Agamid Research Articles

A new agamid lizard in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar

The first amber-embedded fossil representing the lizard family Agamidae, Protodraco monocoli gen. et sp. nov., is described in burmite of the lowermost Cenomanian (ca. 99 Ma; mid-Cretaceous) from northern Myanmar. It is among both the oldest known amber lizards and the oldest fossils of the family. The fossil is a well preserved left hind foot with shank, morphologically similar to basal taxa of modern Southeast Asian agamids. Because of the sparse Cretaceous fossil record it could provide a calibration point for divergence-time analyses and contradicts views that agamids colonized SE Asia during the Paleogene.

On the Russian-German Hepetological Connections between St. Petersburg and Bonn — a Personal View

The zoological relationships between the Zoological Institute and the Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg (ZISP), and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum A. Koenig, Bonn (ZFMK), started with Alexander Koenig who was born in St. Petersburg in 1858. Together with his family he moved to Bonn in 1867 where he later became an ornithologist who founded his own zoological museum in this city in 1912. 11 years after his death (1940), a herpetological department was founded, and a close cooperation between the herpetology departments of his museum and that of his home city began to develop, first only by correspondence. In 1981 a first personal contact became possible in Budapest and could be intensified after 1988 by several mutual visits to St. Petersburg and Bonn, respectively. Further contacts happened during congresses, primarily those of the European Herpetological Society (SEH) where representatives of both institutions served also as presidents. Scientific contacts culminated in two well-attended international symposia on agamid lizards in both cities.

Mitochondrial genome of Diploderma micangshanense and its implications for phylogeny of the genus Diploderma

The lizard Diploderma micangshanense, which belongs to the family Agamidae is endemic to China. Here, we determined the complete mitogenome of D. micangshanense using an Illumina Hiseq X Ten sequencer. This mitogenome’s structure is a typical circular molecule of 16,467 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The overall base composition of D. micangshanensis is 34.1% A, 23.64% T, 13.62% C, and 28.64% G with a slight AT bias of 57.74%. Most mitochondrial genes except ND6 and seven tRNAs were encoded on the heavy strand. Notably, the trnP gene was encoded on the heavy strand instead of its typical light strand position, providing an example of gene inversion in vertebrate mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that D. micangshanensis had a close relationship with D. zhaoermii.

Hot and covered: how dragons face the heat and thermoregulate.

Regulating body temperature is a critical function for many animals. Ectotherms use multiple thermoregulatory behaviours, including habitat selection, sun-shade shuttling, posture, orientation, gaping, and panting. According to thermoregulatory control theory, gaping and postural behaviours should act in coordination with microhabitat selection, providing a fine-tuned counterbalance to more costly behaviours. However, gaping and panting have also been considered indicators of stress in lizards, which would counter a homeostatic thermoregulatory interpretation, especially during expression of voluntary behaviours. Careful adjustments in rostral orientation toward warmth have been observed in bearded dragons, analogous to well-described solar gain and solar avoidance postures in the wild. Little is known about the sensory drivers of these behaviours. Although skin temperature changes faster than core, it is not uniform across the body, and is subject to evaporative cooling, and thus could be crucial to directing behavioural thermoregulatory decision making. To examine the subtle coordination between thermoregulatory behaviours, and to test if inhibiting gaping would lead to thermoregulatory compensatory behaviours, bearded dragon lizards (Pogona vitticeps) were allowed to behaviourally thermoregulate, while their ability to show spontaneous gaping behaviour was disrupted non-pharmacologically. Gaping acted in concert with thermoregulatory behaviours, although at lower rates than predicted from earlier steady-state models, suggesting that respiratory cooling mechanisms are perceived as costly. Bearded dragons enhanced their rostral orientation to heat when gaping was inhibited, while reducing their selected temperatures in a thermal gradient. Combined, these observations indicate the presence of coordination between these various thermoregulatory behaviours.

A Contribution to the Nematode Fauna of Two Agamid Lizards from Afghanistan.

