Tropiduridae

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]

Tropiduridae
Microlophus peruvianus
Scientific 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.

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]

Genera

The family Tropiduridae contains the following eight genera.^[1]

• Eurolophosaurus Frost, Rodrigues, T. Grant & Titus, 2001
• Microlophus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1837 – lava lizards and Pacific iguanas (sometimes in Tropidurus)
• Plica Gray, 1830
• Stenocercus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1837 – whorltail iguanas
• Strobilurus Wiegmann, 1834
• Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1824 (including Platynotus, Tapinurus)
• Uracentron Kaup, 1827 – thornytail iguanas (sometimes in Tropidurus)
• Uranoscodon Kaup, 1825

References

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.

External links

• Data related to Tropiduridae at Wikispecies

Further reading

• Bell T (1843). The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Under the Command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836. Edited and Superintended by Charles Darwin ... Naturalist to the Expedition. Part V. Reptiles. London: Smith, Elder and Company. vi + 51 pp. + Plates 1-20. (Tropiduridae, new family, p. 1). (in English and Latin).