ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 2 Reptilia , Squamata , Gymnophthalmidae , Echinosaura horrida : distribution extension and new geographic distribution map for Ecuador

The terrestrial and semi-fossorial lizards of the genus Echinosaura inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests in the Pacific versant from western Panama across northwestern Colombia and west-central Ecuador (Torres-Carvajal 2001; Köhler et al. 2004). In Ecuador, this genus is currently represented by three species (Echinosaura brachycephala, E. horrida and E. orcesi) from the Bosque siempreverde de tierras bajas and Bosque siempreverde piemontano, near to the Cordillera de los Andes, between 200-1660 m above sea level (Köhler et al. 2004). According with Köhler et al. (2004), Echinosaura horrida can be readily distinguished from the other two congeneric species by the presence in the dorsum of continuous and longitudinal rows of tubercles juxtaposed (no continuous in E. orcesi; 2-6 scales between longitudinal rows of tubercles in E. brachycephala) and three ventral scales per caudal segment (five to six in E. orcesi; four in E. brachycephala). The taxonomy of the three species of the genus Echinosaura reported in Ecuador has been improved by several studies (Uzzell 1965; Fritts and Smith 1969; Fritts et al. 2002; Köhler et al. 2004), but only E. horrida is well-represented in collections (Fritts et al. 2002; Köhler et al. 2004), with 26 localities known from four provinces in the Pacific versant: Esmeraldas (8 localities), Imbabura (2), Manabí (2) and Pichincha (14). Echinosaura horrida occurs like an endemic species of the Choco Region, known from Isla Gorgona in the Pacific versant, adjacent mainland Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador, where it inhabits the tropical forests, between 200-860 m above sea level (Torres-Carvajal 2001; Fritts et al. 2002; Köhler et al. 2004; TorresCarvajal 2005). Recent field work at Punta Galeras, northwestern Ecuador, and after a revision of specimens deposited at the Division of Herpetology, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales (DHMECN), reveals five new localities in the northwestern Ecuador and documents a range extension for Echinosaura horrida.

The terrestrial and semi-fossorial lizards of the genus Echinosaura inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests in the Pacific versant from western Panama across northwestern Colombia and west-central Ecuador (Torres-Carvajal 2001;Köhler et al. 2004).In Ecuador, this genus is currently represented by three species (Echinosaura brachycephala, E. horrida and E. orcesi) from the Bosque siempreverde de tierras bajas and Bosque siempreverde piemontano, near to the Cordillera de los Andes, between 200-1660 m above sea level (Köhler et al. 2004).According with Köhler et al. (2004), Echinosaura horrida can be readily distinguished from the other two congeneric species by the presence in the dorsum of continuous and longitudinal rows of tubercles juxtaposed (no continuous in E. orcesi; 2-6 scales between longitudinal rows of tubercles in E. brachycephala) and three ventral scales per caudal segment (five to six in E. orcesi; four in E. brachycephala).The taxonomy of the three species of the genus Echinosaura reported in Ecuador has been improved by several studies (Uzzell 1965;Fritts and Smith 1969;Fritts et al. 2002;Köhler et al. 2004), but only E. horrida is well-represented in collections (Fritts et al. 2002;Köhler et al. 2004), with 26 localities known from four provinces in the Pacific versant: Esmeraldas (8 localities), Imbabura (2), Manabí (2) and Pichincha ( 14).Echinosaura horrida occurs like an endemic species of the Choco Region, known from Isla Gorgona in the Pacific versant, adjacent mainland Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador, where it inhabits the tropical forests, between 200-860 m above sea level (Torres-Carvajal 2001;Fritts et al. 2002;Köhler et al. 2004;Torres-Carvajal 2005).Recent field work at Punta Galeras, northwestern Ecuador, and after a revision of specimens deposited at the Division of Herpetology, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales (DHMECN), reveals five new localities in the northwestern Ecuador and documents a range extension for Echinosaura horrida.
Abbreviations used in the text include: DHMECN = División de Herpetología, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales collection; SVL = snoutvent length; and, TL = total length.Elevations and geographic coordinates were determined from the author's field notes and DHMECN database, according to the 1:250.000physical map of the Republic of Ecuador, publishing by Instituto Geográfico Militar of Ecuador.
Herein, I report an extension of the range for Echinosaura horrida (Figure 1) from a single female specimen (DHMECN 2877), 43.58 mm SVL and 105.69 mm TL, and four additional localities from specimens collected in Esmeraldas and Imbabura provinces (Figure 2).

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Lateral view of Echinosaura horrida (not collected), from estero Aguacate, near to cresta del San Francisco, Esmeraldas province.The most notable specimen (DHMECN 2877) was collected on April 24, 2004 at cresta del río San Francisco, 117 m (00°41'52" N 80°01'03" W), Cantón Muisne, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador, by the author.It was observed at night (21:45 h) as it moved across a muddy patch near to a secondary forest.The other four specimens were captured moving across the rocks of small streams at night, in secondary forest.The record for Echinosaura horrida in cresta del río San Francisco is 145,41 km from its northern closest locality, near to San Javier (Fritts et al. 2002) in Esmeraldas province, and 96,43 km from the

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Distribution map of Echinosaura horrida for Ecuador.Star: new record from cresta del río San Francisco; open circles: collections of DHMECN; red circles: literature records.A brown line indicates elevations above 1000 m; a green line indicates elevations above 3000 m.Three specimens (DHMECN 319, DHMECN 2929, and DHMECN 3397) were collected in localities from Bosque siempreverde piemontano, and two specimens (DHMECN 2877, DHMECN 3318) from localities in Bosque siempreverde de tierras bajas, according with Cerón et al. (1999).The population density and primary natural history of Echinosaura horrida are unknown.Based on the present report and other scientific collections, I consider this species to be widely distributed in northwestern Ecuador.