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We examined the histological structure of the tongue of Laudakia stellio, the starred agama lizard (Agamidae, Squamata), under light microscopy. We also investigated the muscle and papilla volume ratios, with volumes of each aspect of interest estimated according to the Cavalieri method. The macroscopically short, thick and muscle-rich front tip of the tongue of L stellio does not show any bifurcation, and under light microscopy, the oval-shaped papilla-free front tip was seen to be covered by keratinized stratified epithelium. The dorsal and ventral parts were different, with the former partially covered by keratinized stratified epithelium and rich in secretory glands and secretory cells. The ventral part, which contained keratinized stratified cells, had a flat surface with no papillae. The dorsal surface of the anterior and posterior parts contained fungiform papillae, with the apical parts of these papillae containing minimal keratin; the inter-papillar space was covered by keratin-free squamous stratified epithelium. The middle section of the tongue contained cylindricaltype papillae, with serous and mucous secretory glands and ducts at their base. Finally, the frontal and middle parts of the ventral and dorsal surfaces did not contain any taste buds, although there were some in the hind part of the dorsal surface. As morphometric estimates of volumes of the muscles and papillae, the mean volume ratios (relative to total tongue volume)±standard deviation were 0.66±0.03 and 0.33±0.03, with mean coefficients of error of 0.02 and 0.03, respectively. © 2007 Zoological Society of Japan.

A study aimed at clarifying the taxonomic status of the variable hardun population of the south Sinai mountains, hitherto included in Laudakia stellio brachydactyla, encountered the confounding role of the “Seligmann effect”—the biometrical difference between original (whole)‐tailed and regenerated (or broken)‐tailed individuals. We morphologically examined museum specimens from the Negev, Israel, and Sinai, Egypt (N = 117; including 58 focal specimens used in all analyses). We used 23 conventional mensural, meristic, and qualitative characters (besides sex). Biometry was statistically analysed, separately for each sex, within and between two geographically disparate populations constituting potential subspecies, typical L. s. brachydactyla in the Negev and north Sinai, and the questioned south Sinai population. Multivariate analyses poorly separated the two geographical populations. Within each of these, the original‐tailed and regenerated‐tailed subsamples significantly differed in some characters (“Sel...

Fifteen Laudakia caucasia and 25 Laudakia stellio from Turkey were examined for helminths. Laudakia caucasia harbored 1 species of Cestoda, Oochoristica tuberculata, and 3 species of Nematoda, Foleyella candezei, Parapharyngodon tyche, and Thelandros baylisi. Laudakia caucasica represents a new host record for O. tuberculata, P. tyche, and T. baylisi. Laudakia stellio harbored 6 species of Nematoda, Foleyella candezei, Parapharyngodon kasauli, Parapharyngodon tyche, Thelandros taylori, Strongyluris calotis, and third-stage ascaridoid larvae. Laudakia stellio represents a new host record for F. candezei, P. kasauli, S. calotis, T. taylori, and ascaridoid larvae.

Research on the widespread and polytypic lizard Laudakia stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) suffers from the lack of type specimens of the taxa included. This paper reviews the valid subspecies and the information about their type specimens, and designates neotypes where necessary.

A study aimed at testing the contested validity of the subspecies Laudakia stellio daani yielded novel insights into the essence of subspecies. We examined morphologically museum specimens from Greece, Aegean islands, and Anatolia (n = 118; not all could be used in all analyses). Beyond the conventional mensural, meristic and qualitative characters we quantified 14 coloration characters, thus totalling 34 characters (including sex). Biometry was statistically analysed within and between the two geographically defined presumed subspecies, L. s. daani and L. s. stellio. Excluding or including broken‐tailed specimens changed the outcome of tests. Significant minor directional asymmetry occurred in one of four character‐taxon combinations. Phenetic cluster analysis poorly separated the two presumed subspecies when all characters, including those with discordant variation, were included; after selection of characters, the separation improved. Some biometric characters distinguish the two presumed subspecies, c...

The Laudakia stellio population in the Hatay region, on the southeast Mediterranean strip of Turkey, was investigated in detail by mapping morphometric and meristic characters as well as colour and pattern features. On the basis of the morphometric characters present in the population sample examined, we conclude that the Hatay population should be included in the subspecies Laudakia stellio stellio. Comparison of the Hatay population with L. s. cypriaca from Cyprus showed that these two populations represent two separate subspecies.

Bu çalışmada, Laudakia stellio türüne ait ergin kertenkelelerin dillerinin histolojik özelliklerinin ortaya konulması, farklı yüksekliklerde yaşayan türler arasındaki histolojik yapı farklılıklarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada kullanılan L. stellio bireyleri 2004 yılının Haziran ayında Kepez/AYDIN (64 m) ve Paşayaylası/AYDIN (1287 m) lokalitelerinden toplanmıştır. Örnekler parafine gömülmüş ve 5 μm. kalınlığında kesitler alınmıştır. Histolojik kesitler PAS, H-E, Gomori Trikrom, PAS-H ve Thionin boyaları kullanılarak boyanmıştır. L. stellio kalın, etli ve kısa bir dil ile çatalsız bir dil ucuna sahiptir. Oval ve papillasız olan dil ucu keratinize çok katlı yassı epitel ile kaplıdır. Işık mikroskobu gözlemleri, dilin dorsal ve ventral yüzeyleri arasında farklılıklar olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Salgı bezi ve hücreleri bakımından zengin olan dorsal kısım, farklı tipte papillalara sahiptir. Bunlar mantarsı ve silindirik papillalardır. Ventral kısmın papillasız yüzeyi keratinize çok katlı yassı epitel ile kaplıdır. Işık mikroskobu altında, seröz ve müköz bez olmak üzeri iki tip salgı bezi gözlenmiştir. Son olarak, dilin sadece arka kısmı birkaç tat tomurcuğuna sahiptir. Sonuç olarak, histolojik gözlemler farklı yüksekliklerde yaşayan L. stelio türleri arasında dil yapısı bakımından herhangi bir fark olmadığını ortaya koymuştur. In the present study , it’s aimed to reveal histological characteristics of tongue of the adult lizard Laudakia stellio and to examine structural changes in tongue histologically, among individuals which live at different altitudes. The L. stellio used in this study were collected from Kepez/AYDIN (64 m.) and Paşayaylası/AYDIN (1287 m.) in June of 2004. Samples were embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 μm. Histological sections were stained using H-E, PAS, Gomori’s Trichrome, PAS-H, thionin stains. L. stellio has thick, fleshy and short tongue with non bifurcation tip of tongue. Oval-shaped and papilla free tongue tip is covered by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Light microscopy observations revealed differences between dorsal and ventral parts of tongue. Dorsal part has different type of papillae and is rich in secretory glands and cells. These are fungiform and cylindirical papillae. Papilla free surface of ventral part is covered by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Under light microscopy, two types of secretory glands were observed: Serous and mucous. Finally, the hind part of the dorsal surface of tongue has a few taste buds. As a result of the study, histological observations revealed that no variations exist in terms of tongue structure among individuals of L. stellio which live at different altitudes.