DOCSLIB.ORG

Studies in African Agama I. on the Taxonomic Status of Agama Lionotus Usambarae

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Studies in African Agama I. on the Taxonomic Status of Agama Lionotus Usambarae ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa Jahr/Year: 2007 Band/Volume: 20_1_2 Autor(en)/Author(s): Wagner Philipp Artikel/Article: Studies in African Agama I. On the taxonomic status of Agama lionotus usambarae Barbour & Loveridge, 1928 69-73 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 20 (1/2) Wien, 30. Juli 2007 SHORT NOTE 69 In a recent review of East African rep- KEY WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Sauria: tiles (SPAWLS et al. 2002), the range of T. Scincidae, Trachylepis dichroma, type locality, range, brevicollis was shown to extend through morphology, Tanzania northern and eastern Kenya, with three iso- SUBMITTED: August 22, 2006 lated localities in northern Tanzania (Buly- AUTHORS: Dr. William R. BRANCH, Depart- ment of Herpetology, Port Elizabeth Museum, P.O. anhulu, south of Smith Sound; Serengeti; Box 13147, Humewood 6013, South Africa < wrbranch and Tarangire). The first two localities are @bayworld.co.za >; Alastair KILPIN, Klein's Camp, relatively close to the new material from Box 751, Arusha, Tanzania < [email protected] >; Klein's Camp, and may therefore be refer- Joe BERADUCCI, M.B.T'S Snake Farm and Reptile Centre, P.O. Box 2282, Arusha, Tanzania < arjoembt@ able to T. dichroma. The Klein's Camp pop- habari.co.tz >. ulation extends the species' distribution approximately 170 km WSW of the nearest Kenyan population (Nairobi National Park; Studies in African Agama I. WASONGA & MALONZA 2006) and 190 km NW of the centre of the restricted type lo- On the taxonomic status of cality. Whether these populations are con- Agama lionotus usambarae fluent remains unknown. WASONGA & BARBOUR & LOVERIDGE, 1928 MALONZA (2006) noted that Kenyan popula- tions were scattered, and appeared to be BARBOUR & LOVERIDGE (1928) de- restricted to arid and semi-arid lands in the scribed Agama colonorum usambarae based south-central, eastern and northeastern on a series of 22 specimens (holotype: Mu- regions. Similar large skinks have been seum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge/ seen (AK) inhabiting termite mounds in Mass. [MCZ R-24129]; paratypes: MCZ [R- open grassland in the Mara, all in open 24130-39], Field Museum of Natural His- grassland, but whether they are T. brevicol- tory, Chicago [FMNH 12280-7]) from Soni, lis or T. dichroma is unknown. near Lusotho at the Usambara Mountains in SPAWLS et al. (2002) records the altitu- Tanzania. Eight paratypes come from Mnazi, dinal limit of T. brevicollis (including T. the northern side of the Usambara Moun- dichroma) as up to 1500 m asl, but sites for tains; the other paratypes from the same T. dichroma at Klein's Camp are all above locality as the holotype. Three more para- 1750 m asl, and most over 1800 m asl. types, not catalogued at the time of the de- Further surveys are necessary to determine scription, were located at the MCZ. Mean- the ranges of T. brevicollis and T. dichroma while one of them got the number MCZ R- within Tanzania, and also to determine 166832 (ROSADO; pers. comm.). The other whether the low midbody scale row counts two paratypes are stored at other institutions: (30-32) in specimens from Garrisa, Tana one was exchanged with the Transvaal River Valley, eastern Kenya (WASONGA & Museum (TM 16656) (MASHININI; pers. MALONZA 2006) have taxonomic signifi- comm.), the other is now located in the col- cance. lection of the Zoological Museum Hamburg ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: WRB is grateful to (ZMH R04419) and was examined for this CC Africa for the opportunity to visit and work in their study. All three have the same locality as the superb facilities at Klein's Camp, Tanzania. holotype. REFERENCES: BRANCH, W. R. & RODEL, M- Through the recognition of Agama co- O. (2003): Herpetological survey of the Haute Dodo and Cavally Forests, western Côte d'Ivoire. Part 2. lonorum as a replacement name for Lacerta Trapping results and Reptiles.- Salamandra, Rheinbach agama LINNAEUS, 1758 by DAUDIN (1802), 39 (1): 21-38. GÜNTHER R & WHITING, A. & BAUER, A. A. colonorum usambarae was regarded as a M. (2005): Description of a new species of African subspecies of Agama agama and believed to skink of the genus Trachylepis (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae).