Post by Ceratodromeus on May 31, 2016 23:03:29 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.bintangensis
Description
Discovered in 2008 in Peninsular Malaysia, the Bukit Laruid Mountain horned agamid is only one of many species from this genus of lizard in recent years. As the common name may suggest, all three individuals attributed to this species where collected from the field in Burit Larut, Malaysia. The holotype is an adult male(ZRC 2.6804) measures 114mm(4.4in) in snout-ventral length; measuring 280mm(11in) in total body length. It is not the largest of the three animals attributed to this species f=however, that distinction belongs to a gravid female((FMNH 143140) measuring 142mm(5.5in) in snout ventral length; (13.7in) 348mmin total length. The other individual attributed to this species is a juvenile animal(ZRC 2.309) measuring 83mm(3.2in) in snout ventral length, and being 195mm(7.6in) in total length.
Characteristic of the genus, Males possess small horns right behind the eye -- this is mostly non existent in the females, and most juvenile animals are only starting to get them. This particular species of Acanthosaura is drab in coloration, being a tan or light brown in coloration with black markings on the throat, around the eye, and on the tail. Contrastingly, the species also has large light colored spots that are found on the body. These lizards are tree dwellers, but also spend some time on the ground, namely for foraging or egg laying.
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
