Fernando Lobo

A morphology-based phylogeny of Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) with the description of four new species from Argentina

Estudaram-se as relacoes dentro do genero Phymaturus da familia Liolaemidae, usando analise de parsimonia de uma matriz formada principalmente por dados morfologicos. A matriz inclui 133 caracteres: 28 descritos na literatura como apomorfias dos tres generos de Liolaemidae (Ctenoblepharys, Liolaemus e Phymaturus), 21 caracteres de alozimas e cariologia, 53 caracteres de morfologia externa e 31 do esqueleto, de todos os terminais de Phymaturus. A matriz inclui representantes de dez das doze especies reconhecidas na literatura, e outros 12 terminais que neste estudo se consideram linhagens independentes e identificadas como P.xa0patagonicus ou P.xa0palluma na literatura previa e nas colecoes. Quatro destes terminais sao descritos neste trabalho como especies novas, uma pertencente ao grupo de P.xa0palluma e outras tres ao grupo de P.xa0patagonicus. Realizaram-se quatro analises usando quatro metodos diferentes para codificar binariamente caracteres polimorficos, e um novo metodo para codificar os caracteres continuos. A divisao tradicional do genero em dois grupos nao e apoiada pelo presente estudo, o grupo de P.xa0patagonicus e parafiletico em parte da analise. O grupo de P.xa0palluma e monofiletico e se sustenta por varios caracteres, as arvores de consenso por maioria, de todas as analises, mostraram com excecao de um par de politomias, uma topologia do grupo bem resolvida. Dentro do grupo de P.xa0palluma, encontra-se um subclado formado por especies distribuidas no norte da Argentina desde o norte da provincia de San Juan (ao norte dos 30° de latitude). Nesta analise, o P.xa0palluma de El Planchon (Chile), relaciona-se mais com este subclado do norte que com qualquer outra forma de P.xa0palluma.

Hyoid Skeleton, Its Related Muscles, and Morphological Novelties in the Frog Lepidobatrachus (Anura, Ceratophryidae)

Many traits of the skull of ceratophryines are related to the capture of large prey independently of aquatic or terrestrial feeding. Herein, detailed descriptions of the development of hyoid skeleton and the anatomy of muscles responsible for hyoid and tongue movements in Lepidobatrachus laevis and L. llanensis are provided and compared with those of other neobatrachians. The aquatic Lepidobatrachus has special features in its hyoid skeleton that integrates a set of derived features convergent with the conditions observed in non‐neobatrachian anurans and morphological novelties (e.g., dorsal dermal hyoid ossification) that deviate from the generalized pattern found in most frogs. Further, reduction of fibers of muscles of buccal floor, reduction or loss of hyoid muscles (m. geniohyoideus rama lateralis, anterior pair of m. petrohyoideus posteriores), small tongue, and simplified tongue muscles are also morphological deviations from the pattern of terrestrial ceratophryines, and other aquatic ceratophryids (e.g., Telmatobius) that seem to be related to feeding underwater. The historical derived features shared with Chacophrys and Ceratophrys involved in megalophagy are conserved in Lepidobatrachus and morphological changes in the hyoglossal apparatus define a unique functional complex among anurans. Anat Rec, 292:1700–1712, 2009.

Patterns of ossification in the skeleton of Liolaemus quilmes (Iguania: Tropiduridae)

Observations of the cranial and postcranial development in Liolaemus quilmes were made. The general pattern of ossification in L. quilmes is similar to that of L. scapularis, but some sequences of ossification differ. In L. quilme, ossification of the postcranium begins early in development relative to the skull.

A new species of Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) of the palluma group from Central Chile

We examined specimens of Phymaturus from four locations in central Chile, between 34o50´S and 36o00´S (from Termas del Flaco and from Lircay and its surroundings), where the only recognized species is P. maulense. We found several differences in the scalation and in the color pattern among them. The samples from Lircay and its surroundings correspond to topotypes of P. maulense and two more populations assignable to this species (Termas del Campanario and Laguna del Maule, new records), but the specimens from Termas del Flaco are a new species: P. damasense. It is characterized by: dorsal pattern of the male formed by a thin reticulation over greenish background color with yellowish-brown tail, subocular scale fragmented in three or four scales, scales in the anterior border of the auditory meatus are projected posteriorly, females have dark bars on the flanks (formed by small spots), enlarged scales in the center of the gular fold and may have precloacar pores. Also, we call attention to some Chilean populations of the genus Phymaturus referred in the literature which need to be assigned.

Evolution of the cloacal and genital musculature, and the genitalia morphology in liolemid lizards (Iguania: Liolaemidae) with remarks on their phylogenetic bearing

In this study, we describe the intra- and interspecific anatomical variations of cloacal and related muscles of male and female genitalia in species of five iguanian genera (three liolemid: Ctenoblepharys , Liolaemus , and Phymaturus plus Diplolaemus leopardinus and Tropidurus melanopleurus as outgroups). We found variations (seventeen characters) in topology, origin and insertion areas, tendon morphology and size of the musculature of this region. We also describe the variations of hemipeneal morphology, which is especially notable for the hemipenis of C. adspersa , D. leopardinus , and T. melanopleurus , as this is first time they are described in the literature. Among the most significant findings are the identification of three new muscles, two of them inserted on the roof of the cloacal chamber (anterior and posterior cloacal retractor) and the third inserted superficially in the floor of the cloaca, just before anterior to the precloacal glands row (superficialis cloacalis retractor). We report sexual dimorphism in seven muscle characters. Musculature related to hemiclitoris is reduced in proportion to its size in comparison to the degree of development of male genitalia and associated musculature. The evolution of characters was traced on the known phylogenetic hypotheses of relationships among families. Characters taken from the cloacal/genital myology bring similar support to the liolaemid tree even rooting the analysis using different outgroups. In addition, a phylogenetic study using only myological characters was performed. In this case, C. adspersa was found to be more related to Liolaemus species instead of being basal to Liolaemus plus Phymaturus .