Published June 5, 2022. Updated November 23, 2023. Open access. Peer-reviewed. | Purchase book ❯ |
Yellow-throated Stream-Lizard (Gelanesaurus flavogularis)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Gymnophthalmidae | Gelanesaurus flavogularis
English common name: Yellow-throated Stream-Lizard.
Spanish common names: Lagartija ribereña de garganta amarilla, lagartija payaso de garganta amarilla.
Recognition: ♂♂ 15.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=6.5 cm. ♀♀ 17.8 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=7.5 cm..1 Species of the genus Gelanesaurus are easily distinguishable from other leaf-litter lizards in their area of distribution by their stream-dwelling habits, heterogeneous dorsal scales, short slightly compressed tail, and black ring around the nostril.1,2 The Yellow-throated Stream-Lizard (G. flavogularis) can be distinguished from its only known Ecuadorian congener (G. cochranae) by having homogeneous dorsal longitudinal rows of tubercles closely approaching the posterior part of the head (irregular, heterogeneous, and not so close to the posterior part of the head in G. cochranae). Gelanesaurus flavogularis can be further differentiated from its congener based on the presence of a well-defined white throat patch, absence of dorsolateral cream spots, and no vertical subocular line in males (Fig. 1).3 Adult males of G. flavogularis differ from females by having a broader head and a more contrasting coloration consisting of a light brown dorsum and a white or yellow throat outlined by a black border. In most females the dorsum is uniformly dark brown and the throat is dark brown (Fig. 1).1
Figure 1: Individuals of Gelanesaurus flavogularis from Ecuador: Pacto Sumaco, Napo province (); Narupa Reserve, Napo province (); Tzarentza, Pastaza province (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Gelanesaurus flavogularis is a diurnal, stream-dwelling lizard that occurs in high densities in riparian habitats within well-preserved evergreen foothill forests. During the day, Yellow-throated Stream-Lizards are active on leaf-litter, rocks, and small understory vegetation, usually along streams or on flooded areas of the forest.3–5 At night, they roost on shrubs, ferns, herbs, and twigs 10–160 cm above the ground along streams and small rivers.1,3,6 Stream lizards in general are capable of biting as well as shedding the tail as methods of defense and escape.3
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..5 Gelanesaurus flavogularis is listed in this category because the species is widely distributed, present in large protected areas, and its habitat is still largely intact. Based on the most recent maps of vegetation cover of the Amazon basin,7 the majority (~71%) of the species’ forest habitat in Ecuador is still standing. The most important threat to the long-term survival of the species is habitat destruction mostly due to mining and the expansion of the agricultural frontier.8
Distribution: Gelanesaurus flavogularis is distributed along the Amazonian foothills of the Andes of eastern Ecuador (Fig. 2) and northwestern Peru. Along the southern slopes of Sumaco Volcano, this species is known to co-occur with G. cochranae.
Figure 2: Distribution of Gelanesaurus flavogularis in Ecuador. The star corresponds to the type locality: Narupa Biological Reserve, Napo province. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The generic name Gelanesaurus, which is derived from the Greek words gelanes (=laughing) and saurus (=lizard), refers to the joker-looking head color pattern of the included species.2 The specific epithet flavogularis comes from the Latin words flavus (=yellowish) and gularis (=throat).1
See it in the wild: Yellow-throated Stream-Lizards can be found with almost complete certainty along forest streams in well preserved habitats throughout the species’ area of distribution in Ecuador. Although these lizards are diurnal, they are much more easy to locate at night, as they sleep on the upper surface of bright green leaves where their brownish camouflage is not as effective. In Ecuador, lizards of this species are particularly common in Narupa Reserve, Río Anzu Reserve, and Río Zuñac Reserve.
Acknowledgments: Special thanks to Fundación Jocotoco for providing access to Narupa Reserve, where some of the individuals of Gelanesaurus flavogularis photographed in this account where located.
