A new allopatric species of Xenosaurus (Squamata : Xenosauridae) from Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

We describe a new species of Xenosaurus from the state of Guerrero, Mexico. This species differs from its congeners by characteristics of lepidosis and color pattern. The posterior border of the nuchal collar extends transversely across the middle of the neck, the dark dorsal bands are mottled in adults, and the venter has transverse series of dark scales extending to about mid-venter. The supraorbital semicircles are separated by two scales, the dorsal tubercles are low

and flat and separated from each other by a distance of 2-4 tubercle diameters, and there are 33-37 transverse ventral scale rows. The type-localty of the new species is isolated, from the geographically most proximate population of Xenosaurus by about 250 km.