Evidence for the recognition of two species of Anolis formerly referred to as A. tropidogaster (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

 

Authors

Köhler, Gunther; Batista, Abel; Vesely, Milan; Ponce, Marcos; Carrizo, Arcadio; Lotzkat, Sebastian

Format

Article

Status

publishedVersion

Description

Based on differences in hemipenial morphology, male dewlap coloration, pholidosis, and 16S mtDNA, we recognize two species of anoles related to what was formerly referred to as Anolis tropidogaster: Anolis tropidogaster Hallowell 1856 and A. gaigei Ruthven 1916. The hemipenis in A. tropidogaster is large, bulbous, and bilobed whereas it is small, thin, and unilobed in A. gaigei; the male dewlap is almost uniform purplish red, sometimes with a paler orange central area in A. tropidogaster versus orange yellow with a darker orange central area in A. gaigei; and—aside from more subtle differences in several pholidotic characteristics—in male A. gaigei there is a pair of greatly enlarged postcloacal scales which is absent in A. tropidogaster. In the western part of its geographic range, A. gaigei has been confused with another anole species, A. polylepis Peters 1873, from which it can be readily distinguished by its strongly keeled ventral scales (smooth in A. polylepis).
Based on differences in hemipenial morphology, male dewlap coloration, pholidosis, and 16S mtDNA, we recognize two species of anoles related to what was formerly referred to as Anolis tropidogaster: Anolis tropidogaster Hallowell 1856 and A. gaigei Ruthven 1916. The hemipenis in A. tropidogaster is large, bulbous, and bilobed whereas it is small, thin, and unilobed in A. gaigei; the male dewlap is almost uniform purplish red, sometimes with a paler orange central area in A. tropidogaster versus orange yellow with a darker orange central area in A. gaigei; and—aside from more subtle differences in several pholidotic characteristics—in male A. gaigei there is a pair of greatly enlarged postcloacal scales which is absent in A. tropidogaster. In the western part of its geographic range, A. gaigei has been confused with another anole species, A. polylepis Peters 1873, from which it can be readily distinguished by its strongly keeled ventral scales (smooth in A. polylepis).

Publication Year

2012

Language

Topic

anolis albi
anolis cupreus
anolis gaigei
anolis osa
anolis polylepis
anolis stigmosus
anolis tropidogaster
Central America
Colombia
Dactyloidae
Panama
Reptilia
squamata
Venezuela

Repository

RI JaDimike

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http://jadimike.unachi.ac.pa/handle/123456789/97

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openAccess

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