Yellow Tegu

distribution

On 15 July 2021 an individual of this species was observed and photographed by SDR, (jointly with Óscar Rodriguez, Juan José Resquín and Nelson Pérez) on the Costanera de Salto del Guairá, Canindeyú department (24 º 04 ’ 43.9 ” S 54 º 18 ’ 42.8 ” W) (Fig. 22). The species was identified by the small size (compared to other members of the genus), the distinctly yellowish background colouration (as opposed to white or red) and the dark colouration on the dorsal side of the head, supported by other diagnostic characters listed by Péres and Colli (2004). Salvator duseni is strongly associated with the Cerrado ecoregion and has been previously reported from Amambay, Canindeyú and Concepción departments. The current record extends the distribution approximately 128.5 km to the far east of Canindeyú department from the previous most easterly record at Colonia Ybycuí, also Canindeyú department (Cacciali et al., 2016 b; MNHNP 4342, 4343). The species is considered “ Endangered ” in Paraguay (Martínez et al., 2020 c).

Twenty-eight new and significant departmental reptile records for Paraguay