Navassa curly-tailed lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Navassa curly-tailed lizard |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leiocephalus
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| Species: |
eremitus
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| Synonyms | |
The Navassa curly-tailed lizard (its scientific name is Leiocephalus eremitus) was a type of lizard that is now extinct. It belonged to the family of curly-tailed lizards.
Scientists only know about this lizard from one female lizard specimen. This specimen was used to officially describe the species in 1868. Another lizard found in 1917 was first thought to be a Navassa curly-tailed lizard. But later, a lizard expert named Richard Thomas said it was actually a different kind of lizard, the Tiburon curly-tailed lizard.
Where it lived
This lizard only lived on Navassa Island. When an animal or plant only lives in one place, it's called being endemic.
What it looked like
The only known lizard specimen was about 64 millimeters (2.5 inches) long from its snout to the base of its tail. This measurement is called snout–vent length (SVL).
Its head and belly scales were smooth. The scales on its back were bigger than the scales on its sides and belly. The lizard's back was dark gray with nine dark stripes going across it. Its tail was light-colored with stripes on the first half, and then it was solid dark gray or black on the second half. Its throat, chest, belly, and legs were brown with scales that had light tips.
How it lived
Navassa Island has a dry forest with plants that don't need much water. We don't know much about how this specific lizard lived. We also don't know exactly why it became extinct. However, one possible reason is that it was hunted by cats.
