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Type: Article
Published: 2009-01-27
Page range: 61–68
Abstract views: 38
PDF downloaded: 2

New species of Phrynocephalus (Squamata, Agamidae) from Qinghai, Northwest China

Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, China Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Sciences and Technology, School of Life Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, China
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing
Reptilia Phrynocephalus guinanensis sp. nov. Agamidae Northwest China new species morphological description

Abstract

A new viviparous species of Phrynocephalus from Guinan, Qinghai, China, is described. Phrynocephalus guinanensis sp. nov., differs from all congeners in the following combination of characters: body large and relatively robust; dorsal ground color of head, neck, trunk, limbs and tail brown with weak light brown mottling; lateral ground color of head, neck, trunk and tail light black with weak white-gray mottling in adult males, and green with weak white-gray mottling in adult females; ventral ground color of tail white-gray to black in the distal part of the tail in adult males, and totally white-gray in adult females; ventral surfaces of hind-limbs white-gray; ventral surfaces of fore-limbs brick-red in adult males, and white-gray in adult females; ventral ground color of trunk and head black in the center but, in the periphery, brick-red in adult males and white-gray in adult females. Phrynocephalus guinanensis sp. nov. typically uses desert habitats, whereas P. vlangalii, a species closely related to the new form, uses a variety of arid and semi-arid habitats. It is the nineteenth species of Phrynocephalus recorded from China.

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