Herpetologists' League

A New Species of Bachia (Sauria: Teiidae) from BrasilAuthor(s): Richard ThomasSource: Herpetologica, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Apr. 28, 1965), pp. 18-22Published by: Herpetologists' LeagueStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3890701 .

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A NEW SPECIES OF BACHIA (SAURIA: TEIIDAE) FROM BRASIL

RICHARD THOMAS

Vanzolini (1961) synonymized Scolecosaurts with Bachia be- cause of a failure of the traditional generic distinction between the two (presence of prefrontals in the former and their lack in the latter) to be consistent, and a failure to find other generic charac- ters. In studying the West Indian members of Bachia (formerly in Scolecosaurus), a series of supposed Scolecosaurus cuvieri from Manaus, Brasil, was examined for comparative purposes. The speci- mens were obviously quite different from any other Scolecosaurus, although having head scalation possessed by other members of the genus (prominent prefrontals and straplike interparietals). These specimens give additional support for regarding Scolecosaurus syn- onymous with Bachia; they are different from other members of the genus and represent an undescribed species.

It is remotely conceivable that these specimens in reality pertain to Bachia cuvieri, the type specimen of which has apparently been lost (Barbour, 1933) and for which there is apparently no adequate description based on the type. However, the specimens in question do differ strongly in characteristics common to those species long considered to belong to Scolecosaurus. In my study of West Indian forms (Thomas, in press) I have followed Barbour's (1933) concept of cuvieri (on the assumption that there must be some reason, e.g., an unrecorded examination of the type by some worker of years past for associating the name cuvieri with that particular kind of four-toed microteiid) but have considered the name best held in abeyance until evidence, for either its application to some group of lizards or its rejection, is obtained.

The new species may be known as Bachia panoplia, new species

Type specimen.-AMNH 64877, an adult female from Manaus, Amazonas Province, Brasil, collected by E. Thomas Gilliard in 1943.

Paratypes.-AMNH 64872-76, same data as type. Diagnosis.-Bachia panoplia differs from all other members of

the genus except cuvieri and alleni in the possession of enlarged pre- frontals which meet at the midline and prevent frontal-internasal contact. It differs from cuvieri and alleni in that the ventral scales are hexagonal and imbricate rather than quadrangular and nonim- bricate.

Descripftion of type.-Rostral 2.5 times broader than high. Six upper labials on each side; first upper labial strongly indented by nostril which lies between it and nasal; second higher than broad; third elongate, extending to mid-eye; fourth elongate, shorter; fifth large and pentagonal; sixth elongate and oval. Internasal pentago-

18

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1965 A NEWV SPECIES OF BACHIA 19

A C FrG. 1.-Type specimen of Bachia panoplia (AMNH 64877). A, ventral

view of head and pectoral region; B, dorsal view of head; C, lateral view of right front limb.

nal, bordered posteriorly by prefrontals which meet one another medially in a suture and border on the nasals, loreals, first and sec- ond supraoculars laterally, and posteriorly border on the frontal. Three supraciliaries (two elongate, one short); two infraciliaries (an- terior very elongate, posterior short). Three supraoculars, first and smallest quadrilateral; second and largest trapezoidal (with truncate posteromedial corner); third roughly in shape of equilateral triangle. There are two large parietals between which lies an elongate, strap- like interparietal that sutures with the frontal and terminates on a level with the posterior ends of the parietals; five temporals on each side. Mental trapezoidal; six lower labials present. Five large platelike chin shields bordered posteriorly by smaller scales that fill in to the cervical sulcus. Tympanum absent, but circular depression covered by small scales present shortly posterior to angle of jaw.

Fifty transverse rows of dorsal scales from nape (first scale row behind parietals) to row on level with hind limbs. Body scales nar- row, elongate (except for those on neck) and imbricate completely around body; dorsal and lateral scales acuminate and hexagonal be- coming slightly rounder anteriorly as they continue across ventral surface; dorsalmost scales possess long, rounded keels that become progressively less prominent on the sides and venter (anterior ventrals

