Survey of lizard fauna of Maranjab Desert in Esfahan Province

The Maranjab desert is located in the south and southwest region of the Salt Lake in Central Plateau of Iran. This region has a diverse topography and many sand dunes and sabulous are observed in its landscape. Common vegetation of this desert includes halophyte plants like Artiplex, Haloxilon and Zygophyllum. In the present study, most part of the Maranjab Desert was investigated. As a result of this investigation 15 species of lizards belonging to 11 genera and six families were identified and recorded. Among the families of lizards recorded in the area, the Lacertidae with six species is the most diverse family in the region. The Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Scincidae and Varanidae, and Spharodactylidae with 3, 2, 2, 1 and 1 species respectively also occur in this region. Phrynocephalus maculatus is a widespread species and can be found in all parts of the area, but Eremias kavirensis and Ophiomorous maranjabensis have colonized in some restricted regions in the area.