Microlophus indefatigabilis

Santa Cruz lava lizard
	Male
	Female
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Tropiduridae
Genus:	Microlophus
Species:	M. indefatigabilis
Binomial name
	Microlophus indefatigabilis; (Baur, 1890)
Synonyms
	Tropidurus indefatigabilis

The Santa Cruz lava lizard (Microlophus indefatigabilis) is a species of lava lizard endemic to the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz.[2]

Description

They are identifiable by a brown body with scattered black and white blotches with a distinctive red and black throat and a black chest. Females have a more uniform brown body, a bright orange face, and a black mark at shoulder level. The species is able to shed its tail without mortal injury.[3] The

Sexual Dimorphism

Harems are kept, and are competed for by males using a pushup ritual to avoid physical injury. Males have a higher stamina and greater body size compared to the female.[4]

Distribution

Endemic to Santa Cruz Island, it is found within volcanic rock areas, dry shrublands, dry grasslands, deciduous forests, and urban areas, and prefer shaded locations.[3]

References

Márquez, C. & Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. 2016. Microlophus indefatigabilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T88793749A88793762. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T88793749A88793762.en. Downloaded on 14 November 2018.
Benavides, Edgar; Baum, Rebecca; Snell, Heidi M.; Snell, Howard L. & Sites Jr., Jack W. (2009). "Island biogeography of Galápagos lava lizards (Tropiduridae: Microlophus): species diversity and colonization of the archipelago" (PDF). Evolution. 63 (6): 1606–1626. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00617.x. PMID 19154379. S2CID 13598047. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
"Santa Cruz Lava-Lizard (Microlophus indefatigabilis) | Tropical Herping". www.tropicalherping.com. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
Jennings, Snell HL (1988). "Intrapopulation variation in predator-avoidance performance of Galápagos lava lizards: the interaction of sexual and natural selection". Evolutionary Ecology. 2 (4): 353–369. doi:10.1007/BF02207566. S2CID 9955874.

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[iucn-1] Márquez, C. & Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. 2016. Microlophus indefatigabilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T88793749A88793762. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T88793749A88793762.en. Downloaded on 14 November 2018.

[2] Benavides, Edgar; Baum, Rebecca; Snell, Heidi M.; Snell, Howard L. & Sites Jr., Jack W. (2009). "Island biogeography of Galápagos lava lizards (Tropiduridae: Microlophus): species diversity and colonization of the archipelago" (PDF). Evolution. 63 (6): 1606–1626. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00617.x. PMID 19154379. S2CID 13598047. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2012-01-09.

[:0-3] "Santa Cruz Lava-Lizard (Microlophus indefatigabilis) | Tropical Herping". www.tropicalherping.com. Retrieved 2019-10-16.

[4] Jennings, Snell HL (1988). "Intrapopulation variation in predator-avoidance performance of Galápagos lava lizards: the interaction of sexual and natural selection". Evolutionary Ecology. 2 (4): 353–369. doi:10.1007/BF02207566. S2CID 9955874.