Number Of Subdigital Lamellae Research Articles

Genetic and morphological variability among the populations assigned to the genus Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in south Iran

Geckos of the genus Tropiocolotes are known from Africa through the Middle East to Iran and currently include ten recognized species. Recently Tropiocolotes naybandensis was described from Iran based on morphological data. Here, we confirm the taxonomic status of this species using both molecular and morphological data, and compare it with other populations of Tropiocolotes from Iran. A distinct new clade with high node support from southern Iran shows high genetic divergence from the clade of T. naybandensis and T. steudneri from Africa. Based on morphological examinations, three meristic characters differentiate the two clades: (1) number of gulars; (2) number of subdigital lamellae under first toe; (3) number of postmental scales. Data from two mtDNA genes (16S rRNA and COI) indicate mean genetic divergences for 16S and COI between T. naybandensis and a population from Bandar-e Lengeh of 3.8% and 6.2%, respectively. In addition, the genetic divergences between these two groups and a sample of T. steudneri from Egypt are 10.8% and 10.1% for 16S and 18% and 16.7% for COI, respectively. We thus confirm the specific status of T. naybandensis and present evidence for the existence of a new species level taxon of Tropiocolotes in south Iran.

Man‐made environmental changes affect the boundary between two taxa of Laudakia

AbstractThis project tested whether, and how, man‐made changes in the environment would affect the boundary between parapatric‐related taxa of Laudakia (Reptilia: Agamidae), whose distributions meet at a boundary between ecological regions. Israel is ecologically diverse with a mesic (Mediterranean) north and an arid (Saharo‐Arabian) south. The lizard hardun Laudakia stellio is represented in Israel mainly by two subspecies: the Mediterranean Lau. s. ssp. and the desert Lau. s. brachydactyla. These are conventionally distinguished by the key character, number of subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe, visible in museum specimens examined for the purpose. The results revealed that during 1935–1978, the boundary between the two subspecies had shifted 15 km southwards. This is interpreted as resulting from the documented southwards spread of irrigated agriculture. During this time, the average subdigital count of each subspecies near the inter‐taxa boundary shifted slightly towards the average of the other subspecies. In each subspecies, in this area, at the same time, the coefficient of variation of the subdigital count increased. The last two processes are interpreted as reflecting reciprocal migration, enhanced by the documented expanded road system and intensified human transportation. Hence, in this case, anthropogenic developments have changed both the location and the genetic structure of the boundary between two parapatric taxa.

A new species of prehensile‐tailed gecko, Urocotyledon (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

A new species of prehensile‐tailed gecko of the genus Urocotyledon is described from the dry western slopes of the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. The species is most similar to its west African congeners, differing significantly from U. wolterstorffi of the Usambara and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania in scalation, tail shape, and coloration. The new species differs from all other members of the genus in its reduced number of subdigital lamellae. This is the first putatively endemic species of reptile to be identified from the dry forest of the western slopes of the Udzungwa Mountains. Its presence suggests that more survey effort should be made in drier areas of the Eastern Arc Mountains.

New Cnemidophorus (Squamata: Teiidae) from Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil

A new lizard species of the genus Cnemidophorus (Teiidae) is described from Dunas do Abaeté, Salvador Municipality, Bahia State, northeastern Brazil, where it occurs in sympatry with Cnemidophorus ocellifer. The new species is characterized by normally having three rather than four supraoculars as in the other known members of the ocellifer complex. Its tail is bright blue-green, in contrast to the brownish tail of C. ocellifer. The new species differs conspicuously from the closely related congeners C. ocellifer, Cnemidophorus nativo, and Cnemidophorus littoralis in color pattern and in certain meristic characters, such as the number of femoral pores, number of subdigital lamellae on fingers and toes, and counts of transverse ventral scale rows.

Malagasy scincid lizards: descriptions of nine new species, with notes on the morphology, reproduction and taxonomy of some previously described species (Reptilia, Squamata: Scincidae)

AbstractThe taxonomy and/or natural history of 33 species of scincid lizards from Madagascar are reviewed. Most of the material, consisting of 187 specimens now housed in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Turin, Italy, has been collected recently, but some dates to the 19th century. Nine new species are described in three genera: Amphiglossus mandady, A. nanus, A. spilostichus, A. stylu, A. tanysoma, Paracontias manify, P. hafa, P. tsararano and Pseudoacontiasmenamainty, increasing the known skink fauna of Madagascar (62 species) by 14.5%. All the new species come from the closed forests of north‐eastern Madagascar. Additionally, Amphiglossus praeornatus is resurrected from the synonymy of A. frontoparietalis, and Androngo alluaudi, A. crenni and A. elongatus are transferred to the genus Amphiglossus. There is also a key to the species of Paracontias and a new interspecifically variable character for Mabuya. Information on morphological variation, basic reproductive biology, habits and habitats is provided, as available, for all species. Perhaps most interestingly, Amphiglossus nanus n. sp. represents the eighth skink lineage in which an oviduct has been lost and Amphiglossus melanopleura decreases the number of longitudinal scale rows at mid‐body and the number of subdigital lamellae with altitude.

