Psammophilus dorsalis (GRAY, 1831)
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Psammophilus dorsalis
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| Higher Taxa | Agamidae (Draconinae), Sauria, Iguania, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: South Indian Rock Agama, Peninsular Rock Agama |
| Synonym | Agama dorsalis GRAY in GRIFFITH & PIDGEON 1831: 56 Agama dorsalis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1837: 486 Charasia dorsalis — GRAY 1845 Charasia dorsalis — ANDERSON 1871: 151 Charasia dorsalis — BOULENGER 1885: 332 Charasia dorsalis — BOETTGER 1892: 71 Charasia dorsalis — HORA & CHOPRA 1923 Psammophilus dorsalis — SMITH 1935: 309 Psammophilus dorsalis — WERMUTH 1967: 95 Psammophilus dorsalis — DAS 1996: 45 Psammophilus dorsalis — MURTHY 2010 Psammophilus cf. dorsalis — KARTHIK et al. 2018 |
| Distribution | S India (Malabar, Mysore, Nilgiris, S Arcot, Nallamali Hills, Bihar, Orissa = Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) Type locality: India. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus). The genus Psammophilus can be distinguished from the genera Cophotis, Ceratophora, Lyriocephalus, Ptyctolaemus, Phoxophrys, Japalura otai Mahony 2009, J. planidorsata Jerdon, 1870, J. sagittifera Smith, 1940 and Otocryptis by the presence of an external tympanum (Boulenger, 1885; Smith, 1935; Inger, 1960; Pethiyagoda & Manamendra-Arachchi 1998; Schulte II et al. 2004; Bahir & Silva 2005; Manamendra-Arachchi et al. 2006; Samarawickrama et al. 2006); from other members of genus Japalura by the absence of heterogenous dorsal scales and short and thick nuchal scales. The genus Psammophilus can be diagnosed from all other species of draconinae lizards from the Indian subcontinent except Calotes minor, in having a dorso-ventrally compressed body. Psammophilus differs from Calotes minor in having small body scales and higher number of around the body scales 80–150 (vs 48–60). Psammophilus are characterized by a medium to large adult body size (SVL mm to mm); body dorso-ventrally compressed; presence of an antehumeral fold; supratympanic spines present, reduced in size; dorsal and lateral scales rows slightly irregular; nuchal and dorsal crest small, reduced; dorsal and lateral scales small, keeled, scale rows directed postero-dorsally. Psammophilus can be distinguished from its sister genus Monilesaurus gen. nov. and Calotes in having a dorso-ventrally compressed body (vs dorso-laterally compressed) and higher number of scales on the mid-body scales (more than 80 vs less than 65) and reduced nuchal crest (vs. well developed); and from Microauris gen. nov. by having a relatively large tympanum (Fig. 9d vs 9b). Scales on head large uniform shield like (vs small, sub-triangular) (Fig. 10c vs 10d). Supratympanic spines are present, in the form of two separated spines vs clusters in Calotes. Psammophilus are sexually dimorphic, adult males are larger than females and have enlarged cheeks. Psammophilus are also sexually dichromatic; during breeding season males acquire bright yellow and orange colors on the dorsum while females remain dull to dark brown with or without orange/ yellow spots (Pal et al. 2018: 437). Additional details (1789 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Type species: Agama dorsalis GRAY in GRIFFITH & PIDGEON 1831 is the type species of the genus Psammophilus FITZINGER 1843: 17. Agama dorsalis GRAY is also the type species of the genus Charasia GRAY 1845: 246. Boulenger (1885), considered Oriocalotes and Charasia to be synonyms of Acanthosaura Gray 1831. |
| Etymology | From the Latin dorsalis (of the back), relating to the characteristic dorsal pattern. Gray did not provide an explanation for the genus name, but probably from Latin “Psammo” meaning sand and “Philus” meaning loving. |
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