- Herpetozoa 18 (1/2): 11 -24. SPAWLS, S. be endemic to the Usambara Mountains & HOWELL, K. & DREWS, R. & ASHE, J. (2002): A field (BROADLEY & HOWELL 1991) in Tanzania. guide to the reptiles of East Africa. London (Academic After the overdue separation of the Agama Press); 543 pp. WASONGA, D. V. & MALONZA, P. K. lionotus complex from Agama agama sensu (2006): Presence of Trachylepis dichroma GÜNTHER, WHITING and BAUER, 2005 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scin- strictu by BÖHME et al. (2005), its taxonom- cidae) in Kenya.- African J. Herpetol., Pretoria; 55 (1): ic status was changed to Agama lionotus 75-78. usambarae. Since its description nobody ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at 70 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 20 (1/2) Wien, 30. Juli 2007 SHORT NOTE Fig. 1: Colour pattern of the throat of adult males of the Agama Iionotus complex. A-A. I. Iionotus (ZFMK 83646); B -A.I. elgonis (ZFMK 82065); C - A. I. usambarae (holotype MCZ R-24129); D-A. I. dodomae (ZFMK 83706); E-A. I. ufipae (holotype MCZ R-30741); F - A. I. usambarae (original drawing of the holotype). ZFMK - Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. has worked on the taxon and additional colonorum' (=Agama agama sensu strictu), material was apparently not collected. So, because the comparative material was from Agama I. usambarae is only known from West and Central Africa and did not include the type series. East African specimens. The examination In the original description, the type of the type material clearly indicates that A. series was compared with 32 specimens of Iionotus usambarae belongs to the Agama Agama agama from West and Central Africa Iionotus complex, so it was only to be com- (Senegal, Liberia, Cameroon, Gabon and pared with the subspecies referred to as Congo), with the following results: The type Agama Iionotus. BÖHME et al. (2005) re- series showed (1 ) much broader head of old garded the following taxa belonging to this males; (2) more depressed body, though not complex: A. Iionotus Iionotus BOULENGER, as depressed as in Iionotus; (3) median rows 1896; A. Iionotus dodomae LOVERIDGE, of dorsal scales less keeled than in the typi- 1923; A. Iionotus elgonis LÖNNBERG, 1922; cal 'colonorum''; (4) dorsal scales only A. Iionotus ufipae LOVERIDGE, 1932; and A. slightly mucronate, not ending in such long I. usambarae. These subspecies are easily spines as in 'colonorum'; and (5) crimson distinguished by the color pattern of the coloring of the head of males as against the throat of adult males (see Fig. 1 ). The no- brick-red of Liberian specimens. minotypical subspecies has a crimson col- Only the second character refers to the oration with darker V-shaped lines following nominate form of A. Iionotus as currently the outline of the lower jaw. Agama I. elgo- recognized, but the authors did not define nis displays the same coloration, however the subspecies used in their comparison. All with a dark U-shaped bar on the base of the other characteristics refer to typical 'Agama throat. In contrast, Agama I. dodomae has a ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 20 (1/2) Wien, 30. Juli 2007 SHORT NOTE 71 Fig. 2: The underside of adult males of the Agama lionotus complex. From left to right: A. I. ufipae (holotype MCZ R-30741); A. I. dodomae (ZFMK 83706); A. I. elgonis (ZFMK 82065); A. I. lionotus (ZFMK 83646) and A. I. usambarae (paratype ZMH R04419). ZFMK - Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. dark metallic-blue throat with a cream to red type series lie within the range of the counts colored central rhombus. Agama I. ufipae of A. I. lionotus and have nearly the same shows a uniform dark, throat, in nature prob- averages. This is also true with the preanal ably also metallic-blue with three dots at the pores. Males of A. I. lionotus have usually base. From this broad scale comparison, A. one row (sometimes two rows) with 10 to I. usambarae is most similar to the nomino- 16 pores (15 to 29 if there are two rows) and typical form and has to be compared with the an average of 12.6 pores per row. The holo- latter in detail. Already BARBOUR & LOVE- type of A. I. usambarae presents a single RIDGE (1928) pointed out that the characters row of 12 preanal pores and there are 10 to length of the longest spines in the ear region 14 with an average of 12 in a single row in relative to the diameter of tympanum and the the paratypes. elongate scales on the middle of the snout On the basis of the above counts, the are of little discriminating