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Anolis agassizi

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Anolis agassizi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
Species:
A. agassizi
Binomial name
Anolis agassizi
Stejneger, 1900
Synonyms[1]
  • Anolis agassizi
    Stejneger, 1900
  • Dactyloa agassizi
    Nicholson et al., 2005
  • Anolis agassizi
    Zug, 2013

Anolis agassizi is a species of lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Malpelo Island, which is part of Colombia.

Etymology

The specific name, agassizi, is in honour of Alexander Agassiz, who was an American zoologist and mining engineer.[2]

Description

Males of A. agassizi grow to 89–114 mm (3.5–4.5 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL), while females may reach 79–84 mm (3.1–3.3 in) SVL. The females and some of the males have spotted heads and grey-brown colouration. The remainder of the males have black nuptial crests, grow larger, and have larger testes. The reason for this is unknown, but may be related to the reduced predation on larger males.[3]

Ecology

Anolis agassizi is less territorial than other anoles, sharing perches and food sources without dispute. Their territories often overlap. Malpelo Island is quite barren of vegetation, and the anoles mainly eat insects, especially beetles. Based on an attraction to the colour orange, they may also eat bird eggs, as large numbers of boobies nest on the island. Their main predator is Diploglossus millepunctatus.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Anolis agassizi ". The Reptile Database. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Anolis&species=agassizi
  2. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Anolis agassizi, p. 2).
  3. ^ a b Graham, Jeffrey B. (editor) (1975). "The Biological Investigation of Malpelo Island, Colombia". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Number 176. http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0176.pdf

Further reading

  • Stejneger L (1900). "Descriptions of two New Lizards of the genus Anolis from Cocos and Malpelo Islands". Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 36 (6): 161-164 + one plate. (Anolis agassizi, new species, pp. 161–163).