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Phrynocephalus Maculates Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (3) September-December, pp.60-67/Hojati et al. Research Article A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE BLACK-TAILED TOAD AGAMA, PHRYNOCEPHALUS MACULATUS MACULATUS IN IRAN *Vida Hojati, Mahsa Malekmohammadi and Soheila Rahmani Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT The understudied Black-tailed toad agama, Phrynocephalus maculatus maculatus, (Anderson, 1872) belongs to the Agamidae family. Iranian specimens are rare in collections and are distributed in the central and south-eastern deserts of Iran. In this research, biological studies including food habits, morphology, behaviors and habitats of these species were performed from April to September, 2013. A total of 30 adult specimens including 15 adult males and 15 adult females were collected by hand at midday from southern parts of Damghan County, located in Semnan Province of Iran. Results show that the animal is active from early April to September, and that it hibernates from October to March. They are sit-and-wait predators. They are insectivores and their main food items belong to seven insect families including: Formicidae, Tenebrionidae, Acrididae, Noctuidae, Termitidae, Muscidae and Ixodidae. No plant consumption was observed in this species. This agama inhabits the desert, especially harder sandy surfaces. Ph. maculatus maculatus is a fairly understudied subspecies in the Middle East region and this study presents some useful information regarding this poorly known animal. Keywords: Lizards, Agamidae, Phrynocephalus Maculatus Maculatus, Food Habit, Morphology INTRODUCTION The Spotted Toad-headed Agama, Phrynocephalus maculatus, is a member of Agamidae family, which is also known as the chameleons of the Old World due to their striking ability to change their body color (Firouz, 2005). This species originates from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan Turkmenistan, Syria, Oman, northern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The only identified subspecies of this species in Iran is Black-tailed toad agama, Ph. maculatus maculatus (Anderson, 1872) scattered on the Central Plateau of Iran, at elevations between 500 and 3000 m, east through southern Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and extending into Nushki, Pakistan (Anderson, 1999). Ph. maculatus longicaudatus (Haas, 1957) is found along the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, and may extend into both Iraq and south- western Iran. No species of Phrynocephalus crosses the Zagros Mountains and there are no ecologically continuous areas between the present ranges of Ph. m. maculatus and Ph. m. longicaudatus (Anderson, 1999). Iranian specimens are rare in collections and are distributed in the central and south-eastern deserts of Iran. This agama inhabits desert regions, desiring harder sandy surfaces (Hellyer and Aspinall, 2005). This animal is capable of sinking rapidly into the sand through vibrating the body in a process called ‘shimmy burial’, and this behavior is used to escape from predators or create a nocturnal shelter (Firouz, 2005; Hellyer and Aspinall, 2005). This species has yet to be assessed by the IUCN. Consequently, it is currently unclear whether there are many major threats to the species or not (Alsharhan et al., 2008). Like many other species of reptile in the Middle East, the spotted toad-headed agama is a fairly understudied species. As such, it is currently unclear if there are many major threats to the species. Since no enough information is available regarding the biology of this subspecies, this research was performed to conduct preliminary studies on the biology including food habits, morphology, behaviors and habitats of this subspecies in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: all specimens were collected from the four following stations: Hassan Abad, Saleh Abad, Alian and Yazdan Abad villages located in south of Damghan County, Semnan Province (54°19′E, © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 60 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (3) September-December, pp.60-67/Hojati et al. Research Article 35°55′N). Damghan is situated 1170 m above sea level and north of the Central Kavir Desert (Figures 1 and 2). Sampling: sampling was conducted periodically during the activity period of this species from April to September, 2013. All specimen collections were by hand, from 9 AM to 4 PM. In total, 30 specimens (15 adult males and 15 adult females) were captured. To study their morphology, food habits and behavior, some specimens were kept in terrarium. Methods: the specimens were transferred alive to the Zoology Laboratory of Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch. Their food habits and behaviors were studied both in terrarium and in the environment. Figure 1: Map showing the sampling site (Damghan County) in northern Iran Figure 2: Hassan Abad station located in south of Damghan County, Semnan Province, Iran © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 61 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (3) September-December, pp.60-67/Hojati et al. Research Article Then, they were anaesthetized by chloroform and morphological characters including W (Weight), SVL (South-Vent Length), TL (Tail Length) and HL (Head Length), HW (Head Width), and SMB (Scales around the Middle of the Body) were measured. Length, width and diameter measurements were done by a dial caliper with an accuracy of 0.02 mm. Weight was measured by a scale with an accuracy of 0.001 g. Then animals were dissected and the stomach containing was fixed in 10% formalin. Data was analyzed by SPSS 18 software, one-way ANOVA and Tukey test to compare biometric data among monthly samples (P> 0.05). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results Morphology: There was no cutaneous fold at angle of mouth (Figure 3) and nasal scales were separated by one to three scales (Figure 4). No fringe of scales occurred on posterior border of tight and sides of base of tail. Sides of head and neck were without projecting fringe-like scales. Dorsal scales were homogeneous. There were no enlarged scales along flanks. Scales on vertebral region were considerably larger than those on flanks. Tail length was 140-158 percent of snout-vent length. Dorsum was light gray, flecked with lighter and darker pigments. There were four indistinct dark broad transverse marks on their back which were absent on large adults. Limbs and toes were barred with dark gray in young specimens; tail barred with dark gray dorsally in young, fading to indistinct spots in adults; barred with light gray on posterior half, coalescing with age to form more or less uniform gray ventral surface of distal half of tail of young lizards of both sexes sometimes with considerable orange-red in life. SVL and LCD of males reach to 66.67 and 102.18 mm, respectively. SVL and LCD of females reached to 60 and 85 mm, respectively. Table 1 indicates the descriptive statistics of morphometrical characters in males and females. Table 1: Descriptive statistics of the males (M) and females (F) of Phrynocephalus maculatus maculatus Mean Characters Sex N Minimum Maximum Statistic Std. Error Std. Deviation Variance W (g) M 15 5.36 11.04 7.72 0.409 1.58 2.51 F 15 3.93 9.36 5.20 0.395 1.53 2.34 SVL (mm) M 15 51.91 66.76 60.05 1.042 4.03 16.30 F 15 39.00 60.00 50.34 1.293 5.01 25.10 LCD (mm) M 15 85.00 102.18 92.32 1.153 4.46 19.95 F 15 69.98 85.93 78.53 1.066 4.12 17.05 HL (mm) M 15 11.17 15.54 13.23 0.300 1.16 1.35 F 15 11.34 14.32 12.19 0.194 0.75 0.56 HW (mm) M 15 11.23 13.54 12.57 0.167 0.64 0.42 F 15 10.10 14.37 11.51 0.278 1.07 1.16 SMB M 15 92 118 99.80 4.613 17.86 319.17 F 15 97.00 115.00 106.73 1.538 5.95 35.49 © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 62 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (3) September-December, pp.60-67/Hojati et al. Research Article Figure 3: Phrynocephalus maculatus maculates Figure 4: Phrynocephalus maculatus maculatus Food Habits: Ph. maculatus maculatus is insectivore and its prey items identified in their stomach and in the environment are shown in Table 2. There is no significant difference in prey items of males and females. Larger and adult specimens can take larger insects. They are sit-and-wait predators. The most abundant prey items observed in their locality and found in their stomach were ants belonging to Formicidae family (Figure 5). Figures 6 to 11 demonstrate the identified prey items in Ph. maculatus maculatus. © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 63 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol. 3 (3) September-December, pp.60-67/Hojati et al. Research Article Table 2: Prey items in Phrynocephalus maculatus maculatus Class Order Family Name Frequency of Prey Items (%) Male Females Insecta Hymenoptera Formicidae Ants 82 84 Coleoptera Tenebrionidae Darkling Beetle 7 4 Orthoptera Acrididae Desert Locusts 3 2 Lepidoptera Noctuidae Moths 2 3 Isoptera Termitidae Termites 2 2 Diptera Muscidae Domestic Flies 2 3 Arachnida Acarina Ixodidae Ticks 2 2 Figure 5: Ant-hunting in Phrynocephalus maculatus maculatus in Hassan Abad, Iran Figure 6: Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae(Figure 7: Ant (Formicidae) © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 64 Cibtech Journal of Zoology ISSN: 2319–3883 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjz.htm 2014 Vol.
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