Peters' Lava Lizard

About the Peters' Lava Lizard

Tropidurus hispidus, Peters's lava lizard or neotropical lava lizard, is a species of lizard of the Tropiduridae family. It is found in South America. The scientific name derives from the Greek "Tropidurus" (meaning "keel") and the Latin "hispidus" (meaning "rough" or "shaggy").

Tropidurus hispidus is found in several countries of South America, including Venezuela, Isla Margarita, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. In Brazil, Tropidurus hispidus has a generally uniform and apparently continuous distribution throughout the Caatinga biome. It also occurs in coastal sand dunes within Restinga habitats of the Atlantic Forest, at several localities in the transition zone between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest, in the campos rupestres of the Serra do Espinhaço range within the Cerrado biome, and in enclaves of open vegetation in the Amazon biome, extending northward to areas north of the Amazon River. Tropidurus hispidus is considered a habitat generalist and can be found on a wide variety of substrates, including rocks, soil, forest edges, trees, fallen logs, sandy ground, fences and house walls. Its also considered a synanthropic... Wikipedia →