Censky's ameiva

Censky's ameiva (Pholidoscelis corax), also known as the Little Scrub Island ground lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is indigenous to the Caribbean.

Censky's ameiva
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Teiidae
Subfamily:	Teiinae
Genus:	Pholidoscelis
Species:	P. corax
Binomial name
Pholidoscelis corax (Censky & Paulson, 1992)
Synonyms[2]
Ameiva corax Censky & Paulson, 1992

Description

P. corax is a melanistic species, superficially similar in its dark coloration and scalation to Pholidoscelis atratus and Pholidoscelis corvinus, other species also found on small, barren Caribbean islands. This is believed to be due to independent adaptation to the similar local environments.

Taxonomy

Censky's ameiva was described in 1992 as Ameiva corax.^[3] Its common name refers to one of its authors, Ellen Joan Censky.^[4] In 2016, the species was moved to Pholidoscelis based on genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses.^[5]

Geographic range

P. corax is endemic to the tiny islet of Little Scrub, off the coast of Scrub Island, Anguilla.^[1]

Conservation

Censky's ameiva is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its small population (estimated at approximately 250 mature adults) and extremely limited distribution/habitat, an area less than 0.049 km² (12 acres) in size.^[1] It is likely vulnerable to development, invasive mammal introduction, seasonal loss of vegetation during hurricanes, and declining seabird numbers (a food source).^[1]