Callopistes maculatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Teiidae |
Genus: | Callopistes |
Species: | C. maculatus |
Binomial name | |
Callopistes maculatus Gravenhorst, 1838 | |
Callopistes maculatus, also known as the dwarf tegu, Chilean dwarf tegu, [2] spotted false monitor or Chilean iguana (in Spanish iguana Chilena), is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. [1] [3] It is endemic to Chile. [1] [3] [4]
It is the largest lizard of Chile, reaching a 50 centimetres (20 in) length. A diurnal species, it mainly preys upon insects, although it also eats other, smaller lizards, snakes and small birds and mammals. [2]
Lizard is the common name used for all squamate reptiles other than snakes, encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The grouping is paraphyletic as some lizards are more closely related to snakes than they are to other lizards. Lizards range in size from chameleons and geckos a few centimeters long to the 3-meter-long Komodo dragon.
Teiidae is a family of autarchoglossan lizards native to the Americas. Members of this family are generally known as whiptails or racerunners; however, tegus also belong to this family. Teiidae is sister to the Gymnopthalmidae, and both families comprise the Teiioidea. The Teiidae includes several parthenogenic species – a mode of clonal reproduction. Presently, the Teiidae consists of approximately 150 species in eighteen genera.
Ctenosaura pectinata is a species of moderately large lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is native to western Mexico.
The Argentine black and white tegu, also known as the Argentine giant tegu, the black and white tegu, or the huge tegu, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is the largest of the "tegu lizards". It is an omnivorous species which inhabits the tropical rain forests, savannas and semi-deserts of eastern and central South America.
Liolaemus constanzae, commonly known as Constanza's tree iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. The species is endemic to South America.
Liolaemus hellmichi, commonly known as Hellmich's tree iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. This species is endemic to the Chilean matorral ecoregion within the nation of Chile.
The Chilean Matorral (NT1201) is a terrestrial ecoregion of central Chile, located on the west coast of South America. It is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, part of the Neotropical realm.
Iguana is a genus of herbivorous lizards that are native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena. Three species are placed in the genus: the green iguana, which is widespread throughout its range and a popular pet, the marine iguana and the Lesser Antillean iguana, which is native to the Lesser Antilles. Genetic analysis indicates that the green iguana may comprise a complex of multiple species, some of which have been recently described, but the Reptile Database considers all of these as subspecies of the green iguana.
Enyalioides laticeps, the Amazon broad-headed wood lizard, is a dwarf iguanian lizard abundantly found in Amazonian rainforests. They are semi-arboreal and mostly live in forests. Other names for it include broad-headed wood lizards, Big-headed stick lizards, Guichenot's Dwarf Iguana, Amazon Forest Dragon, or Amazon Dwarf-Iguana. It is a small, ornamented lizard that grows up to 157 mm (0.5 ft) long and have very high vertebral crests along their backs. They change colors based on environmental factors. Amazon broad-headed wood lizards rely on rapid running to move around; however, they spend the vast majority of their time motionless, blending into the rainforest background, and ambushing prey. When attacked by predators, E. laticeps may stay motionless like a wood stick to avoid predation. When found by predators, it may suddenly spring into motion, quickly reatreting to burrows in the ground.
Tegu is a common name of a number of species of lizards that belong to the families Teiidae and Gymnophthalmidae. Tegus are native to Central and South America. They occupy a variety of habitats and are known for their large size and predatory habits.
Liolaemus atacamensis is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. It is endemic to Chile, with occurrence noted in the Chilean matorral.
Liolaemus stolzmanni, commonly known as Stolzmann's Pacific iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae.
Diplolaemus darwinii, also commonly known as Darwin's iguana and the southern Patagonian lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Leiosauridae. The species is native to the southern tip of South America.
The false monitor or tegú varano is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is found in Peru and Ecuador.
Euspondylus guentheri, also known commonly as Günther's sun tegu, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The species is native to Ecuador, and has also been reported from Peru. It lives in lowland tropical and subtropical forest habitats. The specific epithet guentheri is in honour of Albert Günther, a German-born British zoologist. E. guentheri is mostly diurnal, spending time in low branches or basking on the ground. If threatened, it will run for cover.