Stellagama

Stellagama
Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Iguania
Family:Agamidae
Genus:Stellagama
Baig, Wagner, Ananjeva & Böhme, 2012
Species: S. stellio
Binomial name
Stellagama stellio
Synonyms
  • Lacerta stellio
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Agama stellio
    — Boulenger, 1885
  • Stellio stellio
    — Kasparek, 1990
  • Placoderma stellio
    — Kasapidis et al., 1996
  • Laudakia stellio
    — Manthey & Schuster, 1999
  • Stellagama stellio
    — Baig et al., 2012[2]

Stellagama is a monotypic genus of agamid lizards containing the single species Stellagama stellio.[3][1]

Common names

Common names for S. stellio include stellion, hardim, hardun, star lizard, painted dragon, starred agama, sling-tailed agama, roughtail rock agama, kourkoutas and kourkoutavlos.

Geographic range

S. stellio is found in Greece, Southwest Asia, and Northeast Africa.

Description

Total length (including tail) of S. stellio is up to 35 cm (14 in) or slightly longer.[4]

Behaviour and habitat

Like many agamids, stellions can change color to express their moods. They bask on stone walls, rocks, and trees. They are usually found in rocky habitats, and are quite shy, being very ready to dive into cracks to hide from potential predators.

Etymology

The name "stellion" comes from Latin stellio, stēlio (stelliōn-, stēliōn-), which referred to any spotted lizard, from stella, star.

Subspecies

There are several subspecies, and S. stellio is likely a species complex.[1] More research will be done, and this species may yet be split into several species.[3]

The following seven subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Stellagama stellio brachydactyla (Haas, 1951)
  • Stellagama stellio cypriaca (Daan, 1967)
  • Stellagama stellio daani (Beutler & Frör, 1980)
  • Stellagama stellio picea (Parker, 1935)
  • Stellagama stellio salehi Y. Werner in Lachmann et al., 2006
  • Stellagama stellio stellio (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Stellagama stellio vulgaris (Sonnini & Latreille, 1802)

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Stellagama.

Stellion

References

  1. 1 2 3 Amr, Z.S.S., et al. 2012. Stellagama stellio. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
  2. 1 2 "Stellagama stellio". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 Baig, K.J., et al. (2012). A morphology-based taxonomic revision of Laudakia Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Agamidae). Vertebrate Zoology 62(2) 213-60. (Stellagama, new genus, p. 222).
  4. ↑ http://www.bayramgocmen.com/album/picture.php?/1002/category/345

Further reading

  • Linnaeus, 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, diferentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Lacerta stellio, new species, p. 202). (in Latin).


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