Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ah, and it is time for my favorite subject! And I know you guys love it =)

C. collaris systematics!!! (Only to maintain a more intense anticipation on McGuire's publication of his monograph online). I hope this little "tease" doesn't bother you Chris... I just can't wait!!!

From the Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History (McGuire 1996).

"... all of the subspecies of C. collaris (C. c. auriceps, C. c. baileyi, C. c. fuscus, and C. c. melanomaculatus) are here synonymized with C. collaris because no evidence has ever been presented, nor has any been discovered here, that these taxa represent independent lineages... Rather, they are pattern or convenience classes (Frost et al., 1992), color morphs largely consistent over an extensive area, but grading smoothly into other color morphs at their boundaries."

Interesting stuff!!!

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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

I would submit that there MAY be a need to verify this contention wrt C. collaris/*C. auriceps by a series of controlled test breedings. I have seen a reference in another work (which I will attempt to locate) stating that a mating between the two 'species' produces 'abnormals'. I have produced defectives from such a 'cross' in an uncontrolled mating of insignificant statistical numbers. However, I have *heard* of several other instances of similar matings where the offspring suffered from various defects, reduced viability, or shortened lifespans. In my ignorant mind, the emergence of a 'semi-lethal' gene or some other barrier between the 'races' might support the original classification of C. auriceps. Perhaps you (or anyone withing the sound of my 'voice') will know of such a work having been done or can debunk this contention of mine from a long experience of performing these crosses with 'normal' results?

-DC
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I've got the blues...LOL...them screamin' yellow-head blues...

I have never seen the article or reference in which you speak, but I would also be interested in those findings.

I for one believe C. Auriceps should be a species unto itself.
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Eve

Eve,

I think it will be a bit difficult for the yellow head variety of C. collaris to become a subspecies (C. collaris auriceps); but a full species?? That seems very unlikely.

I also think that a controled study of the species needs to take place with the technology that exists today, but I don't think that a reproductive study will be as successful as a phylogenetic study. You can't always base your findings on color exclusively. Morphology involves many more approaches other than color such as bone structure and squamation. And with all the advances in genetics these days, establishing species is much more reliable than using color alone to determine lineages.

I am still reading McGuire's monograph but I think you will find that it is perhaps the most comprehensive study on the systematics of collared lizards.

Perhaps more data will emerge in the future, and the yellow head variety of C. collaris will finally become a distinct subspecies.

Cheers,

Fabian
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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

Yeah sorry , thanks for the correction, I did mean sub species, and not just recognized as C. Collaris.

It WAS at one time that way C. Auriceps sub species of C. Collaris. LOL
I would like to see that again is what I was trying to say !
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Eve

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