Microauris | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Agamidae |
Genus: | Microauris Pal et al, 2018 |
Species: | M. aurantolabium |
Binomial name | |
Microauris aurantolabium (Krishnan, 2008) [2] | |
Synonyms | |
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Microauris is a monotypic genus of agamid lizard. Its only species is Microauris aurantolabium, also known as the small-eared dragon or orange-lipped forest lizard, found in the forests of the southern Western Ghats and is currently known from the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. [3] The species was formerly included in Pseudocalotes andamanensis of the Andaman Islands, [4] but recognized as distinct in 2008. [2] It was also classified under Calotes until 2018, where it was transferred to its own genus, Microauris, on the basis of its divergence from Calotes. [5]
This species is diagnosed by having orange colored upper lips, green body; acutely keeled scales over body (dorsally and ventrally), head, and throat; postero-ventral orientation of the dorsal scales; antehumeral pit absent; 63 scales around midbody; small tympanum (5.5% HL); toe III and IV subequal. Distinguished from Pseudocalotes andamanensis in having acutely keeled dorsals, all of which are directed posteroventrally; antehumeral pit absent; acutely keeled ventrals, limb and head scales; smaller occipital, nuchal, temporal regions. Distinguished from all known species of the Calotes versicolor group in having posteroventral orientation of dorsal scales (posterodorsal in C. versicolor group). Distinguished from species of the Calotes liocephalus group in lacking antehumeral pit, and in having a proportionately smaller head, ulnar length proportionately longer, tibial length proportionately shorter. Distinguished from Monilesaurus rouxii and Monilesaurus ellioti in lacking an antehumeral fold and spines, toe-IV and III subequal. [2] [3]
The species was eventually moved to its own genus, Microauris, on the basis of its extremely small tympanum, making it different from members of Calotes. [5]
Holotype: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) 1436 (Orange-lipped forest lizard) an adult female, collected by N. M. Ishwar at Kakkachi in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India in 1997. [2] [3]
Calotes is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae. The genus contains 29 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as garden lizards. The genus name Calotes has been derived from the Greek word Καλότης (Kalótës), meaning ‘beauty’, referring to the beautiful pattern of this genus.
Ceratophora is a genus of agamid lizards found in Sri Lanka. The male has a horn on its snout.
Pseudocalotes is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Southeast Asia.
Hardwicke's bloodsucker is an agamid lizard and found in South Asia.
Calotes calotes, the common green forest lizard, is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka.
Monilesaurus ellioti, also known commonly as Elliot's forest lizard, is a species of arboreal, diurnal, lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.
Calotes nemoricola, the Nilgiri forest lizard, is an agamid lizard found in the Western Ghats of India.
Monilesaurus rouxii, commonly known as Roux's forest lizard, Roux's forest calotes, or the forest blood sucker, is a species of arboreal, diurnal, agamid lizard, which is endemic to hills of peninsular India. In July 2018, it was proposed that the species should be transferred to the new genus Monilesaurus.
The peninsular rock agama or South Indian rock agama is a common species of agama found on rocky hills in south India. An allied species, Psammophilus blanfordanus, is found in the Eastern Ghats, but north of the range of this species.
Craspedocephalus macrolepis, commonly known as the large-scaled pit viper, is a venomous pitviper species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats of South India. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Boiga andamanensis, known commonly as the Andaman cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Andaman Islands.
Boiga dightoni, commonly known as Dighton's catsnake, the Pirmad cat snake, and the Travancore cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
Cyrtodactylus deccanensis, also commonly known as Deccan ground gecko, Günther's Indian gecko, or the banded ground gecko, is a species of gecko found in the northern Western Ghats of India. It has been found from northern Maharashtra, with a habitat range possibly extending to southern Gujarat. Cyrtodactylus albofasciatus was previously considered conspecific with Cyrtodactylus deccanensis but is now accepted as a valid species.
Pseudocalotes andamanensis is an agamid lizard found on the Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Islands in India. It is also known as the green crestless forest lizard, Andaman and Nicobar forest lizard, Andaman lizard, or Andaman green calotes. This species is an almost exclusive canopy dweller, and is rarely seen.
Calotes nigrilabris, the black-cheek lizard, is an agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka. It can be distinguished easily from painted-lipped lizard by having black bar on mouth rather than white or orange bar.
Oligodon huahin, the Hua Hin kukri snake, is a species of kukri snakes in the genus Oligodon. The species was first discovered and described in late 2016, and the article was published July 13, 2017. It is only known from its type locality but its range is likely to be more extensive. O. huahin is thought to be very secretive, similar to other species of the genus Oligodon. This theory is supported by the type specimen, which all were males, suggesting that it was found during the mating season where males are out and actively search for females to reproduce. This may also explain why this species had not yet been discovered
Monilesaurus is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae and is a new genus described in 2018. Currently it consists of 4 species, with 2 new species and 2 species split from the genus Calotes.
Pseudocalotes floweri, also commonly known as Flower's forest agamid, Flower's long-headed lizard, and the Thai false bloodsucker, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.