Salea

Salea anamallayana (BEDDOME, 1878)

Anaimalai Spiny Lizard

BEDDOME, R.H. (1878): Description of a new genus of tree-lizard from the higher ranges of the Anamallays. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1877: 153-154.

DAS, S., CAMPBELL, P.D., DEUTI, K., BAG, P. & S. RAHA (2019): A contribution to the systematics of Salea anamallayana (Beddome, 1878) and S. horsfieldii Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae). – Zootaxa, 4563 (3): 563-583.

Salea anamallayana (Beddome, 1878) and S. horsfieldii Gray, 1845 are two endemic montane forest dwelling draconine agamid lizards from the Western Ghats (India). The original descriptions of these two species were brief and apart from their inclusion in general faunal works, they have never been the focus of a rigorous taxonomic study. In this paper we provide a detailed redescription of the types of those two species. We also reconfirm the status of the subjective synonyms of those two species. We conducted a test of niche conservatism and on the basis of the results of this analysis, we demonstrate that in spite of occurring in apparently analogous habitats, the niche of the two species have diverged significantly. We also provide notes on the distribution and natural history of S. anamallayana and S. horsfieldii.

DEPAK, V. & K. VASUDEDVAN (2008): Density and microhabitat association of Salea anamallayana in Eravikulam National Park, Western Ghats, India. – Herp. Jour., 18: 165-170.

SRINIVAS, G., BHIPATHY, S. & A. MADHIVANAN (2008): Occurrence of Salea anamallayana Beddome, 1878 in High Wavy Mountains, Western Ghats, India. – J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Mumbai, 105 (3): 341-342.

Salea gularis JERDON, 1853

Salea horsfieldii GRAY, 1845

Horsfield´s Spiny Lizard

BLYTH, E. (1854): Description of Salea gularis. – In: Jerdon, T.C. “Catalogue of the Reptiles inhabiting the Peninsula of India”. Part 1. - J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal xxii [1853]: 462-479.

CALEB, D.G., SREEKAR, R. & V. DEEPAK (2017): An ontogenetically stable sexual character in a montane agamid, Salea horsfieldii Gray, 1845 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from Nilgiris, India. – J. Nat. Hist., 51 (39-40): 2373-2383.

Many agamid lizards are known to show sexual dimorphism in body shape, colour and ornamentation or a combination of these traits. Adult males of Salea horsfieldii have a discontinuous dorsal crest at the nuchal region, which is a sexually dimorphic character. However, there is no information about the age or size at which this dimorphic ornamentation develops and if the species exhibits sexual shape dimorphism (SShD). The authors studied the morphology of S. horsfieldii and found that its ornamentation is an ontogenetically stable character present in all males, including juveniles. Seven morphological characters were measured to determine if they exhibited SShD at adult and juvenile stages. Analysis of covariance was used to identify differences in morphology between sexes. The results show that only adults exhibited SShD, but not juveniles. Adult males had larger head and foot lengths in comparison to females of the same size. Larger head length in adult males is a sexual fitness trait, which increases biteforce during intra-sexual combats. Although the presence of sexually dimorphic ornamentation right from the juvenile stage is rare in agamids, S. horsfieldii is an exception The role of sexually dimorphic ornamentation at juvenile stages remains unknown and requires further investigation.

DAS, S., CAMPBELL, P.D., DEUTI, K., BAG, P. & S. RAHA (2019): A contribution to the systematics of Salea anamallayana (Beddome, 1878) and S. horsfieldii Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Agamidae: Draconinae). – Zootaxa, 4563 (3): 563-583.