Laemanctus longipes
| Eastern casquehead iguana | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Corytophanidae |
| Genus: | Laemanctus |
| Species: | L. longipes |
| Binomial name | |
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Laemanctus longipes Wiegmann, 1834 |
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The eastern casquehead iguana (Laemanctus longipes) is a species of lizard native to Central America and Mexico.
It is found in southern Mexico (Colima, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatán), Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Long and thin, it can reach 70 cm (27.5 in) in total length, two-thirds of which is a thin tail.
The scales on the forehead are much larger than those on the back of the head. No projecting triangular scales occur on the posterior border of the head. The gular scales are bicarinate or tricarinate.
Sexual dimorphism is present, but is difficult to observe. Males have a somewhat thicker tail root than females, and the hemipenes are sometimes visible when lifting the tail gently.
Eastern casquehead iguanas inhabit tropical wet, moist, and seasonally dry forests. It can persist in secondary growth when suitable trees are present.
Eastern casquehead iguana is an arboreal species occurring high up in the trees. Rather slow, it sits on trees and bushes above water courses, licking water drops on leaves, and catching insects that walk nearby. L. longipes lives individually, or in a territory with one male and one to three females. Usually, however, males and females only meet for mating, which can happen several times per year.
Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.
The subspecific name, deborrei, is in honor of Belgian entomologist Charles Preudhomme de Borre. The subspecific name, waltersi, is in honor of Leon L. Walters, who collected the type specimen with Karl P. Schmidt.
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Wikipedia