Systematics of North African Agama (Reptilia: Agamidae): a new species from the central Saharan mountains

Abstract

We studied the taxonomic status of the north African Agama species A. impalearis, A. castroviejoi, and A. boueti. The study of recently collected specimens and museum material, as well as phylogenetic analyses of a short 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment, revealed the presence of an undescribed species in Adrar des Ifoghas (Mali), Aïr Mountains (Niger), Ahaggar Mountains (Algeria) and Tassili n'Ajjer (Algeria, Lybia), previously mistaken either as A. impalearis or A. agama. The new species, Agama tassiliensis n. sp., clearly belongs to the impalearis – boueti – spinosa species group but differs from these species, among other characters, by its red, reddish-orange or orange vertebral stripe in males, long and angular head, long limbs and toes (with 4 th toe usually slightly longer than 3 rd toe), long but low nuchal crest made of 10 to 15 spines (rarely 8–9 spines) and large number of supralabials (10–16, usually around 12). Interspecific uncorrected p-distances based on the 16S rDNA gene fragment are high, ranging from 3.9% between A. boueti and A. impalearis to 7.9% between A. spinosa and A. impalearis. The new species is sympatric with A. boueti at least in the Aïr Mountains and ex-hibits average mtDNA divergences of 6.2%, 7.4%, and 7.6% with A. spinosa, A. impalearis, and A. boueti, respectively. Agama boueti is paraphyletic relative to A. castroviejoi in the mtDNA tree, and mtDNA genetic divergences between pop-ulations of both species are lower than 1.0%, suggesting that A. castroviejoi is better treated as a junior synonym of A. boueti pending more detailed analyses. Scattered mountain ranges in the Sahara seem to have promoted lineage diver-gence and ultimately speciation in this group. Further work should be done to study species taxonomy and evolution in those areas.

Full text

26 Accepted by S. Carranza: 14 Sep. 2011; published: 15 Nov. 2011
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Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 3098: 26–46 (2011)
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Systematics of north African Agama (Reptilia: Agamidae): a new species from
the central Saharan mountains
PHILIPPE GENIEZ1, JOSÉ M. PADIAL2 & PIERRE-ANDRÉ CROCHET3,4
1EPHE-UMR 5175, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
E-mail: philippe.geniez@cefe.cnrs.fr
2Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Herpetology), American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York,
10024-5192 NY, USA. E-mail: jpadial@amnh.org
3CNRS-UMR 5175, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
4Corresponding author
Abstract
We studied the taxonomic status of the north African Agama species A. impalearis, A. castroviejoi, and A. boueti. The
study of recently collected specimens and museum material, as well as phylogenetic analyses of a short 16S ribosomal
RNA gene fragment, revealed the presence of an undescribed species in Adrar des Ifoghas (Mali), Aïr Mountains (Niger),
Ahaggar Mountains (Algeria) and Tassili n’Ajjer (Algeria, Lybia), previously mistaken either as A. impalearis or A.
agama. The new species, Agama tassiliensis n. sp., clearly belongs to the impalearis – boueti – spinosa species group but
differs from these species, among other characters, by its red, reddish-orange or orange vertebral stripe in males, long and
angular head, long limbs and toes (with 4th toe usually slightly longer than 3rd toe), long but low nuchal crest made of 10
to 15 spines (rarely 8–9 spines) and large number of supralabials (10–16, usually around 12). Interspecific uncorrected p-
distances based on the 16S rDNA gene fragment are high, ranging from 3.9% between A. boueti and A. impalearis to 7.9%
between A. spinosa and A. impalearis. The new species is sympatric with A. boueti at least in the Aïr Mountains and ex-
hibits average mtDNA divergences of 6.2%, 7.4%, and 7.6% with A. spinosa, A. impalearis, and A. boueti, respectively.
Agama boueti is paraphyletic relative to A. castroviejoi in the mtDNA tree, and mtDNA genetic divergences between pop-
ulations of both species are lower than 1.0%, suggesting that A. castroviejoi is better treated as a junior synonym of A.
boueti pending more detailed analyses. Scattered mountain ranges in the Sahara seem to have promoted lineage diver-
gence and ultimately speciation in this group. Further work should be done to study species taxonomy and evolution in
those areas.
Key words: Ahaggar, Aïr, Algeria, Mauritania, Lybia, Niger, Mali, Sahara, Tassili n’Ajjer, taxonomy
Introduction
Although the most evocative images of the Sahara desert are vast expanses of dunes, the Saharan environment is
largely occupied by scattered but large mountain ranges. In the western parts of the Sahara, the most important in
extension and altitude are the Ahaggar (or Hoggar) Mountains in Algeria, the Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria and Acacus
Mountains (= Tadrart Acacus) in south-western Libya, the Aïr Mountains in northern Niger, the Adrar des Ifoghas
in Mali and the Adrar Plateau (or Adrar Atar) and Tagant Plateau in Mauritania. These areas now constitute
remarkable biogeographical crossroads for vertebrates, having acted as refugia for Sahelian (Dekeyser & Villiers
1956; Joger 1981; Kriska 2001; Lamarche 1988; Padial & de la Riva 2004; Padial 2006; Isenmann et al. 2010),
Mediterranean (Dekeyser & Villiers 1956; Joger 1981) and even East African - Arabian species (Geniez & Gauth-
ier 2008; Crochet et al. 2008). They also harbour several endemic species, a testimony to their role in the diversifi-
cation of the Saharan vertebrate fauna (for reptiles see Wilms & Böhme 2001; Geniez & Arnold 2006). However,
these mountain ranges have remained largely unexplored and have only recently received increased attention (for
example Brito et al. 2011).

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NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
Several species of Agama have been reported for mountain areas in the Sahara. Padial (2005) described a new
species closely related to A. impalearis Boettger, 1874: A. castroviejoi Padial, 2005 endemic to the Adrar Plateau
of Mauritania, while relict populations of A. boulengeri Lataste, 1886, a Sahelian species, were reported from the
Adrar and Tagant plateaus of Mauritania by Joger (1979) and Padial (2006). Depending on the authors, one or two
Agama species inhabit the rest of the Saharan mountains. Joger (1981) and Schleich et al. (1996) mention only A.
impalearis for the Ahaggar Mountains and Tassili n’Ajjer, and Joger (1979) lists only this species for the Aïr
Mountains. Others, however, (Angel & Lhote 1938; Angel et al. 1954; Le Berre 1989) report both A. impalearis
and A. agama (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Ahaggar Mountains and Tassili n’Ajjer. Kriska (2001) recognizes three spe-
cies in the Aïr Mountains: A. agama in the central and southern Aïr, A. impalearis in the northern and central Aïr
and two small areas in the south, with central areas thus having both species, and A. boueti Chabanaud, 1917 (a
more ground dwelling species preferring flatter, often sandy, areas). Finally, Sindaco & Jerem enko (2008) wrote:
“The Central Saharan Agama (S. Algeria, Mali, Niger, SW. Libya and Tibesti between Libya and Chad) are usually
ascribed to A. impalearis, but recently these populations are considered as belonging to the Afrotropical species
Agama agama (IUCN 2007)”. It should be noted that Anderson (1935) had some difficulties ascribing Agamas
from the Ahaggar Mountains to species, and hesitated between A. impalearis and A. spinosa Gray, 1831.
This lack of agreement on the identification and taxonomic status of mountain populations of Agama in the
Sahara seems to be the result of the recurrent endorsement of old literature records, the absence of recent collec-
tions and, consequently, of comprehensive molecular analyses, and the lack of a thorough morphological study of
museum specimens. In this study we aim to clarify this confusing taxonomic scenario. For doing so, we studied
qualitative, meristic and continuous quantitative morphological characters for old and recently collected museum
specimens and photographed individuals of all North African Agama species: A. impalearis, A. castroviejoi, A.
boueti, A. boulengeri, and A. spinosa. In addition, we used a short 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment to infer rela-
tionships of those Agama species and calculate genetic divergences. We conclude that Agama populations from the
Aïr Mountains, Ahaggar Mountains and Tassili n’Ajjer previously assigned either to A. impalearis or to A. agama
represent an undescribed species that we name and describe herein.
Material and methods
Samples. We examined specimens housed in the following collections: the “Biogéographie et Ecologie des Verté-
brés” herpetological collection of the UMR 5175 CEFE in Montpellier (BEV), the Muséum national d’Histoire
naturelle in Paris (MNHN), and the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn (ZFMK). We
also examined colour pictures of live specimens in the iconographic collections of P. Geniez in Montpellier (PGe
xxx, see acknowledgements for the names of the photographers) and J. C. Brito in Porto (Brito code xxx). The list
of examined specimens (voucher specimens or photographs) is available in Appendix I.
Morphological data. Twenty-four morphological variables have been measured: 14 quantitative morphomet-
ric variables [SVL = snout-vent length, TL = tail length, FLL = foreleg length, HLL = hindleg length, FL1 to FL5 =
length of 1st to 5th fingers, TL1 to TL5 = length of 1st to 5th toes]; five quantitative pholidosis variables [Dors = num-
ber of longitudinal rows of dorsal scales counted around midbody, Crest = number of spines composing the nuchal
crest, Supral = number of supralabials, Infral = number of infralabials, CP = number of pre-anal pores (only for
males)], and five qualitative variables describing colour pattern [HCol = head colour, BCol = body colour, VCol =
vertebral stripe colour, TCol = throat marbling colour, BCol = belly colour]. We do not report variation for all these
variables in the results section: we only provide details for i) variables that have been used in the literature to iden-
tify species in this genus or ii) variables that were useful for species identification.
Molecular analyses. Collection numbers, localities and GenBank accession numbers for each sample used in
this analysis are detailed in Table 1. Acronyms for DNA samples and associated vouchers, in addition to the ones
listed above, are as follow: MNCN = Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid); CET = private collection of
J. Castroviejo at Centro de Estudios Tropicales in Sevilla; RIM = Mauritanian field numbers of J. M. Padial.
Genomic DNA was extracted from ethanol-preserved tissues using standard phenol-chloroform extraction proto-
cols. We amplified nearly 500 bp of the 16S mitochondrial gene with the primers 16Sar-5’ (5’-CGCCTGTTTAT-
CAAAAACAT-3’) and 16Sbr-3’(5’- CCGGTCTGAACTCAGATCACGT-3’) (Hillis et al. 1996). The polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) amplification protocol was as follows: 95°C/15 s; 35 cycles of 95°C/30 s, 50°C/ 30 s, 72°C/1

