Giant ameiva

Giant ameiva
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertilia
Family:	Teiidae
Genus:	Ameiva
Species:	A. ameiva
Binomial name
Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
Ameiva ameiva ameiva Ameiva ameiva fischeri Ameiva ameiva fulginosa Ameiva ameiva laeta Ameiva ameiva melanocephala Ameiva ameiva ornata Ameiva ameiva petersi Ameiva ameiva praesignis Ameiva ameiva tobagana Ameiva ameiva vogli
Synonyms
Lacerta ameiva Linnaeus, 1758 Ameiva ameiva bilineata Ameiva ameiva petersi Ameiva americana Ameiva bifrontata Ameiva guttata Ameiva litterata Ameiva panchlora Ameiva pleurotaenia Ameiva surinamensis Ameiva surinamensis var. aquilina Ameiva surinamensis var. atrigularis Ameiva surinamensis tobagana Ameiva tobagana Ameiva vulgaris Cnemidophorus maculatus Lacerta ameiva Lacerta graphica Lacerta litterata Lacerta tristriata Seps surinamensis Teius tritaeniatus

The giant ameiva (Ameiva ameiva), also known as green ameiva, South American ground lizard, giant whiptail, zandoli, Amazon whiptail, and Amazon racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae found in Central and South America and some Caribbean Islands.

Geographic range

It is widespread in Central America and South America, including: Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, the Grenadines, Margarita, Swan Island, and Isla de la Providencia.^[1] It was also once present on Saint Vincent but has since been extirpated.

Description

Ameiva ameiva has a streamlined body, pointed head, slightly forked tongue, and muscular hind legs. They grow to approximately 45–50 cm (18–20 in). Both sexes have random black specs and mottling along the sides. Females usually have much less green than males and a more dusty of a green color. Males have vibrant green coloration and more bold mottling. Males also have more expanded jowels. Green ameivas are popular as a pet because of the male's striking green coloration.

Immature male

Habitat

Giant ameiva live on the forest floor, often sheltering underneath logs and in leaf litter. Captive specimens have been observed making primitive tunnels spanning out from under a log or rock when given enough soil.

Diet

The giant ameiva's diet consists of mainly insects, frogs, and spiders. In captivity, mealworms are a favorite of the ameiva along with crickets.

Reproduction

The female lays several clutches of eggs from March to December.

Invasive species

This species has been introduced into the United States with thriving populations in South Florida.

Parasites

This species is infected by a number of protist parasites including:

• Acroeimeria pintoi
• Choleoeimeria carinii
• Plasmodium attenuatum
• Plasmodium carmelinoi
• Plasmodium cnemidophori
• Plasmodium diminutivum
• Plasmodium minasense
• Plasmodium pifanoi
• Plasmodium telfordi
• Sarcocystis ameivamastigodryasi

References

• Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999). Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan Education Ltd. pp. 101, 104, 106. ISBN 0-333-69141-5. 

External links

• Media related to Ameiva ameiva at Wikimedia Commons
• Ameiva ameiva at the Encyclopedia of Life
• Ameiva ameiva at the Reptile Database