Microlophus bivittatus

The San Cristóbal lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus) is a species of lava lizard endemic to San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands.[2] The species is commonly attributed to the genus Microlophus but has been attributed to the genus Tropidurus.[3] They are currently under threat by invasive cats on the island.[4]

San Cristóbal lava lizard
Male

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Tropiduridae
Genus: Microlophus
Species:
M. bivittatus
Binomial name
Microlophus bivittatus
(Peters, 1871)
Synonyms
  • Tropidurus (Craniopeltis) bivittata
  • Tropidurus lemniscatus Cope, 1889
  • Tropidurus abingdonensis Baur, 1890
  • Tropidurus bivittatus van Denburgh & Slevin, 1913

Reproduction

Lava lizards have a breeding ritual where males will compete via head bobbing to avoid physical conflict. Research has found that head bobbing achieves a greater response when the response is immediate as compared to a 30-second delay.[5] Larger males will receive greater aggression from other males and greater assertive responses from females.[6] There is no current data that supports ecological competition is higher between same sex individuals however.[7]

References
  1. Márquez, C. & Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. (2016). "Microlophus bivittatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T48444538A48444597. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T48444538A48444597.en.
  2. Benavides,E; Baum, R.; Snell, H. M.; Snell, H. L.; and Sites, Jr., J. W. (2009) "Island Biogeography of Galápagos Lava Lizards (Tropiduridae: Microlophus): Species Diversity and Colonization of the Archipelago." Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine (.pdf) Evolution, 63 (6): 1606–1626.
  3. Microlophus bivittatus, Reptile Database
  4. Carrión, Paola L.; Valle, Carlos A. (2018-05-01). "The diet of introduced cats on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos: cat feces as a proxy for cat predation". Mammalian Biology. 90: 74–77. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2018.02.004. ISSN 1616-5047.
  5. Clark, David L.; Macedonia, Joseph M.; Rowe, John W.; Austin, Michaela R.; Centurione, Isabella M.; Valle, Carlos A. (2019-09-05). "Galápagos lava lizards (Microlophus bivittatus) respond dynamically to displays from interactive conspecific robots". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 73 (10): 136. doi:10.1007/s00265-019-2732-6. ISSN 1432-0762.
  6. Torre, Mancero De La; José, Emilio (2018). "Role of Microlophus bivittatus body size in sexual selection : behavior analysis by lizard robot displays". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Koenig, Meghan (2017-05-12). "The relationship between sex and territorial behavior in the San Cristóbal lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus)". All College Thesis Program, 2016-present.


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