GENIEZ ET AL.
28 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
min; and 72°C/10 min. PCR products were visualized in agarose gels, and unincorporated primers and dNTPs were
removed from PCR products using ExoSap purification (ExoSap-it, GE Healthcare). Cycle sequencing reactions in
both directions were completed using the corresponding PCR primers and BigDye Terminator 3.1 chemistry
(Applied Biosciences), with a standard cycle sequencing profile (96°C/3 min; 35 cycles of 96°C/10 s, 50°C/15 s,
60°C/3 min; and 72°C/7 min). Reaction products were purified using ethanol precipitation and run in an ABI
3730xl analyzer. Gene fragments were aligned through a web server with Mafft (Katoh et al. 2005; Katoh & Toh
2008) under the Q-INS-i strategy, which takes into account secondary structure of RNA. The resulting alignment
contained 512 characters, 362 characters were constant and 150 characters were variable including 119 characters
that were parsimony-informative.
Maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses were performed in PAUP* 4.0b10 (Swofford, 2002). The strict
consensus tree was obtained using heuristic searches with tree bisection reconnection (TBR) and 100000 replicates
using the ACCTRAN algorithm in PAUP. Gaps were considered a fifth character. Clade support was calculated by
non-parametric bootstrapping using heuristic searches of 1000 replicate datasets with 10 random addition sequence
replicates. Maximum likelihood analyses were performed in Garli 0.96 Beta (Zwickl 2006, available at http://
www.nescent.org/informatics/download.php?software_id=4). We used default search parameters and implemented
a GTR + I + G model of nucleotide evolution for the whole data matrix. We performed a total of 1000 runs (repli-
cates) to reduce the probability of inferring a suboptimal likelihood solution. Node support was assessed by 500
bootstrap replicates and two search replicates per replicate. Sequences of Agama agama, A. boulengeri and A.
weidholzi Wettstein, 1932 were used to root the trees following the phylogenetic hypothesis of Leaché et al. (2009).
Bootstrap values (BSS) 80% are usually considered to indicate strong support (Hillis & Bull 1993).
Results
Morphological examination of specimens. In total we examined 376 specimens (collection vouchers or photo-
graphs) of Agama from North West Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger), including numer-
ous specimens from the Ahaggar Mountains, Tassili n’Ajjer and Aïr Mountains (see Appendix 1). We did not find
any specimen of Agama agama or A. impalearis in these central Saharan massifs.
Most specimens from these areas belong to an undescribed taxon with colour characteristics similar to those of
the Agama agama group (pale spots on the head and nuchal regions, blue body with yellow to red head and a red
nuchal crest in breeding males), and with several meristics similar to the Agama impalearis group (shape and num-
ber of supralabial scales, conspicuous spines around the ear opening, short and high nuchal crest). The occurrence
of characters associated with the A. agama species group and the A. impalearis species group in the central Saharan
taxon probably explains why it has variously been assigned to one or the other of these species in the past. This
new taxon will be described in detail below (see also ecological section).
In the Aïr Mountains, another species of Agama can be found alongside the central Saharan taxon. Compari-
sons of the specimens of this species with one of the types of Agama boueti as well as with characters given in
Joger (1979) and Padial (2005) allowed us to identify these specimens as Agama boueti. In the Aïr Mountains and
in the Adrar Plateau area, specimens of A. boueti have been found on flat grounds (plateaux, plains, valley bottoms,
etc), while specimens of the new taxon have been observed on rocky slopes, outcrops etc. (pers. obs, Brito pers.
com., Trape pers. com.). This ecological segregation agrees with the information given by Kriska (2001), where the
new taxon is called Agama impalearis.
Our northernmost records of Agama agama (excluding the Sahelian areas of southern Mauritania where the
species is widespread) come from 17°01’N 02°00’E in Mali (PGe 938, photo J.-F. Trape) and 50 km S of Tahoua in
Niger (Brito code 399). The Malian record is only 180 km south of our closest locality for the new taxon, and fur-
ther fieldwork will undoubtedly reduce the gap between the ranges of these two species. In addition, Kriska (2001)
lists both A. agama and “A. impalearis” (in addition to A. boueti) for the Aïr Mountains, suggesting that the distri-
butions of A. agama and of the new taxon could overlap there.
Genetic data. The amplified fragment starts at position 1879 and ends at position 2376 of the complete mito-
chondrial genome of Pseudotrapelus sinaitus (Heyden, 1827) deposited in GenBank under accession number
NC_013603. Between 0 and 36 bp were missing depending on the specimens except for our two Agama spinosa, in
which a fragment approximately 60 bp long was missing from the beginning of the sequence.

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NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
The maximum parsimony strict consensus of 42 equally parsimonious trees as well as the maximum likelihood
best tree (GarliScore lnL=-1914.430641) rendered the same results. Both analyses support the monophyly of A.
castroviejoi, A. impalearis, A. spinosa and a group made of Ahaggar, Tassili n’Ajjer and Aïr specimens (the central
Saharan clade). Agama boueti is paraphyletic relative to A. castroviejoi (Fig. 1). The central Saharan clade and A.
spinosa form a well-supported clade sister to another well-supported clade comprising A. impalearis and the A.
boueti- A. castroviejoi lineage.
FIGURE 1. Maximum parsimony tree (one of 42 equally most parsimonious trees) with branch lengths measured as number of
changes, and with identical topology to the maximum parsimony strict consensus tree and the best maximum likelihood tree
(not shown), resulting from the phylogenetic analysis of a 512 base-pairs fragment of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA
gene. Numbers on nodes are bootstrap support above 70% for maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses respec-
tively.

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30 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
Table 1. Details for the tissue samples used for the genetic analyses. See text for abbreviation of collections.
Species Locality Voucher specimen
or photograph
Tissue sample Genbank
Agama agama Mauritania: Hod El Gharbi: El Wad-Zoueina CET (RIM 328) MNCN-DNA20575 JN665050
Agama boueti Mauritania: Tagant: Tidjikja, about 50 km E of Leckcheb MNCN 43869 MNCN-DNA9849 JN665051
Agama boueti Mauritania: Hodh el Gharbi: Ayoun el Atrous, nearby CET (RIM 291) MNCN-DNA20580 JN665052
Agama boueti Mauritania: Hodh el Gharbi: Ayoun el Atrous, nearby CET (RIM 336) MNCN-DNA20579 JN665053
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Hodh el Gharbi: Ayoun el Atrous, nearby CET (RIM 338) MNCN-DNA20577 JN665054
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Hodh el Gharbi: Timbedgha - Ayoun el Atrous,
between
CET (RIM 021) MNCN-DNA20582 JN665055
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Tagant: Guelta Fanar CET (RIM 344) MNCN-DNA20584 JN665056
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Adrar: Oued Choum CET (RIM 116) MNCN-DNA20595 JN665057
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Adrar: Terjit CET (RIM 066) MNCN-DNA20598 JN665058
Agama boulengeri Mauritania: Tagant: Zig well, between Lekhcheb and Tichit CET (RIM 174) MNCN-DNA20597 JN665059
Agama castroviejoi Mauritania: Adrar: Aghmakoum, some km S of
[21.1538°N/11.9103°W]
BEV.9133 BEV.T813 JN665060
Agama castroviejoi Mauritania: Adrar: Dahr Chinguetti, between Atar and Tidjikja
[20.4424°N/12.8234°W]
MNCN 41778 MNCN-DNA20601 AY522928
Agama castroviejoi Mauritania: Adrar: Dahr Chinguetti, between Atar and Tidjikja
[20.4424°N/12.8234°W]
MNCN 41779 MNCN-DNA20600 AY522929
Agama castroviejoi Mauritania: Adrar: Dahr Chinguetti, between Atar and Tidjikja
[20.4424°N/12.8234°W]
MNCN 41776 MNCN-DNA20603 AY522926
Agama impalearis Morocco: Bouarfa [32.54°N/1.97°W] not traced - AJ414673
Agama impalearis Morocco: Bouarfa [32.54°N/1.97°W] not traced - AJ414675
Agama impalearis Morocco: Bouarfa [32.54°N/1.97°W] not traced - AJ414674
Agama impalearis Morocco: Ouarzazate [30.75°N/6.63°W] not traced - AJ414672
Continued on the next page…

Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 31
NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
Table 1. continued
Species Locality Voucher specimen
or photograph
Tissue sample Genbank
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414676
Agama impalearis Morocco: ain-el-Guettarra [33.93°N/3.38°W] not traced - AJ414679
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414680
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414685
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414683
Agama impalearis Morocco: Assafid [30.62°N/9.37°W] not traced - AJ414681
Agama impalearis Morocco: Assafid [30.62°N/9.37°W] not traced - AJ414682
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414677
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414687
Agama impalearis Morocco: Sidi-Bou-Othmane [31.23°N/8.43°W] not traced - AJ414684
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414689
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414688
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414686
Agama impalearis Morocco not traced - AJ414678
Agama tassiliensis n. sp. Algeria: Hoggar: Ahaggar mountains [23.1262°N/5.9890°E] PGe.870 BEV.T515 JN665061
Agama tassiliensis n. sp. Algeria: Hoggar: Ahaggar mountains [23.4788°N/5.7811°E] PGe.910 BEV.T517 JN665062
Agama tassiliensis n. sp. Algeria: Tassili: 13 km before Iherir coming from Djanet
[25.3500°N/8.3911°E]
MNHN 2010.0632 BEV.T2973 JN665063
Agama tassiliensis n. sp. Niger: Air: Zagado tributary, Kogo, base of Mt. Taghmert
[19.0015°N/9.3348°E]
BEV.2764 BEV.T803 JN665064
Agama spinosa Egypt: Wadi el Gemal, 29 km upwaters from asphalted road
[24.5640°N/34.9027°E]
PGe.1000 BEV.T3092 JN665065
Agama spinosa Egypt: Wadi el Gemal, 26 km upwaters from asphalted road
[24.5593°N/34.9286°E]
PGe.1001 BEV.T3093 JN665066
Agama weidholzi Senegal: Tambacounda: Simenti [13.0330°N/13.2887°W] no voucher MNCN-DNA9785 JN665067

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32 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
Interspecific uncorrected p-distances range from 3.9% between A. boueti and A. impalearis to 7.9% between A.
spinosa and A. impalearis (Table 2) except for the clade A. boueti - A. castroviejoi where genetic distances between
subclades are lower than 1.0% (mean=0.5, range=0.2–0.8). The central Saharan lineage shows average divergences
of 6.2%, 7.4%, and 7.6% with A. spinosa, A. impalearis, and A. boueti - A. castroviejoi, respectively.
TABLE 2. Mean interspecific uncorrected p-distances for North West African Agama species based on mitochondrial 16S
sequences (range is in parentheses).
Intraspecific divergences largely vary across species. For A. spinosa the two haplotypes were identical, which
is not surprising since the two samples were collected in the same locality. Divergences within the Agama boueti –
A. castroviejoi clade are lower than 1% (see above). Agama impalearis shows divergences from 0.2–2.6% (x=1.3).
Greater divergences are found within the central Saharan clade. Ahaggar and Aïr populations diverge by 2.6%,
Tassili and Aïr populations by 3.0%, and Ahaggar and Tassili populations by 2.0%.
Given the results of phylogenetic analyses and interspecific distances we propose to consider provisionally A.
castroviejoi as a junior synonym of A. boueti, pending results of detailed morphological and genetic studies, and
refer to the clade A. boueti – A. castroviejoi as A. boueti subsequently. Samples across the distribution of A. boueti,
including the type locality, will be required in order to assess the validity of this taxonomic hypothesis.
The central Saharan taxon occurs sympatrically with A. boueti in the Aïr Mountains (Joger 1979; Kriska 2001;
J.C. Brito, L. Chirio and J.-F. Trape pers. com.), where they occupy different habitats (sandy flat areas for A. boueti,
rocky outcrops and slopes for the central Saharan taxon), but they are not sister taxa. They are thus uncontroversial
biological species. Since the genetic divergence between the central Saharan taxon and its closest relative A.
spinosa is of the same magnitude (even if slightly lower) as between the central Saharan taxon and A. boueti, we
describe this taxon as a new species below. We refrain from further dividing this taxon at this stage until the pat-
terns of morphological and genetic variation among the three groups of populations (Ahaggar Mountains, Tassili
n’Ajjer and Aïr Mountains) are better understood.
Agama tassiliensis sp. nov.
Holotype. MNHN 2010.0632, adult male collected on April 21th 2009 in the Tassili n’Ajjer (south-eastern Alge-
ria), 5 km south-south-west from Iherir [WGS84 25.3500°N / 8.3911°E / 1428m a.s.l.] by P.-A. Crochet, P. Geniez
and O. Peyre. See Figure 2.
Chresonyms. Agama impalearis: Joger 1979; 1981; Schleich et al. 1996; Kriska 2001. Agama agama: Angel
and Lhote 1938; Angel et al. 1954; Le Berre 1989; Sindaco and Jerem enko 2008.
Etymology. The name comes from the Berber word “tassili”, referring to sandstone plateaux of the Sahara. It
also refers to the Tassili n’Ajjer, a Saharan massif where the holotype was collected.
Specimens examined. 68 specimens from the entire known distribution range of the species (cf. Distribution
and Appendix I).
Diagnosis. A medium to large size Agama (reaching 13.4 cm of SVL and around 37 cm of total length) belong-
ing to the Agama impalearis complex (medium proportions, dorsal scales regularly keeled, at least 3 spines on the
anterior border of the ear opening, a nuchal crest in both sexes but no caudal crest, see also genetic data) and char-
acterized by the following features (see also Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and Fig. 2, 3, 4): head angular, 63 to 73 rows of dorsal
scales at midbody, 4th toe slightly larger than 3rd (sometimes of same size), a relatively large number of supralabials
(around 12, min. 10 max. 16), a large number of subdigital lamellae (15–20 under the 4th finger, average 17.37,
and 18–24 under the 4th toe, average 20.47), a well-developed crest composed by (8) 10 to 15 spines and a fre-
quently orange eye contour. Males in breeding condition can be brightly coloured: head and throat orange or red,
body dark blue, legs and tail blue, crest and vertebral stripe generally reddish to red. Also, the new species is diag-
nosed by possessing 6 pure simple private nucleotide character states in the fragment of mitochondrial 16S gene
A. boueti A. impalearis A. tassiliensis n. sp.
A. impalearis 3.9 (3.0–4.9) -
A. tassiliensis n. sp. 7.6 (6.8-8.7) 7.4 (6.6-8.4) -
A. spinosa 6.9 (6.5-7.3) 7.9 (7.7-8.4) 6.2 (5.8-6.6)

Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 33
NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
sequence when compared with the other members of the impalearis clade (all positions refer to the Pseudotrapelus
complete mitochondrial sequence NC_013603, when they are dependent on ambiguous alignment this is indi-
cated): A at positions 2127 (ambiguous alignment) and 2194; two Cs inserted immediately after position 1926; G at
position 2218; and T, inserted after position 1926, 4bp after the two Cs.
FIGURE 2. Agama tassiliensis n. sp., holotype, MNHN 2010.0632, adult male from Algeria, Tassili n’Ajjer, 5.5km SSSW of
Iherir [25.3500°N/8.3911°E], photo P. Geniez. A: dorsal view of the live specimen. B: ventral view of the live specimen.

