A New Species of Scincella (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico

Abstract

A new species of Scincella, previously confused with S. laterals, Is described from the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico. The new species differs from all congeners in North and Middle America by possessing two dark, narrow ventrolateral stripes on each side (vs. dark, narrow ventrolateral stripes on each side absent in the other species)

from all congeners in North and Middle America, except S. laterals, by having three or more pairs of nuchal scales (vs. fewer than three pairs of nuchals in the other species) and the first nuchal in contact with the tertiary temporal row (vs. first nuchal usually in contact with the upper secondary temporal in the other species)

and from S. laterals by having longer limbs (limbs overlapping by 1-15 scales when adpressed against body, hindlimb length/SVL ratio 0.30-0.42, (x) over bar = 0.36

vs. limbs separated by 2-23 scales when adpressed against body, hindlimb length/SVL ratio 0.24-0.37, (x) over bar = 0.30, in S. laterals) and usually more scales around midbody (28-30, (x) over bar = 29.0, n = 15

vs. 24-29, (x) over bar = 26.4, n = 28, in S. laterals). The new species is geographically closest, and morphologically most similar, to S. lateralis.