Urosaurus
| Urosaurus | |
|---|---|
| File:Urosaurus ornatus.jpg | |
| Urosaurus ornatus | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
| Genus: | Urosaurus Hallowell, 1854[1] |
| Diversity | |
| 8 species, see text. | |
Urosaurus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as tree lizards or brush lizards, belonging to the New World family Phrynosomatidae.[1] They are native to North America, specifically the arid and semiarid regions of the western United States and Mexico, spending most of their time on trees, shrubs, or boulders.[2]
Description
[edit | edit source]Species in the genus Urosaurus can be distinguished from members of the genus Sceloporus by the presence of a gular (under neck) fold and granular lateral scales. They can be distinguished from members of the genus Uta by the presence of enlarged (sometimes only slightly) dorsal scales.[citation needed] Some species of Urosaurus (Urosaurus ornatus) appear to be polymorphic for throat color, but it does vary in different populations. In male lizards, these colors can range anywhere from orange, yellow, green, or turquoise, and in females the color can be either orange or yellow.[3] Throat color in males is also appears to be associated with certain mating behaviors including aggression, boldness, submission, and cautiousness.[4]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]Urosaurus have been used as a model system in lizard life-history studies, and populations produce two or more clutches of eggs per year.[5][6] Field studies have also shown a cost of reproduction in a natural New Mexico population of the species Urosaurus ornatus.[7]
Species
[edit | edit source]In the genus Urosaurus there are eight species which are recognized as being valid.[8]
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| File:Urosaurus auriculatus 5637644 (cropped).jpg | Urosaurus auriculatus (Cope, 1871) | Socorro Island in Baja California |
| Urosaurus bicarinatus (A.M.C. Duméril, 1856) | Mexico. | |
| Urosaurus clarionensis (Townsend, 1890) | Baja California | |
| Urosaurus gadovi (Schmidt, 1921) | Mexico | |
| File:LIZARD, LONG-TAILED BRUSH (urosaurus graciosus) (5-5-08) ticaboo cyn, garfield co, ut -01 (14812845892).jpg | Urosaurus graciosus Hallowell, 1854 | southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico. |
| Urosaurus lahtelai Rau & Loomis, 1977 | Mexico. | |
| File:Urosaurus nigricaudus.jpg | Urosaurus nigricauda (Cope, 1864) | southern California, Baja California, |
| File:ORNATE TREE LIZARD Urosaurus ornatus - Flickr - gailhampshire (1).jpg | Urosaurus ornatus (Baird & Girard, 1852) | southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. |
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Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other that Urosaurus.
References
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- ^ Urosaurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 January 2015.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Hallowell E (1854). "Descriptions of new Reptiles from California". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 91–97. (Urosaurus, new genus, p. 92).
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