A New Cryptic Species of Stenocercus (Squamata: Iguanidae) from the Andes of Ecuador
We describe a new species of Stenocercus from the Andes of Ecuador that previously was erroneously assigned to S. guentheri due to its general phenotypic similarity with this species. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequence data, we show that the new species is not nested within S. guentheri but is actually sister to S. festae. The new species can be distinguished from other Stenocercus by the combination of the following characters: imbricate scales on posterior surface of thighs, smooth ventrals, a posthumeral mite pocket consisting of a shallow depression with a wide opening (more distinct in adult specimens), small scales on occipitoparietal region, supraoculars of similar size, 62–83 scales around midbody, and no black midventral stripe or black transverse band on the ventral surface of neck in adult males.Abstract
(A–B) Stenocercus cadlei, holotype, QCAZ 9898, male, 85 mm SVL; (C–D) S. cadlei, paratype, QCAZ 10015, female, 66.7 mm SVL; (E–F) S. cadlei, paratype, QCAZ 9949, juvenile, 48.7 mm SVL; (G) S. festae, QCAZ 10047, male, 86.7 mm SVL; (H) S. guentheri, no number.
Maximum clade credibility tree of 18,000 trees obtained from four independent Bayesian analyses. Bayesian posterior probabilities are indicated next to branches, with asterisks denoting values >0.99.
Distribution of Stenocercus cadlei and S. guentheri.
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