Sexual dimorphism in Asaccus nasrullahi Werner, 2006 (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae), from western Iran

Abstract

The Leaf-Toad Geckos of genus Asaccus are distributed in some parts of the Middle-East characterizing by a the unique characteristic of cloacal sacs and postanal bones absence. The genus Asaccus includes 19 species with at least 10 species in Iran distributing along the Zagros Mountains. Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a body size difference between males and females of the same species, being a widespread phenomenon in reptiles. We collected additional specimens of Asaccus nasrullahi (Phyllodactylidae) from four new localities in Ilam and Khuzestan Provinces, western Iran. Sexual dimorphism in Asaccus nasrullahi has not yet been documented. In this study 110 adult specimens of this lizard were examined (for metric and meristic characters). The analyses of morphological data revealed that the males are significantly larger than the females in eight metric characters. There is no significant difference in the rate of tail shedding between the sexes. The range of this species is extended beyond type locality in Lorestan Province into adjacent areas in Ilam and Khuzestan Provinces.