Spiny weapontail explained

The spiny weapontail (Hoplocercus spinosus) is a species of lizard belonging to the monotypic genus Hoplocercus in the family Hoplocercidae. The species is found in the Cerrado and adjacent Cerrado–Amazon mosaics in Brazil and Bolivia.

Taxonomy

H. spinosus is quite distantly related to the other members of Hoplocercidae, as it is believed to have diverged from these about 35 million years ago.

Description

The spiny weapontail has a total length (including tail) of about NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on.^[1] As suggested by its name, it has a short, highly spiny tail (it is superficially similar to Uromastyx, Cachryx and the smaller species in Ctenosaura).

Behavior

When disturbed, H. spinosus retreats to its burrow with its tail orientated towards the entrance. It is nocturnal.

Diet

H. spinosus preys upon arthropods.

Reproduction

H. spinosus is oviparous.^[2]

Further reading

• Ávila-Pires TCS (1995). "Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata)". Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 299: 1-706.
• Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II., ... Iguanidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (genus Hoplocercus, p. 199; species H. spinosus, pp. 199–200).
• Dirksen L, De la Riva I (1999). "The lizards and amphisbaenians of Bolivia (Reptilia, Squamata): checklist, localities, and bibliography". Graellsia 55: 199-215.
• Estes R, Pregill G (editors) (1988). Phylogenetic relationships of the Lizard Families: Essays Commemorating Charles L. Camp. Redwood City, California: Stanford University Press. xvi + 632 pp.
• Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, fasciculus primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller et Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Hoplocercus, new genus, p. 78; H. spinosus, new species, p. 78). (in Latin).
• Harvey MB (1995). "A preliminary list of the reptiles and amphibians of the El Refugio biological reserve". pp. 21–26. In: Forsyth A (editor) (1995). A report on aspects of biodiversity and conservation potential in El Refugio. Washington, District of Columbia: Conservation International.

Notes and References

1. Animalitaly: Lucertola dalla coda spinosa del Brasile, Hoplocercus spinosus. (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2018.
2. www.reptile-database.org.