Abstract
A new species of Iguanidae Liolaeminae from the Parque Nacional San Guillermo, San Juan province in western Argentina, is described. The new species is member of the Liolaemus darwinii complex within the monophyletic boulengeri species group. It is characterized by small body size, long tail, relatively low number of scales around midbody, dorsal scales keeled, precloacal pores only in male, bulged patch of enlarged scales on the proximal posterior surface of the thigh in both sexes, and a dorsal color pattern in the male of 12–13 pairs of dark paravertebral spots and irregularly scattered light blue and white scales “speckled” on reddish brown ground. Both sexes lack of light vertebral or dorsolateral stripes. Liolaemus sp. nov. is terrestrial, dwelling on rocky gravel and sandy soil in a Monte landscape with sparse vegetation, and seems to have low population density.References
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