Lacertidae

Lacertidae View in CoL View at ENA ( Fig. 25A–F View Figure 25 )

In lacertids, the septomaxilla is short and ventrally concave, with a roughly squared shape in dorsal view. The anterior end develops an anteroventrally directed and subtriangular expansion, whereas a pointed posteromedial process develops in posterior direction from the medial corner of the posterior end. The posteromedial process is lacking in Ac. erythrurus and Ophisops elegans ( Fig. 25E, F View Figure 25 ), short in Al. marchi , Al. moreoticus , Ar. bedriagae and I. bonnali ( Fig. 25A, B View Figure 25 ), and moderately long in the other species ( Fig. 25C, D View Figure 25 ). The lateral margin of the bone is characterized by two processes: the anterolateral one is narrow and roughly pointed, whereas the posterolateral one is wide and roughly quadrangular. The former develops dorsally (anterodorsally in Ac. erythrurus , Ophisops elegans and Psammodromus ; Fig. 25E View Figure 25 ), whereas the latter is directed laterally. The tip of the posterolateral process is more angular in Ac. erythrurus and Ophisops elegans ( Fig. 25E, F View Figure 25 ) than in other species ( Fig. 25A– D View Figure 25 ). A small and irregular ridge is present on the anterior-half of the medial margin of the septomaxilla, developing in the dorsal direction. The base of this ridge can be pierced by an anteroposteriorly directed canal. Both the dorsal and the ventral surface of the bone are smooth.