Evolutionary integration (covariation) of traits has long fascinated biologists because of its potential to elucidate factors that have shaped morphological evolution. Studies of tetrapod crania have identified patterns of evolutionary integration that reflect functional or developmental interactions among traits, but no studies to date have sampled widely across the species‐rich lissamphibian order Anura (frogs). Frogs exhibit a vast range of cranial morphologies, life history strategies, and ecologies. Here, using high‐density morphometrics we capture cranial morphology for 172 anuran species, sampling every extant family. We quantify the pattern of evolutionary modularity in the frog skull and compare patterns in taxa with different life history modes. Evolutionary changes across the anuran cranium are highly modular, with a well‐integrated “suspensorium” involved in feeding. This pattern is strikingly similar to that identified for caecilian and salamander crania, suggesting replication of patterns of evolutionary integration across Lissamphibia. Surprisingly, possession of a feeding larval stage has no notable influence on cranial integration across frogs. However, late‐ossifying bones exhibit higher integration than early‐ossifying bones. Finally, anuran cranial modules show diverse morphological disparities, supporting the hypothesis that modular variation allows mosaic evolution of the cranium, but we find no consistent relationship between degree of within‐module integration and disparity.

Habitat is one of the most important factors shaping organismal morphology, but it may vary across life history stages. Ontogenetic shifts in ecology may introduce antagonistic selection that constrains adult phenotype, particularly with ecologically distinct developmental phases such as the free-living, feeding larval stage of many frogs (Lissamphibia: Anura). We test the relative influences of developmental and ecological factors on the diversification of adult skull morphology with a detailed analysis of 15 individual cranial regions across 173 anuran species, representing every extant family. Skull size, adult microhabitat, larval feeding, and ossification timing are all significant factors shaping aspects of cranial evolution in frogs, with late-ossifying elements showing the greatest disparity and fastest evolutionary rates. Size and microhabitat show the strongest effects on cranial shape, and we identify a “large size-wide skull” pattern of anuran, and possibly amphibian, evolutionary allometry. Fossorial and aquatic microhabitats occupy distinct regions of morphospace and display fast evolution and high disparity. Taxa with and without feeding larvae do not notably differ in cranial morphology. However, loss of an actively feeding larval stage is associated with higher evolutionary rates and disparity, suggesting that functional pressures experienced earlier in ontogeny significantly impact adult morphological evolution.

