Tropical Thornytail Iguana
Uracentron flaviceps
Silhouette: Natalie Claunch · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyTropiduridae (Neotropical Ground Lizards)
- GenusUracentron (Thornytail Iguanas)
- SpeciesUracentron flaviceps (Tropical Thornytail Iguana)
About the Tropical Thornytail Iguana
Uracentron flaviceps, the tropical thornytail iguana or Amazon thornytail iguana is an elusive species of medium-sized arboreal lizard found in the tropical lowlands of the Amazon rainforest. The species was described by French zoologist Alphonse Guichenot in 1855. They are considered to be ant specialists and exhibit communal nesting and a harem-style breeding system in which one male mates with and attends to multiple females. Study of this species has been impeded by difficulties collecting and observing them.
The species was originally named Doryphorus flaviceps by Guichenot in 1855. Since its original identification, the species has undergone a number of taxonomic changes. In 1881, it was renamed Uranocentrum flaviceps by O'Shaughnessy. This change did not last very long and the name was changed to Urocentron castor in 1885. Only minor taxonomic changes were made after 1885, until a change to U. flaviceps in 1925. This name lasted until 1992, when Darrel R. Frost renamed the species Tropidurus flaviceps. The name switched between T. flaviceps and U. flaviceps until 2003, when the genus Tropidurus was split into several genera and the tropical thornytail iguana was... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Thornytail Iguana sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
September has the highest sighting rate for Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in our monthly data.