Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level

The Australian Tawny Dragon lizard (Ctenophorus decresii), as currently recognized, comprises two genetically divergent lineages, northern and southern, that differ notably in male coloration. A narrow contact zone exists between the lineages with asymmetric limited hybridization, indicating incompatibility highlighting need for further taxonomic assessment. Here, we evaluate morphological variation C. decresii elevate to separate species. southern lineage retains name (Duméril Bibron, 1837), formally reinstate modestus lineage, which was previously a synonym of (Amphibolurus modestus,Ahl, 1926). We redescribe highlight important considerations reevaluation their conservation statuses. Recognition represents another species may have differentiated relatively mesic mountainous refugia during Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles, underscores importance divergence coloration driver speciation rock dragon group.