A new and very spiny lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: <i>Echinosaura</i> ) from the Andes in northwestern Ecuador

Resumen

We describe a new species of Neotropical spiny-lizard of the genus <i>Echinosaura</i> from the Imbabura and Carchi Provinces on the western slopes of the Andes in northwestern Ecuador. The new species mostly resembles <i>E. horrida</i>. However, it can be distinguished from all congeners by having keeled enlarged dorsal scales forming a paired vertebral row, two paravertebral series of short oblique rows of projecting scales, and a pair of spine-like scales on temporal and nuchal regions. We also provide a detailed description of the osteology of the skull and pectoral girdle of the new species and present a phylogenetic hypothesis for <i>Echinosaura</i> based on three mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, ND4) and one nuclear gene (c-mos).