Relative Growth in Austrlian Agamid Lizards: Adaptation and Evolution

Abstract

Limb, tail and head measurements of 36 species in 11 genera of Australian agamid lizards were analysed to study relative growth, Strong allometric growth was recorded for many species. Allometric change tends to be less rapid in larger species. Juvenile proportions are usually similar in closely related species and may be useful as phylogenetic indicators. Morphometric data appear to be useful taxonomically at the generic level, and data from this paper could be used to support the erection of some new genera.