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Table 3. Mean (standard deviation), minimum-maximum (n=sample size) for selected characters in the Agama impalearis species group and
A. agama.
Agama
tassiliensis n. sp.
Agama
impalearis
Agama spinosa Agama boueti A. boueti,
“castroviejoi”
phenotype
Agama agama
Adult SVL
(males)
116.1 (11.23)
106-134 (n=9)
111.3 (11.37)
87-130 (n=36)
99.3 (8.14)
86-113 (n=13)
88.8 (10.38)
70-101 (n=9)
95.3 (8.38)
84-104 (n=4)
112.0 (12.69)
92-132 (n=9)
Adult SVL
(females)
96.8 (11.18)
82-108 (n=4)
100.7 (7.20)
90-113 (n=17)
no voucher 85.1 (4.05)
81.6-90 (n=5)
84 (n=1) 101.6 (11.41)
91.2-115 (n=4)
Foreleg/SVL
ratio (males)
0.44 (0.03)
0.40-0.48 (n=9)
0.43 (0.03)
0.39-0.52 (n=34)
0.44 (0.02)
0.41-0.47 (n=14)
0.46 (0.02)
0.45-0.48 (n=2)
0.45 (0.03)
0.41-0.47 (n=5)
0.46 (0.03)
0.43-0.50 (n=6)
Foreleg/SVL
ratio (females)
0.45 (0.05)
0.39-0.52 (n=6)
0.44 (0.03)
0.39-0.48 (n=19)
no voucher 0.47 (0.02)
0.41-0.51 (n=5)
0.41 (n=1) 0.46 (0.04)
0.41-0.49 (n=6)
Hindleg/SVL
ratio (males)
0.64 (0.03)
0.62-0.72 (n=9)
0.65 (0.04)
0.55-0.72 (n=35)
0.67 (0.03)
0.62-0.72 (n=14)
0.71 (0.02)
0.70-0.73 (n=2)
0.70 (0.04)
0.66-0.76 (n=5)
0.66 (0.04)
0.60-0.71 (n=6)
Hindleg/SVL
ratio (females)
0.65 (0.09)
0.58-0.80 (n=6)
0.64 (0.04)
0.55-0.69 (n=18)
no voucher 0.73 (0.07)
0.60-0.77 (n=5)
0.67 (n=1) 0.67 (0.07)
0.56-0.75 (n=6)
Supralabials 12.10 (1.10)
10-16 (n=48)
12.18 (1.11)
10-17 (n=101)
10.57 (0.81)
9-12 (n=21)
11.02 (0.90)
9-13 (n=49)
11.93 (1.27)
10-14 (n=14)
9.12 (0.86)
7-11 (n=42)
Nb dorsal
scales
68.00 (3.08)
63-73 (n=17)
69.22 (4.14)
57-83 (n=63)
64.83 (4.87)
59-77 (n=18)
58.37 (3.13)
53-65 (n=27)
60.71 (1.11)
60-63 (n=7)
68.19 (6.39)
57-78 (n=16)
Subd. lamellae
4th finger
17.37 (1.34)
15-20 (n=19)
13.76 (0.90)
12-16 (n=68)
14.86 (1.24)
13-18 (n=21)
12.45 (1.09)
10-14 (n=31)
14.38 (1.06)
13-16 (n=8)
19.68 (1.80)
16-22 (n=19)
Subd. lamellae
4th toe
20.47 (1.61)
18-24 (n=19)
15.84 (0.94)
14-18 (n=68)
17.10 (1.37)
16-20 (n=20)
18.06 (1.23)
16-21 (n=34)
21.22 (1.20)
19-23 (n=9)
22.38 (1.60)
19-25 (n=21)
Nb of crest
spines (males)
11.88 (1.63)
8-15 (n=26)
9.58 (1.57)
6-13 (n=55)
11.07 (1.79)
8-16 (n=15)
7.25 (0.93)
6-9 (n=16)
7.11 (1.27)
5-9 (n=9)
14.68 (2.13)
10-19 (n=28)

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Table 4. Frequency (in %) of vertebral stripe colour characters in each taxon (adult males only). I = indistinct, concolorous, GG
= grey to greyish, WY = white to yellow, OR = orange to red. n = sample size.
Table 5. Frequency (in %) of throat colouration characters in each taxon. W = white (no marbling); G = pale grey to brown
grey marbling; D = dark grey, dark purple or black marbling; B = uniformly blue throat or blue marblings; O = uniformly
orange to red throat or with orange to red marblings.
Table 6. Frequency (in %) of relative lenght of 3rd and 4th toes.
Comparison with similar species. Very similar to Agama impalearis (Fig. 5A) but the latter has a shorter,
blunter head, 3rd and 4th toes often of equal length (see Table 6), a lower number of subdigital lamellae (12–16
under the 4th finger, 13.76 on average, 14–18 under the 4th toe, 15.84 on average, Table 3) and the vertebral stripe of
males is whitish to yellowish, the throat frequently dark blue (never red) and the head yellow, brown, reddish-
brown or blue.
Even more similar to the genetically closely related A. spinosa (Fig. 5B), but adult males of the latter exhibit a
pure white crest and vertebral stripe, a much higher crest and the throat is more bloody red. In addition, most spec-
imens (of all age and sex) of A. spinosa have a dark area just behind the gular fold (visible on preserved specimens)
that is absent in A. tassiliensis.
Some specimens of A. boueti (Fig. 5C), especially the ‘castroviejoi’ morphotype (Fig. 5D) occurring in the
western parts of the Sahara, can be very similar as well, but this species has a less slender head, a lower number of
spines in the crest (5–9, 7 in average), less than 64 rows of dorsal scales (more than 62 in A. tassiliensis), and the
head, throat or vertebral spine are never orange or red, but grey, greyish, whitish or yellowish. In addition, A. boueti
(including the ‘castroviejoi’ morphotype) has a narrow (always 2 scales wide) and straight vertebral stripe, while A.
tassiliensis has a more irregular, often poorly marked, and usually broader vertebral stripe.
Despite a similar general appearance, A. agama (Figs 6, 7) obviously differs from A. tassiliensis by a lower
number of supra and infralabials, which are longer, a greater number of subdigital lamellae (16–22 beneath the 4th
finger, average 19.68, 19–25 beneath the 4th toe, average 22.38), which are smooth while they are keeled (strongly
so in A. boueti) in the members of the A. impalearis group, a different colouration for females and young specimens
with turquoise blotches on the nape and frequently a diffuse orange zone on the flanks, and a different colouration
IGGYW OR n
A. tassiliensis n. sp. 3 0 18 79 33
A. impalearis 310 87 0 60
A. spinosa 815 77 0 13
A. boueti “castroviejoi” morphotype 11 22 67 0 9
A. boueti 17 72 11 0 18
A. agama 22 0 16 62 32
Adult males Adult females
WG D BO nWGDB O n
A. tassiliensis n. sp. 0 17260 56 23 0 25750 0 16
A. impalearis 0 1948285 420 42527 0 31
A. spinosa 10 10 0 0 80 10 25 50 0 0 25 4
A. boueti “castroviejoi” morphotype 0 57430 0 7 0 50500 0 4
A. boueti 40 47 13 0 0 15 57 37 3 3 0 35
A. agama 13 13 4 0 70 23 7 14 79 0 0 14
3rd > 4th 3rd = 4th 3rd < 4th n
A. tassiliensis n. sp. 01783 6
A. impalearis 16 52 32 31
A. spinosa 021 79 14
A. boueti “castroviejoi” morphotype 0 75 25 8
A. boueti 70 19 11 27
A. agama 00100 13

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36 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
for nuptial males (wholly orange head and throat, black or blackish body, multicoloured tail with black, whitish,
orange and black from base to tip, and lack of a coloured vertebral stripe).
FIGURE 3. Variation in Agama tassiliensis n. sp. from Tassili n’Ajjer and Acacus Mountains. A: PGe.921, adult male in
breeding colouration, Algeria, Tassili n'Ajjer, surroundings of Tamarit near Djanet, photo G. Vigo. Note the broad (3–4 scales
wide), bright red vertebral stripe (can be orange to red in other specimens), a coulour never encountered in the other members
of the A. impalearis group. In A. agama the crest area can be orange but this colour does not extend onto the back. B: PGe.991,
gravid adult female, Algeria, Tassili n'Ajjer at 24.5847°N/9.3235°E, photo G. Vigo. Note that the colours are typical of gravid
females of the A. impalearis group, and very different from those of the A. agama group (cf. Fig. 6). C: PGe.999, juvenile,
Libya, ca 100km N. of Ghat, Wadi Maghidet, photo G. Vigo. D: Habitat of Agama tassiliensis n. sp., Algeria, Tassili N’Ajjer,
5.5km downstream of Issendelene, photo P. Geniez.
Distribution. Only known from the central and southern Saharan mountains: the Acacus Mountains in south-
western Libya, the Ahaggar Mountains (= Hoggar) and Tassili n’Ajjer in south and south-eastern Algeria, the Aïr
Mountains in northern Niger and the Adrar des Iforas in north-eastern Mali (Fig. 8).
Ecology and conservation. The new species has only been seen on rocky substratum, especially prominent
rocks, slopes, boulders, but also flatter areas such as rocky plateaux or river beds. It can occur on houses when they
are adjacent to natural rocky habitats but nowhere truly colonizes human habitats, in contrast to Agama agama
south of the Sahara. Like closely related species, it is a fully diurnal species that can bask in the sun even during the
hottest hours of the day. It is usually common throughout its range, which lies in areas where human impact is still
very limited. We are not aware of any direct threat, and the species does not seem to be specifically hunted, col-
lected or destroyed by the local human populations in areas that we have visited. Its conservation status would thus
probably qualify as “Least Concern” based on the current situation.