SummaryInformation on the recent herpetological and related parasitological collections are very rarely available for Afghanistan. We examined two species of the family Agamidae, Laudakia nuristanica and Paralaudakia caucasia for the presence of the intestinal helminth fauna. Overall, we examined 13 specimens of these lizards and found three species of helminths (Abbreviata achari, Thelandros masaae, T. taylori) in a single specimen of L. nuristanica and four species (A. achari, T. baylisi, T. taylori, P. kasauli) in three specimens of P. caucasia. Here in, we present the first report on the helminth fauna from L. nuristanica, record a new helminth host for P. caucasia and three new country records for the helminth fauna of Afghanistan.

A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya.

Kenya has a high diversity of agamid lizards and the arid northern frontier area has the highest species richness. Among the Kenyan agama species, Agama lionotus has the widest distribution, occurring from sea level to inland areas in both dry and moist savanna as well as desert areas. This species mostly prefers rocky areas, both in granitic/metamorphic and volcanic rocks, although it also makes use of tree crevices as well as man-made structures. Recently in Marsabit, northern Kenya, a small-sized agama species, distinct from A. lionotus, was collected within a rocky lava desert area. This new species is characterized by its small size (mean SVL ~83 mm) as compared to typical A. lionotus (mean SVL ~120 mm). Past studies have shown the value of adult male throat coloration for the identification of species within the A. lionotus complex. Herein we also highlight female dorsal color pattern, which is a key character for distinguishing the new species from others in the group, including the similar A. hulbertorum. As in A. lionotus, displaying adult males have an orange to yellow head, a vertebral stripe, a bluish body coloration and an annulated white/blue tail. But the most diagnostic character is the coloration of females and non-displaying males, which exhibit a series of regular pairs of dark spots along the vertebrae as far posterior as the tail base. In addition, females have a pair of elongated orange or yellow marks on the shoulders and another on the dorsolateral margins of the abdomen. This study shows that more cryptic species in the Agama lionotus complex may still await discovery. The new species was found inhabiting dark desert lava rocks but should additionally be present in suitably similar sites in the northern frontier area. This underscores the need to re-examine populations of Agama lionotus from different microhabitats in this country.

Endo-Helminth Fauna of the Rainbow Lizard (Agama Agama)

This parasitological study was carried out between February and May 2019 to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthiasis in the rainbow lizard (Agama agama) in Okrika, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and fifty-one (151) specimens made up of 93 males and 75 females were caught by a local netting system during the day and anaesthesized with chloroform. Samples were collected from two stations (Ogoloma-Ama and Oba-Ama). After dissection, the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, rectum, liver, lungs, urinary bladder, heart and body cavity were searched for helminths using conventional methods. Five species of helminths belonging to Nematoda - Strongyluris brevicaudata, Parapharyngodon awokoyai, encysted Ascaridida larva, Cestoda - Oochoristica sp. and Trematoda - Mesocoelium spp - were recovered from infected lizards. Helminths infected one hundred and twenty-three (123) (82%) of the lizards. In Oba-Ama, forty-five (45) (76.3%) out of 59 and in Ogoloma-Ama, seventy-eight (78) (84.8%) out of 92 were infected with helminths. By abundance, in both locations, the males were more infected than their female counterparts with a prevalence of 51(93%) and 72(75%) (P<0.05), respectively. This study has revealed the helminth parasites infecting the agamid lizard of Rivers State, Nigeria. It has also shown some unidentified species of Mesocoelium and Oochoristica sp. Additionally the trapping system used was also found to be effective and efficient.

