Lepidophyma | |
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Lepidophyma reticulatum | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Xantusiidae |
Genus: | Lepidophyma A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 |
Species | |
23, see text. |
Lepidophyma is a genus of lizards, commonly called tropical night lizards. The genus Lepidophyma (Greek for "warty scales") is one of three genera of night lizards (family Xantusiidae), 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.
The following 23 species are recognized as being valid. [1]
Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Lepidophyma.
Xenosaurus is a genus of lizards; it is the only extant genus in the family Xenosauridae, with 14 species currently recognized. Also known as knob-scaled lizards, they can found in southwestern Tamaulipas and eastern Guerrero in Mexico. They can be found between 300 and 2,360 m of elevation in a wide variety of habitats ranging from xerophytic tropical scrub to cloud forest to tropical rainforest. Where they occupy moderately diverse places, including crevices and holes in limestone, spaces under volcanic boulders, crevices in volcanic rocks, karst limestone, limestone terrain, and hollow logs in dry areas where trees are sparse.
Xantusia () is one of three genera of night lizards. Species of Xantusia are small to medium-sized, viviparous (live-bearing) lizards found in the U.S. Southwest and in northern Mexico. These lizards display morphological adaptations to specific microhabitats. They occupy rock crevices and decaying plants. Rock dwellers generally have brighter coloration, longer limbs and digits, and larger size than plant dwellers, which are generally duller, smaller, and have shorter limbs.
Species of the genus Xantusia are remarkably disjunct, with populations scattered throughout the deserts and mountains of the far western borderlands with only a handful of recorded cases of interspecific allopatry. The genus contains at least seven distinct cases of morphological convergence to the rock dwelling ecomorph in Arizona, California, Baja California, and Central Mexico.
Night lizards are a group of small scincomorph lizards, averaging from less than 4 cm (1.6 in) to over 12 cm (4.7 in) snout–vent length. Most species are viviparous (live-bearing), with the exception of those in the genus Cricosaura. The family has only three living genera, with approximately 34 living species. The genera are divided by geographic range: Xantusia in southwestern North America and Baja California, Cricosaura in Cuba, and Lepidophyma, the most populous night lizard genus, in Central America. Three fossil genera are also known: Catactegenys, Palepidophyma, Palaeoxantusia.
Tantilla is a large genus of harmless New World snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus includes 66 species, which are commonly known as centipede snakes, black-headed snakes, and flathead snakes.
Bezy's night lizard is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. The species is endemic to Arizona.
Stenocercus is a genus of South American lizards, commonly called whorltail iguanas, of the family Tropiduridae. This genus has 80 valid described species.
Geophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae of the superfamily Colubroidea. Species in the genus Geophis are commonly referred to as Latin American earth snakes. The genus consists of 53 distinct species.
The yellow-spotted tropical night lizard or yellow-spotted night lizard is a species of night lizard. The species is distributed from central Mexico, through Central America, south to Panama. It includes two subspecies.
Lepidophyma cuicateca, the Sunidero tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Santa María Texcatitlán, Oaxaca, Mexico at 1180 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma dontomasi, MacDougall's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is known only from the type locality on Cerro Lachiguiri in Oaxaca state, where it was collected at 2200 meters elevation. It may be more widespread.
Lepidophyma gaigeae, also known commonly as Gaige's tropical night lizard and la lagartija nocturna de Gaige in Mexican Spanish, is a small species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. The species is native to eastern Mexico.
Lepidophyma lipetzi, Lipetz's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico.
Lepidophyma lowei, Lowe's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is known only from San Bartolome Zoogocho, in Zoogocho Municipality, in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca of Oaxaca state at 2,200 meters elevation.
Lepidophyma micropholis, the cave tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico. It is native to caves in the Sierra del Abra Tanchipa, part of the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern San Luis Potosí and adjacent southern Tamaulipas states.
Lepidophyma reticulatum, the Costa Rican tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Lepidophyma smithii, Smith's tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Lepidophyma sylvaticum, the Madrean tropical night lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Xantusiidae. It is a small lizard found in Mexico.
Siderolamprus is a genus of lizards in the family Diploglossidae. Member species are found throughout much of Central America. They are considered the only members of the subfamily Siderolamprinae, although Diploglossus bilobatus is sometimes reclassified into the monotypic genus Mesoamericus and placed with them.