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NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
FIGURE 4. Variation in Agama tassiliensis n. sp. from Aïr Mountains, Niger. A: PGe.869, adult male from Idoukal'n Taghès,
photo S. Sant. B: Brito code 362, adult male of from 20 km S. of Timia, photo J. C. Brito.

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38 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
FIGURE 5. Adult males of the other members of the Agama impalearis group. A: A. impalearis, PGe.840, adult male, Algeria,
Moudjebarah frescos near Aïn Naga village, photo J. Viglione. Note the broad (3–4 scales wide), whitish vertebral stripe
(orange to red in A. tassiliensis n. sp.) and the less pointed snout than in A. tassiliensis. B: A. spinosa, T3092, adult male.
Egypt, Wadi el Gemal, photo P.-A. Crochet. Note the throat and the eye surround which are bloody red (not bright red, vermil-
lon or orange as A. tassiliensis n. sp.), and the higher, pure white crest compared with A. tassiliensis. C: A. boueti, PGe.1002,
adult male, Niger, Termit mountain, photo M. Ascani. Note the reduced number of crest spines (6 in this specimen), the rela-
tively faded coulouration and the uniformly pale throat. D: A. boueti of the “castroviejoi” morphotype, PGe.847, adult male,
Mauritania, track from Nouatil pass to Zerga, photo P. Geniez. Note the reduced number of crest spines (7 in this specimen) and
the whitish vertebral stripe which is relatively narrow, not exceeding two scales in width.
Description of the holotype. Adult male in semi-nuptial colouration with the following features: SVL 166
mm, tail partly broken, pileus length 25.3 mm, pileus width 15.2 mm, foreleg length 51.1 mm, hind leg 81.3 mm,
length of 1st to 5th fingers respectively 5.3, 8.7, 10.6, 10.2 and 8.2 mm, length of 1st to 5th toes respectively 6.8, 9.5,
13.7, 15.0 and 12.1 mm, 22 rows of pileus scales from the nose to the beginning of the crest and 18 between the
eyes, 12 supralabials and 11 infralabials on each side, 67 rows of scales around midbody, 20 subdigital lamellae
under the 4th finger and 23 under the 4th toe, a nuchal crest made of 13 vertical spines, 11 preanal pores, 8 spiny tufts
on each side of the ear area and the neck, scales of the dorsum, forelegs, hindlegs and tail strongly and regularly
keeled. Colouration (in the field, cf. Fig. 3): head reddish-brown with some yellowish small blotches, eye surround
orange, dorsum dark purplish-grey, a broad dark orange vertebral stripe from the nape to the base of the tail extend-
ing from the orange crest, forelegs, hindlegs and tail greyish blue, fingers and toes yellowish, throat yellowish
densely marbled purplish (orange on the gular fan), gular fold slightly darker, underparts whitish with a pale blue
suffusion on the breast. GenBank accession number of the 16S gene fragment: JN665063.

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NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
FIGURE 6. Comparisons of head characters in Agama tassiliensis n. sp. and A. agama. A: A. tassiliensis n. sp., PGe.998, non
nuptial adult male from Algeria, Tassili n’Ajjer, 40 km NNW of Djanet, photo G. Vigo. Note the numerous, square-shaped
labial scales (13 supralabials in this specimen), the numerous (12 in this specimen) and orange crest spines and the presence of
spines around the ear opening. B: A. agama, MNHN 1990.4668, preserved adult male from Niger, Maradi, photo P.-A. Crochet.
This species has fewer, more elongated labials (7 supralabials in this specimen), numerous crest spines (19 in this specimen)
but a lower crest than A. tassiliensis. Note also the less developed spine tuffts around the ear opening.

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FIGURE 7. Agama agama. A: PGe.947, adult male in breeding colouration, Chad, N’Djamena, photo M. Braham-Chaouche.
Note the orange colour of the head which does not extend onto the vertebral area, the uniformly black body and the yellow,
orange and black tail, a colouration never found in members of the Agama impalearis group. B: PGe.1003, adult female, Mali,
Djenné, photo A. Auricoste.

