Ameiva ameiva

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Ameiva ameiva
Giant Ameiva, Trinidad, Bolivia imported from iNaturalist photo 178430490 (cropped ).jpg
Adult, eating a bee
Amazon Racerunner, female.jpg
Juvenile
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Teiidae
Genus: Ameiva
Species:
A. ameiva
Binomial name
Ameiva ameiva
Subspecies

Ameiva ameiva ameiva
Ameiva ameiva fischeri
Ameiva ameiva fulginosa
Ameiva ameiva laeta
Ameiva ameiva melanocephala
Ameiva ameiva ornata
Ameiva ameiva petersi
Ameiva ameiva praesignis
Ameiva ameiva vogli

Contents

Synonyms
List
  • Lacerta ameiva Linnaeus, 1758
  • Ameiva ameiva bilineata
  • Ameiva ameiva petersi
  • Ameiva americana
  • Ameiva bifrontata
  • Ameiva guttata
  • Ameiva litterata
  • Ameiva panchlora
  • Ameiva pleurotaenia
  • Ameiva surinamensis
  • Ameiva surinamensis var. aquilina
  • Ameiva surinamensis var. atrigularis
  • Ameiva vulgaris
  • Cnemidophorus maculatus
  • Lacerta ameiva
  • Lacerta graphica
  • Lacerta litterata
  • Lacerta tristriata
  • Seps surinamensis
  • Teius tritaeniatus

Ameiva ameiva, also known as the giant ameiva, green ameiva, South American ground lizard, or Amazon racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae found in Central and South America, and some Caribbean Islands.

Geographic range

It is widespread in Central and South America, including: Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, the Grenadines, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Margarita, Swan Island, and Isla de la Providencia. [1] It was also once present on Saint Vincent but has since been extirpated.

In Brazil Giant Ameiva, Currais Novos - RN, Brasil imported from iNaturalist photo 362122177.jpg
In Brazil

Description

Ameiva ameiva has a streamlined body, pointed head, slightly forked tongue, and muscular hind legs. They grow to approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in). Both sexes have random black specks and mottling along the sides. Females usually have much less green than males and a more dusty of a green color. Males have vibrant green coloration and more bold mottling. Males also have more expanded jowls. They are popular as a pet because of the male's striking green coloration.

Habitat

They live on the forest floor, often sheltering underneath logs and in leaf litter. Captive individuals have been observed making tunnels spanning out from under a log or rock when given enough soil.

Diet

Its diet consists of mainly insects (such as grasshoppers, butterflies, cockroaches, mole crickets, beetles, termites, and insect larvae), frogs, other lizards (such as anoles, dwarf geckos, skinks, and even conspecifics), amphisbaenians, spiders, snails, and plant matter. [2] [3] [4]

Mating Giant Ameiva, Green Rd, Deerfield Beach, FL, US imported from iNaturalist photo 167823532.jpg
Mating

Reproduction

The female lays several clutches of eggs from March to December.

Invasive species

Running with an anole in its mouth Giant Ameiva, Green Rd, Deerfield Beach, FL, US imported from iNaturalist photo 78348587 (cropped).jpg
Running with an anole in its mouth

This species has been introduced into the United States with thriving populations in South Florida.

Parasites

This species is infected by a number of protist parasites including:

Related Research Articles

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Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles and native to warmer parts of the Americas, ranging from southeastern United States to Paraguay. Instead of treating it as a family, some authorities prefer to treat it as a subfamily, Dactyloinae, of the family Iguanidae. In the past they were included in the family Polychrotidae together with Polychrus, but the latter genus is not closely related to the true anoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teiidae</span> Family of lizards

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<i>Anolis carolinensis</i> Species of reptile

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six-lined racerunner</span> Species of lizard

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<i>Sceloporus becki</i> Species of lizard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common Puerto Rican ameiva</span> Species of reptile

The common Puerto Rican ameiva, Puerto Rican ground lizard, or siguana común is a species of lizard in the whiptail family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominican ground lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Dominican ground lizard or Dominican ameiva is a species of lizard. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Dominica, an island noted for its intact and abundant reptile population, where it is most commonly found in dry coastal woodland.

The Sombrero ameiva, also known commonly as the Sombrero groundlizard, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic to Sombrero, a small, uninhabited island in the Lesser Antilles under the jurisdiction of Anguilla. The species was originally described in the genus Ameiva.

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<i>Pholidoscelis plei</i> Species of lizard

Pholidoscelis plei, known commonly as the Anguilla Bank ameiva or the Caribbean ameiva, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is found on the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy in the Lesser Antilles. Its coloration and markings vary between each island population. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze anole</span> Species of lizard

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<i>Ameiva atrigularis</i> Species of lizard

Ameiva atrigularis, known as giant ameiva and Amazon racerunner, is a species of teiid lizard found on Trinidad and Tobago and in Venezuela. Males can reach a snout–vent length of 186 mm (7.3 in).

<i>Plica plica</i> Species of lizard

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<i>Pholidoscelis wetmorei</i> Species of reptile

Pholidoscelis wetmorei is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae (whiptails). The species is endemic to Puerto Rico. Its common names include the Puerto Rican blue-tailed ameiva, Wetmore's ameiva, blue-tailed ground lizard, and siguana de rabo azul.

<i>Anolis cuvieri</i> Species of reptile

Anolis cuvieri is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Puerto Rico, and is common in the Toro Negro State Forest.

<i>Ameiva praesignis</i> Species of lizard

Ameiva praesignis, known as giant ameiva and Amazon racerunner, is a species of teiid lizard found in Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, and Colombia.

References

  1. Ameiva ameiva, Reptile-database.reptarium.cz
  2. Siders, Ryan. "Ameiva ameiva (Giant Ameiva, Amazon Racerunner)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  3. "Ameiva ameiva (Zandolie or Jungle Runner)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. "Giant Whiptail (Ameiva ameiva)".

Bibliography