Morphological Variability of the Eremias persica Complex (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae) on the Iranian plateau

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

Seyed Hassan Moradi ¹

Nasrullah Rastegar Pouyani ¹

Eskandar Rastegar Pouyani ²

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

10.22067/ijab.2025.92638.1095

Abstract

Eremias persica is a complex species with a wide distribution range in Iran, some parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Recent studies have revealed that this species, comprises multiple populations that exhibit significant morphological and molecular variations from one another, to the extent that some have recently been introduced as new species. In this study, we conducted a morphological investigation into the diversity and patterns of morphological variation among phylogenetic clades, populations, and isolated species within this lineage. Our morphological analysis demonstrated that populations and phylogenetic clades are clearly distinguishable from one another. Based on our findings, sexual dimorphism is weak in this group, with only minor differences in tail length relative to snout-vent length and the number of collar scales between males and females. Our analysis of phylogenetic clades and populations reveals the presence of at least five distinct morphological clusters and twelve relatively distinct clusters in the Iranian Plateau, which can be considered as separate species or subspecies.

Keywords

Lizard

Eremiadini

Sexual dimorphism

Biometry

Diagnostic characters

Discrimination

Subjects

• Ecology and Evolution
• Morphology
• Taxonomy
• Zoogeography

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