A large sample of Leposoma (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) from the atlantic forests of Bahia, the status of Leposoma annectans Ruibal, 1952, and notes on conservation

Abstract

Leposoma annectans Ruibal, 1952 is resurrected from synonymy with Leposoma scincoides (Spix, 1825). Both were obtained syntopically, along with new specimens of Leposoma nanodactylus, from remaining Atlantic forests of the State of Bahia. Leposoma annectans differs from Leposoma scincoides by having a posteriorly enlarged interparietal with slightly concave and divergent lateral margins; parietals as long as large and shorter than interparietal; by the presence of a small scale separating third pair of chinshiels from infralabials; by presenting a large and almost squarish third supraocular; by the presence of sharp striations in the ventral part of head; and, by its shorter body size and relative tail length. Additionally it differs from L. scincoides by having a lower number of dorsal and ventral scales, fewer scales around body, fewer fourth finger and toe infradigital lamellae and, a lower total number of pores. The highly skewed sex-ratio towards males in large samples of Leposoma annectans and L. scincoides suggests that a temperature sex determination mechanism (TSD) could be the mode of sex determination in these species. Populations of reptiles with TSD mechanisms may be more prone to extinction due to skewed sex ratios caused by increased temperatures in disturbed tropical forests.