Tropicagama

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Tropicagama
Northern water dragon at Fogg Dam (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Amphibolurinae
Genus: Tropicagama
Melville, Ritchie, Chapple, Glor, & Schulte, 2018
Species:
T. temporalis
Binomial name
Tropicagama temporalis
(Günther, 1867)
Synonyms [2]
  • Gowidon temporalis(Günther, 1867)
  • Grammatophora temporalis(Günther, 1867)
  • Lophognathus lateralis(Macleay, 1877)
  • Lophognathus labialis(Boulenger, 1883)
  • Lophognathus maculilabris(Boulenger, 1883)
  • Physignathus temporalis(Boulenger, 1883)
  • Gemmatophora temporalis(Storr, 1983)
  • Lophognathus temporalis(Cogger, 1983)
  • Amphibolurus temporalis(Ehmann, 1992)
  • Tropicagama temporalis(Melville et al., 2018)

Tropicagama is a genus of large-bodied lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is monotypic, with only one species listed: Tropicagama temporalis, commonly known as the swamplands lashtail or northern water dragon. [3] This semi-arboreal species inhabits the tropical savannah woodlands of northern Australia, as well as parts of New Guinea [2] and southeastern Indonesia. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy

From its original description in 1867 until 2017, genus Tropicagama has previously been included in multiple other genera, including Amphibolurus, Gemmatophora, Gowidon, Grammatophora, Lophognathus, and Physignathus. The new genus — Tropicagama — was created by Melville et al. in 2018, after an extensive analysis of three genera ( Amphibolurus , Gowidon and Lophognathus ) that have had long-standing inconsistencies in their taxonomic classification. The morphological and mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed that four distinct evolutionary lines were lumped in the former genus Lophognathus . As a result, the former genus Lophognathus has now been split into genera Amphibolurus , Gowidon , Lophognathus , and Tropicagama. All of these genera are contained within subfamily Amphibolurinae. [2]

Phylogeny and biogeography

A map of Wallacea, bordered by the Wallace Line on the west and Lydekker's Line on the east Wallacea.png
A map of Wallacea, bordered by the Wallace Line on the west and Lydekker's Line on the east

Sequencing and analysis of mitochondrial DNA, along with phylogenetic and divergence time analyses, reveals that the genus Tropicagama originated in the late Miocene and early Pliocene epoch. [5] T. temporalis migrated from Australia to New Guinea during the Pliocene epoch, sometime between 2.3 and 4.7 million years ago (Ma). It then migrated from New Guinea across Lydekker's Line into Wallacea less than 1 Ma, during the mid-Pleistocene epoch. [4] Wallacea is a zone of mixing between fauna of the Indomalayan and Australasian ecozones. [6] The eastern border of this zone is represented by a zoogeographical boundary known as Lydekker's Line, while the Wallace Line defines the western border. [7]

Description

T. temporalis is a slender agamid lizard of moderate size, with long limbs and a long and slender tail. The head is narrow and moderately elongated, with a short rounded snout and a prominent canthal ridge and tympanum. A broad white stripe extends from the tip of the snout, over the lower and upper lips, continuing below the tympanum and down the lateral portion of the body. This stripe tapers off at the hind legs, and it is intersected by three dark bands at the neck, shoulders, and upper back. The portions of the head above and below this stripe are a uniform dark gray or brown color. There is a prominent dorsal crest of enlarged keeled scales extending from the occiput to the shoulder. This crest continues as a ridge from the shoulder along the spine to the base of the tail. The front legs are darker in color and have more strongly keeled scales than the hind legs. A second, shorter white stripe sometimes extends from the posterior mandible to the area of the temporomandibular joint. The snout-to-vent length is 103 millimeters (4.1 in); hindlimb length is 87 millimeters (3.4 in). [2]

Distribution and habitat

T. temporalis is mainly found in the far northern Australian coastal regions in the Northern Territory and the western portion of the Cape York Peninsula. It also occurs in the southern part of New Guinea and on some of the islands to the north of Australia, [2] as far north as the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. [4]

Within its distribution, this semi-arboreal species can be found in a range of habitats, including coastal dunes, tropical savannah woodlands, monsoon forests, paperbark swamps and billabongs, creeks and riverine environments. [8] In particular, it can be found in the Arnhem Land tropical savanna, the Cape York Peninsula tropical savanna, the Carpentaria tropical savanna, the Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands, the Victoria Plains tropical savanna, and possibly the Kimberley tropical savanna. [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agamidae</span> Family of lizards

Agamidae is a family of over 550 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards.

