ADAPTIVE MORPHOMETRY VARIATION IN LIZARDS OF THE GENUS AGAMA IN ISRAEL

ABSTRACT

The genus Agama in Israel is represented by five taxa which are distributed in different habitats and different zoogeographical regions of the country. An attempt was made to analyze these taxa according to various morphometric characteristics and to correlate these variables with habitat quality as well as with thermal characteristics. The results indicate that the five Agama taxa in Israel segregate on the basis of morphometric and thermal features. Among the morphometric characteristics, the ratios between the length of fore—and hindlimbs and body length were dominant discriminating features, especially between A. sinaita from a hot rocky habitat and all other four species. Body temperature was the main thermal feature accounting for taxon segregation. These results revealed a high compatibility between morphometric attributes and habitat features.