Thermal physiology of Amazonian lizards (Reptilia: Squamata).

We summarize thermal-biology data of 69 species of Amazonian lizards, including mode of thermoregulation and field-active body temperatures (Tb). We also provide new data on preferred temperatures (Tpref), voluntary and thermal-tolerance ranges, and thermal-performance curves (TPC's) for 27 species from nine sites in the Brazilian Amazonia. We tested for phylogenetic signal and pairwise correlations among thermal traits. We found that species generally categorized as thermoregulators have the highest mean values for all thermal traits, and broader ranges for Tb, critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and optimal (Topt) temperatures. Species generally categorized as thermoconformers have large ranges for Tpref, critical thermal minimum (CTmin), and minimum voluntary (VTmin) temperatures for performance. Despite these differences, our results show that all thermal characteristics overlap between both groups and suggest that Amazonian lizards do not fit into discrete thermoregulatory categories. The traits are all correlated, with the exceptions of (1) Topt, which does not correlate with CTmax, and (2) CTmin, and correlates only with Topt. Weak phylogenetic signals for Tb, Tpref and VTmin indicate that these characters may be shaped by local environmental conditions and influenced by phylogeny. We found that open-habitat species perform well under present environmental conditions, without experiencing detectable thermal stress from high environmental temperatures induced in lab experiments. For forest-dwelling lizards, we expect warming trends in Amazonia to induce thermal stress, as temperatures surpass the thermal tolerances for these species.

Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron 1836) (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), an introduced lizard new for Brazil, with remarks on and correction of its distribution in the New World.

Recently seven specimens of the gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris were collected or observed in Belém, Pará, northern Brazil. This is the first vouchered occurrence in Brazil of a widely dispersed (Pacific area) and invasive species (much of the Pacific, parts of northern South America and southern Central America and Florida, U.S.A.). In Suriname the species has already spread into the interior. The distribution of the species is corrected and the history of its introduction in the New World is reconstructed, with an estimation of the state of invasiveness for each country. Some possible routes of introduction are discussed.

The genus Cnemidophorus (Squamata: Teiidae) in State of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, with description of a new species.

The state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, is covered mainly by 'cerrado' (33% of the total area of the state) and 'caatinga' (37%) vegetations, with another 19% occupied by ecotonal zones. Piauí lies within the known distribution of the Cnemidophorus ocellifer species group, currently composed of ten species. Until recently only C. ocellifer (Spix, 1825), a name recognized to cover several species, was recorded from Piauí. Currently two other species are registered from Piauí: C. confusionibus Arias, Carvalho, Rodrigues and Zaher 2011 and C. venetacaudus Arias, Carvalho, Rodrigues and Zaher 2011. We analyzed the external and hemipenial morphology of specimens from different localities in the state and our results indicate the presence of at least four species: C.cf. ocellifer, C. confusionibus, C. venetacaudus and C. pyrrhogularis sp. nov. Hemipenial analysis corroborates the existence of two subgroups within C. ocellifer species group. Cnemidophorus pyrrhogularis sp. nov., a member of the ocellifer subgroup, occurs in the northern part of Piauí, in ecotonal areas, and differs from the remaining species of the genus mainly on hemipenial morphology, number of femoral pores, number the lamellae under fourth finger and fourth toe, and color pattern. Diagnoses and hemipenis description of the four taxa are presented, as well as a detailed description of the new species.