Lophognathus
Encyclopedia
Lophognathus is a genus of lizards found in northern Australia
, New Guinea
, and Tanimbar Islands
. The four species are informally described as dragon
s, as are several genera in the family Agamidae
, and closely related to those of Amphibolurus
.
Lophognathus species are slender, slightly compressed, agamid lizards that are often found in trees. They occur in a variety of habitat, including sand dunes and arid regions, but frequently near watercourses. Two species are endemic to Australia, Lophognathus gilberti and L. longirostris, L. temporalis is also found in New Guinea.
The type locality of Lophognathus maculilabris was given as the Timor Laut Islands.
The first description was by John Edward Gray
in 1842. The species he described was named after John Gilbert (naturalist)
, the collector of the type specimens.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, and Tanimbar Islands
Tanimbar Islands
The Tanimbar Islands, also called Timor Laut, are a group of about 65 islands in the Maluku province of Indonesia, including Fordata, Larat, Maru, Molu, Nuswotar, Selaru, Selu, Seira, Wotap, Wuliaru and Yamdena.-Geography:...
. The four species are informally described as dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
s, as are several genera in the family Agamidae
Agamidae
Agamids, lizards of the family Agamidae, include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have...
, and closely related to those of Amphibolurus
Amphibolurus
Amphibolurus is a genus of lizards native to Australia. Characteristics include:* Moderate size * Long limbs and long tail...
.
Lophognathus species are slender, slightly compressed, agamid lizards that are often found in trees. They occur in a variety of habitat, including sand dunes and arid regions, but frequently near watercourses. Two species are endemic to Australia, Lophognathus gilberti and L. longirostris, L. temporalis is also found in New Guinea.
The type locality of Lophognathus maculilabris was given as the Timor Laut Islands.
The first description was by John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
in 1842. The species he described was named after John Gilbert (naturalist)
John Gilbert (naturalist)
John Gilbert was an English naturalist and explorer.Gilbert's birthday is 14 March, but the year is not known, estimates range from 1810 to 1815.He came from New Zealand to Australia in 1838....
, the collector of the type specimens.
Species
- Lophognathus gilberti (Gray, 1842) – Gilbert's Lashtail, Gilbert's Dragon
- Lophognathus longirostris (Boulenger, 1883) – Long-snouted Lashtail, Long-nosed Water Dragon
- Lophognathus maculilabris (Boulenger, 1883)
- Lophognathus temporalis (Günther, 1867) – Striped Water dragon, Swamplands Lashtail, Northern Water Dragon