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Species
Iguana
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These lizards are unlike most in that they cannot regenerate their tails. Furthermore, there are few differences between the eastern collared lizard and its relative, the western collared lizard. Apart from geographic differences, it is often very difficult to distinguish between the two subspecies (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999).
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Crotaphytus_collaris_collaris/ |
C. collaris is known for running rapidly upright on its hindlegs (Cogger and Zweifel, 1998). They also wave their tail in a cat like fashion before grabbing prey (Kaplan, 1995).
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Crotaphytus_collaris/ |
This taxon is found in the Sierra de la Laguna dry forests ecoregion, which was once an isolated island, containing a large number of endemic species. After sufficient mountain uplift and the joining the Baja Peninsula mainland, this ecoregion underwent significant speciation, and is thus today high in species diversity; this portion of the peninsula contains the majority of the species found in the southern part of the Baja Peninsula. The region is shaped by a vast complex of granitic mountains, running southward from the Gulf of California to the Pacific. These mountains are dissected by valleys and canyons, and surrounded by vast plateaus.
The forest is transitional both with the pine oak forests at higher elevations, and with the xeric scrub at lower portions. The dry forest of Sierra de la Laguna is characterized by abundance of low trees and scrubs, and poor vertical stratification. The dominant tree species in the subtropical forest are Mauto (Lysiloma divaricatum), Palo Blanco (L. candida), Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla) and Palo Zorrillo (Hesperalbizia occidentalis). Herbaceous elements are poorly developed, but their representatives are Caribe (Cnidoscolus angustidens), Spiny Aster (Chloracantha spinosa var. strictospinosa), Solanum spp., and cacti such as Biznaga (Ferocactus spp).
A number of reptilian taxa are found in the ecoregion, including: the endemic Baja California Rat Snake (Bogertophis rosaliae); Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus hunsakeri); Belding's Orange-throated Whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus); Spiny Chuckwalla (Sauromalus hispidus NT); San Lucan Leaf-tailed Gecko (Phyllodactylus unctus NT); Baja California Night Snake (Hypsiglena slevini), a Mexican endemic rangeing from Bahía San Juanico, in the east-central Baja California Peninsula, southward continuously Cabo San Lucas (as well as on the island of Santa Margarita and on Cerralvo and Danzante islands in the Gulf of California; and Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus hunsakeri), endemic to the Cape Region of Baja California Sur and the Gulf of California islands of Espiritu Santo, Gallo, Ballena and Partida Sur.
There are a number of mammalian species occurring in the Sierra de la Laguna dry forests. Among the mammals found here are: Eva's Desert Mouse (Peromyscus eva), endemic to Baja California Sur; Mexican Funnel-eared Bat (Natalus stramineus); the near-endemic Peninsular Bat (Myotis peninsularis EN), chiefly found in Baja California Sur; Dalquest's Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus dalquesti VU), known only from the Cape Region of Baja California Sur.
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Source | http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbeee07896bb431f69ae10/529e3f8d0cf2cad8a99b6fdb/?topic=51cbfc79f702fc2ba8129ee0 |
The Spiny Chuckwalla is found on the islands of the northwestern Gulf of California. It is found on Angel de la Guarda Island, Granito, Mejía, Pond, San Lorenzo Norte, San Lorenzo Sur, and numerous islands in Bahía de los Ángeles, including Cabeza de Caballo, La Ventana, Piojo, Flecha, Mitlàn, and Smith, Gulf of California, Mexico. The area in which this species is distributed is approximately 1,200 km². The species occurs at or just above sea level.
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Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/174482 |
Historia de vida
Poco se conoce de la historia natural de esta especie, en tres visitas a la isla Santa Catalina,B.C.S., (8 y 9 de julio de 1990; 4 y 5 de abril de 1993; y 19 y 20 de julio de 1995) la especie se observó principalmente en las laderas rocosas a lo largo de la costa y hacia el interior de la isla, principalmente en grietas (Hollingsworth, 1998).
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Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/ise/fichasnom/Sauromalusklauberi00.pdf |
Historia natural de la especie
Se le observa mas comúnmente en las horas de la mañana, y si la temperatura ambiente es favorable, se asoleará en las laderas pronunciadas (Hollingsworth, 1998).
