Ctenosaura

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Ctenosaura
Iguana in Mexico.jpg
Spinytail iguana in Mexico
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Ctenosaura
Wiegmann, 1828
Ctenosaura similis, Costa Rica

Ctenosaura is a lizard genus commonly known as spinytail iguanas or ctenosaurs. The genus is part of the large lizard family, Iguanidae and is native to Mexico and Central America. The name is derived from two Greek words: ctenos (κτενός), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and saura (σαύρα), meaning "lizard".

Description[]

The species range in size (total length, including the tail) from about 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) to well over 1 metre (39 in). The distinctive feature of this genus is the presence of enlarged, spiny scales on the tail.

Diet[]

Ctenosaurs are generally omnivorous, feeding on fruits, flowers, foliage, and small animals.

Captivity[]

C. pectinata, C. similis, and C. quinquecarinata are popular as pets.

Invasive species[]

At least two species, Ctenosaura pectinata and Ctenosaura similis, have been introduced into southern areas of Texas and Florida. They are also now in southern Arizona.

Speed[]

The world record sprint speed for lizards (21.5 miles/h or 34.6 km/h) was attained by the Costa Rican spiny-tailed iguana, hence the nickname "Iguana" from the jungle guard Andrés Pmorado (Ctenosaura similis).[1][2]

Species[]

The genus Ctenosaura represents the most diverse group of iguanas with 15 currently recognized species and at least two unrecognized species.[3][4] These species inhabit lowland dry forests, below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) elevation, on both coasts of Mexico and Central America.[3] All species of Ctenosaura fall within one of seven clades.[3] Distributions of these clades fall geographically within well established areas.[3] Closely related species show allopatry whereas species from divergent clades show sympatry.[3]

Image Species Common name Authority Geographic range
Nyíregyháza Zoo - Black iguana.jpg Ctenosaura acanthura Mexican spiny-tailed iguana[5] (Shaw, 1802)[6] Eastern Mexico
Amneville Ctenosaura bakeri 27 08 2010 2.jpg Ctenosaura bakeri Baker's spinytail iguana Stejneger, 1901[7] Utila island off Honduras
Ctenosaura clarki Michoacan club tail [5] , 1928[8] Western Mexico
Ctenosaura conspicuosa Isla San Esteban spiny-tailed iguana [5] Dickerson, 1919[9] San Esteban Island, Gulf of California
Ctenosaura flavidorsalis yellowback spinytail iguana G. Köhler & Klemmer, 1994 Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala
SpinyTailedIguana CtenosauraHemilopha.jpg Ctenosaura hemilopha cape spiny-tail iguana [5] (Cope, 1863)[10] Southern half of Baja California, Mexico
Artis 20180519 122919 - Ctenosaura macrolopha.jpg Ctenosaura macrolopha Sonora spiny-tailed iguana [5] Smith, H. M. 1972[11] Sonora, Mexico
Honduran spinytailed iguana.jpg Ctenosaura melanosterna black-chested spinytail iguana & , 1997 Honduras
Ctenosaura nolascensis Isla San Pedro Nolasco spiny-tailed iguana [5] Smith, H. M. 1972[11] San Pedro Nolasco Island, Gulf of California
Ctenosaura oaxacana - head.jpg Ctenosaura oaxacana Oaxacan spiny-tail iguana [5] G. Köhler & , 2001[12] Oaxaca, Mexico
Ctenosaura oedirhina 2264096.jpg Ctenosaura oedirhina Roatán spinytail iguana de Queiroz, 1987 Roatán, Honduras
Ctenosaura palearis Vivarium Tournai 27122015 1.jpg Ctenosaura palearis Guatemalan spinytail iguana Stejneger, 1899 Guatemala
Ctenosaura pectinata at the Denver Zoo-2012 03 12 0691.jpg Ctenosaura pectinata western spiny-tail iguana [5] (Wiegmann, 1834)[13] Western Mexico. Introduced to southern areas of Texas and Florida.
Spinytailediguanan.jpg Ctenosaura quinquecarinata club tail iguana Gray, 1842[14] Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana-27527.jpg Ctenosaura similis black spiny-tail iguana [5] (Gray, 1831)[15] Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. Introduced to southern Florida.

References[]

  1. ^ Garland, T., Jr. (1984), "Physiological correlates of locomotory performance in a lizard: an allometric approach" (PDF), American Journal of Physiology, 247 (5 Pt 2): R806–R815, doi:10.1152/ajpregu.1984.247.5.r806, PMID 6238543
  2. ^ Malfatti, Mark (2007), "A Look at the Genus Ctenosaura: Meet the World's fastest lizard and its kin", Reptiles Magazine, 15 (11): 64–73
  3. ^ a b c d e Buckley, Larry; Pagel, Katelyn; Villela, Oscar (2007). "Evolution of Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Genus Ctenosaura): How Identification of Species Groups and their Relationships Can Help with Conservation Priorities". Iguana: Journal of the International Iguana Society. 14 (4): 248–251.
  4. ^ "Ctenosaura ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Liner, E. A. and G. Casas-Andreu. 2008. Standard Spanish, English and scientific names of the amphibians and reptiles of Mexico Society for the Study Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular 38: i-iv, 1-162. (pages 58-59)
  6. ^ Shaw, G. 1802. General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. Vol.3, part 2. G. Kearsley, Thomas Davison, London: 313-615.
  7. ^ Stejneger, Leonhard 1901. On a new species of spiny-tailed iguana from Utilla Island, Honduras. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 23 (1217): 467-468
  8. ^ Bailey, J. W. 1928. A revision of the lizards of the genus Ctenosaura. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 73 (2733): 1-55
  9. ^ Dickerson, M. C. 1919. Diagnoses of Twenty-Three New Species and a New Genus of Lizards from Lower California. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 41 (10): 461-477.
  10. ^ Cope, E.D. 1863. Descriptions of new American Squamata in the Museum of the Smtihsonian Institution. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 15 [1863]: 100-106
  11. ^ a b Smith,H.M. 1972. The sonoran subspecies of the lizard Ctenosaura hemilopha. Great Basin Naturalist 32 (2): 104-111.
  12. ^ Köhler, G. & C.R. Hasbun 2001. A new species of spiny-tailed iguana from Mexico formerly referred to Ctenosaura quinquecarinata (Gray 1842) (Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae). Senckenbergiana biologica 81: 257-267
  13. ^ Wiegmann, A.F.A. 1834. Herpetologia Mexicana, seu descriptio amphibiorum novae hispaniae , quae itineribus comitis de Sack, Ferdinandi Deppe et Chr. Guil. Schiede im Museum Zoologicum Berolinense Pervenerunt. Pars prima, saurorum species. Berlin, Lüderitz, iv + 54 pp.
  14. ^ Gray, J. E. 1842. Description of some new species of Reptiles, chiefly from the British Museum collection. Zoological Miscellany 2: 57-59.
  15. ^ Gray, J. E. 1831 [1830]. A synopsis of the species of Class Reptilia. In: Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon: The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation by the Baron Cuvier with additional descriptions of all the species hither named, and of many before noticed. V Whittaker, Treacher and Co., London: 481 + 110 pp.

Further reading[]

  • Frost DR, (1989). "A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)". Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81.
  • Frost DR, Etheridge R, Janies D, (2001). "Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania)". American Museum Novitates (3343): 1-38.

External links[]

  • Genus Ctenosaura at The Reptile Database
  • Garland T Jr (1984). "Physiological correlates of locomotory performance in a lizard: an allometric approach". American J. Physiol. 247 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 16): R806-R815. PDF


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