干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya

Arid

DOI	10.11646/zootaxa.4920.4.5
	A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya
	Malonza, Patrick K.; Spawls, Stephen; Finch, Brian; Bauer, Aaron M.
通讯作者	Bauer, AM (corresponding author), Villanova Univ, Dept Biol, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 USA. ; Bauer, AM (corresponding author), Villanova Univ, Ctr Biodivers & Ecosyst Stewardship, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 USA.
来源期刊	ZOOTAXA
ISSN	1175-5326
EISSN	1175-5334
出版年	2021
卷号	4920 期号:4 页码:543-553
英文摘要	Kenya has a high diversity of agamid lizards and the arid northern frontier area has the highest species richness. Among the Kenyan agama species, Agama lionotus has the widest distribution, occurring from sea level to inland areas in both dry and moist savanna as well as desert areas. This species mostly prefers rocky areas, both in granitic/metamorphic and volcanic rocks, although it also makes use of tree crevices as well as man-made structures. Recently in Marsabit, northern Kenya, a small-sized agama species, distinct from A. lionotus, was collected within a rocky lava desert area. This new species is characterized by its small size (mean SVL similar to 83 mm) as compared to typical A. lionotus (mean SVL similar to 120 mm). Past studies have shown the value of adult male throat coloration for the identification of species within the A. lionotus complex. Herein we also highlight female dorsal color pattern, which is a key character for distinguishing the new species from others in the group, including the similar A. hulbertorum. As in A. lionotus, displaying adult males have an orange to yellow head, a vertebral stripe, a bluish body coloration and an annulated white/blue tail. But the most diagnostic character is the coloration of females and non-displaying males, which exhibit a series of regular pairs of dark spots along the vertebrae as far posterior as the tail base. In addition, females have a pair of elongated orange or yellow marks on the shoulders and another on the dorsolateral margins of the abdomen. This study shows that more cryptic species in the Agama lionotus complex may still await discovery. The new species was found inhabiting dark desert lava rocks but should additionally be present in suitably similar sites in the northern frontier area. This underscores the need to reexamine populations of Agama lionotus from different microhabitats in this country.
英文关键词	Agama lionotus complex Agamidae cryptic species rock outcrops Marsabit
类型	Article
语种	英语
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:000614436800001
WOS关键词	LIZARDS
WOS类目	Zoology
WOS研究方向	Zoology
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/348283
作者单位	[Malonza, Patrick K.] Natl Museums Kenya, Herpetol Sect, Museum Hill Rd,POB 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; [Spawls, Stephen] 7 Crostwick Lane, Norwich NR10 3PE, Norfolk, England; [Finch, Brian] POB 15568-00502 Mbagathi, Nairobi, Kenya; [Bauer, Aaron M.] Villanova Univ, Dept Biol, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 USA; [Bauer, Aaron M.] Villanova Univ, Ctr Biodivers & Ecosyst Stewardship, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 USA
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Malonza, Patrick K.,Spawls, Stephen,Finch, Brian,et al. A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya[J],2021,4920(4):543-553.
APA	Malonza, Patrick K.,Spawls, Stephen,Finch, Brian,&Bauer, Aaron M..(2021).A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya.ZOOTAXA,4920(4),543-553.
MLA	Malonza, Patrick K.,et al."A new of species of the Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896 complex (Squamata: Agamidae) from northern Kenya".ZOOTAXA 4920.4(2021):543-553.