Jamaican ameiva
The Jamaican ameiva (Pholidoscelis dorsalis) is a species of lizard found only in Jamaica.[2]
| Jamaican ameiva | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Teiidae |
| Genus: | Pholidoscelis |
| Species: | P. dorsalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pholidoscelis dorsalis (Gray, 1838) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Ameiva dorsalis Gray, 1838 | |
Taxonomy
The Jamaican ameiva was described in 1838 as Ameiva dorsalis.[2] In 2016, the species was moved to Pholidoscelis based on genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses.[3]
Biology
The Jamaican ameiva is a diurnal lizard with an omnivorous diet, including members of its species.[1] It is found in mesic to dry habitats near the sea, in gardens and vegetated duneland, associated with Coccoloba and Ipomea plant species.[1]
Conservation
The Jamaican ameiva historically occurred throughout the lowlands of Jamaica and its cays in scattered subpopulations, though 7 of the 10 mainland subpopulations are considered possibly extinct.[1] It persists on at least 4 cays offshore of the mainland.[1] It is considered an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.[1]
References
- Wilson, B.S. & Hedges, B. 2017. Pholidoscelis dorsalis (amended version of 2017 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T50009027A121640494. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T50009027A121640494.en. Accessed 2018-10-29.
- Pholidoscelis dorsalis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2018-10-29.
- Goicoechea, Noemí; Frost, Darrel R.; De la Riva, Ignacio; Pellegrino, Katia C. M.; Sites, Jack; Rodrigues, Miguel T.; Padial, José M. (December 2016). "Molecular systematics of teioid lizards (Teioidea/Gymnophthalmoidea: Squamata) based on the analysis of 48 loci under tree-alignment and similarity-alignment". Cladistics. 32 (6): 624–671. doi:10.1111/cla.12150. hdl:10261/155759.