Sceloporus madrensis, commonly known as the lesser torquate lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It was described by Olson in 1986.
Taxonomy and Classification
The species belongs to the genus Sceloporus (spiny lizards) within the family Phrynosomatidae. It is part of the Sceloporus torquatus species complex. Some taxonomic authorities, including the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), treat it as a subspecies under the name Sceloporus torquatus madrensis.
Description and Distribution
Sceloporus madrensis is endemic to Mexico. Its common name is the lesser torquate lizard.
Recent Research
A 2023–2024 multilocus phylogenetic study of the Sceloporus torquatus complex resolved topological conflicts related to a clade belonging to disjunct southern populations of S. madrensis. The study confirmed that these southern populations, located in the Sierra Madre Oriental approximately 175 kilometers south of the nominal populations, are distinct. The southern clade was described as a new species, increasing the number of recognized species in the S. torquatus complex to seven.
References
- Sceloporus madrensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 November 2021.
- Campillo-García, G., Flores-Villela, O.A., Oliver Butler, B., Benabib, M., & Castiglia, R. (2024). "More cryptic diversity among spiny lizards of the Sceloporus torquatus complex discovered through a multilocus approach." Amphibia-Reptilia, 45(1), 21–35.
