Ecology

Heterochrony

Sauria

Biology

Sexual dimorphism

Allometry

Paleontology

Genetics

Head (geology)

Anatomy

Lacertidae

Lizard

Ontogeny

Zoology

Subspecies

Italian Journal of Zoology

Ophisops elegans is a widely distributed lizard species. Like other lacertids, O. elegans has characteristic head plates. In this paper, the variation of the head plate morphology between sexes was studied in the subspecies Ophisops elegans centralanatoliae. According to our results, both size and shape of the head plates show sexual dimorphism. The most remarkable shape difference between sexes is observed in the parietal region. In addition, the ontogentic allometry of the head plate shapes was investigated.

Shape variability of the head of<i>Ophisops elegans</i>Ménétriés, 1832 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Konya, Turkey

Shape variability of the head ofOphisops elegansMénétriés, 1832 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Konya, Turkey