The Brazilian galliwasp (''Diploglossus lessonae'') is a
carnivorous
A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other sof ...
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
lizard
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 alt ...
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 northeastern
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
. It is known in Brazil as the “Calango Coral” or “Calango Liso”
Etymology
''D. lessonae'' is named in honour of Italian
zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...
Michele Lessona
Michele Lessona (20 September 1823, Venaria Reale, Piedmont – 20 July 1894, Turin) was an Italian zoologist.
Michele Lessona became a specialist in amphibians. His accomplishments include the translation of certain works of Darwin, for examp ...
.
[Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Diploglossus lessonae'', p. 156).]
Description
''D. lessonae'' grows to a total length (including tail) of about , and has a lifespan of roughly 10 years. Offspring are
zebra
Zebras (, ) (subgenus ''Hippotigris'') are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: the Grévy's zebra (''Equus grevyi''), plains zebra (''E. quagga''), and the mountain zebra (''E. zeb ...
-patterned, with white and black stripes circling their bodies. Adults are brown, with red/yellow-coloured heads and undersides, and have small legs.
Habitat
''D. lessonae'' is commonly found in semi
arid
A region is arid when it severely lacks available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. Regions with arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are called xeric or desertic. Most ar ...
environments,
scrub, and low
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
s.
References
Further reading
*
Peracca MG. 1890. ''Descrizione di una nuova specie del gen.'' DIPLOGLOSSUS - ''Wiegm.'' ". ''Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Università di Torino'' 5: (77): 1-5 (unnumbered). (''Diploglossus lessonae'', new species). (in Italian).
External links
zoologico.sp.gov.br(in
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
Translation
Diploglossus
Lizards of South America
Reptiles of Brazil
Endemic fauna of Brazil
Reptiles described in 1890
Taxa named by Mario Giacinto Peracca
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