A new species of Anolis (Squamata: Iguania: Dactyloidae) formerly referred to as A. pachypus from the Cordillera de Talamanca of western Panama and adjacent Costa Rica

Researchers have identified a new species of Anolis lizard, Anolis benedikti, previously misclassified as A. pachypus. This discovery was made through detailed morphological analysis of specimens from the Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves and adjacent areas in Panama and Costa Rica. The new species is distinguished by its unique male dewlap coloration—red with a yellow anterior margin—and pholidotic characteristics, setting it apart from closely related species like A. magnaphallus, A. pachypus, A. pseudopachypus, and A. tropidolepis. This finding contributes to the understanding of anoline diversity in the Cordillera de Talamanca, a region of significant biodiversity within UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

LOTZKAT, S., BIENENTREU, J.-F., HERTZ, A., & KÖHLER, G. (2011). A new species of Anolis (Squamata: Iguania: Dactyloidae) formerly referred to as A. pachypus from the Cordillera de Talamanca of western Panama and adjacent Costa Rica. Zootaxa, 3125(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3125.1.1