Special thanks to Cheryl Vogt for symbolically adopting the Yellow-throated Stream-Lizard and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.
Click here to adopt a species.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Academic reviewer: Jeffrey D CamperbAffiliation: Department of Biology, Francis Marion University, Florence, USA.
Photographer: Jose VieiracAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,dAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2023) Yellow-throated Stream-Lizard (Gelanesaurus flavogularis). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/BLIO7320
Literature cited:
- Altamirano-Benavides M, Zaher H, Lobo L, Grazziotin FG, Sales Nunes PM, Rodrigues MT (2013) A new species of lizard genus Potamites from Ecuador (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae). Zootaxa 3717: 345–358. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.3.4
- Torres-Carvajal O, Lobos SE, Venegas PJ, Chávez G, Aguirre-Peñafiel V, Zurita D, Echevarría LY (2016) Phylogeny and biogeography of the most diverse clade of South American gymnophthalmid lizards (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae, Cercosaurinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 99: 63–75. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.03.006
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Camper JD, Torres-Carvajal O, Ron SR, Nilsson J, Arteaga A, Knowles TW, Arbogast BS (2021) Amphibians and reptiles of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Napo Province, Ecuador. Check List 17: 729–751.
- Yánez-Muñoz MH (2021) Gelanesaurus flavogularis. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T89929298A89929301.en
- Torres-Carvajal O, Pazmiño-Otamendi G, Salazar-Valenzuela D (2019) Reptiles of Ecuador: a resource-rich online portal, with dynamic checklists and photographic guides. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13: 209–229.
- MapBiomas Amazonía (2022) Mapeo anual de cobertura y uso del suelo de la Amazonía. Available from: www.amazonia.mapbiomas.org
- Chicaiza G (2010) El enclave minero de la Cordillera del Cóndor. Acción Ecológica, Quito, 39 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Gelanesaurus flavogularis in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used. Asterisk (*) indicates type locality.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Sopladora | MZUA.RE.0032; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Área Protegida Río Negro Sopladora | Frenkel & Rodas 2017 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Bosque Protector Abanico | Lozano & Medranda 2008 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Cerro Pan de Azúcar | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Chiguaza | Altamirano et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Comunidad Shuar Kunkuk, 3 km SE of | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | El Guabi | MZUA.RE.0176; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | El Rosario | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Mera, 5 km S of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Parque Nacional Sangay | Brito & Almendariz 2013 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Puchimi | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | San Juan Bosco | MZUA.RE.0221; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sardinayacu | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Siete Iglesias Reserve | Jungle Dave's Tours |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Yukutais | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Estación de Bombeo Sarayacu | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Narupa Reserve* | Altamirano et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Pacto Sumaco | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Reserva Colonso Chalupas | Mármol–Guijarro 2020 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Reserva Wayra | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Río Pucuno | Photo by Andy Proaño |
| Ecuador | Napo | Sendero abajo Cocodrilos | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Wild Sumaco Wildlife Sanctuary | Camper et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Alpayacu | Uzzell 1966 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Cascada Las Lajas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mera | Burt & Burt 1931 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Oglán Alto | USNM 196113; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Reserva Tamandúa | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Challuwa Yaku | Zurita 2015 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Shilcayacu | USNM 196112; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Villano | USNM 196119; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sumak Kawsay In Situ | Bentley et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tzarentza | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Abitagua | Uzzell 1966 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Río Machay | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Río Negro | Altamirano et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Río Verde | Zurita 2015 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Rio Zuñac | Altamirano et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Trail to Finca El Encanto | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Campamento Fruta del Norte | Almendáriz et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | La Herradura | Almendáriz et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Miazi Alto | Almendáriz et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Quebrada de Miazi | Zurita 2015 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Reserva Natural Maycu | Fang et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Valle del Quimi | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Perú | Amazonas | Coangos, RAP7 | Almendáriz et al. 2014 |
| Perú | Loreto | Cerro de Kampankis | Catenazzi & Venegas 2016 |