Acanthodactylus scutellatus (Audouin, 1827)
- Dataset
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Rank
- SPECIES
- Published in
- Audouin, J. V. Explication sommaire des planches de reptiles (supplément) ... offrant un exposé des caractères naturels des genres, avec la distinction des espèces. . In: Savigny, M. J. C. L. de., Description d’Égypte, Vol. l. Historie Naturelle.
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- class
- Squamata
- family
- Lacertidae
- genus
- Acanthodactylus
- species
- Acanthodactylus scutellatus
description
A. s. hardyi Haas, 1957
description
We retain for the time being the subspecies audouini for the Saharan specimens, characterized by a lower number of more strongly keeled dorsal scales (73 on average in scutellatus (Bons & Girot, 1964) against 53 on average, and not more than 68 in audouini [own data]) and a smaller size (Boulenger, 1921; Bons & Girot, 1964). A revision of the material included in Acanthodactylus scutellatus is needed before any firm conclusion can be drawn. The limits of the range of A. s. scutellatus and A. s. audouini follow Bons & Girot (1964). There is a slight morphological variation among populations of Acanthodactylus scutellatus audouini in the Sahara. In Tunisia, most of the individuals have a grey throat and a reddish tail, whereas this coloration is exhibited, more or less markedly, by only a small number of individuals from southern Sahara. Remarks. Victor Audouin published the description of Lacerta scutellata in 1827 and not in 1809 (Salvador, 1982; according to his birth date, V. Audouin was only 12 years old in 1809 [R. Bour, pers. com.]) or 1829 (Arnold, 1983; Brygoo, 1988).
distribution
Distribution (Fig. 13). In the Sahara, south-eastern Algeria, north-eastern Mali, northern Niger, northern Chad, northern Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and southern Tunisia (Salvador, 1982; Nouïra, 1996; Ch. P. Blanc, pers. com.; this study). The characters given above and a careful examination of the pictures published by Bons & Girot (1964) lead us to reject the occurrence of this species in Morocco (cf. Bons & Geniez, 1996), in opposition to the opinions of Bons & Girot (1964), Mellado & Olmedo (1990) and Pérez Mellado (1992). The species is also encountered in Israel, Arabia and Iraq (Salvador, 1982). Diagnosis. (Remarks: the following diagnosis is based on specimens of Acanthodactylus scutellatus audouini only). The largest species of the group (reaching 72.5 mm snout-vent length, mean = 63.9; cf. Table 2, Figs 14 and 15). The subocular in contact with three or (rarely) four supralabials in 99 % of the individuals (Table 3) distinguishes A. s. audouini from A. aureus and A. taghitensis. Dorsal scales usually small and rather numerous (in the Sahara, range: 39 – 69, mean: 53.4; Table 2, see remarks below under ‘ Geographical variation’), nearly equal in size between the dorsum and the flanks, and moderately to strongly carinate (codes 4 or 5 in 86 % of our sample, no individual reaches code 6; Table 3, see Fig. 16). Fewer than two rows of supraciliary granules in 70 % of the specimens, two rows in 28 %, more than two rows in only 2 % (Table 3). Generally 13 or 14 longitudinal rows of ventral scales (in 83 % of the specimens, range: 12 – 16, mean: 13.9; Table 2). Femoral pores rather numerous (range: 16 – 26, mean: 21.1; Table 2). Adult males with a black, highly contrasting, dorsal reticulation. Females with isolated black spots at regular spaces on the back. Pale dorsal spots often lacking in adults, which have a dorsal coloration made of only two colours; most individuals have black spots on their pileus. For separation of A. s. audouini from A. longipes and A. senegalensis, see these species. Acanthodactylus scutellatus audouini can be distinguished from the closely similar A. dumerili by its larger maximum size and by a different pileus coloration. In A. dumerili, as in the remaining species within the scutellatus group, the pileus is either uniformly pale or marked with darker vermiculations or small dots, but not with distinct and well-individualized large black spots as in A. s. audouini. In addition, a higher proportion of adults A. s. audouini have a dorsal coloration consisting of a dark pattern on a uniform background (two colours only on the dorsum, COUL code 4, in 27 % of the specimens; Table 3). When other species within the scutellatus group have only two colours on the dorsum, it is usually light spots on a darker ground colour (code 2, Table 3). According to Nouïra (1996; p. 246), A. s. audouini and A. dumerili also differ in the fragmentation of the cephalic plates, A. s. audouini having the first supraocular (SO 1) usually separated from the second supraocular (SO 2) by a row of proximal granules and a strongly fragmented fourth supraocular (SO 4). We checked the validity of these proposed differences on 116 A. s. audouini (most of them from Tunisia) and 298 A. dumerili. In A. s. audouini, 48 % of the individuals have SO 1 and SO 2 partly or totally separated (including 18 % with completely separated SO 1 and SO 4; Table 4), whereas in A. dumerili only 7 % of the specimens have SO 1 and SO 2 partly separated (none having SO 1 and SO 4 completely separated; Table 4). In A. s. audouini, 30 % of the specimens have an entire SO 4, 33 % have a partially fragmented SO 4 and 37 % have a completely fragmented SO 4. In A. dumerili, 49 % of the specimens have an entire SO 4, 38 % a partially fragmented one, and only 14 % a completely fragmented SO 4 (Table 4). The differences described by Nouïra (1996) are thus real but of limited use when trying to identify single specimens. Geographical variation. Three subspecies have been recognized. The subspecies hardyi is recognized as a valid taxon in most of the recent works on the genus (e. g. Bons & Girot, 1964; Salvador, 1982; Arnold, 1986; Nouïra, 1996). Harris & Arnold (2000) even propose to give specific status to this taxon, although without justification. In addition, Bons & Girot (1964) recognized the subspecies audouini, based on an analysis of large series of specimens. We follow their opinion here, based on a preliminary examination of a number of specimens from Egypt and Israel. Subspecies. Acanthodactylus scutellatus scutellatus in Israel, Sinai and Egypt.
Name
- Synonyms
- Acanthodactylus inornatus Gray
- Acanthodactylus scutellatus var. audouini Boulenger, 1918
- Lacerta scutellata Audouin, 1827
- Homonyms
- Acanthodactylus scutellatus Parker, 1931
- Acanthodactylus scutellatus Anderson, 1898
- Acanthodactylus scutellatus (Audouin, 1827)
- Common names
- Nidua Fringe-fingered Lizard in English
- Nidua Fringe-fingered Lizard in English
- Nidua fringe-fingered lizard in language.
- fringe-toed lizard in language.
- Nidua Fringe-fingered Lizard in English