The Cuban night lizard (Cricosaura typica) is a night lizard (family Xantusiidae, subfamily Cricosaurinae) endemic to southern Cuba. It is the only member of the genusCricosaura, one of three in the night lizard family.[1]
Cricosaura is derived from the Greek words "krikos" and "saura" meaning "ring lizard",[2] perhaps in reference to the rings of caudal scales. The name "typica", from the Greek word "typikos", means "typical".[3]
Descriptionedit
The Cuban night lizard differs from the other night lizards in possessing two frontonasal scales, one frontal scale, no parietal scale, and a fourth finger with four phalanges. With a snout-vent length less than 4 cm it is the smallest of the night lizards.[1]
Distributionedit
Cricosaura typica lives exclusively in the west corner of the southernmost coast of Cuba in the Provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba up to 200 m altitude. Known localities for Granma Province include: Hoyo de la Campana, Cabo Cruz (type locality); Vereón; Monte Gordo; Playa Las Coloradas; Currín; Agua Fina; Bosque Castillo; Belic; Bajada al Pesquero de la Alegría; Pesquero de la Alegría; Alegría de Pío/Municipio Niquero; 2.4 km SE of Ojo del Toro; Caleta Media Luna; Punta de Piedra; Alto de Mareón; Marea del Portillo; Camarón Grande. In the Santiago de Cuba Province the species is known only from La Mula (southern slopes of Sierra Maestra) and Uvero (ca. 80 km west of Santiago de Cuba on route 20, easternmost record).[3][4][5]
Habitat and natural historyedit
Cricosaura typica is a xerophilic species which hides under rocks, stones, logs, and debris in xeric forest and woods in microhabitats with at least some humidity. It is crepuscular and to some degree diurnal but lives very secretive. In their habitats it is quite common and can be easily collected during the day. In loose soil it progresses by snake-like wiggling and head movement. It feeds on insects (mainly ants), other small arthropods (Spiders, diplopods) and also on molluscs and gastropods.[6][7][5][4]
Cricosaura typica is the only egg-laying species in the family Xantusiidae. At oviposition, mainly between April and June on Cuba, the white eggs are 9,4-10,7 mm long. Incubation time is up to 60 days. Hatchlings measure 15 mm from snout to vent. Longevity in captivity is reported up to 2 years 11 month.[8][9][10][11]
Conservation statusedit
This species is listened in Red List Category Vulnerable B2a,b(iii) for Cuba. The main threat is the fragmentation and loss of habitat due to deforestation through human activities such as farming (minor crops), cutting down trees and setting fires. It is also threatened by the introduction of invasive alien animal species and adverse natural events. Although some of the populations of Cricosaura are situated in a protected area, the level of study and management are inadequate. The populations outside the boundaries of the protected area are the most threatened.[12]
^. Archived from the original on 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
Further readingedit
Armas, L. F., Rams, A. & Torres, A. 1987. Primeras observaciones sobre la alimentación de Cricosaura typica (Sauria: Xantusiidae) en condiciones naturales. Misc. Zool. 32: 1–2. (in Spanish)
Barbour, T. & Ramsden, C.T. 1919. The herpetology of Cuba. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. 47(2): 71-213.
Crother, B.I. 1988. Cricosaura, C. typica. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 443: 1–3.
Díaz, L. M., Estrada, A.R., Berovides, V. & Moreno, L.V. 1997. Ecología, reproducción y conservación de la lagartija de hojarasca Cricosaura typica (Sauria: Xantusiidae). In: IV Simposio de Zoología, La Habana (Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática), Resúmenes, pp. 79. (in Spanish)
Diaz, L.M. 2007. Die Erhaltungszucht von Cricosaura typica. Aquaristik-Fachmagazin 195, 39 (3): 106–108. (in German)
Estrada, A. R. & Armas, L.F. de. 1998. Apuntes ecológicos sobre Cricosaura typica (Sauria: Xantusiidae) de Cuba. Caribb. J. Sci. 34(1-2): 157–160. (in Spanish)
Fernández de Arcila, R. 1990. Datos ecológicos de Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters (Sauria: Xantusiidae) en el Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra. Trabajo de Diploma, Universidad de La Habana, Cuba, 119 p. (in Spanish)
Fong, A., Viña, R. & Arias, A. 1999. Aspectos de la Historia Natural de Cricosaura typica (Sauria: Xantusiidae) de Cuba. Caribbean Journal of Science 35(1-2): 148–150. (in Spanish)
Fong, A. & Bignotte-Giró, I. 2009. Zur Kenntnis einer Unbekannten: Cricosaura typica, die Kuba-Nachtechse. Terraria, Nr. 18, 4(4): 58–62. (in German)
Moreno, L. V. 1987. Primeras observaciones sobre Cricosaura typica (Squamata: Xantusiidae) en cautiverio. Cien. Biol. 17: 104–108. (in Spanish)
Noonan, B.P., Pramuk, J.B., Bezy, R.L., Sinclair, E.A., Queiroz, K. de & Sites Jr., J.W. 2013. Phylogenetic relationships within the lizard clade Xantusiidae: Using trees and divergence times to address evolutionary questions at multiple levels. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69: 109–122.