value because of distinction of the nominal subspecies liono- high variability. tus and usambarae is not warranted. A more In general, African agamids show high useful discriminating character in the liono- variation in scale counts. In a series of 64 tus complex seems to be the coloration in specimens of Agama I. lionotus the scale adult males, especially of the throat. How- counts around midbody vary between 67 ever, as mentioned above, the color pattern and 91, with an average of 76.8 in the males of the throat is the same in A. I. usambarae and 75.6 in the females (BURMANN 2006 and and the nominotypical subspecies. The own unpubl. data). In this respect the type same applies to the tail which is ultramarine series of Agama I.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination and Gonadal Differentiation in Reptiles
    CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 55 (1999) 887–900 1420-682X/99/070887-14 $ 1.50+0.20/0 © Birkha¨user Verlag, Basel, 1999 Temperature-dependent sex determination and gonadal differentiation in reptiles C. Pieau*, M. Dorizzi and N. Richard-Mercier Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS, and Universite´s Paris 6 et Paris 7, 2 Place Jussieu, F-75251 Paris Cedex 05 (France), Fax +33 1 44 27 36 60, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. In many reptile species, sexual differentiation weak differences in aromatase activity, suggesting subtle of gonads is sensitive to temperature during a critical regulations of the aromatase gene at the transcription period of embryonic development (thermosensitive pe- level. Temperature could intervene in these regulations. riod, TSP). Experiments carried out with different mod- Present studies deal with cloning (complementary els among which turtles, crocodilians and lizards have DNAs) and expression (messenger RNAs) of genes that demonstrated the implication of estrogens and the key have been shown, or are expected, to be involved in role played by aromatase (the enzyme complex that gonadal formation and/or differentiation in mammals. converts androgens to estrogens) in ovary differentiation Preliminary results indicate that homologues of AMH, during TSP and in maintenance of the ovarian structure DAX1, SF1, SOX9 and WT1 genes with the same after TSP. In some of these experiments, the occurrence function(s) as in mammals exist in reptiles. How these of various degrees of gonadal intersexuality is related to genes could interact with aromatase is being examined. Key words. Gonadal differentiation; intersexuality; temperature; estrogens; aromatase; AMH, DAX1, SF1, SOX9, WT1 genes; reptiles.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies on African Agama III. Resurrection of Agama Agama Turuensis Loveridge, 1932 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Synonymy and Elevation to Species Rank
    Th e status of Agama agama turuensis SALAMANDRA 44 1 35-42 Rheinbach, 20 February 2008 ISSN 0036-3375 Studies on African Agama III. Resurrection of Agama agama turuensis Loveridge, 1932 (Squamata: Agamidae) from synonymy and elevation to species rank Philipp Wagner, Patrick Krause & Wolfgang Böhme Abstract. New material of Agama agama Linnaeus, 758 from Mount Hanang, Tanzania is indistingu- ishable from the type material of Agama agama turuensis Loveridge, 932, a taxon which is so far con- sidered to be a synonym of Agama lionotus elgonis Lönnberg, 922. Our comparative morphological study demonstrates turuensis is most similar to Agama mwanzae Loveridge, 923 and Agama kaimosae Loveridge, 935, and distinct from both A. agama and A. lionotus Boulenger, 896. Agama turuensis can likewise neither be assigned to A. mwanzae nor A. kaimosae but has to be rather considered as a dis- tinct species. Key words. Squamata, Agamidae, Agama turuensis, new status, Africa, Tanzania, Mount Hanang, taxo- nomy. Introduction and subdivided the genus Agama into the fol- lowing six genera: Agama, Stellio, Trapelus, Th e genus Agama is endemic to Africa and Pseudotrapelus, Brachysaura and Xenagama. its species are very widespread in the savan- Later, Joger (99) identifi ed both Laudakia nah regions of Africa. Currently, 34 species and Phrynocephalus as sister taxa of Agama. are recognized but the genus in general, and At present the genus can be divided into especially the Agama agama species complex three diff erent species groups: the Agama and the clade including the East African are agama group which includes the West Af- in need of a thorough taxonomic revision.
