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Diporiphora vescus DOUGHTY, KEALLEY & MELVILLE, 2012

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Higher TaxaAgamidae (Amphibolurinae), Sauria, Iguania, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Northern Pilbara Tree Dragon 
SynonymDiporiphora vescus DOUGHTY, KEALLEY & MELVILLE 2012
Diporiphora vescus — CHAPPLE et al. 2019: 82 
DistributionAustralia (Western Australia: northern Pilbara region)

Type locality: 86 km south of Port Hedland (21°03′36′′S, 118°45′00′′E), Western Australia  
Reproduction 
TypesHolotype: WAM R145536, an adult male collected in May 2001 by R.J. Teale and colleagues. Paratypes. All from Western Australia. WAM R30427, collected 16 km south-west of Port Hedland (20°26′S, 118°33′E); WAM R117871, collected 1 km north of Mundalbullangana Homestead (20°30′S, 118°03′E); WAM R161256, collected 45 km north-east of Whim Creek (20°36′26′′S, 118°09′23′′E); WAM R163224, collected at Cape Lambert (20°37′17′′S, 117°09′06′′E). 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A moderately robust, medium-sized Diporiphora, with gular and scapular folds, post-auricular fold weak, no crests on the forebody, homogeneous dorsal scales with keels parallel to midline, 2–4 precloacal pores, no femoral pores, 63 or more mid-body scale rows, ≤28 fourth toe lamellae, and with pale yellow dorsolateral stripes. Further distinguished from D. valens by smaller body size, less robust habitus, scalation less spiny, slightly longer limbs and tail, lighter background color, fewer dark crossbands and medial marking on gular region usually absent. 
CommentHabitat. Specimens have been collected on sandy and clayey alluvial and colluvial surfaces, and on coastal sand dunes. Two individuals were initially detected perched on fence posts. 
EtymologyThe specific name vescus is Latin for weak, poor, thin, or little, in reference to the more gracile build and less spiny scalation relative to D. valens. Used as a noun in apposition. 
References
  • Chapple, David G.; Reid Tingley, Nicola J. Mitchell, Stewart L. Macdonald, J. Scott Keogh, Glenn M. Shea, Philip Bowles, Neil A. Cox, John C. Z. Woinarski 2019. The Action Plan for Australian Lizards and Snakes 2017. CSIRO, 663 pp. DOI: 10.1071/9781486309474 - get paper here
  • Cogger, H. G. 2014. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 7th ed. CSIRO Publishing, xxx + 1033 pp. - get paper here
  • DOUGHTY, PAUL; LUKE KEALLEY & JANE MELVILLE 2012. Taxonomic assessment of Diporiphora (Reptilia: Agamidae) dragon lizards from the western arid zone of Australia. Zootaxa 3518: 1–24 - get paper here
  • Ellis, Ryan J. 2019. An annotated type catalogue of the dragon lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum. Records of the Western Australian Museum 34: 115–132 - get paper here
 
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