The smooth helmeted iguana is named for the prominent casque, or crest on the back of its head and neck which has the appearance of a helmet.
Evolutionary historyedit
The Corytophanidae family of lizards is thought to have Euramerican and Laurasian ancestral beginnings, and is believed to have moved down to the tropics after the Eocene period cooling, approximately 33–56 million years ago.[4]
Geographic range and habitatedit
C. cristatus can be found ranging from Chiapas in southern Mexico to north-western Colombia. The habitat it primarily occupies in this range is primary and secondary mesic rain-forest. It lives predominantly in trees, but also hunts on the forest floor where it uses leaf litter as a micro-habitat.[5]
Descriptionedit
The smooth helmeted iguana is a medium-sized lizard with long slim legs and very long toes. It can be grey, olive, brown, black or reddish-brown with irregular blotches.[6] The smooth helmeted iguana can change the color of its skin as a method of camouflage. As indicated by its name, the smooth helmeted iguana has a prominent crest on its head, which tapers to a saw-tooth ridge down its back. The crest is present in both males and females of the species, though the crest is larger in males.[7]C. cristatus is approximately 9–12 cm (4–5 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL) when mature.[8] It is a non-heliotherm species, meaning that it does not use the sun to increase its body temperature. Rather, it maintains its body temperature at around 26 °C (79 °F), close to the temperature of the forest floor habitat where it lives.[8] It is very wary of predators and freezes at the approach of danger from up to 15 m (49 ft) away.[8]
Behavior and ecologyedit
Reproductionedit
Adult females of C. cristatus lay five to six eggs in a depression on the forest floor. It is speculated that the crest on the head may be used in excavating the nest.[6]
Dietedit
C. cristatus feeds on insects, spiders, worms, and other lizards. C. cristatus is an extreme "sit and wait" predator, and its foraging is brief and infrequent. Therefore, this lizard is considered to be an opportunistic feeders.[8] It is also a specialist feeder that preys on extremely large arthropods and cicadas when available.[8][9] If it has no luck being a sit and wait predator, it will sometimes become an active predator and look for its next meal. Typically, if this is the method it chooses, it will choose prey that is slow and easy to capture.[8]
Interactions with algae and fungiedit
The smooth helmeted iguana has been observed to remain motionless for extended periods of time. It is thought that this behavior has resulted in its skin being used as a novel growing substrate for a species of fungus, Physarum pusillum. This species of lizard is also the only known vertebrate observed with a cormophytic plant growing on it.[5]
Color changeedit
The smooth helmeted iguana, like chameleons and iguanas, have the ability to change its coloration from dark to light or vice versa, which aids in thermoregulation when basking in sunlight.
Conservationedit
The smooth helmeted iguana is common and widespread throughout its native range. There are no current conservation concerns for this species although deforestation can be a localized threat to smooth helmeted iguana populations.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBolívar, W.; Caicedo, J.; Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, P.; Rivas, G. (2016). "Corytophanes cristatus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T197476A2488206. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T197476A2488206.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^ abcdCorytophanes cristatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 6 July 2018.
^ abWrobel, Murray (4 December 2004). Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles. Elsevier. p. 129. ISBN978-0-08-045920-2.
^Conrad, Jack L. (2015-07-01). "A new Eocene casquehead lizard (Reptilia, Corytophanidae) from North America". PLOS ONE. 10 (7): e0127900. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1027900C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0127900. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC4489568. PMID 26131767.
^ abTownsend, J.H.; Aldrich, H.C.; Wilson, L.D.; McCranie, J.R. (2005-03-01). "First report of sporangia of a myxomycete (Physarum pusillum) on the body of a living animal, the lizard Corytophanes cristatus ". Mycologia. 97 (2): 346–348. doi:10.3852/mycologia.97.2.346. ISSN 0027-5514. PMID 16396342.