    [Show full text]
  • Agama Impalearis
    HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Vol. 11, pp. 101-108 (2001) • EFFECTS OF INCUBATION TEMPERATURE ON EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT AND SEX DETERMINATION IN THE NORTH AFRICAN AGAMID LIZARD, AGAMA IMPALEARIS EL HASSAN EL MOUDEN 1 , MOHAMMED ZNARI1 AND CLAUDE PIEAU2 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Cadi Ayyad Un iversity, PO Box 2390, Marrakech, Morocco 2lnstitut Jacques Monad, UMR 7592 CNRS et Un iversites Paris 6 et 7, 2, Place Jussieu, F- 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France The effects of temperature on incubation time, embryo survival, sex ratio , embryo growth and size at hatching were investigated in the north AfricanAgamid lizard, Agama impalearis. Seven constant temperature treatments (spanning 20-36°C) were employed and a split clutch design was used to assign eggs from the same clutch to the different treatments. Incubation time varied significantly with temperature treatments. Embryos incubated at 32°C, 34°C and 36°C hatched between 41 and 46 days, whereas embryos incubated at 26°C and 28°C hatched at 83 and 67 days respectively. Hatching success was higher at 28°C, 30°C, 32°C and 34°C, but much lower at 26°C and 36°C; hatching did not occur at 20°C. Eggs incubated at 26°C and 36°C produced only females. At 28°C, 30°C, 32°C and 34°C, the percentages of males were 9%, 53.5%, 32%, and 58% respectively. These sex ratios can be explained by a temperature-dependent mechanism of sex determination. The relative growth rates are highest early in incubation and lower for several days prior to hatching.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations of the West African Rainbow Lizard, Agama Picticauda Peters, 1877, Fro Hana Feedin on Bread
    Herpetology Notes, volume 11: 955-957 (2018) (published online on 14 November 2018) Observations of the West African rainbow lizard, Agama picticauda Peters, 1877, fro �hana feedin on bread Benjamin Yeboah Ofori1,*, Princess Martey1, and Daniel Attuquayefio1 Feeding ecology is directly linked to survival and that this species is a generalist insectivore, preying fitness and consequently shapes the life history of mainly on spiders, grasshoppers, beetles, ants and organisms. The choice of prey can influence interactions termites, butterflies and moths, and flies (Harris, 1964; among species, prey composition and abundance, and Anibaldi et al., 1998; Akani et al., 2013). Secondarily, ultimately the transfer of energy and matter within they also consume other types of invertebrates, small ecosystems (de Ruiter et al., 2005). Consequently, vertebrates, and even plant materials (Chapman and knowledge of the dietary niche and trophic patterns of Chapman, 1964; Yeboah, 1982). Studies have also organisms is important for understanding their ecological shown that animals in urban areas opportunistically interactions and the factors that promote coexistence consume anthropogenic food items due to their ease of of species at the community level (e.g., Pianka, 1974; access, relative abundance, high caloric energy levels, Brown and Gillooly, 2003). Although many reptiles and ease of digestion (Murray et al., 2015; Reher et al., and most amphibians are generalized insectivores (e.g., 2016; Cronk and Pillay, 2018). Here, we present the Parmelee, 1999; Van Damme, 1999), recent studies first documented record of A. picticauda feeding on suggest that species living within human habitations anthropogenic, processed food. are opportunistic feeders and include non-insect food in On 5 July 2018, between 1150 and 1200 h, we their diets.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database