A Monograph on the Osteology of Mesopotamian Spiny-tailed Lizards, Saara loricata (Blanford, 1874) (Sauria: Agamidae: Uromastycinae)

The species of the subfamily Uromastycinae are herbivorous burrowing lizards distributed from the African Sahara Desert to the Asian Thar Desert and across the Arabian Peninsula. Although osteological studies on Uromastycinae have a long history, a detailed description of the complete skeleton is lacking. We investigate the cranial and postcranial osteology of the Mesopotamian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Saara loricata, previously referred to Uromastyx). We studied articulated and disarticulated materials from five specimens and present a complete description of the bones of the species. Our study adds to the growing body of literature on the skeleton of agamid lizards. Unlike Uromastyx sensu stricto, in S. loricata no anterior premaxillary foramina exists on the anterior surface of the premaxilla, no contact exists between the frontal and the maxilla or premaxilla, the anterolateral processes of the frontal are unexposed in dorsal view so that the prefrontal and nasal are attached, and the pterygoid does not contact the vomer anteriorly and the quadrate posteriorly. Unlike its congener S. hardwickii, in S. loricata no anterior premaxillary foramen exists on the anterior surface of the premaxilla, a smaller ethmoidal foramen perforates the nasal, a well-developed, posteriorly extended socket-like notch is formed through anterior bifurcation of the jugal, an L-shaped suture line forms between the jugal and postorbital in dorsal view, and an interlocking suture between the surangular and dentary exists in S. loricata.

Evolving thermal thresholds explain the distribution of temperature sex reversal in an Australian dragon lizard

AbstractAimSpecies with temperature‐dependent sex determination (TSD) are particularly vulnerable to climate change because a resultant skew in population sex ratio can have severe demographic consequences and increase vulnerability to local extinction. The Australian central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) has a thermosensitive ZZ male/ZW female system of genetic sex determination (GSD). High incubation temperatures cause reversal of the ZZ genotype to a viable female phenotype. Nest temperatures in the wild are predicted to vary on a scale likely to produce heterogeneity in the occurrence of sex reversal, and so we predict that sex reversal will correlate positively with inferred incubation conditions.LocationMainland Australia.MethodsWild‐caught specimens of P. vitticeps vouchered in museum collections and collected during targeted field trips were genotypically and phenotypically sexed to determine the distribution of sex reversal across the species range. To determine whether environmental conditions or genetic structure can explain this distribution, we infer the incubation conditions experienced by each individual and apply a multi‐model inference approach to determine which conditions associate with sex reversal. Further, we conduct reduced representation sequencing on a subset of specimens to characterize the population structure of this broadly distributed species.ResultsHere we show that sex reversal in this widespread Australian dragon lizard is spatially restricted to the eastern part of the species range. Neither climatic variables during the inferred incubation period nor geographic population genetic structure explain this disjunct distribution of sex reversal. The main source of genetic variation arose from isolation by distance across the species range.Main conclusionsWe propose that local genetic adaptation in the temperature threshold for sex reversal can counteract the sex‐reversing influence of high incubation temperatures in P. vitticeps. Our study demonstrates that complex evolutionary processes need to be incorporated into modelling biological responses to future climate scenarios.

Signaling, Agonistic Behavior, and Life-History Traits of Steppe Agama (<i>Trapelus sanguinolentus</i>) in Prague Zoo

Life history traits are influenced by many factors, such as social structure, social displays and aggressive interactions. We investigated signalling and agonistic behavior in relation to body condition and lifespan in Trapelus sanguinolentus, a small, semi-arboreal, oviparous agamid lizard from the Central Asia. We individually examined basic morphological characteristics, number of performed signal displays and relative success in agonistic interactions (via Clutton-Brock index). Life expectancy of males did not differ from life expectancy of females. Overall variability of signals was low and simple push-up display was prevalent signal type for both sexes. Frequency of performed signals differed between sexes with males signalling more. For both sexes number of signals was not associated with life expectancy. Interaction of life expectancy and sex was also not significant. In females — body condition influenced number of performed signals when individuals in better body condition signalled more. Most of agonistic interactions was solved by means of signal displays and did not lead to a direct physical combat. While in males association between CBI and number of signals was not significant, in females higher value of CBI means more performed signals. Conditions of our study (sex ratio 4:1 in favor of females, 20 individuals on 16.5 m2 of terrarium) means that agonistic signals have greater importance for females. The agonistic interactions in females led to direct physical combat more frequently could reflect more competitive intra-sexual environment. Females in better body condition probably used higher signalling activity and better performance in direct combat for access to mates and to places for sunbathing and oviposition.