^ abLeenders, Twan (2017-01-31). Amphibians of Costa Rica. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. doi:10.7591/9781501706165. ISBN9781501706165.
^Taylor, G.W.; Santos, J.C.; Perrault, B.J.; Morando, M.; Vásquez Almazán, C.R.; Sites, J.W. (2017-09-25). "Sexual dimorphism, phenotypic integration, and the evolution of head structure in casque-headed lizards". Ecology and Evolution. 7 (21): 8989–8998. doi:10.1002/ece3.3356. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC5689487. PMID 29177036.
^ abcdefAndrews, Robin M. (1979). "The lizard Corytophanes cristatus: an extreme "sit-and-wait" predator". Biotropica. 11 (2): 136–139. doi:10.2307/2387791. ISSN 0006-3606. JSTOR 2387791.
^Vitt, Laurie J.; Zani, Peter A. (1998). "Prey use among sympatric lizard species in lowland rain forest of Nicaragua". Journal of Tropical Ecology. 14 (4): 537–559. doi:10.1017/s0266467498000388. ISSN 0266-4674.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corytophanes cristatus.
Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. ("Corythophanes [sic] cristatus ", pp. 101–102).
Merrem B (1820). Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien: Tentamen Systematis Amphibiorum. Marburg: J.C. Krieger. xv + 191 pp. + one plate. (Agama cristata, new species, p. 50). (in German and Latin).
April 08, 2024
smooth, helmeted, iguana, smooth, helmeted, iguana, corytophanes, cristatus, also, known, helmeted, iguana, helmeted, basilisk, elegant, helmeted, lizard, several, other, common, names, species, basilisk, world, lizard, family, corytophanidae, species, native,. The smooth helmeted iguana Corytophanes cristatus 1 2 3 also known as the helmeted iguana the helmeted basilisk the elegant helmeted lizard and several other common names 3 is a species of Basilisk and a New World lizard in the family Corytophanidae 1 2 The species is native to southern Mexico Central America and northwestern South America Smooth helmeted iguanaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder IguaniaFamily CorytophanidaeGenus CorytophanesSpecies C cristatusBinomial nameCorytophanes cristatus Merrem 1820 2 Synonyms 2 Agama cristata Merrem 1820 Corytophanes cristatus A M C Dumeril amp Bibron 1837 Corythophanes cristatus Ortleb amp Heatwole 1965 ex errore Corytophanes cristatus Liner 1994 Contents 1 Taxonomic history 1 1 Etymology 1 2 Evolutionary history 2 Geographic range and habitat 3 Description 4 Behavior and ecology 4 1 Reproduction 4 2 Diet 4 3 Interactions with algae and fungi 5 Color change 6 Conservation 7 References 8 Further readingTaxonomic history editEtymology edit The smooth helmeted iguana is named for the prominent casque or crest on the back of its head and neck which has the appearance of a helmet Evolutionary history edit The Corytophanidae family of lizards is thought to have Euramerican and Laurasian ancestral beginnings and is believed to have moved down to the tropics after the Eocene period cooling approximately 33 56 million years ago 4 Geographic range and habitat editC cristatus can be found ranging from Chiapas in southern Mexico to north western Colombia The habitat it primarily occupies in this range is primary and secondary mesic rain forest It lives predominantly in trees but also hunts on the forest floor where it uses leaf litter as a micro habitat 5 Description editThe smooth helmeted iguana is a medium sized lizard with long slim legs and very long toes It can be grey olive brown black or reddish brown with irregular blotches 6 The smooth helmeted iguana can change the color of its skin as a method of camouflage As indicated by its name the smooth helmeted iguana has a prominent crest on its head which tapers to a saw tooth ridge down its back The crest is present in both males and females of the species though the crest is larger in males 7 C cristatus is approximately 9 12 cm 4 5 in in snout to vent length SVL when mature 8 It is a non heliotherm species meaning that it does not use the sun to increase its body temperature Rather it maintains its body temperature at around 26 C 79 F close to the temperature of the forest floor habitat where it