Tropidurus hispidus
| Tropidurus hispidus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male caught in Brazil | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Tropiduridae |
| Genus: | Tropidurus |
| Species: | T. hispidus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825)
| |
Tropidurus hispidus, Peters's lava lizard or neotropical lava lizard, is a species of lizard of the Tropiduridae family.[2] It is found in South America.
Etymology
[edit]The scientific name derives from the Greek "Tropidurus" (meaning "keel") and the Latin "hispidus" (meaning "rough" or "shaggy").[2]
Geographic range
[edit]Tropidurus hispidus is found in several countries of South America, including Venezuela, Isla Margarita, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil.[2] It generally lives in semi-arid biomes, such as Cerrado and Caatinga, but there are some isolated populations in the amazon rainforest.[3]
Description
[edit]_and_female_(B)_tropidurus_hispidus.jpg)
This species is the largest of the Tropidurus genus, reaching 35 cm (14 in) in maximum total length, and about 15 cm (6 in) in snout–vent length.[4] Its coloration may vary from grey to light brown in the dorsal region, with dark or light brown spots that form irregular patterns that may appear clearly or even be absent in some specimens. The ventral part of the body has a light brown coloration. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males being larger and more territorial than females. Sexual dimorphism can also be identified by the lower neck coloration, which is yellowish in young males and becomes dark or black in larger and older individuals. Males also possess proportionally larger skulls and limbs compared to females.[4]
Diet
[edit]It feeds mostly on invertebrates such as ants, spiders and scorpions, but in some cases, can hunt small vertebrates.[2] Among the number of species of each categories of vertebrates recorded as prey of T. hispidus in the literature, lizards are the most frequent item (Colobosaura modesta, Vanzosaura multiscutata, Tropidurus jaguaribanus, Hemidactylus mabouia, Ameiva ameiva, Ameivula ocellifera, Gymnodactylus geckoides, Phyllopezus pollicaris, Norops auratus) followed by birds (Todirostrum cinereum, Eupetomena macroura, Chlorostilbon lucidus), frogs (Elachistocleis ovalis, Scinax x-signatus) and mammals (Mus musculus).[5]
Ecology
[edit]
Its bite force can reach about 103 N (23 lbf) in large adult males (around 11 cm snout-vent length). Maximum bite force is strongly associated with body size, as larger males develop relatively more robust jaw musculature than smaller individuals. Dominant males typically occupy larger territories and have access to a greater number of females than satellite males.[6] These two male types employ different reproductive tactics: dominant males defend territories and associated females from rivals, whereas satellite males attempt to gain mating opportunities by entering the territories of dominant males.[6] It adapts to places with extreme climatic conditions and those with an average temperature of 24 to 26 °C (75 to 79 °F). Tropidurus hispidus reproduces seasonally, with reproductive activity coinciding with the rainy season, when food availability is higher. Seasonal rainfall appears to influence several aspects of its reproductive cycle.[4] Tropidurus hispidus maintains a relatively high body temperature through behavioral thermoregulation and environmental heat sources.[3]
Territorial behavior
[edit]
Tropidurus hispidus presents evident territorial behavior, with aggressive and confrontational modes. These aggressive behaviors performed by males involve head bobbing, tail shaking, chases and bites and are mainly observed when an invader male approaches a female or simply when a male enters the territory of others, indicating that territoriality is a striking characteristic of this species. In a physical confrontation, males can perform 360° circular movements on its own axis, also known as the "death roll", while biting and holding another male.[5]
Habitat
[edit]
Tropidurus hispidus is considered a habitat generalist and can be found on a wide variety of substrates, including rocks, soil, forest edges, trees, fallen logs, sandy ground, fences and house walls.[4]
Gallery
[edit]-
Relative frequency of the vertebrate prey groups that make up the diet of T. hispidus -
Young male trying to predate Katytid -
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Colorfull Tropidurus hispidus -
Mature Female tropidurus hispidus -
Dead tropidurus hispidus carcass showing skull -
Tropidurus hispidus, showing lower neck coloration -
Tropidurus hispidus hunting Hemydactylus mabouia -
Dorsal view of large male tropidurus hispidus -
Tropidurus hispidus & Ameiva Ameiva -
Male tropidurus hispidus
References
[edit]- ^ Ines Hladki, A.; Ramírez Pinilla, M.; Renjifo, J.; Urbina, N.; Hoogmoed, M. (2019). "Tropidurus hispidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T49845495A49845504.
- ^ a b c d Tropidurus hispidus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 April 2022.
- ^ a b Sousa, Suellem (2019). "Morfologia e ecologia trofica de Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) (SQUAMATA: TROPIDURIDAE) em uma área urbanizada da mesorregião nordeste paranaense, Brasil". UFERSA.
- ^ a b c d Pinto, Acácia (January 2017). "Descrição Morfológica do Sistema Digestório do Tropidurus hispidus". UFERSA.
- ^ a b Sousa, Juliana; Lima, José; Almeida, Maria; Sousa, Ítalo; Almeida, Jonathan; Kokobum, Marcelo (October 2021). "Novel behavioral observations of the lizard Tropidurus hispidus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in Northeastern Brazil". Cuadernos de Herpetología. pp. 305–317. doi:10.31017/CdH.2021.(2020-070) – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b Simon, Monique; Brandt, Renata; Kohlsdorf, Tiana; Arnold, Stevan (2019). "Bite performance surfaces of three ecologically divergent Iguanidae lizards: relationships with lower jaw bones". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 127 (3): 1–16. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blz067.