Leiocephalus carinatus

Leiocephalus carinatus
L. c. labrossytus, Playa Larga, Cuba
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Leiocephalidae
Genus:	Leiocephalus
Species:	L. carinatus
Binomial name
Leiocephalus carinatus Gray, 1827

Leiocephalus carinatus, commonly known as the northern curly-tailed lizard or saw-scaled curlytail, is a species of lizard in the family Leiocephalidae (curly-tailed lizard).^[2]

Geographic range

It is native to the Bahama Islands, the Cayman Islands and Cuba.^[1][2] It was introduced intentionally in Palm Beach, Florida, in the 1940s in an attempt to control sugar cane pests,^[3] and is now also present in a few other parts of the state.^[4] Another introduced population inhabits Swan Islands, Honduras.^[1]

Description

Adults may attain a snout to vent length (SVL) of 10.5 cm (4.1 in), or a total length, including the tail, of 26 cm (10 in). The dorsal scales are keeled and pointed. L. carinatus resembles lizards of the genus Sceloporus, but with the tail usually curled upward, especially when the lizard is in a horizontal position on rocks or on the ground.^[5]

Behavior

An active, robust lizard, it is mostly terrestrial and will retreat into a burrow or cavity when frightened. It prefers sunny areas with loose rubble and rock. In the Cayman Islands a large captured specimen was observed to consistently burrow completely under the sand in a holding tank, even though a rock retreat was provided. The lizard also "played dead" when handled and remained completely motionless for a short while after being put down.

Leiocephalus carinatus utilizes tail curling as an antipredator measure when being chased. This behavior is predominantly seen when the predator is distant, as it is an attempt to intimidate would-be pursuers; when the predator is close however, the lizard instead seeks immediate refuge.^[6]

Subspecies

13 subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race:^[2]

• L. c. carinatus Gray, 1827
• L. c. aquarius Schwartz & Ogren, 1956
• L. c. armouri Barbour & Shreve, 1935
• L. c. cayensis Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. coryi K.P. Schmidt, 1936
• L. c. granti Rabb, 1957
• L. c. hodsdoni K.P. Schmidt, 1936
• L. c. labrossytus Schwartz, 1959, South Central Cuba, Playa Larga
• L. c. microcyon Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. mogotensis Schwartz, 1959
• L. c. virescens Stejneger, 1901
• L. c. zayasi Schwartz, 1959^[7]

References

1. Echternacht, A.; McCranie, R.; Reynolds, R.G.; Buckner, S.; Fong, A. (2017). "Leiocephalus carinatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T75320046A144769915. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T75320046A144769915.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Leiocephalus carinatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 August 2015.
3. "Nonnatives - Northern Curlytail Lizard". Florida's Nonnative Species. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
4. Conant, R.; J.T. Collins (1998). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America (3 ed.). pp. 244-245. ISBN 978-0395904527.
5. Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Leiocephalus carinatus, pp. 132-133.)
6. Cooper, W. E. (2001), Multiple Roles of Tail Display by the Curly‐Tailed Lizard Leiocephalus carinatus: Pursuit Deterrent and Deflective Roles of a Social Signal. Ethology, 107: 1137-1149. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0310.2001.00754.x
7. Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Leiocephalus carinatus, pp. 127-129.)

Further reading

• Gray, J.E. 1827. A Description of a new Genus and some new species of Saurian Reptiles; with a Revision of the Species of Chameleons. Philosoph. Mag. Ann. Chem. Math. Astron. Nat. Hist. Gen. Sci. 2 (9): 297–214. (Leiocephalus carinatus, p. 208.)