Comparative assessment of morphometric parameters of some common lizards

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the major external features and body weight of some common lizards from two locations. Ten samples each of the male and female rainbow lizard (Agama agama africana) and wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) were purchased from Itoku market in Abeokuta, Ogun state as well as Bode market in Ibadan, Oyo state. Morphometric parameters such as the forelimb length, hindlimb length, tail length, head length, body length and total length were measured. It was observed that the body lengths of both male and female Agama lizards showed significant difference at (P< 0.05) in terms of location- the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was longer in body length than those from Ibadan. In wall geckos, it was observed that the length of the forelimb was significantly different at (P< 0.05) while the hindlimb length, head length and body length showed significant difference at (P< 0.01) in terms of location. However, there was no significant difference in the body weights of the male Agama, female Agama and wall gecko from the different locations at both (P< 0.01) and (P< 0.05) significant levels although mean values showed that the weights of the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was more than that of Ibadan while the mean values of the wall gecko from both locations was the same.

Keywords: Morphometrics, Lizards, Comparative assessment, Ibadan, Abeokuta