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.
Ecology and natural history
Diet: Ctenosaurs are generally omnivorous, feeding on fruits, flowers, foliage, and small animals.
While studying physiological correlates of locomotion in lizards, a "burst speed" of 34.6 km/h (21.5 miles/h) was recorded by a black spiny-tail iguana (Ctenosaura similis), which is the highest speed reported for a lizard.[1]: p.812 [2]
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.
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
Ctenosaura acanthura Mexican spiny-tailed iguana
[5] (
Shaw, 1802)
[6] Eastern
Mexico
Ctenosaura bakeri Baker's spinytail iguana
Stejneger, 1901
[7] Utila island off
Honduras Ctenosaura clarki Michoacan club tail
[5] Bailey, 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
Ctenosaura hemilopha cape spiny-tail iguana
[5] (Cope, 1863)
[10] Southern half of
Baja California,
Mexico
Ctenosaura macrolopha Sonora spiny-tailed iguana
[5] Smith, H. M. 1972
[11] Sonora,
Mexico
Ctenosaura melanosterna black-chested spinytail iguana
Buckley &
Axtell, 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 Oaxacan spiny-tail iguana
[5] G. Köhler &
Hasbún, 2001
[12] Oaxaca,
Mexico
Ctenosaura oedirhina Roatán spinytail iguana
de Queiroz, 1987
Roatán,
Honduras
Ctenosaura palearis Guatemalan spinytail iguana Stejneger, 1899
Guatemala
Ctenosaura pectinata western spiny-tail iguana
[5] (
Wiegmann, 1834)
[13] Western
Mexico. Introduced to southern areas of
Texas and
Florida.
Ctenosaura quinquecarinata club tail iguana
Gray, 1842
[14] Nicaragua and
Costa Rica.
Ctenosaura similis black spiny-tail iguana
[5] (Gray, 1831)
[15] Mexico and
Central America; reported in some Colombian islands, introduced to southern
Florida.
References
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^ Garland, Theodore., Jr. 1984. Physiological correlates of locomotory performance in a lizard: an allometric approach. American Journal of Physiology. 247: 806–815.
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^ Malfatti, Mark (2007), "A Look at the Genus Ctenosaura: Meet the World's fastest lizard and its kin", Reptiles Magazine, 15 (11): 64–73
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^ 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.
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^ "Ctenosaura ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
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^ 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)
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^ Shaw, G. 1802. General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. Vol.3, part 2. G. Kearsley, Thomas Davison, London: 313-615.
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^ Stejneger, Leonhard 1901. On a new species of spiny-tailed iguana from Utilla Island, Honduras. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 23 (1217): 467-468
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^ Bailey, J. W. 1928. A revision of the lizards of the genus Ctenosaura. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 73 (2733): 1-55
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^ 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.
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^ 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
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^ a b Smith,H.M. 1972. The sonoran subspecies of the lizard Ctenosaura hemilopha. Great Basin Naturalist 32 (2): 104-111.
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^ 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
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^ 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.
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^ Gray, J. E. 1842. Description of some new species of Reptiles, chiefly from the British Museum collection. Zoological Miscellany 2: 57-59.
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^ 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.