Agamidae

Villa, Andrea & Delfino, Massimo, 2019, A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 187 (3), pp. 828-928 : 854

Agamidae ( Fig. 16A, B )

Laudakia stellio has a distinctly triradiate jugal, because of the presence of a moderately long and triangular quadratojugal process. The anterior process is robust, but narrows towards the pointed anterior end. The lateral surface of the anterior-half of the process is completely covered by the articulation surface with the spur of the maxilla ( Fig. 16A ). A short palatal process is present, but it lacks any sign of a medial one ( Fig. 16B ). The posterodorsal process is massive and slightly shorter than the anterior one. It bends posteriorly in its posterior portion, originating a distinct angle at midlength. This angle seems to be less marked in juveniles ( Smith et al., 2016). The distal end of the posterodorsal process is rounded. On the medial surface of the bone, the articulation surface with the postorbital is visible all along the anterodorsal margin of the posterodorsal process ( Fig. 16B ). Large foramina are present on the lateral surface.

Figures

Figure 16. Jugals – A–B, Laudakia stellio (HUJ.OST-Z-424), left jugal in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. C–D, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (NHMW 611), left jugal in lateral (C) and medial (D) views. E–F, Ac. erythrurus (UAM.R.ACVII), left jugal in lateral (E) and medial (F) views (the dorsal margin of the anterior process is damaged). G–H, Ophisops elegans (MDHC 281), left jugal in lateral (G) and medial (H) views. I–J, Psammodromuss algirus (UAM.R.Ps9), right jugal in lateral (I) and medial (J) views. K–L, Ti. lepidus (MDHC 216), right jugal in lateral (K) and medial (L) views. M–N, Ab. kitaibelii (MDHC 239), right jugal in lateral (M) and medial (N) views. O–P, Chalcides chalcides (MDHC 398), left jugal in lateral (O) and medial (P) views. Q–R, Ophiomorus punctatissimus (MDHC 427), left jugal in lateral (Q) and medial (R) views. S–T, Anguis gr. An. fragilis (MDHC 102), right jugal in lateral (S) and medial (T) views. U–V, Pseudopus apodus (MDHC 215), left jugal in lateral (U) and medial (V) views. Abbreviations: ap, anterior process; asm, articulation surface with the maxilla; aspo, articulation surface with the postorbital; mp, medial process; pdp, posterodorsal process; pp, palatal process; qjp, quadratojugal process. Scale bars = 1 mm.