Dunn's spinytail lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunn's spinytail lizard |
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| Enyalioides groi in Anton Valley, Panama | |
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| Genus: |
Enyalioides
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| Species: |
groi
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The Dunn's spinytail lizard, also called Gro's manticore or Dunn's spinytail iguana, is a cool type of lizard. Its scientific name is Enyalioides groi. This lizard lives in the wild parts of northwestern South America and Panama. It belongs to a family of lizards called Hoplocercidae.
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About the Name: Gro's Manticore
The scientific name for this lizard, groi, has an interesting story. It was chosen to honor "Lord Gro". This is a character from a fantasy novel called The Worm Ouroboros. The book was written by E. R. Eddison.
Where Dunn's Spinytail Lizards Live
You can find Enyalioides groi in two main places. They live in central Panama. They are also found in the northwestern parts of Colombia.
Their Natural Home
These lizards prefer to live in forests. They like areas that are between 600 and 900 meters (about 2,000 to 3,000 feet) above sea level. This kind of environment gives them the perfect place to hide and find food.
What Dunn's Spinytail Lizards Look Like
This lizard has a tail covered with small spines. This is how it gets its "spinytail" name.
Male Lizards
Male E. groi lizards are reddish-brown. They have dark brown stripes across their backs. These stripes reach the middle of their sides. Then, they break into smaller, dark spots. You might see small white spots between the dark stripes.
Their necks are red. They have a white collar that goes from their forearm up to their shoulder area. This collar is outlined with dark brown. The head is reddish, and the chin is bright red. Their chest is a pale orange, and their belly is a dirty white color.
Female Lizards
Female E. groi lizards look very similar to males. However, they do not have the bright red chin. Their belly is usually yellow instead of dirty white.
How Dunn's Spinytail Lizards Behave
E. groi lizards are known for digging their own homes. They create burrows, especially under fallen logs. These burrows provide a safe place to live and hide from predators.
How They Have Babies
E. groi lizards are oviparous. This means that the female lizard lays eggs. The baby lizards hatch from these eggs later.
See also
- List of lizards of Colombia
