Anolis agassizi
| Malpelo anole | |
|---|---|
Scientific 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] | |
The Malpelo anole (Anolis agassizi), also known as Agassiz's anole, 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
A. 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
- ^ "Anolis agassizi ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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).
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