    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
    [Show full text]
  • Vertebrados Agama Agama 1 Agama Agama Linnaeus, 1758 Agama Agama Sirve Como Transporte Y Huésped Reservorio De Raillietiell
    Método de Evaluación Rápida de Invasividad (MERI) para especies exóticas en México Agama agama Linnaeus, 1758 Agama agama Linnaeus, 1758 Foto: Chris Huh. Fuente: Wikimedia. Agama agama sirve como transporte y huésped reservorio de Raillietiella sp. (Nash, 2005 citado por Adeoye & Ogunbanwo, 2007), el virus del herpes (Watson, 1993) y la salmonelosis (Collard et al., 1957), los cuales pueden infectar al hombre. Información taxonómica Reino: Animalia Phylum: Craniata Clase: Reptilia Orden: Squamata Familia: Agamidae Género: Agama Especie: Agama agama Linnaeus, 1758 Nombre común: Agama común, lagarto de fuego Resultado: 0.35546875 Categoría de riesgo: Alto. Vertebrados Agama agama 1 Método de Evaluación Rápida de Invasividad (MERI) para especies exóticas en México Agama agama Linnaeus, 1758 Descripción de la especie Se caracteriza por su dorso blanquecino, las extremidades traseras son de color marrón y la cola con una raya ligeramente más clara en el medio y seis a siete manchas oscuras en la cara de esta franja. Hay algo de dimorfismo sexual: los machos subordinados, hembras y jóvenes poseen una cabeza de color verde oliva, mientras que el macho dominante posee un cuerpo azul, cola y cabeza amarillas. Posee ambos incisivos caniniformes para agarrar y muelas molariformes para la trituración. El tamaño máximo de los lagartos machos es de 25 cm y de las hembras es de 20 cm (Harris, 1964 citado por Hilgris, 2000). Distribución original Sub-Sahara en África (Harris, 1964 citado por Hilgris, 2000), Australasia y Asia (EcuRed, 2014). Estatus: Exótica presente en México Se ha introducido al país para el mercado de mascotas y se encuentra en cautiverio.
    [Show full text]
  • 2010 Board of Governors Report
    American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Board of Governors Meeting Westin – Narragansett Ballroom B Providence, Rhode Island 7 July 2010 Maureen A. Donnelly Secretary Florida International University College of Arts & Sciences 11200 SW 8th St. - ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199 [email protected] 305.348.1235 13 June 2010 The ASIH Board of Governor's is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm in the Westin Hotel in Narragansett Ballroom B. President Hanken plans to move blanket acceptance of all reports included in this book that cover society business for 2009 and 2010 (in part). The book includes the ballot information for the 2010 elections (Board of Governors and Annual Business Meeting). Governors can ask to have items exempted from blanket approval. These exempted items will be acted upon individually. We will also act individually on items exempted by the Executive Committee. Please remember to bring this booklet with you to the meeting. I will bring a few extra copies to Providence. Please contact me directly (email is best - [email protected]) with any questions you may have. Please notify me if you will not be able to attend the meeting so I can share your regrets with the Governors. I will leave for Providence (via Boston on 4 July 2010) so try to contact me before that date if possible. I will arrive in Providence on the afternoon of 6 July 2010 The Annual Business Meeting will be held on Sunday 11 July 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in The Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC) in Room 556 AB.
