Lepidophyma zongolica, García-Vázquez, Uri Omar, Canseco-Márquez, Luis & Aguilar-López, José Luis, 2010

García-Vázquez, Uri Omar, Canseco-Márquez, Luis & Aguilar-López, José Luis, 2010, A new species of night lizard of the genus Lepidophyma (Squamata: Xantusiidae) from southern Puebla, México, Zootaxa 2657, pp. 47-54 : 48-53

Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov.

Figs. 1 , 2

Holotype. MZFC 22186 (original number, UOGV 1229), adult male collected at El Tepeyac, Municipality of Eloxochitlán, Puebla, México (18º 29´15.8´´ N, 96º 51´1.7´´ W), 94 m elev, on 30 June 2007.

Paratypes. Six specimens, all from the Sierra Negra region, Puebla, México. MZFC 22183-85, same data as holotype; MZFC 22180-82 road between Rancho Nuevo and Tepeyac (18º 29´13.2´´ N, 96º 51´12.7´´ W), 125 m.

Diagnosis. The new species differs from other members of the genus, except Lepidophyma smithii , L. flavimaculatum , L. reticulatum , L. micropholis , L. occulor and L. sylvaticum in having 100 or more dorsal scales along the paravertebral row (100-106 vs 53-98); from L. micropholis in having less than 107 dorsal scales along the paravertebral row (100-106 vs 107-140); from L. reticulatum , L. micropholis , and L. occulor in having fewer dorsals (174-184 vs 197-251); from L. dontomasi , L. gaigeae , L. lowei , L. radula , L. tarascae , and L. cuicateca in having a higher number of dorsals scales (174-184 vs 121-170); from L. dontomasi , L. gaigeae , L. lowei , L. radula , L. smithii , L. tarascae , L. lineri , L. tuxtlae , L. occulor and L. cuicateca , in having a greater number of total femoral pores (33-43 vs 21-31); from L. flavimaculatum in that the lateral tubercles are reduced to granular scales on the lower surfaces of the side of the body.

Furthermore, L. zongolica may be easily separated from L. dontomasi , L. radula , L. lowei , L. tarascae , L. lineri , L. chicoasense , L. occulor , and L. cuicateca in having enlarged caudal whorls separated by four dorsal interwhorls (2-3 in the other species); from L. dontomasi , L. lowei , and L. radula in having more ventral interwhorls (2-3 vs 1); from L. lowei , L. radula , L. tarascae , L. lineri , L. mayae , L. pajapanense , L. tuxtlae , and L. lipetzi in having a higher number of scales in the paravertebral row (61-68 vs 37-60); from L. dontomasi , L. gaigeae , L. mayae , L. pajapanense , L. tuxtlae , L. chicoasense , L. lipetzi and L. cuicateca in having a lower number of lateral tubercles rows (21-28 vs 30-60)

Additionally, L. zongolica sp. nov. is distinguished from L. dontomasi , L. lowei , L. radula , L. tarascae , L. lineri , L. occulor , and L. cuicateca in having more fourth toe lamellae (27-30 vs 10-25) and from L. chicoasense in having fewer fourth toe lamellae (35-36); from L. lineri , L. chicoasense , L. micropholis , L. occulor in having fewer gulars (40-45 vs 51-72) and from L. dontomasi , L. lowei and L. radula in having more gulars (28-37).

Description of the Holotype. An adult male ( Fig 2 ), rostral broader than high, in contact posteriorly with two supranasals, followed by a median frontonasal, two prefrontals, median frontal and two frontoparietals; interparietal (with black parietal organ faintly visible) touching both frontoparietals anteriorly and occipitals posteriorly, and separating lateral parietals. Nostril bordered by supranasal, postnasal, and first supralabial; postnasal followed by anterior loreal (higher than postnasal) and posterior loreal (higher than anterior loreal), posterior loreals fused whit inferior preocular on right side; three preoculars on left side (lower preocular skipshaped in contact with supralabials 4 and 5), two small preoculars on right side (inferior preocular fused whit posterior loreals); three postoculars on both sides, uppermost in contact with parietal, anterior supratemporal and supraocular. 7/7 supralabials (seventh smaller), fifth entering in the orbit. Postoculars followed by temporal and anterior supratemporal on both sides, very large second supratemporal (subequal to parietal), and large posterior supratemporal (ca. one-fourth size of postparietal); postocular in contact with fifth and sixth supralabials; eigth pretympanics, anterior pretympanic large subequal to anterior supratemporal. Large mental followed by four pairs of infralabials, fourth pair smallest, and first pair in contact and second pair separated by very narrow gular scales anteriorly and posteriorly, gular scales small, 46 along midline between gular fold and second pair of supralabials.

Dorsal and lateral surface of body covered by small granules or scales of varying size, on the dorsal surface interspaces with numerous slightly enlarged, weakly keeled tubercles (approximately three times the size of adjacent mid-dorsal scales); 17 large tubercles in each paravertebral row between axilla and groin.

Vertebral area with smaller granules, 3-4 between each paravertebral row, 179 along vertebral line between occiput and rump. Large tubercles on sides of body arranged in vertical rows separated by smaller scales; 26 vertical rows of tubercles on side of body between axilla and groin; lateral rows of tubercles almost in contact above with paravertebral row of tubercles.

