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.
Iguania is an infraorder of squamate reptiles that includes iguanas, chameleons, agamids, and New World lizards like anoles and phrynosomatids. Using morphological features as a guide to evolutionary relationships, the Iguania are believed to form the sister group to the remainder of the Squamata, and comprise nearly 13,000 named species. However, molecular information has placed Iguania well within the Squamata as sister taxa to the Anguimorpha and closely related to snakes. The order has been under debate and revisions after being classified by Charles Lewis Camp in 1923 due to difficulties finding adequate synapomorphic morphological characteristics. Most Iguanias are arboreal but there are several terrestrial groups. They usually have primitive fleshy, non-prehensile tongues, although the tongue is highly modified in chameleons. The group has a fossil record that extends back to the Early Jurassic. Today they are scattered occurring in Madagascar, the Fiji and Friendly Islands and Western Hemisphere
Navassa Island National Wildlife Refuge protects coral reef ecosystems, native wildlife and plants, as well as provides opportunities for scientific research on and around Navassa Island. The National Wildlife Refuge is located 35 miles west of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. The refuge encompasses 1,344 acres (5.44 km2) of land and a 12 nautical mile radius of marine habitat around the island.
The Navassa curly-tailed lizard or Navassa curlytail lizard is an extinct lizard species from the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae). It is known only from the one female specimen from which it was described in 1868. A second specimen which was collected by Rollo Beck in 1917 was identified as a Tiburon curly-tailed lizard by herpetologist Richard Thomas in 1966.
The Martinique curlytail lizard is an extinct species of lizard in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae).
The Hispaniolan masked curly-tailed lizard is a lizard species from the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae). It is also known as the Haitian curlytail lizard and the green-legged curly-tail. The species is sexually dimorphic, with the males being considerably larger, and having red markings on the head around the lower jaw. Females are much smaller, and are brown in colour, with lighter stripes running down the flanks. The species is endemic to Hispaniola.
Leiocephalus carinatus, commonly known as the northern curly-tailed lizard or saw-scaled curlytail, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae.
Leiocephalus loxogrammus, commonly known as the Rum Cay curlytail lizard and the San Salvador curlytail, is a lizard species in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae). The species is endemic to The Bahamas and is only known to be found on San Salvador Island and Rum Cay.
Leiocephalus greenwayi, commonly known as the East Plana curlytail or Plana Cay curlytail lizard, is a species of lizard in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae).
Leiocephalus inaguae, commonly known as the Inagua curlytail lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae.
Leiocephalus carinatus armouri, commonly known as the Little Bahama curly-tailed lizard, is a subspecies of Leiocephalus carinatus, the northern curly-tailed lizard. It was previously endemic to the Bahama Islands.
The Hispaniolan curlytail lizard, also known as the Hispaniolan khaki curlytail, the red-sided curly-tailed lizard, or Schreibers' curly-tailed lizard, is a common lizard species in the family Leiocephalidae. It is native to Hispaniola in the Caribbean, and an introduced population is found in southern Florida. There are two recognized subspecies.
Microlophus grayii, commonly known as the Floreana lava lizard, is a species of lava lizard in the family Tropiduridae. The species is endemic to the Galapagos island of Floreana.
The Marche Leon least gecko, also known commonly as the snout-shield sphaero, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Haiti.
The Terre-Neuve least gecko, also known commonly as the northwest Haitian banded geckolet, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Haiti.
Leiocephalus sixtoi, also known as the Hispaniolan dune curlytail, the dune curly-tailed lizard, or Sixto'scurly-tailed lizard is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae. This species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola, and is only known in the sandy spaces of monumento natural Las Dunas de las Calderas, also known as Las Dunas de Baní.
Leiocephalus cubensis, commonly known as the Cuban brown curlytail or Cuban curlytail lizard , is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae. It is native to Cuba.
Leiocephalus lunatus, commonly known as the Hispaniolan maskless curlytail or Santo Domingo curlytail lizard , is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae. It is native to the Dominican Republic.
