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The common side-blotched lizard (''Uta stansburiana'') is a species of side-blotched lizard found on the Pacific Coast of North America. It is notable for having a unique form of polymorphism wherein each of the three different male morphs utilizes a different strategy in acquiring mates. The three morphs compete against each other following a pattern of rock, paper, scissors, where one morph has advantages over another but is outcompeted by the third.〔〔〔 The specific epithet ''stansburiana'' is in honor of Captain Howard Stansbury of the US Corps of Topographical Engineers, who collected the first specimens while leading the 1849-1851 expedition to explore and survey the Great Salt Lake of Utah.〔Moll, Edward. 2005. Uta stansburiana, Baird and Girard, 1852 - Common Side-blotched Lizard. Sonoran Herpetologist.〕 ==Systematics== The systematics and taxonomy of these widespread and variable lizards is much disputed. Countless forms and morphs have been described as subspecies or even distinct species. * The forms which occur in most of Mexico (except Baja California) have been recognized as a very distinct species, the eastern side-blotched lizard (''Uta stejnegeri''). * Populations from San Benito and Cedros Islands were separated as distinct species ''Uta stellata'' and ''U. concinna'', but are now included in ''U. stansburiana''. * Those of Santa Catalina Island and the Salsipuedes Islands, ''U. squamata'' and ''U. antiqua'' are sometimes included in this species, too, but this is certainly not correct in the latter case, and probably in the former also. * Based on the same data that would give ''U. squamata'' species rank, the southern Baja California populations could arguably be split off (as ''Uta elegans''), too. * The proposed subspecies ''martinensis'' and ''taylori'' are probably not valid. * The populations on Ángel de la Guarda, Mejia and Rasa Islands almost certainly constitute a separate species closer to ''Uta palmeri'', and that of San Esteban Island may so too, being close to ''squamata''. * The status of the Las Encantadas group populations named as ''Uta encantadae'', ''U. lowei'' and ''U. tumidarostra'' is not completely resolved; these distinct populations are of comparatively recent origin and are sometimes included in this species, but their unique adaptations to living in intertidal habitat suggest they should be considered distinct; whether as one or as three species remains unresolved.〔Murphy, Robert W. & Aguirre-León, Gustavo (2002): The Nonavian Reptiles: Origins and Evolution. ''In:'' Case, Ted & Cody, Martin (eds.): ''A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cortés'': 181-220. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513346-3 (PDF fulltext ) (Appendices 2-4 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Common side-blotched lizard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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