Leiocephalus inaguae
Leiocephalus inaguae, commonly known as the Inagua curly-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae.
| Inagua Curly-tailed Lizard | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Leiocephalidae |
| Genus: | Leiocephalus |
| Species: | L. inaguae |
| Binomial name | |
| Leiocephalus inaguae Cochran, 1931 | |
Description
Males of L. inaguae can reach 90 mm (3.5 inches) snout-to-vent length (SVL), females are smaller at about 74 mm (3 inches) SVL. There is a strong colouration difference between the males and females (dichromatism).
Habitat
L. inaguae prefers dry, exposed areas and is common on the coast, where it can be found amongst building materials, rocks, and drift wood.
Diet
The species L. inaguae is a typical omnivore, feeding on insects (Lepidoptera larvae, Coleoptera, Formicidae), spiders, fruits, flowers, and buds.[1]
Geographic range
The Inagua curly-tailed lizard is endemic to the Bahamas and has an extremely restricted range as it is only found on Great Inagua.[1]
Conservation status
L. inaguae is not listed by the IUCN or CITES as needing any special conservation, however, research is needed to determine its vulnerability due to its restricted range.
References
- Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. 714 pp. ISBN 978-0813010496.
Further reading
- Cochran DM (1931). "New Bahamian reptiles". J. Washington Acad. Sci. 21: 39–41. (Leiocephalus inaguae, new species, p. 40).
- Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Leiocephalus inaguae, p. 130).