Eastern casquehead iguana
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Genus
SPECIES
Laemanctus longipes

The eastern casquehead iguana (Laemanctus longipes ) is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Mexico and Central America.

Animal name origin

The subspecific name, deborrei, is in honor of Belgian entomologist Alfred Preudhomme de Borre (1833–1905).

Appearance

Long and thin, L. longipes can reach 70 cm (27.5 in) in total length, two-thirds of which is a thin tail.

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The scales on the forehead are much larger than those on the back of the head. No projecting triangular scales occur on the posterior border of the head. The gular scales are bicarinate or tricarinate.

Sexual dimorphism is present, but is difficult to observe. Males have a somewhat thicker tail root than females, and the hemipenes are sometimes visible when lifting the tail gently.

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Distribution

Geography

L. longipes is found in the southern Mexican states of Colima, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Yucatán, and in the Central American countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

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The eastern casquehead iguana inhabits tropical wet, moist, and seasonally dry forests. It can persist in secondary growth when suitable trees are present.

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Biome

Habits and Lifestyle

The eastern casquehead iguana is an arboreal species occurring high up in the trees. Rather slow, it sits on trees and bushes above water courses, licking water drops on leaves, and catching insects that walk nearby. L. longipes lives individually, or in a territory with one male and one to three females. Usually, however, males and females only meet for mating, which can happen several times per year.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

L. longipes is oviparous.

Population

References

1. Eastern casquehead iguana Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_casquehead_iguana
2. Eastern casquehead iguana on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/197492/2490065

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