Abstract:Observations on the Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) were undertaken in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India during the monsoons (July) following quadrat sampling that was time-constrained. The study revealed that the area is one of the preferable habitats for the species. A population analysis showed that the relative abundance of the subadults was higher, followed by juveniles and adults during the study period. The beginning of activity of the lizards was found to vary over the study period depending on prevailing weather conditions. The activity pattern was bimodal, except across rain events. The study revealed two important ecological findings about these lizards; complete sealing of burrow during rains which differed from partial sealing on normal days and complete diurnal cycle of body colour changes during the monsoon. Feeding was the predominant activity of this lizard followed by basking, resting and chasing each other. The adult lizards were found to be strictly herbivorous, in spite of an abundance of insects available in the area during the period. Subadults and juveniles were found to eat both plant parts, as well as insects. Microhabitat use such as inside grass clumps was found to be higher followed by barren ground, under shade and on stones.Keywords: Activity pattern, borrow sealing, colour change, food and feeding, habitat use, population, Rajasthan, Spiny-tailed Lizard, Wildlife Sanctuary.Hindi Abstract: rky Nkij oU;tho vH;kj.; es a Hkkjrh; dka W Vs nkj&iw W Nokyh fNidyh Saara hardwickii (Gray, 1827) ij oS Kkfud vuos D'k.k fd;k x;kA vË;;u DokMjs V fofèk (quadrat sampling method) vkS j flfer le;kofèk (time-constrained) ls ekulw u vofèk ds tq ykà ekg es a fd;k x;kA vË;;u es a ;gkW a dk okl&LFkku bl iz tkfr ds fy, eq [; #i ls ila fnnk okl&LFkku ik;k x;kA tula [;k fo"ys 'k.k es a vèkZ o;Ld dh la [;k lcls T;knk] fd"kks j vkS j o;Ld dh mÙkjks rj la [;k de ikbZ xbZ A bl iz tkfr ds nS fud xfrfofèk;ks a ds le; es a egÙoiw .kZ #i ls ekS le ds vuq #i nS fud ifjorZ u ik;k x;kA bldk nS fud fØ;kDyki] o'kkZ ds le; dks Nks Mdj] ckbZ eks My ns [kk x;kA bl vË;;u es a eq [; #i ls bl iz tkfr ds nks ikfjfLFfrdh igyw fudy dj vk,( o'kkZ ds nkS jku fcy dks iw .kZ r;k ca n djuk ogha lkekU; fnuks a es a vkèkk ca n djuk vkS j blds fnu ds le; "kjhj ds ja x dks ifjofrZ r djus dk pØA nS fud fØ;kDyki es a [kkuk [kkus es a lokZ fËkd le; O;rhr fd;k x;k ogh lw ;Z dh jks "kuh es a "kjhj dks rkiuk] vkjke djuk vkS j ,d&nw ljs dk fiNk djuk bldh vU; xfrfofËk;kW a FkhA o;Ld fNidfy;kW a iw .kZ r;k "kkdkgkjh ns [kh xbZ ] ogh ekulw u vofèk es a fdVks a dh ckgw Y;rk FkhA vèkZ o;Ld vkS j fd"kks jks a dks ikniks a ds Òkx ds lkFk& lkFk fdVks a dk Òh ÒD'k.k djrs ns [kk x;kA bl iz tkfr )kjk lq {e okl&LFkku ds #i es a ?kkl ds >q ..k lcls ila fnnk ns [kk x;s ogh likV èkjry] Nk;k vkS j Nks Vs iÙFkj Øe"k% de ila n fd;s x;s A ISSN Online 0974-7907 Print 0974-7893

In recent years, several studies have revealed significant unknown and cryptic diversity of agamids in peninsular India, particularly in the Western Ghats. Here, we examine the morphology, anatomy and genetics of the sole Indian representative of the otherwise Sri Lankan agamid genus Otocryptis from the Western Ghats. Our analyses reveal significant distinctions in O. beddomii Boulenger, 1885 with respect to the Sri Lankan members, the type species, O. wiegmanni Wagler, 1830, and O. nigristigma Bahir & de Silva, 2005, warranting a new generic placement. To accommodate the divergent and allopatric O. beddomii from the Western Ghats, we erect a new genus Agasthyagama gen. nov. We re-characterise Agasthyagama beddomii (Boulenger, 1885) comb. nov. based on a syntype (ZSI 15733) and recently collected material. In effect, we restrict the genus Otocryptis, represented by two species, O. wiegmanni and O. nigristigma, to Sri Lanka. We also provide a re-appraisal of the genus Otocryptis sensu stricto, based on data from its type species O. wiegmanni. Our finding adds another endemic agamid genus to the Western Ghats, following Salea Gray, 1845, and the recently described Monilesaurus Pal, Vijayakumar, Shanker, Jayarajan & Deepak, 2018, and Microauris Pal, Vijayakumar, Shanker, Jayarajan & Deepak, 2018. In turn, this complements Sri Lankan agamid endemism with Otocryptis, in addition to the accepted endemic radiations of Lyriocephalus Merrem, 1820, Ceratophora Gray, 1835 and Cophotis Peters, 1861. From a systematic perspective, our erection of Agasthyagama gen. nov. likely completes the description of known genus-level diversity in the clade containing Otocryptis Wagler 1830, Sitana Cuvier, 1829 and the recently described Sarada Deepak, Karanth & Giri, 2016.