Distribution of two species of Curly-tailed Lizards, genus Leiocephalus, in a metropolitan park, and the rediscovery of a nominate subspecies

Abstract

Two Hispaniolan endemic species of lizards in the genus Leiocephalus (L. lunatus Cochran 1934 and L. personatus Cope 1862) are parapatric in an urban park in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. In the course of this study, we unexpectedly rediscovered the long-overlooked nominate subspecies of Leiocephalus lunatus 1 km inland from the vicinity of the type locality as what appears to be a relict population. Two congeners in the same urban setting within their natural ranges is an uncommon scenario. We provide detailed distributional data for both species within the Parque Mirador del Sur, and also report surviving populations of L. l. lunatus west of its type locality.