Class Sauropsida Suborder Lacertilia Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Infraorder Iguania | |
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Similar Oplurus, Oplurus cuvieri, Oplurus quadrimaculatus, Opluridae, Oplurus grandidieri Family Opluridae Genus Oplurus Species O. cyclurus | ||
Oplurus cyclurus
The Merrem's Madagascar swift, Oplurus cyclurus (or Madagascar swift) is an arboreal Malagasy iguana belonging to the Oplurus genus. They are endemic to Madagascar and have a mostly carnivorous diet. Their breeding is timed with the rainy season.
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Oplurus cyclurus 2
Description
Oplurus cyclurus and Oplurus cuvieri are of a similar appearance so may be easily confused. Oplurus cyclurus is not found at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, so sighting from here are likely to be of Oplurus cuvieri.
Oplurus cyclurus is slightly smaller than Oplurus cuvieri, both which have a distinctive large spiny tail. Unlike other iguana genera, these two species have no dorsal crests. Oplurus cyclurus has a dark brown or black band around the neck and similar paler markings on its back. Oplurus cyclurus are known as the three-eyed iguana to local people due to the "third eye" spot visible on top of their heads. The spot is more evident in younger iguanas, but fades as the iguana ages. It grows to about 25 cm (7.5 in.), with the tail comprising more than half the total length.
Relation to Iguanas
Madagascar swifts, including oplurus cyclurus, are closely related to the iguanid family, which are only found in the Americas and some Pacific islands. This is likely from when Madagascar was still connected to South America 170 million years ago.
Unlike the iguanid family, however, swifts are typically found in dry habitats, not rainforests. The recognition of Opluridae as a distinct family is fairly recent – prior to 1996, they were considered to be part of the family Iguanidae.
Distribution
This species is mostly arboreal, living in the spiny forests of the south and south-west Madagascar.