lives 8 It is very wary of predators and freezes at the approach of danger from up to 15 m 49 ft away 8 Behavior and ecology editReproduction edit Adult females of C cristatus lay five to six eggs in a depression on the forest floor It is speculated that the crest on the head may be used in excavating the nest 6 Diet edit C cristatus feeds on insects spiders worms and other lizards C cristatus is an extreme sit and wait predator and its foraging is brief and infrequent Therefore this lizard is considered to be an opportunistic feeders 8 It is also a specialist feeder that preys on extremely large arthropods and cicadas when available 8 9 If it has no luck being a sit and wait predator it will sometimes become an active predator and look for its next meal Typically if this is the method it chooses it will choose prey that is slow and easy to capture 8 Interactions with algae and fungi edit The smooth helmeted iguana has been observed to remain motionless for extended periods of time It is thought that this behavior has resulted in its skin being used as a novel growing substrate for a species of fungus Physarum pusillum This species of lizard is also the only known vertebrate observed with a cormophytic plant growing on it 5 Color change editThe smooth helmeted iguana like chameleons and iguanas have the ability to change its coloration from dark to light or vice versa which aids in thermoregulation when basking in sunlight Conservation editThe smooth helmeted iguana is common and widespread throughout its native range There are no current conservation concerns for this species although deforestation can be a localized threat to smooth helmeted iguana populations 1 References edit a b c d Bolivar W Caicedo J Gutierrez Cardenas P Rivas G 2016 Corytophanes cristatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T197476A2488206 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 1 RLTS T197476A2488206 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 a b c d Corytophanes cristatus at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 6 July 2018 a b Wrobel Murray 4 December 2004 Elsevier s Dictionary of Reptiles Elsevier p 129 ISBN 978 0 08 045920 2 Conrad Jack L 2015 07 01 A new Eocene casquehead lizard Reptilia Corytophanidae from North America PLOS ONE 10 7 e0127900 Bibcode 2015PLoSO 1027900C doi 10 1371 journal pone 0127900 ISSN 1932 6203 PMC 4489568 PMID 26131767 a b Townsend J H Aldrich H C Wilson L D McCranie J R 2005 03 01 First report of sporangia of a myxomycete Physarum pusillum on the body of a living animal the lizard Corytophanes cristatus Mycologia 97 2 346 348 doi 10 3852 mycologia 97 2 346 ISSN 0027 5514 PMID 16396342 a b Leenders Twan 2017 01 31 Amphibians of Costa Rica Ithaca NY Cornell University Press doi 10 7591 9781501706165 ISBN 9781501706165 Taylor G W Santos J C Perrault B J Morando M Vasquez Almazan C R Sites J W 2017 09 25 Sexual dimorphism phenotypic integration and the evolution of head structure in casque headed lizards Ecology and Evolution 7 21 8989 8998 doi 10 1002 ece3 3356 ISSN 2045 7758 PMC 5689487 PMID 29177036 a b c d e f Andrews Robin M 1979 The lizard Corytophanes cristatus an extreme sit and wait predator Biotropica 11 2 136 139 doi 10 2307 2387791 ISSN 0006 3606 JSTOR 2387791 Vitt Laurie J Zani Peter A 1998 Prey use among sympatric lizard species in lowland rain forest of Nicaragua Journal of Tropical Ecology 14 4 537 559 doi 10 1017 s0266467498000388 ISSN 0266 4674 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corytophanes cristatus Boulenger GA 1885 Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum Natural History Second Edition Volume II Iguanidae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xiii 497 pp Plates I XXIV Corythophanes sic cristatus pp 101 102 Merrem B 1820 Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien Tentamen Systematis Amphibiorum Marburg J C Krieger xv 191 pp one plate Agama cristata new species p 50 in German and Latin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smooth helmeted iguana amp oldid 1192901499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
