Agamidae
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz035 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9C298799-D26B-5A10-FC87-FF3F21CFAE96 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Agamidae |
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Agamidae View in CoL View at ENA ( Fig. 27A, B, U, V View Figure 27 )
The palatine process of Laudakia stellio is long and subtriangular in dorsal view. It has a straight medial marginandanobliqueandwavylateralone.Thepterygoid flange is peculiar in being laterally directed, instead of anterolaterally. It is represented by a straight process, whose distal end is strongly dorsoventrally expanded. In lateral view, the expanded surface, which articulates with the ectopterygoid and can be poorly ossified, has an elongated elliptical shape ( Fig. 27U View Figure 27 ). On the dorsal surface, a robust and well-developed dorsal ridge is visible ( Fig. 27A View Figure 27 ), but the ventral ridge is not developed on the opposed side ( Fig. 27B View Figure 27 ). Because of the unique shape of the pterygoid flange, a real pterygoid recess is not distinctly recognizable. The quadrate process is long, straight in dorsal view and dorsoventrally expanded, adopting a flange-like appearance in lateral view. In adults, a clear step is present on its ventral margin and, therefore, the rounded posterior end is half as wide as the rest of the process ( Fig. 27U, V View Figure 27 ). A narrow notch can be visible at the step, cutting the flange longitudinally. The presence of this distinct step in the adult specimens studied by us is in contrast with the smoother ventral margin of the quadrate process reported by Smith et al. (2016), implying the possibility of intraspecific variation for this feature. Both the basipterygoid fossa and the concave surface for the pterygoideus muscle are wide ( Fig. 27V View Figure 27 ). Neither a pterygoid ridge nor pterygoid teeth are present. Maximum length varies from 5.6 mm to 14 mm.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.