Ctenosaura acanthura (Shaw 1802)

Ctenosaura acanthura, is a species of iguanid lizard found in eastern Mexico and extreme western Guatemala. The standardized English name is the Mexican spiny-tailed iguana (Spanish: garrobo del noreste).^{[4]: 58 p. [5]} Confusingly however, an earlier edition of standardized names for Mexican herpetofauna called Ctenosaura acanthura the northeastern spinytailed iguana and applied the name Mexican spinytailed iguana to Ctenosaura pectinata,^{[6]: 45–46 p.} which was called the western spiny-tailed iguana in the second edition.^{[4]: 58 p.} It has also been referred to as the Veracruz spiny-tailed iguana and Gulf Coast spiny-tailed iguana. It is an egg laying species that is mostly herbivorous and a moderately large lizard commonly growing over one meter in total length.^{[7]: 139–144 p. [3]}

Taxonomy

The northeastern spinytail iguana was first described by British zoologist George Shaw in 1802.^[8] The generic name, Ctenosaura, is derived from two Greek words: ctenos (Κτενός), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and saura (σαύρα), meaning "lizard".^[9] Its specific name is the Greek word akanthos (Ἄκανθος), meaning "thorn".^[10]

Description

Mexican spiny-tailed iguanas have distinctive keeled scales on their long tails, which give them their common name.^[11] The males are capable of growing up to 1.4 meters (4 ft 7 in) in total length and females slightly shorter at 1 meter (3 ft 3 in).^[9] They have a crest of long spines which extends down the center of the back.^[11] Their base color is black with white or cream-colored markings.^[9][11]

Ctenosaura acanthura is often confused with the closely related and similar appearing black iguana (Ctenosaura similis); however, Ctenosaura acanthura does not occur in the Mexican states of Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, or in Belize (Yucatan Peninsula).^{[12]: 128a p.} Scales of the tail whorls on Ctenosaura acanthura are very thorny (an angle of the keels over 30 degrees), and the crest of large spines on the back is interrupted in the pelvic area, forming a break between the crest of large spines on the tail. On the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis), the crest of large spines on the back is uninterrupted and continuous with the large spines on the tail.^{[12]: 59 p. [7]: 144 p.}

Diet and behavior

A Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura acanthura), photographed in-situ in southern Tamaulipas, Mexico

Northeastern spinytail iguanas are excellent climbers and prefer a rocky habitat with plenty of crevices to hide in, rocks to bask on, and nearby trees to climb.^[9] They are diurnal and fast moving, employing their speed to escape predators but will lash with their tails and bite if cornered.^[9] This species may commonly be found around areas of human habitation.^[10][9]

They are primarily herbivorous, eating flowers, leaves, stems, and fruit, but they will opportunistically eat smaller animals, eggs, and arthropods.^[9] Juveniles tend to be insectivores, becoming more herbivorous as they get older.

Distribution

Geographic distribution of three large and wide ranging species of lizards in the genus Ctenosaura (C. acanthura, C. pectinata, C. similis)

Ctenosaura acanthura occurs in the lowlands on the eastern versant of Mexico throughout the Veracruz moist forests ecoregion and western portions of the Petén–Veracruz moist forests, from sea level up to ca. 1000 meters elevation. It is known from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas in the general vicinity of the Tropic of Cancer, southward throughout most of Veracruz, with a few records from lower elevation localities in adjacent areas of extreme eastern San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Pueblea, and Oaxaca. Southward, an apparently isolated population occurs in central Chiapas, in the Rio Grijalva valley, with a record extending the range into extreme western Guatemala.^{[12]: 128a p. [7]: 139–144 p.}

The status of six specimens collected near the town of Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon by Hobart M. Smith in 1934 is questionable, and C. acanthura has not been reported from Nuevo León before or after 1934. The presence of C. acanthura in Nuevo León is doubtful, and the collector (Hobart Smith) did not include the species in his checklist for the state of Nuevo León in later years.^{[13][14]: 224 p.}

Reproduction

Illustration of Ctenosaura acanthura from 1835

Mating generally occurs in the spring. A male shows dominance and interest by head bobbing, eventually chasing the female until he can catch her and subdue her.^[9] Within eight to ten weeks, the female will dig a nest and lay clutches of up to 24 eggs.^[9] The eggs hatch in 90 days, with the babies digging their way out of the sand.^[9] These juveniles are typically green with brown markings, although all-brown hatchlings have been recorded as well.^[11]

References

La iguana espinosa del Golfo (Ctenosaura acanthura^[1]​) es una especie de lagarto de la familia de las iguanas (Iguanidae). Su área de distribución se extiende desde el norte de México al centro de Tamaulipas, comprende todo el estado de Veracruz, el estado de Oaxaca en el Istmo de Tehuantepec y la parte noroeste del estado de Chiapas; se traslapa en estas entidades con la correspondiente a Ctenosaura similis. Fue descrita por el naturalista británico George Shaw en 1802. Su estatus de conservación es "sujeta a protección especial" en las normas oficiales mexicanas.

Hay un claro dimorfismo sexual entre hembras y machos, siendo estos últimos más grandes que las hembras. Un macho adulto llega a medir 1.4 metros y las hembras 1 metro. Son de color negro teniendo escamas parecidas a espinas en el dorso y formando anillos de escamas en forma de espinas en la cola, lo que le da el nombre en español de iguana espinosa del Golfo.

Es una especie de carácter diurno tendiéndose en las rocas a tomar el sol y siendo muy rápidas y ágiles lo que le permite trepar árboles velozmente para escapar de sus depredadores. Su dieta está compuesta de hojas, flores y frutos.^[2]​ Actualmente la iguana espinosa del Golfo se encuentra registrada como una especie protegida por la legislación mexicana, con un estatus de Pr (Especie sujeta a protección especial.)^[3]​ Esto es debido a la destrucción del hábitat por las actividades agrícolas y la captura de ejemplares para su comercialización como mascotas o consumo de carne.

Referencias

Ctenosaura acanthura Ctenosaura generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Iguanidae familian sailkatuta dago.

Erreferentziak

Kanpo estekak

• TIGR Reptile Database in Species 2000 and ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist

Ikus, gainera

• Ctenosaura
• Iguanidae

Ctenosaura acanthura est une espèce de sauriens de la famille des Iguanidae^[1].

Répartition

Cette espèce est endémique du Mexique^[1]. Elle se rencontre du Tamaulipas à l'Oaxaca.

Publication originale

• Shaw, 1802 : General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. vol. 3, n. 2, p. 313-615 (texte intégral).

Notes et références

Ctenosaura acanthura là một loài thằn lằn trong họ Iguanidae. Loài này được Shaw mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1802.^[2]

Phân bố

Loài này có thể chỉ được tìm thấy phổ biến quanh các vùng con người sinh sống. Chúng phân bố từ trung tâm Tamaulipas đến Isthmus of Tehuantepec giữa các bang Veracruz và Oaxaca của Mexico.^[3][4]

Sinh sản

Chúng giao phối vào mùa xuân. Con đực thể vị trí tấn bông và thu hút con cái bằng cách đưa đầu lên xuống, cuối cùng rượt đuổi con cái cho đến khi bắt được.^[4] Trong 8 đến 10 tuần, con cái sẽ đào tổ và đẻ lên đến 24 trứng.^[4] Trứng nở trong 90 ngày, con con bới cát chui ra.^[4] Những con non thường có màu lục với các mảng màu nâu, cũng có con toàn màu nâu.^[5]

Tham khảo

• Phương tiện liên quan tới Ctenosaura acanthura tại Wikimedia Commons

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