Laudakia agrorensis (Stoliczka1872): The High Altitude Reptile

The species formally was under genus Stellio and it has been separated into two genus’s Laudakia (Gray, 1845) and Acanthocercus (Fitzinger,1849). The genus Laudakia currently comprises 20 species viz., L. agrorensis, L. badakshana, L. bochariensis, L. caucasia, L. dayana, L. erythrogaster, L. fusca, L. himalayana, L. lehmanni, L. melanura, L. microlepis, L.nupta, L. nuristanica, L. pakistanica, L. papenfussi, L. sacra, L. stellio, L. stoliczkana, L. tuberculata, and L. wui (Baig et al., 2012). 

Distribution:  East Afghanistan, North West India (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (Nandani, Mansar village, Ramban & Doda region (Vill. Nai, Zazinda & Chagsoo :within an elevation range of 1216-2198 m.asl) north Pakistan & Kashmir having an elevation ranging from 700-1300 m (Stoliczka, 1872; Smith, 1935; Baig et. al., 2012; Uetz and Hošek, 2017 & Manhas et. al., 2018).

Reproduction: Oviparous 

Ecology: The species remains active during April-July when average air temperature remains between 19–24 °C, Micro-habitats includes rocky areas near a stream, bushes, and fallen tree trunks, with the largest number of lizards associated with rocks in areas of sparse vegetation (Manhas et. al., 2018). 

Morphological Characteristics: 

Total body length: 162-295 mm 

Snout-vent length: 45-95 mm 

Tail length: 117-200 mm 

Supra-labials scales : 8/9-11/10 

Infra-labials scales : 9/9-10/10

Baig, K.J., P. Wagner, B.A. Natalia, and W. Böhme. 2012. A morphology-based taxonomic revision of Laudakia Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Agamidae). Vertebrate Zoology 62: 213–260.

Manhas, A., Raina, R. and Wanganeo, A. 2018. Observations of Agror Agamas, Laudakia agrorenisis (Stoliczka, 1872) (Sauria: Agamidae) in the Doda District, Jammu and Kashmir, India. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians, 25(1):52-54.

Sahi, D.N. 1979. A Contribution to the Herpetology of Jammu and Kashmir. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Smith, M.A. 1935. Fauna of British India, Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. 2 (Sauria). Taylor and Francis, London,UK.

Stoliczka, F. 1872. Notes on some new species of reptiles and amphibians collected by Dr. W. Waagen in North-Western Punjab. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 1872: 124–131.

Uetz, P., J. Hallermann, & J. Hošek (eds.). 2016. The ReptileDatabase(http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Laudakia&species=agrorensis&search_param=%28%28search%3D%27Laudakia+agrorensis%27%29%29)