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Iguanidae

(Family)

Overview

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Iguanidae is a family of lizards, composed of iguanas and related species.1]

Classification of Iguanidae

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Two different classification schemes have been used to define the structure of this family. These are the "historical" classification and the classification presented by Frost et al. (1989).[2][3]

Frost et al. redefined this family. The genera belonging to the different subfamilies were assigned to separate families. This view is not generally accepted and the 'traditional' classification is still widely used.

Historical classification

Family Iguanidae

Frost et al. classification of iguanas

Family Iguanidae

and leopard lizards
  • Subfamily Hoplocercinae: wood lizards, clubtails
  • Subfamily Iguaninae: marine, Fijian, Galapagos land, spinytail, rock, desert, green, and chuckwalla iguanas
  • Subfamily Leiocephalinae: curly-tailed lizards
  • Subfamily Leiosaurinae
  • Subfamily Liolaeminae
  • Subfamily Oplurinae: Madagascan iguanids
  • Subfamily Phrynosomatinae: earless, spiny, tree, side-blotched and horned lizards
  • Subfamily Polychrotinae: anoles
  • Subfamily Tropidurinae: neotropical ground lizards

    • Frost et al. classification of iguanas

    Family Iguanidae

    References

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    1. ^ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 140?142. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 
    2. ^ D.R. Frost & R. Etheridge (1989) ?A phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of iguanian lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)? Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
    3. ^ D.R. Frost, R. Etheridge, D. Janies & T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania) American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.

    External links

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    Taxonomy

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    The Family Iguanidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

    Genera

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    Aciprion

    [more]

    Amblyrhynchus

    The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana found only on the Gal?pagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The Iguana can dive over 30 ft (10 m) into the water. It has spread to all the islands in the archipelago, and is sometimes called the Gal?pagos Marine Iguana. It mainly lives on the rocky Gal?pagos shore, but can also be spotted in marshes and mangrove beaches. [more]

    Anisolepsis

    Anisolepsis undulatus is a species of lizard in the Iguanidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Anisolepsis.[] It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. [more]

    Basiliskus

    [more]

    Basilisus

    [more]

    Brachylophus

    The genus Brachylophus consists of three extant iguanid species native to the islands of Fiji and a giant extinct species from Tonga in the South Pacific. One of the extant species, B. fasciatus, is also present on Tonga, where it has apparently been introduced by man. [more]

    Chalaradon

    [more]

    Chalorodon

    [more]

    Chamaeleolis

    [more]

    Conolophus

    The Gal?pagos land iguanas comprise the genus Conolophus of the Gal?pagos Islands. The name Conolophus is derived from two Greek words: conos (?????) meaning "spiny" and lophos (??f??) meaning "crest" or "plume", denoting the spiny crests along the backs of these species. The number of species of this variable genus has always been disputed; the most current taxonomic surveys suggest that three main lineages exist: [more]

    Corythophanes

    [more]

    Ctenomastax

    Ctenosaura

    Ctenosaura is a lizard genus commonly known as spinytail iguanas. The genus is part of the large lizard family, Iguanidae and is native to Mexico and Central America. The species range in size (total length, including the tail) from about 5 inches to well over one meter. The distinctive feature of this genus is presence of the enlarged, spiny scales on the tail. Ctenousaurs are generally omnivorous, feeding on fruits, flowers, foliage, and small animals. Some members of this genus are popular as pets. At least two species, Ctenosaura pectinata and Ctenosaura similis, have been introduced into the United States in southern Texas and Miami, Florida. [more]

    Ctenosaurus

    Cyclura

    Cyclura is a genus of lizards from the family Iguanidae. Members of this genus are known as "cyclurids" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies. Rock iguanas have a high degree of endemism, with a single species or subspecies restricted to individual islands. [more]

    Deiroptyx

    Dipsosaurus

    The desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They also occur on several Gulf of California islands. [more]

    Enyalioides

    Classification of the genus Enyalioides [more]

    Enyaliosaurus

    [more]

    Hoplocercus

    Classification of the genus Hoplocercus [more]

    Iguana

    Iguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena. Two species are included in the genus Iguana: the Green Iguana, which is widespread throughout its range and a popular pet, and the Lesser Antillean Iguana, which is endemic to the Lesser Antilles and endangered due to habitat destruction. [more]

    Iquana

    Morunasaurus

    Morunasaurus is a genus of in the reptile family Hoplocercidae. [more]

    Parasauromalus

    Phrymosoma

    Polrussia

    Polychrys

    Prynosoma

    Sauromalis

    [more]

    Sauromalus

    Chuckwallas (less commonly chuckawallas) are large found primarily in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Some are found on coastal islands. There are five species of chuckwalla, all within the genus Sauromalus; they are part of the iguanid family, Iguanidae. [more]

    Swainiguanoides

    Temujinia

    Tuberculacerta

    Zapsosaurus

    More info about the Genus Zapsosaurus may be found here.

    References

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    1. ^ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 140?142. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 
    2. ^ D.R. Frost & R. Etheridge (1989) ?A phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of iguanian lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)? Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
    3. ^ D.R. Frost, R. Etheridge, D. Janies & T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania) American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.

    Sources

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    Last Revised: August 24, 2012
    2012/08/24 13:34:06