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] | |
The Corytophanidae are a family of lizards, also called casquehead lizards or helmeted lizards,[4] endemic to the New World. Nine species of casquehead lizards from three genera are recognized.
Geographic range
They are found from Mexico, through Central America, and as far south as Ecuador.
Description
They 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
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.
Habitat
Casquehead lizards are forest-dwelling.
Reproduction
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
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G., ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 134–136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 (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
- Fitzinger, L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Braumüller & Seidel. Vienna. 106 pp. + indices. (Family Corythophanae, p. 52.)