Corytophanidae is a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
iguanian
lizards
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia althou ...
, also called casquehead lizards or helmeted lizards,
[ ]endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the New World
The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...
. Nine species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of casquehead lizards from three genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
are recognized.
Geographic range
Corytophanids are found from Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, through Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
, and as far south as Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
.
Certain species are now extant in South Florida
South Florida is the southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the other two are Central Florida and North Florida. South Florida is the southernmost part of th ...
and are considered invasive
Invasive may refer to:
*Invasive (medical) procedure
*Invasive species
*Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance
*Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...
.
Description
The casquehead lizards are moderately sized lizards, with laterally compressed bodies, and typically have well-developed head crests in the shape of a casque helmet. This crest is a sexually dimorphic characteristic in males of ''Basiliscus'', but is present in both sexes of ''Corytophanes'' and ''Laemanctus''.[Pough et al. (2003).]
In past years there has been evidence of corytophanids in the Eocene of North America. The greatest percentage of omnivorous species (> 10% plant diet), over 30% in each, and the highest mean percentage of plant matter in the diet are corytophanids.
Behavior
In ''Corytophanes'', the head crests are used in defensive display
Deimatic behaviour or startle display means any pattern of bluffing ethology, behaviour in an animal that lacks strong defences, such as suddenly displaying conspicuous eyespot (mimicry), eyespots, to scare off or momentarily distract a predator ...
s, where the lateral aspect of the body is brought about to face a potential predator
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...
in an effort to look bigger.[ Unlike many of their close relatives, they are unable to break off their tails when captured, probably because the tail is essential as a counterbalance during rapid movement.
]
Habitat
Casquehead lizards are forest-dwelling. All corytophanids are excellent climbers, and they are usually found in trees or low bushes.
Reproduction
Despite the small number of species in the family Corytophanidae, it includes both egg-laying species and species that give birth to live young.
Genera and species
Family Corytophanidae[Family Corytophanidae. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.]
*Genus ''Basiliscus
Basiliscus ( grc-gre, Βασιλίσκος, Basilískos; died 476/477) was Eastern Roman emperor from 9 January 475 to August 476. He became in 464, under his brother-in-law, Emperor Leo (457–474). Basiliscus commanded the army for an inva ...
''
**''Basiliscus basiliscus
The common basilisk (''Basiliscus basiliscus'') is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Central America and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams in rainforests. It is also known as the J ...
'' — common basilisk
**''Basiliscus galeritus
The western basilisk, or red-headed basilisk (''Basiliscus galeritus''), is a large species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to northwestern South America.
Etymology
The specific name, ''galeritus'', which is Latin ...
'' — red-headed basilisk, western basilisk
**''Basiliscus plumifrons
The plumed basilisk (''Basiliscus plumifrons''), also called the green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America.
The plumed basilis ...
'' — green basilisk, plumed basilisk
**'' Basiliscus vittatus'' — brown basilisk, striped basilisk
*Genus ''Corytophanes
''Corytophanes'' is a genus of Neotropical lizards, commonly referred to as helmeted iguanas or helmeted basilisks, in the family Corytophanidae. The genus contains three species, all of which are arboreal, and reside in tropical forests.
Speci ...
''
**''Corytophanes cristatus
The smooth helmeted iguana (''Corytophanes cristatus''), also known as the helmeted iguana, the helmeted basilisk, the elegant helmeted lizard, and several other common names, is a species of New World lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The spe ...
'' — helmeted iguana
**''Corytophanes hernandesii
''Corytophanes hernandesii'', also known commonly as Hernandez's helmeted basilisk and ''el turipache de montaña'' in Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America and southern Mexico.
E ...
'' — Hernandez's helmeted basilisk
**''Corytophanes percarinatus
The Guatemalan helmeted basilisk (''Corytophanes percarinatus'') is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America and southern Mexico.
Geographic range
''C. percarinatus'' is found in El Salvador, Guat ...
'' — Guatemalan helmeted basilisk
* Genus ''Laemanctus
''Laemanctus'' is a genus of lizards in the family Corytophanidae. Species in the genus ''Laemanctus'' are commonly referred to as conehead lizards or casquehead iguanas. The genus is endemic to Central America.
Description
Lizards of the genus ...
''
**''Laemanctus julioi
''Laemanctus julioi'', also known commonly as Julio's casquehead iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Honduras. www.reptile-database.org.
Etymology
The specific name, ''julioi'', is in honor of ...
''
**'' Laemanctus longipes'' — eastern casquehead iguana
**''Laemanctus serratus
''Laemanctus serratus'', also known commonly as the serrated casquehead iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.
Geograp ...
'' — serrated casquehead iguana
**''Laemanctus waltersi
''Laemanctus waltersi'', also known commonly as Walters' casquehead iguana or Walters's casquehead iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Honduras. www.reptile-database.org.
Etymology
The specific ...
''
''Nota bene
(, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well".
It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature
and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...
'': In the following lists, a binomial authority
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a different genus.
References
Further reading
* Fitzinger L (1843). ''Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae.'' Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Family Corythophanae, p. 52). (in Latin).
*Pough FH, Andrews RM, Cadle JE, Crump ML, Savitsky AH, Wells KD (2003). ''Herpetology, Third Edition''. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 736 pp. . (Corytophanidae, p. 129).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q131956
Lizard families
Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger
Extant Eocene first appearances