| Microlophus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Microlophus albemarlensis, female, a Galápagos endemic | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Tropiduridae |
| Genus: | Microlophus A.M.C. Duméril &Bibron, 1837 |
| Type species | |
| Iguana peruviana Lesson, 1830 | |
| Species | |
around 20 | |
Microlophus is agenus oftropidurid lizards native to South America. Around 20species are recognized and 10 of these areendemic to theGalápagos Islands,[a] where they are commonly known aslava lizards[2][1] (they are sometimes placed inTropidurus instead). The remaining, which often are calledPacific iguanas, are found in theAndes and along the Pacific coasts of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.
The distribution of the lava lizards and their variations in shape, colour, and behaviour show the phenomenon ofadaptive radiation so typical of the inhabitants of this archipelago. One species occurs on all the central and western islands, which were perhaps connected during periods of lower sea levels, while one species each occurs on six other more peripheralislands. All have most likely evolved from a single ancestral species. However, as usual for the Tropiduridae, they can change their colour individually to some extent, and members of the same species occurring in different habitats also show colour differences. Thus, animals living mainly on darklava are darker than ones that live in lighter, sandy environments.
Listed alphabetically byspecific name.[3] (* endemic to the Galapágos Islands).
Nota bene: Abinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other thanMicrolophus.
ThisTropiduridae article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |