Integrative taxonomy and preliminary assessment of species limits in the Liolaemus walkeri complex (Squamata, Liolaemidae) with descriptions of three new species from Peru.
Species delimitation studies based on integrative taxonomic approaches have received considerable attention in the last few years, and have provided the strongest hypotheses of species boundaries. We used three lines of evidence (molecular, morphological, and niche envelopes) to test for species boundaries in Peruvian populations of the Liolaemus walkeri complex. Our results show that different lines of evidence and analyses are congruent in different combinations, for unambiguous delimitation of three lineages that were "hidden" within known species, and now deserve species status. Our phylogenetic analysis shows that L. walkeri, L. tacnae and the three new species are strongly separated from other species assigned to the alticolor-bibronii group. Few conventional morphological characters distinguish the new species from closely related taxa and this highlights the need to integrate other sources of data to erect strong hypothesis of species limits. A taxonomic key for known Peruvian species of the subgenus Lioalemus is provided.
Department of Biology and Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT 84602, USA ; Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru ; Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas Antonio Raimondi, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
César
C
Aguilar
Department of Biology and Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Perry L
PL
Wood
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Juan C
JC
Cusi
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Alfredo
A
Guzmán
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Frank
F
Huari
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Mikael
M
Lundberg
Department of Biology and Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Emma
E
Mortensen
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
César
C
Ramírez
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Daniel
D
Robles
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Juana
J
Suárez
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos (MUSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María, Lima, Peru.
Andres
A
Ticona
Asociación Pro Fauna Silvestre, Urb. Mariscal Cáceres Mz. L - Lt. 48, Huamanga, Ayacucho, Peru.
Víctor J
VJ
Vargas
División de Herpetología-Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Santa Rita N˚105 Of. 202, Urb. Huertos de San Antonio, Surco, Lima, Peru.
Pablo J
PJ
Venegas
Department of Biology and Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University (BYU), Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Jack W
JW
Sites
Liolaemus walkeri complex; integrative taxonomy; new species; viviparity