Ctenophorus

Ctenophorus is a genus of lizards, also known as comb-bearing dragons, that contains the most diverse group of dragon lizards in Australia. It is the largest group of Australian lizards and it has an extensive radiation in the arid zones.[2] Many of these have been grouped by a similar morphology. The informal names and groupings within this genus — rock, crevice-, ground, sand-, and bicycle-dragon — are named after the mythological creature, the dragon.

Not to be confused with Ctenophora.

Ctenophorus
Ctenophorus fordi, Mallee dragon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Amphibolurinae
Genus: Ctenophorus
Fitzinger, 1843[1]
Species

33 species, see text

Ctenophorus nuchalis

Ctenophorus lizards may be confused with the Tympanocryptis and Diporiphora genera.[3]

Species

There are 33 recognized species in the genus.[4]

Polymorphism

Lizards of the genus Ctenophorus are known to display color polymorphism, more than one color type being found within a population. It is believed that color polymorphism in this group has evolved as a result of a combination of sexual selection and natural selection.[5]

References
  1. "Ctenophorus ". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
  2. Doughty, Paul; Maryan, Brad (March 1, 2007). Jane Melville, Jeremy Austin. "A New Species of Ctenophorus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) from Lake Disappointment, Western Australia". Herpetologica. 63: 72–86. doi:10.1655/0018-0831(2007)63[72:ANSOCL]2.0.CO;2.
  3. Swan, G., Shea, G., Sadlier, R. (2004) A Field Guide to Reptiles of New South Wales, Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, ISBN 187706906X
  4. Ctenophorus, The Reptile Database. Accessed 7 October 2014.
  5. Stuart-Fox DM, Moussalli A (2004). "Evolution of Color Variation in Dragon Lizards: Quantitative Tests of the Role of Crypsis and Local Adaptation". Evolution. 58 (7): 1549. doi:10.1554/03-448.

Further reading

  • Browne-Cooper, Robert; Brian Bush; Brad Maryan; David Robinson. (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. Perth: University of Western Australia Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6. Australias most diverse group of dragons
  • Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Ctenophorus, new genus, p. 83). (in Latin).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2003). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia. Second edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishing.
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