The systematic status of earless dragon lizards, Tympanocryptis (Reptilia:Agamidae), in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

The systematic status of the dragon lizards Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla and T. tetraporophora (Agamidae) was examined by allozyme electrophoresis and multivariate morphological techniques. Both taxa exhibited considerable genetic and morphological differentiation from each other and from most other members of the T. lineata species group examined. The recognition of T. tetraporophora at the specific level is confirmed and T. l. pinguicolla is raised to full specific status. The remaining subspecies of T. lineata are each genetically well differentiated from each other and may represent full species. Allozyme analysis of specimens from the T. cephalus/intima complex in eastern Australia was problematic because of small samples and heterogenous distributions of alleles, a more extensive sampling being required to resolve their status. A key is provided for identification of species of Tympanocryptis in south-eastern Australia.