Sexual Dimorphism in Laudakia erythrogastra (Sauria: Agamidae) from Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeastern Iran

Hossein Aghili, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Mehdi Rajabizadeh, Haji Gholi Kami, Bahram Hassanzadeh Kiabi

Abstract


To investigate patterns of sexual dimorphism in the topotypes of Laudakia erythrogastra, seven morphometric and seven meristic characters were examined in 21 specimens including nine males and 12 females, collected from Fariman in northeastern regions of the Iranian Plateau. Results show that males of Laudakia erythrogastra having more pronounced ornamentation and are darker in coloration than the females. As well, males bearing longer head and limbs with regard to their body compared to females. Sexual dimorphism in Laudakia erythrogastra is more obvious than the other species of Laudakia in Iran which seems to be due to habitat specificity of this species.

Keywords


Agamidae; Laudakia erythrogastra; sexual dimorphism; habitat specificity; Fariman; northeastern Iran

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2010-17-1-51-58

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