Laudakia nupta
Laudakia nupta is a species of lizard from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It was described in 1843. There are two subspecies, Laudakia nupta nupta and Laudakia nupta fusca.
| Laudakia nupta | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Laudakia |
| Species: | L. nupta |
| Binomial name | |
| Laudakia nupta (De Filippi, 1843) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Laudakia nupta nupta
Laudakia nupta fusca:
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Taxonomy
L. nupta was described by Filippo De Filippi in 1843. Its taxonomy has been moved many times, having previously been classified under the genera Agama and Stellio.[2] The current scientific name comes from the past participle of the Latin verb nūbo, meaning to cover or veil. The meaning shifted over time, coming to mean a bride that covers herself for the groom.[2] The bride's crown is a reference to the lizard's crown-like crest.[2]
Laudakia nupta nupta is commonly known as large-scaled agama or large-scaled rock agama,[2][3] and Laudakia nupta fusca is commonly known as yellow-headed rock agama.[2][4]
Description
L. nupta is a large sized lizard with a heavy head and nostrils on the canthus rostralis. The body is moderately depressed, and there are vertebral enlarged scales covering most of the lizard's back. It has a long tail with segments of three whorls. L. nupta has oviparous reproduction.[2]
The subspecies L. nupta nupta is yellowish or reddish brown, and the vertebral enlarged scales are strongly keeled.[2]
The subspecies L. nupta fusca has no nuchal fold, and the vertebral enlarged scales are strongly mucronate.[2]
Diet
Plants are the main source of food for L. nupta.[5] L. nupta fusca is omnivorous and are known to consume Daphne oleoides, beetles, and ants.[6]
Habitat and distribution
L. nupta is typically found in western Asia. The subspecies L. nupta nupta can be found in eastern Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.[2] It resides in large limestone rocks and outcrops with deep crevices, and in man-made structures like mud-brick homes and old buildings.[7] The subspecies L. nupta fusca can be found in southern Pakistan and southern Iran.[2]
References
- Anderson, S.; Papenfuss, T. (2021). "Laudakia nupta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T164692A1068143. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T164692A1068143.en. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- Laudakia nupta at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2021-01-01.
- "Laudakia nupta". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- "ADW: Laudakia nupta: CLASSIFICATION". animaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- Sanchooli, Naser (2017-05-01). "Habitat suitability and potential distribution of Laudakia nupta (De Filippi, 1843) (Sauria: Agamidae) in Iran". Russian Journal of Ecology. 48 (3): 275–279. doi:10.1134/S106741361703016X.
- Qashqaei, Ali Turk & Ahmadzadeh, Faraham (2015-08-04). "Dietary records of yellow-headed agama in Hormozgan Province, Iran". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 22 (4): 315–317. doi:10.30906/1026-2296-2015-22-4-315-317.
- Rahimian, Hassan; Pazoki, Samaneh & Habashi, Sima Abbasi (2014-08-13). "Gastrointestinal nematodes of Laudakia nupta nupta (Sauria: Agamidae) from Iran with descriptions of two new species (Oxyuridea: Pharyngodonidae) and comments on the diagnostic features of Parapharyngodon and Thelandros". Zootaxa. 3852 (1): 51–82. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3852.1.2.
External links
Media related to Laudakia nupta at Wikimedia Commons