Geographic distribution of Cercosaura vertebralis O’Shaughnessy, 1879 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) and the status of Cercosaura ampuedai (Lancini, 1968)

Abstract

We report new locality records of Cercosaura vertebralis O’Shaughnessy, 1879 in Peru, after more than 40 years since the discovery of the single known Peruvian specimen. The Peruvian range of Cercosaura vertebralis, which was previously restricted to Piura, is extended into the Cajamarca region (Tabaconas Namballe and La Granja). We also examined intraspecific variation of the species throughout its range and provide a hemipenial description from the new specimens. In addition, we comment on the population status of C. vertebralis in Peru, and provide data supporting the synonymy of C. ampuedai with C. vertebralis .