Euspondylus

Abstract: The evolutionary relationships of 28 genera of microteiid lizards were examined. Osteological and myological characters described here and taken from the literature were used to form a data set. Hennig's methodology was employed to analyze the relationships of 20 genera for which complete character data were available. The most parsimonious tree techniques for Prim, Wiss and Wagner algorithms were generated. Six groups of genera were recognized: 1) Alopoglossus, Prionodactylus, Proctoporus (=Opipeuter) and Ptychoglossus; 2) Euspondylus and Pholidobolus; 3) Anadia, Ecpleopus and Placosoma; 4) Arthrosaura, Cercosaura, Echinosaura, Leposoma and Neusticurus; 5) Pantodactylus; 6) Bachia, Gymnophthalmus, Heterodactylus, Iphisa and Tretioscincus. Seven genera that lack complete data sets were tentatively assigned to these groups. Anotosaura was placed with BachiaHeterodactylus. Riolama was placed in group 1. Colobosaura and Colobodactylus were placed with the skink-like genera (6) as were Amapasaura, Micrablepharus and Stenolepis. Teuchocercus was assigned to group 4. The distributional patterns of the microteiids are examined in light of the geologic history of the South American continent. Four major areas of association are postulated with recurrent dispersal into available habitat.

Abstract: The concept of the microteiid genus Anadia Gray, 1845, has been expanded to include Argalia marmorata Gray, 1846 and one species - brevifrontalis - heretofore referred to Euspondylus. Both newly referred forms are close to species that have always been placed in Anadia. Eleven species - one new - are recognized in five species groups: (1) the ocellata group including ocellata Gray, vittata Boulenger, rhombifera (Gunther) and petersi, new species; (2) the bogotensis group with only bogotensis (Peters); (3) the steyeri group with only steyeri Nieden; (4) the bitaeniata group including bitaeniata Boulenger, brevifrontalis (Boulenger) and pulchella Ruthven; and (5) the marmorata group with marmorata Gray and blakei Schmidt

Abstract: We describe two new species of Proctoporus and a new species of Euspondylus (all from central Peru, Departamento de Huanuco, 2545 to 3010 m elevation). The new species are distinguished from all species presently assigned to Proctoporus and Euspondylus by unique characteristics of pholidosis, morphometrics, and color pattern. A key to the Peruvian species of Proctoporus and Euspondylus is provided. The current allocation of species to Proctoporus and Euspondylus may not reflect the phylogenetic relationships of the species under consideration. Based on the available data there appears to be no evidence to justify the separation of these genera. However, because of nomenclatural problems that would arise from synonymizing the two genera (e.g., producing a secondary homonymy in the case of Proctoporus guentheri Boettger and Ecpleopus guentheri O'Shaughnessy), we chose to retain the two genera until phylogenetic information is available.