Ctenosaura quinquecarinata

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	Ctenosaura
Species:	C. quinquecarinata
Binomial name
Ctenosaura quinquecarinata (Gray, 1842)
Synonyms
Cyclura quinquecarinata Gray, 1842 Enyaliosaurus quinquecarinatus – Gray, 1845 Ctenosaura quinquecarinata – Bocourt, 1874

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata, commonly known as the Oaxacan spinytail iguana or the five-keeled spiny-tailed iguana is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae native to Central America.

Geographic range

It is found in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Other sources list it also from Mexico and El Salvador.

Habitat

Its natural habitat is tropical dry forests.

Conservation status

It is threatened in its native range by habitat loss.

Taxonomy and etymology

Ctenosaura quinquecarinata was first described by zoologist John Edward Gray in 1842 as Cyclura quinquecarinata; 32 years later it was redesignated by Marie Firmin Bocourt as Ctenosaura quinquecarinata. The generic name, Ctenosaura, is derived from two Greek words: ctenos (Κτενός), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and saura (σαύρα), meaning "lizard". Its specific name quinquecarinata is a combination of two Latin words: quinque meaning "five" and carinata meaning "keeled" and refers to the five rows of scales on the animal's tail.

Description

The tail on this species is heavily armored with five rings of spines forming longitudinal ridges. Males of the species grow to a length of 35 centimeters (14 in) whereas females attain 18.5 centimeters (7.3 in). Like most Ctenosaura the iguanas are born a bright green color fading to brown as the animal ages. The females tend to turn a uniform drab brown in color, and males develop tones of black, blue and yellow on their bodies and heads over the brown background.

Threats

Total population size is not known, but it is estimated that there may be fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. It is threatened by habitat loss through deforestation, overcollection through an unregulated exploitation for the pet trade, and it is even hunted by humans as a food item.

Further reading

• Gray, J.E. 1842. Description of some new species of Reptiles, chiefly from the British Museum collection. Zoological Miscellany 57–59. (Cyclura quinquecarinata, p. 59.)