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20 HERPETOLOGICA Vol. 21, No. 1

not keeled). Scales around midbody 46; transverse rows of ventrals 38 from pectorals to anal shield. Gular scales squarish and in shin- glelike imbrication. Six pectoral scales between front limbs longer than adjacent ventrals and gulars. Six elongate scales form anal shield; last row of ventrals with slight medial extension onto anal shield. Posterior margin of vent bordered by small squarish scales. Scales on tail much the same as those of body except that keels are sharp-edged, and keeled acuminate scales continue across ventral surface; tip of tail missing. Limbs diminutive (left front limb incom- plete due to trauma). Both front and hind limbs laterally compressed and lie easily (almost recessed) alongside the body. Lateral surface of limbs covered by relatively few large scales, medial surface by smaller, more numerous scales. Four digits on front limb barely distinct from carpus but each bears a nail. Four digits on hind limb barely distinct from tarsus, first being a mere nub; each bears a nail.

Coloration.-Dorsal ground color of head tan; a large lobate dorsal cephalic figure from interocular area onto parietals. Cephalic figure apparently continuous with dark brown, dark-edged mid- dorsal zone which extends the length of body and tail. A dark brown stripe from lores through eye and onto side of head and body where it widens into a lateral stripe, separated from middorsal stripe by a light (tan) dorsolateral stripe which continues the length of body and onto tail. Venter yellowish and abruptly distinct from brown lateral coloration; underside of tail with scattered dark pigmentation, generally massed near junctures of verticils.

Variation.-Details of scalation of paratypes much the same as that of type. Scales from nape to base of tail vary from 48 to 50. Ventral scales 36 to 38; scales around midbody 43 to 47. The one specimen which can definitely be said to be a male (AMNH 64872) possesses one anal pore on each side, slightly medial to the anterior aspect of the hind limb insertion. The one specimen with an entire (though fragmented) tail measures 71 mm. snout-vent with a tail length of 146 mm. Snout-vent lengths of the four measurable speci- mens vary from 57 to 76 mm.; head lengths for all specimens vary from 7.4 to 8.9 mm. Limbs are much the same for the paratypes as those of the type; all possess four clawed digits on each limb (except for one with a mutilated forelimb). In specimens somewhat less desiccated than the type, the digits, especially those of the hind limbs, are even less distinct.

The color pattern of all specimens is the same as that of the type, except for being bolder and more distinct. An aspect of the pattern not so noticeable in the type is the dark borders of the dorsal and lateral dark zones; these borders are composed of a series of short, oblique elements, one to each annulus, thereby giving a serrate effect.

Comparisons.-Bachia panoplia differs from all other members of

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1965 A NEW SPECIES OF BACHIA 21

the genus with the exception of those formerly in the genus Scoleco- saurus (cuvieri, alleni) in the possession of enlarged prefrontals which meet at the midline and prevent frontal-internasal contact. B. pallidiceps (also a former Scolecosaurus) it should be noted, possesses prefrontals which do not meet at the midline (also a char- acteristic of most B. alleni trinitatis, although reduction of prefron- tals is less extreme). B. heteropus and scolecoides also have small scales which are probably equivalent to reduced prefrontals (Van- zolini, 1961; Beebe, 1945, fig. 6). In possessing three supraoculars, panoplia agrees only with cuvieri and alleni (configuration is very similar to the latter, at least) and tridactylus. Panoplia differs from all except cuvieri, alleni, and scolecoides in having four digits on each limb. The digits in alleni and presumably cuvieri are rather distinct from the members and bear prominent claws, whereas pano- plia and scolecoides (Vanzolini, 19,61) agree in having poorly dis- tinct digits and claws. Panoplia possesses hexagonal, imbricate ven- tral scales in contrast to the quadrangular, nonimbricate ventrals of cuvieri, alleni, and pallidiceps, species with which it agrees in some other points. In number of scale rows around midbody, panoplia is apparently much higher (43-47) than other members of the genus; data are lacking for lineata and talpa, but of the other 17 members only scolecoides approaches this count with a high of 40 for 15 speci- mens (Vanzolini, 1961).

