Corytophanidae
| Corytophanidae | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| striped basilisk | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Corytophanidae Fitzinger, 1843[1][2] |
| Genera | |
|
Basiliscus Laurenti, 1768 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Corythophanae Fitzinger, 1843[1] |
|
Corytophanidae is a family of iguanian lizards, also called casquehead lizards or helmeted lizards,[4] endemic to the New World. Nine species of casquehead lizards from three genera are recognized.
Contents
Geographic range[edit]
Corytophanids are found from Mexico, through Central America, and as far south as Ecuador.
Description[edit]
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.[5]
Behavior[edit]
In Corytophanes, the head crests are used in defensive displays, where the lateral aspect of the body is brought about to face a potential predator in an effort to look bigger.[5] 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.[citation needed]
Habitat[edit]
Casquehead lizards are forest-dwelling.
Reproduction[edit]
Despite the small size of the group, it includes both egg-laying species and some that give birth to live young.[4]
Genera and species[edit]
Family Corytophanidae
- Genus Basiliscus
- Common basilisk - Basiliscus basiliscus
- Western or red-headed basilisk - Basiliscus galeritus
- Green or plumed basilisk - Basiliscus plumifrons
- Brown or striped basilisk - Basiliscus vittatus
- Genus Corytophanes
- Helmeted iguana - Corytophanes cristatus
- Hernandez's helmeted basilisk - Corytophanes hernandezi
- Guatemalan helmeted basilisk - Corytophanes percarinatus
- Genus Laemanctus
- Eastern casquehead iguana - Laemanctus longipes
- Serrated casquehead iguana - Laemanctus serratus
References[edit]
- ^ a b Frost, D.R, and R. Etheridge. 1989. A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., Misc. Pub. (81): 1-65. ("Corytophanidae Fitzinger, 1843", p. 34.)
- ^ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Corytophanidae.html
- ^ Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Squamata/Iguania/corytophanidae.
- ^ a b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G., eds. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 134–136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
- ^ a b (Pough et al. 2003).
- Pough FH, Andrews RM, Cadle JE, Crump ML, Savitsky AH, Wells KD. 2003. Herpetology, Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. pp. 129.
Further reading[edit]
- Fitzinger, L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Braumüller & Seidel. Vienna. 106 pp. + indices. (Family Corythophanae, p. 52.)
