Naming the Diversity: Taxonomy of Current Species of Patagonian Lizards

Abstract

The diversity of the Patagonian lizard fauna is a combination of low diversity at higher levels, e.g., families, some of them almost marginal to the region, coupled with very high species diversity concentrated in two genera Liolaemus and Phymaturus, and a high number of endemics. The number of described species almost tripled since Cei’s last and only monograph on Patagonian herpetofauna in 1987. But changes were not limited to species numbers; taxonomy changed as studies of this fauna improved with the use of modern taxonomic techniques and dedicated field surveys made to some previously unknown areas. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a taxonomic summary of Patagonian lizards. We include a number of plates with pictures of poorly known and/or endemic Patagonian species probably never included in any book or publication.