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 Red-headed Rock Agama
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Agamids, lizards of the family Agamidae, include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have well-developed, strong legs. Their tails cannot be shed and regenerated like those of geckoes, though a certain amount of regeneration is observed in somecitation needed. Many agamid species are capable of limited change of their colourscitation needed. They inhabit warm environments, ranging from hot deserts to tropical rainforests.
One of the key distinguishing features of the agamids is their teeth, which are borne on the outer rim of the mouth (acrodont), rather than on the inner side of the jaws (pleurodont). This feature is shared with the chameleons, but is otherwise unusual among lizards. Agamid lizards are generally diurnal, with good vision, and include a number of arboreal species, in addition to ground and rock-dwellers. The great majority of agamid species are oviparous1.
Systematics
There have been very few studies of the Agamidae with the first comprehensive assessment by Moody (1980) followed by a more inclusive assessment by Frost and Etheridge (1989). Subsequent studies were based mitochondrial DNA loci234 (using allozymes), and sampling across the Agamidae. Few other studies focused on clades within the family, but the Agamidae have not been as well investigated as the Iguanidae.
Among the Agamidae, six clades or lineages are generally recognizedcitation needed:
FAMILY: AGAMIDAE
- Subfamily: Leiolepidinae (Leiolepis)
- Subfamily: Uromasticinae (Uromastyx)
- Subfamily: Amphibolurinae (Australian and New Guinean)
- Subfamily: Hydrosaurinae (Hydrosaurus)
- Subfamily: Draconinae (South and Southeast Asian)
- Subfamily: Agaminae
The chameleons of the sister family Chamaeleonidae are sometimes discussedcitation needed as sub-family Chamaeleoninae and sub-family Agaminae (referring to Agamidae, not the Agaminae mentioned above).
References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008) |
- ^ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). in Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.: Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press, 134-136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
- ^ Macey et al. (2000)
- ^ Honda et al. (2000)
- ^ Joger (1991)
External links
