Documenting temporal trends in the extent of ecosystems is essential to monitoring their status b... more Documenting temporal trends in the extent of ecosystems is essential to monitoring their status but combining this information with the degree of protection helps us assess the effectiveness of societal actions for conserving ecosystem diversity and related ecosystem services. We demonstrated indicators in the Tropical Andes using both potential (pre-industrial) and recent (~2010) distribution maps of terrestrial ecosystem types. We measured long-term ecosystem loss, representation of ecosystem types within the current protected areas, quantifying the additional representation offered by protecting Key Biodiversity Areas. Six (4.8%) ecosystem types (i.e., measured as 126 distinct vegetation macrogroups) have lost >50% in extent across four Andean countries since pre-industrial times. For ecosystem type representation within protected areas, regarding the pre-industrial extent of each type, a total of 32 types (25%) had higher representation (>30%) than the post-2020 Convention...
... catalogados como E. palpebralis en el museo de la University of Colorado (UCM 19988-19996) co... more ... catalogados como E. palpebralis en el museo de la University of Colorado (UCM 19988-19996) con localidad N of Villamontes, 1500-2000, de acuerdo a mi revisión de fotografías de todos los especimenes de esta serie, son en realidad Tropidurus melanopleurus. ...
Due to lack of information about the precise type locality of Liolaemus andinus, and the subseque... more Due to lack of information about the precise type locality of Liolaemus andinus, and the subsequentloss of the type material, for a long-time various population of divergent morphologicalcharacteristics were assigned to this taxon, which caused the identification of the true L. andinusto become problematic. The present study started in 2004 and after sixteen years of research ofthe various populations assigned or related to this species, L. andinus is redescribed, a neotypeis assigned, and considerations on its probable provenance, and data on its biology and distributionare provided. Also, a hypothesis is presented on the provenance of L. andinus based onbiological and historical support evidence. The taxonomic position of populations that have beenassigned to and confused with L. andinus in the literature is determined, several of which haveaffinity with L. poecilochromus and L. rosenmanni. Morphology and molecular-based analysesperformed in this study allow us to describe two new...
In his recent self-published book "Reptiles en Chile", Diego Demangel Miranda presented... more In his recent self-published book "Reptiles en Chile", Diego Demangel Miranda presented 13 taxonomic changes for liolaemid and tropidurid lizards. While these could be considered validly published according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, we show that these taxonomic propositions lack the necessary scientific rigor in terms of replicability, specimen work, lack of peer review and that they do not follow best practices accepted by the herpetological community. Therefore, we hereby invalidate all 13 taxonomic changes proposed in this book, leaving the taxonomy unaffected. Finally, we call attention to the potentially negative consequences of using these taxonomic changes in conservation and environmental impact studies as incorrect decisions might be taken in relation to the species involved.
The Llanos de Moxos are an enclave of non-forest biota in the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia where... more The Llanos de Moxos are an enclave of non-forest biota in the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia where elements from the Gran Chaco, the Cerrados, and other source areas inhabit landscapes where indigenous peoples created numerous earthworks. While local relief features and geomorphology are often, at least in part, a result of pre-Hispanic human agency, the general patterns of biological diversity in the Llanos de Moxos are determined by longer histories of climatic, geologic, fluvial, and biological processes that well predate the human presence. The flora and fauna of the Moxos wetlands, grasslands, and savannas include many elements from the Cerrados and other extra-Amazonian open formations. While the flora shows low levels of endemicity, the fauna includes several endemic vertebrates associated with forest islands. The Moxos biota largely dates back to the Miocene. In terms of human impact, the introduction of cattle and cattle ranching is likely the most significant event in terms of the present-day landscape and ecology.