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FIGURE 8. Distribution of Agama tassiliensis n. sp. based on the specimens or photographs that we have examined for this
study. The arrow shows the type locality.
Acknowledgements
Salvador Carranza and Santiago Castroviejo helped in producing DNA sequences. Wolfgang Böhme sent us
Agama specimens from the ZFMK collection. Ignacio de la Riva contributed to fieldwork in Mauritania and with a
sample of A. boueti. Laure Pierre, Ivan Ineich and Annemarie Ohler provided invaluable assistance before and dur-
ing visits to the MNHN collections. Yoann Mansier and Roger Pradel were both extremely helpful with the collec-
tion of A. spinosa samples. This work benefited greatly from the pictures sent to us by many photographers whose
names can be found in the Appendix and figures legends. Thanks to colleagues in the Agama team (J.C. Brito, D.
Gonçalves, J.-F. Trape, P. Wagner) for discussion and various assistance. A. Foucart, M. A. Kriska and O. Peyre
sent tissues samples for genetic analysis. J. M. Padial’s research is supported by a Gerstner Postdoctoral fellowship
at American Museum of Natural History, and his fieldwork in Mauritania was possible thanks to Dr. Javier Cas-
troviejo and Asociación Amigos de Doñana.
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Appendix. Specimens examined (as museum specimens or colour photographs) for the present study.
Locality, geographic coordinates in WGS84 decimal degrees, elevation, year and collector [museum or photographic number].
Note that many of the coordinates were extrapolated from the localities avalable with the specimens or photographs and
thus do not correspond necessarily with the exact collection localities.
Agama tassiliensis n. sp.
Algeria: Approximatively 260 km SSE of Reggane, 24.605°N/1.281°E, 390 m, 1962, H. Boutière [BEV.2760]; Adrar
Taoudrat, 24.25°N/2.33°E, 720 m, 1965, Miss Cabi [MNHN 1965 200-201]; In Ziza (= Aguelmam I-n-Ziza, NW Ahaggar
Mountains = Hoggar), 24.39°N/2.64°E, 485 m, Miss Cabi, 1965 [MNHN 1965.202]; Ahaggar Mountains, Mount Ilaman,
23.208°N/5.463°E, 2000 m [MNHN 1930.162]; Immidir, along the oued Tarit valley, 25.6654°N/ 4.5822°E, 1530 m, S.
Sant, 2009 [PGe.912, 955]; 60-80 km SE of Tamanrasset, 22.36°N/6.01°E, 985 m, 2005, R. Le Fur [PGe.866]; Taman-
rasset city, north-eastern exit, 22.800°N/5.541°E, 1390 m, 2007, O. Peyre [PGe.907]; Tamanrasset, slopes of the Djebel
Adriane just north-east of the city, 22.807°N/5.540°E, 1402 m, 2007, G. Durand [PGe.908]; Ahaggar Mountains, oued
Tahifet, east of Tamanrasset, 22.94°N/6.01°E, 1360 m, 2007, O. Peyre [PGe.909]; Ahaggar Mountains, at 21.8207°N/
6.5226°E, 705 m, 2010, P. Lluch [PGe.922]; Ahaggar Mountains, at 25.9928°N/7.8407°E, 1310 m, 2007, G. Durand & O.
Peyre [PGe.910]; Ahaggar Mountains, at 25.6063°N/8.0613°E, 1150 m, 2007, O. Peyre [PGe.910]; Tassili n'Ajjer, in the
oued Tadjelahine valley, 26.25°N/6.63°E, 720 m, 2003, R. Le Fur [PGe.858]; Tassili n’Ajjer, 5 km SSW of Iherir,
25.3500°N/8.3911°E, 1428 m, 2009, P. Geniez, O. Peyre & P.-A. Crochet [holotype MNHN 2010.0632]; Tassili n’Ajjer,
5.5 km downstream of Issendelene, 24.9210°N/8.9600°E, 1150 m, 2009, P. Geniez, O. Peyre & P.-A. Crochet [PGe.911];
Tassili n'Ajjer, 1.2 km ENE of Télou Tedjert (36 km NW of Djanet), 24.7411°N/9.1867°E, 1185 m, 2009, P. Geniez, O.
Peyre & P.-A. Crochet [BEV.10160]; Tassili n’Ajjer, oued Djerat, 26.16°N/8.61°, 850 m [MNHN 9003]; Tassili n’Ajjer, on
the road near oued Tamanet, 24.8685°N/8.8263°E, 1150 m, 2010, O. Peyre [BEV.10928]; Tassili n'Ajjer, approximatively
60 km N of Djanet, 25.01°N/9.17°E, 1700 m, 1988, P. Lluch [PGe.855]; Tassili n'Ajjer at 24.5847°N/9.3235°E, 1160 m,
2010, G. Vigo [PGe.991]; Tassili n'Ajjer, 40 km NNW of Djanet, 24.936°N/9.336°E, 1690 m, 2007, G. Vigo [PGe.997-
998]; Tassili n'Ajjer, Jabbaren, 24.683°N/9.413°E, 1145 m, R. Le Fur [PGe.856-857], F. Moutou [PGe.859], M. Cheylan
[PGe.865]; south of Adrar Adafar, 24.394°N/9.441°E, 990 m, 1962, H. Boutière [BEV.2761], south of Adrar Adafar,
approximatively at 24.4°N/9.5°E, 1050 m, 1962, H. Boutière [BEV.2762]; Tassili n'Ajjer, Djanet, 24.56°N/9.49°E, 1060 m
[MNHN 1936.65]; Tassili n'Ajjer, 25 km N of Djanet, 24.8024°N/ 9.5355°E, 1630 m, 2010, G. Vigo [PGe.992]; Tassili
n'Ajjer, plateau just 15 km E of Djanet, 24.52°N/9.61°E, 1500 m, 1993, P. Lluch [PGe.851-852]; Tassili n'Ajjer, reg of
Tamarit near Djanet, 24.6034°N/9.6539°E, 1736 m, 2010, G. Vigo [PGe.921, 990]; Tassili n'Ajjer, oued Tin Itinen,
24.641°N/9.673°E, 1680 m, 2005, M. Cheylan [PGe.862-863, 906], Tassili n'Ajjer, Sefar, 24.670°N/9.736°E, 1545 m,
2005, M. Cheylan [PGe.864]; Tassili n'Ajjer, Tadrart at 24.0706°N/10.8028°E, 900 m, F. Begou-Pierrini [PGe.871], 2009,
F. Dhermain [PGe.914]; Tassili n'Ajjer, Tadrart at 24.0482°N/10.8307°E, 880 m, 2009, F. Dhermain [PGe.915-916]; Tas-
sili n'Ajjer, Tadrart at 24.0185°N/10.8894°E, 890 m, 2009, F. Dhermain [PGe.917]; Tassili n'Ajjer, canyon of In Djerane
near Tin-Merzouga, 23.832°N/10.91°E, 1000 m, 2008, G. Vigo [PGe.993-996].
Libya: Erg Titersine, 40-80 km NNW of Ghat, 25.51°N/9.94°E, 647 m, 2004, P. Orsini [PGe.860]; Wadi Meseknan on the
Messak Settafet plateau (between Ghat and Ubari), 25.5°N/11.5°E, 1035 m, 2006, R. Le Fur [PGe.867]; Wadi Matendus,
25.76°N/12.16°E, 675 m [ZFMK.63669]; Wadi Tekniwen on the Messak Settafet plateau, 26.1580°N/12.4858°E, 680 m,
2010, Y. Gauthier [PGe.920]; Wadi de Maghidet, 100 km N of Ghat, 25.8164°N/9.9704°E, 700 m, 2010, G. Vigo
[PGe.999]; Acacus Mountains, Fozzigiaren Arch, 56 km SE of Ghat, 24.684°N/10.634°E, 860 m, 2002, A. Crochet
[PGe.854].
Niger: Aïr Mountains, Kakimi, near Tafedek (50 km NNW of Agadez), 17.367°N/7.767°E, 510 m, 1990, A. Foucart
[BEV.2763]; Aïr Mountains, exit of oued Temet, on the foothills of Mount Greboun, 20.212°N/8.664°E, 1055 m, 1990, A.
Foucart [BEV.2765-2766]; Aïr Mountains, tributary of the Zagado river, at Kogo (foothills of Taghmert), 19.002°N/
9.319°E, 765 m, 1990, A. Foucart [BEV.2764]; Tabelot area, 17.57°N/8.94°E, 840 m, 2005, B. Delprat [PGe.848-850];
Bagzane Mountains, Tadara, 17.3878°N/8.3782°E, 800 m, 2006, S. Sant [PGe.868]; near Idoukal'n Taghès, 17.7940°N/
8.7205°E, 1740 m, 2006, S. Sant [PGe.869]; canyon of Ighalabélabène, 17.6857°N/8.8056°E, 1500 m, 2006, S. Sant
[PGe.913]; Aïr Mountains, 5 km S of Timia (Agadez), 18.0984°N/8.7667°E, 1050 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [BEV.10433, Brito
code 384]; Aïr Mountains, 10 km S of Timia (Agadez), 18.0125°N/8.7410°E, 1020 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 367];
Aïr Mountains, 15 km S of Timia (Agadez), 17.9984°N/8.7540°E, 1110 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 366]; Aïr Moun-
tains, 20 km S of Timia (Agadez), 17.9856°N/8.7651°E, 1105 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [BEV.10432, Brito code 362]; Tourayet
(Bilma-Agadez), 16.9517°N/8.6741°E, 540 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [BEV.10431, Brito code 343].
Mali: Adrar des Ifoghas, cercle de Kidal, 18.44°N/1.39°E, 575 m, 1987, Ehya Ag-Sidiyene [MNHN 1987.1863-1864].
Agama impalearis.
Algeria: Biskra, 34.85°N/5.73°E, 115 m, de Vauloger [MNHN 1974.338]; Moudjebarah frescos, Aïn Naga village, 34.691°N/
6.086°E, 1 m, 2007, J. Viglione [PGe.840]; Djebel Elktef, Stitten, 33.77°N/1.23°E, 1400 m, 2007, J. Viglione [PGe.842];
Krekda, 31.87°N/0.76°E, 645 m, 2007, J. Viglione [PGe.841]; El Bayadh, 32.35°N/0.61°E, 810 m, 2007, J. Viglione
[PGe.957]; Djelfa, 34.67°N/3.25°E, 1160 m, 2007, O. Peyre [PGe.958]; near Oran, 35.71°N/0.66°W, 110 m, 2004, O.
Peyre [PGe.824]; 9 km N of Aïn Ourka, 32.02°N/0.08°W, 1100 m, 2006, O. Peyre [PGe.839]; 20 km W of Aïn Sefra,

