New publication on Monkey Lizards

Recently, several colleagues and I published a new taxonomic paper entitled “Cryptic multicolored lizards in the Polychrus marmoratus Group (Squamata: Sauria: Polychrotidae) and the status of Leiolepis auduboni Hallowell) in the journal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. This paper re-validates an old name for a species of monkey lizards (genus Polychrus) from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. These colorful lizards are found throughout much of South America but the actual diversity within this group has not yet been carefully studied.

Wooster grad Patrick Brennan (‘13) generated the DNA sequences on which a portion of this work in based for his Independent Study thesis. Other unrecognized species likely exist in this group, so our work is not done.  Congrats Patrick!