Corytophanidae

Corytophanidae; Temporal range: Early Eocene - present, 48–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Striped basilisk
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Corytophanidae; Fitzinger, 1843
Genera
	†Babibasiliscus Conrad, 2015 ; Basiliscus Laurenti, 1768; Corytophanes H. Boie, 1826; †Geiseltaliellus Kuhn, 1944 ; Laemanctus Wiegmann, 1834;
Synonyms
	Corythophanae Fitzinger, 1843

Corytophanidae is a family of iguanian lizards, also called casquehead lizards or helmeted lizards,^[4] endemic to the New World. Nine species of casquehead lizards from three genera are recognized.

Geographic range[]

Corytophanids are found from Mexico, through Central America, and as far south as Ecuador.

Certain species are now extant in South Florida which are considered invasive.

Description[]

The casquehead lizards are moderately sized lizards, with laterally compressed bodies, and typically have well-developed head crests in the shape of a casque helmet. This crest is a sexually dimorphic characteristic in males of Basiliscus, but is present in both sexes of Corytophanes and Laemanctus.^[5]

Behavior[]

In Corytophanes, the head crests are used in defensive displays, where the lateral aspect of the body is brought about to face a potential predator in an effort to look bigger.^[5] Unlike many of their close relatives, they are unable to break off their tails when captured, probably because the tail is essential as a counterbalance during rapid movement.^{[citation needed]}

Habitat[]

Casquehead lizards are forest-dwelling.

Reproduction[]

Despite the small number of species in the family Corytophanidae, it includes both egg-laying species and species that give birth to live young.^[4]

Genera and species[]

Family Corytophanidae^[6]

Genus Basiliscus
- Basiliscus basiliscus (Linnaeus, 1758) — common basilisk
- Basiliscus galeritus A.M.C. Duméril & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 — red-headed basilisk, western basilisk
- Basiliscus plumifrons Cope, 1875 — green basilisk, plumed basilisk
- Basiliscus vittatus Wiegmann, 1828 — brown basilisk, striped basilisk
Genus Corytophanes
- Corytophanes cristatus (Merrem, 1820) — helmeted iguana
- Corytophanes hernandesii (Wiegmann, 1831) — Hernandez's helmeted basilisk
- Corytophanes percarinatus A.H.A. Duméril, 1856 — Guatemalan helmeted basilisk
Genus Laemanctus
- Laemanctus julioi McCranie, 2018
- Laemanctus longipes Wiegmann, 1834 — eastern casquehead iguana
- Laemanctus serratus Cope, 1864 — serrated casquehead iguana
- Laemanctus waltersi Schmidt, 1933

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Frost DR, Etheridge R (1989). "A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)". Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., Misc. Pub. (81): 1-65. ("Corytophanidae Fitzinger, 1843", p. 34.)
^ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Corytophanidae.html
^ "Corytophanidae". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Squamata/Iguania/corytophanidae.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 134–136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Pough et al. (2003).
^ Family Corytophanidae. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.