Calotes andamanensis

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Andaman and Nicobar Forest Lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Iguania Family: Agamidae Genus: Calotes Species: andamanensis
Binomial name
Calotes andamanensis Boulenger, 1891

Calotes andamanensis originally included the species now recognized as Calotes aurantolabium Krishnan 2008. The description given here is used in the newer sense and not that of by Ishwar and Das (1998).

[edit] Description

Calotes andamanensis Boulenger, 1891.

Holotype.— Zoological Museum, Københavns Universitet, Copenhagen, Denmark (ZMUC) 36944, adult male from Nicobar Islands, India; collected by Frederick Adolph de Roepstorff (1842-1896) on 7 January 1882.

Diagnosis.— Calotes andamanensis is diagnosed by having enlarged keeled scales on caudal surface of thigh, obtusely keeled scales over head, smooth dorsal body scales (uppers six rows directed posterodorsally, remainder posteroventrally), and lacking body crest, antehumeral pit present; 67 scales around midbody; tympanum (11% HL); toe III shorter than IV. Distinguished from Calotes aurantolabium in having smooth dorsals, dorsal body scales unequal, upper six scale rows larger, remainder equal in size to ventral scales; three enlarged scales on caudal thigh; dorsal head scales obtusely keeled; parietal ridge raised; enlarged scale between nuchal crest and tympanum; antehumeral pit present; toe-IV longer than III; stretched hindlimb reaches eye. Distinguished from Calotes versicolor and Calotes liocephalus groups and C. rouxi and C. ellioti in presence of enlarged keeled scales on caudal surface of thigh. Distinguished from Calotes versicolor group lizards in scale orientation – distinguished from Calotes versicolor in having an antehumeral pit; distinguished from C. nemoricola and C. grandisquamis in having equal size dorsal and ventral scales, toe-IV longer than III, scales around midbody 67 (36-43 and 27-35 respectively); distinguished from C. calotes in lacking flattened spines above tympanum. Distinguished from C. ellioti and C. rouxi in having an antehumeral pit and in lacking spines. Distinguished from Calotes liocephalus group lizards (C. ceylonensis, C. desilvai, C. liolepis, C. nigrilabris) in lacking spines on the head; distinguished from C. liocephalus by midbody scale count and body crest.

[edit] References

• Boulenger,G.A. 1891 On new or little known Indian and Malayan reptiles and batrachians. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (6) 8: 288-292
• Ishwar,N.M. & Das,I. 1998 Rediscovery of Calotes andamanensis Boulenger 1891, and a reassessment of the type locality. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 95: 513-514
• Krishnan, S. unpublished accepted. New Species of Calotes (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from the Southern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Herpetology.