Central American whiptail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central American whiptail |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Teiidae |
| Genus: | Holcosus |
| Species: |
H. festivus
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| Binomial name | |
| Holcosus festivus (Lichtenstein, 1856)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Central American whiptail (scientific name: Holcosus festivus) is a type of lizard. It's also called the Middle American ameiva or the tiger ameiva. This lizard belongs to a family called Teiidae. You can find it naturally in Central America and the northern parts of South America.
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Where Does This Lizard Live?
This lizard lives in a wide area. You can find Holcosus festivus from southern Mexico all the way down to Colombia.
What Does the Central American Whiptail Look Like?
The Central American whiptail is mostly brown. It has cool zig-zag patterns of darker brown along its back. Young lizards, called juveniles, have bright metallic-blue tails. Another lizard that looks similar is called Holcosus quadrilineatus.
Where Does the Central American Whiptail Live?
This lizard prefers to live in open areas. These are places with lots of space, like fields or clearings in forests.
Different Types of Central American Whiptails
Scientists have found three main types, or subspecies, of the Central American whiptail. These are slightly different versions of the same lizard.
- H. f. festivus (Lichtenstein, 1856) – This type lives in northern Colombia and Panama.
- H. f. edwardsii (Bocourt, 1873) – You can find this type in Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, and Nicaragua.
- H. f. occidentalis (Taylor, 1956) – This type lives in Costa Rica.
Why Is It Called edwardsii?
The name edwardsii for one of the subspecies is a special way to honor someone. It was named after a French zoologist (a scientist who studies animals) named Alphonse Milne-Edwards.
 | Laphonza Butler |
 | Daisy Bates |
 | Elizabeth Piper Ensley |
