Tropiduridae

Tropiduridae
Microlophus peruvianus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Clade: Pleurodonta
Family: Tropiduridae
Bell, 1843
Genera

Eight recognized genera, see article.

The Tropiduridae are a family of iguanid lizards.[1] The family is sometimes considered a subfamily, Tropidurinae. The subfamily is native to South America, including the islands of Trinidad and the Galápagos. Commonly known as Neotropical ground lizards, most are ground-dwelling animals, and the subfamily includes some lizards adapted to relatively cold climates, including those of the Andes mountains and Tierra del Fuego. Several species give birth to live young.[2]

A 2021 study described a novel escutcheon-type generation gland ('α-gland') in tropidurines, found in at least 39 species. This gland is believed to be the main potential source of semiochemicals in this group indicating its importance in chemical signalling, an essential component of the communication system of lizards.[3]

  1. ^ "Tropiduridae". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ^ Bauer, Aaron M. [in French] (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-12-178560-4.
  3. ^ Carvalho, André L. G.; Jeckel, Adriana M.; Nisa, Carolina; Luna, María Celeste; Piantoni, Carla (2021). "A novel epidermal gland type in lizards (α-gland): structural organization, histochemistry, protein profile and phylogenetic origins". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 192 (4): 1137–1166. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa140.