Abstract

We describe a new saxicolous species of Lepidophyma from the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico and provide morphological and molecular data to support the novelty of this species. The new species is most closely related to members of the L. sylvaticum group; however; it is a flattened form specialised for a saxicolous lifestyle and it can be distinguished from all other members by a combination of meristic characters. Genetic analysis suggests that several populations of L. sylvaticum might represent additional novel taxa, while the validity of L. micropholis is questioned. We discuss conservation priorities of the new species.

Details

Title
A new species of saxicolous Lepidophyma (Squamata, Xantusiidae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico
Author
Grünwald, Christoph I  VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Reyes-Velasco, Jacobo  VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ahumada-Carrillo, Iván T; Montaño-Ruvalcaba, Carlos; Franz-Chávez, Héctor; La Forest, Brandon T; Ramírez-Chaparro, Ricardo; Terán-Juárez, Sergio; Juan Miguel Borja-Jiménez
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Feb 2023
Publisher
Pensoft Publishers
ISSN
10134425
e-ISSN
2682955X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.36.e96184
ProQuest document ID
2775029567
Copyright
© 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.