Campeche spiny-tailed iguana

The Campeche spiny-tailed iguana is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico and adjacent Guatemala.

Etymology

The specific name, alfredschmidti, is in honor of German herpetoculturist Alfred Schmidt.

Description

Adult males of C. alfredschmidti reach at least and females in snout-to-vent length. Tail length varies from 74% to 85% SVL.

Geographic range

C. alfredschmidti was thought to be endemic to southern Campeche in Mexico. However, in 2003, this species was also recorded by a scientific expedition to the Mirador-Río Azul National Park in the Petén Department in Northern Guatemala. This was the first record in Guatemala's herpetofauna for this species.

Habitat

The natural habitat of C. alfredschmidti is tropical moist lowland forest and seasonally flooded scrub forest.

Behavior

C. alfredschmidti is arboreal. It can find safety in hollow branches and tree trunks, blocking the entrance with its spiny tail.

Diet

Fecal samples suggests that the diet of C. alfredschmidti consists of leaves, though it probably will eat arthropods too.

Reproduction

C. alfredschmidti is oviparous.

Conservation status

C. alfredschmidti is potentially threatened by habitat loss and degradation. The Guatemalan population was found in the Mirador-Río Azul National Park.