New records, range extensions and updated distribution of two gymnophthalmid lizards from the Caribbean Region, Colombia

Fabio Leonardo Meza-Joya,Eliana Ramos-Pallares

doi:10.15560/11.5.1735

Abstract

In Colombia, detailed knowledge of the geographic distribution of gymnophthalmid lizards is scarce. This paper presents the first confirmed records of Leposoma rugiceps and provides additional records of Gymnophthalmus speciosus from Department of La Guajira, in the Colombian Caribbean Region. These records extend the geographical distribution of both species and support their wide distribution in the lowlands of north of Colombia. Furthermore, we provide an updated distribution map with known occurrences of these species in Colombia.

Highlights

The family Gymnophthalmidae includes approximately 232 species of small to medium-sized lizards, which inhabit most of the habitats from Central to South America (Pellegrino et al 2001; Castoe et al 2004; Vitt and Caldwell 2009)
This paper presents the first confirmed records of Leposoma rugiceps and provides additional records of Gymnophthalmus speciosus from Department of La Guajira, in the Colombian Caribbean Region
Several research projects have increased the knowledge on the diversity of lizards in Colombia (e.g., CastroHerrera and Vargas-Salinas 2008; Llano-Mejía et al 2010; Cardona-Botero et al 2013; Carvajal-Cogollo et al 2013; Pedroza-Banda et al 2014), information of the geographic distribution of gymnophthalmid lizards is still incipient because of two main factors: firstly, many gymnophthalmid species have fossorial or semi-fossorial live styles, complicating their collection in the field; and secondly, inventories of lizard fauna in several areas of Colombia are scarce, extensive field research is still required (Arbeláez-Cortés 2013)

Summary

Introduction

The family Gymnophthalmidae includes approximately 232 species of small to medium-sized lizards, which inhabit most of the habitats from Central to South America (Pellegrino et al 2001; Castoe et al 2004; Vitt and Caldwell 2009). Abstract: In Colombia, detailed knowledge of the geographic distribution of gymnophthalmid lizards is scarce. This paper presents the first confirmed records of Leposoma rugiceps and provides additional records of Gymnophthalmus speciosus from Department of La Guajira, in the Colombian Caribbean Region.

Results

Conclusion