''Echinosaura'' is a
genus 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 ...
s, called
commonly the spined tegus, in the
family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus is
endemic to
Central America and
South America.
Geographic range and habitat
Species of ''Echinosaura'' occur in tropical
rainforest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...
s of
Panama and South America.
Description
Spined tegu lizards are normally brown in color and have spines on the head, torso, and tail.
Species
8 species are recognised:
["''Echinosaura'' ". Th]
Reptile Database
www.reptile-database.org.
*''
Echinosaura brachycephala''
*''
Echinosaura centralis''
*''
Echinosaura fischerorum''
*''
Echinosaura horrida'' - rough teiid
*''
Echinosaura keyi'' - Key tegu
*''
Echinosaura orcesi''
*''
Echinosaura palmeri'' - Palmer's teiid
*''
Echinosaura panamensis'' - Panama teiid
Notes
Further reading
*
Boulenger GA (1890). "First Report on Additions to the Lizard Collection in the British Museum (Natural History)". ''Proc. Zool. Soc. London'' 1890: 77-86 + Plates VIII-XI. (''Echinosaura'', new genus, pp. 82–83; ''E. horrida'', new species, p. 83 + Plate X, figures 1, 1a, 1b).
Reptiles of South America
Lizard genera
Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger
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