Rapid beard darkening predicts contest outcome, not copulation success, in bearded dragon lizards

Rapid colour change is widespread in animals and allows them to respond dynamically to the physical and social environment. However, few studies have examined the information conveyed by dynamic colour signals in different social contexts, such as courtship and rivalry contests. Furthermore, dynamic colour change on different body regions may be subject to different selection pressures and therefore serve different functions. We tested whether male colour or colour change predicts contest outcome in male–male interactions or the likelihood of copulation attempts in male–female interactions in the central bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps . The extent of beard darkening strongly predicted contest outcome, but neither colour (beard, dorsal) nor colour change predicted copulation attempts. Dorsal colour showed little consistent change and did not predict contest outcome or copulation attempts. Previous work shows that dorsal but not beard colour change occurs in response to both background colour and temperature in the laboratory and in the wild. Taken together, these results indicate that dynamic colour change in bearded dragons varies in relation to social context and can serve different functions depending on the body region. Our results add to the growing appreciation of how rapid colour change enables animals to accommodate the multiple functions of colour, including communication to different receivers, camouflage and thermoregulation. • Male bearded dragon lizards change colour during interactions with other lizards. • Winners had darker beards, and their beard changed more than those of losers. • Residency was the strongest predictor of contest outcome. • Neither colour nor the extent of colour change predicted copulation attempts.

Karyotype Characterisation of Two Australian Dragon Lizards (Squamata: Agamidae: Amphibolurinae) Reveals Subtle Chromosomal Rearrangements Between Related Species with Similar Karyotypes

Agamid lizards (Squamata: Agamidae) are karyotypically heterogeneous. Among the 101 species currently described from Australia, all are from the subfamily Amphibolurinae. This group is, with some exceptions, karyotypically conserved, and all species involving heterogametic sex show female heterogamety. Here, we describe the chromosomes of 2 additional Australian agamid lizards, Tympanocryptis lineata and Rankinia diemensis. These species are phylogenetically and cytogenetically sisters to the well-characterised Pogona vitticeps, but their sex chromosomes and other chromosomal characteristics are unknown. In this study, we applied advanced molecular cytogenetic techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and cross-species gene mapping, to characterise chromosomes and to identify sex chromosomes in these species. Our data suggest that both species have a conserved karyotype with P. vitticeps but with subtle rearrangements in the chromosomal landscapes. We could identify that T. lineata possesses a female heterogametic system (ZZ/ZW) with a pair of sex microchromosomes, while R. diemensis may have heterogametic sex chromosomes, but this requires further investigations. Our study shows the pattern of chromosomal rearrangements between closely related species, explaining the speciation within Australian agamid lizards of similar karyotypes.

Heterochronic Developmental Shifts Underlying Squamate Cerebellar Diversity Unveil the Key Features of Amniote Cerebellogenesis.

Despite a remarkable conservation of architecture and function, the cerebellum of vertebrates shows extensive variation in morphology, size, and foliation pattern. These features make this brain subdivision a powerful model to investigate the evolutionary developmental mechanisms underlying neuroanatomical complexity both within and between anamniote and amniote species. Here, we fill a major evolutionary gap by characterizing the developing cerebellum in two non-avian reptile species—bearded dragon lizard and African house snake—representative of extreme cerebellar morphologies and neuronal arrangement patterns found in squamates. Our data suggest that developmental strategies regarded as exclusive hallmark of birds and mammals, including transit amplification in an external granule layer (EGL) and Sonic hedgehog expression by underlying Purkinje cells (PCs), contribute to squamate cerebellogenesis independently from foliation pattern. Furthermore, direct comparison of our models suggests the key importance of spatiotemporal patterning and dynamic interaction between granule cells and PCs in defining cortical organization. Especially, the observed heterochronic shifts in early cerebellogenesis events, including upper rhombic lip progenitor activity and EGL maintenance, are strongly expected to affect the dynamics of molecular interaction between neuronal cell types in snakes. Altogether, these findings help clarifying some of the morphogenetic and molecular underpinnings of amniote cerebellar corticogenesis, but also suggest new potential molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar complexity in squamates. Furthermore, squamate models analyzed here are revealed as key animal models to further understand mechanisms of brain organization.

