Further Studies on the Lizard Cranial Osteology, Based on a Comparative Study of the Skull in Trachylepis aurata transcaucasica and Laudakia nupta (Squamata: Sauria)

Hiwa Faizi, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani

Abstract


In the present paper, the skull roof, palate, braincase, lower jaw and dentition of the skull of the adult Trachylepis aurata transcaucasica have been described and compared with those of the skull in Laudakia nupta. Patterns of diversity between lizard skulls in two species studied from morphological and functional perspective. We provide a detailed description of the cranial osteology, lower jaw and dentition of two species in two different families: Trachylepis aurata transcaucasica (Scincidae) and Laudakia nupta (Agamidae), based on 10 dry skulls. We showed detailed descriptions of all bones as well as the overall architecture of the skull. Individual variation within each of these two species are discussed and compared. The greatest intraspecific variation are thickness of the individual bones, degree of elongation or expansion of processes, form and type of dentition in the lower jaw, the position of temporal fenestra, differences in basioccipital, and especially in palatal and associated structures. Furthermore, a brief comparison in skull architecture and dentition between Laudakia nupta and some of its congeners are provided.

Keywords


skull; osteology; braincase; palatal; dentition; Laudakia nupta; Trachylepis aurata transcaucasica

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2007-14-2-107-116

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