Oplurus cyclurus
| Oplurus cyclurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Infraorder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Opluridae |
| Genus: | Oplurus |
| Species: | O. cyclurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Oplurus cyclurus (Merrem, 1820) | |
The Merrem's Madagascar swift, Oplurus cyclurus (or Madagascar swift) is an arboreal Malagasy iguana belonging to the Oplurus genus. They are endemic to Madagascar and have a mostly carnivorous diet. Their breeding is timed with the rainy season.
Description
Oplurus cyclurus and Oplurus cuvieri are of a similar appearance so may be easily confused. Oplurus cyclurus is not found at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park,[2] so sighting from here are likely to be of Oplurus cuvieri.
Oplurus cyclurus is slightly smaller than Oplurus cuvieri, both which have a distinctive large spiny tail. Unlike other iguana genera, these two species have no dorsal crests. Oplurus cyclurus has a dark brown or black band around the neck and similar paler markings on its back. Oplurus cyclurus are known as the three-eyed iguana to local people due to the "third eye" spot visible on top of their heads. The spot is more evident in younger iguanas, but fades as the iguana ages. It grows to about 25 cm (7.5 in.), with the tail comprising more than half the total length.
Distribution
This species is mostly arboreal, living in the spiny forests of the south and south-west Madagascar.[1]
References
- 1 2 Vences, M. (2011). "Oplurus cyclurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ↑ Gardner, Charlie; Louise Jasper; Nary Razafinarivo (2011). "A new, isolated population of Oplurus (Iguanidae) from Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, western Madagascar" (PDF). Herpetology Notes. 4: 253–254.