Data for other species of Bachia besides cutvieri, alleni, and pal- lidiceps were taken from the literature (Boulenger, 1885, 1887; Burt and Burt, 1931; Brongersma, 1946; Amaral, 1935; Beebe, 1945; Van- zolini, 1961) and are presented in tabular fonrm (Table 1). For the other species the data were obtained from my examination of 45 B. a. alleni, 37 B. a. trinitatis, and 2 B. pallidiceps. B. pallidiceps and B. hetero pus agree closely in several characters: numbers of digits, quadrangular ventrals, presence of interparietals, and hexagonal dorsals. Burt and Burt (1931), by including heteropus in the dor- bignyi group, imply a lack of supraoculars (op. cit., p. 321); there are three supraoculars, if the lizard figured by Beebe (1945, fig. 6) is truly a heteropus (pallidiceps possesses two supraoculars). Bear- ing in mind the difference of only subspecific level occurring between B. a. alleni and B. a. trinitatis (Thomas, in press) with respect to the prefrontals (contact versus lack of contact), it is possi- ble that Boulenger (1887) was correct in regarding pallidiceps as synonymous with heteropus; the difference between the two may be at a racial level. The difference in number of supraoculars would seem to imply a specific difference, but in view of the other similar- ities between the two, this may not prove to be so.

For loan of the specimens which have been described as Bachia panoplia I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. Charles M. Bogert and Miss Margaret Bullitt of the American Museum of Natural His-

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22 HERPETOLOGICA Vol. 21, No. 1

TABLE 1.-Characteristics of the species of the genus Bachia. Digits are indicated front/rear; asterisk indicates clawlessness; or in the case of pre- frontals, reduced scales; zero, lack of digits; dash, lack of limb. Data are principally taken from the literature. Column headings for table: A digits, B supraoculars, C interparietals, D prefrontals, E quadrangular dorsals, F hex- agonal dorsals, G quadrangular ventrals, H hexagonal ventrals, I midbody rows.

A B C D E F G H I

cuvieri 4/4 3 + + - + + - ? alleni 4/4 3 + + - + + - 27-32 pallidiceps 4/3 2 + + - + + - 23-24 panoplia 4/4 3 + + - + - + 43-47 scolecoides 4/4 2 + +' - + - + 36-40 bresslaui 0/0 2 + - - + - + 35 anomala 4/2 2 ? - - + ? ? 26 cophias 3,4*/0 2 - - + - + - 24-30 parkeri 3/0 1 - - + - ? ? 26-28 boettgeri 3/2 2 + - + - ? ? 30 schlegeli 3/2 2 + - + - ? ? 34 tridactylus 3/3 3 + - + - ? ? 26 lineata ? 2 + - + - ? ? ? heteropus 4/3 2 + + - + + - 28 bicolor 4/1,2* - - - - + ? ? 27-32 talpa 3/0 - - - - + ? ? ? barbouri 2/- - - - - + - + 28-30 intermedia 3/2 - - - - + ? ? 30-35 peruana 3/0 - - - - + + - 24-26 dorbignyi 3/0 - - - - + + - 24-27

tory (AMNH). In addition, I wish to thank Dr. Ernest E. Williams and Mr. Dennis R. Paulson for their aid in obtaining pertinent liter- ature and Dr. Albert Schwartz for his support of my study of the small teiids.

LITERATURE CITED

AMARAL, AFRANIO DO. 1935. Estudos sobre lacertilios neotropicos II. Novo genero e especie de lagarto do Brasil. Mem. Inst. Butantan., 9:249-250.

BARBOUR, THOAMAS. 1933. Notes on Scolecosaurus. Copeia, 1933 (2) :74-77. BEEBE, WILLIAM. 1945. Field notes on the lizards of Kartabo, British Guiana,

and Caripito, Venezuela. Part 3. Teiidae, Amphisbaenidae and Scincidae. Zoologica, 30(2) :7-32.

BOULENGER, GEORGE ALBERT. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). London, Vol. 2, xiii + 497 pp.

1887. (Same title.) Vol. 3, xii + 575. BRONGERSMA, L. D. 1946. Some notes on species of the genera Bachia and

teiids Sco,lecosaurus. Zool. Meded. Leiden, 26:237-245. BURT, CHARLES E., AND MAY D. BURT. 1931. South American lizards in the

collection of the American Museum of Natural History. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 61(7) :227-395.

THOMAS, RICHARD. 1965. The smaller teiids (Gymnophthalmus and Bachia) of the southeastern Caribbean. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington (in press).

VANZOLINI, P. E. 1961. Bachia: especies brasileiras e conceito generico (Sauria, Teiidae). Papeis Avulsos Dep. Zool. Sao Paulo, 14(22):193-209.

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