GBIF Taxonomic Backbone & Wikipedia Registry Profile
Variation. Head length 21 – 25 % of SVL; tail length 58 – 64 % of total length; largest male presented 127.9 mm SVL; Smaller male with opaque and convoluted efferent ducts presented 79.1 mm SVL; largest female presented 98.8 mm SVL and the smaller female with oviductal eggs presented 72.7 mm SVL. Frontal scales of the head generally convex in adults; 2 – 4 scales between the nasals; rostral contacting nasals in 37.3 % of specimens; 10 – 15 scales between rostral and interparietal; 2 – 4 scale rows of enlarged supraoculars, generally three; 6 – 9 enlarged supraoculars in the first row (examples of the supraocular scuttelation patterns are in Gudynas & Skuk 1983, p. 4, fig. 1; Cei 1993, p. 319, fig. 49 A; and Cei 2003, p. 135, fig. 2 F); 4 – 7 supralabials to bellow the center of eye generally 5, followed by 3 – 7 (generally 4 – 5) small elongated scales to the commissure of mouth; supralabials contacting subocular in 60 % of specimens, generally with 5 th or 6 th (rarely with both), and less frequently with 4 th or 7 th; 6 – 10 infralabials, generally 8 – 9; preauricular fringe with 4 – 9 spines, generally 7; 9 – 15 scales between the subocular and the preauricular fringe, generally 11 – 12; mental triangular or polygonal, followed by 2 – 5 (generally 3 – 4) angulated postmentals; first postmentals contacting one another in 13.8 % of specimens; 2 – 4 canthals, generally 3; 46 – 65 gular scales (mean 56.6 ± 3.8, n = 216) (47 – 64 in Gudynas & Skuk 1983). Two mite pockets under the oblique neck fold, the upper pocket is well developed and the lower one is poorly developed; antehumeral fold present; 2 – 3 axillary pockets, generally two; inguinal granular pocket present; 24 – 34 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe (mean 29 ± 1.9, n = 216) (26 – 32 in Gudynas & Skuk 1983); 18 – 25 scales on the dorsum of tibia (mean 21.6 ± 1.3, n = 217), usually 21 – 23. In the original description, Gudynas and Skuk (1983) stated that there were no significant sexual differences, thus, presenting all meristic and morphometric variables grouped for both sexes. Our data do not corroborate this statement in relation to dorsal scales and SAB. Males present 104 – 130 imbricate, mucronate and keeled dorsals (mean 116.9 ± 4.8, n = 103), while females present 110 – 140 (mean 126.7 ± 6.8, n = 110). Specimens from lowlands of southwestern Rio Grande do Sul and the vicinities of the mouth of the Paraguay River (northern Argentina and southern Paraguay) present the lowest means (113.2 ± 4.6 in males; 122.4 ± 4.7 in females) while those of the valleys of the upper Uruguay Basin present the highest means (119.8 ± 4.3 in males; 130.4 ± 5.5 in females). Gudynas and Skuk (1983) presented vertebral and paravertebral scale counts, which ranged, respectively, 107 – 131 and 110 – 142. Since lizards of the torquatus group lack a vertebral crest or enlarged vertebral scale rows, distinguishing vertebrals and paravertebrals is difficult, but these values are similar to what we found in our dorsal counts. SAB ranged 91 – 116 (mean 103.4 ± 5.4, n = 97) in males, and 103 – 131 (mean 115.9 ± 6.6, n = 105) in females (89 – 121 in the original description, for males and females grouped). As for dorsals, specimens from the lowlands of southwestern Rio Grande do Sul, northeastern Argentina and southern Paraguay present the lowest means (99.5 ± 3.2 in males, 110.5 ± 3.7 in females), and those of the upper Uruguay Basin, the highest means (106.5 ± 4.5 in males, 119.4 ± 5.6 in females). Ventrals 72 – 103 (mean 86.2 ± 6.1, n = 214; the original description didn’t present variation of this character). Color in life. Dorsal color is brown, gray or greenish, with an irregular pattern of black paravertebral patches and many yellow or cream spots in the dorsum of the trunk and limbs; yellow or cream spots are more numerous in males; black antehumeral band occupying 4 – 10 scale rows, separated from the opposite one by 3 – 35 scales (mean 15.7 ± 6.3); venter white or cream; adult males with femoral and preanal patches of black pigmented glandular scales; presence of midventral patches variable but rarely lacking in specimens larger than 100 mm SVL; temporal region usually bluish; adults with black gular patches; chin yellow with dark reticulations enclosing yellow blotches; yellow pigment reaches the chest and sometimes the infra and supralabials; yellow pigment lacking in juveniles and usually less evident, or lacking, in females.
