Sitana visiri DEEPAK, 2016
Find more photos by Google images search:
Higher Taxa | Agamidae (Draconinae), Sauria, Iguania, Squamata (lizards) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Palm leaf fan-throated lizard |
Synonym | Sitana visiri DEEPAK in DEEPAK et al. 2016 |
Distribution | India (Tamil Nadu) Type locality: Tuticorin, georeferenced latitude N 8.784993°, longitude E 78.156341°, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu state. |
Reproduction | oviparous. Breeding males were observed during the month of September and October. Hatchlings were recorded during the month of January. |
Types | Holotype: NCBS AQ054, adult male, collected by V. Deepak and M. Kannan on 17 October 2013. Paratypes. CES 141163, adult male, BNHS 2310 adult female, Tuticorin, georeferenced latitude N8.784993°, longitude E78.156341°, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu state, collected by V. Deepak and M. Kannan on 17 October 2013. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis: Sitana visiri sp. nov. can be distinguished from all the members of Sitana spinaecephalus clade in having a strongly serrated dewlap with extensive blue colouration and a large orange spot (Fig. 3G). Sitana visiri sp. nov. can be distinguished from Sitana ponticeriana, S. bahiri, and S. devakai in having proportionally larger dewlap that extends up to 56% of the length of the trunk (vs 46%, 29%, and 33%, respectively). Additionally Sitana visiri sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other four members of S. ponticeriana clade in having a large SVL; males (50.0 ± 5.2), females (48.5 ± 2.5) vs. S. ponticeriana males (40.5 ± 2.5), females (41.8 ± 4.6); S. bahiri males (40.5- 45.0), females (44.1-46.9); S. devakai males (40.0- 45.6), females (42.0-44.9). Details on morphometric data, scale counts and body ratios of select characters for multiple samples are given in Table 3, 7 and 8 in Deepak et al. 2016: 77, 90. |
Comment | Distribution: see map in Deepak et al. 2016: 80 (Fig. 8). Habitat. coastal sand dunes, grassland habitats, Prosopis juliflora dominated areas, and grassland plains in the southern Tamil Nadu. Sympatry: Eutropis carinata, Eutropis bibroni, and Calotes versicolor. |
Etymology | The species epithet is derived from the regional Tamil language for a palm leaf fan, a hand crafted fan made from palm leaf. The dewlap of this species resembles a local palm leaf fan. |
References |
|
External links |