The South American Tropidurid Lizard Stenocercus marmoratus: Redescription, Distribution, and Natural History

Abstract

The holotype of Stenocercus marmoratus is redescribed, and morphological variation is doc- umented for this poorly known tropidurid lizard. Stenocercus marmoratus has a more extensive distribution than previously thought and inhabits subhumid habitats of the Andes from Cochabamba, Bolivia to north- ernmost Argentina. Dumeril and Bibron are the authors of the name marmoratus and not D'Orbigny as believed by some revisors of this species. A key to the genus Stenocercus in Bolivia and Argentina is provided. Five species of Stenocercus are currently rec- ognized in Argentina and Bolivia: S. caducus, S. doellojuradoi, S. pectinatus, S. marmoratus, and S. roseiventris. Stenocercus variabilis Boulenger has been reported from Bolivia (e.g., Burt and Burt, 1933; Fugler, 1989) although this species is most likely endemic to Peru: Fritts (1974) argued that Boulenger's (1901) locality information for this species was in error and that the holotype of S. variabilis came from Junin, Peru rather than Palca, Bolivia. Three of the Argentinean and Bolivian species were included in the gen- era Ophryoessoides (S. caducus) and Proctotretus (S. doellojuradoi and S. pectinatus) before Frost (1992) reviewed the taxonomy of the Tropidurus group of lizards and concluded that these genera should be considered synonyms of Stenocercus. Stenocercus marmoratus and S. roseiventris have long been included in the genus Stenocercus.