Guyana kentropyx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guyana kentropyx |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kentropyx
|
| Species: |
borckiana
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Kentropyx borckiana, also known as the Guyana kentropyx, is a type of lizard. It belongs to the Teiidae family. This lizard is special because it is found only in certain parts of northeastern South America. You can also find it on the Caribbean island of Barbados.
Contents
About the Guyana Kentropyx
What's in a Name?
The name borckiana was given to honor Johann Graf von Borcke. He was a major in the Prussian Army who lived from 1781 to 1862. Borcke gave many animal samples to the Berlin Museum.
Lizards found on Trinidad were once thought to be K. borckiana. But scientists later found out they were actually a different species, Kentropyx striata.
Where Does it Live?
The Guyana kentropyx lives in several countries in South America. You can find it in Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. It is also found on the island of Barbados. We don't know if it naturally lives on Barbados or if it was brought there by people.
What Does it Look Like?
The Guyana kentropyx is a small lizard. It can grow up to 100 mm (3.9 in) long from its snout to the start of its tail. Its head and neck are a greenish color. The underside of its body is white.
Its sides are brown. The skin on its belly is a pinkish color. The top of its body, called the dorsal surface, is gray to pinkish-brown. It also has light stripes along its sides. These stripes have dark bands around them.
How it Reproduces
The Guyana kentropyx is quite unique in how it reproduces. It seems to be a rare type of lizard that can reproduce without a male. This process is called parthenogenesis.
Scientists have only found female museum specimens of this lizard. There are about 100 known female samples, but no male samples have ever been found. It is thought that this lizard species came about from two other species mixing. These are Kentropyx calcarata and Kentropyx striata.