Peters, W.C. 1863. Über eine neue von Hrn. Dr. Gundlach auf Cuba entdeckte Sauriergattung, Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters. Monatsber. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1863: 362–368. (in German)
Petzold, H.G. 1969. Cricosaura typica Gundlach & Peters, eine herpetologische Kostbarkeit aus Kuba. Aquar. Terrar. 22 (3): 82–85. (in German)
Sanz Ochotorena, A., Díaz, L.M., Murphy, R. & Domínguez, C. 2003. Morphology of the Gonads of Cricosaura typica (Sauria: Xantusiidae). Microsc. Microanal. 9 (Suppl 2): 1510–1511.
Savage, J.M. 1963. Studies on the lizard family Xantusiidae. IV. The Genera. Contrib. Sci., Los Angeles Co. Mus. Nat. Hist. 71: 1-38.
Savage, J.M. 1964. Studies on the lizard family Xantusiidae. V. The Cuban night lizard, Cricosaura typica Gundlach and Peters. Copeia 1964(3):536-542.
Schwartz, A. & Henderson, R.W. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, 720 pp.
April 13, 2024
cuban, night, lizard, cricosaura, typica, night, lizard, family, xantusiidae, subfamily, cricosaurinae, endemic, southern, cuba, only, member, genus, cricosaura, three, night, lizard, family, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, . The Cuban night lizard Cricosaura typica is a night lizard family Xantusiidae subfamily Cricosaurinae endemic to southern Cuba It is the only member of the genus Cricosaura one of three in the night lizard family 1 Cuban night lizardScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily XantusiidaeSubfamily CricosaurinaeGenus CricosauraGundlach amp Peters 1863Species C typicaBinomial nameCricosaura typicaGundlach amp Peters 1863Cricosaura typica from Peters 1863 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Distribution 4 Habitat and natural history 5 Conservation status 6 References 7 Further readingEtymology editCricosaura is derived from the Greek words krikos and saura meaning ring lizard 2 perhaps in reference to the rings of caudal scales The name typica from the Greek word typikos means typical 3 Description editThe Cuban night lizard differs from the other night lizards in possessing two frontonasal scales one frontal scale no parietal scale and a fourth finger with four phalanges With a snout vent length less than 4 cm it is the smallest of the night lizards 1 Distribution editCricosaura typica lives exclusively in the west corner of the southernmost coast of Cuba in the Provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba up to 200 m altitude Known localities for Granma Province include Hoyo de la Campana Cabo Cruz type locality Vereon Monte Gordo Playa Las Coloradas Currin Agua Fina Bosque Castillo Belic Bajada al Pesquero de la Alegria Pesquero de la Alegria Alegria de Pio Municipio Niquero 2 4 km SE of Ojo del Toro Caleta Media Luna Punta de Piedra Alto de Mareon Marea del Portillo Camaron Grande In the Santiago de Cuba Province the species is known only from La Mula southern slopes of Sierra Maestra and Uvero ca 80 km west of Santiago de Cuba on route 20 easternmost record 3 4 5 Habitat and natural history editCricosaura typica is a xerophilic species which hides under rocks stones logs and debris in xeric forest and woods in microhabitats with at least some humidity It is crepuscular and to some degree diurnal but lives very secretive In their habitats it is quite common and can be easily collected during the day In loose soil it progresses by snake like wiggling and head movement It feeds on insects mainly ants other small arthropods Spiders diplopods and also on molluscs and gastropods 6 7 5 4 Cricosaura typica is the only egg laying species in the family Xantusiidae At oviposition mainly between April and June on Cuba the white eggs are 9 4 10 7 mm long Incubation time is up to 60 days Hatchlings measure 15 mm from snout to vent Longevity in captivity is reported up to 2 years 11 month 8 9 10 11 