<i>Amphibolurus</i> Genus of reptiles

Amphibolurus is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Australia.

<i>Ctenophorus</i> Genus of lizards

Ctenophorus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as comb-bearing dragons, found in Australia. They are in the dragon lizard family, known as Agamidae.

<i>Diporiphora</i> Genus of lizards

Diporiphora is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. Most species in the genus are endemic to Australia, but two are also found in New Guinea.

<i>Lophognathus</i> Genus of lizards

Lophognathus is a genus of large-bodied agamid lizards, consisting of two species — L. gilberti and L. horneri — both of which are endemic to northern Australia. Along with several other closely related genera, these lizards are commonly referred to as "dragons". In Australia, these lizards are also colloquially known as "Ta Ta" lizards, due to their habit of "waving" after running across hot surfaces.

<i>Pseudocalotes</i> Genus of lizards

Pseudocalotes is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frilled lizard</span> Species of reptile

The frilled lizard, also known as the frillneck lizard, frill-necked lizard or frilled dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea. This species is the only member of the genus Chlamydosaurus. Its common names come from the large frill around its neck, which usually stays folded against the lizard's body. It reaches 90 cm (35 in) from head to tail and can weigh 600 g (1.3 lb). Males are larger and more robust than females. The lizard's body is generally grey, brown, orangish-brown, or black in colour. The frills have red, orange, yellow, or white colours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern bearded dragon</span> Species of lizard

The eastern bearded dragon, also known as common bearded dragon or simply bearded lizard, is an agamid lizard found in wooded parts of Australia. It is one of a group of species known commonly as bearded dragons. Other common names for this species include Jew lizard and frilly lizard, the latter being a confusion between this and another dragon, the frill-necked lizard. This species was originally described in 1829 by Georges Cuvier, who named it Amphibolurus barbatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibolurinae</span> Subfamily of lizards

The Amphibolurinae are a subfamily of lizards in the family Agamidae. Members of this subfamily are found in Australia and New Guinea, although one species, the Chinese water dragon, is found in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central netted dragon</span> Species of lizard

The central netted dragon or central netted ground dragon is a species of agamid lizard occurring in a wide range of arid to semiarid regions of Australia. It is widespread across the continent, commonly found in open, sandy, desert habitats. It is a popular pet and can often be found in zoos.

<i>Ctenophorus pictus</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus pictus, commonly known as the painted ground-dragon or painted dragon, is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae. It is endemic to the drier areas of southern and central Australia.

<i>Ctenophorus mirrityana</i> Species of lizard

The Barrier Range dragon is an agamid lizard which has been newly described (2013) as a separate species from the tawny dragon. This species is endemic to Australia, restricted to just three sites in western New South Wales (NSW).

<i>Diploderma swinhonis</i> Species of lizard

Diploderma swinhonis, also known commonly as the Taiwan japalure, Swinhoe's japalure, Swinhoe's lizard, and Swinhoe's tree lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Taiwan. It is considered an invasive alien species in Japan after likely being transported from Taiwan by humans. A foraging ambush predator, this lizard preys primarily on arthropods and thus remains at the bottom of forests perched on trees where sunlight is present. D. swinhonis is not a major threat to humans and is able to adapt to a variety of habitats, including urban environments. The male D. swinhonis is physically distinct from the female, with its body size being much larger and having a yellow stripe. This species sexually reproduces on a seasonal basis and hibernates during the winter time.

<i>Tympanocryptis tetraporophora</i> Species of lizard

Tympanocryptis tetraporophora, also known as Eyrean earless dragon or long-tailed earless dragon, is one of a documented species of a relatively small dragon belonging to the genus Tympanocryptis. Tympanocryptis is differentiated from other genera within the family Agamidae by a tympanum covered with scales and a missing phalange in the fifth toe of the rear foot. T. tetraporophora is a ground dwelling dragon inhabiting semi arid regions of central New South Wales, arid regions of South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and tropical grasslands of Northern Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallee military dragon</span> Species of lizard

The Mallee military dragon, also commonly known as the Mallee dragon and the Mallee sand-dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to the arid parts of southern Australia.

