Trapelus

Abstract: The structure and topography of cutaneous receptors of 21 species of iguanian lizards were studied using histology and scanning electron microscopy. Sense organs with "hairs" are found in the integument of Ceratophora, Draco, Phrynocephalus, Stellio, and Trapelus (agamids), and in Anolis, Chal- arodon and Oplurus (iguanids). Sense organs without "hairs" are found in the integument of Physignathus (agamid) and Sceloporus (iguanid). The chameleons have generalized epidermal receptors with simplified structure. Familial differences were observed in the numbers of receptors on the scales of the head and the tail: iguanids have 5-7 times more receptors than agamids. Physignathus differs from other agamids in the morphology, size, and number of receptors. These receptors are hypothesized to serve several functions (as mechano- and thermoreceptors, and possibly sensitivity to humidity). Integumental sense organs were first de- scribed for reptiles in 1868 by Leydig in the lizard genera Lacerta and Anguis, and in the snake genus Coronella. The small depressions he found in the surface of their scales were considered "organs of the sixth sense"; Leydig compared them with the taste buds of fishes

Abstract: appear as the sister group of the Agamidae, which are monophyletic. Uromastyx and Leiolepis represent early sidebranches. The remaining agamids separated into a western and one or more eastern clades during the lower Tertiary. Within the western clade, Trapelus and Agama s.s. are monophyletic, but Stellio is diphyletic. The Palaearctic Stellio s.s. is the sister group of Phrynocephalus, whereas the Ethiopian Stellio atricollis group seems to be more closely related to Pseudotrapelus. Judging from branch lengths in the best fitting Wagner tree, a uniform average evolutionary rate of albumin can be attributed to most lineages, except Acanthosaura, Calotes, and Gonocephalus, which show a marked increase in their albumin evolution, and Uromastyx, which has a comparatively slowly evolving albumin. T HE only phylogenetic analysis of the family Agamidae to date is Moody's (1980) thesis, based primarily on internal anatomy. Moody also changed the intrafamilial taxonomy by subdividing the large collective genus Agama into six genera: Agama, Stellio, Trapelus, Pseudotrapelus, Brachysaura, and Xenagama. These genera may be called the Agama group. Together with its supposed sister taxon, Phrynocephalus, this group makes up the western radiation of the Agamidae, whereas Uromastyx was considered by Moody as a member of a primitive agamid

Abstract: Western Iran in general and Ilam province in particular, has unique geographical and climatic conditions that support a rich flora and fauna. In view of the lack of in-depth studies of lizards of the region, an investigation was initiated in most areas of Ilam Province for an inventory of lizard species and their habitats. A total of 189 specimens were collected and identified from May 2005 to August 2009. Twenty one species belonging to 18 genera and 8 families were represented, including Agamidae: Laudakia nupta, Trapelus lessonae (formerly T. ruderatus), Trapelus ruderatus (formerly T. persicus); Eublepharidae: Eublepharis angramainyu; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Cyrtopodion heterocercum, Hemidactylus persicus, Stenodactylus affinis, Tropiocolotes helenae; Lacertidae: Acanthodactylus boskianus, Apathya cappadocica, Mesalina brevirostris, Ophisops elegans; Phyllodactylidae: Asaccus elisae; Scincidae: Ablepharus pannonicus, Eumeces schneiderii, Trachylepis aurata, Trachylepis vittata; Uromastycidae: Uromastyx loricatus; Varanidae: Varanus griseus griseus, Varanus griseus caspius. Comparing this list to the data provided by Anderson (1999), several lizards are reported for the first time in this region. With six species represented, gekkonids have the highest species diversity in the area.

Abstract: Lizards were censused in the Ramon erosion cirque (Central Negev, Israel) in 1994 on 24 one-ha plots Fifteen quantitative habitat variables, describing soil and vegetation structure, were measured at 25 points of each plot Data were analysed to examine a classification of habitat types based on lizard species composition and the sets of environment variables influencing density of each lizard species Three hundred and fifty three individuals of 14 lizard species were recorded on the sampling plots Of these species, only one (Acanthodactylus boskianus) was abundant, eight (Ptyodactylus guttatus, Stenodactylus sthenodactylus, Mesalina guttulata, M olivieri, Ophisops elegans, Ablepharus kitaibellii, Chalcides ocellatus, Eumesces schneiderii) were common, and five (Laudakia stellio, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Trapelus pallidus, Hemidactylus turcicus, Tropiocolotes steudneri) were rare Four main habitat types and two sub-types were distinguished: wadis among loess hills (I); rock outcrops among loess hills (II); rock outcrops among gravel plains (III); wadis among gravel plains (IVa); open gravel plains (IVb), and sand dunes (IVc) Lizard density and biomass were greatest (15-19 ind /ha; about 200 g/ha) in IVb, and IVc, and least (3 7 ind /ha; 38 g/ha) in III Lizard species richness and diversity were low (three species) in IVc and higher and similar (6-10 species) in all other habitat types Among common and abundant species, densities of three (A boskianus, O elegans, A kitaibellii) were highly (30-60% of density dispersion) affected by habitat variables and densities of six (P guttatus, S sthenodactylus, M guttulata, M olivieri, C ocellatus, E schneiderii) were weakly (13-30% of dispersion) affected Densities of S sthenodactylus, A boskianus, and M guttulata were determined mainly by soil structure, of M olivieri and O elegans mainly by structure of annual vegetation, and of C ocellatus, A kitaibellii, and E schneiderii mainly by the structure of shrub vegetation Density of P guttatus was determined by both soil and annual vegetation structure