Laemanctus

Laemanctus is a genus of lizards in the family Corytophanidae. Species in the genus Laemanctus are commonly referred to as conehead lizards or casquehead iguanas. The genus is endemic to Central America.[1]

Laemanctus
Laemanctus longipes,
eastern casquehead iguana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Corytophanidae
Genus: Laemanctus
Wiegmann, 1834
Species

4, see text.

Description

Lizards of the genus Laemanctus exhibit the following characters. The tympanum is distinct. The plane of the top of the head slopes forward, and the occipital region is raised and extends beyond the occiput. The body is laterally compressed, and is covered with imbricate keeled scales. A strong transverse gular fold is present, but a gular pouch is absent. The limbs are very long, and the infradigital lamellae have a median tubercle-like keel. Femoral pores are absent. The tail is very long, and is round in cross section. The lateral teeth are tricuspid, and pterygoid teeth are present. The clavicle is loop-shaped proximally. A sternal fontanelle is absent. Abdominal ribs are absent.[2]

Species

The genus consists of 4 species which are recognized as being valid.[3]

  • Laemanctus longipes deborrei Boulenger, 1877
  • Laemanctus longipes longipes Wiegmann, 1834
  • Laemanctus serratus Cope, 1864 – serrated casquehead iguana
  • Laemanctus serratus alticoronatus Cope, 1866
  • Laemanctus serratus mccoyi Pérez-Higareda & Vogt, 1985
  • Laemanctus serratus serratus Cope, 1864
  • Laemanctus waltersi Schmidt, 1933 – Walters's casquehead iguana

References
  1. Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. ISBN 0-7167-0020-4. (Laemanctus, p. 291).
  2. Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Genus Læmanctus, p. 104).
  3. Genus Laemanctus at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • McCoy CJ (1968). "A review of the genus Laemanctus (Reptilia, Iguanidae)". Copeia 1968 (4): 665–678.
  • Wiegmann AFA (1834). Herpetologia Mexicana, seu Descriptio Amphibiorum Novae Hispaniae, quae Itineribus Comitis de Sack, Ferdinandi Deppe et Chr. Guil. Schiede in Museum Berolinense Pervenerunt. Pars Prima, Saurorum Species Amplectens. Adiecto Systematis Saurorum Prodromo, Additisque Multis in hunc Amphibiorum Ordinem Observationibus. Berlin: C.G. Lüderitz. vi + 54 pp. + Plates I-X. (Laemanctus, new genus, pp. 45–46). (in Latin).


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