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Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/ise/fichasnom/Sauromalusslevini00.pdf |
The Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. It inhabits the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range extends from Eastern California, Utah, and Nevada south to Baja California and Sonora.[2]
Taxonomy[edit]
The common name "chuckwalla" (or chuckawalla) is derived from the Shoshone word "tcaxxwal" or "caxwal," the form used by the Cahuilla of southeastern California.[3]
Its generic name, sauromalus, is a combination of two Ancient Greek words:σαῦρος (sauros) meaning "lizard". and ομαλυς (omalus) meaning "flat".[3] Its specific name is ater, Latin for "black" or "dark"
Its original epithet was Sauromalus obesus; and although that name is no longer officially recognized, it is still very common in the literature and it remains in many standard natural history references for North America. In 1998, Bradford D. Hollingsworth examined variations in Sauromalus and concluded that only five species should be recognized. He regarded S. obesus as conspecific with S. ater, and he used S. ater, which has priority, as the specific name of the combined taxon.[4] No subspecies of S. ater are currently recognized.[4] Based primarily on the extensive use of the name S. obesus, a petition to give that name precedence over that of S. ater was submitted to the ICZN.[4] However this reasoning was dubious and the priority of S. ater was maintained.[4] In 2004, ICZN ruled that the name Sauromalus ater was first described by zoologist Auguste Duméril in 1856 and thus had precedence over the name Sauromalus obesus which was not named until 1858 by Baird.[4]
Description[edit]
The common chuckwalla is a large, flat-bodied lizard with a large rounded belly, and a wide-based blunt-tipped tail.[3] Reaching a total length of 20 inches and a weight of .9 kilograms (2.0 lb).[5] Small scales cover its body, with larger scales protecting the ear openings.[3] The coloration of these lizards varies by location and between juveniles and adults, as well as among males and females.[3] In adult males, the head, shoulder, and pelvic regions are black while the mid-body is light tan speckled with brown.[3] Adult females are brownish in color with a scattering of dark red spots. Young chuckwallas have four or five broad bands across the body, and three or four on the tail which are lost in adulthood by males, but retained somewhat by females.[3]
Behavior[edit]
Harmless to humans, these lizards are known to run from potential threats.[5] When disturbed, the Chuckwalla will gulp air, distend its body and wedge itself into a tight rock crevice.[5] The Chuckwalla will inflate its body with air in order to entrench itself.[5]
Males are seasonally and conditionally territorial; an abundance of resources tends to create a hierarchy based on size, with one large male dominating the area's smaller males.[5] Chuckwallas use a combination of colour and physical displays, namely "push ups", head-hobbing, and gaping of the mouth to communicate and defend their territory (see animal communication).[5]
Chuckwallas are diurnal animals and as they are ectothermic, spend much of their mornings and cooler days basking.[5] These lizards are well adapted to desert conditions; they are active at temperatures of up to 102°F (39°C).[5] Chuckwallas brumate during cooler months and emerge in February.[5]
Mating occurs from April to July, with 5-16 eggs laid between June and August. The eggs hatch in late September.[5]
Diet[edit]
Primarily herbivorous, the chuckwalla eats creosote bush flowers, leaves, fruit, and occasionally insects.[5]
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sauromalus ater". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ Grismer, L. Lee (2002). Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, Including its Pacific Islands, and the Islands in the Sea of Cortés. University of California Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-520-22417-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g Schwenkmeyer, Dick. "Sauromalus ater Common Chuckwalla". Field Guide. San Diego Natural History Museum. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Hollingsworth, Bradford D. (2004). "The Evolution of Iguanas an Overview and a Checklist of Species". Iguanas: Biology and Conservation (University of California Press). p. 42. ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Stebbins, Robert C.,(2003) A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, ISBN 0-395-98272-3
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Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sauromalus_ater&oldid=611130969 |
Comments: This lizard inhabits rocky desert; lava flows, hillsides, and outcrops. Creosote bush occurs throughout most of the range (Stebbins 2003). Habitats encompass subtropical thornforest in the southern part of the range. Individuals seek shelter in rock crevices (or in burrows on islands in the Gulf of California; Grismer 2002). Eggs are laid underground.
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Rights holder/Author | Hammerson, G., NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Sauromalus+ater |
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
Iguana de tamaño grande y robusto, con una longitud hocico-cloaca de hasta 32.3 cm; cabeza aplanada, y triangular vista dorsalmente; escamas cefálicas pequeñas y aplanadas; escama interparietal no muy grande; escamas temporales convexas; escamas nucales yuxtapuestas; de 28 a 41 escamas en la parte media del dorso; pliegues en la parte lateral del cuerpo; escamas ventrales de igual tamaño que las de los pliegues laterales; de 145 a 166 bandas transversales de escamas ventrales, desde el vientre hasta el pliegue gular; de 13 a 17 escamas supralabiales; 2 escamas postmentales, ligeramente agrandadas; escamas gulares granulares; pliegues parasagital largo, sagital medio no muy marcado, gular y antegulares presentes; de 15 a 19 escamas infralabiales; extremidades delanteras cortas y robustas, con escamas lisas; extremidades traseras de aproximadamente 1.5 veces el largo de las extremidades delanteras, con escamas lisas a ligeramente quilladas; de 30 a 38 poros femorales bien desarrollados en machos; de 23 a 26 lamelas subdigitales en el cuarto dedo; cola de forma oval, con una longitud del 48 al 52 porciento de la longitud hocico-cloaca; escamas caudales lisas; escamas postanales no agrandadas en machos.
Coloración: cuerpo de amarillento a naranja, con manchas grandes color negro; región gular de color amarillo-naranja uniforme; márgenes labiales negros; manchas negras ligeramente visibles en el vientre.
Historia de vida
Especie ovípara, ectoterma.
Información sobre especies similares
No existen especies similares en el ámbito de distribución de S. varius, pero es una especie similar a otras de su género, solo que se distingue por su tamaño, coloración y escamación.
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Rights holder/Author | CONABIO |
Source | http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/ise/fichasnom/Sauromalusvarius00.pdf |