Sexual dimorphism in Laudakia persica sp.nov. Sanchooli et al. 2018 (Sauria; agamidae)from the west of Iran

To investigate patterns of sexual dimorphism of Laudakia persica sp. nov, 13 morphometric and four meristic characteristics were examined in 95 specimens including 57 males and 38 females, collected from western region of Iran. Results show that males have larger bodies, heads, tails, limbs and more developed callous scales on the midventral and perianal regions than the females. Out of the 17 characters which were examined. Chest, dorsal and ventral surfaces of specimens show sexual dichromatism. Sexual dimorphism is the result of an evolutionary interaction between natural and sexual selections

Keywords:

Laudakia persica , Dimorphism , Dichromatism