    [Show full text]
  • A Molecular Study of the Genus Agama (Squamata : Agamidae)
    Russian Journal of Herpetology Vol. 19, No. 2, 2012, pp. 115 – 142 A MOLECULAR STUDY OF THE GENUS Agama (SQUAMATA: AGAMIDAE) IN WEST AFRICA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES AND A REVIEW OF THE TAXONOMY, GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION, AND ECOLOGY OF CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED SPECIES Oleg Mediannikov,1 Sébastien Trape,2 and Jean-François Trape1,3 Submitted March 25, 2011. We conducted field studies in 15 West African countries and collected one thousand specimens of lizards of the genus Agama. Based on these collections, literature, molecular analysis of selected specimens, and examination of Linnean type-specimens of A. agama, we review the phylogeny, taxonomy, geographic distribution and ecology of the West African species of the genus Agama. Seventeen different species are recognized in the genus Agama in West Africa, northern Cameroon and Chad: A. africana, A. agama, A. boensis, A. boueti, A. boulengeri, A. castroviejoi, A. cristata, A. doriae benueensis, A. gracilimembris, A. insularis, A. lebretoni, A. paragama, A. sankaranica, A. weidholzi, and three new species. We design a lectotype for A. agama (Linnaeus, 1758) and attribute to A. wagneri, sp. nov., the populations from northern and central Cameroon of the A. agama complex. Agama parafricana, sp. nov., is described from wet savanna areas of Togo and Benin. Agama sylvanus from south- ern Ghana is a junior synonym of A. africana. Agama cf. impalearis from northern Niger and Mali corresponds to an nondescribed species. Agama boensis is resurrected from the synonymy of A. sankaranica. According to biogeographic areas, four species are Sahelian, seven species are Sudanian, four species are Guinean, and two species are ubiquitous.
    [Show full text]
  • Agama Picticauda)
    The Effect of Incubation Temperature on Sex and Morphology in the African Redhead Agama (Agama picticauda) by Ariel Louise Steele A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama December 16, 2017 Keywords: Agama agama, egg incubation, lizards, temperature-dependent sex determination, morphology, Charnov-Bull model Approved by Daniel A. Warner, Chair, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Geoffrey Hill, Professor of Biological Sciences Haruka Wada, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Abstract The first demonstration of temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in a vertebrate was in the African redhead agama (Agama agama) nearly 50 years ago. The original study was generally overlooked until it was later identified in turtles, which attracted more interest into this peculiar sex determining mechanism. Since then, numerous studies have investigated the physiological mechanisms behind TSD, the evolutionary transitions between genetic sex determination and TSD, and the adaptive significance of TSD, however, research on the original species has not been conducted. My research aims to revisit the original study to evaluate the effect of incubation temperature on sex ratio and fitness-relevant phenotypes, and to identify the sex-specific effects of incubation temperature in Agama picticauda (formerly A. agama). Eggs were incubated under constant and ecologically-relevant fluctuating temperatures to better characterize the pattern of TSD in this species, provide insight into the ecological relevance of TSD, and quantify the effects of incubation temperature on fitness-relevant phenotypes and sex-specific effects. Hatchling sex ratios varied with incubation temperature in a pattern similar to a female-male-female pattern of TSD.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminth Parasites of the African Lizard Agama Agama (Squamata: Agamidae), in Lagos, Nigeria
    Helminth parasites of the African lizard Agama agama (Squamata: Agamidae), in Lagos, Nigeria Adeoye, G.O.1 & O.O. Ogunbanwo2 1 Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; [email protected] 2 Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; [email protected] Received 07-XII-2005. Corrected 27-VI-2006. Accepted 30-I-2007. Abstract: Agama agama, the agamid rainbow lizard, has been reported to serve as transport and reservoir host to several protozoan and helminth parasites. We randomly sampled 310 specimens between May and July, 2005, at Oyingbo, Lagos, Nigeria (6°34’60’’ N-3°19’59’’ E and 6°34’60’’ N-3°19’59’’ E).They harboured four species of nematodes: Strongyluris brevicaudata, Parapharyngodon awokoyai, Capillaria sp. and Oxyuris sp.; one of Cestoda, Oochoristica agamae; one of Trematoda, Mesocoelium monas; and one of Pentastomida, Raillietiella sp. Strongyluris brevicaudata had the highest prevalence of infection (82.3 %), followed by P. awokoyai (74.5 %), Raillietiella (10.3 %), Capillaria sp. (8.4 %) and O. agamae (7.4 %). M. monas and Oxyuris sp. had low prevalences: 1.61 % each. Raillietiella sp. and Capillaria sp. can cause localized inflammation and intestinal infections in humans. The prevalence of infection was higher in larger adult lizards. Prevalence in males was 97.6 % (94.1 % in females). In four of the helminth species, intensity of infection was higher in male lizards. Parasite intensity was highest in the rectum, followed by the intestine (p<0.05). Infection intensity was, to a large extent, dependent on the type of parasite, and age of lizard.
