer exposed rocks and logs.

Distribution.— Stenocercus puyango occurs between 6 ° S–3 ° 30'S in the Pacific lowlands and adjacent slopes of the western Cordilleras of the central and northern Andes (Fig. 19). This species is known from elevations of 90– 1500 m in southern Ecuador (Provincias El Oro, Loja) and northern Peru (Departamentos Lambayeque, Piura, and Tumbes). S. puyango is sympatric with S. limitaris (Peru: Tumbes) and possibly S. carrioni in Ecuador (Torres-Carvajal, 2005 a).