Leiocephalus carinatus

The Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus) is a lizard species from the family of curly-tailed lizards (Leiocephalidae).

Geographic range

It is native to the Bahama Islands, the Cayman Islands and Cuba, but was released intentionally in Palm Beach, Florida, in the 1940s in an attempt to control sugar cane pests.^[1]

Behavior

An active, robust lizard, it is mostly terrestrial and will retreat into a burrow or cavity when frightened. It prefers sunny areas with loose rubble and rock.

Subspecies

13 subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race:

• L. c. carinatus Gray, 1827
• L. c. aquarius Schwartz & Ogren, 1956
• L. c. armouri Barbour & Shreve, 1935
• L. c. cayensis Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. coryi Schmidt, 1936
• L. c. granti Rabb, 1957
• L. c. hodsdoni Schmidt, 1936
• L. c. labrossytus Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. microcyon Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. mogotensis Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. varius Garman, 1887
• L. c. virescens Stejneger, 1901
• L. c. zayasi Schwartz, 1959^[2]

References