Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis, Silva, Marcélia Basto Da & Ávila-Pires, Teresa C. S., 2013

Silva, Marcélia Basto Da & Ávila-Pires, Teresa C. S., 2013, The genus Cnemidophorus (Squamata: Teiidae) in State of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3681 (4), pp. 455-477 : 468-474

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3681.4.8
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:39F235FA-8DD9-4C0F-A3DA-B001C5243656
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6146268
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03858136-FFE4-FF80-3BAC-FDC6FCE34D3A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis sp. nov.

( Figures 9 View FIGURE 9 , 10 View FIGURE 10 , 11 View FIGURE 11 , 12 View FIGURE 12 )

Cnemidophorus ocellifer Rodrigues 2003: 185 (part); Rodrigues 2004: 167 (part).

Holotype. MPEG 29577, adult male, collected in Fazenda Bonito (05°13’36”S, 41°41’59”W), Municipality of Castelo do Piauí, Piauí State, Brazil, by F. R. Silva, K. C. Bezerra, F. M. O. Neto and F. H. R. Leite, 8 December 2005.

Paratypes. Brasil: Piauí. Municipality Castelo do Piauí: MPEG 29548–550, MPEG 29561, MPEG 29567, MPEG 29570, MPEG 29573–574, and MPEG 29576, September 2005, MPEG 29553, MPEG 29565, MPEG 29568, MPEG 29572, MPEG 29551 and MPEG 29562, February 2006, MPEG 29554, MPEG 29555, MPEG 29560, and MPEG 29569, April 2006, MPEG 29559, May 2006, MPEG 29552, MPEG 29556-558, MPEG 29563– 564, MPEG 29566, MPEG 29570-571, and MPEG 29575, July 2006, all collected in the type-locality by the same collectors of the holotype. Municipality Cabeceiras do Piauí: MPEG 16867–71, MPEG 16874–77, MPEG 16879, January 1994, Cacimba de Dentro (4°25’S, 42°25’W), J. S. Silva-Jr. Municipality Campo Maior: MPEG 29540–547, January 2010, Fazenda Itamaraty (05°59’06”S, 41°53’21”W), M. B. Silva. Municipality Floriano: MPEG 26889, MPEG 26891–92, MPEG 26894–95, March 2009, Usina Hidrelétrica de Parnaíba (06°47’40”S, 49°16’2”W), P. L. V. Peloso. Municipality Guadalupe: CHNUFPI 001–0017, May 2011, Fazenda São Pedro (6°55’ 52.1S, 43°39’ 7.7W), L. S. Carvalho. Municipality José de Freitas: MPEG 29508 and MPEG 29538, June 2003, MPEG 29507, July 2003, MPEG 29505–506, September 2003, MPEG 29492 and MPEG 29504, October 2003, MPEG 29504, November 2003, Eco Resort Nazareth (04°45’23”S, 42°34’32”W), W. A. Rocha, C. J. S. Lima, V. H. L. Cavalcante and F. S. Santos; MPEG 29489–491, MPEG 29493–496, MPEG 29501–502, April 2008, MPEG 29497–500 and MPEG 29503, September 2008, Fazenda Santa Fé (04°39’S, 42°21’W), V. H. L. Cavalcante. Municipality Lagoa Alegre: MPEG 16820-21, July 1993, Riachão (04°30’S, 42°37’W), J. S. Silva-Jr. Municipality Parnaíba: MPEG 29650–29657, April 2009, Pedra do Sal (2°48’38,33”S, 41°44’13,73”W), R. R. S. Leite; MPEG 29658–29666, April 2009, Saquim (2°46’3,41”S, 41°48’21,88”W), R. R. S. Leite. Municipality Piracuruca: MPEG 29515, January 2004, MPEG 29536, February 2004, MPEG 29512, MPEG 29523, MPEG 29533, MPEG 29537, and MPEG 29522, March 2004, MPEG 29518 and MPEG 29523, April 2004, MPEG 29521, August 2004, MPEG 29532 and MPEG 29535, December 2004, MPEG 29519, MPEG 29531, MPEG 29511, MPEG 29517, and MPEG 29527, March 2005, MPEG 29516, MPEG 29525, MPEG 29520, MPEG 29510, and MPEG 29509, September 2005, Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades (04°05’S, 41°30’W), W. A. Rocha and V. H. L. Cavalcante.

