Collared iguana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collared iguana |
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| At Anjajavy Forest, Madagascar | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oplurus
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| Species: |
cuvieri
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Oplurus cuvieri, commonly known as the collared iguana, the collared iguanid lizard, Cuvier's Madagascar skink, Cuvier's Madagascar swift, and the Madagascan collared iguana, is a species of arboreal lizard in the family Opluridae. The species is native to Madagascar and Comoros. There are two recognized subspecies. O. cuvieri is the largest of six species in the genus Oplurus.
Etymology
The specific name, cuvieri, is in honor of French naturalist Georges Cuvier.
Description
As some of the common names suggest, O. cuvieri has a distinctive black collar that stands out against the body which is speckled with lighter spots. It has a large head, and the relatively short tail has spiny scales. The female is a duller brown colour.
The average length of O. cuvieri is 16 in. and the average weight is 160 – 190 g.
The images below show considerable variation in markings and coloration.
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At Kirindy Forest
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At Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, showing a false eye on top of head
Geographic range
The collared iguana is found in the western tropical forests of Madagascar and on the island of Grand Comore in Comoros.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
- Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri (Gray, 1831) – Madagascar
- Oplurus cuvieri comorensis Angel, 1942 – Grand Comore Island
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Oplurus.
Diet
O. cuvieri has a mostly carnivorous diet.
Behavior
This diurnal iguana species is primarily arboreal and spends much of its time gripping trunks and branches where it remains motionless while it scans the surrounding area for insects.
Once It sees the prey, the lizard will run rapidly to capture it before it can escape. Madagascar Collared Lizards have also been observed positioning themselves near an ant trail where they can gain an easy meal by picking up the ants one by one. Occasionally, they may also eat plant matter such as flowers.
This lizard is territorial, found alone or in an area with one male and a few females.
When threatened, it will retreat into a crack or crevice in a tree trunk, and use its armored tail to form a barrier between itself and the predator.
Reproduction
The sexual maturity of the Madagascar Collared Lizard is estimated at 2-3 years.
The breeding season for the Madagascar Collared Lizard is timed to match the rainy season, with egg laying occurring just after the first heavy rain. Males fight with one another for the females’ attention, often leading to injury or even death. The female digs a hole about four inches deep in open ground where there is no live vegetation, often on a man-made forest trail. She lays her clutch, typically of 2-5 eggs, fills the hole with sandy soil and covers it with sand, dead leaves and twigs so that the laying site blends into the surroundings. The female then immediately leaves the nest site and neither parent provides any degree of care for the hatchlings. Females may lay several clutches per year.
Incubation of Madagascar Collared Lizard eggs lasts 61-71 days.
Conservation
There is no data on the number of individuals in the wild and no known conservation measures in place for this species. Its habitat in the forests of Madagascar, however, faces a number of threats which may impact this iguana; this includes the burning of forests for agricultural expansion and the exploitation of trees for timber and charcoal.
In addition, because of their shallow, unprotected nesting sites, the eggs are heavily preyed upon by other reptiles, most notably the Malagasy giant hognose snake.
