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Xantusiidae

(Family)

Overview

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Night lizards (family name Xantusiidae) are a group of very small, viviparous (live-bearing) lizards, averaging from less than 4 cm to over 12 cm long. The family has only three genera, with approximately 23 living species. The genera are divided by geographic range: Xantusia in southwestern North America and Baja California, Cricosaura in Cuba, and Lepidophyma, the most populous night lizard genus, in Central America.

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Night lizards were originally thought to be nocturnal because of their secretive lifestyle, but they are in fact strictly diurnal. Night lizards have evolved to live in very narrow environmental niches?"microhabitat specialization"?such as rock crevices or damp logs, and may spend their entire life under the same cover.

Physically, night lizards are characterized by relatively flat bodies and heads. Their heads are covered by large, smooth plates, while their bodies ha ve rougher, granular skin. Their eyes, like those of snakes, are covered by immoveable, transparent membranes that function as eyelids.[1] They feed on insects and sometimes plants.

Contrary to the reproductive strategies of most small lizards, night lizards tend to have very low reproductive rates, with several species giving birth to only one or two offspring, after a gestation period of about three months.[1] They generally take several years to reach sexual maturity. However, the very limited lifestyle of night lizards has contributed to a high life expectancy.

Genera

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FAMILY XANTUSIIDAE

ht lizard genus, in Central America.

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Night lizards were originally thought to be nocturnal because of their secretive lifestyle, but they are in fact strictly diurnal. Night lizards have evolved to live in very narrow environmental niches?"microhabitat specialization"?such as rock crevices or damp logs, and may spend their entire life under the same cover.

Physically, night lizards are characterized by relatively flat bodies and heads. Their heads are covered by large, smooth plates, while their bodies have rougher, granular skin. Their eyes, like those of snakes, are covered by immoveable, transparent membranes that function as eyelids.[1] They feed on insects and sometimes plants.

Contrary to the reproductive strategies of most small lizards, night lizards tend to have very low reproductive rates, with sever al species giving birth to only one or two offspring, after a gestation period of about three months.[1] They generally take several years to reach sexual maturity. However, the very limited lifestyle of night lizards has contributed to a high life expectancy.

Genera

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FAMILY XANTUSIIDAE

References

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  1. ^ a b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogg er, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 171?173. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 

External links

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Taxonomy

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The Family Xantusiidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Cricosaura

The Cuban night lizard (Cricosaura typica) is a that lives exclusively in the west corner of the southern-most coast of Cuba. It is the smallest of the night lizards, at less than 4 cm. It is the only member of the genus Cricosaura, one of three in the night lizard family. [more]

Lepidophyma

Tropical night lizards ( Lepidophyma—Greek for "warty scales,") compose one of three genera of night lizards (family Xantusiidae), which are a group of viviparous (live-bearing) lizards. There are 19 tropical night lizard species, making it the most populous night lizard genus. It is distributed throughout Central America, found anywhere from central Mexico to Panama, depending on the particular species. Tropical night lizards, particularly the yellow-spotted variety, are sometimes called Central American bark lizards by pet dealers and owners. [more]

Palaeoxantusia

Xantusia

Xantusia is one of three genera of night lizards (family Xantusiidae). Species of Xantusia are small to medium-sized, viviparous (live-bearing) lizards found in the U.S. southwest and in northern Mexico. [more]

At least 24 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xantusia.

More info about the Genus Xantusia may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ a b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 171?173. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:45:58