Diagnosis. Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis is a member of the ocellifer subgroup. It is characterized by (between parentheses species from which it differs in that respect) being bisexual (only females in C. nativo ); 16– 24 femoral pores (31–34 in C. abaetensis , 30–34 in C. littoralis , 33–40 in C. venetacaudus and 31–38 in C. cyanurus –all littoralis group, 24–26 in C. nativo , 11–16 in C. jalapensis , 14–21 in C. confusionibus ), enlarged scale in the temporal region posterior to third subocular (not enlarged in littoralis subgroup); five supraciliaries (6– 7 in littoralis subgroup); absence of spurs on the heel of males (presence in littoralis subgroup); 26–31 ventral scales in transverse rows (33–35 in C. abaetensis , 30–39 in C. littoralis , 30–32 in C. venetacaudus and 29–33 in C. cyanurus ); maximum SVL 3 89 mm, Ƥ 77.5 mm (3 76.5 mm, Ƥ 70.1 mm in C. cf. ocellifer , 3 59 mm, Ƥ 57 mm in C. mumbuca , 3 Ƥ 56 mm in C. jalapensis ); 23–33 scales around the tail (20–24 in C. mumbuca , 19–26 in C. jalapensis , 20–28 in C. confusionibus , 27–32 in C. nigrigula ); 192–255 dorsals, 13–19 lamellae under fourth finger, and 24–34 under fourth toe (respectively 178–241, 16–18, and 26–31 in C. cf. ocellifer ); hemipenes with shallow folds in the asulcate face (with flounces in C. venetacaudus , smooth in C. confusionibus and with folds in C. cf. ocellifer ). Regarding colour pattern, C. pyrrhogularis presents complete vertebral, paravertebral, dorsolateral and laterals stripes, bluish lateral ocelli, gular region orange in males, and brown tail (absence of stripes in C. venetacaudus , incomplete vertebral stripe in C. cf. ocellifer , yellow lateral ocelli in C. confusionibus , gular immaculate in C. confusionibus , C. mumbuca and C. jalapensis and black in C. nigrigula , lateral ocelli absent in C. nativo and C. jalapensis , bluish-green tail in littoralis subgroup).