GENIEZ ET AL.
44 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
32.69°N/0.78°W, 1170 m, 2005, O. Peyre [PGe.832]; 60 km W of Aïn Sefra, 32.76°N/1.22°W, 1370 m, 2004, O. Peyre
[PGe.898]; Tlemcen area, 34.88°N/1.31°W, 800 m, 2008, B. Samraoui [PGe.959]; Algeria, without locality [MNHN
6927].
Morocco: Figuig palm grove, 32.10°N/1.23°W, 900 m, 2005, J. Cavailhes [PGe.831]; De Filia, near Figuig, 32.17°N/1.38°W,
950 m, 1982, J.-A. Rioux [BEV.2718-2719]; Djebel Grouz, 1 km S of Aïn Tanazara, 32.1943°N/1.9439°W, 1377 m, P.
Geniez [PGe.825]; alfa steppe of Hassi El-Abiod (SE of Oujda), 34.8086°N/1.9152°W, 1170 m, 2004, P. Geniez
[PGe.826]; Beni Snassen Mountains, 5 km N of Taforalt, 34.88°N/2.41°W, 485 m, 1988, P. Geniez [PGe.951]; approxima-
tively 50 km S of Gourrama, 32.01°N/3.95°W, 1150 m, 1962, J. Bons [BEV.2704, 2738]; palm grove at the oued Ziz
bridge, north of Erfoud, 31.55°N/4.18°W, 824 m, 1962, J. Bons [BEV.2705]; Blarhma, near Aoufouss, 31.63°N/4.20°W,
890 m, 1972, J.-A. Rioux [BEV.2721-2722]; 6 km SW of Talrhemt, 32.56°N/4.49°W, 1800 m, 1962, J. Bons [BEV.2606];
Tizi-n-Talremt (N of Errachidia), 32.58°N/4.53°W, 1907 m, 1990, P. Geniez [PGe.810]; road from Fès to Taza, crossroad
to the Moulay Idriss Premier dam, 34.12°N/4.62°W, 340 m, P. Escudié [PGe.948]; Ksar Set, approximatively 5 km ENE of
Tinejdad, 31.54°N/5.01°W, 980 m, 1962, J. Bons [BEV.2740]; near Alnif, 31.12°N/5.17°W, 880 m, 2003, S. Doglio
[PGe.949]; Rif Mountains, Beni Azi, bank of oued Laou, 35.26°N/5.27°W, 300 m, 1976, C.P. Guillaume [BEV.2729]; 15
km N of Azrou, 33.5427°N/5.3169°W, 1417 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [BEV.10430]; dowstream exit of the Todgha gorges,
31.556°N/5.581°W, 1380 m, 1962, J. Bons [BEV.2734]; 14 km past El-Arba towards N'Kob, 30.82°N/5.65°W, 900 m,
1988, P. Geniez [PGe.804]; Tajalachte (Djebel Sagho), 31.06°N/5.88°W, 1555 m, 2005, A. Qninba [PGe.833]; Djebel
Kebir near Tangier, 35.78°N/5.88°W, 150 m, 2003, D. Donaire [PGe.830]; Oulmès, 33.43°N/6.02°W, 1257 m, 1957, 1960,
1961, 1962 and 1963, J. Bons and R. Guillaume [BEV.2558, 2560, 2561, 2570, 2580, 2582, 2583, 2590, 2591, 2595, 2596,
2598, 2602-2604, 2611, 2616, 2662-2664, 2667, 2669, 2670, 2685, 2693, 2725]; Tarmilate, 33.40°N/6.07°W, 1000 m,
1962, J. Bons [BEV.2677-2678]; Tarmilate, wadi downstream of the dam, 33.334°N/6.036°W, 630 m, 1962, J. Bons
[BEV.2687]; 6.9 km past the crossroad to the mines of Tazoult towards Zaouia Ahansal, 31.9511°N/6.0770°W, 1507 m,
2004, P. Geniez [PGe.827]; Oued El-Mahasser where crossed by the track from Aïn Sidi Abd-er-Rhamane to Zaouia Sidi
Abd-en-Nebi (W of Mhamid), 29.91°N/6.15°W, 520 m, 2004, A. Cluchier [PGe.834]; foothills of the Djebel Bani, at
30.0947°N/6.2369°W, 832 m, 2003, A. Cluchier [PGe.822]; near Agdz, 30.71°N/6.45°W, 1000 m, 1998, R. Le Fur
[PGe.815, 823]; 8 km past Agdz towards Ouarzazate, 30.71°N/6.59°W, 1600 m, 1988, P. Geniez [PGe.805]; 49 km past
Agdz towards Tazenakht, 2 km past the crossroad to Tasla, 30.54°N/6.85°W, 1387 m, 1990, M. Geniez [PGe.809]; Aïn El-
Hallouf canyon, approximatively 12 km S of Rabat, 33.88°N/6.80°W, 150 m, 1989, P. Geniez [PGe.807]; south of Khouri-
bga, 32.78°N/6.86°W, 655 m, 2004 [PGe.897]; north of Khouribga, 33.04°N/6.88°W, 640 m, 2004 [PGe.895]; Khattouat
plateau, NW of Khouribga, 33.27°N/7.02°W, 580 m, 2004 [PGe.896]; Tizi-n-Bachkoum (Anti-Atlas), 30.70°N/7.28°W,
1700 m, 2002, M. Tarrier [PGe.819]; Taliouine, 30.53°N/7.92°W, 1040 m, 2002, M. Tarrier [PGe.820-821]; Akka Ighene,
29.99°N/7.53°W, 776 m, 1986, J.-A. Rioux [BEV.2754-2755]; Djebel Sirwa, 30.72°N/7.81°W, 1900 m, 2002, J. Delacre
[PGe.817]; Ighil (ca 25 km S of Djebel Toubkal), 30.95°N/7.85°W, 1500 m, 1986, J.-A. Rioux [BEV.9285]; Aguergour
(Haut Atlas, E of Asni), 31.28°N/8.08°W, 950 m, 1985, P. Geniez [PGe.950]; 15 km before Asni from Ouirgane (Haut
Atlas), 31.18°N/8.08°W, 870 m, 1971, A. Demaison [BEV.2715]; 8 km past Ijoukak towards Asni (Haut Atlas), 31.06°N/
8.14°W, 1073 m, 1995, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.2759]; Oued Tata, 9 km past Souk-Tleta-Tagmoute towards Tata, 29.92°N/
8.21°W, 1025 m, 1992, P. Geniez [PGe.811]; Amizmiz, 31.22°N/8.24°W, 1100 m, 1971, A. Demaison [BEV.2716-2717];
15 km past Igherm towards Souk-Tleta-Tagmoute by the track 7160, 30.03°N/8.36°W, 1561 m, 1990, M. Geniez
[PGe.953]; 10 km past Chichaoua towards Marrakech, 31.5742°N/8.6656°W, 350 m, 2007, P. Geniez [PGe.843-844]; near
Aït-Baha along the road to Tafraoute (Anti-Atlas), 29.99°N/9.03°W, 1025 m, 2005, B. Baud [PGe.900]; Aït-Baha (Anti-
Atlas), 30.08°N/9.15°W, 550 m, 2002, J. Delacre [PGe.818]; 1 km past Aït-Baha towards Tanalt (Anti-Atlas), 30.065°N/
9.180°W, 525 m, 1996, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.2758]; 5 km N of Dar Lahoussine (Anti-Atlas, S of Aït-Baha), 29.94°N/
9.29°W/650m, 1995, P. Geniez [PGe.813-814]; between El Jorf and Ademine forest house (Souss valley), 30.38°N/
9.37°W, 105 m, 1990, M. Geniez [PGe.956]; 5 km past Targamaït towards Guelmim, 28.8469°N/9.6148°W, 503 m, 2004,
P. Geniez [PGe.828]; 11 km past Ounagha towards Essaouira, 31.5157°N/9.6540°W, 135 m, 2007, P. Geniez [PGe.838];
Paradis-Plage, south of N'Zala-de-Tiguert (N of Agadir), 30.53°N/9.69°W, 10 m, 1984, P. Geniez [PGe.803]; 14 km past
Taïdalt towards Aouinet Torkoz, 28.66°N/9.71°W, 495 m, 1990, M. Geniez [PGe.952]; 33 km before Bou Izakarn from
Tiznit, 29.4075°N/9.7180°E, 778 m, 2005, A. Cluchier [PGe.835-836]; surroundings of Tiznit, 29.72°N/9.72°W, 224 m,
2007, P. Evrard [PGe.954]; 15 km before Bou-Izakarn from Tiznit by the Tizi-n-Mighert, 29.40°N/9.74°W, 975 m, 1989, P.
Geniez [PGe.808]; Rasoua village, 9 km S of Essaouira towards Agadir, 31.43°N/9.78°W, 75 m, 1988, P. Geniez
[PGe.806]; Oued Siyad, 4 km E of Fask, 28.975°N/9.798°W, 340 m, 2007, R. León [PGe.899]; Cap Rhir, road from Aga-
dir toTamanar, 30.62°N/8.89°W, 40 m, 1971, A. Demaison [BEV.2714]; Souk El-Arba-des-Akhasass (Sidi Ifni area),
29.27°N/10.12°W, 286 m, 1972, J.-C. Bonaric [BEV.2739]; 18 km past Goulimine towards Tantan, 28.89°N/10.19°W, 250
m, 1992, M. Geniez [PGe.812]; Oued Draa at El-Aïoun du Drâa, 28.48°N/10.67°W, 220 m, 1974, G. Delye [BEV.2736];
36 km before Abatteh from Tantan, 28.0954°N/11.3329°W, 65 m, 2002, P.-A. Crochet [PGe.816]; 12 km past El-Watia
towards Laayoune, 28.4061°N/11.4037°W, 28 m, 2010, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.10854]; 18 km past Tantan-Plage (= El-Watia)
towards Tarfaya, 28.3846°N/11.4257°W, 30 m, 2005, A. Cluchier [PGe.837]; desert south of the road, 9 km past Sidi
Akhfennir towards Tarfaya, 28.0569°N/12.1339°W, 10 m, 2004, P. Geniez [PGe.829]; Morocco, without precise locality,
J. Bons, J.-A. Rioux [BEV.2706, 2707, 2723, 2727, 2728, 2731, 2735].

Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 45
NEW AGAMA SPECIES FROM THE SAHARA
Agama spinosa.
Egypt: Djebel Elba, 22.18°N/36.35°E [ZFMK.44174]; Wadi el Gemal, at 24.5640°N/34.9097°E, 200 m, 2009, P.-A. Crochet
[BEV.T3092]; Wadi el Gemal, at 24.5593°N/34.9286°E, 180m, 2009, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.T3093].
Sudan: Arbeiat near Port-Sudan, 19.81°N/37.07°E, 110 m [ZFMK.40124-40127]; Erkowit (= Ar Kaweit), 18.767°N/31.117°E,
1110 m [ZFMK.32425-32433, 35375-35377, 38400].
Ethiopia: Alf Abed (locality not found) [ZFMK.19452-19453].
Agama boueti
Algeria: Ahaggar Mountains, In Abezou (= Irhzer oua-n-Abezzou), 24.083°N/5.050°E, 1050 m [MNHN 1936.64].
Mauritania: Tagant, Inikchâne, 18.3117°N/12.2341°W, 160 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 2994]; Tagant, Oued Akneiker,
17.6672°N/12.1971°W, 250 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3158]; Tichit - Oualata, between Dahr Oualata and Guelb
Aiche, 17.4074°N/7.2216°W, 250 m, 2003, J.C. Brito [Brito code 49]; Rosso - Nouakchott, 80 km S of Nouakchott,
17.3927°N/16.0621°W, 10 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 489-490]; Tagant, extreme S of oued Lardedia, 17.3727°N/
11.9158°W, 440 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3224]; Brakna, Chelkhet edh Dhîba, 17.1159°N/13.5752°W, 30 m, 2009,
J.C. Brito [Brito code 3478]; Brakna, Oued Katchi, 17.0822°N/13.6357°W, 30 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3480];
Brakna, Poleti, 16.8361°N/13.2499°W, 90 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3474]; Brakna, oued Saouat, 16.7733°N/
13.2103°W, 100 m, 2009, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3472]; Rosso - Kaedi, Lake Rkiz, SE of Mrea, 16.8912°N/15.2031°W, 10
m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1292-1293, 1295-1296]; Rosso – Kaedi, E of Leroug, 16.7497°N/14.7339°W, 20 m, 2007,
J.C. Brito [Brito code 1305]; Rosso – Kaedi, E of Bababé, 16.3008°N/13.8749°W, 40 m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code
1313]; Between the Chott Boul and Dar Salam, 16.60°N/16.43°W, 4 m, 1994, C. Arvy and I. Ineich [MNHN 1996.2878-
2880, 2883-2889, 2891-2892, 2895-2896, 2898, 2900-2901]; Mauritania without locality, 2007, “JFD” [PGe.901].
Niger: Agadez – Timia, 5 km S of Elkimi, 17.7108°N/8.2742°E, 700 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 389]; Agadez – Timia, 50
km N of Agadez, 17.3025°N/8.1702°E, 660 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 353a-b]; Aoudiras (= Aouderas), 17.634°N/
8.409°E, 795 m, ca 1939, H. Lhote [MNHN 1932-129]; Termit Mountains, 16.07°N/11.27°E, 400 m, 2009, L. Chirio
[PGe.904-905]; Gao (= Kao), 15.42°N/5.75°E, 470 m, de Gironcourt [MNHN 1910.6-8]; Ibohamane, on sandy ground,
14.80°N/5.93°E, 430 m, 1989, L. Chirio [MNHN 1990.4680]; near Malbaza, 160 km E of Maradi, 13.95°N/5.51°E, 310
m, 1986, L. Chirio [MNHN 1989.664]; track from Maradi to Dakoro, 13.95°N/6.98°E, 350 m [MNHN 1990.4685, 4687,
4688, 4690]; near Zinder, 13.79°N/8.98°E, 470 m, 1986, L. Chirio [MNHN 1989.665, 1990.4682]; Takieta, 13.68°N/
8.53°E, 440 m [MNHN 1990.4684]; Kouré (SE of Niamey), 13.33°N/2.59°E, 255 m, 2010, L. Chirio [PGe.902-903]; Tah-
oua - Niamey, 20 km W of Birni N'Konin, 13.7872°N/4.9691°E, 290 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 402]; Tahoua - Nia-
mey, 15 km W of Birni N'Konin, 13.7859°N/5.0128°E, 270 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 400].
Mali: Gao, 16.27°N/0.03°W, 250 m, before 1917, Dr. Bouet [MNHN 1917.45], syntype of Agama boueti.
Agama boueti, “castroviejoi” population
Mauritania: A few kilometers south of Aghmakoum at 21.1539°N/11.9103°W, 350 m, 2006, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.9132-9133];
Guelta of Eguemoun, 3 km W of Jreïf, 20.8710°N/12.4841°W, 322 m, 2006, P. Geniez [BEV.9174]; 28 km past Chinguetti
towards Atar, 20.5619°N/12.5470°W, 608 m, 2005, P. Geniez [BEV.1111]; 44 km past Chinguetti towards Atar,
20.5459°N/12.6895°W, 703 m, 2005, P. Geniez [PGe.846]; track west of Zerga, 32 km ESE of Atar, 20.4385°N/
12.7527°W, 649 m, 2007, P. Geniez [PGe.847]; Berbera, 19.9845°N/12.8221°W, 327 m, 2007, O. Peyre [BEV.10031-032];
39 km past Akjoujt towards Atar, 19.9249°N/14.0653°W, 127 m, 2006, P.-A. Crochet [BEV.9118]; 10 km NW of Akjoujt,
19.8320°N/14.3678°W, 146 m, 2003, J.-F. Trape. Adrar, Aoueloul crater, 20.2426°N/12.6757°W, 570 m, 2008, J.C. Brito
[Brito code 1919]; Adrar, 25 km SE of Aoueloul crater, 20.1455°N/12.5493°W, 450 m, 2008, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1922-
1923]; Adrar, Oûdei Eker, 19.7643°N/13.0818°W, 170 m, 2008, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1841]; Dhar Chinguetti, on the road
between Atar and Tidjikja, 20.4425°N/12.8235°W, 673 m, 2002, J.M. Padial [MNCN 41778-41779].
Agama agama
Chad: Fort Lamy (= N’Djamena) area, 12.14°N/15.04°E, 300 m, 1965, Stauch [MNHN 1966.303 BIS]; N’Djamena,
12.105°N/14.045°E, 295 m, 2009, M. Braham-Chaouche [PGe.946-947].
Niger: Tahoua - Niamey, 50km S of Tahoua, 14.5085°N/5.3770°E, 330 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 399]; Simiri, 14.133°N/
13.083°E, 280 m, 2004, J.-F. Trape [PGe.932-937]; track from Maradi to Dakoro, 13.95°N/6.98°E, 350 m, 1990, L. Chirio
[MNHN 1990.4686-4687]; Maradi, walls of houses, 13.48°N/7.10°E, 352 m, 1990 and 1996, L. Chirio [MNHN
1990.4668-4674, 1996.2650-2651].
Mali: Southeastern Mali at 17.02°N/2.00°E, 350 m, 2004, J.-F. Trape [PGe.938]; Sévaré, near Mopti airport, 14.5201°N/
4.09°W, 271 m, 2005, P. Beaubrun [BEV.8744], F. Speyser [BEV.8869]; Mopti, 14.483°N/4.183°W, 270 m, 2005, A. Auri-
coste [PGe.943, 945]; Lanine Bougou, 14.067°N/6.033°W, 280 m, 2003, J.-F. Trape [PGe.926-931]; Bamako - Kayes, 210
km E of Kayes, 14.5115°N/9.7027°W, 240 m, 2004, J.C. Brito [Brito code 451]; Mosque of Djenné, 13.905°N/4.556°W,
275 m, 1980, J.-A. Mateo [PGe.960], 2005, P. Beaubrun [PGe.941]; Missira, 13.71°N/8.44°W, 330 m, 1986 [MNHN
1986.851-854]; Sandstone steep slopes at Baguineda, 30 km E of Bamako along the road to Ségou, 12.523°N/7.775°W,
350 m, 1994, J. Cuisin, B. Sicard & M. Tranier [MNHN 1994.6575, 6578].
Mauritania: Assaba, Téjékent, 16.9043°N/12.8197°W, 10 m, 1990, J.C. Brito [Brito code 3464-3465]; Rosso - Kaedi, Lake
Rkiz, SE of Mrea, 16.8912°N/15.2031°W, 10 m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1297]; Rosso – Kaedi, Toldé Boussobé, river
Senegal, 16.4152°N/14.0812°W, 20 m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1308]; Hodh El Gharbi, 15 km W of Tîntâne,

GENIEZ ET AL.
46 · Zootaxa 3098 © 2011 Magnolia Press
16.3829°V/10.2871°W, 220 m, 2008, J.C. Brito [Brito code 2228]; Kaedi - Kankossa, SE of Lekseiba, 16.1728°N/
13.0198°W, 30 m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1320-1321]; Kankossa - Kiffa, N of Kankossa, 16.0768°N/11.5117°W, 70
m, 2007, J.C. Brito [Brito code 1362, 1364].
Senegal: Savannah with baobabs, some kilometers north of Mbour, along the road N1, 14.48°N/16.99°W, 10 m, 2002, M.
Geniez [PGe.923].
France: Sète, in the harbour (département of Hérault, southern France), 43.401°N/3.710°E, 2 m, translocated individuals,
probably from Ivory Coast, 2002, F. Catzeflis [PGe.925], 2002, P. Mayet [PGe.924], 2004, P. Mayet [PGe.961].
La Réunion island: introduced population, Le Port, 20.94°S/55.30°E, 30 m, 2008, J.-M. Probst [PGe.939-940, and 2 speci-
mens without number].