Hoplocercidae
Encyclopedia
Family Hoplocercidae, or the hoplocercids, are a family of lizards native to the tropical forests of Central
and South America
. There are ten described species
in three genera
. They are predominantly terrestrial, and some use their spiny tail
s to dig shallow retreats in the ground, although they do not build true burrow
s.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. There are ten described species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in three genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
. They are predominantly terrestrial, and some use their spiny tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
s to dig shallow retreats in the ground, although they do not build true burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s.
Species
Family: Hoplocercidae- Genus EnyalioidesEnyalioidesEnyalioides is a genus of lizard from the Hoplocercidae family which is found in the northern part of South America.- Species :Currently 9 species are recognized::* Cofan Wood Lizard, Enyalioides cofanorum Duellman, 1973...
- Cofan Wood Lizard - Enyalioides cofanorum
- Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana - Enyalioides heterolepis
- Amazon Wood Lizard - Enyalioides laticeps
- Brown Wood Lizard - Enyalioides microlepis
- O'shaughnessy's Dwarf Iguana - Enyalioides oshaughnessyi
- Horned Wood LizardHorned Wood LizardThe Horned Wood Lizard is a species of reptile in the genus Enyalioides, native to Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru....
- Enyalioides palpebralis - Blue-spotted Wood LizardBlue-spotted Wood LizardThe Blue-spotted Wood Lizard is a species of reptile in the genus Enyalioides, native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru....
- Enyalioides praestabilis
- Genus HoplocercusHoplocercusThe Weapontail is a lizard belonging to the monotypic genus Hoplocercus. It is also known as the Brazilian Spiny-tailed Lizard, and is found in the rainforests of Brazil and Bolivia-Further reading:...
- Brazilian Spiny-tailed LizardHoplocercusThe Weapontail is a lizard belonging to the monotypic genus Hoplocercus. It is also known as the Brazilian Spiny-tailed Lizard, and is found in the rainforests of Brazil and Bolivia-Further reading:...
- Hoplocercus spinosus
- Brazilian Spiny-tailed Lizard
- Genus MorunasaurusMorunasaurusMorunasaurus is a genus of lizards in the reptile family Hoplocercidae.Species include:*Morunasaurus annularis - ringed spinytail iguana*Morunasaurus groi - Dunn's spinytail lizard...
- Ringed Spinytail IguanaRinged Spinytail IguanaThe Ringed Spinytail Iguana is a species of lizard native to Ecuador and the Amazon. Little is known of its lifestyle....
- Morunasaurus annularis - Dunn's Spinytail Lizard - Morunasaurus groi
- Ringed Spinytail Iguana