Within‐population variation in dietary traits: implications for vulnerability and impact of imperiled keystone predators

AbstractWithin a population of apex predators, differences among individuals can influence both their ecological impact and their vulnerability to threatening processes. Our field studies on a large monitor lizard (Varanus panoptes) in the Australian wet–dry tropics show that diets shift seasonally and depend upon a lizard’s sex and body size. Individuals that had previously been recorded to consume frogs were most at risk following biological invasion by toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina), as were individuals with broad diets during the wet season. As a result, mortality of those individual predators likely reduced predation pressure on other taxa (invertebrates and reptiles) that were frequently consumed by the same lizards that ate frogs, but with less benefit for taxa (e.g., rodents) that were consumed by non‐anuran‐eating individuals within the predator population. In particular, individuals killed by cane toads often had consumed agamid lizards, a group whose abundance has been reported to increase due to toad‐induced mortality of V. panoptes. To understand the vulnerability of apex predators, or the ecological consequences of their extirpation, we need to incorporate the role of variation among individuals in critical ecological traits.

Anti-predatory sleep strategies are conserved in the agamid lizard Monilesaurus rouxii

Sleep is an essential part of animal biology, yet its ecological aspects such as predator avoidance remain understudied, especially in the wild. Sleep behaviour is likely to be subject to selection pressure and evolution, leading to sleep strategies to ensure survival during this vulnerable state. How sleep strategies of animals respond to alteration of macro-habitat has been largely unexplored. This study aimed to determine the effect of habitat type on the sleep ecology of the agamid lizard Monilesaurus rouxii. We carried out field work in the Western Ghats (India) biodiversity hotspot, in two differing habitat types—natural wet evergreen forests and human—modified Areca catechu plantations. We collected data on perches used by lizards for sleep, both in terms of their structural characteristics and their use (e.g. lizard head direction). To determine perch selection, we compared perch use with perch availability in both habitat types. Habitat type had limited influence on sleep perch selection of M. rouxii, with lizards selecting only unstable narrow-girthed plants, suggesting a highly conserved sleep strategy driven by predator avoidance. The majority of sleeping lizards displayed an ‘inward’ head direction, towards the potential path of a predator approaching from the ground. However, this strategy to select for narrow-girthed plants constrained lizards to use lower, unsafe sleep perches in plantations (driven by availability), which could have consequences for their survival. To our knowledge, our study is the first to examine in detail the effect of habitat alteration on sleep strategies in lizards. Sleep strategies of animals in the wild could affect their chances of survival and their performance during active behaviours. ‘Where’ and ‘how’ animals sleep are important aspects of their sleep strategy. However, it is unexplored if these choices would change in response to human modification of the natural habitat. We compared sleep site selection in the semi-arboreal agamid lizard Monilesaurus rouxii in two different habitats (natural and human-modified). Lizards always chose narrow, unstable perch plants to sleep, as they allow for early detection of an approaching predator. In the human-modified habitat (Areca catechu plantations), opting for narrow unstable perches led to lizards using significantly lower perches, probably leaving them vulnerable to predators approaching from the ground. Our results show that exploring sleep strategies in the wild is necessary to properly assess the effects of habitat modification on species.

