Common ameiva
The common ameiva is a species of lizard endemic to Hispaniola and a number of smaller associated islands. It is known to engage in homosexual mating among males.
Taxonomy
The common ameiva was originally described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1868, as Ameiva chrysolaema. The specific epithet likely comes from the Greek chryso, meaning gold, and laimos, meaning neck or throat, for the yellow throat and belly of this species. In 2016, the species was moved to Pholidoscelis based on genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses.Subspecies
There are sixteen accepted subspecies in The Reptile Database. Given the variation among the subspecies, some authors suggest that they probably comprise more than one species.Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus chrysolaemus Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus abbotti Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus alacris Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus boekeri Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus defensor Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus evulsus Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus fictus Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus jactus Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus parvoris Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus procax Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus quadrijugis Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus regularis Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus richardthomasi Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus secessus Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus umbratilis- ''Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus woodi''