Lacertidae

Lacertidae View in CoL View at ENA ( Fig. 22A–I View Figure 22 )

The quadrate of lacertids is roughly straight and rectangular in anterior view. In medial view, its anterior outline is rounded ( Fig. 22F, I View Figure 22 ), except for Ac. erythrurus , E. arguta and Ophisops elegans , in which it is more angular ( Fig. 22C View Figure 22 ). The medial lamina is present and moderately developed; it has an alar expansion (the pterygoid flange) near the ventral end of the bone. The flange is usually poorly developed in juveniles and more developed in adults. Nevertheless, adults of Ac. erythrurus and Ps. hispanicus (and sometimes of I. bonnali , I. cyreni and I. monticola ) retain a little-developed flange ( Fig. 22A, B View Figure 22 ), whereas the flange is well-developed in both juveniles and adults in some members of the genus Podarcis (e.g. Po. bocagei , Po. carbonelli , Po. hispanicus and Po. muralis ; Fig. 22D, E View Figure 22 ). On the dorsal-half of the anterior surface of the lateral lamina there is a flat platform, which is distinctly concave in adults of Ti. lepidus ( Fig. 22G View Figure 22 ). The margins of the platform are often marked by low ridges, which can be absent in juveniles. The cephalic condyle is posteroventrally expanded and subelliptical in dorsal view. A variably developed squamosal notch is present in juveniles, but in adults this portion of the lamina can be more ossified and the foramen for the chorda tympani nerve is recognizable. The medial portion of the mandibular condyle is slightly more ventrally developed than the lateral one. Maximum length is given in the Supporting Information 3.