Naming the diversity: taxonomy of current species of Patagonian lizards

Abstract

The diversity of the Patagonian lizard fauna is a combination of lowdiversity at higher levels, e.g., families, some of them almost marginal to the region,coupled with very high species diversity concentrated in two genera Liolaemus andPhymaturus, and a high number of endemics. The number of described speciesalmost tripled since Cei?s last and only monograph on Patagonian herpetofauna in1987. But changes were not limited to species numbers; taxonomy changed as studiesof this fauna improved with the use of modern taxonomic techniques and dedicatedfield surveys made to some previously unknown areas. The purpose of thischapter is to provide a taxonomic summary of Patagonian lizards. We include anumber of plates with pictures of poorly known and/or endemic Patagonian speciesprobably never included in any book or publication.