Liolaemus sp5

This population inhabits in the area surrounding the Tromen Lake, in Neuquén province, Argentina. It presents a color pattern that resembles that of Liolaemus araucaniensis, but some of its character states distinguish it from L. araucaniensis and from all other species members of the L. alticolor-bibronii group. The main differences with L. araucaniensis are in scalation. The scales in dorsum of body are weakly keeled, without a mucron, rounded, and juxtaposed in L. araucaniensis, whereas in L. sp5 these scales are strongly keeled, mucronated, rhomboidal, and imbricated. In addition, the auricular scale is conspicuous in L. sp5, but is absent in L. araucaniensis. Neck scales are granular in L. araucaniensis and laminar in L. sp5.

Liolaemus sp5 shows 49–56 (X=53; SD= 2.94) scales around midbody; 40–52 (X= 45; SD= 5.29) scales between occiput and hindlimbs; 75–82 (X= 78.7; SD= 2.87) ventrals; 11–12 (X= 11.5; SD= 0.56) scales in dorsum of head (Hellmich’s Index); 6 supercilliaries; 6–7 (X= 6.7; SD= 0.5) scales surrounding nasal; nasal always in contact with rostral, separated from canthal by two scales; 7–8 (X= 7.5; SD= 0.56) smooth and laminar temporals; auricular scale evident; 34–39 (X= 36.3; SD= 2.06) laminar and smooth neck scales; 6–8 (X= 7; SD= 0.82) lorilabials; subocular scale whitish in 75% of specimens studied; 6–7 (X= 6.5; SD= 0.56) supralabials and 4–5 (X= 4.7; SD= 0.5) infralabials; fourth supralabial upturned, but never in contact with subocular; 3 precloacal pores in one male studied, a female (33%) shows one precloacal pore. Max–SVL= 55.24 (X= 49.36; SD= 5.68); head length (X= 11.28; SD= 1.24); head width (X= 7.42; SD= 0.85); trunk length (X= 24.68; SD= 3.15); humerus length (X= 4.18; SD= 0.38); tibia length (X= 6.2; SD= 0.96); tail length (X= 68.2; SD= 6.02). Color pattern: dorsal pattern with dorsolateral stripes and paravertebral spots (quadrangular shaped). Without vertebral line. Lateral region light brown with black vertical stripes. Ventrolateral zone light brown with black, irregularly shaped spots. Throat speckled, almost melanic. Chest and belly gray without spots. Vertebral line in dorsum of tail, ventrally immaculate.