NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORDS OF Colobosaura modesta AND Micrablepharus maximiliani (REPTILIA: GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE) IN PARAGUAY

Diego Bueno Villafañe; Ágatha Bóveda; Estefanía Valiente; Gretta Schaerer; Cristhian Baez; Oscar Feltes-González; Jimmy Emhart Vuletich; Rebeca Irala Melgarejo; Nicolás Cantero; Alberto Yanosky; Lidia Pérez de Molas

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2022.4.545

Authors

Diego Bueno Villafañe Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay
Ágatha Bóveda independent researcher
Estefanía Valiente National University of Asunción (UNA), Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences (FACEN), San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Gretta Schaerer independent researcher
Cristhian Baez Fauna and Life, Cruz Roja Paraguaya 1340, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Oscar Feltes-González National Museum of Natural History of Paraguay, Branch 1, Ruta Mcal. Estigarribia, Km 11.5, University Campus, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Jimmy Emhart Vuletich Fauna and Life, Cruz Roja Paraguaya 1340, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Rebeca Irala Melgarejo independent researcher
Nicolás Cantero Fauna and Life, Cruz Roja Paraguaya 1340, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.
Alberto Yanosky EIISA - Autonomous University of Encarnación (UNAE), Itapúa, Paraguay
Lidia Pérez de Molas National University of Asunción (UNA), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FCA), San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2022.4.545

Keywords:

zoogeographic novelty, reptiles, South America, ecological affinities, gymnophtalmid

Abstract

Gymnophthalmidae is a highly diverse family of small to medium sized South American lizards. In Paraguay, seven species are currently known. Among these, Colobosaura modesta and Micrablepharus maximiliani are two poorly sampled species in the country: C. modesta was only recorded in two localities in Amambay and San Pedro Departments, whilst M. maximiliani was recorded in Central, Cordillera, Paraguarí and San Pedro Departments. During two field surveys in 2022 we captured one C. modesta and three M. maximiliani individuals. The C. modesta record is 134.7 km west from the nearest known locality, and it is the third confirmed locality in the country, the first in the Concepción Department and the first associated with the Humid Chaco. The M. maximiliani records are 81, 131 and 137 km north from the nearest known locality and are the first records from Concepción and Amambay Departments. We provide habitat characterization for where the lizards were found and discuss their conservation status in Paraguay.