Autotomy and Regeneration in Squamate Reptiles (Squamata, Reptilia): Defensive Behavior Strategies and Morphological Characteristics (Using Computer Microtomography Methods)

It has been noted that caudal autotomy as a way of defending against predators in recent reptiles is characteristic solely of lepidosaurs and is absent in crocodiles and turtles. It was found that, in the order Rhynchocephalia and in representatives of the majority of families of lizards, intravertebral (IntraVB) autotomy is a widespread phenomenon, whereas agamid lizards and some snakes do not have a break plane, and their tails break between adjacent vertebrae (intervertebral (InterVB) autotomy). The frequencies of occurrence of InterVB autotomy and regeneration in six species of agamas of the genus Paralaudakia were analyzed. Six types of regenerate’s characteristic of the studied group and the anatomical structure of the knob -shaped jagged regenerate are described on the basis of the results of computed microtomography (micro-CT). Phenomena of autotomy and regeneration are discussed in the phylogenetic context.

Cross-Species BAC Mapping Highlights Conservation of Chromosome Synteny across Dragon Lizards (Squamata: Agamidae).

Dragon lizards (Squamata: Agamidae) comprise about 520 species in six subfamilies distributed across Asia, Australasia and Africa. Only five species are known to have sex chromosomes. All of them possess ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes, which are microchromosomes in four species from the subfamily Amphibolurinae, but much larger in Phrynocephalus vlangalii from the subfamily Agaminae. In most previous studies of these sex chromosomes, the focus has been on Australian species from the subfamily Amphibolurinae, but only the sex chromosomes of the Australian central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) are well-characterized cytogenetically. To determine the level of synteny of the sex chromosomes of P. vitticeps across agamid subfamilies, we performed cross-species two-colour FISH using two bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones from the pseudo-autosomal regions of P. vitticeps. We mapped these two BACs across representative species from all six subfamilies as well as two species of chameleons, the sister group to agamids. We found that one of these BAC sequences is conserved in macrochromosomes and the other in microchromosomes across the agamid lineages. However, within the Amphibolurinae, there is evidence of multiple chromosomal rearrangements with one of the BACs mapping to the second-largest chromosome pair and to the microchromosomes in multiple species including the sex chromosomes of P. vitticeps. Intriguingly, no hybridization signal was observed in chameleons for either of these BACs, suggesting a likely agamid origin of these sequences. Our study shows lineage-specific evolution of sequences/syntenic blocks and successive rearrangements and reveals a complex history of sequences leading to their association with important biological processes such as the evolution of sex chromosomes and sex determination.

Covariation in superoxide, sperm telomere length and sperm velocity in a polymorphic reptile

Telomeres are DNA-protein caps at the ends of chromosomes that have been shown to be associated with male fertility may be heritable, reflect environmental influences and predict life span in some taxa. If heritable, paternal telomere length would be transmitted via sperm in the form of sperm telomere length (STL). We, therefore, investigated STL, sperm number and velocity in the Australian-painted dragon lizard, Ctenophorus pictus, an agamid lizard with distinct male colour morphs and related reproductive tactics. We measured telomere length in the sperm and blood as well as superoxide levels, as a measure for the potential for oxidative stress and ejaculate quality. We also noted a male’s head colour (red, orange, yellow or blue) and whether or not they had a yellow gular bib. Previous research has reported that yellow males outcompete red males in sperm competition; we found that yellow males had significantly shorter STL than red males. Males with bibs had greater STL than did males without bibs. Superoxide levels measured in the blood were negatively correlated with STL. Whole blood TL and body length were weakly but positively correlated with STL. Superoxide measurements were negatively correlated with progressive sperm motility and straight line sperm velocity across all males. The ejaculates of males with bibs had lower sperm counts and velocity than males without bibs. Our research adds to the growing research that indicates the importance of considering both somatic and gametic telomeres when assessing the interaction between telomere dynamics, life history and reproductive strategies. Telomeres are DNA-protein caps at the ends of chromosomes that reflect environmental stress may be heritable and epigenetically modified, may predict life span in some taxa and may influence the probability of paternity in sperm competition. Ours is one of the first studies to examine correlates of sperm telomere length in a non-mammalian, polymorphic species, but much more remains to be done. Telomere research in non-model species has focused on survival consequences of variation in telomere traits with less attention paid to the fact that sperm (and egg) telomere biology can link life history traits directly to reproductive physiology. We chose to investigate sperm velocity and sperm telomere length (STL) in the painted dragon lizard, Ctenophorus pictus, an agamid lizard with distinct male morphs and associated reproductive tactics. We also observed morph-specific differences in ejaculate quality and STL; in particular, males with yellow bibs had longer STL but poorer ejaculate quality metrics (e.g., number of sperm, velocity and proportion of progressively motile sperm) than males without the throat patch. The differences in STL between the morphs and the negative relationship between sperm velocity and STL, along with previous work on this species, suggest that telomere length and dynamics may be linked with the reproductive tactics of colour morphs within this species.