Conservation status editThis species is listened in Red List Category Vulnerable B2a b iii for Cuba The main threat is the fragmentation and loss of habitat due to deforestation through human activities such as farming minor crops cutting down trees and setting fires It is also threatened by the introduction of invasive alien animal species and adverse natural events Although some of the populations of Cricosaura are situated in a protected area the level of study and management are inadequate The populations outside the boundaries of the protected area are the most threatened 12 References edit a b Schwartz amp Henderson 1991 Peters 1863 a b Crother 1988 a b Fong et al 1999 a b Estrada amp Armas 1998 Armas et al 1987 Fernandez de Arcila 1990 Moreno 1987 Diaz et al 1997 Diaz 2007 Fong amp Bignotte Giro 2009 Agencia de Medio Ambiente Libro rojo de los vertebrados de Cuba Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters 1863 Archived from the original on 2015 12 31 Retrieved 2016 01 17 Further reading editArmas L F Rams A amp Torres A 1987 Primeras observaciones sobre la alimentacion de Cricosaura typica Sauria Xantusiidae en condiciones naturales Misc Zool 32 1 2 in Spanish Barbour T amp Ramsden C T 1919 The herpetology of Cuba Mem Mus Comp Zool 47 2 71 213 Crother B I 1988 Cricosaura C typica Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 443 1 3 Diaz L M Estrada A R Berovides V amp Moreno L V 1997 Ecologia reproduccion y conservacion de la lagartija de hojarasca Cricosaura typica Sauria Xantusiidae In IV Simposio de Zoologia La Habana Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica Resumenes pp 79 in Spanish Diaz L M 2007 Die Erhaltungszucht von Cricosaura typica Aquaristik Fachmagazin 195 39 3 106 108 in German Estrada A R amp Armas L F de 1998 Apuntes ecologicos sobre Cricosaura typica Sauria Xantusiidae de Cuba Caribb J Sci 34 1 2 157 160 in Spanish Fernandez de Arcila R 1990 Datos ecologicos de Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters Sauria Xantusiidae en el Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra Trabajo de Diploma Universidad de La Habana Cuba 119 p in Spanish Fong A Vina R amp Arias A 1999 Aspectos de la Historia Natural de Cricosaura typica Sauria Xantusiidae de Cuba Caribbean Journal of Science 35 1 2 148 150 in Spanish Fong A amp Bignotte Giro I 2009 Zur Kenntnis einer Unbekannten Cricosaura typica die Kuba Nachtechse Terraria Nr 18 4 4 58 62 in German Moreno L V 1987 Primeras observaciones sobre Cricosaura typica Squamata Xantusiidae en cautiverio Cien Biol 17 104 108 in Spanish Noonan B P Pramuk J B Bezy R L Sinclair E A Queiroz K de amp Sites Jr J W 2013 Phylogenetic relationships within the lizard clade Xantusiidae Using trees and divergence times to address evolutionary questions at multiple levels Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69 109 122 Peters W C 1863 Uber eine neue von Hrn Dr Gundlach auf Cuba entdeckte Sauriergattung Cricosaura typica Gundlach et Peters Monatsber Akad Wiss Berlin 1863 362 368 in German Petzold H G 1969 Cricosaura typica Gundlach amp Peters eine herpetologische Kostbarkeit aus Kuba Aquar Terrar 22 3 82 85 in German Sanz Ochotorena A Diaz L M Murphy R amp Dominguez C 2003 Morphology of the Gonads of Cricosaura typica Sauria Xantusiidae Microsc Microanal 9 Suppl 2 1510 1511 Savage J M 1963 Studies on the lizard family Xantusiidae IV The Genera Contrib Sci Los Angeles Co Mus Nat Hist 71 1 38 Savage J M 1964 Studies on the lizard family Xantusiidae V The Cuban night lizard Cricosaura typica Gundlach and Peters Copeia 1964 3 536 542 Schwartz A amp Henderson R W 1991 Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies University of Florida Press Gainesville 720 pp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cuban night lizard amp oldid 1132160014, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
