The Interrelationships of Malagasy Iguanids

The interrelationships of the Malagasy iguanids were studied by multidimensional analyses. Seven groups of characters were studied: lepidosis and color, mandibular shape, hemi- peneal morphology, male display movements, macrochromosomes, lactic dehydrogenase, and serum proteins. The two genera, Chalarodon and Oplurus, constitute a monophyletic group. 0. quadri- maculatus is projected close to Chalarodon. In Oplurus, the rock-dwelling species and the tree- dwelling species each constitute a natural group. The Malagasy herpetofauna includes seven species of iguanids belonging to two endemic genera, Chalarodon and Oplurus (Mocquard, 1909; Angel, 1942). Chalarodon is a monotypic genus, with a single sand- dwelling species, C. madagascariensis. Two species of Oplurus are arboreal, 0. cyclurus and 0. cuvieri. A small population isolated on the Great Comoro Island is considered