Ctenosaura quinquecarinata

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	Ctenosaura
Species:	C. quinquecarinata
Binomial name
Ctenosaura quinquecarinata (Gray, 1842)[2]
Synonyms
Cyclura quinquecarinata Gray, 1842 Enyaliosaurus quinquecarinatus – Gray, 1845 Ctenosaura quinquecarinata – Bocourt, 1874[3]

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata, commonly known as the Oaxacan spinytail iguana or the five-keeled spiny-tailed iguana is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae native to Central America.

Geographic range[]

It is found in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.^[1] Other sources list it also from Mexico and El Salvador.^[3]

Habitat[]

Its natural habitat is tropical dry forests.^[1]

Conservation status[]

It is threatened in its native range by habitat loss.^[1]

Taxonomy and etymology[]

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata was first described by zoologist John Edward Gray in 1842 as Cyclura quinquecarinata; 32 years later it was redesignated by Marie Firmin Bocourt as Ctenosaura quinquecarinata. The generic name, Ctenosaura, 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".^[4] Its specific name quinquecarinata is a combination of two Latin words: quinque meaning "five" and carinata meaning "keeled" and refers to the five rows of scales on the animal's tail.

Description[]

The tail on this species is heavily armored with five rings of spines forming longitudinal ridges. Males of the species grow to a length of 35 centimeters (14 in) whereas females attain 18.5 centimeters (7.3 in). Like most Ctenosaura the iguanas are born a bright green color fading to brown as the animal ages. The females tend to turn a uniform drab brown in color, and males develop tones of black, blue and yellow on their bodies and heads over the brown background.

Threats[]

Total population size is not known, but it is estimated that there may be fewer than 2,500 mature individuals.^[1] It is threatened by habitat loss through deforestation, overcollection through an unregulated exploitation for the pet trade,^[1] and it is even hunted by humans as a food item.

References[]

Further reading[]

• Gray, J.E. 1842. Description of some new species of Reptiles, chiefly from the British Museum collection. Zoological Miscellany 57-59. (Cyclura quinquecarinata, p. 59.)