Behavioural and morphological asymmetries in hindlimbs of Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Lacertilia: Gekkonomorpha: Gekkota: Diplodactylinae)

This study reports an association of behavioural and morphological directional asymmetries at the level of individual lizards. I counted all subdigital lamellae (scales) under the toes of 57 Hoplodactylus duvaucelii on North Brother Island, New Zealand. Geckos released first from the substrate the hindlimb that had fewer subdigital lamellae than the other hindlimb. Analyses of data from the literature show that in geckos, clinging ability increases with the number of subdigital lamellae, especially after variation in body mass is accounted for. Assuming that grasping (an active process) and clinging (a passive process) abilities are correlated, the association of behavioural and morphological asymmetry among individuals could be interpreted in functional terms: geckos lift first from the substrate the hindlimb that has the lowest ability to stick to the substrate.

NewCnemidophorus(Squamata; Teiidae) from Coastal Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil

A new lizard species of the genus Cnemidophorus (Teiidae) is described from Barra de Maricá, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. The species is characterized by having a narrow pale vertebral stripe, with two irregular narrow stripes [one dorsolateral (sometimes broken) and one lateral] on each side of it, and a sequence of small pale dashes on each side of the dorsal field. Its tail is bright blue-green, in contrast to the brownish tail of C. ocellifer. The new species has higher counts of femoral pores on each side (12–20) than the closely related species C. ocellifer (7–12) and C. nativo (11–13) and differs further from those species in other morphometric and meristic characters, such as the number of subdigital lamellae on fingers and toes and transversal and longitudinal counts of ventral scale rows.Uma nova espécie de lagarto do gênero Cnemidophorus (Teiidae) é descrita de Barra de Maricá, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. A espécie é caracterizada por uma listra vertebral clara e estreita e duas listras irregulares (uma dorsolateral [que pode ser interrompida] e uma lateral) de cada lado da mesma, com uma sequência de pequenos pontos claros de cada lado do campo dorsal. Sua cauda é verde-azulada, contrastando com a cauda marrom de C. ocellifer. A nova espécie possui mais poros femorais de cada lado (12–20) do que as espécies próximas C. ocellifer (7–12) e C. nativo (11–13), e difere destas também em outros caracteres merísticos, como o número de lamelas subdigitais dos dedos e artelhos e as contagens transversais e longitudinais de escamas ventrais.

Evidence that minor directional asymmetry is functional in lizard hindlimbs

AbstractI examined directional asymmetry (DA) in the number of subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe (MDA) and in injury frequency (IDA) on the hindlimbs of eight Agamidae. In no species were MDA and IDA statistically significant, neither was there significant sexual dimorphism in MDA. But a strong, positive relationship exists between MDA and IDA, contrasting with the weak positive correlation between the side of injury and the morphologically dominant side in individual lizards. Therefore the relationship between MDA and IDA results from an evolutionary process, probably involving higher survival after injury of the morphologically dominant side. This process suggests functional importance of DA in the frame of evolution caused by unsuccessful predation.

Hybrid Cnemidophorus (Sauria: Teiidae) in Ninemile Valley of the Purgatoire River, Colorado

Canonical variate analysis (CVA) of color pattern and scutellation characters in lizards collected in Ninemile Valley of the Purgatoire River at Higbee, Otero Co., Colorado graphically depicted two forms of parthenogenetic Cnemidophorus tesselatus (diploid color pattern class C and triploid color pattern class B), gonochoristic C. sexlineatus, and hybrid C. tesselatus x C. sexlineatus as four morphologically distinctive groups. A newly obtained male specimen with a C. tesselatus-like color pattern entered as an unknown was classified to the hybrid group in the CVA. It represented the fourth tetraploid hybrid C. tesselatus B(3n) x C. sexlineatus collected in the valley. A female specimen was also classified to the hybrid group by the CVA. A triploid karyotype (3n = 69) and color pattern identified this female as a putative C. tesselatus C(2n) x C. sexlineatus hybrid. Whereas male hybrids are presumably sterile and biological novelties at most, the possibility remains that a female hybrid could be the founder of a new parthenogenetic lineage. Zweifel (1965) informally described six color pattern classes of parthenogenetic lizards (A, B, C, D, E, F) in the Cnemidophorus tesselatus complex (family Teiidae) of which four (A-D) were reported from Colorado. Wright and Lowe (1967a) found that pattern classes A and B were triploid hybrid derivatives and pattern classes CF were diploid hybrid derivatives. Analyses of morphology (Walker et al., 1990) and karyology (Cordes, 1991) identified three of Zweifel's pattern classes of C. tesselatus in sympatry in Ninemile Valley of the Purgatoire River at Higbee, Otero Co., Colorado rather than two as indicated by Zweifel (1965), Densmore et al. (1989), and Wright (1993). These included diploid C. tesselatus C and D and triploid B, not triploid pattern class C as indicated by Parker and Selander (1976), Densmore et al. (1989), Wright (1993), and Leuck (1993). We found that the Ninemile Valley triploid population was morphologically indistinguishable from the pattern class B population described by Zweifel (1965) from Pueblo Co., Colorado. In samples collected in the valley since 1960 by various workers, diploid C. tesselatus outnumbered triploid C. tesselatus by a combined ratio of over 7:1. Moderate numbers of the gonochoristic species C. sexlineatus, the paternal parent of triploid C. tesselatus B (Wright and Lowe, 1967a; Parker and Selander, 1976), were also found in many parts of the area sampled. Four hybrid male C. tesselatus x C. sexlineatus were included in these collections. Three of these were described, and their probable parental forms identified as triploid C. tesselatus B x C. sexlineatus, by Walker et al. (1990). In the present study we describe the most recently collected hybrid male Cnemidophorus, infer its putative parentage on the basis of critical morphological characters, and evaluate the possibility of a hybrid origin for a female specimen displaying an ambiguous combination of classification characters. MATERIALS AND METHODS-Characters of scutellation that were quantitatively analyzed included: number of granules around midbody (GAB), number of granules from occiput to rump (OR), sum of left and right femoral pores (FP), number of subdigital lamellae on the longest toe of the left pes (SDL), sum of left and right circumorbital scales (COS), sum of This content downloaded from 207.46.13.57 on Mon, 08 Aug 2016 05:24:23 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 236 The Southwestern Naturalist vol. 39, no. 3