Ctenophorus mckenziei, more commonly known as the dwarf-bicycle dragon, is a species of endemic Australian lizard within the family Agamidae and genus Ctenophorus. Originally identified as the agamid Amphibolurus mckenziei, the lizard had been identified within the regions of Western Australia and South Australia in which it occupied the shrubbery and woodland areas as its habitat. It was subsequently transferred to the genus Ctenophorus along with other Agamid species in which it shared similar morphology and characteristics. The name mckenziei is in reference to Norman Leslie Mckenzie, who was a zoologist and discovered the existence of the lizard. Listed on the IUCN red list page, threats to its population numbers are evaluated as least concern; however, their numbers are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and feral predators.

<i>Ctenophorus parviceps</i> Species of lizard

Ctenophorus parviceps, commonly known as the Gnaraloo heath dragon or northwestern heath dragon is a species of agamid lizard occurring in pale coastal sands and shell grit with open heaths and beach spinifex, between the North West Cape and Carnarvon, Western Australia and on Bernier Island. The Gnaraloo heath dragon is a lizard that can be found along the coast of Western Australia between Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay, and is also known as the northwestern heath dragon. It is native to Australia and usually inhabits sandy coastal dunes. The species' longevity is 3–50 years and its population density is extremely low. The Gnaraloo heath dragon is a member of the Agamidae family, which contains 15 genera. The lizard is under the Ctenophorus genus which has up to 33 species. This genus shows the most morphological and ecological diversity out of the three large agamid genera. 83% of the lizards in this genus lack a crest, while 17% possess crests. They are smaller than most agamids but do have relatively large heads. The Gnaraloo heath dragon can be differentiated from related species by a series of spines on the tail's base, a pale-grey brown broad vertebral band along its back, and hour-glass bars extending upwards to meet the pale vertebral band. It is usually 45mm in terms of length, measuring from snout to vent.

<i>Gowidon</i> Genus of lizards

Gowidon is a genus of arboreal lizards in the family Agamidae. It is monotypic with a single recognised species, Gowidon longirostris, commonly known as the long-snouted lashtail or long-nosed water dragon. It is found in Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Australia, and in New Guinea.

<i>Diporiphora nobbi</i> Species of lizard

Diporiphora nobbi, also known commonly as the nobbi lashtail or the nobbi, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

<i>Lophognathus gilberti</i> Species of lizard

Lophognathus gilberti, also known commonly as Gilbert's dragon and Gilbert's lashtail, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 Oliver, P.; Parker, F.; O'Shea, M.; Allison, A.; Tallowin, O.; Zichy-Woinarski, J.; Wilson, S.; Melville, J.; Doughty, P.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Swamplands Lashtail (Lophognathus temporalis)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. ISSN   2307-8235 . Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Melville, Jane; Ritchie, Euan G.; Chapple, Stephanie N.J.; Glor, Richard E.; Schulte, James A. (2018). "Diversity in Australia's tropical savannas: An integrative taxonomic revision of agamid lizards from the genera Amphibolurus and Lophognathus (Lacertilia: Agamidae)" (PDF). Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 77: 41–61. doi: 10.24199/j.mmv.2018.77.04 .
  3. ↑ Uetz, Peter; Hallermann, Jakob (2021). "Tropicagama temporalis (GÜNTHER, 1867)". Reptile Database . Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Karin, Benjamin R.; Stubbs, Alexander L.; Arifin, Umilaela; Iskandar, Djoko T.; Arida, Evy; Austin, Christopher C.; McGuire, Jimmy A. (2020). "Crossing Lydekker's Line: Northern Water Dragons (Tropicagama temporalis) Colonized the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia from New Guinea". Herpetologica. 76 (3): 344–50. doi:10.1655/Herpetologica-D-19-00033. S2CID   221564902.
  5. ↑ Melville, J.; Ritchie, E.G.; Chapple, S.N.J.; Glor, R.E.; Schulte, J.A. (2011). "Evolutionary origins and diversification of dragon lizards in Australia's tropical savannas". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58 (2): 257–70. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.025. PMID   21145401.
  6. ↑ New, T.R. (2002). "Neuroptera of Wallacea: a transitional fauna between major geographical regions" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 48 (2): 217–27.
  7. ↑ Kealy, Shimona; Louys, Julien; o'Connor, Sue (2015). "Islands under the sea: a review of early modern human dispersal routes and migration hypotheses through Wallacea". The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology. 11 (3): 364–84. doi:10.1080/15564894.2015.1119218. S2CID   129964987.
  8. ↑ Cogger, Harold G. (2014). "Family Agamidae (Dragon Lizards)". Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia (7 ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 740. ISBN   978-0-643-10035-0.
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