Liolaemus aureum, a new andean species from Southern Chile

Abstract

In South America the genus Liolaemus
is widely distributed and is one of the genera with greater species richness in Iguania, increasing the
number of species year after year. In this genus has been recorded a wide variability of morphological
features, like the absence of precloacal pores. In this study, we described a new species for science which
belongs to Liolaemus chiliensis clade, Liolaemus aureum sp. nov. This reptile inhabits the Andean Range,
specifically in the northwestern slope of the Copahue Volcano. It differs from the other species mainly
by its morphology and squamation; due to the absence of a dorsal coloration pattern, presence of a bright
yellow color in the lower flanks and the absence of cloacal and precloacal pores in males and females.