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Griswold's ameiva
Species of lizard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Griswold's ameiva (Pholidoscelis griswoldi), also known as the Antiguan ameiva, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is endemic to Antigua and Barbuda, where it is found on both islands. It is also known commonly as the Antiguan ameiva and the Antiguan ground lizard.[3]
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Taxonomy
Griswod's ameiva wa sfirst formally described as Ameiva griswoldi in 1916 by the American herpetologist Thomas Barbour withbits type locality given as St. John's, St. John Parish, Antigua.[2] In 2016, it was reclassified into a new genus as Pholidoscelis griswoldi along with other West Indies ameiva species, and placed in the P. plei species group, also called the Lesset Antillean clade. The genus Pholidoscelis, originally proposed by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843 with the extinct Ameiva major as its type species by monotypy.[4] The genus Pholidoscelis is classified within the subfamily Teiinae of the family Teiidae.[2]
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Etymology
The specific name, griswoldi, is in honor of Dr. Donald W. Griswold who was Director of the Rockefeller West Indian Hookworm Commission.[5]
Description
Griswold's ameiva has a brownish background colour with bluish green vermiculations, a dark buish-green chest lighter bluish-green on the belly. The legs are spottedand there is a pale stripe on the rear of the hindlimbs.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Griswold's ameiva is endmeic to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda where it is found on both Antigua and Barbuda, and the sattelite islands to this islands. This lizard lives on the ground in oopen and sunny areas, although in Antigua this species is only found in assocaietion with humans in built up areas.[1]
Biology
Griswold's ameiva is oviparous. It is an opportinistic forager which will eat birds eggs, other lizards and scarps [1][2]
See also
References
Further reading
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