Uranoscodon | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Tropiduridae |
Genus: | Uranoscodon Kaup, 1825 |
Species: | U. superciliosus |
Binomial name | |
Uranoscodon superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Uranoscodon is a monotypic genus of iguanomorph lizard belonging to the family Tropiduridae, the Neotropical ground lizards. Its sole member, Uranoscodon superciliosus, is commonly known as the diving lizard, brown tree climber or mophead iguana. It is found near water in the Amazon rainforest of South America.
Uranoscodon was first described as a genus in 1825 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup, its only species being Lacerta superciliosa which had been described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae published in 1758. Linnaeus gave the type locality as "Indiis", however, in 1973 this was narrowed down to the confluence of the Cottica River and Perica Creek in Suriname. [3] The genus Uranoscodon is classified within the family Tropiduridae which, [2] in turn, is within the clade Iguanoidea within the infraorder Iguanomorpha, which is also known as Iguania. [4]
Uranoscodon superciliosus has a relatively small head, with a body and tail which show latero-lateral compression but it is not extremely flattened. [2] It has a relatively long tail and legs. The overall colour is brown. [5] There is a frill around the heads of adults which gives rise to the common name mop-headed iguana. [6] The snout-vent length is up to c.16 cm (6.3 in) with the tail being twice as long; sexual maturity is reached at a snout-vent length of 9–11 cm (3.5–4.3 in). [7]
Uranoscodon superciliosus is found in the Amazonian regions of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, eastern Venezuela, eastern Colombia, Bolivia and northeastern Peru. However, in Peru it is known only a single locality near to the Colombian/Brazilian border and it has not been recorded in Ecuador. [1] This species occurs in igapó and várzea flood forests and in riparian areas of terre firme forests, i.e. forests not subjected to seasonal flooding. [8]
Uranoscodon superciliosus spends most of its time on tree trunks and is largely insectivorous. It is an ambush predator which feeds mainly on orthopterans, cockroaches, earthworms and caterpillars, as well small vertebrates like frogs. They seem to eat the largest amount of larvae around the period of peak egg laying in July to November. When threatened these lizards are known to dive into water. [9] They lay up to 16 eggs and are known to nest in burrows or in tree hollows. [8]
Uranoscodon superciliosus is occasionally traded in the pet trade. [10] In Brazil these lizards are hunted illegally to be used in Umbanda ceremonies to treat impotence. [9]
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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.
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.
The green thornytail iguana is an arboreal species of lizard from the Amazon rainforest and forests in the Guiana Shield. It is found in Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, northeastern Peru, southern Venezuela, and northern Brazil. As in U. flaviceps, U. azureum primarily feeds on ants.
Microlophus occipitalis, colloquially known as the knobbed Pacific iguana, is a lizard included within the Tropiduridae family. It is a member of the Microlophus genus and thus also considered a lava lizard. The knobbed Pacific iguana is found primarily in Western Peru and Ecuador, lining the coasts. The habitats of the knobbed Pacific iguana can be considered to be both broad and diverse as they are typically found in many different places such as beaches, lomas, and all the way to desert regions. This diversity is furthered as these lizards can also be found in open areas, between rocks, or bushes.
Tropidurus torquatus is a species of lizard in the family Tropiduridae, the Neotropical ground lizards. Its common name is Amazon lava lizard. The species is endemic to South America. There are no subspecies.
Plica plica is a species of lizard in the family Tropiduridae, the Neotropical ground lizards. Its common names include collared tree lizard, collared tree runner,tree runner, and harlequin racerunner. In Guyana it is known as wakanama.
Barbaturex is an extinct genus of giant herbivorous iguanian lizards from Pondaung Formation, the Eocene of Myanmar. It is represented by a single species, Barbaturex morrisoni, which is known from several partial dentaries and a fused pair of frontals, two bones that form part of the top of the skull. Based on the size of these bones, Barbaturex morrisoni is estimated to have been about 1 metre (3.3 ft) from snout to vent, and possibly up to 6 feet (1.8 m) including the tail. Barbaturex morrisoni was named after The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, a play on his epithet "The Lizard King". The genus's name is a portmanteau of the Latin words Barbatus and rex, meaning "bearded king", in reference to ridges along the mandible and the lizard's large size.
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