The Amphibians and Reptiles of Sinaloa, Mexico - Smithsonian ...

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF SINALOA, MEXICO 115
general application of these characters to anoles from Sinaloa resulted
in allocation of these lizards to A. nebulosus. The characters
used were: dorsal scales slightly smaller than ventral scales; throat
fan bright orange in adult males. The smoothness and low keeling
of snout scales is variable in the Sinaloan lizards.
The color of the dewlap is probably the most significant character
in Anolis systematics, especially for distinguishing between A. nebulosus
and A. nebuloides. Fifty-seven specimens of Anolis from
Sinaloa were examined; the dewlap color for 14 males was orange
in life. Lewis and Johnson (1956:278) reported seven Anolis from
Marmol, Sinaloa with "large, red" dewlaps. Taylor (1938:518)
described three specimens from southern Sinaloa as having dewlaps
"grayish or with a pinkish tinge." Zweifel and Norris (1955:233)
listed Anolis with pale pink gular pouch areas from southern Sonora.
In Sinaloa it has been noted that the orange dewlap of living
Anolis nebulosus turns reddish or pinkish after the animals have
been preserved. This color change may account for some of the
reports of lizards with red or pink dewlaps from the state. If,
however, there is an anole with a red dewlap in Sinaloa, it seems
probable to us that this lizard would represent a species distinct
from Anolis nebulosus. All specimens examined during this study
had, in life, an orange dewlap and are here referred to Anolis
nebulosus.
Variation in dorsal color pattern is most evident in the females,
which usually have a light middorsal stripe with straight, irregular
or serrate edges. Some females have a brown middorsal stripe,
heavily serrate, bordered with tan.
This lizard is much more obvious in the forest during the dry
season than during the rainy season. Most specimens were collected
in the lower levels of the forest, usually on limbs of low trees and
shrubs. Several individuals were found at night asleep at the tip
of branches or on tall grass.
Distribution in Sinaloa.—Known from most of the state except
the dry northern lowlands. See Fig. 41.
Specimens examined.—E base Cerro Pocitos, 17.5 mi. W Pericos June. {UAZ
4378-81); 16 km. NNE Choix, 520 m. {* KU 73670-71); 1 km. S Concepcidn,
76 m. (*KU 63677); 5.5 mi. NE Concordia (LACM 6573); 6 km. E Cosala.
460 m. ("KU 73672-73); N Culiacan (CSCLB 2035); 19 km. N Culiacan
(•KU 40437); 14 mi. N Culiacan (CSCLB 2038); 36.8 mi. N Culiacan
(CSCLB 2031-32); 46 mi. S. Culiacan (CSCLB 2040); Escuinapa (UCLA
14843); La Cruz (LACM 6572); Mazatlan (LACM 6579); 5 km. NNW
Mazatlan (*KU 29537); 8 km. NNW Mazatlan ('KU 63375-76); 3 mi. S
Palmillas (LACM 25691); 5 km. SW ElPalmito (Durango), 1850 m. (*KU