Light Microscopic Study of Caryospora sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Savigny’s Agama Trapelus savignii (Reptilia: Agamidae) in Egypt

Developmental stages of a suggested new speciesof CaryosporaLeger, 1904 were described from the agamid lizards Trapelus savigniicaptured during summer 2019 from the Eastern Desert in Egypt. Overall recorded prevalence is 11.65% (12/103) and sporulation is endogenous. Sporulated oocysts are subspherical (70%) to spherical (30%) measuring 22.29–35.74 ×20.91–32.89 μm (length × width). The oocyst wall is bilayered, smooth, and measures 1.46–2.00 μm. Distinctive features of most oocysts include the presence of a sutured edge-like extension on one side of the oocyst wall and the ability of sporocyst contents to form a condensed curved mass within the sporocyst cavity. One or rarely two polar granules are present. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid to ellipsoidal measuring 17.17–22.76 × 12.86–16.76 μm. The morphometric descriptions and measurements of Stieda, sub-Stieda bodies, and sporocyst residuum are determined. Sporozoites are sausage-shaped and measure 5.69–8.59 × 2.08–3.29 μm. Merogonic stages and microgamonts occur mainly in the enterocytes of the small intestine. Endogenous stages are seen mostly with clear large parasitophorous vacuoles. Mature meronts measure 3.95–7.60 × 3.37–7.24μm and yield 3–11 merozoites with the formation of a residual body.Merozoites are banana-shaped measuring 2.51–3.29 × 0.72–1.20μm. A microgamont is noticed measuring in 9.53 × 8.42 μm.

Telomere length varies substantially between blood cell types in a reptile.

Telomeres are repeat sequences of non-coding DNA-protein molecules that cap or intersperse metazoan chromosomes. Interest in telomeres has increased exponentially in recent years, to now include their ongoing dynamics and evolution within natural populations where individuals vary in telomere attributes. Phylogenetic analyses show profound differences in telomere length across non-model taxa. However, telomeres may also differ in length within individuals and between tissues. The latter becomes a potential source of error when researchers use different tissues for extracting DNA for telomere analysis and scientific inference. A commonly used tissue type for assessing telomere length is blood, a tissue that itself varies in terms of nuclear content among taxa, in particular to what degree their thrombocytes and red blood cells (RBCs) contain nuclei or not. Specifically, when RBCs lack nuclei, leucocytes become the main source of telomeric DNA. RBCs and leucocytes differ in lifespan and how long they have been exposed to ‘senescence' and erosion effects. We report on a study in which cells in whole blood from individual Australian painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) were identified using flow cytometry and their telomere length simultaneously measured. Lymphocyte telomeres were on average 270% longer than RBC telomeres, and in azurophils (a reptilian monocyte), telomeres were more than 388% longer than those in RBCs. If this variation in telomere length among different blood cell types is a widespread phenomenon, and DNA for comparative telomere analyses are sourced from whole blood, evolutionary inference of telomere traits among taxa may be seriously complicated by the blood cell type comprising the main source of DNA.