Directional asymmetry in reptiles (Sauria: Gekkonidae: Ptyodactylus) and its possible evolutionary role, with implications for biometrical methodology

In a study of morphological directional asymmetry (DA) on the population level, four characters were bilaterally examined in geckos (museum specimens, total n Ptyodactylus puiseuxi, P. guttatus and P. hasselquistii, from Israel and Sinai. Significant DA occurred in adults in five or six out of 12 character‐taxon‐combinations (CTCs): number of supralabilia in P. puiseuxi and guttatus, length of ear aperture in puiseuxi and hasselquistii; number of subdigital lamellae in guttatus; and width of the digital pad in hasselquistii. The average magnitude of DA per CTC ranged from 1.5 to 5% of organ size, without correlation to organ size. Side dominance varied, mostly witin characters between taxa. No sexual differences in DA were significant, although for two CTCs DA was significant only in one sex. Presumably neutral or pleiotropically‐adaptive DA is a potential base for the evolution of functional DA. One practical conclusion is that in comparative biometrical studies, bilateral characters should not be examined consistently on only one side.

Systematics of the Anoles of San Andres and Providencia Islands, Colombia

A systematic review of the anoles (formerly known as Anolis concolor) of the western Caribbean islands of San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, indicates that each island population forms a distinct species. The two species differ from each other in size, arrangement of cephalic scales, number of subdigital lamellae, color of the dewlap and venter, and habitat utilization. The San Andres population should be known as Anolis concolor Cope, and the Providencia species as Anolis pinchoti Cochran. Anolis concolor is typical of single-anole-island species, being sexually divergent in size and habitat occurrence. Anolis pinchoti is smaller, and the sexes share the same habitat. Hypotheses considered to explain this condition were effect of geographic position, failed invasions, predation by other lizards, and the possibility that A. pinchoti is a very recent colonist.

A new species of Tarentola (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Desert of Egypt

BAHA EL DIN, S.M. 1997. A new species of Tarentola (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Desert of Egypt. Afr. J. Herpetol.46(1): 30–35. A new species of Tarentola is described from the Western Desert of Egypt. The species belongs to the subgenus Tarentola. Morphologically, it differs from other members of the subgenus chiefly in having large and homogenous temporal scales, enlarged postmentals, low number of subdigital lamellae, reduced dilation of digits and dark colour. It also differs ecologically in being primarily arboreal and ground dwelling. the other members of the subgenus being largely rupicolous. The species is known to occur sympatrically with at least one other member of the Tarentola subgenus. Hitherto, the species is only known from the periphery of the Qattara Depression. but its range is probably larger.

Distribution and Variation of the Mexican Lizard, Anolis barkeri Schmidt (Iguanidae), with Redescription of the Species

Anolis barkeri is placed in the fuscoauratus species-series of the Beta section of the genus. The known range of the species lies entirely within the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. The lizards are restricted to the immediate vicinity of streams of moderate to steep gradient in areas of undisturbed tropical moist and tropical wet forest. Variation in four characters of head scalation may be due to random genetic drift within small, isolated populations or to adaptation to local conditions. Interpopulational variation in the number of subdigital lamellae may be due to the differential action of natural selection. Two pattern phases were observed, and the predominance of one or the other in a particular sample is probably associated with protective coloration. The present pattern of distribution is related to climatic change in the Pleistocene when a dispersal corridor opened between the Los Tuxtlas region in Veracruz and the areas to the south. The corridor is presently ecologically unsuitable to A. barkeri.