Abstract

The lack of a comparative study between the Uta stansburiana of the Great Basin and Upper Colorado River Basin, and the fact that several reptile species have developed distinct populations in the Upper Colorado River Basin prompted this study. Twenty-one external characteristics of these lizards were compared, including several which had not been previously used in the separation of Uta stansburiana into subspecies. All of the statistical data were obtained from preserved specimens. Twelve of the twenty-one characteristics show significant differences between the Great Basin and Upper Colorado River Basin populations. The characteristics of back pattern and throat color show such complete distinction between the two populations as to indicate the need for the application of different names. The differences shown by the ratio of average lateral frontonasal length to median frontonasal length, number of dorsal scales, parietal size, and internasal size support this conclusion. The name proposed for the Upper Colorado River Basin population is Uta stansburiana uniformis.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

1970-09-12

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/Letd261

Keywords

Animals, Classification; Uta stansburiana; Zoology, Utah

Language

English

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