title: A new lizard species of the Phymaturus patagonicus group (Squamata: Liolaemini) from northern Patagonia, Neuquén, Argentina.
abstract: The integrative taxonomy framework allows developing robust hypotheses of species limits based on the integration of results from different data sets and analytical methods. In this work, we test a candidate species hypothesis previously suggested based on molecular data, with geometric and traditional morphometrics analyses (multivariate and univariate). This new lizard species is part of the Phymaturus patagonicus group (payuniae clade) that is distributed in Neuquén and Mendoza provinces (Argentina). Our results showed that Phymaturus rahuensis sp. nov. differs from the other species of the payuniae clade by a higher number of midbody scales, and fewer supralabials scales, finger lamellae and toe lamellae. Also, its multidimensional spaces, both based on continuous lineal variables and geometric morphometrics (shape) characters, do not overlap with those of the other species in this clade. The results of the morphometric and geometric morphometric analyses presented here, coupled with previously published molecular data, represent three independent lines of evidence that support the diagnosis of this new taxon.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.; Email: gmarin@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Andrea González
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.; Email: chfperez@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Cristian Hernán Fulvio
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.; Email: minoli@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Minoli
authors.affiliation: Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.; Email: morando@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morando
authors.affiliation: Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IPEEC-CONICET), Boulevard Almirante Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.; Email: avila@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar.
authors.forename: Luciano Javier
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Avila
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D049628:Body Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size