Current Perspectives about Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology of Liolaemini

Call for Papers

The Liolaemini (Squamata: Iguania) is a large clade of lizards from Austral South America. Lizards of the Liolaemini have been the focus of interest by biologists for more than a century, but research on them had increased considerably since the 1970s. Three genera are recognized in this clade: Ctenoblepharys (1 sp.), Phymaturus (≥32 spp.), and Liolaemus (≥230 spp.). Ctenoblepharys adspersa is the sole species in the genus, with a restricted distribution in Peru. Phymaturus are saxicolous lizards from high elevations in the Andes of central Chile and Argentina, and along the volcanic plateaus of the Patagonian Steppe. Liolaemus is very variable in morphology, ecology, and biology and inhabits a variety of habitats ranging from arid high plateaus through the humid Andean- Patagonian Forests to the Atlantic and Pacific beaches. Most species are found in Argentina and Chile, but the diversity in Bolivia and Peru has not been systematically studied. In the last 20 years, knowledge about the clades Liolaemus and Phymaturus, including species numbers and aspects of ecology, distribution, behavior, thermophysiology, phylogeny, and phylogeography has grown exponentially, and today it is probably one of the best studied lizard groups in South America (at least in much of its range). But the discovery of 4 to 5 new species of Liolaemus every year, and the tripling of Phymaturus species in the last ten years, shows that we are far from a complete knowledge and still in an “age of discovery” in this clade.

The main focus of this special issue will be to present a review of the knowledge of the systematics, phylogeny, phylogeography, ecology, behavior, physiology, and other biological attributes of the three genera of the group, Liolaemus, Phymaturus, and Ctenoblepharis. The special issue will become an international forum for researchers to summarize the most recent studies and syntheses related with Liolaemini. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Systematics and taxonomy
  • Phylogeny, biogeography, and phylogeography
  • Distribution and spatial ecology
  • Behavior and behavioral ecology
  • Reproductive and foraging biology
  • Conservation
  • Ongoing and future strategies

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijz/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

Manuscript DueFriday, 18 May 2012
First Round of ReviewsFriday, 10 August 2012
Publication DateFriday, 5 October 2012

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