Ventral scales flat, mostly smooth, quadrangular, in 10 longitudinal rows at midbody; lateralmost row of ventrals slightly elevated, ca. two-thirds size of adjacent ventrals, and not extending to axillary region; 34 transverse rows of ventral scales between gular fold and vent, including two rows of preanals (two anterior preanals followed by three posterior preanals); lateralmost posterior preanal one-half size of the adjacent medial posterior preanal. Scales on surface of limbs slightly keeled and heterogeneous in size; 38 total femoral pores; 30 subdigital lamellae on fourth toe (five most basal divided by mid-ventral suture).

Tail regenerate encircled by whorls of enlarged quadrangular scales, slightly keeled, separated dorsally by three rings of quadrangular scales and by two ventrally; the whorls of the regenerated part of the tail, not separated by interwhorls ventrally, the whorls separated dorsally by three interwhorls of the same in size as the whorls; distal two thirds of tail regenerated; tail with 118 dorsal annuli (whorls plus interwhorls).

Dorsal surface of body with a pair of a paravertebral white spots intercalated by black and pale brown spots along body including the tail on a pale brown background. Dorsal surface of head brown, with two poorly defined black spots on parietal scales; each supralabial and infralabial with a brown spot. One line brown on each side to covering the most anterior supratemporals. Pair of enlarged brown post occipital spots. Tail uniformly light brown. Ventral surface of body, extremities and tail cream to yellow.

Measurements (mm). Snout-vent length, 72.00; tail length, 83.5; head length, 18.6; head width, 11.6; head depth, 7.7; orbit diameter, 3.8; fourth toe length, 12.8.

Distribution and habitat. Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov. is known only from the type locality ( Fig. 3 ) at 94 to 120 m, in tropical evergreen forest This species is relative abundant, at the all individuals were found between rocks on the ground. In croplands or coffee plantations, the species was not found in similar microhabitat as that described above ( Fig. 4). This may be an indication that L. zongolica may be a sensitive species and that is only found under pristine conditions. The specimens were obtained in June and July.

Variation. Variation in selected features of specimens is presented in the Table 1 .

Etymology. The name zongolica is an adjective and refers to the type locality, Sierra Zongolica , were the species lives.

Remarks. In recent years only one species of Lepidophyma has been described ( L. cuicateca from northern Oaxaca, Canseco-Márquez et al., 2008). The description of L. zongolica sp. nov. raises the number of species in the genus to nineteen. This species in know only from the type locality. However, we observed similar habitats in other areas of the Sierra Zongolica , and believe its possible that L. zongolica sp. nov.

occurs elsewhere in southern Puebla and in the margins of the state of Veracruz. In this area only Lepidophyma tuxtlae is currently known, specifically, this specie may be easily separated from L. zongolica sp. nov. by the number of femoral pores (29 or fewer in L. tuxtlae vs 33 or more in the new specie), the number of the paravertebral rows (37-55 in L. tuxtlae vs 61-68 in L. zongolica sp. nov.), and by having a lower number of lateral tubercles rows (28 or fewer in the new specie vs 30 or more in L. tuxtlae ).

Three species of the genus are found in the state of Puebla: Lepidophyma sylvaticum , distributed in northern Puebla and L. tuxtlae and L. zongolica sp. nov. in extreme southeastern Puebla.

Acknowledgments

Support for field trips were supported by grant CONACYT (P47590-Q) and DGAPA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IN- 210707 and IN-224009) to A. Nieto-Montes de Oca. Comments of the manuscript were provided by Robert Bezy. We thank the following museum curators for loan specimens: J. Campbell and E. Smith (University ot Texas at Arlington), O. Flores and E. Pérez (Museo de Zoología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), V. H. Reynoso (Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) and H. Smith (University of Colorado). We thank J. García-Bocardo, R. J. Maceda-Cruz and R. Valdez-Lares for invaluable help and supportin collecting the specimens during 2007. Collecting permits were issued by SEMARNAT.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adult female in life of Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov. (paratype; MZFC 22185)

FIGURE 2. Dorsal (a), lateral (b) and ventral (c) view of the holotype of Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov. (MZFC 22186) from Eloxochitlán, Puebla. Bar: 7 mm.

FIGURE 3. Geographic distribution of Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov. in Puebla and other species of the genus in Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz.

Tables

TABLE 1. Variation in some features of the specimens obtained of Lepidophyma zongolica sp. nov. See methods for abbreviations.

	MATURITY	SVL	TL	GUL	DOR	DAPVR PVR	IWD2	IWV2	FPT	FTL	LTR
MZFC 22186 (Holotype)	Adult	72.0	83.15	46	179	102 64	4	3	20-18	30	26
MZFC 22185	Adult	71.8	102.7	40	182	106 64	4	2	20-19	29	21
MZFC 22181	Juvenile	61.5	65	42	180	106 61	4	2	16-20	27	22
MZFC 22180	Adult	69.2	78.4	45	174	103 68	4	3	21-22	28	28
MZFC 22184	Adult	71.4	14.5 (reg)	45	184	102 64	4	3	16-17	27	27
MZFC 22183	Juvenile	38.7	3.9 (reg)	45	176	104 64	4	3	19-17	29	24
MZFC 22182	Juvenile	35.2	1.6 (reg)	49	175	100 66	¿	¿	21-19	28	27