**4. Discussion**

In this paper we describe three new species of *Liolaemus* from Per ú (Figure 12), all are assigned to the *L. montanus* group. Two of these new species (*L. nazca* and *L. chiribaya*) inhabit the Pacific Peruvian coast. Although *L. nazca* could be present in San Fernando National Reserve, other populations are outside of any protected area and close to a mining concession in southern Per ú. All *L. chiribaya*

specimens were found outside any protected area, and some individuals of this species were found in a mining concession in Moquegua department. Other Pacific lowland *Liolaemus* species from the *L. montanus* group face additional threats. *L. insolitus,* for instance, has experienced habitat loss due to increased urbanization of coastal areas, and is categorized as Endangered by the IUCN [10]. Even though *L. poconchilensis* is also categorized as Endangered by the IUCN [11], Peruvian populations of this species lacks any legal protection as they are not included in the local list of protected species [12], and they are not present in any protected area.

**Figure 12.** Map showing localities of species of the *Liolaemus montanus* group present in Perú.

Andean *Liolaemus* species of the *L. montanus* group present in Perú face similar threats as their lowland relatives. Some undescribed populations are initially found in mining concessions as a result of consulting activities and as part of environmental impact assessments [13]. For instance, the habitats of likely new, distinct populations related to *L. annectens* in southern Perú might have been destroyed or polluted before these lizards can be described and receive legal protection. Most probably these unnamed lizard populations are not present in any Peruvian protected area either.

Key to the Peruvian species of the *Liolaemus montanus* group.


**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, C.A.-P., C.R. and J.W.S.J.; Methodology, C.A.-P. and C.R.; Software, C.A.-P.; Validation, C.A.-P., C.R., E.C., A.M., V.V. and J.W.S.J.; Formal Analysis, C.A.-P. and C.R.; Investigation, C.A.-P., C.R., E.C., A.M., V.J.V. and J.W.S.J.; Resources, C.A.-P. and J.W.S.J.; Data Curation, C.A.-P. and C.R.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, C.A.-P.; Writing—Review & Editing, C.A.-P., C.R., E.C., A.M., V.J.V. and J.W.S.J.; Visualization, C.A.-P.; Supervision, C.A.-P.; Project Administration, C.A.-P. and J.W.S.J.; Funding Acquisition, C.A.-P. and J.W.S.J.

**Funding:** This research was funded by WAITT FOUNDATION-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, gran<sup>t</sup> number W195-11; NSF-EMERGING FRONTIERS AWARD, gran<sup>t</sup> number EF 1241885; and NSF-DOCTORAL DISSERTATION IMPROVEMENT GRANT, gran<sup>t</sup> number 1501187.

**Acknowledgments:** We thank A. Resetar (FMNH), J. Losos, J. Rosado (MCZ), and F. Glaw (ZSM) for loans and accessions of specimens under their care. F. Huari, E. Coronado, M. Angeles and J. Montalvo for field assistant. Comments of editors and two anonymous reviewers improved our manuscript considerably. Fieldwork was supported by the BYU Bean Life Science Museum. Permits (RD No. 1280-2012-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS, RD No. 008-2014-MINAGRI-DGFFS-DGEFFS) were issued by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Lima, Perú. The work was approved by the BYU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol number 12001 and in accordance with US law.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