    [Show full text]
  • COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT of MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS of SOME COMMON LIZARDS Ogundimu O.A. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism, Fo
    Ogundimu, 2019 Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 11(3) September, 2019 http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe jfewr ©2019 - jfewr Publications E-mail:[email protected] This work is licensed under a 35 ISBN: 2141 – 1778 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Ogundimu, 2019 COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF SOME COMMON LIZARDS Ogundimu O.A. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Forest Hill, Jericho, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Correspondent’s email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the major external features and body weight of some common lizards from two locations. Ten samples each of the male and female rainbow lizard (Agama agama africana) and wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) were purchased from Itoku market in Abeokuta, Ogun state as well as Bode market in Ibadan, Oyo state. Morphometric parameters such as the forelimb length, hindlimb length, tail length, head length, body length and total length were measured. It was observed that the body lengths of both male and female Agama lizards showed significant difference at (P< 0.05) in terms of location- the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was longer in body length than those from Ibadan. In wall geckos, it was observed that the length of the forelimb was significantly different at (P< 0.05) while the hindlimb length, head length and body length showed significant difference at (P< 0.01) in terms of location. However, there was no significant difference in the body weights of the male Agama, female Agama and wall gecko from the different locations at both (P< 0.01) and (P< 0.05) significant levels although mean values showed that the weights of the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was more than that of Ibadan while the mean values of the wall gecko from both locations was the same.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Helminth Parasites of the Lizard, Agama Agama in Ile–Ife And
    iolog ter y & c P a a B r f a o s i l Journal of Bacteriology and t o a Sowemimo and Oluwafemi, J Bacteriol Parasitol 2017, 8:1 l n o r g u y o DOI: 10.4172/2155-9597.1000303 J Parasitology ISSN: 2155-9597 Bacteriology and Parasitology Research Article Open Access A Survey of Helminth Parasites of the Lizard, Agama agama in Ile–Ife and Ibadan Southwest Nigeria Oluyomi Abayomi Sowemimo* and Temitope Ajoke Oluwafemi Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria *Corresponding author: Oluyomi Abayomi Sowemimo, Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, E-mail: [email protected] Received date: February 17, 2017; Accepted date: March 07, 2017; Published date: March 13, 2017 Copyright: © 2017 Sowemimo OA. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract A parasitological survey was carried out between February and October, 2015 to determine the helminth fauna of the lizard, Agama agama from two locations Ibadan and Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria. A total of 133 specimens were collected and examined for helminth infections. The results showed that the overall prevalence of helminth infection in A. agama was 100%. Five species of helminths were recovered comprising three nematodes, Strongyluris brevicaudata (92.5%), Parapharyngodon sp. (89.5%) and unidentified nematode (0.8%), one species of cestode, Oochoristica truncata (56.4%) and one species of trematode, Mesocoelium monas (1.5%).
    [Show full text]