Kingdom Animalia Order Squamata Genus Ameiva Higher classification Ameiva | Phylum Chordata Family Teiidae Scientific name Ameiva festiva Rank Species | |
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Similar Ameiva, Reptile, Ameiva quadrilineata, Teiidae, Holcosus | ||
Ameiva festiva, commonly known as the Middle American ameiva, Central American whiptail, or tiger ameiva, is a species of whiptail lizard endemic to Central America and northern South America.
Contents
Geographic range
A. festiva is found from southern Mexico to Colombia.
Description
A. festiva is brown-colored, with darker browns making a zig-zag pattern down the back. A similar species is Ameiva quadrilineata. Juveniles have metallic-blue tails.
Habitat
A. festiva lives in open habitats.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Nota bene: A taxon author (binomial authority or trinomial authority) in parentheses indicates that the taxon (species or subspecies) was originally described in a different genus (in this case, a genus other than Ameiva).
Etymology
The subspecific name, edwardsii, is in honor of French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards.