Ctenosaura quinquecarinata

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.

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Ctenosaura
Species:
C. quinquecarinata
Binomial name
Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
(Gray, 1842)[3]
Synonyms
  • Cyclura quinquecarinata Gray, 1842
  • Enyaliosaurus quinquecarinatus
    Gray, 1845
  • Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
    Bocourt, 1874[4]

Geographic range

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It is found in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.[1] Other sources list it also from Mexico and El Salvador.[4]

Habitat

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Its natural habitat is tropical dry forests.[1]

Conservation status

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

Taxonomy and etymology

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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".[5] 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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Reynoso, V.H.; Ubeda, M.; Vázquez-Cruz, M.; Rivera-Arroyo, R.C.; Malone, C.L.; Grant, T.D. (2020). "Ctenosaura quinquecarinata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T44193A2993977. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T44193A2993977.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Ctenosaura quinquecarinata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  4. ^ a b Ctenosaura quinquecarinata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 November 2015.
  5. ^ Malfatti, Mark (2007). "A look at the genus Ctenosaura: meet the world's fastest lizard and its kin". Reptiles Magazine. 15 (11): 64–73.

Further reading

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  • 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.)