Stellagama

Stellagama is a monotypic genus of agamid lizard, containing the single species Stellagama stellio,[3][1] also known as the starred agama or the roughtail rock agama.

Stellagama stellio
Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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[2]
  • 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

Common names

Common names for S. stellio include dikenli keler, hardim, hardun, kourkoutas (Cypriot Greek), kourkoutavlos, painted dragon, roughtail rock agama, short-toed rock agama, sling-tailed agama, star lizard, starred agama, and stellion.

Geographic range

Stellagama stellio can be found in Greece, Cyprus, western Asia and northern Egypt; it has also been introduced to Malta.[1]

Description

Stellagama stellio may attain a total length (including tail) of 35 cm (14 in) or slightly longer.[4]

Behaviour and habitat

Like many agamids, S. stellio can change its color to express its mood. It basks on stone walls, rocks, and trees. It is usually found in rocky habitats, and is quite shy, being very ready to dive into cracks to hide from potential predators.

Etymology

The common 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, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized as being valid.[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. Amr ZSS et al. (2012). Stellagama stellio. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
  2. Species Stellagama stellio at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Baig KJ et al. (2012). "A morphology-based taxonomic revision of Laudakia Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Agamidae)". Vertebrate Zoology 62 (2): 213-260. (Stellagama, new genus, p. 222).
  4. http://www.bayramgocmen.com/album/picture.php?/1002/category/345

Further reading
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