Description. Snout moderately pointed. Rostral wider than high, visible in dorsal view. Nasal in medial contact; nostril inserted laterally, just anterior to the suture that divides the scale. Frontonasal nearly hexagonal, rounded anteriorly, laterally in contact with nasals and prefrontals. Prefrontals roughly pentagonal, in contact laterally with nasal (shortly), loreal, and anterior supraocular. Frontal hexagonal, longer than wide, in contact with first (81%), or first and second (19%) supraoculars, and separated from second (partially or totally) and third supraoculars by a row of granules. Two frontoparietals irregularly pentagonal, separated from third and fourth supraoculars by a row of granules. Three to five parietals (4.9±0.3, n=127), lateral ones smaller; interparietal roughly hexagonal, longer than lateral parietals. Occipitals irregular and variable in size. Four supraoculars on each side (n=128), second and third largest; a row of granules (27–56 on the right side, and 24–56 on the left, n=112) surrounds the supraoculars, except the anterior one, separating them partially from frontal and supraciliaries, completely from frontoparietals and parietals. Five or six supraciliares (5.0±0.2, n=127), first and second largest; first supraciliary in contact with first supraocular (87.2%) or with first and second supraoculars (12.8%) ( Figure 11 View FIGURE 11 A). Loreal single, large, in contact with nasal, prefrontal, first supraocular, first supraciliary, first subocular, and third and fourth supralabials (63%), second and third supralabials (16%), and second, third and fourth supralabials (21%). Preocular higher than long, separated from supralabials by a suture between loreal and first subocular. Three suboculars, first higher than long, in contact with fourth supralabial; second roughly rectangular, longer than high, in contact with fifth and sixth supralabials; third shorter than second, with round posterior margin, in contact with post-supralabials and temporal scales. Five or six supralabials (5.0±0.1, n=127) to approximately below centre of eye, followed by smaller scales. Temporal region with scales smallest toward the centre, largest ventrally. Supratemporal row with moderately large scales, decreasing in size posteriorly. Ear-opening large, semicircular, surrounded by small, smooth scales ( Figure 11 View FIGURE 11 C). Symphysal large, approximately ellipsoid, except for the suture with postsymphysal, which is straight. Five or six infralabials (5.1±0.4, n=127), followed posteriorly by a series of small scales. Postsymphysal irregularly pentagonal, in contact with first and second infralabials. Five or six pairs of enlarged chinshields; first pair in broad contact, longer than posterior ones, in contact with second and third infralabials; remaining ones not in medial contact, and separated from infralabials by small scales anteriorly, larger scales posteriorly. Medial scales on chin approximately rectangular, smooth, slightly convex and imbricate, in oblique rows; 27–56 (37.9±6.1, n=107) slightly longer scales bordering medially the chinshields. Gular region with scales variable in size, but always smaller than those on chin; scales round, smooth, slightly convex, in transverse rows. Antegular fold may not be very apparent (33.3% of specimens), but there is always a row of smaller scales dividing the gular region in anterior and posterior segments. Gular fold covered by granules. Enlarged scales bordering the gular fold arranged in two to five transverse rows (3.2±0.5, n=105) ( Figure 11 View FIGURE 11 B). Scales on nape and sides of neck juxtaposed, smooth, similar to dorsals. Dorsal scales smooth, granular, 192–255 (222.2±12.0, n=127) along a mid-dorsal row, 79–116 (95.8±7.3, n=127) around midbody. Ventral scales distinctly larger than dorsals, rectangular (wider than long), smooth, imbricate, in eight longitudinal rows and 27–31 (28.4±0.9, n=116) scales along a midventral row. Preanal plate with 3–5 (3.2±0.4, n=127) enlarged scales, of which one anterior, which is the largest, and 2–4 posterior ones; anterior one bordered laterally by distinctly smaller scales. Anal spurs absent. Forearms with one row of trapezoidal scales; enlarged scales (wider than long) on upper arms separated from scales on forearms by smaller scales. Two rows of very large scales on ventral aspect of forelegs. Five to seven (5.6±0.6, n=103) prefemoral scales in a transverse row, 8–11 (9.4±0.7, n=105) in a longitudinal row. Palms and soles covered by granules. Scales on dorsal surface of fingers and toes rectangular, wider than long. Lamellae under fourth finger 13–19 (16.2± 1.0 n =117), under fourth toe 24–34 (30±2.0, n=116). Femoral pores 8–12 (9.3±0.8, n=116) on the right side, 8–12 (9.2±0.8, n=116) on the left side. Dorsal surface of tail with trapezoidal, keeled, juxtaposed scales, smaller than subcaudals, which are rectangular, smooth, imbricate; 23–33 (26.7±1.6, n=117) scales across the tail, counted on the fifth transverse row.

Measurements (in millimeters) and scale counts of holotype. SLV 67.0, HW 9.6, HH 8.7, HL 19.2, AL 6.8, FL 9.2, ThL 12.9, LL 14.0, TL 157; SO 4–4, GSO 44–44, SC 5–5, PA 5, SL 5–5, IL 5–5, CH 6, GF 4, D 233, DMB 97, VL 8, VT 28, LFF 16–16, LFT 29–31, FP 8–8, PR 7, RPR 11, INF 6, PRE 3, SAT 28.

