Sceloporus lundelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sceloporus lundelli |
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The Lundell's spiny lizard (scientific name: Sceloporus lundelli) is a cool type of lizard. In Mexican Spanish, it's called la espinosa de Lundell. This lizard belongs to a group of reptiles known as the Phrynosomatidae family.
These lizards are originally from the Yucatán Peninsula. This area includes parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. There are also two slightly different kinds of Lundell's spiny lizards, which scientists call subspecies.
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Where Lundell's Spiny Lizards Live
You can find the Lundell's spiny lizard in several places. In Mexico, they live in the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán.
They also live in the Cayo District of Belize. In Guatemala, you can find them in the Petén Department.
What Kind of Home Do They Like?
Lundell's spiny lizards love living in forests. These forests can be anywhere from sea level up to about 300 meters (or 984 feet) high.
Even though they prefer forests, these lizards are pretty adaptable. They have also been seen living in cities and towns!
What Do Lundell's Spiny Lizards Look Like?
Adult Lundell's spiny lizards are not very big. If you measure them from the tip of their nose to the start of their tail (this is called "snout-to-vent length"), they are usually about 8.5 to 10 centimeters long. That's about 3.3 to 3.9 inches!
How Do They Behave?
Lundell's spiny lizards are diurnal. This means they are active during the daytime, just like us!
They are also arboreal. This fancy word means they love to spend most of their time in trees. They are good at climbing and moving around in branches.
Lundell's Spiny Lizard Reproduction
Scientists are still learning about how Lundell's spiny lizards have their babies. Some reports say they are oviparous, which means the females lay eggs.
However, other information suggests they might be viviparous. This means the mothers would give birth to live young, instead of laying eggs. It's a mystery still being solved!
Different Kinds of Lundell's Spiny Lizards
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Lundell's spiny lizard that scientists have officially recognized.
- Sceloporus lundelli gaigeae H.M. Smith, 1939
- Sceloporus lundelli lundelli H.M. Smith, 1939
Who Are They Named After?
The name lundelli for this lizard is a special way to honor someone. It's named after an American botanist (a plant scientist) named Cyrus Longworth Lundell.
The name gaigeae for one of the subspecies is also an honor. It's named after an American herpetologist (a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians) named Helen Beulah Thompson Gaige.