Monday, June 1, 2009

Family Xantusiidae (Night Lizards)

Order Squamata
Suborder Scincomorpha


Family Xantusiidae (Night Lizards)


Cricosaura typica

Appearance: relatively flat bodies and heads; immoveable, eyelids form a spectacle over each eye; elliptical, i.e. vertical pupils; geckolike with soft granular-scaled back and limbs but large plates on the head and ventrally on the trunk.A gular fold and a fold of skin on each side of the body.

Distribution: from the southwest US to Panama, Cuba (Cricosaura).

Habitat: in and under ground litter, in rock crevices, beneath the canopy of low, dense vegetation; from desert to forest habitats.

Size: <>

Food: insectivorous, partly herbivorous.

Behaviour: they are strictly diurnal (although they have been mistaken to be nocturnal because of their secretive life-style). Mostly sedentary.

Reproduction: several species are parthenogenetic; in fact, some parthenogenetic Lepidophyma species are bisexual and others are unisexual. All Xantusiids are viviparous (= live-bearing).

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