Color in preservative. Juveniles and adult females present seven light (bluish-white) dorsal stripes: a vertebral stripe and at each side a paravertebral stripe from occipitals to base of tail; a dorsolateral stripe per side from temporals to proximal third of tail; and a lateral stripe per side from postocular scale, through the dorsal margin of ear-opening, to hind limb insertion, continuing both on anterior aspect of thigh and along part of the tail. Field between paravertebral stripes tan, between paravertebral and dorsolateral stripes dark brown, between dorsolateral and lateral stripes dark brown to black, with tan or light blue ocelli (visible in c. 41% of specimens). Stripes tend to be more conspicuous in juveniles than in adult females. In adult males paravertebral and dorsolateral stripes are usually absent or barely visible ( Figure 12 View FIGURE 12 ), dark field between paravertebral and dorsolateral stripes tend to vanish almost completely, and that between dorsolateral and lateral stripes may partially fade away, leaving irregular spots and the light blue ocelli (visible in c. 59% of specimens). Head (dorsally and ventrally) and belly immaculate (from white/cream to light blue). Numerous small black spots on dorsal aspect of hind limbs may be present (visible in 79% of specimens from Campo Maior, Floriano, Guadalupe, José de Freitas, Lagoa Alegre and Piracuruca) or absent (populations from Castelo do Piauí and Parnaíba). Specimens from Pedra do Sal, Parnaíba, showed distinct dorsal stripes and color of dorsum lighter than specimens from other localities.

Color in life. General dorsal color light grayish-brown, with darker fields reddish-brown to black. Adult males may present a green patch mid-posteriorly ( Figure 10 View FIGURE 10 C), some subadults a green flank ( Figure 9 View FIGURE 9 A). Adult males with light blue or greenish-blue lateral ocelli and ventrolateral spots, also on sides of tail proximally ( Figures 10 View FIGURE 10 B– C, specimens from Guadalupe); chin and gular regions either with a large central orange area or completely orange ( Figure 9 View FIGURE 9 B, specimen from Castelo do Piauí); belly and limbs white, in some specimens with orange, irregular spots ( Figure 9 View FIGURE 9 B). Lateral ocelli in juveniles tan ( Figure 10 View FIGURE 10 A).

Hemipenes. (MPEG 29494, MPEG 29500, MPEG 29509, MPEG 29510, MPEG 29524, MPEG 29538, MPEG 29556, MPEG 29557, MPEG 29560, MPEG 29569, MPEG 29651, MPEG 29658, MPEG 29659). Short and slightly bilobed (lobes about 10% the size of the organ). It extends to level of the eighth row of subcaudals when inverted. Sulcus spermaticus slightly forked, deep and centripetal, branches diverge close to the lobular crotch and extend to the central region of each lobe. Border of sulcus spermaticus smooth, pronounced along all its extention. Lobes ornamented with small spines, non-calcified spines in the apical region of the sulcate face. Region between lobes smooth in apical view. Sulcate face smooth. Presence of a tissue bag on each side, just below lateral spines on distal portion of sulcate face. Asulcate face and lateral region of body distally with shallow folds, extending to the middle of the body. Basal region naked in the asulcate face, with a smooth protuberance on the sulcate face ( Figure 13 View FIGURE 13 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin " pyrrhos ", that means flame-colored, and " gularis ", meaning throat, in allusion to the orange throat in males of this species.

Distribution. Northern part of the state of Piauí, in Castelo do Piauí, Campo Maior, José de Freitas, Piracuruca and Parnaíba municipalities; and in the central part of the state, close to the border with Maranhão, in Floriano and Guadalupe municipalities ( Figure 5 View FIGURE 5 ).

Habitat. Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis was found in a transition zone between the ‘caatinga’, ‘cerrado’ and deciduous forest, in the north, and in areas of ‘cerrado’ southward ( Castro et al. 1998, IBGE 2004). This is one of the most abundant lizard species in the northern areas, where it occurs in phytophysiognomies of grasslands, rocky grasslands, typical cerrado, open cerrado, in sandy or rocky soils, and in some places around boulders, where it forages on edges of woods during the hottest hours of the day. In areas of semideciduous forest, this species is seen foraging on the leaf litter. Among the phytophysiognomies present in this region, C. pyrrhogularis was not found in gallery forest (W. A. Rocha pers. comm.). The species is also very common around human habitation.

Remarks. Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis is clearly a member of the ocellifer supbgroup proposed by Arias et al. (2011a), as indicated by the low number (16-24) of femoral pores, temporal region with an enlarged scale posterior to third subocular, supraciliaries in number of five, no row of enlarged scales on dorsal aspect of arms, and males without spurs on heel. Number of ventrals (26–31) is also relatively low. It is most similar to Cnemidophorus cf. ocellifer , from which it may be distinguished by its larger size, presence of a complete vertebral stripe, and absence of distinct lateral folds on the hemipenis