Campeche spiny-tailed iguana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Campeche spiny-tailed iguana |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cachryx
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| Species: |
alfredschmidti
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The Campeche spiny-tailed iguana is a cool lizard. Its scientific name is Cachryx alfredschmidti. It belongs to the iguana family, called Iguanidae. You can find this special lizard in southeastern Mexico and nearby Guatemala.
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Where Did Its Name Come From?
The second part of this iguana's scientific name, alfredschmidti, honors someone special. It was named after Alfred Schmidt. He was a German expert who raised reptiles and amphibians.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult male Campeche spiny-tailed iguanas can grow quite large. They reach at least 170 millimeters (about 6.7 inches) from their snout to the base of their tail. Females are a bit smaller. They grow to about 152 millimeters (about 6 inches) long. Their tail length is usually 74% to 85% of their body length.
Where Does It Live?
For a long time, people thought this iguana lived only in southern Campeche, Mexico. But in 2003, scientists found it somewhere new. They discovered it in Mirador-Río Azul National Park. This park is in northern Guatemala. This was the first time this iguana was seen in Guatemala.
What Is Its Home Like?
The Campeche spiny-tailed iguana lives in tropical forests. These are warm, wet forests. It also likes scrub forests that get flooded sometimes.
How Does It Behave?
This iguana spends most of its time in trees. It is an arboreal animal. When it feels scared, it hides inside hollow branches or tree trunks. It uses its spiny tail to block the entrance. This makes it hard for predators to get to it.
What Does It Eat?
Scientists have studied what this iguana eats. They looked at its droppings. It seems to mostly eat leaves. But it probably also enjoys eating insects and other small creatures.
How Does It Have Babies?
The Campeche spiny-tailed iguana lays eggs. This means it is oviparous.
Is It In Danger?
The Campeche spiny-tailed iguana faces some threats. Its home is slowly being lost or damaged. This is called habitat loss. Luckily, the population in Guatemala lives in a protected area. It is found in the Mirador-Río Azul National Park. This park helps keep them safe.
See also
In Spanish: Iguana campechana de cola espinosa para niños
