A new species of iguanid lizard (Hoplocercinae, Enyalioides) from southern Ecuador with a key to eastern Ecuadorian Enyalioides

Abstract

We describe a new species of Enyalioides from mid-elevation rainforests in southeastern Ecuador. This represents the fifth species of Enyalioides known to occur east of the Andes in South America; the other four species are E. cofanorum, E. laticeps, E. microlepis and E. praestabilis. Among other characters, the new species can be distinguished from other Enyalioides by having distinct caudal whorls, fewer than 32 longitudinal rows of dorsals at midbody, and bright orange to red gular scales bordered with black in adult males. Morphological similarity suggests that the new species, which we call E. rubrigularis, is closely related to E. praestabilis. Copyright O. Torres-Carvajal et al.