Jaragua forest lizard | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Diploglossidae |
Subfamily: | Celestinae |
Genus: | Guarocuyus Landestov, Schools, & Hedges, 2022 |
Species: | G. jaraguanus |
Binomial name | |
Guarocuyus jaraguanus Landestov, Schools, & Hedges, 2022 | |
The Jaragua forest lizard (Guarocuyus jaraguanus) is a species of lizard of the family Diploglossidae endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
It is the only member of the genus Guarocuyus. [1] It was named in honor of the Taíno cacique Enriquillo, whose indigenous name is thought to have been "Guarocuya". [2] Being both a monotypic genus and species restricted to a single island and described only in 2022, G. jaraguanus is unique among recently-described reptiles. It is the sister group to the clade containing the genera Celestus , Comptus , and Panolopus (the latter two of which were previously considered synonymous with Celestus until 2021).
It is unique among celestines due to its nocturnal, arboreal habits with a semi-prehensile tail and webbed toes. [3]
It is found in the Dominican Republic, where it is known only from two small, adjacent keys in the Laguna de Oviedo, a lagoon in Jaragua National Park. [3]
Celestus is a genus of diploglossid lizards mostly endemic to Jamaica and containing about 11 species, though three of these may be extinct. They are commonly known as galliwasps although the origin of this name is unclear. Formerly, this genus had more than 31 species, but a 2021 phylogenetic study found this classification to be paraphyletic and split those species into their own genera. A more recent study found that several ecomorphs exist on Jamaica including a swamp ecomorph, a tree ecomorph, and a ground ecomorph.
Sphaerodactylus ariasae, commonly called the Jaragua sphaero or the Jaragua dwarf gecko, is the smallest species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae.
Caribicus anelpistus, the Altagracia giant galliwasp, is a possibly extinct species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Caribicus warreni, commonly known as the Haitian giant galliwasp or the Hispaniolan giant galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
Diploglossidae is a family of anguimorph lizards native to the Americas, with most genera being endemic to Hispaniola. Most members of this family are known as galliwasps. They were formerly considered a subfamily of Anguidae, but genetic evidence has shown them to be less closely related to other members of Anguidae than Anniellidae is.
Panolopus marcanoi, commonly known as Marcano's galliwasp or Pico Duarte galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic.
Wetmorena agasepsoides, the serpentine four-toed galliwasp, is an endangered species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Comptus badius, the Navassa galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to Navassa Island.
Panolopus costatus, the Hispaniolan smooth galliwasp or common Hispaniolan galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Panolopus curtissi, also known commonly as Curtiss' galliwasp, Curtis's galliwasp, and the Hispaniolan khaki galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae endemic to the island of Hispaniola and surrounding islets.
Caribicus darlingtoni, also known commonly as Darlington's galliwasp and the Hispaniolan striped galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae. The species is endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Siderolamprus enneagrammus, the Huaxteca lesser galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family. It is found in Mexico.
Wetmorena haetiana, the Hispaniolan earless galliwasp or earless galliwasp, is an endangered species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Comptus maculatus, the Cayman galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Cayman Islands.
Sauresia sepsoides, the Hispaniolan four-toed galliwasp or common four-toed galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It is the only member of the genus Sauresia.
Comptus stenurus, the Hispaniolan keeled galliwasp or Cope's galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Mesoamericus bilobatus, also known commonly as O'Shaughnessy's galliwasp, is a species of lizard in the family Diploglossidae. The species is native to Central America.
Caribicus is a genus of diploglossid lizards endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Panolopus is a genus of diploglossid lizards endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Wetmorena is a genus of diploglossid lizards endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, occurring in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.