I= SYSTEMATIC STUDIES OF THE STELLIO-GROUP OF AGAMA (SAURIA: AGAMIDAE)
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Title of Thesis
SYSTEMATIC STUDIES OF THE STELLIO-GROUP OF AGAMA (SAURIA: AGAMIDAE)

Author(s)
Khalid Javed Baig
Institute/University/Department Details
Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Session
1992
Subject
Herpetology
Number of Pages
287
Keywords (Extracted from title, table of contents and abstract of thesis)
stellio, agama, sauria, agamidae, laudakia gray, acanthocercus fitzinger, himalayana, bochariensis, badakshana, agrorensis, pakistanica, nuristanica, tuberculata, dayana, stoliczkana, lehmanni, erythrogastra, caucasia, microlepis, nupta, melanura, adrami tanus, yemenensis, cyanogaster, annectens, phillipsii, trachypleurus, zonurus, atricollis

Abstract
The main objective of the present studies was to identify and revise the Stellio-group within the genus Agama (sensu Wermuth, 1967). More than 600 specimens have been studied with reference to 54 different morphological characters which include 22 morphometric, 7 numeric (scale count) and 24 descriptive (Appendix 11). The descriptive characters have been analysed according to their different states.

Several morphological and anatomical characters i.e. osteology, epidermal holocrine glands, scalation, cutaneous sense organs, musculature, blood circulatory system and male genitalia have been extensively reviewed.

On the basis of biochemical, karyotypic, anatomical, zoogeographical and morphological evidences, the genus Stellio (sensu Moody, 1980) has been splitted into two i.e. Laudakia Gray, 1945 and Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843. Laudakia includes all Palearctic forms i.e. himalayana, bochariensis, badakshana, agrorensis, pakistanica, nuristanica, tuberculata, dayana, stoliczkana, lehmanni, erythrogastra, caucasia, microlepis, nupta, melanura, and stellio whereas Acanthocercus includes Afroarabian forms i. e. adrami tanus, yemenensis, cyanogaster, annectens, phillipsii, trachypleurus, zonurus and atricollis.

The detailed descriptive account of every taxon has been provided about all forms of Laudakia, however, some important information’s about Acanthocercus have been placed in Appendix Ex.

The brief geological history of the area has been reviewed since Mesozoic. The fossil record and geological history of the area suggest the origin of Laudakia somewhere in Tertiary. The pamir Knot and its surrounding area has been proposed as centre of origin for this group, using different criteria. The dispersal of the group has been correlated with the geological events occurred in the area.
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13289.71 KB
S. No. Chapter Title of the Chapters Page Size (KB)
1 0 Contents
42.33 KB
2 1 Acknowledgement 1
65.89 KB
3 2 Introduction 3
332.73 KB
  2.1 Objectives 3
  2.2 Study Area 4
  2.3 Historical Background Of The Group 8
4 3 Materials And Methods 12
49.05 KB
5 4 Results And Discussion 14
7864.44 KB
  4.1 Morphological And Anatomical Review 15
  4.2 Systematic Account 47
  4.3 Description Of The Group 53
  4.4 Statistical Analysis Of Laudakia 192
6 5 Biogeography And Geological History 208
495.8 KB
  5.1 The Past 209
  5.2 Centre Of Origin 215
  5.3 Age Of Laudakia And Its Dispersal 219
7 6 Brief Summary 223
34.75 KB
8 7 References 224
472.41 KB
9 8 Appendix I 240
178.31 KB
10 9 Appendix II 250
49.82 KB
11 10 Appendix III 253
3974.32 KB
12 11 Appendix Ex 284
83.51 KB