REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: ANGUIDAE: Diploglossus

Diploglossus monotropis (Kuhl, 1820)

Galliwasp

Photo by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: Northwestern South America south and east to central southern Brazil.

Diagnosis: A skink-like lizard with the ventral scales in ten symmetrical rows, the subocular and postocular scales subequal in size, and dorsal scales with a distinct median keel. The nasal opening is at the rear end of the nasal scale.

Description: The head of adults is yellowish-green. Body dark olive, gray or dark brown with several thin black-edged light bands. The belly of young lizards is yellow, becoming orange in adults. This is a large galliwasp, growing to a maximum length of 21.5 cm.

Natural History: A diurnal, terrestrial species found near ponds and fields in "border" regions. Absent in forests.

Reproduction:

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation: Young are black with very thin yellow crossbands and an orange-red tail.

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen: BMNH; type locality unknown.

 Literature:

Myers, Charles. 1973. Anguid lizards of the genus Diploglossus in Panama, with the description of a new species. American Museum Novitates 2523: 1-20.

Taylor, Edward. 1956. A review of the lizards of Costa Rica. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 38(1): 1-322.