The South American lizard genus Liolaemus has undergone a complex adaptive radiation that has res... more The South American lizard genus Liolaemus has undergone a complex adaptive radiation that has resulted in the evolution
of more than 200 species widely spread in an extraordinary diversity of environments, and forming a complex array of
assemblages. This evolutionary complexity has puzzled systematists and taxonomists since the first species were described
more than 150 years ago. Within this lineage, the Andean Liolaemus faunas have proven to be a major challenge
for herpetologists. Therefore, intense research is needed in this area to clarify long-standing problems. After more than a
century of taxonomic confusion, the identity of Liolaemus stolzmanni (Steindachner, 1891) is here restored as the name
that must be applied to the lizards widely known as Phrynosaura (= Liolaemus) reichei Werner, 1907 from the low to midelevation
deserts of Tarapacá, Chile. Since 1966, the name L. stolzmanni has been erroneously assigned to populations of
Liolaemus from the high Andes of the Chile-Bolivia borderlands which, according to observations presented in this study,
correspond to Liolaemus pachecoi Laurent, 1995. A lectotype and allotype for L. stolzmanni are designated and the type
locality for L. stolzmanni (= L. reichei) is emended to “Deserts of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile”. Furthermore, the recognition
of L. pachecoi as a species distinct from L. jamesi is supported by mtDNA sequence divergence data despite the
inconclusive meristic and morphometric data. In summary, I conclude that (i) the Chilean L. reichei is a synonym of L.
stolzmanni, and hence, that L. stolzmanni is a species endemic to Chile, not an element of the fauna of present-day Peru
and that (ii) the Chilean Altiplano populations currently recognized as L. stolzmanni are L. pachecoi, a species hitherto
known only from Bolivia. Also, I report the first confirmed specimens of L. poconchilensis from Peru, a species previously
known only from Chile and confused with L. reichei.
Se presenta una actualización de la lista de las taxa confirmadas o probables, del Orden Sauria (... more Se presenta una actualización de la lista de las taxa confirmadas o probables, del Orden Sauria (lagartijas) de Bolivia, con discusiones sobre aspectos sistemáticos, taxonómicos y biogeográficos. Hasta septiembre de 2005, se reconoce 97 especies confirmadas de saurios para Bolivia, con otras 37 especies probables. De los saurios confirmados, 13 especies y una subespecie son endémicas para Bolivia. Se presenta además una serie de regiones prioritarias para inventarios de la saurofauna boliviana.
Documenting temporal trends in the extent of ecosystems is essential to monitoring their status b... more Documenting temporal trends in the extent of ecosystems is essential to monitoring their status but combining this information with the degree of protection helps us assess the effectiveness of societal actions for conserving ecosystem diversity and related ecosystem services. We demonstrated indicators in the Tropical Andes using both potential (pre-industrial) and recent (~2010) distribution maps of terrestrial ecosystem types. We measured long-term ecosystem loss, representation of ecosystem types within the current protected areas, quantifying the additional representation offered by protecting Key Biodiversity Areas. Six (4.8%) ecosystem types (i.e., measured as 126 distinct vegetation macrogroups) have lost >50% in extent across four Andean countries since pre-industrial times. For ecosystem type representation within protected areas, regarding the pre-industrial extent of each type, a total of 32 types (25%) had higher representation (>30%) than the post-2020 Convention...
... catalogados como E. palpebralis en el museo de la University of Colorado (UCM 19988-19996) co... more ... catalogados como E. palpebralis en el museo de la University of Colorado (UCM 19988-19996) con localidad N of Villamontes, 1500-2000, de acuerdo a mi revisión de fotografías de todos los especimenes de esta serie, son en realidad Tropidurus melanopleurus. ...
Due to lack of information about the precise type locality of Liolaemus andinus, and the subseque... more Due to lack of information about the precise type locality of Liolaemus andinus, and the subsequentloss of the type material, for a long-time various population of divergent morphologicalcharacteristics were assigned to this taxon, which caused the identification of the true L. andinusto become problematic. The present study started in 2004 and after sixteen years of research ofthe various populations assigned or related to this species, L. andinus is redescribed, a neotypeis assigned, and considerations on its probable provenance, and data on its biology and distributionare provided. Also, a hypothesis is presented on the provenance of L. andinus based onbiological and historical support evidence. The taxonomic position of populations that have beenassigned to and confused with L. andinus in the literature is determined, several of which haveaffinity with L. poecilochromus and L. rosenmanni. Morphology and molecular-based analysesperformed in this study allow us to describe two new...
