Spiny weapontail
The spiny weapontail (Hoplocercus spinosus) is a species of lizard belonging to the monotypic genus Hoplocercus[1] in the family Hoplocercidae. The species is found in the Cerrado and adjacent Cerrado–Amazon mosaics in Brazil and Bolivia.[1]
| Spiny weapontail | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Hoplocercidae |
| Genus: | Hoplocercus Fitzinger, 1843 |
| Species: | H. spinosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hoplocercus spinosus Fitzinger, 1843[1] | |
Taxonomy
H. spinosus is quite distantly related to the other members of Hoplocercidae, as it is believed to have diverged from these about 35 million years ago.[1]
Description
The spiny weapontail has a total length (including tail) of about 12–15 cm (4.5–6 in).[2] As suggested by its name, it has a short, highly spiny tail (it is superficially similar to Uromastyx, Cachryx and the smaller species in Ctenosaura).[1]
Behavior
When disturbed, H. spinosus retreats to its burrow with its tail orientated towards the entrance.[1] It is nocturnal.[1]
Diet
H. spinosus preys upon arthropods.[1]
References
- Torres-Carvajal O, Etheridge R, de Queiroz K (2011). "A systematic revision of Neotropical lizards in the clade Hoplocercinae (Squamata: Iguania)". Zootaxa 2752: 1–44
- Animalitaly: Lucertola dalla coda spinosa del Brasile, Hoplocercus spinosus. (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- Species Hoplocercus spinosus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
- Ávila-Pires TCS (1995). "Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata)". Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 299: 1-706.
- Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II., ... Iguanidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (genus Hoplocercus, p. 199; species H. spinosus, pp. 199–200).
- Dirksen L, De la Riva I (1999). "The lizards and amphisbaenians of Bolivia (Reptilia, Squamata): checklist, localities, and bibliography". Graellsia 55: 199-215.
- Estes R, Pregill G (editors) (1988). Phylogenetic relationships of the Lizard Families: Essays Commemorating Charles L. Camp. Redwood City, California: Stanford University Press. xvi + 632 pp.
- Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, fasciculus primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller et Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Hoplocercus, new genus, p. 78; H. spinosus, new species, p. 78). (in Latin).
- Harvey MB (1995). "A preliminary list of the reptiles and amphibians of the El Refugio biological reserve". pp. 21–26. In: Forsyth A (editor) (1995). A report on aspects of biodiversity and conservation potential in El Refugio. Washington, District of Columbia: Conservation International.