A group of researchers led by Dr Jaime Troncoso-Palacios of the Universidad de Chile in Santiago has described two new species of iguanid lizards from the Laja Lagoon, Chile.
Liolaemus scorialis, male, 7 km NW of the summit of the Antuco Volcano, near the Laja Lagoon, Biobio Region, Chile. Image credit: Troncoso-Palacios J et al.
The newly discovered species belong to Liolaemus, a diverse genus of South American lizards, with currently 245 species grouped into two subgenera.
The first species, Liolaemus scorialis, occurs only in two localities near the Laja Lagoon, Biobío Region, Chile.
It has its name inspired by its specific type locality composed mainly of scoria volcanic rock.
“The species name refers to the habitat, which is composed of accumulations of igneous rocks from the Antuco Volcano, called ‘scoria’ from the Greek ‘skoria.’ We propose the common name Slag Lizard in English and Lagarto del escorial in Spanish,” Dr Troncoso-Palacios and co-authors wrote in the paper in the journal ZooKeys.
Liolaemus zabalai, male, near Los Barros, Laja Lagoon, Biobio Region, Chile. Image credit: Troncoso-Palacios J et al.
The second species, named Liolaemus zabalai, is only found in the surroundings of the Laja Lagoon. The type locality is near Los Barros, Laja Lagoon, but the scientists also saw specimens on the road to the Laja Lagoon at two localities.
“This species is named after Patricio Zabala, collection manager of the Colección de Flora y Fauna Patricio Sánchez Reyes, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (SSUC). We dedicate this species to him because of his support of herpetological research in Chile, allowing us to review and deposit material in SSUC, and especially for his friendship,” the researchers wrote in the paper.
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Troncoso-Palacios J et al. 2015. Two new species of the Liolaemus elongatus-kriegi complex (Iguania, Liolaemidae) from Andean highlands of southern Chile. ZooKeys 500: 83-109; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.500.8725