In his recent self-published book "Reptiles en Chile", Diego Demangel Miranda presented... more In his recent self-published book "Reptiles en Chile", Diego Demangel Miranda presented 13 taxonomic changes for liolaemid and tropidurid lizards. While these could be considered validly published according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, we show that these taxonomic propositions lack the necessary scientific rigor in terms of replicability, specimen work, lack of peer review and that they do not follow best practices accepted by the herpetological community. Therefore, we hereby invalidate all 13 taxonomic changes proposed in this book, leaving the taxonomy unaffected. Finally, we call attention to the potentially negative consequences of using these taxonomic changes in conservation and environmental impact studies as incorrect decisions might be taken in relation to the species involved.
The Llanos de Moxos are an enclave of non-forest biota in the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia where... more The Llanos de Moxos are an enclave of non-forest biota in the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia where elements from the Gran Chaco, the Cerrados, and other source areas inhabit landscapes where indigenous peoples created numerous earthworks. While local relief features and geomorphology are often, at least in part, a result of pre-Hispanic human agency, the general patterns of biological diversity in the Llanos de Moxos are determined by longer histories of climatic, geologic, fluvial, and biological processes that well predate the human presence. The flora and fauna of the Moxos wetlands, grasslands, and savannas include many elements from the Cerrados and other extra-Amazonian open formations. While the flora shows low levels of endemicity, the fauna includes several endemic vertebrates associated with forest islands. The Moxos biota largely dates back to the Miocene. In terms of human impact, the introduction of cattle and cattle ranching is likely the most significant event in terms of the present-day landscape and ecology.
The South American lizard genus Liolaemus has undergone a complex adaptive radiation that has res... more The South American lizard genus Liolaemus has undergone a complex adaptive radiation that has resulted in the evolution
of more than 200 species widely spread in an extraordinary diversity of environments, and forming a complex array of
assemblages. This evolutionary complexity has puzzled systematists and taxonomists since the first species were described
more than 150 years ago. Within this lineage, the Andean Liolaemus faunas have proven to be a major challenge
for herpetologists. Therefore, intense research is needed in this area to clarify long-standing problems. After more than a
century of taxonomic confusion, the identity of Liolaemus stolzmanni (Steindachner, 1891) is here restored as the name
that must be applied to the lizards widely known as Phrynosaura (= Liolaemus) reichei Werner, 1907 from the low to midelevation
deserts of Tarapacá, Chile. Since 1966, the name L. stolzmanni has been erroneously assigned to populations of
Liolaemus from the high Andes of the Chile-Bolivia borderlands which, according to observations presented in this study,
correspond to Liolaemus pachecoi Laurent, 1995. A lectotype and allotype for L. stolzmanni are designated and the type
locality for L. stolzmanni (= L. reichei) is emended to “Deserts of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile”. Furthermore, the recognition
of L. pachecoi as a species distinct from L. jamesi is supported by mtDNA sequence divergence data despite the
inconclusive meristic and morphometric data. In summary, I conclude that (i) the Chilean L. reichei is a synonym of L.
stolzmanni, and hence, that L. stolzmanni is a species endemic to Chile, not an element of the fauna of present-day Peru
and that (ii) the Chilean Altiplano populations currently recognized as L. stolzmanni are L. pachecoi, a species hitherto
known only from Bolivia. Also, I report the first confirmed specimens of L. poconchilensis from Peru, a species previously
known only from Chile and confused with L. reichei.
