Added 2 February 2025.
Aurivela are two species formerly assigned to the New World genus Cnemidophorus. They are both found in Argentina.
Harvey et al give the characteristics of the genus as follows: Aurivela is the only teiid genus with a subtriangular auricular flap partially covering the external auditory meatus, 2–3 suboculars, the first and second chinshields in medial contact, a single subtriangular preanal plate larger than the scale in front of it, and a single row of 3–4 poorly developed tibiotarsal spurs consisting of large triangular scales with raised and pointed distal ends. Small lizards reaching 62 mm SVL; tail about 2.6X as long as body; posterior maxillary and dentary teeth longitudinally compressed, tricuspid; pupil reniform. Prefrontal in contact with nasal, separated from first supraciliary; frontal entire, lacking longitudinal ridge, its posterior suture contacting third supraocular; scales of frontoparietal region smooth, outwardly convex to flat (key-hole shaped depression absent); frontoparietals paired; parietals consisting of three regular scales; interparietal entire, smaller than flanking parietals; medial pair of enlarged occipitals absent; occipitals 10–14, usually larger than first row of dorsals; supratemporals slightly to moderately enlarged, separated from parietals by one or more scales. Both species are found in the Monte Desert region of Argentina, an arid region.
The general strictures about whiptails in general (highly nervous, very fast) no doubt apply to these two species.
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A. longicauda, Longtail Whiptail |
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Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
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Aurivela |
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Longtail Whiptail |
N Argentina |
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Scalation details: occipitals 10; lateral supraocular granules 28; suboculars 2; circumorbitals 25; supraciliaries 12, of which 1st supraciliary is long; supralabials 14; infralabials 14; anterior gulars 15; posterior gulars 14; transverse ventral rows 32; longitudinal ventral rows 10; preanals 4; lamellae under 4th finger 17; lamellae under 4th toe 30. Coloration: snout same color as dorsal head scales. In juveniles, light vertebral and paravertebral stripes are solid and straight; dark dorsolateral field solid; dorsolateral light stripe solid and extending to tail; dark lateral field solid; in juveniles, upper lateral light stripes solid and extending to groin; lower lateral light stripe absent; thigh and flanks lacking light spots. In adult males, turquoise ventrolateral spots absent; venter immaculate, lacking melanic areas; juvenile dorsal color pattern present in adult males with only slight modification. [SOURCE: Harvey et al] |
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W Argentina |
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Scalation details: occipitals 12-14; lateral supraocular granules 29-42; suboculars 3; circumorbitals 18-25; supraciliaries 14-19, subequal; supralabials 12-14; infralabials 12-16; anterior gulars 18-28; posterior gulars 11-16; transverse ventral rows 30-35; longitudinal ventral rows 10; preanals 4; lamellae under 4th finger 16-19; lamellae under 4th toe 28-31. Coloration: snout same color as dorsal head scales. In juveniles, light vertebral and paravertebral stripes are absent; dark dorsolateral field solid; dorsolateral light stripe solid and extending to tail; dark lateral field solid; in juveniles, upper lateral light stripes solid and extending to groin; lower lateral light stripe absent; thigh and flanks lacking light spots. In adult males, turquoise ventrolateral spots absent; venter immaculate, lacking melanic areas; juvenile dorsal color pattern present in adult males with only slight modification. [SOURCE: Harvey et al] |
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