A new genus and species of eyelid-less and limb reduced gymnophthalmid lizard from northeastern Brazil (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae)

Abstract

Scriptosaura catimbau, a new genus and species of elongate, fossorial, sand swimming eyelid-less gymnophthalmid lizard is described on the basis of specimens obtained at Fazenda Porto Seguro, municipality of Buíque, State of Pernambuco, in the Caatingas of northeastern Brazil. The type locality is entirely included within the area of the recently created Parque Nacional do Catimbau. The new lizard lacks external forelimbs, has rudimentary styliform hindlimbs and is further characterized by the absence of prefrontal, frontal, frontoparietal and supraocular scales, and by having one pair of chin shields. A member of the Gymnophthalmini radiation, the new genus is considered to be sister to Calyptommatus from which it differs externally by the absence of an ocular scale and absence of an enlarged temporal scale.

Digit evolution in gymnophthalmid lizards

“…Limb reduction reaches extreme cases in two gymnoph-thalmid lineages: the gymnophthalmini, with Nothobachia and Calyptommatus (and possibly Scriptosaura; Rodrigues and dos Santos, 2008), and the Bachiini ( Figure 5 ).…”

“…Major limb reductions are seen in two other gymnoph-thalmid groups: the Gymnophthalmini, with Nothobachia, Calyptommatus , and Scriptosaura (Rodrigues and dos Santos, 2008), and the genus Bachia . In such severe cases of limb reduction, especially regarding losses of multiple digits and of other elements to an almost limblessness state, the remaining skeletal elements (if any) are vestigial and frequently show some kind of loss of anatomical information.…”

Are Hemipenial Spines Related to Limb Reduction? A Spiny Discussion Focused on Gymnophthalmid Lizards (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae)

“…Conversely, in the monotypic taxon Rachisaurus brachylepis (Rachisaurinae) as well as in all the representatives of the limb-reduced genus Bachia (Cercosaurinae: Bachiini; 12 species examined) present very poorly ornamented hemipenes, lacking spines, spicules, and any vestiges of calcified structures (Figs. 2, 3), [see also Presch (1978), Rodrigues et al (2008), and Teixeira Jr. The tribe Gymnophthalmini (subfamily Gymnophthalminae; Pellegrino et al, 2001;Castoe et al, 2004;Rodrigues and Dos Santos, 2008) includes genera with variable degrees of limb reduction.…”

“…2, 3), [see also Presch (1978), Rodrigues et al (2008), and Teixeira Jr. The tribe Gymnophthalmini (subfamily Gymnophthalminae; Pellegrino et al, 2001;Castoe et al, 2004;Rodrigues and Dos Santos, 2008) includes genera with variable degrees of limb reduction. The fossorial and remarkably limb-reduced taxa Calyptommatus, Nothobachia, and Scriptosaura, have enlarged and hook-shaped calcified hemipenial spines (Figs.…”

Evolução da fossorialidade nos lagartos da tribo Gymnophthalmini (Gymnophthalmidae, Squamata).

“…A presente tese foi realizada sobre um conjunto de 10 espécies de lagartos da família Gymnopthalmidae, uma família praticamente desconhecida em termos ecofisiológicos . As espécies estudadas representam a quase totalidade das espécies do clado Gymnophthalmini Rodrigues e Santos, 2008). A pequena área de distribuição, especialmente das espécies com morfotipo fossorial, faz mais fácil de captar a variação geográfica nos parâmetros fenotípicos destas espécies e que potenciais diferenças fenotípicas (ex.…”