Griswold's ameiva (''Pholidoscelis griswoldi'') is a
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 appropriat ...
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 altho ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Teiidae. The species is
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 else ...
to
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda (, ) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two majo ...
, where it is found on both islands. It is also known as the Antiguan ameiva or the Antiguan ground lizard.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''griswoldi'', is in honor of Dr.
Donald W. Griswold who was Director of the Rockefeller West Indian Hookworm Commission.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Ameiva griswoldi'', p. 109).]
Geographic range
''P. griswoldi'' is common on
Barbuda
Barbuda (), is an island located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the sovereign state of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located north of the island of Antigua and is part of the Leeward Islands of the West Indies. The island is a popula ...
, and more common on the offshore islands of
Antigua
Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Bar ...
than on that main island.
Description
Populations of ''P. griswoldi'' on Barbuda are dark brown with irregular, cream-colored splotches. The flanks are pale blue-green and tan, with black spots and markings. The ventral surface is gray with black on its chest.
See also
*
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda (, ) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two majo ...
*
Antiguan racer
References
Further reading
*
Barbour T (1916). "Additional Notes on West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians". ''Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington'' 29: 215-220. (''Ameiva griswoldi'', new species, pp. 216–217).
*Goicoehea, Noemí;
Frost, Darrel R.;
De la Riva, Ignacio; Pellegrino, Katia C. M.; Sites, Jack Jr;
Rodrigues, Miguel T.; Padial, José M. (2016). "Molecular systematics of teioid lizards (Teioidea/Gymnophthalmoidea: Squamata) based on the analysis of 48 loci under tree-alignment and similarity-alignment". ''Cladistics'' 32 (6): 624-671. (''Pholidoscelis griswoldi'', new combination).
*
*
Schwartz A,
Thomas R
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the A ...
(1975). ''A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles''.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History (abbreviated as CMNH) is a natural history museum in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Pittsburgh-based industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1896.
Housing some 22 million ...
Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (''Ameiva griswoldi'', p. 59).
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q28949661, from2=Q2842603
Pholidoscelis
Endemic fauna of Antigua and Barbuda
Lizards of the Caribbean
Reptiles of Antigua and Barbuda
Near threatened fauna of North America
Reptiles described in 1916
Taxa named by Thomas Barbour