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McGUIRE-SYSTEMATICS OF CROTAPHYTID LIZARDS
found as early as 11 April 1992 on the lava flows
just south of Puenocitos, Baja California. A subadult
male observed in this area also had conspicuous
orange bars similar to those of gravid females.
On 9 April 1993 adults of both sexes as well as
juveniles were observed at San Ignacio, Baja California
Sur. At this rime, large males already bore
intense breeding coloration, while a large adult female
appeared to have recently emerged from hibernation
as dried mud was still adhering to the
flanks and limbs.
Little is known about the predators of Crofaphyttrs
vesfigium, although it is likely that coachwhip
snakes (iClasticophis jlagelli~rn), raptors, Loggerhead
Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), and Greater Roadrunners
(Geococcj~-Y calijbrnianus), all of which are
common throughout the range of C. vestigiunt,
probably prey on this species. An American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius) was observed near Rosarito, Baja
California, with a limp C. vesfigiunt in its talons
and, thus, represents at least one known predator
on the species.
Illusfrations. - Black-and-white photographs were
presented in Smith and Tanner (1972), Axtell (1972).
and Jones (1993). A black-and-white illustration was
given in Mocquard (1 899). Color photographs were
provided by Sprackland (I 990, 1993) and McGuire
(1 994).
Tasor~ornic Rentarks. - In 1 899, Mocquard described
Crotaphytus fasciatlrs from Cerro Las Palmas,
Baja California. It is clear from his description,
and from the accompanying figure, that this is a
juvenile Croraphyttcs vesligitim, and, as the name
fasciatus predates that of rvestigiurn by 73 years, the
former name has priority. However, at the time of
Mocquard's description, the name fasciatris was already
in use as Hallowell (1852) had applied this
name to a specimen of G. bvislizenii from the sand
hills at the lower end of Jornada del Muerte, New
Mexico. Apparently realizing his error, Mocquard
(1903) provided a substitute name for the Baja California
species, giving it the name C. fasciolatus, but
by the time Mocquard had corrected his mistake,
C. fasciatits Hallowell had already been synonymized
with C. wislizenii by Cope (1900). Thus, C.
fasciatus Mocquard again became the senior synonym
for the Baja California species of collared lizard.
The name C. fasciatiis has not since been applied
to the Baja California population of Crofaphyfus
(sensu stricto), largely because later workers
thought that Mocquard had described another syn-
onym of C. ~vislizenii. Thus, Van Denburgh (1 922)
erroneously synonymized C. fasciatus Mocquard and
C. fasciolattts Mocquard with C. \vislizenii. Only
Schmidt (1922) and Bun (1 9286) recognized that
Mocquard's specimen was indeed a Crotaphytus
(sensu stricto). Over the following 50 years, the name
C. collaris continued to beapplied to this population
and by the time it was recognized that the Baja
California population is a distinct form, the name
fasciatus Mocquard had long since been forgotten.
Because the name fasciatus has not been used for
more than 50 years and because the name vestigium
has become firmly entrenched in the herpetological
literature, an appeal should be made to the International
Code of Zoological Nomenclature to use
its plenary power to suppress the name C. fasciafus
in order to maintain taxonomic stability.
Garnbelia Baird
Cromaphytus- Baird and Girard. 1852:69.
Leiosaurus, part- Dumkril, 1856533.
Croraphyrtcs (Garnhc1ia)-Baird, 1858:253. Type species (by
monotypy): Cro~aphytus wislizmii Baird and Girard. 1852a.
Gambelia-Smith, 1946: 158.
Definition. -Garnbelia is defined as a node-based
name for the clade stemming from the most recent
common ancestor of Garnbelia ~vislizenii and all
species that are more closely related to that species
than to Crotaphyfus.
Etymolog)~.-Named in honor of William Gambel, ornithol-
ogist and pioneer naturalist of western North America in the
mid- 1800s.
Coloration in Life.-There is much variation in
the color pattern of Garnbelia, although much of
this is geographic variation within the wide-ranging
species G. ~c~islirenii. Nevertheless, several components
of the color pattern are found in all Garnbelia,
at least during some portion of ontogeny. For example,
the color patterns of neonates are very similar
in all three extant species. They are characterized
by a series of transversely arranged, blood-red
dorsal spots that begin on the head and continue
onto the base of the tail. Each row of enlarged spots
is generally comprised offour spots. Enlarged bloodred
spots may extend onto the hindlimbs as well.
Each transverse series of enlarged spots is separated
by a pale or cream-colored lransverse bar. The spots
and bars continue onto the tail where the spots progressively
coalesce distally, forming dark bars. The
dark bars alternate with the pale bars giving the tail
a banded appearance, a pattern that remains