Ameiva, Jungle Runner

Ameiva leptophrys- most likely

The Ameiva genus is wide spread from Mexico into South America.  From minute forms to lizards reaching up to a foot or more in length, they also come in a dazzling array of color patterns.  Some so emerald green on the dorsal surface, that it almost seems painted on the animal.  Ameiva’s are small members of the Teiidae lizard family- a new world group that roughly parallels the monitor lizards in some forms and habits.  Ameiva’s have long snake like tongue (divide at the apex), and a well developed Jacobson’s organ in the roof of the mouth which picks up scents and transfers them to the brain for olfactory cues.  Their snouts are elongated for probing, digging and manipulation food.  They tend to crush and chew a bit after catching prey, and as opportunists, they eat not only small arthropods, but also have been known to take small pieces of fruit.  Fast animals, the family includes the smaller racerunner lizards as well as the Tegus (ranging as far south as Argentina), which can reach up to 3 feet in length, some species reaching 20 lbs.  However, Ameivas are fleet-footed, thin bodied and agile- often scurrying off way ahead of a visitor.  I’ve had my best observations when I was birding, and was able to use the binoc’s from a distance to watch the lizards chase food, mate and construct burrows.  The species presented here I believe is Ameiva leptophrys, which has spotted/reticulated flanks, and are a good sized member of this genus at about 14 inches max.  Unlike old world monitor lizards which they resemble, Ameivas CAN regrow tails that are cast-off (autotomy= self severing= tail loss).  Monitor lizards can not re-grow their tails.  The similarities between these two lizard families is apparently from the phenomena of convergence.  Similar ecosystems and similar adaptations over time.  NG.