A new genus and species of arboreal lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: Cercosaurinae) from the eastern Andes of Peru

We describe a new arboreal genus and species of the family Gymnophthalmidae, subfamily Cercosaurinae, from Peru on the basis of genetic and morphological characters. Dendrosauridion gen. n. can be distinguished morphologically from all other genera of Cercosaurinae by having the lower palpebral disc transparent and undivided, dorsal scales smooth, lateral scales distinctly smaller than dorsal scales, and lateral scales adjacent to ventrals non-granular, not forming a distinct longitudinal line along body axis. Phenotypic synapomorphies are not known for the new genus. In a previously published phylogeny, Dendrosauridion gen. n. was identified as a distinct clade separated from all other cercosaurines. The monotypic genus contains Dendrosauridion yanesha sp. n., which is known from two localities in montane forests of the eastern Andes in central (Region Pasco) and southern Peru (Region Cusco) from 2780 to 2825 m a.s.l. with a distributional gap of 413 km in between. The two adult males (SVL 59.1–60.2 mm) and one juvenile were found in trees. The secretive habits of D. yanesha sp. n. are likely the reason for its rarity and we propose the threat status of the new species as “Data Deficient.”

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