Cristian Hernán Fulvio Pérez

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF LIZARDS OF THE LIOLAEMUS PETROPHILUS GROUP (SQUAMATA, LIOLAEMIDAE), WITH DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES FROM WESTERN ARGENTINA

We describe two new species of lizards of the genus Liolaemus from western Argentina. Both species belong to the petrophilus group and are easily distinguished from other members by a combination of chromatic and squamation characters. We used sequences of the mitochondrial cyt–b, 12S, and ND4 and the nuclear C–mos genes to infer the phylogeny of described species of the group. We found evidence for a monophyletic petrophilus group within the L. elongatus–kriegi complex. The petrophilus group includes Liolaemus petrophilus and two strongly supported clades, one containing the species distributed in the north, which includes one of the new species, L. talampaya; the second clade includes the species distributed in the south, including the new species, L. gununakuna.

A molecular phylogeny of the lizard genus Phymaturus (Squamata, Liolaemini): Implications for species diversity and historical biogeography of southern South America

The lizard genus Phymaturus is widely distributed in Argentina and along the eastern edge of Chile between 25° and 45° south. We sampled 27 of the 38 currently recognized species plus 22 candidate species using two mitochondrial genes (cytb and 12S), four protein coding nuclear genes and seven anonymous nuclear loci, and present the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the clade. We recovered two large clades (the palluma or northern group and patagonicus or southern group) previously recognized on the basis of morphological and mitochondrial sequence evidence, and compared results obtained from concatenated-gene analyses with results of a coalescent-based species-tree approach (BEST). With both methods we identified four main clades within the palluma group (mallimaccii, roigorum, verdugo, and vociferator) and five main clades within the patagonicus group (calcogaster, indistinctus, payuniae, somuncurensis, and spurcus). We found several instances of non-monophyly with cytb and cases of incongruence between mitochondrial vs nuclear data for which we discuss alternative hypotheses. Although with lower support values, combined BEST results are more congruent with concatenated nuclear data than with combined concatenated analyses, suggesting that BEST is less influenced by demographic processes than combined concatenated analyses. We discuss the taxonomic, biogeographic and conservation implications of these results and how the future integration of phylogeographic and morphological approaches will allow the further testing of demographic and biogeographic hypotheses.

A NEW SPECIES OF LIOLAEMUS (SQUAMATA: IGUANIA: LIOLAEMIDAE) FROM NORTHWESTERN PATAGONIA (NEUQUÉN, ARGENTINA)

A new species of the Andean-Patagonian Liolaemus elongatus-kriegi complex is described. The new species differs from all other members of the complex in the distinct coloration of the dorsum, a bright red-yellow belly, and other morphological traits. Liolaemus punmahuida is known from a small area in the Tromen Volcano in northwestern Patagonia above 3000 m.

Molecular phylogeny of the New World gecko genus Homonota (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae)

The genus Homonota was described by Gray (1845) and currently includes 10 species: Homonota andicola, H. borellii, H. darwinii, H. fasciata, H. rupicola, H. taragui, H. underwoodi, H. uruguayensis, H. williamsii & H. whitii and one subspecies of H. darwinii (H. darwinii macrocephala). It is distributed from 15° latitude south in southern Brazil, through much of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina to 54° south in Patagonia and across multiple different habitats. Several morphological taxonomic studies on a subset of these species have been published, but no molecular phylogenetic hypotheses are available for the genus. The objective of this study is to present a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for all the described species in the genus. We sequenced two mitochondrial genes (cyt‐b & 12S: 1745 bp), seven nuclear protein coding (RBMX, DMLX, NKTR, PLRL, SINCAIP, MXRA5, ACA4: 5804 bp) and two anonymous nuclear loci (30Hb, 19Hb: 1306 bp) and implemented traditional concatenated analyses (MP, ML, BI) as well as species‐tree (*beast) approaches. All methods recovered almost the same topology. We recovered the genus Homonota as monophyletic with strong statistical support. Within Homonota, there are three strongly supported clades (whitii, borellii and fasciata), which differ from those previously proposed based on scale shape, osteology, myology and quantitative characters. Detailed morphological analyses based on this highly resolved and well‐supported phylogeny will provide a framework for understanding morphological evolution and historical biogeography of this phenotypically conservative genus. We hypothesize that extensive marine transgressions during Middle and Late Miocene most probably isolated the ancestors of the three main clades in eastern Uruguay (borellii group), north‐western Argentina‐southern Bolivia (fasciata group), and central‐western Argentina (whitii group). Phylogeographic and morphological/morphometric analyses coupled with paleo‐niche modelling are needed to better understand its biogeographical history.

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of the lizard clade Liolaemus elongatus (Iguania: Liolaemini) with the description of a new species from an isolated volcanic peak in northern Patagonia

A new species of the Andean-Patagonian Liolaemus elongatus clade is described. Liolaemus crandalli sp. nov. differs from other members of its clade by a combination of coloration characters, scale counts and genetic traits. Liolaemus crandalli sp. nov. is known only from an isolated volcanic mountain in northwestern Patagonia above 1500 m.a.s.l. unconnected with other habitat suitable for species of the Liolaemus elongatus clade.

A new species of Homonota (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae) from the Ventania mountain range, Southeastern Pampas, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

A new species of lizard genus Homonota from southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina is described. Homonota williamsii sp. nov. was previously considered as part of the H. darwinii species, but differs by a combination of characters from the nominal species and from other species of the genus. Its geographic distribution is restricted to an isolated mountain system not connected with other habitats suitable for Homonota darwinii

Lizards of Rio Negro province, northern Patagonia, Argentina

We provide a checklist of lizards distributed in the Rio Negro province, northern Patagonia, Argentina. Representatives of 45 species of lizards were found inhabiting this region as well as several still undescribed species. This list is a contribution to the still poorly known herpetofauna of the region.

Reptilia, Iguania, Liolaemidae, Liolaemus somuncurae: Distribution extension.

The genus Liolaemus contains more than 180 species, 58 of which occur in a variety of habitats in Patagonia (Argentina) (Morando et al. 2007; Scolaro 2005). In spite of this, our knowledge on the systematic, ecology, and geographic distribution of Liolaemus lizards is still very scarce. It is necessary to increase the information available on these lizards to improve our knowledge of one of the most speciose genus of vertebrates of America. Here we present new geographic distribution data on a poorly known Patagonian species of Liolaemus.

Depredación de Homonota darwinii Laurent 1984 (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) por Brothriurus burmeisteri Kraepelin, 1894 (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) en la provincia del Chubut, Argentina

Se da a conocer el primer registro documentado sobre la depredacion de Homonota darwinii por un escorpion ( Bothriurus burmeisteri ).

Philodryas agassizi (Jan, 1863) (Squamata: Dipsadidae): distribution extension

We provide the first record of Philodryas agassizi from Rio Negro province, as well as the southernmost record from La Pampa Province, central Argentina. The record from Rio Negro province extends the geographic distribution range of this species by approximately 180 km south.