Cuban night lizard

Last updated

Cuban night lizard
Cricosaura typica--E.N. Fischer.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Xantusiidae
Subfamily: Cricosaurinae
Genus: Cricosaura
Gundlach & Peters, 1863
Species:
C. typica
Binomial name
Cricosaura typica
Gundlach & Peters, 1863
Cricosaura typica from Peters 1863 Cricosaura typica--Franz Wagner.jpg
Cricosaura typica from Peters 1863

The Cuban night lizard (Cricosaura typica) is a night lizard (family Xantusiidae, subfamily Cricosaurinae) endemic to southern Cuba. It is the only member of the genus Cricosaura, one of three in the night lizard family. [1]

Contents

Etymology

Cricosaura is derived from the Greek words "krikos" and "saura" meaning "ring lizard", [2] perhaps in reference to the rings of caudal scales. The name "typica", from the Greek word "typikos", means "typical". [3]

Description

The Cuban night lizard differs from the other night lizards in possessing two frontonasal scales, one frontal scale, no parietal scale, and a fourth finger with four phalanges. With a snout-vent length less than 4 cm it is the smallest of the night lizards. [1]

Distribution

Cricosaura typica lives exclusively in the west corner of the southernmost coast of Cuba in the Provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba up to 200 m altitude. Known localities for Granma Province include: Hoyo de la Campana, Cabo Cruz (type locality); Vereón; Monte Gordo; Playa Las Coloradas; Currín; Agua Fina; Bosque Castillo; Belic; Bajada al Pesquero de la Alegría; Pesquero de la Alegría; Alegría de Pío/Municipio Niquero; 2.4 km SE of Ojo del Toro; Caleta Media Luna; Punta de Piedra; Alto de Mareón; Marea del Portillo; Camarón Grande. In the Santiago de Cuba Province the species is known only from La Mula (southern slopes of Sierra Maestra) and Uvero (ca. 80 km west of Santiago de Cuba on route 20, easternmost record). [3] [4] [5]

Habitat and natural history

Cricosaura typica is a xerophilic species which hides under rocks, stones, logs, and debris in xeric forest and woods in microhabitats with at least some humidity. It is crepuscular and to some degree diurnal but lives very secretive. In their habitats it is quite common and can be easily collected during the day. In loose soil it progresses by snake-like wiggling and head movement. It feeds on insects (mainly ants), other small arthropods (Spiders, diplopods) and also on molluscs and gastropods. [6] [7] [5] [4]

Cricosaura typica is the only egg-laying species in the family Xantusiidae. At oviposition, mainly between April and June on Cuba, the white eggs are 9,4-10,7 mm long. Incubation time is up to 60 days. Hatchlings measure 15 mm from snout to vent. Longevity in captivity is reported up to 2 years 11 month. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Conservation status

This species is listened in Red List Category Vulnerable B2a,b(iii) for Cuba. The main threat is the fragmentation and loss of habitat due to deforestation through human activities such as farming (minor crops), cutting down trees and setting fires. It is also threatened by the introduction of invasive alien animal species and adverse natural events. Although some of the populations of Cricosaura are situated in a protected area, the level of study and management are inadequate. The populations outside the boundaries of the protected area are the most threatened. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curly-tailed lizard</span> Genus of lizards

Leiocephalidae, also known as the curlytail lizards or curly-tailed lizards, is a family of iguanian lizards restricted to the West Indies. One of the defining features of these lizards is that their tail often curls over. They were previously regarded as members of the subfamily Leiocephalinae within the family Tropiduridae. There are presently 29 known species, all in the genus Leiocephalus.

<i>Lepidophyma</i> Genus of lizards

Lepidophyma is a genus of lizards, commonly called tropical night lizards. The genus Lepidophyma is one of three genera of night lizards, which are a group of viviparous (live-bearing) lizards. There are 20 species of tropical night lizards in the genus Lepidophyma, making it the most populous night lizard genus. Species of the genus Lepidophyma are distributed throughout Central America, found anywhere from central Mexico to Panama, depending on the particular species. Tropical night lizards, particularly the yellow-spotted species, are sometimes called Central American bark lizards by pet dealers and owners.

<i>Eleutherodactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

Eleutherodactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. Many of the 200 species of the genus are commonly known as "rain frogs" or "robber frogs", due to their sharp, high-pitched, insect-like calls.

<i>Lirainosaurus</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Lirainosaurus is a genus of titanosaur sauropod which lived in what is now Spain. The type species, Lirainosaurus astibiae, was described by Sanz, Powell, Le Loeuff, Martinez, and Pereda-Suberbiola in 1999.

Lisboasaurus is a small genus of Mesozoic crocodylomorph that lived in fresh water. It is known from fossilized tooth and jaw fragments of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous age. Two species have been described. In the past Lisboasaurus has been interpreted as an avialan, troodontid, or an anguimorph lizard. Both species are currently assigned to Crocodylomorpha, one is reassigned to the genus Lusitanisuchus.

María de Estrada was a Spanish woman who participated in the expedition of Hernán Cortés to Mexico in 1519–24. She traveled as a conquistador and fought there. There is also some evidence that she had previously spent several years as a castaway among the native inhabitants of pre-colonial Cuba.

Tropidophis celiae, commonly known as the Canasi dwarf boa or the Canasi trope, is an endangered species of dwarf boa, a snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Eleutherodactylus varians is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Cuba and occurs in the central and eastern parts of the main island as well as on the Isla de Juventud. Common names cliff robber frog and Cuban bromeliad frog have been proposed for it. Eleutherodactylus olibrus and Eleutherodactylus staurometopon are sometimes included in this species as subspecies.

Víctor Miquel Moreno Piñeiro, known as Victor Moreno was a Cuban painter. He was born in Placetas, Villa Clara, Cuba and died in Havanna, Cuba.

<i>Amphisbaena</i> (lizard) Genus of amphisbaenians

Amphisbaena is a genus in the family Amphisbaenidae, commonly known as worm lizards. Over 100 species are placed in this diverse genus.

<i>Liolaemus chiliensis</i>

Liolaemus chiliensis is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae, also referred to as the weeping or crying lizard in English. Synonyms for this species include "Liodeira chilensis" and Calotes chiliensis." Less commonly, it is called the Talcahuano Smooth-throated Lizard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cayo Hueso, Havana</span> Ward of Havana in Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba

Cayo Hueso is a consejo popular (ward) in the municipality of Centro Habana, Havana, Cuba. A traditionally working-class neighborhood populated by Afro-Cubans, it is known for its many cultural landmarks such as the Callejón de Hamel, the Fragua Martiana Museum and the Parque de los Mártires Universitarios.

Sphaerodactylus armasi, also known commonly as the Guantanamo coastal gecko or the Guantanamo least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Una rosa de Francia is a 2006 Spanish–Cuban romance and adventure film directed by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón which stars Jorge Perugorría, Álex González, Broselianda Hernández and Ana de Armas.

References

  1. 1 2 Schwartz & Henderson 1991
  2. Peters 1863
  3. 1 2 Crother 1988
  4. 1 2 Fong et al 1999
  5. 1 2 Estrada & Armas 1998
  6. Armas et al. 1987
  7. Fernández de Arcila, 1990
  8. Moreno 1987
  9. Díaz et al 1997
  10. Diaz 2007
  11. Fong & Bignotte-Giró 2009
  12. "Agencia de Medio Ambiente: Libro rojo de los vertebrados de Cuba. Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters, 1863". Archived from the original on 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2016-01-17.

Further reading