Sexual dimorphism of the Black Rock Agama, Laudakia melanura lirata (Blanford, 1874)

Abstract

Sexual dimorphism in the Black Rock Agama, Laudakia melanura lirata (Blanford, 1874), is described. Fourteen mensural and 9 meristic characters of 12 males and 9 females from Gandu Protected Area, south-east of Iran have been examined. Results show that males have larger bodies and limbs and often more developed callous scales on the midventral and preanal regions. Head size dimorphism was not observed among the examined specimens, but distinct differences in the arrangement of the orbit, nostrils and ear opening between the two sexes was observed. None of the meristic characters differ significantly between the two sexes. According to our results, we assigned the sexual dimorphism in this species to trade-offs between sexual selection and ecological factors which act through the pressure of natural selection.