A New Riparian Gymnophthalmid (Squamata) from Guyana
We describe a new species of riparian gymnophthalmid from Guyana characterized by striated rostral and mental scales, three rows of scales of subequal size between the rostral and frontal scales, and the absence of a unpaired median postmental. The new taxon shares derived features with species in Echinosaura, Neusticurus, Potamites, and Teuchocercus, including heterogeneous and heavily keeled body squamation, an elongate snout, and gracile limbs.Abstract
Line drawing of holotype of Echinosaura sulcarostrum. (A) Dorsal, (B) ventral, and (C) lateral surfaces of head; (D) ventral scale rows just anterior to vent, (E) dorsal scales at midbody, (F) dorsolateral tail scales just posterior to hemipenis. Only prominent sutures, keels, or striations visible from the drawing perspective are represented. Scale bar = 5 mm.
Photograph of holotype of Echinosaura sulcarostrum in (A) dorsal and (B) ventral views.
Hemipenis of Echinosaura sulcarostrum (ROM 22894), right organ. Scale bar = 1 mm.
Map of northeastern South America with type locality of Echinosaura sulcarostrum (circle). Scale bar = 100 km.
Contributor Notes
(MAD, CAU, DK) Department of Biological Sciences, University Park Campus, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199; (CAU) University of Florida, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Everglades National Park, 400001 State Road 9336, Homestead Florida 33034; (DK) Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1606; Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024; and (RDM) Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada. E-mail: (MAD) donnelly@fiu.edu. Send reprint requests to MAD.