| Tropidurus | |
|---|---|
| Tropidurus oreadicus on a wall in Belém, Brazil | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Tropiduridae |
| Genus: | Tropidurus |
| Species | |
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Almost 30 known, see text |
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| Synonyms | |
and see text |
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The reptile genus Tropidurus includes several species of Neotropical ground lizards (family Tropiduridae). It is the type genus of this family of iguanian lizards. They are found on the South American mainland, especially in the Amazon Rainforest but also in more arid regions. There is no widely-used common name specific to this genus; in their native range they are simply called "iguanas" as are most similar animals. If anything, the Brazilian term calango is used to specifically refer to lizards of genus Tropidurus.
There are at least 28 described species, but new ones continue to be discovered occasionally. An additional seven species—the lava lizards endemic to the Galapagos Islands—are sometimes placed here too, but more commonly separated in the genus Microlophus instead. Similarly, the Green Thornytail Iguana and Tropical Thornytail Iguana are now often separated in the minor but probably distinct Uracentron lineage instead. Here, these two genera are kept separate, while Platynotus, Strobilurus, and Tapinurus are included in Tropidurus.
Males and females of all Tropidurus species are marked differently. The male is usually much larger than the female, and its body is more brightly coloured and distinctly patterned. The average size of lizards varies greatly from habitat to habitat as does the pattern of body markings. Markings vary considerably, even among individuals of the same species. Like many lizards, they show changes of colour with mood and temperature.
Listed alphabetically.[1]
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