Post by Ceratodromeus on May 31, 2016 23:50:10 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Infraorder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Draconinae
Genus: Acanthosaura
Species: A.titiwangsaensis
Description
Another discovery from 2008, A. titiwangsaensis is fairly typical in regards to Acanthosaura body form. Three individual have been attributed to this species; the holotype male(ZRC 2.6805), a gravid female (ZRC 2.5994), and a juvenile(LSUHC 9094). The male is the largest of the three, but not by much. The adult male measures 118.4mm(4.6in) with a total body length measurement of 292.4mm(11.5in), the female measures 112.7mm(4.4in) with a total body length measurement of 272.7mm(10.27in), and the juvenile animal measures 91.8mm(3.6in) with a total body length measurement of 227.8mm(8.9in). The coloration in life of these animals is an orange-yellow, with some black markings found on the tail and on the shoulder. Liker another recently described species, A.titwangsaensis possesses several small spots that can be found on the body, though they are not as pronounced as darkly pigmented species.
Mountain horned lizards(as the Acanthosaura genus is commonly called) are slender bodied animals that spend most of their time in trees, primarily on branches 2-3m off the ground. This particular species was discovered whilst sleeping on a branch. Though no real activity was described during the day for this species, it is believed to be diurnal like most if not all species of the genus. A. titiwangsaensis can be differentiated from other similar species of mountain horned agamid by the number of subdigital lamellae under the fourth digit{1}.
{1}Two new montane species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (Squamata: Agamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia
Abstract
Two new montane species of the agamid genus Acanthosaura (Gray, 1831) from Peninsular Malaysia are described
based on having unique color pattern and scale characteristics. Acanthosaura bintangensis sp. nov. from Bukit Larut,
Perak most closely resembles A. titiwangsaensis sp. nov. from Fraser’s Hill and Cameron Highlands, Pahang but differs
from it by having more subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger; the presence of a row of enlarged keeled suborbital
scales beginning and terminating with an elliptical keeled scale; by having more scales surrounding the occipital spines;
having more spots in the dorsal pattern; and by having a black gular region with a yellow medial stripe. Both species
closely resemble A. crucigera but, can be separated from it by having higher numbers of subdigital lamellae on the fourth
finger and toe; higher numbers of trasverse scales in the canthus rostralis-supraorbital ridge; higher numbers of scales
bordering the rostral scale, and lower numbers of scales between the fifth canthals. The discovery of a two new agamid
lizards from montane forests in well-known areas of Peninsular Malaysia underscores the importance of continued field
work in these regions
perryleewoodjr.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/wood-et-al-2009-two-new-acant.pdf
