Integrated taxonomy using morphology and DNA sequences: recognition of a new species with comments on the geological history of the <i>Liolaemus capillitas</i> clade (Squamata: Iguania)

The evolution of the Andean orogeny has an impact on the biota diversification of the region due to topographic changes and atmospheric circulation trajectories. Among them are the lizards of the Liolaemidae family and within this, of which <i>Liolaemus</i> is the genus with the most described species up to date, with approximately 290. One of the groups within the genus is the <i>Liolaemus elongatus</i> group, distributed in central-south of Argentina and Chile formed by four clades and a subclade: the <i>L. capillitas</i> subclade. In this work, we describe a new species belonging to the <i>L. capillitas</i> subclade, using an integrative approach, analysing both morphological (lepidosis, morphometrics, colouration and hemipenes characters) and molecular evidence (genetic distances and phylogeny). We made a divergence analysis of the representatives of the <i>L. elongatus</i> group. Furthermore, we correlated the ages of the geological events with the distribution areas for the lineages <i>L. capillitas</i> subclade. This newly described species shows character states (morphological and molecular) that allow its clear distinction from the other members of the <i>L. elongatus</i> group, as well as from the rest of <i>Liolaemus</i>. The divergence analysis places the new species in the <i>L. capillitas</i> subclade and allows us to infer the successive geological events that served as physical barriers to the diversification of the group, besides explaining the current distribution of the group. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EDFA2340-46D2-460A-AA31-C914E5288883