An endemic and endangered new species of the lizard liolaemus montanus group from southwestern peru (Iguania: Liolaemidae), with a key for the species of the l. reichei clade

The southwestern Andes of Peru harbor a hidden taxonomic diversity of reptiles. We describe a new species of Liolaemus Wiegmann (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from xerophytic environments of the southwestern slopes of the Andes of Peru, 2,400– 2,900 m asl. The new species, previously considered to be a population of L. insolitus Cei, exhibits unique diagnostic characters of morphology, scalation and color pattern, and molecular evidence that suggest that it belongs in the Liolaemus montanus species group and the L. reichei clade. Moreover, the species is endemic to the eastern slopes of La Caldera batholith in the Department of Arequipa, southern Peru. We also provide information on the conservation status of the species and suggest it be included in the IUCN red list of the threatened species as endangered (EN). A key for the species of the L. reichei clade is provided.Fil: Quiroz, Aarón J.. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa; PerúFil: Huamaní Valderrama, Ling. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa; PerúFil: Gutiérrez, Roberto C.. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa, Museo de Historia Natural; PerúFil: Aguilar Kirigin, Alvaro Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López Tejeda, Evaristo Luciano. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa; PerúFil: Lazo Rivera, Ana. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa; PerúFil: Huanca Mamani, Wilson. Universidad de Tarapacá; ChileFil: Valladares Faúndez, Pablo. Universidad de Tarapacá; ChileFil: Morrone, Juan José. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Cerdeña, José. No especifíca;Fil: Chaparro, Juan C.. No especifíca;Fil: Abdala, Cristian Simón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentin

Loretoniscus Ocampo-Maceda, Lopez-Orozco & Campos-Filho 2023, gen. nov.

<i>Loretoniscus</i> Ocampo-Maceda, López-Orozco & Campos-Filho gen. nov. <p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 293A9B09-3480-4B20-807B-64C27672ACD0</p> Type species <p> <i>Loretoniscus mashiriaensis</i> gen. et sp. nov., by present designation and monotypy.</p> Diagnosis <p>Body convex. Animals with partial conglobation ability; exoantennal conglobation. Cephalon with welldeveloped antennary lobes, triangular frontal shield slightly developed, laterally interrupted by antennal grooves, frontal line delimiting frontal shield on upper portion. Pereonite 1 epimera without dorsolateral furrows and schisma. Pereonites 1–3 without ventral lobes. Pleon outline continuous with that of pereon. Telson triangular with distal portion covering uropod endopods. Antennula with three articles. Antenna with flagellum of three articles, second and third articles divided by thin suture. Mandible with molar penicil dichotomized. Maxillula outer endite with outer group bearing teeth cleft at apex. Uropod protopod subrectangular, exopod inserted distally. Pleopod exopods 1 and 2 with respiratory areas.</p> Etymology <p>The new genus is named after the department where the specimens were collected: Loreto.</p> Remarks <p> In the complex shape of the depressions in the frontal shield of the cephalon, and the absence of dorsolateral furrow on pereonite 1 epimera, <i>Loretoniscus</i> gen. nov. resembles <i>Iansaoniscus</i>; however, it differs in the broad shape of the telson with lateral margins straight (vs concave), uropod protopod subrectangular (vs subquadrangular), and pleopod 1 and 2 exopods with respiratory areas (vs absent).</p> <p> The Pudeoniscidae were recently revised by Campos-Filho <i>et al.</i> (2018b). The diagnostic characters of the family do not comprise the variation observed in <i>Iansaoniscus</i> and <i>Loretoniscus</i> gen. nov. Thus, the diagnosis of the family after Campos-Filho <i>et al.</i> (2018b) is emended as follows: animals with exoantennal conglobation; cephalon with triangular frontal shield and profons having complex depressions, and pereonite 1 epimera with dorsolateral furrow to fit antennae during conglobation (reduced or absent in cave-dwellers or endogean species); epimera of pereonites 1–3 with small ventral lobes or schisma on pereonite 1 (reduced or absent in cave-dwellers or endogean species); pleon outline continuous to that of pereonite 7, neopleurae 3–5 well developed and rectangular, telson triangular or trapezoidal with proximal portion wider than distal portion; antennal flagellum of three articles, second and third divided by suture; uropod protopod subquadrangular, exopod inserted distally, endopod not surpassing the distal margin of telson; and pleopod exopods with respiratory structures.</p> <p> <i>Loretoniscus</i> gen. nov. is included in the family Pudeoniscidae by sharing most of these mentioned characters. The absence of dorso-lateral furrow and schisma on pereonite 1 epimera, and absence of ventral lobes on pereonites 1–3 epimera are closely related with the conglobation ability, an ecomorphological strategy of oniscideans used against predation and to reduce water loss (Edney 1951;</p> <p>Schmalfuss 1984). The new genus includes one new species with endogean habits, and probably the absence of these structures is related with habitat selection.</p>Published as part of <i>Ocampo-Maceda, Ana Teresa, López-Orozco, Carlos Mario, López-Tejeda, Evaristo Luciano & Campos-Filho, Ivanklin Soares, 2023, First record of Pudeoniscidae Lemos de Castro, 1973 (Oniscidea) from Peru, with the description of a new genus and species, pp. 65-77 in European Journal of Taxonomy 861</i> on pages 67-68, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.861.2067, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7728898">http://zenodo.org/record/7728898</a&gt

First record of Pudeoniscidae Lemos de Castro, 1973 (Oniscidea) from Peru, with the description of a new genus and species

A new genus of Pudeoniscidae from Peru is described, Loretoniscus gen. nov., including a new species: Loretoniscus mashiriaensis gen. et sp. nov. The new genus is characterized by pereonite 1 epimera without dorsolateral furrows, pereonites 1 and 2 without ventral lobes, telson with distal portion covering uropod endopods, and pleopod 1–2 exopods with respiratory areas. This is the first record of the family Pudeoniscidae from Peru, considerably extending its distribution in the Neotropical region