Oriotiaris

Mahony, Stephen, 2009, A new species of Japalura (Reptilia: Agamidae) from northeast India with a discussion of the similar species Japalura sagittifera Smith, 1940 and Japalura planidorsata Jerdon, 1870, Zootaxa 2212, pp. 41-61 : 55-56

Status of Oriotiaris :

Oriotiaris ( Günther, 1864) was originally created as a monotypic genus for Tiaris elliotti ( Günther, 1860) (junior synonym of Japalura tricarinata Blyth, 1853 ). Günther (1864) provided the following diagnosis for Oriotiaris “Tympanum naked. Back and sides covered with very small scales, between which larger keeled ones are scattered; a tubercle behind the superciliary edge. Dorsal crest very low, formed by a series of larger, keeled, not prominent scales. Gular sack none. Tail not compressed, with keeled scales below, which are almost as broad as long.” This diagnosis differed from that of Japalura ( sensu Günther 1864 ) in the details of a concealed tympanum, ability of males to raise a nuchal crest and possession of a small gular pouch in the later. Smith (1935) synonymised Oriotiaris with Japalura without explanation. Schleich and Kästle (2002) following their proposed revalidation of Oriotiaris in Kästle and Schleich (1998), maintained their opinion that Oriotiaris is valid based on details of territorial/courtship displays, the absence (vs. presence) of dorsal chevrons and presence (vs. absence) of a coloured gular region, concealed tympanum, large crest spines in males and erectile nuchal crest (roach), in members of Japalura .

J. variegata is the type species of Japalura ( Gray, 1853) and J. tricarinata the type species of Oriotiaris (as Oriotiaris ellioti ), thus based on the above discussed genetic analysis Oriotiaris as revalidated by Kästle and Schleich (1998) should again be considered a junior synonym of Japalura . Oriotiaris dasi Shah and Kästle 2002 (in Schleich and Kästle 2002) is, according to the original description, primarily diagnosable from J. kumaonensis based on some colour differences. It should therefore be considered that O. dasi be formally transferred to the genus Japalura to become Japalura dasi (Shah and Kästle, 2002) .

The phylogenetic evidence for this synonymisation may be further strengthened by a discussion of some shared morphological characteristics present in members of Oriotiaris and Japalura ( sensu Schleich and Kästle 1998 ). Schleich and Kästle (2002) made reference to the record by Smith and Battersby (1953) of a single specimen of J. major possessing a naked and concealed tympanum. Although likely an anomalous specimen, the absence or presence of a naked tympanum should not be considered a significant morphological character when attempting to create generic divisions within Japalura . In the related genus Draco , phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be monophyletic regardless of containing species with both concealed and exposed tympanum ( McGuire and Kiew 2001). Several other notable characters are shared between the western and eastern Himalayan Japalura species. Similarities include the general arrangement of spines on the head, occiput and jowls and dorsal and lateral scales keeled and of unequal sizes. Body (in cross section) subquadrangular to moderately compressed depending on the species, or in some species on sex, e.g., J. variegata males appear moderately compressed due to a raised nuchal and dorsal crest, however females have no apparent raised dorsal crest thus retain a primarily subquadrangular body shape. Many examples of the western species (e.g., J. kumaonensis , J. tricarinata and J. major ) possess evident or at least remnants of the posteriorly pointing “V” shaped arrangements (as crescentic patches) of enlarged scales along the dorsum and enlarged keeled scales on the hind limbs, present also on the eastern species J. planidorsata , J. andersoniana , J. variegata , J. otai sp. nov. and J. sagittifera . Those not possessing these “V” shaped arrangements (e.g. many individuals of J. tricarinata ), often at least possess an incomplete longitudinal row of enlarged, keeled scales dorsolaterally, often complete in J. planidorsata , J. andersoniana , J. otai sp. nov., J. sagittifera , J. varcoae and J. dymondi . A single or small group of spines are present on the rear of the thigh close to its base, often bordered by a white crescentic line extending from the spines of the thigh to the base of the tail in J. planidorsata , J. andersoniana , J. otai sp. nov., J. sagittifera , J. variegata , J. tricarinata , J. major , J. kumaonensis and J. dasi . In several other species where by these thigh spines may be absent, the distinct white line is often retained, as in J. batangensis , J. dymondi , J. hamptoni , J, yunnanensis . Whether the characters discussed here are present in the remaining species currently considered members of Japalura sensu lato were beyond the scope of this study, but may prove beneficial when morphologically defining generic divisions in the future.