Se presenta una actualización de la lista de las taxa confirmadas o probables, del Orden Sauria (... more Se presenta una actualización de la lista de las taxa confirmadas o probables, del Orden Sauria (lagartijas) de Bolivia, con discusiones sobre aspectos sistemáticos, taxonómicos y biogeográficos. Hasta septiembre de 2005, se reconoce 97 especies confirmadas de saurios para Bolivia, con otras 37 especies probables. De los saurios confirmados, 13 especies y una subespecie son endémicas para Bolivia. Se presenta además una serie de regiones prioritarias para inventarios de la saurofauna boliviana.
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Papers by Roberto Langstroth
of more than 200 species widely spread in an extraordinary diversity of environments, and forming a complex array of
assemblages. This evolutionary complexity has puzzled systematists and taxonomists since the first species were described
more than 150 years ago. Within this lineage, the Andean Liolaemus faunas have proven to be a major challenge
for herpetologists. Therefore, intense research is needed in this area to clarify long-standing problems. After more than a
century of taxonomic confusion, the identity of Liolaemus stolzmanni (Steindachner, 1891) is here restored as the name
that must be applied to the lizards widely known as Phrynosaura (= Liolaemus) reichei Werner, 1907 from the low to midelevation
deserts of Tarapacá, Chile. Since 1966, the name L. stolzmanni has been erroneously assigned to populations of
Liolaemus from the high Andes of the Chile-Bolivia borderlands which, according to observations presented in this study,
correspond to Liolaemus pachecoi Laurent, 1995. A lectotype and allotype for L. stolzmanni are designated and the type
locality for L. stolzmanni (= L. reichei) is emended to “Deserts of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile”. Furthermore, the recognition
of L. pachecoi as a species distinct from L. jamesi is supported by mtDNA sequence divergence data despite the
inconclusive meristic and morphometric data. In summary, I conclude that (i) the Chilean L. reichei is a synonym of L.
stolzmanni, and hence, that L. stolzmanni is a species endemic to Chile, not an element of the fauna of present-day Peru
and that (ii) the Chilean Altiplano populations currently recognized as L. stolzmanni are L. pachecoi, a species hitherto
known only from Bolivia. Also, I report the first confirmed specimens of L. poconchilensis from Peru, a species previously
known only from Chile and confused with L. reichei.
of more than 200 species widely spread in an extraordinary diversity of environments, and forming a complex array of
assemblages. This evolutionary complexity has puzzled systematists and taxonomists since the first species were described
more than 150 years ago. Within this lineage, the Andean Liolaemus faunas have proven to be a major challenge
for herpetologists. Therefore, intense research is needed in this area to clarify long-standing problems. After more than a
century of taxonomic confusion, the identity of Liolaemus stolzmanni (Steindachner, 1891) is here restored as the name
that must be applied to the lizards widely known as Phrynosaura (= Liolaemus) reichei Werner, 1907 from the low to midelevation
deserts of Tarapacá, Chile. Since 1966, the name L. stolzmanni has been erroneously assigned to populations of
Liolaemus from the high Andes of the Chile-Bolivia borderlands which, according to observations presented in this study,
correspond to Liolaemus pachecoi Laurent, 1995. A lectotype and allotype for L. stolzmanni are designated and the type
locality for L. stolzmanni (= L. reichei) is emended to “Deserts of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile”. Furthermore, the recognition
of L. pachecoi as a species distinct from L. jamesi is supported by mtDNA sequence divergence data despite the
inconclusive meristic and morphometric data. In summary, I conclude that (i) the Chilean L. reichei is a synonym of L.
stolzmanni, and hence, that L. stolzmanni is a species endemic to Chile, not an element of the fauna of present-day Peru
and that (ii) the Chilean Altiplano populations currently recognized as L. stolzmanni are L. pachecoi, a species hitherto
known only from Bolivia. Also, I report the first confirmed specimens of L. poconchilensis from Peru, a species previously
known only from Chile and confused with L. reichei.